Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading

Chapter 112. Capture the Flag (1)

While the 3rd Corps, led by Alexis, was moving towards Kroxen Castle with Roden.

‘It will be okay, right? Yes. It will be.’

Taher, the commander of the Kroxen Castle defense force, paced restlessly inside his office.

Taher was an individual who had a past connection with Roden.

When Roden, as part of the transport battalion, had conducted his first rear disruption mission with Havier.

The one leading the Imperial Army’s main battalion at that time had been Taher.

However, in Taher’s case, despite tasting great humiliation back then, he had not been demoted like Latif and still maintained his position as the Main Battalion Commander.

His position as the defense force commander was also held as the Main Battalion Commander.

The reason was none other than this.

The Empire did not think that Taher had made a decisive mistake in losing the Aequor Plains, unlike Latif.

Most importantly, Taher’s Malberg family had greater influence in the Empire than Latif’s Vayta family.

Moreover, the Malberg family did not even have a successor to replace Taher.

So, they were desperate to protect Taher, and he was barely able to keep his position as the Main Battalion Commander.

‘It has to be okay. My position isn’t that secure right now.’

It was just as Taher thought.

The position of Main Battalion Commander, which he had struggled to protect, was truly unstable.

He had only one chance left.

If he made just one more mistake, Taher would inevitably be demoted, no matter how great the Malberg family’s influence was.

When mistakes are repeated, they can no longer be seen as mere mistakes.

There was no way the Empire was unaware of this fact.

Was it because of such thoughts?

Taher trembled with anxiety every single day.

This anxiety had grown even greater since he had holed up in Kroxen Castle and entered a state of defense.

‘No. Let’s not tremble. I’ve done well so far.’

Certainly, Taher had only made that one mistake, and since then, he had managed his unit quite well.

In particular, despite suffering from anxiety, he was defending Kroxen Castle well.

While other fronts of the Empire were being pushed back, Kroxen Castle itself had not fallen, even if the surrounding cities and villages were lost.

The reason Alexis could not push the front line with the 3rd Corps was also because Kroxen Castle was holding up so well.

Moreover,

‘The situation is likely to get even better.’

Soon, the Imperial Army’s surprise attack unit would completely annihilate the 3rd Corps’ main battalion.

In Taher’s opinion as well, this surprise attack operation ordered by the command was something that, objectively, could never fail.

It was only natural, as they had disrupted information and even planted a spy inside to minimize the possibility of failure.

It was just as Taher was barely shaking off his anxiety.

“Battalion Commander!”

Zabur al-Kamal, who was serving as the 1st Company Commander, urgently called for Taher as he entered the office.

“What? What’s wrong? Are the enemy siege forces pounding on the castle walls again?”

Taher naturally assumed Kroxen Castle was under attack and asked Zabur.

However, Zabur shook his head, denying Taher’s assumption.

“No, sir! The enemy siege forces are retreating!”

Taher, who stood there for a moment without understanding Zabur’s words, suddenly brightened up.

The siege forces were retreating.

This could only mean one thing.

“Hahahaha! We did it! We succeeded!”

Taher, who had burst out laughing like that, opened his mouth towards Zabur.

“I will convene a staff meeting immediately! Right now!”

***

Meanwhile.

Adriel, who was leading the retreat of the siege force, was having a conversation with Havier.

The one to speak first was Adriel, who was temporarily in command of the siege force.

“This plan will work, right?”

The reason Adriel, who was originally the transport battalion commander, was currently in command of the siege force was none other than this.

It was because Adriel was the highest-ranking person left here.

The current siege force was composed of half of the main battalion’s troops and the entire transport battalion.

Operating the troops this way was bound to cause problems with supplies, but it couldn’t be helped.

This number of troops was necessary to flawlessly besiege Kroxen Castle.

However, these troops, which had been stretched thin, were now retreating from Kroxen Castle.

This was because Alexis had ordered the siege force to retreat, as Roden had proposed.

“It has to. If it doesn’t and Kroxen Castle receives supplies, the already delayed capture will be delayed even further.”

“Certainly, if we retreat like this, the enemy will even have the leeway to repair the castle walls. We are supposed to retreat all the way to Velia Castle, after all.”

It was unavoidable to completely deceive the enemy defense force.

They had to show that they had taken a major blow and were retreating to Velia Castle.

And for that reason, if this operation failed, the blow would be immense.

However, Havier’s expression was bright as he reassured Adriel.

“You don’t have to worry. As far as I know, the one who proposed this plan is the Special Task Force Company Commander.”

At Havier’s words, Adriel’s eyes widened.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. It is. I personally confirmed it with the soldier who delivered the operation proposal.”

Upon hearing Havier’s story, Adriel’s expression instantly brightened.

“Hahaha. Why didn’t you tell me that sooner? If you had, I wouldn’t have been so nervous about the operation failing.”

Although they were now separated, Havier’s and Adriel’s faith in Roden had not changed one bit.

It was only natural, as everything Roden had shown during their time in the transport battalion was, without exception, extraordinary.

Moreover, thanks to the training methods Roden had spread, the transport battalion’s strength was currently so formidable that it could not be called an ordinary supply unit.

The last time Michael’s operation failed and the 3rd Corps suffered great damage.

The fact that the transport battalion succeeded in quickly training new recruits and replenishing the 3rd Corps’ strength was also thanks to the training methods Roden had spread before he left.

In conclusion, the prediction of the two men, who had thought that Roden would later become a strong pillar supporting the Allied Forces, had been spot on.

And so, Adriel, whose faith in this operation had soared, spoke.

“It’s a shame. If the Special Task Force Company Commander’s level were just a little higher, he would have been more than capable of handling at least the position of a battalion commander.”

No matter how great their faith was, they could not have known that Roden had recently become a 6-star knight and had already been promised the position of Main Battalion Commander.

***

Roden silently watched the 3rd Corps troops moving diligently towards Kroxen Castle and thought.

‘To think Michael would agree to my plan.’

It was a new fact he had accidentally learned during his conversation with Alexis.

The plan to set a trap on top of a trap to counterattack the enemy surprise unit, and the plan to aim for the fall of Kroxen Castle by having the siege force retreat after a successful counterattack.

He had learned that Michael had agreed to both of these plans, and thanks to that, Roden’s proposal had gained strength.

For Roden, it was something he couldn’t help but find puzzling.

Until just a short while ago, Michael had been someone who considered him a thorn in his side.

And he didn't just consider him a thorn in his side.

He was someone who would try to take Roden down no matter what, even at the cost of harming his own allies.

The incident where he had Prat mix rat poison into the supplies was a prime example of this.

And yet, he had cast a vote of approval for two operations that were clearly quite risky.

For Roden, it was something he had never imagined.

Naturally, someone like Michael should have blocked Roden from making his presence known by pointing out the risks of the operation.

‘But instead, he actively supported it. Does he wish for our army’s victory after all? Or is this to cover up his previous mistake?’

Normally, he would have thought that the latter was more likely.

However, with one more incident added to this, it became difficult to think that way.

The incident where Michael had rescued him and brought him back when he had lost consciousness during the battle with Latif a few days ago.

This incident weighed on his mind.

‘What on earth has gotten into him?’

At this point, even Roden, who read situations better than anyone, was confused.

It was because he couldn't figure out what Michael was thinking.

It was even more so because this was the first time in this life that he had a ‘brother’.

In fact, it wasn’t just Roden who was feeling confused now.

Michael, too, did not understand his own emotions well.

He could somehow come up with a reason for agreeing to the operation if he had to.

But running like a madman to save Roden and worrying that Roden might be in critical condition could not be explained by any words.

In fact, even for those of the Glockner family’s bloodline, the existence of a brother was as awkward as not having one.

This was to say nothing of when that feeling manifested as brotherly love.

It was just as Roden was trying his best to find consistency in Michael’s actions.

Th-th-th-thump!

In the distance, a single horse kicked up a cloud of dust as it galloped towards the 3rd Corps’ marching column.

Then, it immediately and urgently sought out Alexis.

“Corps Commander! I must see the Corps Commander!”

At those words, the allies all pointed in one direction, and the cavalryman also moved in that direction.

Because he instinctively realized that something had happened, Roden also hurried towards where Alexis was.

And he was able to hear it.

That the situation was unfolding according to his plan.

“The enemy defense force has opened the gates and come out as planned! They are currently pursuing the siege force, which is moving towards Velia Castle!”

Alexis, who had been receiving the cavalryman’s report with a serious expression, immediately turned his gaze towards Roden.