Chapter 132 : Chapter 132
Chapter 132 . When the Bell Tolls (1)
“This is the last time. Let's finish off the enemy's transport battalion cleanly and return.”
The Black Bell Corps.
Or rather, the commander of the unit officially named 'Heukgangwi' in the Empire, spoke with determination, his eyes gleaming sharply.
Just as everyone nodded in agreement with the commander's words.
One person spoke up cautiously.
“Will it be alright? It seems the enemy has been formulating various plans to prevent us from activating the mobility-type crystal orb.”
The one who posed the question to the commander was the same person who had returned to the Empire last time to bring additional magic artifacts.
He was also the one who had been tied up tightly by the Red Wolf Unit's rope crossbows during the fight with Laura.
However, the commander scoffed at his subordinate's concerned question.
“Let them prepare. Didn't you see for yourself? How useless all those preparations were. Those dull-witted Allied Forces bastards still don't know the usefulness of magic.”
Indeed, despite a considerable number, including the questioner, being tied up with ropes, they had all managed to return from the battlefield alive.
The reason, as Roden had predicted, was that the activation word for the mobility-type crystal orb could not be blocked by mere noise.
However, the subordinate did not back down despite the commander's answer.
“But it's an undeniable fact that the enemy is getting better every time we fight them. So shouldn't we have a countermeasure as well?”
The commander narrowed his eyes and looked at his subordinate.
Then he nodded his head.
“It would certainly be good to prepare for the possibility of being unable to use the mobility-type crystal orb. How many recovery-type crystal orbs are left?”
“Don’t tell me?”
“Yes. We'll take all the recovery-type crystal orbs on this mission. That way, even if the enemy prevents us from using the mobility-type crystal orb, we'll have a way to escape.”
“That makes sense. Understood. Then I will take all the recovery-type crystal orbs.”
Having confirmed the contingency plan with the commander, confidence once again bloomed on the faces of the Heukgangwi.
It was the confidence that there would be no problem in dealing with the 1st Corps' transport battalion once again.
***
Just before the 1st Corps' transport battalion was normalized, Roden, who had been focused solely on training, moved his unit.
It was to a city called 'Juten', a moderate distance from the 1st Corps' transport battalion's base.
Juten was small but a strategic point for the 1st Corps.
Similar to Vinchih, it was a city that served as an intermediary, gathering supplies and delivering them to the 1st Corps' transport battalion.
Of course, there were a few other cities like Juten, but Roden deliberately chose Juten, the closest to the 1st Corps' transport battalion's base, and stationed his troops there, pretending to be the city's defense force.
This way, he could naturally lead his troops to the 1st Corps' transport battalion's base.
Under the pretext of delivering supplies.
“There’s no place like Juten to evade the Black Bell Corps’ eyes and quickly rescue the 1st Corps' transport battalion, but it’s a bit unfortunate. No matter how fast we move, as long as there’s a distance, we won’t be able to prevent the 1st Corps' transport battalion from taking damage.”
“Isn’t that why we and the Special Task Force Company are staying here?”
Roden replied as Michael expressed his regret.
Currently, Roden and Michael were not in Juten with the main battalion.
They were hiding in a building in 'Gulahan', the city where the 1st Corps' transport battalion had set up its base.
They were literally hiding, unable to move a single step.
If the Special Task Force Company was discovered by mistake, the Black Bell Corps might abandon their attack.
The reason Roden and Michael were hiding in Gulahan with the Special Task Force Company was none other than this.
To prevent the Black Bell Corps from finishing off the entire 1st Corps' transport battalion with explosive-type crystal orbs before reinforcements arrived.
In truth, it would have been best if the entire main battalion could have hidden in Gulahan in the same manner, but that was impossible.
This was because the maximum number of troops that could hide inside Gulahan was only company-sized.
The buildings were that small.
Even now, they had to huddle together with no room to move.
This was also why Roden and Michael were sitting close to each other, conversing.
Every time, tremendous explosions occurred, and a huge number of soldiers were injured or lost their lives.
But should I call it a relief?
Before the 1st Corps' transport battalion suffered damage close to the annihilation they had experienced last time, Roden revealed himself.
It wasn't just Roden.
Behind him were Michael, Laura, the Special Task Force Company, and the Red Wolf Unit.
The commander of the Black Bell Corps, seeing this, twitched an eyebrow.
“As expected, they won't go down without a fight.”
But he quickly regained his composure and curled up one corner of his mouth.
“Foolish bastards. They don't know that this place will be their grave. Heukgangwi, focus your attacks on that side!”
And so, the Black Bell Corps' attack was directed towards where Roden and his party were.
Explosive-type crystal orbs rained down indiscriminately.
However,
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Where the explosive-type crystal orbs fell, the soldiers of the Special Task Force Company threw their shields one by one.
As a result,
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosive-type crystal orbs were blocked by the shields and couldn't exert their full power.
“!”
The commander of the Black Bell Corps, witnessing this, widened his eyes.
To nullify the attack of the explosive-type crystal orbs in this way.
It was something he had never imagined.
Moreover, it wasn't just the Black Bell Corps that was surprised.
Laura also looked greatly shocked, as if she had no idea they would use such a method.
“W-what is this?”
But the soldiers of the Special Task Force Company, as if this situation was all too familiar, quickly closed the distance with the Black Bell Corps.
Then, they began to fight with the Black Bell Corps, whose minimum level was 1-star.
And,
Clang! Clang! Slash!
Swish! Swoosh! Thwack!
One by one, the Black Bell Corps began to be suppressed by the Special Task Force Company.
They fell helplessly after only a few swings of the sword.
It was a moment that showed just how formidable the skills of the Special Task Force Company were.
Only then did Laura realize an important fact.
“...Their skills are not in the least inferior to the Red Wolf Unit.”
For Laura, it was a fact that was hard to believe even after seeing it with her own eyes.
“I also have faith in the Special Task Force Company. I’m confident they’ll block the Black Bell Corps’ attack and tie them down. It’s that side I’m worried about.”
Michael gestured with his chin towards someone.
There, Laura was dozing off, unable to overcome her boredom.
“What did you just say?”
Laura, hearing Michael's voice, snapped awake and retorted in a fierce voice.
But Michael paid her no mind.
“What do you mean, what did I say? I said that you and the Red Wolf Unit are not trustworthy.”
That was right.
Currently, it was not only the Special Task Force Company hiding in Gulahan.
Since the cavalry platoon was leading the Billem Caravan, only the infantry and archery platoons of the Special Task Force Company had joined the main battalion, and only these troops were hidden in Gulahan.
For that reason, one more platoon could be in Gulahan, and this spot was filled by Laura and the Red Wolf Unit.
And Michael had pointed out that this part was Anxious.
“Don't be ridiculous. You should know, right? How strong our Red Wolf Unit is. I'm actually disappointed that our entire Red Wolf Unit isn't in Gulahan.”
“I know that the individual levels of the Red Wolf Unit are high. But the Special Task Force Company is no less. You, who can read the flow of aura, should know that better than anyone.”
“Still, the Red Wolf Unit is stronger! The combat experience we’ve accumulated is on a different level!”
“Is that so?”
“It’s no use being grumpy just because your guard unit’s skills were lacking and couldn’t participate in this operation.”
“...It’s not just a guard unit. Our guard unit has a name. It’s called the 'Cheolwidae'.”
“What good is a name. If you don't have the skills to be called by that name.”
“……”
The winner of this argument seemed to be Laura.
She had attacked by pointing out only the facts, so even Michael, who never lost an argument, had to take a step back.
Ever since Laura had joined this operation, the two of them had been arguing whenever they were bored.
For Roden, this part was rather perplexing.
The public image of the two was different from what he was seeing now.
It wasn't for nothing that they held the weighty positions of 3rd Corps Staff Officer and 1st Corps Main Battalion Commander.
‘But they argue like children whenever their eyes meet… Is this what siblings are like?’
It was while Roden was having this thought.
Laura looked towards Roden with a triumphant expression.
“You, too, stop with the pointless pride and leave the fighting to me and the Red Wolf Unit. You know, right? That the Black Bell Corps doesn't just have the mobility-type crystal orb?”
“I know…”
Roden couldn't finish his sentence.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Suddenly, the sound of a bell echoed throughout Gulahan.
It didn't end there.
“Enemy! It’s the Black Bell Corps!”
“Move now! Prepare for the enemy attack!”
And so, Roden, Michael, Laura, the Special Task Force Company, and the Red Wolf Unit shot up from their seats and drew their swords.
Then they immediately went outside the building to face the Black Bell Corps.
***
The Black Bell Corps had suddenly appeared in front of the castle gate when the 1st Corps' transport battalion opened it to send out supplies.
They had used the mobility-type crystal orb.
Because of that, the 1st Corps' transport battalion had to helplessly allow the Black Bell Corps to enter.
The day-duty soldier, coming to his senses belatedly, hurried to close the castle gate, but the Black Bell Corps acted a step faster.
Having entered the castle, the Black Bell Corps threw explosive-type crystal orbs at the transport unit, which had frozen in panic while moving supplies.
KABOOM! KRA-KOOM!
As a result, the transport unit instantly suffered heavy damage.
“This is the last operation! Don't hold back, throw the explosive-type crystal orbs!”
Moreover, the Black Bell Corps didn't stop there and indiscriminately threw explosive-type crystal orbs at the entire 1st Corps' transport battalion that was rushing to stop the attack.
KABOOM! KABOOM!
KRA-KOOM! KRA-KOOM!