Ch. 145
Chapter 145
Even before Ian and the Special Mission Unit arrived, a meeting was in full swing at the Royal Army camp.
“…The number of Orcs seemed to exceed thousands even at a glance, each one was an elite soldier, and the Orcs wearing red armor at the very front blocked even crossbows.”
“Really, there’s nothing believable. It’s not like a children’s play, Orcs walking out of fire.”
Tap, tap, as Garme tapped the desk with his finger and looked at the ranger with a dubious face, he continued with a determined face.
“We believe the Orc leading the legion is a Master-rank unique entity.”
“A monster defying common sense……. Indeed, if it’s a Master-rank strongman, he would have been fine even in fire. Possibility of him being the Orc chieftain?”
“It wasn’t in the data handed over by the Intelligence Bureau, but Moner is convinced he is a Legion Commander-level subordinate to the King.”
“Ha, a Master-rank unique entity is not even the chieftain?”
Although he heard it several times already, it was an unbelievable report.
It’s hard to believe there is a Master-rank strongman among mere Orcs, and even more so that it wasn’t just one.
Garme, putting his hand on his head, fell into thought.
‘I can’t understand at all.’
If those words are true, it means there are at least two or more unique entities remaining in the legion.
‘No matter how strong Moner is, they wouldn’t be able to deal with two Master-rank monsters simultaneously, so they had no choice but to reach out to the Royal family.’
What he couldn’t understand was that he heard such important information not on the battlefield but here, practically enemy territory.
‘The Royal family is hiding information. If it were known that not one, but two or more unique entities target the Kingdom, the entire Kingdom would have trembled in anxiety.’
Even if this information leaks out right now, it was clear nobles, regardless of being Royalist or Aristocratic faction, would competitively demand troop dispatch and support.
Then the Royal family’s plan to swallow Moner would have failed before it even started.
‘In the end, is it Moner…….’
As he inhaled, the sticky air of the forest heated his lungs.
‘A land so unpleasant even to breathe.’
His gaze, with narrowed brows, turned to the pale purple ground.
A cursed land contaminated by demonic beast blood where not a single sprout grows.
Looking at the pale purple ground, a question he never had before dizzied his head.
‘Just what value does this land have.’
Unless the Royal family is crazy, there’s no way they would want a land infested with monsters every day.
‘Unless what the Royal family wants is not this land, but the extermination of the Moner family.’
While he was lost in thought with the question not easily solved, he saw a soldier enter the tent and whisper to his adjutant.
“General, they say Moner’s Young Duke has come to visit.”
“Haa… Tell him to wait for now.”
Garme, roughly waving his hand, turned his gaze to the ranger who was reporting until just now.
“Didn’t you say the Young Duke was blocking the legion?”
“Yes, it was definitely so until I departed…….”
“Do you think it makes sense that the guy supposed to block the legion came all the way here?”
“Th-that is…….”
“I’m not doubting you. I just can’t understand at all. It seems the Moner bastards move ten times farther than us even walking for the same time…….”
Running from the first trap to here without rest takes over half a day.
If he ran alone like the ranger in front of his eyes, maybe, but if moving with a unit, it would take double that.
On top of that, if the path changes on the way or the marked location moves, it was easy to wander aimlessly in the forest.
‘And yet Moner bastards move the same distance in just a few hours.’
No matter how familiar Moner is with the forest, there was an incomprehensibly large difference.
“The path changes little by little every day, so there can’t be shortcuts, and even searching wondering if there might be a gate in the forest, there was nothing.”
“Ah, that is…….”
At Garme’s question, the ranger who was tilting his head answered.
“It’s not certain, but it seems Moner’s soldiers learn footwork to move in the forest.”
“Footwork?”
“Yes. Our team leader had an occasion to move with the Young Duke, and he said he couldn’t keep up even with all his might.”
At those words, Garme nodded.
“Indeed, since they fought in this forest for decades, it’s plausible they learned such a method.”
Didn’t they say they are guys who use Knight Slayers as bows from the start.
It must be the result of efforts like desperate struggles to survive in the forest where darkness settled, continued over generations.
“Um… General. Shouldn’t we call the Young Duke for now?”
At the adjutant’s words, Garme shook his head.
“To talk with the Young Duke, shouldn’t we at least know what is happening.”
Thinking it would be fortunate if he gets angry unable to endure in the meantime, Garme looked at the ranger.
“The fact that he came here means he needs our help in this battle.”
“Pardon……?”
As the ranger who didn’t understand blinked, Garme turned his head to look at the commanders.
“If not, he would have run wild like a foal and solved it alone, so it is certain he needs our help.”
To be precise, Moner’s help was needed to protect the Royal Army camp, but wouldn’t that depend on who says it and how.
“If the enemy was the guy called Legion Commander, he wouldn’t have even come to us. He would have sent one person or so to advise retreat.”
In the end, Moner can block the biggest threat, the Legion Commander, by some means.
“In other words, it seems he is asking for help dealing with other Orcs excluding the Legion Commander…….”
Pausing for a moment, he looked at the commanders and asked.
“How is it. Wouldn’t Moner be unnecessary for mere remnants?”
The commanders, looking at Garme silently, shouted simultaneously.
“Yes!”
“Just trust us, General!”
“We are fully prepared!”
“This time, we will show our true worth to the arrogant Moner bastards!”
Nodding at the commanders’ answers full of confidence, he looked at the ranger again.
“So they say. What do you think?”
“Pardon? Th-that is…….”
The flustered ranger couldn’t say anything, but that alone was sufficient as an answer.
Since he said he saw the Young Duke’s unit fighting right in front of his eyes, it meant the difference between the Royal Army and the Moner Army was big enough to hesitate answering.
“Bring the Young Duke in two hours.”
* * *
Around the time Ian, enjoying leisure, lay on a tree and dozed off, the gatekeeper approached.
“The General is calling.”
Although vivid hostility was felt from the brusque voice, I shrugged my shoulders coming down from the tree and asked.
“Faster than I thought?”
I expected some answer to return, but the gatekeeper hastened his steps towards the wooden fence instead of answering.
‘This is new after a long time.’
It was obvious what the Royal Army, practically the epicenter of rumors, thought of me, but to ignore me openly.
‘If they heard I’m a crazy guy, isn’t it normal to be more careful?’
So once labeled as a crazy guy, I must prove I’m crazy periodically.
Because they naturally bow down to a real crazy guy.
“What about the others?”
When I asked looking at the side where the Special Mission Unit was sitting and resting, the gatekeeper smiled faintly.
“The one the General looked for is only the Young Duke.”
Seeing a smile settle on the face stiff as if having lost emotions, it seems that soldier is enjoying this situation.
“…Then my soldiers have to keep sitting on the ground?”
“That is beyond my knowledge, so could you ask the General directly.”
Nodding at the soldier’s answer, I followed behind him silently until arriving at Garme’s tent.
* * *
As I entered the tent, Garme welcomed me with a greasy voice.
“Haha. My apologies for being late. Since the ranger’s report wasn’t finished, it took a little time to grasp the situation. I would appreciate your understanding.”
Right, you should come out like that.
Pretending to be a good person, pretending not to have done anything wrong.
Now if I point out the fault, he will shift it to an innocent soldier.
“Not even guiding to a tent, making us wait on the ground, and you ask for understanding?”
“Is that true?! I naturally thought you were guided to a tent! What are you doing, apologize to the Young Duke immediately!”
I grinned seeing the commanders bowing awkwardly.
Because it was exactly the same as the situation I expected from the moment I came here.
Garme was busy so couldn’t give proper orders, and the soldiers just moved as ordered.
Plus, since the commanders bowed and apologized, it’s an awkward situation to keep getting angry.
…Is what he must have thought.
“Why is the General staying still then?”
“…Pardon?”
I engraved an important lesson on the way.
Let’s do crazy things periodically.
“You said you are sorry. Is that the attitude of someone apologizing?”
Indeed, perhaps not expecting me to come out like this in a situation where every moment is precious, the General’s brow crumpled.
“Must have been sorry only in words?”
“I am truly sorry. I will punish the responsible persons severely and re-educate them.”
Standard answer.
If the opponent is a normal person, that is.
Unfortunately for the General, this side is Moner’s dark wizard and devil whose notoriety broke through the max value.
“Severe punishment…….”
Pretending to ponder for a moment, dragging time, I said lightly.
“As expected, noble insult is death penalty.”
“…Pardon?”
Seeing Garme’s stiffened face, I burst into laughter.
“Just kidding! Just kidding! Would I kill the Royal Army just for making me wait a little!”
Looking at the still stiff faces, I nodded with satisfaction.
“Instead, the people here should stand on the front line.”
“…Pardon?”
“Or is hanging by law better?”
Only after the commanders’ complexions turned deathly pale did Garme bow his waist and say.
“Young Duke, if they, commanders in charge of each unit, stand on the front line, the unit’s command system will be shaken. Above all, the fault of making the Young Duke wait lies entirely with me, so it is right that I take all responsibility.”
It was a sincere but stiff apology.
Since it was an apology knowing I cannot punish Garme, the General of the Royal Army.
“Look, not fun, right? I don’t know why you waste energy on useless things. Just send someone to tell the Special Mission Unit to rest properly.”
As I sat on the chair clearly meant for me and spoke, one commander rushed out urgently.
“So, do you feel like talking a bit now?”
At my question, Garme answered with his initial leisurely face.
“I certainly realized nonsensical rumors are circulating.”