Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 23
As soon as Havier, who had been deceiving the enemy while pretending to be Goeren, gave the order, the entire friendly force, including Roden, moved.
“Kill them!”
“Don't let a single one get away!”
Roden, too, beheaded an Imperial soldier who was nearby.
The moment the aura's light flashed,
Seogeok.
The Imperial soldier's neck was cleanly severed.
For Roden, it was the moment of his first kill, having directly killed someone.
‘…….’
But there was no time to feel guilt or mental anguish for it.
And for good reason, because it was a situation where they absolutely could not let a single one live.
‘Because the real difficulty of this mission lies in the escape.’
Whether they used the mountain path or charged into the enemy camp with swiftness and determination.
Although it would be a bit difficult, if they found a way, it was possible to disrupt the rear of the Imperial Army.
But to safely escape from the heart of the enemy camp after disrupting the rear was almost impossible.
At the barracks where the company meeting had been in full swing that day, Roden had brought up the same story.
“To disrupt the enemy's rear, we have no choice but to make a big scene. So that the enemy can fully recognize us. But then, naturally, the survival rate of our forces is bound to drop.”
At Roden's words, Havier nodded in agreement.
“That's right. In fact, that's the part that worries me the most. We talked about that part the longest at the battalion meeting. Do you have any good ideas?”
“There is only one way. To survive, we must eliminate all witnesses, no matter what.”
“Will that be possible? No, in the first place, won't the people who know we made a scene also disappear?”
“There will be dozens of corpses left where we made a scene and disappeared, so there's no need to worry.”
The reason Roden had proposed the military strategy of imitating the Imperial Army to Havier, leaving all other methods aside, was also here.
“Think about it. An unidentified unit that identified itself as the Imperial Army, while on its way to deliver important news to the friendly camp, annihilated all the friendly units that were in charge of surveillance and escort.”
“It would be chaotic.”
“What if, on top of that, there are no witnesses, and they only find out about this news after seeing the corpses of our allies, which have grown cold and started to decompose on the ground after the enemy has disappeared?”
“The entire Imperial Army would be turned upside down.”
“Yes. That is exactly what I am hoping for. Moreover, if we use this method, we can greatly increase the survival rate of our forces. Because by the time the Imperial Army realizes this fact, our forces will have already disappeared.”
In the end, the reason Roden had wanted to deceive the Imperial Army by pretending to be on the same side was to induce their carelessness.
Because the more careless the Imperial Army became, the easier it was to kill them, and the greater the possibility that no witnesses would be left.
‘So far, things have gone well thanks to Havier acting better than I thought. But this moment is the most important. If even one witness remains and tells the enemy about this, we are dead.’
They had come too deep into the enemy camp, so no matter how fast they fled, it would be difficult to survive if a pursuit team was dispatched.
The reason Roden had immediately set out to find the next target as soon as he had made his first kill was also because of this.
It wasn't just Roden.
The entire Havier unit participating in this mission was swinging their swords with their eyes ablaze to annihilate the Imperial Army.
“Kuaaak!”
“Please! Save me!”
For that reason, the entire Imperial Army, which had already fallen into great confusion due to the sudden surprise attack by Havier's unit, could not come to their senses.
A pandemonium.
It was unavoidable, as a tragic scene fitting these four words unfolded before their eyes.
And so, it seemed that the situation was flowing smoothly according to the plan.
However,
“Don't panic! If we gather in one place and fight, we can survive!”
Someone from the Imperial Army raised his voice like this even in this situation.
Because this voice was heard from nearby, Roden's gaze naturally turned that way.
There, an Imperial Army officer was struggling to bring the situation under control.
Moreover,
Shukak!
He didn't stop there and even beheaded a friendly soldier.
Looking around, the number of friendly soldiers who had already fallen to the Imperial officer was not small.
***
‘Damn it! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have believed that stupid 1st Platoon Leader's words!’
The 2nd Archery Platoon Leader, Dikwan Broom, who had firmly believed Slovan's story and had been completely fooled by Havier's unit, shouted in his mind.
It was still vivid in Dikwan's eyes.
The moment Slovan's neck fell to the ground, spraying a fountain of blood.
But Dikwan quickly composed himself.
It was possible because Dikwan's survival instinct was stronger than anyone else's.
And the first thing Dikwan considered as soon as he came to his senses was surrender.
However,
‘It's no use! These bastards are planning to kill us all!’
Dikwan quickly noticed this fact as well.
The proof was that even though he had shouted surrender loudly from not far away, the enemy's sword had pierced through a soldier's side.
Which meant that he could not survive by surrendering.
Therefore, Dikwan tried to control the confusion and gather his allies in one place.
Only then could he try a final desperate act like a single-point breakthrough.
“Everyone, get a grip!”
Still, as befitting a platoon leader of a unit, Dikwan's skill was not to be trifled with.
Because every time Dikwan brandished his sword, an enemy would fall, bleeding.
And thanks to this performance, the soldiers around Dikwan gradually began to come to their senses.
At this rate, it might even be possible to counterattack as Dikwan wished.
‘Just a little more! Just a little!’
It was then.
Dikwan felt a ghastly energy from behind him.
Hwiiik!
As expected.
A sword strike containing a 1-star aura was falling from behind him.
Chaeng!
“Yikes!”
Fortunately, Dikwan was able to quickly turn his body and barely parry the attack.
But since he hadn't completely absorbed the impact, a groan naturally escaped his mouth.
Cha-aeng! Chaeng! Cha-ae-aeng! Chaeng!
And so, Dikwan instantly clashed with his opponent for several exchanges.
At the same time, he naturally gauged his opponent's skill.
‘A 1-star level aura. But the swordsmanship is too straightforward.’
The opponent used only the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship without any particular technique.
In that case, there was nothing else to think about.
‘Is he the enemy unit's deputy platoon leader? One who became a knight by learning only the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship?’
If that wasn't the case, there was no reason to insist on using only the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship to this extent.
It was the same even when Dikwan threatened him in between using his family's unique swordsmanship that he had learned.
The opponent used only the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship.
Which meant that the only swordsmanship the opponent had learned was the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship.
In that case, there was no longer any need to hesitate.
Because one could never reach the stage of a 2-star knight by learning only the Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship.
‘So let's quickly take care of the guy in front of me. Then the allies around will come to their senses a little more.’
It wasn't a situation where he could save his strength anyway.
For that reason, Dikwan immediately coated his sword with a 2-star aura.
Then he swung a powerful blow.
“Die!”
However,
Cha-ae-aeng!
Dikwan's attack was bound to be cleanly blocked by his opponent.
The reason was none other than.
Because his opponent had also coated his sword with a 2-star aura and countered Dikwan's attack.
‘He wasn't at the 1-star stage?’
It was when Dikwan was flustered.
The opponent's body, who had blocked Dikwan's attack, leaned forward and suddenly unleashed an unexpected series of attacks.
As he blocked the attacks, Dikwan became even more flustered.
He couldn't help it, because,
‘How does he know how to use the Ingens Empire Swordsmanship?’
His opponent was using this familiar swordsmanship.
And the price for being so absent-minded was brutal.
Seogeok.
In a moment of carelessness.
The opponent's sword had severed Dikwan's left arm.
“Kuaaaaak!”
Dikwan screamed, unable to bear the pain, and that was his last word.
Tuk.
Dikwan's head fell to the ground.
Like Slovan's.
***
“Hoo.”
Roden, who had taken care of Dikwan, let out a sigh of relief.
He didn't know why, but he had intuitively realized that he had won thanks to the opponent's carelessness.
‘Why was he careless?’
After briefly pondering the question, Roden immediately erased the thought and looked for his next target.
Because what was important now was to not leave any witnesses, no matter what.
Should it be called a relief?
The Imperial Army, having lost not only Slovan but also their most powerful commander, Dikwan, completely lost their will to fight.
For that reason, it wasn't long before all 61 Imperial soldiers lost their lives and became corpses.
Chevalier, covered in blood, approached Roden and asked.
“Are you alright?”
“I'm fine. The casualties in our platoon?”
“Four.”
“……I see. Quickly recover the remains. So that we can return them all to their families.”
“Yes. I'll take care of it.”
The conversation between the two did not last long.
Not only did they not have the strength for it, but they also had to save what strength they had left.
Because it was now time to quickly bring the situation under control and retreat.
Because this retreat would not be easy either.
And so, after a short conversation with Chevalier, Roden walked toward where Havier was.
Chevalier looked at Roden's back and thought.
‘It's certain now. The Platoon Leader I once knew no longer exists.’
Chevalier had been surprised by Roden several times while carrying out this mission.
Once, when he proposed the military strategy for this mission at the company meeting,
again, when the mission proceeded smoothly according to the strategy,
and once more, when he defeated a 2-star knight in the battle just now.
Now, Roden was no longer a being that could be called a moron.
Not only could he not be called a moron, but he didn't feel lacking in any way as a platoon leader.
It was the same just a moment ago.
To Chevalier's question of whether he was okay, Roden first ascertained the number of casualties in the platoon.
Moreover, he didn't stop there and also took care to retrieve the remains of the dead platoon members to return them.
So, Chevalier had no choice but to acknowledge Roden.
That Roden was now a person who was not lacking as a platoon leader.
But one unfortunate thing was the fact that Roden was trying to hide this fact.
Moreover, there was also a valid reason why he had to do so.
‘…….’
And so, Chevalier, who had been looking at Roden's back, erased his thoughts and walked to where the 3rd Infantry Platoon was gathered.
After all, he also had a job to do.
***
Havier, who spotted the approaching Roden, asked.
“The casualties of the 3rd Infantry Platoon?”
“Four.”
“Tell them to recover the remains well.”
“I've already given the order.”
“……Did you?”
“Yes. Did it go according to plan?”
At Roden's question, Havier glanced at the dozens of corpses rolling on the ground and answered.
“There are no witnesses. Now, as soon as we recover the remains, I plan to leave this place as you suggested.”
Havier's unit was planning to escape through the mountain path as it was.
Because it was very slow and inefficient to escape across the Aikor Plains with the infantry and archery units, who had no horses.
In this way, even if there were no witnesses, there was a possibility of being caught from behind by a pursuit team dispatched later.
Moreover, as they had decided to use the mountain path, the light cavalry was also supposed to abandon their horses and move.
Fortunately, the horses the light cavalry had used in this mission were the Holsteiners they had obtained after winning against the Imperial cavalry last time.
Because of that, they didn't feel much of a burden in abandoning them.
Although it wasn't as if it wasn't a waste at all.
“I understand. Then I will get ready.”
It was when Roden was about to end his conversation with Havier and withdraw.
“3rd Platoon Leader.”
Havier's voice caught Roden's steps.
As Roden looked, Havier continued.
“You've worked hard. If we survive, it will all be thanks to you.”
Havier's encouragement.
And praise.
Hearing it, Roden looked at Havier quietly.
Then, after slowly nodding his head, he began to move again.
Havier looked at him quietly and muttered.
“It won't be easy to accept death. But you must overcome it. For this is war.”