CHAPTER 146

Crows flying everywhere.

Even now, the magic signals from Dorothea were still sparkling.

Sinister news was flying towards Bayezid's army heading towards Demar.

"It's an urgent message from Bayezid."

Dorothea, with the characteristic pointed ears of the beastmen pricked up, looked at Rutger without being able to hide her worried expression.

"A summon from the Vatican has just arrived for Lady Oksana..."

It was a mother's effort to care for her sick son, but from someone's perspective, it seemed like an evil act.

Oksana, who had been arbitrarily judged by those who only saw what they wanted to see, had been unjustly treated.

Even though she shouldn't have been.

"Father."

"..."

Deomar is just around the corner.

It was only half a day's journey to reach the battlefield, yet ominous news continued to arrive.

Spies scattered everywhere, the Vatican baring its teeth, and even the surrounding lords bordering their territories.

Everyone warned in unison that a great crisis was looming over Sturma.

"We must return."

Receiving even the crow sent from the northernmost edge, Peter solemnly spoke, his expression firm.

"But, Count, if we retreat now, Josef will be left alone."

Upon hearing Peter's words about the need to return, Rutger vehemently began to oppose, insisting that they couldn't leave Josef behind like this.

"I don't know about Deomar, but we must bring Josef back. If you grant me soldiers..."

Perhaps it was because of the urgent situation.

Though it was just a little, there was sincerity radiating from Rutger.

They were brothers destined to fight since birth, but at this moment, they were both Bayezid.

"Worry not. I won't leave Josef alone."

"What?"

Rutger's eyes widened when he saw a faint smile on Peter's face.

The count's mistress had been summoned to the Vatican, and now that the central army was threatening Sturma, Peter only looked relaxed.

"The essence of war is to hinder what the enemy is trying to do."

The victory in war depends solely on how many resources one pushes into the established frontlines.

Therefore, Sigmund and Dragulia had been using the same tactic to separate Bayezid's main army and the Hainal army.

Through a significant threat that couldn't be ignored.

"Now that we're sure of the enemy's intentions, it's become easier to respond."

Peter folded the last letter sent by the Iron Duke.

The anger that had been stored up until now began to appear in his black eyes.

"We must return swiftly. We might already be late."

With these words, Peter's gaze was fixed on a distant place.

It was a slightly different direction from the one they had been heading so far.

※※※※

"······For this reason, Bayezid's Josef must come out and apologize for his past rudeness! I hope Baroness Alicia will show respect for the West through this marriage!"

A knight from the West, running in front of the castle walls, waving a white flag representing a messenger, shouting loudly.

Vlad couldn't help but admire the courage of the knight, though he couldn't know his name, for boldly speaking out amidst numerous enemies.

"Why? What?"

However, the soldiers around didn't seem to share the same sentiment.

Hainal soldiers began to look at Vlad with displeased expressions, as if silently urging him to speak up.

"Hmm... You insolent bastard. What's your name?"

It wasn't just the subtle pressure weighing on him.

It was a commander's duty to consider the morale of the soldiers.

"How dare you insult the Baroness! Reveal your name, you rude bastard!"

"Sir Vlad is asking for your name!"

The words that started out as Vlad's quiet muttering became waves and began to echo through the soldiers and the walls of the castle.

"I'm watching you! Lady Alicia's knight! You!"

"If we meet on the battlefield, I'll split you into pieces!"

Not only the knight who had come to declare war but even Vlad himself was taken aback by the sudden outburst of cursing soldiers.

He hadn't expected things to escalate to this extent.

Whether it was due to his mood or not, it felt like he could sense Josef's gaze from afar.

"Ha!"

As he watched the enraged Deomar soldiers, Vlad suddenly realized that this couldn't go on like this, and an arrow flew unexpectedly.

Though not aimed at taking lives, the arrow lodged in the horse's butt was enough to startle the messenger.

"He has been hit like a fool!"

"Go out and kill him!"

Gaidar's intention to pressure the opponent through the declaration of war had shattered into pieces.

Gaidar's knight runs towards the horse that ran away first.

The sight of him running after falling from the horse and twitching as if he had hurt himself just looked comical.

".....Well, this escalated quickly."

Under the most splendid banner, Josef, observing the battlefield from atop the castle walls, scratched his forehead in frustration as he watched the Gaidar army beginning to move from a distance.

"That's talent, no doubt. He moved 5,000 with just a few words."

".....I'll have a word with him later."

The Gaidar army gradually approached from the edge of the plain.

At first glance, the siege tower, built as high as the castle wall, was visible.

"They've prepared thoroughly."

Dozens of siege weapons lined up. The only consolation is that catapults cannot be used because it is a place without rocks.

"Set the arrows on fire."

But it wasn't just Gaidar who had prepared thoroughly.

Archers began to light their arrows from torches.

Only now did the arrows of the Hainal army rise towards the sun.

"Not yet."

Josef calmly measures the distance and checks the range.

Josef knew very well that when it comes to fortifying, there is no attack as sure as the arrow fired at the beginning.

Seize the most valuable opportunity with utmost certainty.

"Here they come."

"Not yet."

The shouts of the Gaidar army could be heard from up ahead.

The usurpers from the West charged forward, each brandishing their shields.

Some swift-footed ones had already reached the bottom of the castle walls.

"Now!"

Suddenly, the leading edge of the siege tower wavered.

Recognizing the moment, Josef shouted loudly and signaled.

It's a trap! The enemies have laid a trap!

This is insane! We just crossed over a moment ago!

Traps triggered by weight.

The traps, dug deep like pitfalls, now revealed themselves and were swallowing up Gaidar's siege weapons in one gulp.

From above, the flaming arrows turned into rain, descending fiercely from the sky.

※※※※

"...What's his name?"

"He's Josef, the second son of Bayezid."

Sigmund sat on his horse, looked at the battlefield, and burst out laughing.

"He's not quite in his right mind either."

Aaargh! Arrows!

The siege tower is on fire! Put out the flames!

Countless traps laid everywhere, to the point where it seemed insane.

Chuckling at the dense array of traps, Sigmund couldn't help but laugh ironically.

Such antics might be cowardly or cunning, but once it escalated to this extent, it was something that had to be acknowledged.

"It seems they had blindfolded us."

The reason Peter released a special unit to disrupt the rear was not simply to cut off supply.

Scouts acting as eyes on the battlefield.

Many of the Western scouts, who should have been scouting the battlefield earlier, were too busy chasing after units like Vlad's assault team, failing to discover the current situation.

"Avoid the collapsed areas and send them back. It's just a matter of stalling for time anyway."

"Understood, my lord."

However, even though the damage was greater than expected, Sigmund did not lose his composure.

In siege warfare, casualties on the attacking side were inevitable.

Rather than being pressured by the process, Sigmund chose to focus on the outcome.

"After all, we just need to get over the walls."

Deomar's walls are low, and there's no particularly obstructive terrain.

Furthermore, there was almost a fivefold difference in numbers, with 1,300 against 5,000.

Moreover, his own soldiers were seasoned veterans who had fought countless battles and gained experience, so this battle was merely a matter of time.

The traps set frantically actually revealed the anxiety of the defenders.

"No matter how long you wait, your father won't come. It's truly pathetic."

No lord would willingly surrender capital.

Peter will not give up Sturma just to protect Deomar, someone else's land.

"The first siege tower. It has reached the wall."

"Yeah. I see it."

As reported by Godin, one siege tower, charred black, had managed to snugly reach the walls of Deomar.

Seeing the bewildered figure on the castle wall beginning to murmur, Sigmund simply smiled while stroking his thick chin.

※※※※

The siege tower is coming!

Shoot arrows! Kill them before they get over here!

"Hmm..."

Vlad took a calm deep breath as he looked at the siege tower approaching directly in front of him.

Despite being engulfed in flames, the massive body didn't stop.

The siege tower, filled with malice, was fully occupied by Gaidar's soldiers, crouching behind their shields.

"Sir Vlad!"

"I know."

The mercenary leader, Stefan, used his experience to assist Vlad.

"Are there any other enemies nearby besides them?"

"No, no! None!"

However, his superior, who was clearly inexperienced, was maintaining a much calmer appearance than expected.

'...He's a born fighter.'

There were occasionally individuals like him.

People whose blood is naturally suited to the battlefield.

Some individuals were just too well-suited for the battlefield to be described as merely strong in combat.

"The siege tower has reached us!"

"You bastards! Die all of you!"

Finally, the Gaidar knights burst out of the burning wooden door that had just reached the wall.

"I am Gaidar's...! Argh!"

One of Gaidar's knights roared, releasing the pent-up rage.

However, he was only pushed into the tower by a harsh kick without even being able to utter his own name.

"Stefan."

"Yes!"

"Close the door."

"What?"

A knight was pushed into the siege tower with a loud crashing sound.

Soon, Vlad followed him and ran into the tower, where his blue eyes turned bright red.

"Lock the siege tower door."

Amidst the screams and shouts filling the siege tower, Vlad stepped forward without hesitation.

"What were you saying earlier? What's your name?"

Vlad, who had decided to become the unwelcome guest of the invaders before they could reach him, stood tall in the fiery siege tower, his left eye burning white.

※※※※

Rose's Smiles in Shoara.

The red-haired madam there couldn't hide her smile as she finally picked up the letter handed to her.

"No, why did he have to write it on a shaking ship? He said he was too busy to write until now."

"Vlad must have been quite insistent."

Harven scratched his head in response to the sharp barb from Zemina, then took a seat.

The table on the fourth floor, where only valued guests could sit.

There, a fragrant drink was already prepared for the captain who brought welcome news.

"Anyway, it's true that he wrote it."

"...Hmph. Who cares what I think."

Contrary to her words, Zemina's trembling hands tore open the letter Vlad had sent.

Her headpiece sparkled under the chandelier, radiant enough that no one could imagine her past appearance.

In front of the beautifully blooming Rose's Smiles, the knight's letter to Lady Zemina began to unfold.

Amidst the crooked handwriting, traces of someone missed dearly were engraved.

※※※※

To Zemina,

I'm doing well.

-What the hell is wrong with that crazy bastard!

-Kill him! Kill him!

It's a bit dizzying on this rocking ship, but still manageable.

-The siege tower is shaking!

-That lunatic broke the ladder!

I've had various missions, but they were all trivial things, and there'll be a war soon anyway, so there's no need to worry much.

After all, I'm like an escort knight for Lord Josef, so I won't go too deep into danger.

That means it's safe.

-Sir Vlad! You need to come out now!

-The siege tower is collapsing!

So don't worry too much, and I'll see you in Shoara later.

That's all for now.

※※※※

Although it was daytime, a chilly wind swept through cold plains.

Bodies were piled up among the fallen flags everywhere.

While both the living and the dead were silent, there was one man who could only groan.

"Urgh! Cough!"

"I'll ask again. Where are we?"

A knight with striking red hair. However, Ladhu's hair was now a mess of darker red than its original color.

"The North... We're in the North."

"Right. This is the North."

A faintly colored head for his age. But as lively as his expression was, Tymur, the Lion of the North, had more vitality.

"But why did you ignore me in the North? Was I funny?"

"Argh!"

Ladhu was once again thrown into the wet mud by a rough hand, his neck turning pale as he struggled to breathe.

"You redhead bastard, even though you were born with dragon's blood, you only inherited half of it. Listen well."

"Kch! Kuep!"

Tymur's arm just stands firm despite the aura that Ladhu emitted with all his strength in order to survive.

A cruel smile began to form on the Lion's face, as he brought death's blade to the puppy's throat.

"I already knew that the emperor lying in the imperial capital was nothing but a carcass."

"······!"

Ladhu's hands began to clench the mud fiercely in response to Tymur's words. His rough movements indicated that he was reaching his limit.

"Puff! Cough!"

As the heavy pressure pressing down on his head disappeared, Ladhu finally managed to crawl out of the mud.

"Heh, heh."

Around his desperately raised head were flags of various colors, each representing the lords of the North. 

There was no mercy in the lord's eyes as he coldly looked down at the dragon.

"When did this all start······."

Tymur's white teeth began to sneer at the dragon who now grasped the situation. But regret, whether early or late, was irrelevant.

The countless corpses of soldiers heading towards Sturma would never rise again, despite Ladhu's belated regret.

"I'll spare your life. So go and tell your father."

"Kwaaaaaak!"

Tymur's sword was drawn so swiftly that it seemed Ladhu barely noticed. Its tip pierced through Ladhu's palm, embedding deeply into the ground.

"I shall no longer pledge allegiance to the empire without a rightful emperor."

The dragon is crying in the face of death. And the northern lion is smiling at that sight.

His smile, which had been hidden for a long time, was shining brightly.

This is Northern land filled with suppressed cries and cold silence, and the laws of the empire no longer held sway here.

[T/L: Read more chapters here: - https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]