Chapter 153 : Chapter 153
Chapter 153. Eternal Shadow (2)
‘Where on earth did he go? Why did he cut the rope?’
Michael thought as soon as the connection with Roden, which felt taut suddenly, was cut.
Certainly, for Michael, it was a situation where he had no choice but to be flustered.
Because there was absolutely nothing that could cut the rope due to external factors.
In other words, it meant there was a high possibility that Roden cut the rope intentionally.
However, if asked if Michael could predict any reason for Roden to cut the rope, it wasn't the case at all.
The reason Michael was flustered lay here as well.
At that time, one thought flashed through his mind.
‘Don't tell me, to catch Prokle whom we met earlier?’
Michael also confirmed Prokle's appearance giving a speech in front of the scouts.
For that reason, this thought naturally came to Michael's mind.
At the same time, Michael nodded his head.
‘Certainly, it’s not bad to weaken the enemy's strength at this opportunity. Since the weakened strength will be difficult to reinforce until we drag the new recruit unit here.’
While Michael was making his own guess about why Roden suddenly cut the rope and disappeared like that.
He saw a few soldiers approaching Michael from a distance.
One 3-star knight mixed among them.
As soon as Michael confirmed the existence of the 3-star knight, his eyes shone and he ran towards that direction.
Like that, a bloody wind blew wherever Michael passed.
And this continued for close to 30 minutes.
***
Roden dealt with a few more knights while escaping the Imperial Army camp after dealing with Prokle and two high-ranking nobles.
Since he already started it.
He decided to do it properly.
However, it was safe to escape the Imperial Army camp before the duration of Eternal Shadow ended.
So when 25 minutes had passed since casting Eternal Shadow, Roden left the Imperial Army camp and moved to the earthen castle where the new recruit unit was.
And he could meet Michael near the earthen castle.
Michael, who was starting a campfire with kindling, discovered Roden and asked instead of greeting.
“It was you, right? The one who executed Prokle?”
Roden nodded discovering the smile on Michael's lips.
“Can a sparrow pass by a mill?”
“You dared to do something dangerous alone. If you intended to do that, you should have given me a hint in advance.”
“It was a thought that came up impromptu. I didn't expect to meet a big fish like Prokle. And if it wasn't Prokle, I wouldn't have cut the rope and moved.”
“Still, it was too dangerous.”
“For that, I wasn't the only one who started something.”
“I just followed the flow.”
Michael smiled once again.
Roden also felt a faint smile blooming on his lips and asked what he had been curious about until now.
“Why are you doing this much? Leon or Malena would have a higher probability than me.”
Michael stared at Roden for a moment and then spoke.
“It is natural for a bird that cannot fly alone to look for wings. However, having Leon or Malena as those wings is not what I want. Because eventually, those wings will take me to the cage called Glockner.”
“…….”
“Before talking with you, I thought I could never escape the cage called Glockner, but my thoughts have changed. Because the trajectory of life you showed in this war persuaded me.”
“…….”
“However, the current situation doesn't seem very appropriate to discuss this story yet. Since you will find it difficult to trust me. Above all, isn't now the time to take the new recruit unit and save the Main Battalion.”
It was as Michael said.
For Roden right now, it was difficult to fully trust Michael.
For that reason, Roden decided to settle this story after this operation ended.
“Understood. Then let’s decide to talk again later and enter the earthen castle for now.”
Like that, Roden and Michael approached the castle gate of the earthen castle.
And,
Deureureuk.
The new recruit unit, recognizing the two people, opened the castle gate.
***
Meanwhile.
The Imperial Army camp was in an uproar.
They had no choice.
Because several high-ranking nobles including Prokle and many knights, who were the main force, were found as corpses.
“Damn it! What happened!”
Deniz jumped up from his seat upon hearing the thunderbolt-like news.
It was unavoidable since the blow was that big.
Deniz, who was fuming for a long time like that, barely suppressed his emotions.
Because if even he was shaken in a situation like now, the repercussions would be too big.
“Lead the way! I will go and check the corpses myself!”
Deniz hurried his steps to grasp the situation and settle it.
And as he checked the corpses one by one, he could roughly understand what happened last night.
“…There is almost only one sword wound per corpse. It's the doing of someone with vastly superior skills.”
Even since Prokle was mixed among the corpses, he could specify the culprit of this incident as a knight of 7-star or higher.
That meant,
“Are you saying the Main Battalion Commander stepped forward himself and did this…….”
Like this, it wasn't difficult to figure out that the culprit of this incident was Roden.
But it was difficult to know how such a result came out.
No matter if he was a 7-star knight, he couldn't have assassinated such a large number of Imperial soldiers without being noticed by anyone to this extent.
For that reason, the following hypothesis came to Deniz's mind.
‘He must have purchased and utilized a new type of magic artifact from the mage tower.’
This was a thought that could come out because he was convinced that the Main Battalion used magic artifacts.
And this wasn't an entirely wrong judgment.
Anyway, it was correct that they were using magic artifacts.
It just wasn't purchased from the mage tower.
“Contact the Penitudo mage tower and check if magic artifacts related to stealth exist. At the same time, check if there is a way not to fall victim to these magic artifacts.”
“Yes! Checked!”
“Also contact the headquarters and request personnel reinforcement. We must move quickly to maintain the siege of Velia Castle! As much as possible!”
“Yes! Understood!”
Deniz watched the knight running out and frowned.
Because he was anxious as the loss of strength was bigger than expected.
‘Don't tell me, he isn't trying to damage our strength like this and attempt a single point breakthrough, right?’
Of course, he didn't think they would break through just because the Main Battalion attempted a single point breakthrough.
No matter how many personnel were assassinated unexpectedly, even if one of them was Prokle.
Because the Imperial Army's troops were still intact.
It was natural since the number was three times larger in the first place.
No matter how much the Main Battalion attempted a single point breakthrough with all their might, overcoming this difference was impossible.
If the Main Battalion attempted a single point breakthrough, it was rather a good thing for the Imperial Army.
Because they could drop the Main Battalion, whose strength was already drained to the limit, completely into the abyss.
If this happened, capturing Velia Castle would become much easier.
‘But why do I keep feeling anxious?’
Deniz considered all possibilities and then shook his head.
Because being shaken by Roden like this was annoying.
‘Right. If I approach carefully, there is no way I will lose. Unless the shadows of the Allied Forces rise and cover us.’
***
As soon as Roden arrived at the earthen castle, he attended to the equipment of the new recruit unit.
There were already several pieces of equipment Roden supplied to the new recruit unit, but he deemed this alone insufficient.
It was natural since the combat power of the new recruit unit fell far short of the Main Battalion.
“What magic do you intend to cast this time?”
At Michael's question, Roden talked about what he had thought of.
“I intend to go with something powerful and effective yet simple to imbue on objects.”
Like that, Roden received the new recruit unit's swords and started enchanting.
As announced, since it was a relatively simple 4th-circle magic, he could enchant magic on two swords every 30 minutes.
“While I prepare the equipment, please take charge of training the new recruit unit, Staff Officer.”
“I will.”
The new recruit unit already had practical experience.
Because they were carrying out guerrilla operations to disturb the Imperial Army besieging Velia Castle somehow.
However, since this didn't mean they had large-scale battle experience, conducting training was essential.
Roden wanted to entrust this training to Michael.
In the first place, this was included among the various reasons for bringing Michael here.
Like that, magic enchantment and large-scale battle training proceeded in real-time.
And finally, Roden, who completed all preparations in a week, led the new recruit unit and advanced toward Velia Castle.
Since he had hinted at the departure date in advance before leaving, coordinating with the Main Battalion to engage in battle wasn't very difficult.
However, if there was one more thing he wished for,
“Since it came to this, it would be good if we could arrive during the siege warfare.”
It was exactly this part.
Because if he brought the new recruit unit and stormed in at this timing, he could initiate the battle most effectively.
Roden responded to Michael's wish.
“If they haven't discovered yet that we escaped, it will be possible. From the Imperial Army's perspective, they will have to reveal that their strength is still intact through regular siege warfare.”
Like that, Roden continued moving with the new recruit unit, and after a while, Velia Castle became close enough to be confirmed with naked eyes.
“We were lucky.”
Michael muttered.
Because the Imperial Army was attacking Velia Castle just in time.
“Then let’s start.”
Roden spoke to Michael and drew his sword, lifting it above his head.
Then he lowered the sword forward and shouted.
“All troops charge!”
“Charge! Waaaaah!”
The new recruit unit followed Roden running ahead.
The Imperial Army, discovering this belatedly, turned pale with fright as if they had seen ghosts.