CHAPTER 147

The soldiers of Gaidar cling to the walls like a swarm of bees.

The smell of boiling oil pouring down on them began to sting the nostrils sharply.

Aaaargh!

Screams that were unbearable to hear erupted from below.

A soldier falling while holding his melting face, and men plummeting to the ground.

It was a moment that encapsulated all the sentiments about war.

"Damn it."

Cade had no time to wipe away the streaming sweat as he had to load another arrow.

His fingers were already full of calluses, but now red blood was flowing down his fingertips.

Three days of relentless siege had been brutal enough to strip away hardened skin.

'I'd rather be back in that misty village.'

Cade thought back to his experiences in the foggy village as he silently reached for the next arrow.

With every arrow leaving his hand, someone inevitably fell, but it was only temporary.

5,000 against 1,300.

The theory that with the walls, they could withstand three times the force was futile in this situation.

This small fortress was not built to withstand such a large-scale war in the first place.

Sigmund's firm determination to conquer Deomar today was only making the situation more chaotic.

"You, you bastard!"

While Cade was momentarily distracted, a hand suddenly appeared from an empty ladder.

The hand, covered in blood, swept across Deomar's wall, successfully crawling up and over.

"You rat-like bastard. I've been watching you since earlier!"

A faint smoke-like substance was emanating from the left eye of the growling man.

A person who has built his own world. Evidence of his existence.

It was Aura.

"Die!"

"Argh!"

Swish!

Cade did his best to block it, but in the end it ended up creating a crack.

The fierce waves rushing in from that crack began to fiercely assault Cade.

"You bastard! You won't draw your sword till the end!"

The crack of the bow, accompanied by the laughter of the unnamed knight, was spreading.

Cade's pride and the cornerstone of his cherished world were crumbling.

"As expected, you spineless Northern folks. Acting like a knight even with such a pitiful bow!"

The Gaidar knight who scorned Cade for not using a sword.

But Cade's struggle to shake off his mockery was still feeble.

"Argh!"

In the end, the bow shattered as it was unable to withstand the blow infused with Aura.

The edge of the sword that Cade couldn't block grazed past his chest.

"I guess Northern knights are nothing special, just like the rumors say."

The eyes of the unknown knight looking down at Cade were filled with joy that could not be hidden.

Confirmation through the weak. 

The world, which he could only feel through others due to his lack of self-assurance, lingered at the tip of his sword.

"What's your name? Even if we go, we should exchange names first."

The Gaidar knight spitted on the blood-filled wall.

The tip of the knight's sword began to tremble in anticipation of the red color being painted over it again.

"What's your name, I asked. You bow bastard."

Even in the face of death, Cade was somehow smiling.

He was leaning against the wall with difficulty as he looked at the knight, his eyes looking slightly distant.

"Vlad of Shoara."

".....What?"

Squelch-

Gaidar knight asked the question to Cade, who was lying in front of him, but the answer came from behind.

A chilling response as the world began to turn upside down.

From the sky to the ground, from the ground to the sky.

The knight's gaze, spinning around, captured the Gaidar flag fluttering in the distance as its last sight.

Thunk-

"Cade, are you okay?"

"Heh, hehe..."

Cade, who was leaning against the wall, saw Vlad's appearance and just smiled weakly.

"Let's go quickly. Our side has been breached."

"....The walls are too small. It wasn't meant for a siege in the first place."

Vlad, supporting Cade, quietly nodded in response to his murmuring words.

Following behind were Stefan and Vlad's soldiers.

As they retreated, Gaidar's soldiers began to come up one by one.

"Let's regroup for now."

Vlad moved forward as he kicked away the head of the unnamed knight rolling on the ground.

Vlad didn't ask his name until the end.

He just looked at Gaidar's soldiers blocking his path.

Even now, the sound of ladders clinging to the wall incessantly echoed in Vlad's ears.

※※※※

"The right side of the wall has been breached! The Gaidar army is currently climbing the wall and heading towards the gate!"

"The gate won't hold much longer either. Unless we break their battering rams."

Josef remained silent, closing his eyes while keeping his ears open.

He could tell without having to hear reports coming from all over the place.

The ominous atmosphere mixed with the dull sounds.

It was the continuous pounding of Gaidar's rams against the gate.

"When will the reinforcements arrive? We've held out for three days!"

One of the Hainal knights couldn't contain his frustration any longer, slamming the table against the wall as if to vent his anger.

His armor was drenched in the enemy's blood.

The relentless onslaught of Gaidar soldiers seemed to gnaw away even at his patience.

"It is a bit late."

"..."

However, the voice responding to his frustration was eerily calm.

"We'll abandon the right side of the wall. Destroy the stairs leading down into the fortress."

"But!"

"We'll prepare for urban warfare from now on. As planned, we'll set fire to the houses near the wall."

Even amidst the incessant screams, Josef's handling of the situation remained composed.

Josef Bayezid was always someone who prepared for the worst.

"Are you going to abandon the wall?"

"Apologies, Sir Duncan."

Upon Josef's apology, Duncan simply lowered his head in resignation.

Though he wanted to say it shouldn't be so, the old knight knew well enough that the situation had reached its limit.

Anyone in the current situation would inevitably have to retreat.

"In the end, it has come to this."

They had to abandon Deomar.

Seeing the despair of the old knight who had devoted his life to Hainal, the other knights of Hainal could only hang their heads in defeat.

"...?"

For a moment, there was a faint sound echoing in Duncan's ears.

It was low enough to be barely audible even to someone deeply engrossed in their thoughts, yet it carried a profound resonance.

It was a strange sound that Duncan had never heard on the battlefield before.

".....It's a Fang trumpet. Crafted from the fang of a saber-tooth tiger, a beast native to the North."

"What?"

Duncan's eyes widened as if asking for further explanation, but Josef simply let out a small sigh and took his seat without elaborating further.

"I apologize. I didn't mention it earlier in case the plan leaked."

Now, up close, Duncan could see the young man clearly.

Fair complexion, darkened eye shadow.

It seemed that his efforts to appear calmer than anyone else were now visible.

"Ha…..."

I've grown old.

Finally grasping the situation, Duncan quietly closed his white eyelids.

How much had you endured?

For the certain moment to come, Josef had to take responsibility not only for the enemy's attacks but also for the fears of his troops.

That was the weight of a commander and the duty he had to bear as Bayezid.

"Whiskey?"

"Yes."

None of the Hainal knights present could bring themselves to be angry with Josef for deceiving them.

Josef's hand, holding the flask, trembled slightly.

The young man with black eyes had undoubtedly staked his life on Deomar's walls.

"It was something I cherished, and I'm grateful to have survived to drink it."

Indeed, warmed wine or lukewarm tea did not warm the soul like this.

Only this drink, which penetrated deep into the throat and set fire to the internal organs, made him truly feel alive.

Ooo- Oooooo-

From afar, the sound of trumpet rang out, resonating through the air of the battlefield, dispelling its heaviness as the cold northern wind swept in.

Josef raised a glass of whiskey that he had for the first time in a long time, accompanied by the familiar sounds of the North.

※※※※

"Hold on tight! Climb up!"

The fierce cry of the western conqueror.

Sigmund drew his sword himself and shouted madly.

"I will personally kill those who come down quietly! Stab something before coming down!"

With bloodshot eyes and a disregard for dignity, he ran around frantically, as if he had completely abandoned any semblance of composure.

Although he didn't look like a nobleman by any means, Sigmund had no intention of stopping.

"Today's the day! Today, we cross this damn wall!"

Though not refined, this was clearly one method of command.

Sigmund's passionate, almost insane gestures were undoubtedly harshly encouraging the soldiers.

"That's it. That's right."

Feeling the momentum of the battlefield shifting, Sigmund smiled warmly.

Clang! Clang!

From the weakening gate to the walls now filled with his own soldiers.

In the end, this was it.

No matter what kind of strategy the genius came up with, ultimately, one had to straightforwardly push the soldiers forward to suppress an opponent entrenched in a siege. 

And Sigmund was someone who had a clear advantage in that straightforwardness.

"Stand at the vanguard. Son. Go and restore your broken pride."

"Yes, Father."

At Sigmund's command, Stephen began to breathe heavily, somewhere between tension and excitement. 

His father's command clearly signaled the moment Stephen had long awaited.

If the sword that was taken from him wasn't there, he would bring back at least a sprig of mugwort.

"The gate has been breached!"

"Good!"

A siege could last for over a year. But Sigmund was confident in taking Deomar, and he had the strong troops to back up that confidence.

"Yet you endured stubbornly like a kid."

Sigmund smiled deeply as he looked at the charred walls of Deomar.

Although Bayezid's kid made efforts, the walls were not initially meant to withstand 5,000 troops.

Although he would have had to resort to evil while waiting for his father who did not come.

"Knights, listen! To the one who first cuts off Josef's head, I will give 300 gold coins!"

As the golden promise began, cheers echoed from all over. 

Along with cheers, Sigmund's voice spread, full of confidence.

"And to the one who brings Baroness Alicia..."

But he couldn't finish his sentence.

Ooo- Oooooo-

A sound like a beast's howl filled the air.

The chilling sound of the trumpet interrupted Sigmund's words.

Everyone had no choice but to turn around at the sudden sound.

"What... is that?"

A scene beyond belief unfolded before them.

The forest behind their formation.

From there, soldiers began pouring out onto the blackened plain.

There seemed to be at least 3,000 troops.

"No..."

Sigmund stared in disbelief, trying to wipe his eyes hastily, but his gaze remained fixed on the steadfast forces before him.

".....Did he abandon Sturma?"

He thought it was a trap Peter could not escape from.

Yet before him stood banners of those who should not have been there.

"Why?"

The North had been waiting for a long time. A time when they can stand up proudly, overcoming discrimination, contempt, and constant checks.

Dragulia and Gaidar's threats had merely hastened that moment.

"Bayezid! Why is Bayezid here!"

The fluttering banner of Bayezid ahead was the North's response to the West.

It spoke of how long Sturma's walls had endured, a testament to their patience.

※※※※

"As expected, we're a bit late."

Peter frowned as he gazed at the charred walls of Deomar.

However, the flag of Hainal still fluttered at the highest point of the wall, so it wasn't too late.

"You held out well."

It was undoubtedly a daunting task to maneuver such a large force of 3,000 troops around.

But it was probably better than Josef, who was holding out there.

Peter smiled bitterly as he thought of his second son, who had struggled so far.

"Son, lead the charge."

"Yes, father."

Rutger raised the spear he was holding at Peter's command.

The sharp tip of the spear aimed ahead.

There, the formation of the Gaidar army was waiting with the back wide open.

"I won't mince words! My knights, show them!"

Slowly, a deep anger began to rise in Peter's black eyes.

Those who dared to insult me, insult my wife, and torment my son.

Peter's icy anger transmitted through Bayezid's blood and into Rutger's heart.

"Show them who Bayezid is!"

Along with Peter's command, the knights' shouts began to ring out.

Bayezid's cavalry charged along the wide plains.

The Gaidar army, now just realizing their presence, scrambled to form a defensive line, but it was too late to stop the charging cavalry.

What's that! 

Why are they behind us! 

There's no escaping this!

Hundreds of horses charging towards them. And there was a wall behind them.

Rutger, who had closed his left eye, quietly flicked his spear with his finger.

"When you came in, you had your way."

The resonance from the depths of his world began to spread from the tip of his spear.

Rutger smiled quietly, anticipating the destruction that would soon hang on the tip of his spear.

"But it's not the same when you leave."

Argh!

Gaidar's soldiers were scattering like broken fragments.

The world of Rutger, which had cut through the hardest dragon, was rushing towards the Eagle of the West with fierce force.

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