Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 339

339

Southern Turkey Hunt

Everyone in Hispania already expected the war to break out.

Therefore, preparations to aid Nudia and prepare for a major war against the Holy Prussen were steadily underway.

Hispania divided its forces into three main groups: the 1st Army, tasked with protecting the royal castle; the 2nd Army, heading to Nudia to engage the Holy Prussen; and the 3rd Army, heading south to prepare for potential attacks from Nudia and the Holy Prussen via sea routes.

“I will appoint Marquis Volkov of the Redenen family as the commander of the 2nd Army.”

Once again, Marquis Volkov was appointed as the commander of the largest army.

Frankly, some nobles had cautiously suggested that Sion Claussen should take on the role of commander this time.

Even Vanessa had personally called him and offered him the position, but Sion adamantly refused.

Queen Vanessa was inwardly disappointed, wondering why he was refusing despite his talent and accomplishments.

‘Honestly, the title is tempting.

Who wouldn’t want such a high position?’

The newly formed 2nd Army was composed of soldiers considered the elite of the kingdom, excluding the royal castle defense forces.

These included soldiers hardened by battles in the war with Nudia, soldiers from the northern territories who fought against northern warriors, and those who defended the west from surprise attacks by other races and monsters.

More than half of Hispania’s forces were gathered in this army, so leading the 2nd Army would have been beneficial to Sion in the future.

Of course, that was in the ‘future.’

‘The title of commander looks great, but the responsibilities are too great.

This is a trap.’

Sion was convinced that this trial—the war with the Holy Prussen, or rather, the war with the Celestial Race—was on a completely different level from anything before.

No matter how thoroughly they prepared, the enemies were far superior.

Perhaps the potential loss of reputation would outweigh any gains.

And that accumulated defeat would later become ammunition for the nobles to use against him.

‘Marquis Volkov,

I’ve helped Hispania prosper and helped you a lot, so please endure a little longer.

Try not to feel too unfairly treated.’

Sion presented the image of ‘conceding’ the commander position to Marquis Volkov, who ultimately took on the military power and the responsibility of going to the battlefield.

Of course, Sion wasn’t going to the battlefield without any real power.

He gave the position of commander-in-chief to Marquis Volkov but secured the position of deputy commander for himself.

Since Marquis Volkov knew his abilities, he could act somewhat freely, and if any problems arose, he could subtly pass them on to Marquis Volkov.

‘There is no such thing as a free lunch, Marquis Volkov.’

Marquis Volkov might have vaguely realized Sion’s intentions.

Even though he could have taken the position of commander-in-chief, and even though he kept proclaiming himself to be the most capable, he was subtly stepping back and standing behind him at such an important moment.

But he didn’t say anything about it.

In the previous war with Nudia, Sion had helped his only son and heir, Ludwig, gain valuable combat experience, and later, upon returning home, Sion was the one who greatly praised Ludwig during the awards ceremony.

Finally, in this most important war, Ludwig would be moving with Sion.

Marquis Volkov was worried that if he moved with him again, there would be talk that Marquis Volkov was doing strange things to give his son credit, but Sion had solved that as if he knew everything.

So, Marquis Volkov reluctantly accepted Sion’s recommendation for commander-in-chief.

“I’m really going to retire after this war,” Marquis Volkov said to Sion, grumbling as he got on his horse.

In fact, he had been considering staying in the home country in charge of the 1st Army and entrusting the 2nd Army entirely to Sion.

He wanted to see how far that young man’s abilities would go, without having to worry about the old-fashioned relics like himself, and just watch from behind.

“You’re still in good health; shouldn’t you serve Hispania more?”

The young man was planning to use him very thoroughly.

“Do you think I’m as young as you, who can wake up refreshed after a day’s sleep?

I’m at an age where I collapse if I don’t rest.

A young man who doesn’t know how to care for the elderly!”

“Stop joking.

You look most like yourself when you’re holding a sword and riding a horse on the battlefield.

You were even trying to go back to the Marquisate alone because you were uncomfortable at the victory parade.”

“Now you don’t give in to a single word.

You were so cautious just a year ago.”

“That’s because I was too small then.

But now, Marquis Volkov seems a little smaller than me.”

Sion’s words surprised the knights around him.

To say such things to Marquis Volkov, who was still a figure of authority in Hispania’s military, even though he was old, embarrassed everyone.

“Puhahaha.

Hearing that from you, you certainly look bigger.”

But Marquis Volkov just laughed and accepted Sion’s words.

The knights couldn’t help but be surprised once again, and Marquis Volkov’s son, Ludwig, also seemed quite taken aback by his father’s appearance, which he had rarely seen.

“Your Excellency Marquis.

No, Commander.

Preparations for departure are complete.”

Not all the troops included in the 2nd Army were moving at once.

To join the northern soldiers who had already left after hearing the news, they would first lead the central soldiers and begin marching at an appropriate speed.

After joining the northern soldiers and heading east, they would then combine with the remaining soldiers waiting there to complete the 2nd Army and cross into Nudia via Claussen.

“…This is going to be quite a long journey this time.

It’s good that I’ll have more stories to tell the late king, but on the other hand, my body won’t be able to handle it, so it’s not so good.”

Listening to Sion’s words, Marquis Volkov laughed once again.

That young man, even though he was the same age as his son, was so different in what he said and did.

Something unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, and yet the feeling wasn’t bad.

“Marquis Volkov Redenen.”

“Count Bremen Isik.

Welcome.”

Just before the 2nd Army’s main force departed, Count Bremen of the Isik family, who would be going down to the south to oversee that area, approached them.

In the south of the kingdom were the Taiga Marquisate and the Gutchen Marquisate, but the Isik family was superior in handling military affairs, as shown in the previous battle with the pirates, and the fact that they had fought alongside Sion led to Count Bremen immediately being given the position of commander of the 3rd Army.

“I hope you will be safe.

It will be a very long journey.”

“I was going to rest in the kingdom in my old age, but my son and my friend’s son are making such a fuss that I have to go out myself.

What a hardship it is to be old!”

“Hahaha.

You say that, but the smile never leaves your face.”

With those words, Count Bremen greeted each of the 2nd Army’s personnel, who had to fight hard for the fate of Hispania.

If they were to fail, it would mean that he and the 3rd Army, and Hispania as a whole, would be driven to ruin, so it was only natural to hope that they would fight well.

“Sion Claussen.”

“Count Bremen.”

Among them, Count Bremen showed great favor to Sion.

He was the one who had saved him from a difficult situation by changing his allegiance from Prince Erader’s support to Vanessa’s side, and he was also the person Hemann, his son, admired the most, and above all, he had placed the powerful card of Kim Yu-hyun in his hands.

‘Frankly, the 3rd Army that I lead is just our southern navy and the soldiers who are originally stationed there.

The 1st Army is mostly the royal castle defense force.

It’s almost like we’ve invested nearly 80% of the kingdom’s strength in the 2nd Army, even though it’s said to be half of the kingdom, in terms of skill and combat power.’

So, it was obvious how relieved Count Bremen must have been when Sion said he would send Kim Yu-hyun to the south.

So much so that Count Bremen even harbored the expectation that Sion was subtly caring for him, his son, and even the south.

“I believe you will bring glorious victory to Hispania once again.”

“Marquis Volkov is there, and there are many other veterans, so of course that will happen.

I hope Count Bremen will take good care of the south and solve the logistics problems well with Marquis Estia and Marquis Joaquin.”

“Of course, I will.

Anyway, I wish all the members of the 2nd Army good luck.”

“Thank you very much, Count Bremen.”

Everyone must focus on their own tasks to achieve victory.

Those who fight directly on the battlefield, those who must protect the home, and those who make and send the necessary supplies to those who fight.

It doesn’t matter who has done more work or who has done less.

The moment such words come out, it is division and a sure loss in a winnable war.

Sion treated Count Bremen, the commander of the 3rd Army, with great respect, completely blocking such things in advance, in case the 2nd Army personnel showed any signs of ignoring the 3rd Army.

“…Sion.”

“Kim Yu-hyun.”

After Count Bremen left, the next to appear was Kim Yu-hyun, the protagonist of the novel, who was heading to the south instead of fighting the Celestial Race [a race of winged humanoids] beyond the east with Sion.

At his appearance, Sion subtly nodded and guided Kim Yu-hyun to a place where no one could eavesdrop.

“I’m saying this just in case, but mistakes are not allowed.”

“I know.

There will be absolutely no need to worry.”

“…You can come a little slower after finishing your work, so don’t overdo it.”

“Thank you for your words, but Eos will soon be moving to support the 2nd Army.

I have no choice but to catch up quickly to watch over her.”

Ah, Eos.

That woman is also going to appear on the battlefield following Zhan.

Then our protagonist can’t just stand by and watch.

But if you’re going to say it, why don’t you say, ‘I’m going to run without rest because I’m worried that Sion will be pecked by the Celestial Race!’

Would something grow somewhere?

You!

‘I pushed Eos to help our Yu-hyun succeed!

Huh?

I even made him a hero!

Huh?

I did everything, but isn’t that too much!’

In fact, all of those things were to make things flow in a direction that was advantageous to him, but Sion didn’t bother to recall those parts in his mind.

Still, there was a shred of conscience left, so thinking about it caused a slight pang of conscience.

“Keep in mind.

If even one gets away, it’s the same as not stopping them at all.”

“Don’t worry.

I’ll knock them all down to the ground without missing a single one.”

Kim Yu-hyun answered with his unique glint in his eyes, sending shivers down his spine.

Even though he knew that it wasn’t anger towards Sion, but a sign that he would do his best, the protagonist’s gaze, which could kill a person with just his eyes, really made his heart shrink.

“But, will you be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“You ended up dispersing the forces you had prepared so far in various places.

I thought the reason you drove them so hard was to have them active in the war.”

“…”

Hey, Yu-hyun.

Even if your mouth is crooked, you have to speak properly.

It wasn’t me who drove them hard, it was you, you idiot!

Why are you saying that to me?

In fact, Sion had entrusted Kim Yu-hyun with checking their condition, but he had never told him to drive them like crazy.

He just told him to prepare them to the point where they could fight the Celestial Race at a ‘moderate’ level.

Of course, Kim Yu-hyun might have heard that as meaning no different from driving them hard, but at least he hadn’t said ‘drive them hard,’ so Sion could argue that he was wronged.

“That’s true.

But if the enemies don’t concentrate their forces in one place and try to make us suffer by dispersing them, we have to move accordingly.

There’s no other way.”

“You’re becoming too reckless.”

“Lilith is there, right?”

“The Celestial Race woman I fought, Lilith will have no difficulty with that level.

But if there is someone stronger than that Celestial Race, you shouldn’t be relieved even if Lilith is there.”

Kim Yu-hyun’s words were accurate.

The Celestial Race he fought and chased away was, in any case, a high-ranking Celestial Race.

The top-ranking Celestial Race that existed above them was a powerhouse that was on a different level from those Celestial Races.

“…You’re making me a little worried all of a sudden.”

Not a lie, really.

If Kim Yu-hyun was saying this, Sion was worried that this might be a death flag [a literary trope foreshadowing a character’s death].

But now that he had already started everything, he couldn’t take it back.

“But, you told me.

I’m not the kind of guy who fails easily, nor the kind of guy who dies easily.

I’ll show you that your thoughts weren’t wrong, so you do your job properly and join me.”

No matter how much the man in front of him was the strongest in the world, a cheat character wrapped in protagonist buffs [advantages or abilities given to the main character].

A man had to put on a strong front to save his pride.

Even Sion, who shouted that pride didn’t feed him, had a very small amount of pride left.

Kim Yu-hyun slightly raised his eyes and made a slightly surprised expression at Sion’s confident appearance.

But pride was only a very small amount, only slightly present.

Sion immediately added the next words, making it clear that life was more precious than pride.

“Of course, it would be better if you came without being late.

Yes, yes, come without being late!”

At those words, Kim Yu-hyun smiled.

It seemed that he was just taking Sion’s reaction as a level of joke to relieve tension, and to relieve his own tension.

Sion, the person in question, was really worried that this guy might only listen to his words and come late.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Kim Yu-hyun would be mixed in with Count Bremen and the southern nobles when they left the royal castle and went down.

And there, he would shoot down all the pigeons trying to exploit Hispania’s weaknesses.

‘No matter how much they are the Celestial Race, they are not a strong race even in the air.

Just because they have wings attached to their human bodies doesn’t mean they can fly as well as other flying monsters, so Kim Yu-hyun alone is enough.’

Pigeon hunting, or rather, it would be right to call it turkey hunting.

From a human perspective, they might be said to be agile, but to Kim Yu-hyun, the Celestial Race flying in the air were too easy prey.

Perhaps, with a slight exaggeration, Sion predicted that it would be no different from attacking a stationary target.

―――――――Afterword―――――――

Aegis Kim Yu-hyun