Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142. Once Again (4)
It wasn't only Paul who was surprised.
Michael was also bound to be surprised upon hearing Paul's words.
The fact that the flow of aura couldn't be read meant that Roden's stage was at least equal to Paul's.
If not, he wouldn't be able to hide the flow of aura even if he wanted to.
‘Then, does that mean what he used to catch the enemy commander recently wasn't a ranged attack-type secret technique, but real Sword Energy?’
He had wondered when he saw that scene.
But he soon denied reality.
Because the distance was so far that accurate verification was difficult, and it didn't make sense that Roden had already stepped onto the stage of 7-star.
But to see this reaction from Paul.
As Michael, he had no choice but to be astonished by the current situation.
At the same time, this thought occurred to him.
‘Then it means not only the group's armed force but also his individual armed force has risen. At this rate, isn't Ernst really going to become the next family head?’
While Michael was thinking this.
Roden opened his mouth slowly and drove a wedge into the speculation.
“There is no eternal strongman. The same goes for the eternal weakling.”
An answer that was practically a confirmation.
Only after hearing this answer did Paul come to his senses and respond to Roden's words.
“Hmph. That's interesting. I didn't know there would be someone among my siblings who could threaten me. To think it would be this side.”
It was definitely a story brought up with a smile, but a sense of discomfort was felt from Paul.
The proof was that he took his hand off the sword, which he seemed ready to draw at any moment, and clenched his fist tight.
“So, what brings you all the way here? You must have known clearly that you could perform the support mission without necessarily meeting me.”
Paul asked subsequently, and Roden answered calmly.
“Because if I can obtain information, I would be able to solve the problem much faster. Do you happen to know anything?”
“How much do you know already?”
“The name of the magic artifact unit active on the 2nd Corps front is the Hellfire Brigade. The Hellfire Brigade succeeded in dealing a heavy blow to two companies upon their appearance. The Hellfire Brigade continues to win in battles big and small, and the 2nd Corps' damage is accumulating. If we estimate that damage, it is no different from two battalions being annihilated.”
“You know quite a lot. Then you must have also heard the story that the Hellfire Brigade is pressuring our allies mixed in with regular units.”
“Yes. I heard. That they are exercising their power by moving together with regular units that have been issued magic artifacts.”
“It is quite a headache. They are using regular units as shields to induce attrition warfare continuously. Attrition warfare that is advantageous to the Imperial Army, which possesses magic artifacts. At least the Vanguard Battalion I am leading recently succeeded in dealing with one company, but we also lost one company.”
That meant that even though Paul, a 7-star knight, stepped forward, they could only inflict equivalent damage.
It was a point where one could realize anew how powerful the force the Hellfire Brigade was showing here.
To make this clear, Roden asked additionally.
“How large is the scale of the Hellfire Brigade?”
“It is larger than a company and smaller than a battalion. You can consider it the scale of two companies.”
“What magic artifacts do they mainly use?”
“They use mobility-type crystal orbs, recovery-type crystal orbs, defensive-type crystal orbs, explosive-type crystal orbs, and Berserker-type crystal orbs.”
“Berserker-type crystal orbs?”
“It is an ability where one's stage increases temporarily, but in exchange, they lose their reason and run wild without distinguishing between friend and foe. However, it seems to put a lot of strain on the body after use.”
To think they issued five types of magic artifacts.
Considering the scale of the Hellfire Brigade as well, it was a part where one could see how much effort the Empire was pouring into this front.
Because in other places, they were operating troops defensively without unfolding attrition warfare like this.
Roden pointed out this part.
“It looks like the Empire is pouring an exceptionally large amount of strength into the 2nd Corps front. What could be the reason?”
“Because at the end of this field, the Empire's largest granary, the Astral Plains, unfolds. In fact, if they lose this place, the Empire becomes truly endangered. So they are continuously inputting troops so that we cannot cross this field. I heard that a battalion-level force was additionally inputted recently as well.”
The Astral Plains were different from the Aequor Plains.
If the Aequor Plains were just flat and wide, the Astral Plains allowed for farming.
Because the soil was extremely fertile.
For that reason, the Astral Plains was such an important place that there was a saying it accounted for one-third of the Empire's food production.
Also, because of that, there were exceptionally many high-ranking nobles who owned the Astral Plains.
‘Perhaps the troops being inputted recently are also being sent by these high-ranking nobles. By the way, a battalion-level force?’
It was when Roden was thinking this.
Lisandro, who had guided Roden and Michael here, suddenly approached Paul and whispered something.
At the same time, surprise appeared on Paul's face once again.
“……An urgent report just came in. The battalion-level force that was said to be newly inputted earlier. They say that force has been annihilated. By any chance, did you conduct a battle on the way here?”
“…….”
“I guess that's right.”
The expression of Paul nodding his head was unusual.
Until now, even while being surprised, he hadn't lost his smile consistently, but that feeling had disappeared.
In that state where his expression wasn't good, Paul asked Roden.
“Anyway, I would like to wrap up the conversation around now. Is there anything else you are curious about?”
If it were an ordinary person, they would have felt that Paul's expression wasn't good and wouldn't have asked any more questions.
But Roden didn't just back down.
He asked one more thing he was curious about.
“So, where is the Hellfire Brigade?”
It was evident that Paul didn't want to answer, but he opened his mouth as if he couldn't help it.
“Finally, we fought in the northwest of the field a while ago. But I can't guarantee that they will still be there now. Since they actively utilize mobility-type crystal orbs and move the battle lines so frequently. It feels like they are striking the Vanguard Battalion, Main Battalion, and Transport Battalion without order.”
“I see. Understood. Thank you for sharing the information.”
Since Roden obtained more information than expected from Paul, he offered his thanks obediently.
However, Paul seemed uncomfortable receiving thanks from Roden.
Sure enough.
An eviction order fell from Paul.
“Then, please leave at this point.”
After Roden nodded, he left Duren with Michael.
Fortunately, the Main Battalion didn't suffer any harm until they left Duren.
They only received stinging glares.
***
After Roden left with the Main Battalion.
Paul couldn't hold back and frowned.
He had no choice.
Because he hadn't expected at all that such a situation would unfold in today's meeting with Roden.
“Is it true? You mean his individual armed force is similar to mine and his group's armed force might be better than mine?”
It was shocking.
Because he had never thought Roden's growth rate would be this fast.
Of course, unlike Laura, Paul was aware of Roden's performance.
And also that this performance was attracting the attention of the family head, Albrecht.
However, that didn't mean he ever thought Roden's stage would be equal to his.
He thought that even if his talent bloomed late and he became strong, his stage would be around 5-star.
But to think it's at least 7-star.
Paul received a great shock and had to withdraw even the plan to pressure Roden and Michael by swinging his sword as a joke.
Because if he drew his sword wrongly for no reason, he didn't know if he might be the one to see blood.
The picture Paul originally wanted was to drive them just to the brink of death and instill fear in the two people.
“It seems I paid too much attention only to Leon and Malena.”
As Paul, he had no choice but to think this.
Because Roden wasn't just strong in individual armed force.
What surprised Paul even more was the Main Battalion's combat power.
“The same battalion-level forces clashed without warning, yet one side achieved a one-sided victory with almost no damage. Does this make any sense?”
It was a situation that couldn't come out just from the Main Battalion's combat power being slightly superior.
If the same number of troops clashed on flat land and one side was completely annihilated, it was natural for the other side to lose at least a company-sized force.
Even more, what the Main Battalion faced was a unit supplied with magic artifacts.
So it was even more impossible to achieve a victory like this.
But he made that possible, and for that reason, Paul was bound to receive a huge shock.
“Damn it. I thought I would be at least third. He is really making things difficult for me.”
Paul became impatient as the thought that he might be pushed back by Roden occurred to him.
Regardless of anything else, he absolutely had to not let the elimination of the Hellfire Brigade be taken by Roden.
“I can't help it.”
The next day.
The Vanguard Battalion led by Paul moved towards the northwest of the field.
It was the place where the Hellfire Brigade was last discovered.
***
Meanwhile.
The entrance of the Astral Plains.
There, the man closest to being the next Glockner family head was receiving a report.
“Corps Commander. It is said that the 3rd Corps' support unit has currently arrived at the 2nd Corps front.”
“……Is that so?”
“Yes. According to the information just confirmed, it is understood that they encountered the Vanguard Battalion after annihilating a battalion-level force.”
“…….”
Leon didn't give a particular answer even after receiving the subordinate's report.
As if accustomed to this situation, the subordinate finished everything he had to say and then took a position of attention.
How much time passed?
Finally, Leon opened his mouth.
“So, what is the probability that the Hellfire Brigade will come to support Davia Castle?”
It was a sudden question, but Leon's subordinate answered as if he had expected this too.
“The probability is rare, less than single digits. Because the Hellfire Brigade has only chased the movements of the Vanguard Battalion, Main Battalion, and Transport Battalion so far, avoiding direct confrontation with you, Corps Commander.”
“Then we will not be swayed by the Hellfire Brigade's movements. We will capture Davia Castle as is. Then we will be able to crush the Empire's intention to hold our ankles in the field.”
“Yes. I will follow your command.”
The 2nd Corps Commander Leon did not necessarily operate his direct unit together with battalion troops.
He chose a method of operating his direct unit like a guerrilla unit and coordinating with other battalions as needed.
Collapsing the famous impregnable fortress, Kelakla Castle, in coordination with the Vanguard Battalion was an example of this movement.
And Leon's direct unit was currently moving to capture Davia Castle.
It was Leon's judgment that if they captured Davia Castle and occupied part of the land of the Astral Plains, the Hellfire Brigade's maneuvering would naturally become difficult.
Since the Hellfire Brigade's movement itself had the purpose of preventing the 2nd Corps from setting foot on the Astral Plains, it was a natural thing.
‘Hmm……. Ernst, huh….’
Of course, apart from this situation, Roden came to attract Leon's small attention due to this incident.