129 – Expedition (3)
The western part of the continent is often called Demon Territory.
The area between the border of the empire guarded by the Grand Duke of Ilencia and the ‘sea that cannot go any further.’
A territory of extinction whose name cannot be found anymore – high-ranking demon kings of the same rank have gathered in the demon territory.
The Spear Point Knights set out for the demon spirit.
The size of the expeditionary force, including the knights, was approximately 5,000. It was a number created by hiring troops and mercenaries from within the Grand Dukedom.
It could be said that the expeditionary force was small for an expeditionary force heading towards ‘Demon Territory’ rather than anywhere else, but that was not necessarily the case.
First of all, the quality of the troops was high.
There is no need to say that the Spear Point Knights can be considered the best in the empire, and only well-trained elite soldiers were selected from ordinary soldiers.
Of course, the hired mercenaries were seasoned veterans.
‘Above all, there are only four master-level troops in this expeditionary force.’
Swordmasters from the western garrison participated in the vanguard at the forefront.
Sirien and I were in the main unit in the center, and Isha was in the rear where the supply route was connected.
Our goal is to subdue the demon king Eligos.
Since there was no intention to conquer the Demon Territory, there was no need to consider occupation, and the mobility of the troops had to be kept in mind in order to break through the enemy lines and carry out the beheading operation.
As it was a carefully constructed expeditionary force, there was no hesitation in our advance.
The leading white horse fluttered its pure white mane.
The sound of horses’ hooves was heard from all directions, spreading majestically and shaking the ground, and a cool breeze blew through my helmet.
“There’s nothing special about the demon spirit! “I thought we’d be swarmed by monsters as soon as we came out of the castle walls!”
“If there was room, wouldn’t it have been all pushed into Kamigin by now? “It might be a more leisurely expedition than you think!”
“Well. From experience, things have never worked out easily, so I’m not entirely sure. “It should look like a good start.”
Sirien rode his horse vigorously for the first time in a long time.
As it was before, a well-behaved cat gets on the stove first.
Perhaps because it was the first time he felt the wind in a long time, he seemed a little excited.
Next to Sirien was a familiar face.
Dersian Eschik. He was a future swordsman.
As soon as Dersian heard that we were heading to the Demon Territory, he expressed his desire to join us.
The incident in which he became a swordsman in the future was a matter of life and death with Isha. The unforgettable sword and life-threatening experience served as an opportunity for awakening.
However, now Isha and Dersian had become quite close beyond just being spherical.
In other words, the Sword Saint awakening event in the original has long since disappeared.
In order for Dersian to grow, another opportunity was needed. Perhaps he himself felt that his growth had slowed down recently.
In the end, it is experience that promotes the growth of prosecutors. Dersian’s current expedition clearly had such intentions.
I probably didn’t come simply because I wanted to see Isha.
…… Maybe.
I felt something in the feeling that had expanded for a while.
Feeling soggy and unclean. It was the typical presence of a monster.
“There is a group of monsters in the northeast direction based on the main unit. The number…… I vaguely feel like it’s about a hundred and fifty. There seem to be a few upper grades mixed in as well. “Given the direction of movement, fighting will be inevitable.”
“It’s an ambiguous number. “I want to organize it in advance, but what is the possibility that it is bait?”
“The advance team has already entered the front, and an ambush seems impossible on the flanks due to the terrain.”
“Then let’s deal with it before it reaches the infantry. As for personnel…… Dersian Eschik. “Select fifty spearhead knights and one hundred mercenary cavalry and go.”
“Yes…… !”
Dersian escaped to the side.
Soon some of his men broke away and followed Dercian.
Sirien slowly watched the scene and then moved his army again.
Dersian’s skills are still at a not bad level.
Like the previous Isha, she does not have the courage to become a sword master or show crazy growth.
However, we were steadily making ‘today better than yesterday’.
And with Dersian’s participation in the war, something became certain.
In the original work, the pro-demon actions shown by the male leads are entirely influenced by the female lead.
Although it may be unknown to those who haven’t met him yet, even the Crown Prince, who used to take a fairly hard line, has now helped us.
There is something.
A secret that was not even given a clue in the original work is still moving slowly somewhere in the world.
For some reason, I had a feeling that something would change during this expedition.
* * *
The night of this world is dark.
The only thing I can rely on is the starlight and moonlight in the sky.
The twinkling star was as beautiful as a jewel, but a jewel cannot be used as a torch.
It was of no help in illuminating the road in front of us.
The second night after the expedition began. Other than encountering a few hordes of monsters, there hasn’t been much combat so far.
And judging from experience, attacks by demons are usually at the moment when people are most at ease.
It used to start at a time when there was thick darkness, making it difficult to be alert.
For example, an old moon night with faint moonlight like today.
It was a time when the only sight of the demons was not even a snub, and the soldiers were relaxed due to continued victories and leisurely battles.
“They said they would kill the devil. “I don’t think I’ll be able to go back without seeing a single demon like this.”
“Tsk, you’re saying such things in an unfair manner. “I’ve never seen anyone say something like that on the battlefield and survive.”
“What do you mean by the sound of injustice? Something like, ‘After this fight is over, I will propose to her.’ Wow, how many years of experience have you had, but do you still believe in such superstitions?”
The mercenary laughed.
They were elites who had fought through the most brutal battlefields over and over again.
I survived a defeat that turned into a war of annihilation, and I broke through a solid siege.
Death no longer gave them fear.
Risk is like a companion who is always with you. It was a veteran’s characteristic to be relaxed even on a battlefield like this.
Anyway, there isn’t much time left until the shift ends. Now all that remains is for the two mercenaries to go back and sleep.
“You’re late. “It’s almost time for my shift.”
“I’m missing things these days. In my time, if my seniors were waiting, I would get ready 30 minutes before my shift…… “
However, death always comes without warning.
Around the time the burning bonfire drives away the chill. The mercenary had been complaining for a while, but instead of a voice, a spear blade came out of his mouth.
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Of course, since iron does not grow in the human body, the source of the spear blade had to be found elsewhere.
The colleague I was talking to did not feel sad about the death of his close friend.
Rather than that, get a weapon first. Instinctively, I retrieved the spear I was holding and the first thing I did was check the enemy’s appearance.
“Enemy attack! It’s an enemy attack! “The demons have attacked!”
Since our troops have been attacked, the first thing to do is to announce the attack.
It was truly a veteran response. His misfortune was only that he did not notice the enemy behind him.
The first battle of the expedition began with two corpses.
Generally, the rest that people think of begins with sleep.
And sleep usually began at night, so Hybras’ divinity was stronger at night than during the day.
So the guardian of Hybras was not restricted by the darkness of night.
The wind stretched out and tore through the campground.
The hand that was trying to suffocate an ally is cut off, and the cornered soldier raises his sword and fights back, albeit belatedly.
Dersian appeared to be trying to take care of the damage to his allies first, and Sirien’s divinity was spreading as if surrounding the camp.
This is intended to block the enemy’s escape.
Eligos will not have much power available to us, so it is highly likely that his purpose is to kill time.
If you let the enemies go this time, they will definitely become annoying.
It would definitely be that kind of judgment.
“It’s fire! “The enemies are setting fire to the camp!”
“The infantry unit protects weapons and food, and the spearhead knights focus on annihilating the enemy. “I will not let my enemies live.”
In that case, it would be better for me to focus on Sirien.
Since it is important to increase enemy damage, we decided to attack the enemy from the outside.
If something goes wrong, enemies might flock towards me, but I was confident I could handle it.
With the great sword at the forefront, he advanced as if crushing the enemies.
A sensation at the fingertips. The impression of cutting down the enemy was that it was quick rather than heavy.
Each of them seemed to be quite quick in their judgment, so they tried to find a way out first rather than deal with me.
‘A capable scout. It has enough power to roll on a separate road.’
If the opponent is this elite, it is impossible to expect immediate annihilation.
Sirien’s divinity began to act like a barrier to block the retreat, but the enemies had already realized their failure and chose to flee.
It was a little too late to process everything.
“Ugh! Three sword masters in an army like this? You came with a very deliberate plan, you humans. Everyone retreat! “We will meet again at the second gathering point!”
“That guy seems to be the leader.”
Okay. The goal has been set.
Gather strength in your toes and leap towards the enemy commander.
Small cracks appear in the ground that cannot withstand the force, and broken stones and soil scatter into the air.
The enemy commander saw me belatedly and raised his weapon, but my sword strike with this much force was impossible to defend against.
Soon the demon’s body split into two.
It was my first major on the expedition.