Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 275

275―――――

Seven Times Is Too Many

“Today, we absolutely must!

Cross that castle and enter Hispania [Spain]!

We will make those who stubbornly reject the light realize how bright and warm it is!”

“Our soldiers are already fighting, shedding blood and sweat beyond this point.

If we can’t get past here today, what face will we show them?!”

“We will overcome this wall that no one from Nudia has ever crossed, this shield that no one has ever broken!

We will shatter it!”

Before the attack, the commander of the Nudian main force encouraged the soldiers to boost their morale.

“What’s the status of the moat?”

“It’s more than half filled.

If we launch a full-scale attack today and receive cover, the engineers will be able to finish filling the moat.”

“Once the moat is filled, immediately bring in the ladders and keep pushing forward.”

“Understood.”

“We don’t know what the enemy will do as a last resort, so continue to deploy scouts in all directions and report even the slightest suspicious movement.

Especially the griffins!

Be careful of them!”

The commander gritted his teeth at the mention of griffins.

It was no wonder, as those who had been pushed back by the defense during the day, unable to do anything, had started to launch surprise attacks from the air at night.

They had assumed that they wouldn’t be able to move at night because their vision would be blocked, but these cunning individuals targeted the fires lit at night and used magic scrolls there.

Thanks to this, Nudia had no choice but to maintain a state of emergency even at night and deliberately light large fires in empty tents to confuse the griffins and intercept them when they approached.

Of course, after they read each other’s moves, it became dull again.

“We will seize victory today, and at the latest, we will occupy Castle Klauzen by tomorrow.

Damage reports have already come up from the 1st Army.

If we get stuck here, the 1st Army will be annihilated, and we might be pushed back.

Push the soldiers harshly, at least for today.

If not today, there is no more hope.”

“Understood.”

The mid-level commanders and field commanders bowed their heads in unison and headed back to their positions.

After they all left, the Nudian commander looked at Castle Klauzen.

Having undergone a siege, it had lost much of its original beautiful appearance, but it still retained its dignified figure.

From Nudia’s perspective, it was considered an even greater nemesis than Hispania.

‘Only those who cross this can advance into Hispania.

If we leave them behind and enter Hispania, no one knows what will happen.’

There were several reasons why Nudia was so desperate for Klauzen.

First, in the past, they had ignored Hispania and invaded other places, only to have their supply lines cut off by Klauzen and their main force ravaged from behind, resulting in annihilation.

Second, if they managed to destroy Klauzen, which no one had ever captured, they could completely crush Hispania’s confidence.

Finally, if they occupied Klauzen, a key point in eastern Hispania, the entire region would naturally fall under Nudia’s influence.

They claimed to be the will of light, to drive out the followers of the Demon race, and to inform and warn the Hispanian royal family, who were pretending not to know them.

In the end, Nudia was secretly biding its time for this opportunity.

They decided to overthrow a rival that might surpass them someday, step on that rival, and become a more powerful nation.

“Line up!

Line up!”

“Find your places, stand straight!”

“Today, we will definitely end this tedious siege!”

“Looting will be allowed, limited to supplies, once the castle is captured!”

The soldiers murmured at the mention of allowing looting.

Normally, looting was forbidden to consider public sentiment, but the fact that they were going that far meant that they were determined to end it today.

“Vanguard [the troops at the front of an army], advance!”

“Catapults, fire!

Fire!”

Another tedious siege began.

The Nudian army slowly headed towards Castle Klauzen, and in the meantime, the siege weapons relentlessly struck the gate and walls, causing the enemies to collapse on their own.

The Nudian forces approached, raising the morale of the soldiers by even mentioning looting, as if they were truly determined to end it this time.

“···Hmm.”

Lichten Border Count let out a groan as he watched the scene.

The moat, which had firmly protected them and prevented the enemies from approaching the castle, was more than half filled.

Perhaps after one or two more attempts, the moat would be filled enough for people to cross, and then a completely different battle would unfold.

Thanks to the moat, they had been able to fight, ignoring the difference in numbers, but from now on, they could be overwhelmed by those numbers.

“Count.”

The Lion Knights Commander cautiously called Lichten Border Count.

Turning his head, he saw the Knights Commander, who looked very tired due to various events, standing next to him with a cautious expression.

“It seems the enemies are preparing for a final blow.”

“It seems so. What’s the state of the soldiers?”

“This siege has been several times longer than usual, so they seem to be getting tired.”

“I see, we can’t afford to do this for long.”

“Originally, Hispania’s reinforcements would be here around this time… Ah, I’m sorry, I apologize.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry, Count.”

Why was he suddenly surprised and whimpering like that while talking?

Lichten Border Count was about to ask why, but then he smiled inwardly.

The letter from Zion, stating that he was perfectly fine, had been kept secret from the Lion Knights Commander for security reasons.

As a result, the Lion Knights Commander was talking about the Hispanian main force and naturally touched on Zion Klauzen, who was said to be among them and had died in action this time, so he hurriedly shut his mouth.

“It’s okay. Thanks to the news that my son had an accident, the embers that were dying out were rekindled to the point of pouring firewood on them, weren’t they?”

“···That’s true.”

The news of Zion’s accident gradually spread in Klauzen.

Originally, the purpose of those who spread the rumor was to lower their morale, but ironically, the news made their morale even higher.

―He was a noble, yet he was with our soldiers!

―When other nobles were sitting back with their arms crossed, he took the lead and fought the enemies!

―He even ran to the enemy lines to save a soldier!

―He came to the ward to check on the injured soldiers!

―He even selected an ordinary territory resident as an apprentice knight, saying he had talent!

―He is the least noble, yet more noble than any other noble!

Hearing that Nudia had killed such a Zion, they couldn’t help but feel enraged.

The momentum that had gradually dulled due to the prolonged siege was reignited.

In addition, Jimmy, a squire (apprentice knight) who had received grace from Zion, stepped forward and gave a tearful speech, saying that everyone should defend this place for his sake, and even if they died, they should die fighting so that they would not be ashamed when they met him.

“Really, I’m only now seeing and hearing how much the young master has changed and how much he has done in such a short time.

I really couldn’t have imagined it would be this much.”

“Even I, his father, am taken aback, so how could you not be?”

The Lion Knights Commander was trying to comfort Lichten Border Count.

And Lichten Border Count was having that conversation to play a little joke in this heavy atmosphere.

“Count.”

At that moment, someone entered towards the watchtower.

He was wearing rather unique leather clothes, not the armor worn by ordinary soldiers or knights, and even had goggles on his head that looked like they were for wizards.

“Welcome, McClusky.”

The one in the unique attire was the squadron leader of the Griffin unit, McClusky.

McClusky greeted Lichten Border Count and then bowed to the Lion Knights Commander.

“Knights Commander.”

“Commander Mac.”

Although they were not knights, the Griffin unit was performing more actively than most knights, so the Lion Knights Commander and the knights of Klauzen treated the Griffin riders almost as knights.

Even Ribbit, the youngest of the Griffin riders, who was not yet an adult.

“Count. As you said, all preparations are complete.”

“One is okay, but the other might surprise the griffins. Have you taken measures?”

“Yes. I kept them by their side all day and made them feel confident that the other would not harm them. There will be no more incidents of them panicking and floundering after taking off.”

“Good.”

The Lion Knights Commander, who had been listening to Lichten Border Count and McClusky, was bewildered.

It seemed that some words had been exchanged between the two without his knowledge, but he had no idea what it was.

“Deploy them shortly after the enemies start the siege. We must break the enemy’s momentum completely when the Nudian army is at its most high-spirited.”

“Understood. I will have them take off in 20 minutes since the enemies’ attack just started.”

“Thank you for your hard work, McClusky.”

McClusky replied that it was his duty, gave a salute, and left the watchtower first.

“We should start moving too. Shouldn’t we encourage the soldiers again today?”

“That’s true. Count. Are you planning to deploy the griffins during the day?”

“This is the best time to collapse [break down] when the enemies’ momentum is at its peak.”

“Nudia has taken all precautions against the griffins. We have been lucky so far and have not lost a single griffin, but today the enemies’ momentum is very fierce. It would be better to launch a surprise attack at night like last time.”

“Wouldn’t that make it difficult for our allies to see?”

“Yes?”

At Lichten Border Count’s words, the Lion Knights Commander reflexively almost said, ‘Isn’t fire more visible at night?’

Then, after confirming that his master’s eyes were sparkling, he blinked his eyes for a moment and cautiously opened his mouth.

“What I’m thinking isn’t everything, is it?”

“It’s something my son suggested.”

“Is that the last thing Young Master Zion left behind?”

“Last? It’s a letter that came two days ago.”

“···Eh?”

It was the Knights Commander’s foolish look that he had seen in a long time.

Lichten Border Count laughed as he watched the scene and said.

“Zion is alive. Very well. But this guy is trying to deceive not only the enemies but also the allies by using even his death. I wonder who he takes after.”

―

“Attack!

Attack!”

“Fire!”

The siege had just begun.

Nudia’s will was truly great, as if they were determined to break through that damn castle this time.

The huge rocks fired from the catapults collided with the walls or flew over them, and the arrows fired by the archers relentlessly poured down, fiercely driving Klauzen.

“The moat!

The moat!”

“It’s almost filled!

Soon the soldiers will be able to cross without difficulty!”

“Good, good!

Keep it up!

It’s not far off!

We will be the first to occupy that Klauzen and have the honor of planting Nudia’s flag at the end!”

Everyone from the commander to the lowest soldier was energized by the hope that they could break through Klauzen this time.

The moment when they could proudly say that they were the first in Nudia’s history was right in front of them.

If they lost this opportunity, they would never have a chance to cross that castle and advance into Hispania again.

It was at that moment that Nudia was pushing Klauzen with a tremendous offensive.

The soldiers who had been watching the sky suddenly widened their eyes and blew the trumpet they had placed next to them.

Boo-ooo!

“Commander!

The griffins have appeared!”

“Ha!

Does that mean they can’t afford to distinguish between day and night now that they’re in a crisis!

Too late!”

“The response unit, shoot as soon as the griffins are in range!

We will knock down all those flying beasts at the same time as we cross Klauzen and cut off their wings!”

In a situation where they could see each other clearly during the day, the griffins were the ones who had to take the risk in the end.

The Nudian response unit was waiting for those detestable monsters to enter their range, preparing their arrows and magic, and glaring at them.

“···Huh?”

“Huh?”

The two griffins were still circling high in the sky.

As if they were scouting, with relaxed wing movements.

Then, suddenly, something began to fall from the backs of the griffins.

At first, they thought they were throwing rocks, but as they got closer, the Nudian response unit could clearly see what had fallen from the griffins.

“Hahaha!

You fools!

It seems the riders have fallen off!”

“It’s a person!

Keuhaha!

What, is this some kind of new suicide method!”

That’s right.

That was definitely a person.

Since one had fallen from each of the two griffins, they could only be seen as riders.

The Nudian response unit laughed and watched as those who were either committing suicide or had accidentally fallen were falling endlessly to the ground.

If they fell from that height, whether they were ordinary soldiers or high-ranking knights, they would just be crushed.

Therefore, they chuckled as they watched the griffins, which seemed to have lost their riders, pathetically circling in the sky.

But soon, they realized that something was wrong.

Kwaaaang!―.

Kuwaaaang!―

“Bang···?”

Bang?

Not ‘splatter!’

Or ‘crack!’

But ‘bang’?

Can a person make that kind of sound when they fall?

It was a louder roar than any magic explosion?

Sss―.

Even though only two people had fallen, clouds of dust spread in all directions.

Hoping against hope, the one leading the response unit glanced at the sky.

And soon he realized that their thoughts were wrong.

The riders were riding on the griffins in perfect condition!

“Hellcat, target deployment complete.”

“Super Hornet!

Mission complete!”

The griffins that shouted that quickly left the air.

As if they knew how scary the things they had dropped were, they were running away.

“I definitely promised.”

“···.”

“If you kill everything in front of you, you’ll keep fighting me.”

“If your skills are below my expectations, I won’t bother with you anymore. You crazy bitch.”

“Ahaha!

Thank you.

I feel so good that you called me that.

Everyone else just begs me to save them, so I’ve been feeling lonely lately.”

“···.”

Why is it that only women with dozens of screws missing are gathering next to Zion Klauzen?

The protagonist in the novel sighed and stared at the huge army that was staring at him with stupid expressions as the dust slowly cleared.

―Zion Klauzen is dead!

No way.

There’s no way that man would die so easily.

Even I, a fool, am still alive, so how could someone far superior to me be dead?

Kim Yoo-hyun muttered that and slowly drew his sword.

There was a time when even drawing a sword like this and pointing it at someone was very difficult.

Kim Yoo-hyun was so distressed whenever such a time came when he had to push forward with only his will, thoughts, and decisions.

He still thought of himself as just an ordinary person, but his body had long since reached a level that was completely different from that ordinariness.

In a situation where even what was right and wrong had become uncertain, Zion showed him the way.

Following that path, people smiled, were happy, and even met loved ones who they thought they would never see again.

And the worry that he could lose those people again naturally disappeared.

By being with Zion Klauzen and acting according to his will.

‘This time, I want to live like a human being.’

It was still not a pleasant thing to draw a sword like this and cut someone down.

But Kim Yoo-hyun calmed his mind, unlike the one in the original novel.

―If you only think about others, your people will get hurt.

Who are you going to blame then?

Recalling Zion’s heavy words, Kim Yoo-hyun shook off all the remaining hesitation.

It was the moment when he was dropped into the middle of the Nudian army with another weapon that he had been holding back, the tactical nuke [nuclear weapon], White Death.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

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