[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 307: Into the Quagmire

I used the ability of absorption to inhale all sorts of spirit medicines from Eisenach that I had packed in advance.

“It feels like I’m absorbing it through my skin. This is better than eating it.”

The ability to absorb medicine just as one absorbs poison is a function of the Dark Mana.

“The effect is definite.”

Even receiving the prayers of a high priest would not have healed me this quickly.

‘Anyway, that bastard Ivan.’

He could have gone a little easier on me. I really almost died.

‘Well, if that bastard had really used his full power, it would have been impossible for me to endure 100 exchanges.’

It was true that we had fought at a level that would make even Gulbark uncertain.

The scene of the fight was an absolute mess.

‘And it’s also true that I was getting stronger in real-time.’

By the time we had passed the 90th exchange, I realized that the gap between Ivan and me had narrowed even further.

‘Next time we meet, I’ll be able to endure 100 exchanges even if he attacks me seriously.’

Therefore, while recuperating by absorbing the energy of the herbs, I was also reviewing the fight with Ivan.

‘To cut is, in the end, to see the grain of the opponent.’

A truly enlightened person would be able to see through their opponent without even raising sword aura.

‘…And if that happens, I will be able to cut the enemy down without necessarily holding a sword.’

In other words, the level of the Mind Sword.

‘Mind Sword, Sword Control, Sword Orb.’

I thought about the levels of the sword that Leszek had shown, levels that even Ivan had not yet reached.

‘Let’s not be hasty.’

If Leszek, a genius who had lived as a seeker of the truth, had reached that level after training for 100 years…

Wouldn’t it be the heart of a thief for me to want to catch up to that achievement in an instant? Of course, I am a bit of a shameless bastard by nature.

‘By the way.’

I looked at the coin Ivan had thrown and left behind.

“Does anyone know what this is?”

“…I’m not sure.”

It was a very old coin with a strange crest engraved on it.

“Does it have some meaning?”

“I’ve never seen this crest before.”

However, there was one person who recognized the crest: Regeron.

“This looks like the crest of a certain noble clan. A very old one, at that, with almost no records remaining.”

“How old are you talking about when you say old?”

“It seems to be at least 300 years old. In the very old days, they enjoyed using ornate crests like this.”

“As expected of an agent of the shadow division. Excellent.”

“You are too kind.”

Only then was I sure of what this coin was.

‘It’s their family’s.’

The clan of Ivan, who had been defeated by the exiles and became slaves.

It was clear that he had left behind their symbol.

‘…Is it true that all men are, in their own way, slaves to someone?’

The noble is a slave to the king.

The king is also merely one who reigns in balance, mediating between those nobles and his subjects.

‘Without vassals, a king cannot be a king. What a paradox.’

I thought about the restriction magic that remained in the bodies of Ivan and Skella.

‘Perhaps.’

When I have achieved the extreme limits of training in the Silent Night Soul-Soaking Divine Art, I might be able to absorb and destroy even restriction magic, just as I absorb poison.

‘If so, Ivan’s favor will truly become his own salvation.’

…I raise my head.

From here on was the king’s domain.

‘The two upper streams of the Lindela River.’

One led to the Valkenhain Duchy, and the other was the path to the domain of the King of Litvaleur.

We had already passed the fork in the river a few days ago and were on our way to the royal capital.

‘The mood is heavy.’

The atmosphere was subdued, with each person dealing with the shock of Ivan’s martial prowess, the shame of their own complete defeat, and the powerlessness of not being able to intervene in my fight with Ivan.

‘It’s understandable.’

But if they compared themselves to Ivan when he was as young as them, they actually had no reason to feel this way.

‘Not to mention Ulbhild, who has already surpassed the 7th tier wall.’

Knut, Ghir, and Rudgarda, who had all entered the late 6th rank in their twenties, had achieved enough to surpass Ivan at their age.

‘Ivan only surpassed the 7th rank after he was in his thirties.’

But it was not like I could tell them this.

‘Above all, considering that I, the youngest here, fought on equal terms with that Ivan for a considerable time…’

It was better to just stay quiet.

‘It’s tough being a genius.’

In any case, inner demons were something one had to overcome on their own. There was not much I could say to help.

“…Well, the time has come to finalize our strategy.”

I said, looking around at the assembly.

“Regeron.”

“Yes.”

Regeron, who was in charge of communications with Benion, stood up on the deck.

Swoosh

The sound of the ship cutting through the water was quiet. In a strange silence, we began our discussion.

“At our current speed, we are expected to arrive at roughly the same time as Duke Montera’s army. Since they are all moving on horseback, their advance is faster than ours on the ship.”

“Hmm.”

“Most of you here have experienced the territorial war with Marquis Beloroc. But let me be clear, Duke Montera’s army is a formidable enemy on a different level.”

Ulbhild nodded at Regeron’s words.

“They are warriors who have crushed monsters and enemy armies in the snowfields while riding their horses.”

Rudgarda, also from the same Special Operations Division, knew their strength well.

“And at the same time, they are experts in defense who have staunchly guarded the barriers. If they enter the capital before us, it will be truly difficult for us to overcome that wall.”

Regeron declared.

“In the realm of warfare, they are the most skilled army in the kingdom.”

That was right.

Because it was an era where most lords did not even engage in frequent territorial wars.

‘They are more accustomed to assassinations and schemes using the underworld.’

Had not even the Shadow King, who aimed for the hegemony of the continent, built up his current position through years of sinister plotting?

“In the end, the key point is this.”

I clapped my hands to draw their attention.

“Will we enter the royal capital first? Or will we intercept Duke Montera’s army and then surround and isolate the capital?”

“Hmm…”

Everyone murmured at the difficult problem for which there was no easy answer.

“If we prioritize entering the capital, the Third Prince’s side will surely interfere.”

“The Young Master is right.”

“So, will we engage in a full-scale battle with Duke Montera’s army? To fight such a battle with the Third Prince’s blade at our back would not be the best course of action either.”

Therefore.

“We need to coordinate our strategy with my brother’s side again.”

As I snapped my fingers, a blood bat that had been sitting on the mast appeared with a swoosh.

[This is Skella Recrusa. From now on, you may conduct the meeting through me.]

The remote conference began.

.

.

.

[The existing strategy was as follows.]

Skella relayed Verdzig’s words.

[Originally, we were considering a plan where Young Master Allenvert would enter and defend the royal capital, while Young Master Verdzig would strike the rear of Duke Montera’s army from the outside and annihilate them.]

However.

[The situation has changed. According to information obtained by His Highness the Eighth Prince, the Third Prince’s side is preparing various measures to block Young Master Allenvert’s entry.]

“Hmm.”

I crossed my arms and muttered.

“Charging into a place where the enemy is prepared is never the best course of action.”

[That is correct.]

“Let’s confirm one thing first.”

I asked the red bat.

“In the end, it seems that the first step is for us to crush Duke Montera’s army with a joint attack, and the next is to cooperate with the First Prince’s army inside to surround the Third Prince’s army. Is that my brother’s thinking as well?”

The reply came a moment later.

[He says that is correct.]

“Excellent. Then what we have to do is probably clear.”

I looked around and continued.

“First, we must prevent Duke Montera’s army from entering the capital before us.”

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“In this case, it would be best to send a detachment as per standard tactics.”

We had narrow boats suitable for a raid.

And we had two commanders of the Special Operations Division who were more skilled at this kind of operation than anyone else.

“Fortunately, Lady Siena has a map of the tributaries of the Lindela River.”

I turned the map so that the blood bat could see it clearly and explained the route with my hand.

‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’

It looked a little ridiculous, but it could not be helped.

“…Under the cover of night, we will advance rapidly through this route. The objective is to arrive a little early and…”

I pointed to a long, stretching stream.

“We will freeze the entire waterway that would normally have to be bypassed, cross it, and then set up an ambush with our backs to the river to strike the vanguard.”

I drew an X on the stream.

“After that, if we retreat quickly and melt the river we froze, the enemy will not be able to pursue us. Will they cross the river? Or will they bypass it? Whichever they choose, a delay of time will be inevitable.”

“…Indeed.”

If this could buy us half a day to a full day, it would be for the best.

“If the Third Prince’s side intends to block our entry, there will surely be an ambush and interception attempt at the expected landing point.”

And normally, the place where we would land would be a well-maintained inland port.

“…Therefore, we will abandon our ships near this swamp area.”

[Hmm?]

“Fortunately, I have learned some ice arts, so we will freeze the surface so that our feet do not sink, land, and then take a detour.”

[…Indeed.]

Skella said.

[His Highness the Eighth Prince says that that place is a terrain where an army cannot pass because your feet sink deep, and the royal family will naturally know this and will not have defenses there.]

“Then that is even better.”

Valkenhain was a clan that was thoroughly familiar with the terrain near the upper reaches of the Lindela River.

This time, we were benefiting greatly from that.

“If we add sister Ulbhild’s delaying action and our detour landing, we will be able to bypass the royal capital and block the path of Duke Montera’s army.”

[If you become the anvil there and block Montera’s army, we will commence hammering their rear from behind.]

“That’s it exactly.”

We would wrap them up and finish them off in an instant.

“If so, Montera’s army will go down in history as the troops that marched all day only to be annihilated.”

[This will put the Third Prince’s side in a position where they have to send out a relief force.]

The blood bat relayed another message.

[His Highness the Eighth Prince says that if the First Prince’s army aims for the Third Prince’s rear at that exact moment, victory will be certain.]

Siena, who had been listening to our conversation, was in awe.

“It turns out this was neither a siege nor a defensive battle.”

“That is right, my lady.”

I said.

“We will end this war with maneuver, deception, and a decisive battle.”

* * *

[The time has finally come.]

Ivan bowed his head to the face in the crystal ball.

“Lord Gulbark.”

[You must stall for as long as possible.]

“I am aware.”

Gulbark’s thick, rough fingers pointed at Ivan.

[Drag the war into a quagmire.]

…Their true objective was not to change the king of Litvaleur.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]