Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 272

272―――――

Two Things You Must Not Touch

“Enemy magic detected!”

“Locating the position!

Immediate counterattack!”

As soon as the flow of magic was detected, the wizards of Klausen began their work, quickly casting interception magic at the source.

Unless they were exceptionally skilled, wizards needed time to draw formulas and make calculations after initiating magic. Therefore, sensing changes and pinpointing the enemy wizard’s location during this brief window became crucial.

This became the standard for judging the skills of wizards deployed in war.

The Klausen Margraviate, a land of skilled individuals, had long protected Hispania from foreign invasions.

This meant that highly capable wizards were stationed throughout the region.

“Confirmation complete!

Location shared!”

“Immediate interception magic deployed!”

Klausen’s interception magic swiftly targeted the Nudia wizards’ location.

Of course, Nudia wasn’t naive. They subtly released mana and shifted their position. However, such minor adjustments hampered their ability to effectively use magic, allowing Klausen to successfully block the attack.

“No matter what, don’t let them fill the moat!

If we protect the moat, they can’t do anything!”

“Friendly catapult number 3 damaged!

Cannot be operated!”

“Move it back for the technicians!

If it can’t be repaired, disassemble it for spare parts!”

The attacking side wasn’t the only one using large-scale weaponry.

The defenders also employed defensive weapons against siege engines, sometimes wielding even greater power.

Moreover, highly skilled soldiers operating these weapons could decimate anyone approaching the castle and moat with a far greater rate of attack than the enemy.

“Deploy the reserves!”

“Push hard!

Push harder!”

“Do not retreat!”

Nudia seemed to have staked everything on this battle, deploying their reserves for the second time.

From Klausen’s perspective, blocking three waves of attacks in a single day was a daunting task, but they were holding steady, as such intense assaults had been frequent in the past.

“Deploy!

Deploy!”

“Align the formation and advance!

Don’t be afraid!

You’ll all die from arrows if you scatter!”

“Enemy wizards located!

Engaging!”

It was at this moment, as Nudia’s reserves approached the castle in formation…

Kyak!―

The commanders on the Nudia side frowned at the screeching sound from above.

Though few in number, the griffins, by their mere presence, seemed to threaten the troops awaiting their turn to attack, circling overhead and ready to harass them at any moment.

“Response unit!

Response unit!”

“Aim!

Aim!”

“Wizards, stand by!”

On the first day of the attack, when Nudia assaulted Klausen, the griffin unit had flown up and rained magic attacks on Nudia’s rear, causing considerable damage.

Having been thoroughly scorched by the griffins, Nudia now kept a contingent of archers and three or four wizards on standby, ready to shoot down even a single griffin.

Based on the information gathered, the number of griffins was estimated to be between three and five.

Eliminating even one from the battle would be a significant advantage, so the precaution was natural.

“Whoa, whoa!

Let’s not go down any further.

It’s too dangerous.”

Due to Nudia’s countermeasures, the griffin unit, which had been so effective in the south, had failed to achieve any significant results this time, except for the first day.

To use magic scrolls effectively, they needed to descend and attack a worthwhile target, but even with the riders’ keen eyes, identifying such a target was difficult.

Wasting precious magic scrolls on bait or something insignificant was too costly, and other attack methods would reduce the griffins’ speed too much due to the added weight.

Furthermore, securing visibility required lowering their altitude, but they couldn’t move recklessly within range of magic or arrows.

Although the griffins managed to draw attention and delay the advance, Nudia’s reserves eventually relieved the first attack team at the opportune moment and pushed back towards Klausen’s castle.

“Forward!”

“Raise your shields!

Do not retreat!

Even if you die, fill the moat before you die!”

The Nudia army employed every tactic to fill the moat.

The moat posed a greater obstacle than the high walls or the solid gate.

Without filling it, no soldiers could approach the castle and make a difference.

The siege, lasting all day, placed a tremendous burden and caused fatigue on both sides, and in the end, the battle concluded without any decisive blow being struck.

“The enemy is retreating!”

“Save your arrows!

Do not shoot!”

“The reserves immediately relieve and defend the walls, and the rest reorganize quickly.”

Klausen was holding up well against Nudia’s massive offensive, which was on a scale unlike any they had faced before.

Soon, reinforcements would arrive and push them back, adding another chapter to their legend as Hispania’s reliable shield. Knights and soldiers alike had worked tirelessly to reach this point without major incident.

“…What?”

Normally, Margrave Lichten would have been pleased that his territory was holding out so well.

But now, he couldn’t conceal his bewilderment at the sudden news, shaking his head as if it couldn’t be true.

“What nonsense are you spouting! Why would Zion die? Why would that child suddenly die!”

“It’s unconfirmed, but that’s the rumor circulating. Such words are coming from the areas where the Nudia army passed, claiming they ambushed the main force crossing the river, and Prince Zion was struck by an arrow in the process…”

“Did you contact the main force?”

“We tried, but there’s no response. They seem to be experiencing some kind of major disruption, as they aren’t receiving any magical communication, no matter how much we send.”

At the Lion Knight Commander’s words, Margrave Lichten felt his vision blur.

His legs trembled, cold sweat poured down, and he nearly collapsed, grabbing the chair for support.

“Margrave!”

“…Nothing is certain yet.

Do not be shaken.

This may be a trick to demoralize us.

Treat these rumors as just that—rumors.

Do you understand, Knight Commander?”

“Yes, yes!”

At Margrave Lichten’s gesture, the Lion Knight Commander left the room with a worried expression.

Immediately after, Margrave Lichten, with trembling hands, barely managed a shaky breath, pressed his forehead, and closed his eyes.

“It can’t be.”

No, it absolutely cannot be.

It can’t be.

Why would his son, that child, suddenly die?

Those around Zion were, in his estimation, all individuals of monstrous skill.

There was no way Zion, protected by such people, could have come to harm.

‘I must not waver.

The fact that these rumors are spreading so secretly is likely a ploy by the enemy.’

He and the Lichten territory only needed to remain steadfast in their role as a shield.

Even if Zion were injured, or in the worst-case scenario, had fallen in battle, Klauzen must not falter, nor should it have any reason to.

Margrave Lichten took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

However, no matter how hard he tried to calm his mind, he found it difficult and was greatly distressed.

His heart kept pounding, and his mind was filled with ominous thoughts.

Having faced the overwhelming offensive of Nudia, the Margrave, who had never entertained negative thoughts, was now filled with dark and sorrowful visions of the future for the first time.

‘Calm down, I must not waver.

Everyone else may waver, but not me.’

Creak—.

Margrave Lichten bit his lip until it bled, trying to shake off the distracting thoughts.

Right now, the only important thing was to confront and defeat the enemies gathered before him.

Discovering the truth, and even if such a thing were to happen and revenge was necessary, that was a matter for later.

He would focus solely on this battle now.

That was the path for the sake of this country and his territory, and it was the obvious thing to do.

“Margrave!”

Just as he was trying to calm his mind, a knight called out to Margrave Lichten with an urgent voice.

He composed his expression to avoid showing any signs of disarray and roughly wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. He then gave the order for the knight to enter.

“Your Excellency,

Strange people have come to see you.”

“…Strange people?”

“It’s unclear whether they are friend or foe.

They are dressed in very ragged clothes…”

At those words, Margrave Lichten concluded that they were definitely allies of the kingdom this time.

The Margrave himself had never directly encountered the warriors from the north, so he couldn’t be sure, but according to what Zion had explained before, if they came looking like beggars, that was the sign that they were the warriors from the north.

‘Zion said he had brought them into this war.’

When he first heard the sudden news of the marriage alliance, he had been bewildered, wondering what on earth he was thinking.

However, soon he saw that these people, who had been one of Hispania’s worst enemies, had suddenly become quite good allies, and Margrave Lichten nodded, thinking that Zion’s decision was unexpectedly not bad.

“But why are they suddenly here?”

“They have brought a letter.

They said it must be shown to you, Your Excellency.”

“…To me?”

Margrave Lichten pondered for a moment what the contents of the letter might be, then ordered them to be brought in directly.

—

“Temujin.”

“···.”

“Temujin.”

“I’m listening.”

“As you instructed, I sent a messenger to the Margrave’s territory.”

“Any risk of being tracked?”

“No.

Since you emphasized that point, Temujin, I entrusted the letter to the most skilled warrior and had him escorted by other experts as well.”

“…Well done.”

Clearly, the words that came from Jan’s mouth sounded like praise, “Well done.”

“···.”

Rather, the warrior who delivered the news looked even more nervous than when he had entered.

It was as if he was maintaining a calm facade while facing a blade that was about to fly at his neck.

‘T-Temujin is saying well done.’

That was not a good sign.

Rather, it was similar to a kind of provocation or declaration of war that the woman called Temujin was leaving to the enemy before the worst situation occurred.

Well done.

I’ll cut your throat.

Or, you spoke well, I’ll break your back.

Something like that.

‘I’d rather she said, you’ve suffered, or I understand!’

The warrior held his breath and waited for Jan’s next command.

After a period of chilling silence, Jan finally broke the silence and slowly opened her mouth.

“You may leave.”

“Ah, uh.

Yes!

Thank you, Temujin!”

Only then did the northern warrior quickly leave the spot.

The woman who made even those rough and violent warriors cower and watch her every move was none other than Jan Temujin, the Khan [ruler] of the desolate northern lands.

“…I was careless.

Both I and you.”

They had thought they had inflicted damage on the enemy that would prevent them from moving for at least a day.

Moreover, since this was not their territory but the heart of enemy territory, they had expected the enemy would not move carelessly; both she and Zion had anticipated that.

But that prediction was spectacularly wrong.

Even after suffering that great defeat, they risked everything, left their camp that night, and rushed through the night to the point where Hispania’s main force was crossing the river.

What followed was almost the same situation as what they had done to Nudia.

They pushed straight through a portion of the forces separated from the main army, broke them into small pieces, and crushed those fragmented ice shards underfoot, completely destroying them.

“I thought there were only idiot morons, but it seems there was at least one with a useful brain.

How amusing.”

And in that situation, Zion was struck by an arrow.

Not just any arrow, but an arrow with such power that it pierced his arm and lodged in his chest.

‘I’m glad I wasn’t there.’

If Jan had been there, she might have gone berserk and chased the enemies to the ends of the earth.

Smashing through traps, sweeping away ambushes, and crushing all those bastards she couldn’t even chew enough to kill, squeezing out every last drop of their blood.

Jan stealthily picked up the letter placed next to her.

The messenger bird she had given to Zion had flown in a little while ago, and it contained a message asking her to secretly deliver this letter to the Klauzen side, along with another letter.

She also added that she was deliberately not using magical communication to outwardly show the atmosphere that the allies were confused.

“…You must have your reasons for doing this.

Seeing you act like this.”

Jan had many questions, but she did as he wished.

She sent people to Klauzen, and instead of harassing the enemies as they always did, they took a step back and went into disguise as if they were buried in the confusion.

“But that doesn’t mean.

Just because I know you’re okay, don’t think my anger has subsided.”

Jan grabbed a handful of ears that had been cut from dead Nudian cavalrymen and knights, which the warriors offered as spoils of war, and began to chew on them.

Her bloodshot eyes swirled with all sorts of terrifying emotions, such as animosity, anger, hatred, and curses.

“Well done.

What wouldn’t I do to lower the enemy’s morale?

So I too, will try harder.

Nudian warriors.”

―――――――Author’s Notes―――――――

Crunch, crunch…