Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 70

Roden, flustered by Nedhab’s unexpected words, opened his mouth.

“You’re giving me the Superior Swordsmanship manual? Why on earth?”

“Because, thanks to you, Company Commander, I not only became a 1-star knight but also gained the respectable position of Infantry Deputy Platoon Leader.”

“But….”

“Above all, I have no doubt that you, Company Commander, will use this Superior Swordsmanship manual for something more meaningful than I would. Just as you have generously given what you have for our company until now.”

“……”

Roden was at a loss for words.

This was not the first time Roden had unsparingly given what was his to someone.

In his past life, he had shared the results of his research with the Penitudo mage tower as soon as they were available.

But no one had ever offered to repay Roden in this way.

On the contrary, while they respected Roden, they also harbored feelings of envy and jealousy.

Of course, it wasn't that there was no one who praised Roden's achievements and expressed their gratitude.

However, there had never been a case like Nedhab's, where someone gifted an item that had been a family heirloom to them and could now become their own.

That was why Roden could not help but be moved by the current situation.

Chevalier, who was standing beside Roden, also looked quite surprised.

He knew that the soldiers of the Infantry Platoon trusted Roden very much, but he had not known their feelings were this deep.

But he soon nodded as if he understood.

He thought that if he were in Nedhab's position, he would have brought the Superior Swordsmanship manual to Roden as soon as he found it.

Perhaps for that reason, a faint smile appeared on Chevalier's lips as he watched Roden and Nedhab.

Roden, who had been silent for a while in his surprise, spoke to Nedhab.

“I understand your heart, Deputy Platoon Leader. But even so, this is too great a gift to just accept. So, for just one day. I'll borrow this book from you, Deputy Platoon Leader.”

“Will just one day be enough? Instead, how about you, Company Commander, keep this book until the end of this war? Or at least for the duration of this operation.”

“No, a day is enough.”

It wasn't just enough.

A day was more than enough.

The time it took for Roden to read a Superior Swordsmanship manual was only about 30 minutes.

Moreover, after reading the entire book, he could perfectly master the swordsmanship as well.

However, Nedhab, who did not know this fact, seemed to feel regretful that he could not properly repay the favor.

Roden smiled quietly and gently patted Nedhab's shoulder.

“A day is really enough.”

Thus, Roden obtained a new Superior Swordsmanship manual.

Even if it was only for a day.

***

Meanwhile.

In the largest barracks of the Imperial vanguard battalion.

Inside, Latif once again lost his temper and slammed his fist on the desk.

Kwang! Crack!

Was it because he had slammed the desk again, following the last time?

Or was it because he was angrier than before?

The moment Latif's fist came down, the desk split in half.

“What on earth is the command doing! It’s been ages since I sent the report!”

Last time, after much deliberation, Latif had decided to attack the hole created by the dispatch of the Special Task Force Company rather than attacking the company directly.

But the command, which was supposed to find the hole, was too slow to move.

In the meantime, the Special Task Force Company had plundered the supplies that were supposed to arrive at the vanguard battalion three times in a row.

Therefore, Latif could not help but feel that his patience had reached its limit.

After venting his anger at the command for a while, Latif turned his attention inward.

Then, he pointed out the fundamental reason why the supplies were being taken.

“Why on earth do the scouts keep getting discovered by the enemy and losing their lives! Are the skills of our battalion's scouts that lacking? Huh?”

In fact, if only the scouts had survived, and if the information had reached the vanguard battalion smoothly, there was no way the Imperial transport unit would have been attacked by the Special Task Force Company like this.

It would have been possible to send appropriate reinforcements to block the raid early on.

But the scouts repeatedly failed to return alive.

For that reason, they had to helplessly have their supplies taken.

For now, they still had supplies left, but if time continued to pass like this, they would be in danger from a food shortage.

“Ugh! You stupid fools! Why is no one answering!”

Latif shouted at his subordinates, who were holding their breath and keeping their mouths shut.

But apart from a slight flinch of their shoulders, no one stepped forward.

As a 6-star knight, Latif was unabashedly emitting a tremendous aura, and they were all crushed by it.

Latif, who had been fuming, belatedly realized why his subordinates were silent and took a deep breath.

“Phew.”

At that, the atmosphere softened a little, and not missing this opportunity, Thaddeus stepped forward.

“We don’t know how the other side is so good at dealing with our battalion’s scouts, but if we continue to wait for the command’s contact like this, the battalion’s morale and strength will drop significantly. We must take action before it’s too late.”

“Damn it. If I had known it would be like this, I should have raised the troops then. We've only suffered unnecessary damage. How should we form the troops? You must have thought of something for this, right?”

“How about sending two infantry platoons, one and a half archery platoons, and one cavalry platoon? Also, I think one 4-star knight, two 3-star knights, four 2-star knights, and six 1-star knights should be included in this force.”

Hearing Thaddeus's answer, Latif was slightly surprised and asked back.

“That many? Isn't that overdoing it?”

“This is the level needed to deal with the enemy with plenty to spare without suffering greater damage. If we are defeated again here, the situation will be unmanageable.”

“Hmm.”

Latif's thoughts became complicated.

He thought that if he sent such a large-scale force, the main body of the Allied Forces, which was facing their front line, would not remain still.

It was only natural, as the Special Task Force Company was making such movements for the purpose of rear disturbance.

As Latif's hesitation was evident, Thaddeus opened his mouth to ease his worries.

“Last time the Allied Forces launched a rear disturbance operation, a larger force moved on a large scale. So, I think this level of force, while on the edge, will be fine.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. Above all, there are no traitors in our battalion who will cooperate with the enemy from within. So, even if the enemy takes this opportunity to strike, we will be able to deal with it somehow.”

Certainly, last time the front line was pushed back, Michael's recruitment of traitors in advance had played a large role.

In fact, it was a situation where they had to retreat their front line even if the rear disturbance operation had not been carried out.

But as Thaddeus said, the current Imperial vanguard battalion had a low risk of traitors.

This was because the entire army was serious about rooting out traitors in order not to repeat their mistakes.

‘There are a few who might betray us, but it doesn't matter. I can just send them along with the pursuit unit.’

Having organized his thoughts, Latif spoke.

“Form the troops as the Archery Company Commander suggested and dispatch them. We will quickly deal with the enemy and stabilize the supply and the front line.”

As he gave this order, Latif did not doubt for a moment.

That this time, the pursuit unit would deal with the Special Task Force Company cleanly.

***

A few days later.

Finally, the Imperial vanguard battalion formed a new pursuit unit and dispatched it.

And this situation was relayed to the Allied vanguard battalion, which had been closely watching the opponent's movements.

Tobias gathered all the battalion's officers in the meeting barracks and spoke.

“It seems the Special Task Force Company has succeeded in their rear disturbance operation, as a large-scale movement of the enemy has been detected. I'd like to make good use of this opportunity. Does anyone have any good ideas?”

At Tobias's question, a company commander stepped forward.

“There's no need to think complicatedly at a time like this. The most effective method is to quickly strike the enemy with a direct attack.”

Certainly, the strength of the Allied vanguard battalion was currently very solid.

It was only natural, as they had succeeded in the rear disturbance operation through the Special Task Force Company without a single loss of troops.

Therefore, in a situation like this, it was not a bad method to crush the enemy with the difference in strength without resorting to other tricks.

For that reason, there were many who agreed with the recent opinion of launching a direct attack.

But not everyone wanted a direct attack.

Bent stepped forward and opposed the direct attack.

“It is true that our forces' strength exceeds that of the enemy's, but it is not at a level where we can guarantee victory. Defense is inherently easier than offense. At times like these, we need to approach a little more cautiously. Above all, there must be a reason why the enemy confidently formed a large-scale force.”

Bent's opinion also had a point.

There must be something they were relying on to have raised a large-scale force, knowing full well that the Special Task Force Company was carrying out a rear disturbance operation.

Above all, Tobias, unlike his bandit-like appearance, did not prefer frontal confrontations.

He liked to devise ingenious military strategies to surprise the opponent and gain a large advantage.

For that reason, he was more inclined to a cautious approach, like Bent's proposal.

But he soon changed his mind.

It was because he didn't know when he would get another chance if he missed the current one.

“It is true that defense is easier than offense. But we cannot afford to miss an opportunity by being overly cautious. We must crush the enemy's main force before the pursuit unit finishes its business with the Special Task Force Company and returns. Therefore, prepare to advance quickly.”

Thus, the Allied vanguard battalion also began to show serious movements.

Tobias watched the officers scatter out of the barracks to prepare for the advance and thought.

‘They seem to have succeeded in the rear disturbance somehow, but in the end, they won't be able to return alive, right?’

Just like Latif, even Tobias did not consider the survival of the Special Task Force Company.