Chapter 14 - Chapter 2: Alliance #5 (1/2)

Chapter 14 - Chapter 2: Alliance #5

After leaving Caitlin’s tent, In-gong walked with Carack and talked with him.

Carack nodded at the rough explanation like it was expected.

”Well, then it is another reconnaissance mission.”

”It is a little bit rushed but it will begin today. It should be kept secret from others.”

It was decided that the cave would be kept a secret from Caitlin and Chris’ troops. It was unlikely that the orcs, especially the Red Lightning tribe, would actively engage in espionage activities but there was still a chance.

The faster the passage in the cave was explored, the better it would be. Depending on where the passage in the cave connected to, the whole operation might change in the future.

Carack didn’t ask why and only nodded.

“Ah, I did some work while Prince was inside. I have recruited some troops today.”

”Recruited troops?”

Carack laughed at In-gong’s question.

”We received a lot of damage.”

The fight against Kaichin was a melee. It had been a one-sided fight until Carack killed Kaichin, so there were those who were seriously injured and died.

In-gong swallowed his saliva. It wasn’t because the damage was greater than he thought. Even if he was concerned with Aura, it was surprising that he hadn’t considered the deaths of the orcs until now.

‘Yes, a person is dead. People. It isn’t a game.’

In a game, the lives of the soldiers were just numbers. If he had enough resources, he could increase or decrease the numbers.

However, this wasn’t a game and each of them had their own lives.

After a moment, In-gong took a deep breath. It was unreasonable to pamper each soldier but he shouldn’t think of them casually like he had done previously. If he only thought of people as numbers, then he would be disqualified as a human.

In-gong controlled his heart and looked toward Carack again. Carack’s eyes were asking, ‘what are you thinking about this time?’

In-gong just shrugged.

“So, are the recruits coming?”

”Rather than that... Didn’t we used to have 30 troops? This has been increased to 50 people. It will take time for them to reach our base, so the numbers will be supplemented from Prince Chris’ camp.”

“Ohh?”

The troops had almost been doubled?

”It is due to Prince’s merits.”

Carack said pleasantly. In fact, In-gong was quite familiar with this situation.

Achievements would be rewarded. That was the basic formula of Knight Saga.

In-gong had distinguished himself by killing Kaichin and Kaidum as well as finding the cave. It was natural for rewards to be received.

‘In the first place, Shutra only received 30 orcs because he had no merits in the past.’

Despite all of them being children of the Demon King, Chris and Caitlin received two times more orcs than Shutra and even had their lycanthropes.

The reason was simple.

Chris and Caitlin had distinguished themselves as children of the Demon King.

'Well, I will build up my merits from now on.’

It was the power of infinite positivity and he would make it so.

In-gong formed a tight fist to express his resolve and asked Carack.

”Then did Carack receive anything separate?”

Although it was In-gong’s merit, Carack was technically the one who killed Kaichin. Carack laughed and tapped on his chest at In-gong’s question.

”I got a reward. And I received it from Prince.”

Carack proudly lifted the dwarf axe that In-gong gave him.

“I’m glad you like it.”

'I still have the items I packed for later. Should I bring out an armour?’

He had decided to carry on with Carack, so he should invest in him. It would be better for In-gong if Carack became stronger.

After having a chat with Carack and returning to the base, In-gong headed toward the cave with his newly joined forces.

&

The road to the cave was smooth. In the first place, it was close to Shutra’s base. It was also under Chris and Caitlin’s sphere of influence, thanks to Kaichin’s defeat.

‘A prince normally rides separately on a horse.’

Just like last time, In-gong walked next to Carack. Usually in games and movies, soldiers walked while nobility were on horseback.

‘That reminds me of something. Chris and Caitlin also seem to be walking around. Is it because they are lycanthropes?’

He used to ride on horses when playing Zephyr. It wasn’t an ordinary horse but a phantom steed that could fly in the sky.

‘I will use it later.’

In-gong, who had been thinking about the past (?), suddenly stopped walking. There were two people in black robes standing in the middle of the road.

“Caitlin noona?”

”Shush.”