Chapter 62 (1/2)
(TL: Well, here we are, folks. Thank you all for taking part in the poll. Although there are a few more hours left in the poll, I figured that the result won't change so I decided to release the unedited chapter.)
The Arden Fortress had not fallen yet. No, it was still bitterly defending itself. After receiving that message from Dylan, Teresa Hussey whipped her soldiers even more and increased the marching speed.
As they mounted the steep slope, they were soon greeted by the part of the mountain standing tall all by itself. It was the peak of the mountain, dyed crimson by the setting sun. It was the Dawn Peak.
Suddenly, the atmosphere had changed. Seol Ji-Hu had been running forward in silence until then, and when he ran past a certain, intangible ‘border', he sensed the air becoming much hotter than before.
It was a bit difficult to describe it in words, but he found it harder to breathe and his body felt lethargic, as well. It was as if he was subconsciously sensing the presence of something just past the peak.
He stopped momentarily and that delayed him just for a second or so. When he got to the peak, he found Dylan shaking his head while looking over the edge.
”It's a sea of ‘Bugs'. ‘c.o.c.kroaches' are flying everywhere, and…. even a ‘Medusa' is present, I see.” (Dylan)
”A Medusa?” (Cho Hong)
Cho Hong's face crumpled in an instant. Seol Ji-Hu sneaked to the peak and peeked over the edge, only to freeze up stiff in place. His jaw fell to the floor from the sheer astonishment.
”Oh, my G.o.d.”
”What in the world….”
That was someone's gasp of lamentation that also happened to perfectly capture the feelings of everyone present.
The fortress was built along the undulating bedrock, and was an enormous structure that boasted the walls as tall as eight metres high, but right now, its current status had fallen to the sorry, devastated sh.e.l.l of its former glory.
The once-smooth, pristine walls were now destroyed in several places, and most noticeably, the front gate, or what remained of it, was scorched jet-black and had been split into countless pieces, making it hard to tell what just happened to it.
Although it was blurry, the black dot-like things were in the middle of trying to rush past the now wide-open gateway. Besides those, one could also see countless large flying creatures spread around to every part of the fortress to hasten its destruction, or to simply fly around in confusion.
Within this confused maelstrom, the soldiers of the fortress were desperately defending that gateway with everything they had.
Every second mattered at this point.
”I'm telling you, you can't!!” (Teresa)
It was then, Teresa Hussey's sudden shout entered Seol Ji-Hu's ears. She was the first one to arrive at the peak, and now, she was in the middle of trying to convince the Earthlings.
”The fortress hasn't fallen to the enemies' hands yet! They are still defending it. We can definitely save them.” (Teresa)
”No, even if you say that….”
A man blurred the end of his sentence and sneakily avoided her gaze. Teresa's face reddened even further. She did her very best to suppress her rising anger and continued on with a relatively calm voice.
”We did our best to come here as soon as we could, yet the fortress walls have been destroyed. They are engaged in a middle of a battle, so we have no guarantee that we will be able to enter the fortress safely, too.” (Teresa)
”Indeed, that seems so.”
”That is why, we should sneak attack the Medusa from the back. Because the enemy is focused on this all-out attack, you can see that there aren't that many guarding it.” (Teresa)
”But, that is….”
The man displayed an unwilling expression.
”Looks like your highness isn't aware, but well, both the Bugs and c.o.c.kroaches are born from the mother body of the Medusa. Not to mention, a Medusa is the final evolved form within the ‘medium' cla.s.s, as well.”
”That is why I'm saying….” (Teresa)
”Importantly, Parasites have the characteristic of absolutely obeying the higher ranking ent.i.ty. However, how will they react when their ‘mother' is attacked? Every single one of those b*stards would be pouncing on us, their eyes all bloodshot and the like.”
Teresa glared at the man, her facial expression clearly implying ‘You think I don't know that already?'
”….There is only one high ranking ent.i.ty present here. As long as we sneak attack and quickly finish off the Medusa, we should be able to emerge victorious in no time at all.” (Teresa)
”However, that doesn't mean there are no other creatures guarding the target, isn't it? A single mistake will lead to failure. Meaning, everyone will end up dying.”
Even though Teresa desperately pleaded, the man still resolutely rejected her idea.
”So, how about doing things this way, princess? You form a detached force out of your army and sneak attack the Medusa. Meanwhile, the remaining forces secure an escape path and evacuate the folks from inside the fortress.”
‘This stupid b*stard!' (Teresa)
Curses crawled all the way up to the top of her throat, but Teresa managed to swallow them back down, just like how she'd gulp down her saliva. Did these b*stards come here to spectate or fight a war? She just couldn't understand it at all.
”What you're suggesting is basically to abandon the fort.” (Teresa)
”Let's just call it a tactical retreat, princess. You can gather a bigger force to reclaim it at a later date or, well, now that things have turned out this way, it doesn't seem like such a bad idea to just cut your losses.”
It was precisely at this point that Teresa gave up on talking to this man. Even as they were wasting time like this, her precious soldiers were dying down there. There was no meaning in dragging out this unproductive strategy meeting anymore.
She s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Dylan while hoping against hoping, but even he chose to remain quiet. Teresa bit her lower lip and spoke up with some determination.
”That, we will not do. We will simply continue on with the strategy as discussed previously.” (Teresa)
The man immediately displayed signs of dissatisfaction.
”Are you disregarding our opinions again? Trying to do whatever you want, is it?”
Teresa looked back at her silently-waiting soldiers. Although there were only a few hundreds of them, every single one was an experienced, wizened veteran who had fought and survived several years of constant warfare. She gazed at them with apologetic eyes, her voice sounding powerless.
”My soldiers and I will stand in front to carve out a path. In the meantime, concentrate your firepower on the Medusa.” (Teresa)
”Well, we can certainly do that much, supporting you from the rear.”
”Wow. I'm so grateful that I might break down and start crying.” (Teresa)
Teresa finally voiced her own dissatisfaction and turned around. Cho Hong had been staring at her with narrowed eyes until then, before she suddenly searched around for someone.
Seol Ji-Hu was still staring at the fortress, while kneeling down on one knee.
”…..Seol?” (Cho Hong)
When she looked a bit closer, his condition didn't seem so good. He was sweating buckets, and his breathing was laboured, too. Not only that, his brows were raised up high as well.
‘….Could it be?' (Cho Hong)
Every now and then, you'd find some people like him.
War was fundamentally on a different realm compared to explorations or expeditions. No, it was a b.l.o.o.d.y, messy battle to the finish, where different races holding different views put their lives on the line just to kill the other side. However, there were those who failed to realise this fact and took part, only to get scared sh*tless by the brutality of it all and display some unsettling psychological reactions, instead.
‘So, why did you even follow us here, then?!' (Cho Hong)
Cho Hong hurriedly trod to where he was and cautiously placed her hand on his shoulder.
”Hey, Seol.” (Cho Hong)
Even though someone spoke to him, Seol Ji-Hu couldn't tear his eyes off from the battlefield.
Jet-black smokes rose up to the sky. He wasn't even close, yet the smells of burning, and metallic odour of blood seemed to fill up the air.
‘Again….' (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu watched on as if he had been bewitched, before gently placing his hand on his chest. His heart that he worked so hard to calm down was pounding incredibly hard again - even harder and faster than when he met Teresa Hussey for the first time.
”Are you felling okay?” (Cho Hong)
”This can't go on.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”What? What can't go on?” (Cho Hong)
Cho Hong had spoken out of worry, but she flinched slightly and backed away. Seol Ji-Hu abruptly pushed himself up.
‘The fortress must not fall.' (Seol Ji-Hu)
He didn't know why, but this was the feeling he got. Just like all those months ago when he met Kim Hahn-Nah for the first time as she was trying to sucker him in, his emotions were violently opposing this. They were telling him to do something, anything.
He could almost, just barely, remember something. His eyelids trembled. His breathing quickened, and the nearly-forgotten deja vu began gripping him a bit by bit again. He spun his head around, but he wasn't looking at Cho Hong.
A short while later.
As he stared at the Teresa's utterly forlorn-looking back for a little while….
”…….Ah.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
The feelings that were on the precipice of his reach suddenly came cras.h.i.+ng in and caused his chest to tumble. His body physically quaked hard, just as much as his emotions.
He instinctively activated his ‘Nine Eyes' and cast his glance down below once more. The ruined Arden Fortress was glowing in the colour of gold.
‘The Golden Commandment.'
He now understood it.
Once, before he was facing the Gaeg-gwi in the a.s.sembly hall.
Another, when breaking past the second floor of the school….
And finally….
[Your innate ability, ‘Future Vision' has been activated.]
Seol Ji-Hu's eyes began sparkling brilliantly.
”Hold on, please.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Teresa's steps came to a halt. Her sorrowful face turned to greet the youth. Seol Ji-Hu scythed past the gathering eyes and hurried with his steps.
”That tactic is too dangerous.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Teresa's expression crumpled as if to imply ”No, not this sh*t again!”
”G.o.d d*mn it! I know that, too! But we can't afford to waste anymore time!” (Teresa)
”I understand that you're feeling urgent, but….” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Seol Ji-Hu calmly carried on.
”Even if you succeed, your combat force will suffer significant losses. It'll be the same with you as well, your highness.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”….What did you say?” (Teresa)
Teresa's forehead creased up. Rather than her getting angry, it was more like she couldn't really believe what she was hearing instead.
The man who was chuckling in secret angrily opened his mouth at the sudden intrusion of this hindrance.
”Who the h.e.l.l are you again?”
”Stop.” (Ian)
Ian raised his hand. He may not be a upper rank Earthling, but still, he was a level 4 Sorcerer. Not only that, he was also someone who could exercise some authority within the groups of both Earthlings and the Paradisers.
”Seol, from the way you say it, you must have thought up of a better plan.” (Ian)
”I have thought of something, yes.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”In that case, allow me to ask you a question.” (Ian)
Ian asked quietly.
”Warfare is quite a different beast from expeditions. You see, as a strategiser, you're risking hundreds and thousands of lives if we're talking about a small scale, and hundreds of thousands, even millions, in a greater scale conflict. Are you aware of this fact before trying to offer up your strategy?” (Ian)
”Yes.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Ian's expression dimmed slightly. After a bout of silence lasting for 4, maybe 5 seconds, he continued on.
”…….I've witnessed your capabilities with my own eyes, but I still need to ask you again. Do you truly believe that your plan is worth a shot?” (Ian)
”Before answering that, I'd like to ask you one thing as well. Master Ian, by any chance, do you know a certain spell, ‘this' one?” (Seol Ji-Hu) (TL: the author didn't ”specify” which spell it is.)
”A certain spell?”
When Seol Ji-Hu asked back, Ian slowly nodded his head.
”I should be able to perform it. If you can give me enough time to Memorise it, as well as to prepare the potions, then, well….. Wait a minute.” (Ian)
Suddenly, he began blinking non-stop.
”M-my man, could you be thinking of…?!” (Ian)
”That's a relief. If you can indeed perform it, then we'll be able to decimate over half of the enemy's forces without sacrificing anyone from our side. As long as everything unfolds according to plan, that is.” (Seol Ji-Hu)
Ian let out a soft gasp.
”I'd like to hear this plan of yours now.” (Ian)
”High highness, do you have the map of the valley?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
At the youth's sudden question, Teresa hesitated slightly. She only now recognised this young man as the level 1 Warrior she met at the crossroad earlier on.
Right now, every second and every minute was precious to her, but Ian's reaction spoke volumes. Even Dylan, who had been maintaining a neutral stance until now, was approaching closer with some interest in his face.
Just who was this Earthling??
”If it's a map, yes, I obviously have it.” (Teresa)
Teresa was stuck in a dilemma, but in the end, she pulled out the map. If there was a way to not sacrifice any of her men, but still shave the enemy's forces by half, then she'd not ask for anything more. However, could there really be a method as wonderful as that?
Teresa unfurled the map and spread it out. Meanwhile, Seol Ji-Hu quickly scanned the land around him. The surrounding topography was filled with several precipitous inclines that truly deserved the label ‘valley'; on the ground below, many narrow alleys could be seen, with countless smaller roads spreading out from them like spider's web.
”How many paths from the Dawn Peak to the fortress, your highness?” (Seol Ji-Hu)
”That is….” (Teresa)