How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 187

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Masterpiece – Episode 188

Redran’s reaction to the information we leaked was intense.

It was as if a net from the heavens had been cast across the entire eastern region. Just as we would start to doze off, black dots signifying pursuing squads would appear in the distance.

As if gripped by some kind of obsession, Redran never took his eyes off us for a moment.

“They’ve appeared again.”

“A bounty hunter? Or Redran’s scouts?”

“Not yet identified. I’ll send an investigator to scout them out.”

“The usual, then?”

“Yes.”

If those chasing us weren’t Redran’s knights, the procedure was set.

We would immediately engage and eliminate them, then use dummies to leave evidence of our own struggle.

It was something we had done repeatedly so far. After all, we were the ones being chased, so we had to give the impression that we were struggling to shake them off.

After confirming the investigator’s departure, I called for Bellom.

“By the way, how is Basarak’s advance progressing?”

“According to the latest information, they have already entered the northeastern outskirts.”

“Have they already passed us?”

“Yes.”

“I expected it, but it’s still surprising to see them move so quickly.”

“Basarak marched straight north, abandoning half of the occupied southeast. He must be trying to finish off the northeast and us as quickly as possible.”

Redran’s scheme was simple.

To quickly advance his troops while knowing our location.

If he could surround the Trot Barony before we retreated to the Allied forces, he must have judged that we would be rats in a trap.

It was a flawless plan. In Redran’s eyes, we probably looked like fish in a barrel.

Well, that’s what we were aiming for from the start.

“So, how many troops are advancing north?”

“It’s not exact, but there’s information that there are at least six thousand, excluding the troops stationed in the southeast.”

Six thousand troops… At first glance, it seems like a small number, but when you delve into the reality, it’s not at all.

First of all, the population of the entire eastern region is about 800,000. Considering that the size of a medieval feudal state’s army is usually around 1% of the population, you can feel how powerful Redran’s army is. And that’s with well-trained regular soldiers, not conscripts.

It’s probably a number that was possible because Redran had been planning and preparing for the past decade or so.

On the other hand, what about the Allied forces in the northeast?

At best, maybe 2 or 3 thousand. Moreover, even if they could fill the numbers, if you look at the organization and training, they wouldn’t be comparable to Redran’s army.

It’s a war with many difficulties in many ways.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t try. Wars aren’t always won by numbers.

‘If winning was all about numbers, China would have conquered the world a long time ago.’

The size of the force is just one measure.

No matter how sharp the opponent’s spears and swords are, and how well-trained their army is, it’s not easy to temper the spirit that dwells within the heart.

At least now, the Allied forces had the justification for the war. They had a purpose and mission to win this war.

‘To regain the lost honor of the East and a true lord.’

If that cause is vividly alive, then eventually it will be the opponent’s heart that breaks.

And the end of an army whose heart is broken has been historically proven for a long time.

But Redran still has the key to break all those problems.

That key was the Red Knights. Beings who could destroy everything regardless of the conditions mentioned earlier.

That’s why my reason for being here is also clear. It’s to break that key.

“The investigator is returning.”

As I was lost in thought on the windswept plains, I raised my head at Bellom’s words.

The returning investigator lightly wiped away the sweat and slowly opened his mouth.

“Those who appeared seem to be Basarak’s scouts. They are maintaining a certain distance from us and show no signs of combat.”

“So they’re just trying to identify our location without attacking?”

“That seems to be the case.”

I nodded at the investigator’s report.

“Has the main force that went ahead already formed a rough encirclement? If so, they don’t need to rush after us since there’s no fear of losing us. Good, Bellom!”

At my call, Bellom, who was next to me, looked at me.

“Yes.”

“Then we don’t need to waste any more time, so we’ll go straight to the northeast.”

“To the northeast, you mean exactly where?”

“To the Trot Barony.”

At my words, Bellom, who had been silently following me until now, expressed his concern for the first time.

“Basarak’s army is one step ahead of us. When we arrive at the Trot Barony, we will be surrounded by enemies.”

“Well, that’s probably true.”

“Does that mean…”

“We will destroy Redran’s Red Knights there.”

“In the Trot Barony?”

“Yes.”

“We can’t face them head-on in a place with so many eyes. Didn’t the Count worry about that in the first place?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The stage will be set.”

“…”

Bellom, who was about to say something more at the incomprehensible words, silently nodded after seeing my confident eyes.

“Understood. Detachment! Dispose of all the dummies here, clean up inconspicuously, pack only light luggage, and leave for the northeast.”

With that, the investigators, led by Bellom, quickly began digging the ground to bury the dummies after eliminating them.

Ilia, who was watching them, approached me with a slightly nervous face.

“Young Master, is the stage you mentioned…”

“Yes. It’s the place you’re thinking of.”

The place where the long chase would end.

It was the haunted mountain where Kalandart, whom we had visited in the Trot Barony before, resided.

* * *

The weather in the northeast, which we arrived at after a long run, was somehow familiar. I wrapped my collar around me in the cold wind that reminded me of Wind Nest and looked around.

“Kuaaak… !”

“S, save, save me!”

Around me, investigators, including Ilia, were finishing off Redran’s scouts who were still alive, while Bellom was starting to prepare a bonfire to raise the body temperature.

Taking lives on one side, and lighting a fire for life on the other.

At that irony, I smiled bitterly and took out a letter from my pocket.

[This is Ruth. The territories of Tess, Usek, and Malong, as well as 1/3 of the northeast, have been occupied by Redran. As you said, all troops have been moved to the rear, so there are no losses yet.]

[This is Ruth. 2/3 of the northeast has been occupied. Redran’s advance speed is faster than expected. As a result, some lords have begun to waver.]

[This is Ruth. Redran’s army has set foot in the Trot Barony. It seems that information that Sella Flores is residing in the main territory has been leaked. There are voices inside calling for the Allied forces to gather and fight a decisive battle before it’s too late.]

[This is Ruth. The Trot Barony has been completely surrounded. This central city where the lord’s castle is located is still safe, but the atmosphere inside and outside the territory is very ominous.]

After finally reconfirming the letters that I had recovered from the pre-arranged points in between, I threw them into the bonfire that Bellom had started.

Whoosh…

I lightly clicked my tongue as I watched the letters burn and scatter into the air in an instant.

“Ominous, huh.”

It’s understandable that it’s ominous. Basarak had invaded right in front of the northeast in just three or four months since the war began.

Certainly, Redran was clearly an excellent commander. The steps he had shown so far in devouring the huge land of the East proved it.

In any case, the current situation was that the Northern Allied forces were on the defensive against Redran’s army, which was right in front of them, which was an undeniable fact.

Of course, that’s only if we look at the current situation.

“Young Master.”

Ilia approached me as I was looking at the letters that were turning to ashes and scattering.

“Ilia, is the cleanup done?”

“It’s over.”

As if to prove the battle that had just taken place, Ilia’s cloak was soaked in blood.

And such traces of battle were not only on Ilia. The investigators who followed her also looked tired and exhausted.

“Judging from the fact that the pressure is starting to come in earnest, it seems like they’re thinking of exhausting our stamina in advance before capturing us.”

“That’s probably true. After all, we’re now rats in a trap.”

In fact, I and my party were currently inside the Trot Barony.

And as confirmed by Ruth’s letter earlier, the Trot Barony was already in a state that was no different from Redran’s lair.

Redran probably thought that we were desperately trying to find a gap and enter the Trot Baron’s lord’s castle.

“…Then shouldn’t we head to our final destination right now?”

“That won’t work. Redran’s eyes and ears are watching us, right? So we have to wander around here and show that we’re trying to find a gap and enter the Trot Baron’s lord’s castle somehow.”

“Then we’ll move when Redran starts to move first.”

“Yes. When it’s confirmed that he’s moving first, we’ll head there as if it’s our last choice.”

Bellom, who was listening to the conversation between me and Ilia, pointed to a huge mountain that was faintly visible in the distance.

“Is that it? The place the Count mentioned.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a terrain that’s perfect for being surrounded.”

“Isn’t it? If we head to that place, Redran will be humming a tune.”

Ilia, who was standing next to me and warming her hands by the bonfire, expressed her doubts at my words.

“Will Redran really move the Knights? Maybe he’ll just keep pushing us until we’re completely exhausted and die.”

“Ilia, why do you think we’ve been leaving traces of using Aura all the way here?”

“…”

“I’m telling him that Ilia Frost is here right now. And that if he captures you, he can catch a big fish named me too. In that situation, do you think Redran will let us get exhausted and die?”

“I’m the bait, then.”

“Yes. A very delicious one from Redran’s point of view.”

“It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

It was then that I chuckled at Ilia’s lament.

“Count!”

An investigator who had been on the perimeter hastily returned with the sound of rough hooves.

Sensing that something was wrong with his usually relaxed appearance, the atmosphere of the crowd quickly turned cold.

“What’s going on?”

“A group of cavalrymen are rushing towards this place.”

“Redran’s scouts?”

“I don’t think they’re scouts.”

‘I don’t think so.’

It was a rare answer from the investigator, who always gave clear and distinct answers.

“What do you mean you don’t think so?”

“They are wearing uniforms with red breastplates and carrying swords. The horses they are riding also seem to be of a different lineage than ordinary warhorses.”

“The Red Knights.”

Ilia and the investigators, who sensed that what was coming had come, quickly prepared and began to mount their horses.

“How many?”

“I couldn’t grasp it exactly because it was spread out widely, but it seems to be at least thirty.”

“Thirty, huh… Redran has drawn his sword properly. Good. Move out immediately!”

The investigator raised his hand to stop me as I gave the order.

“There’s still one thing I haven’t told you.”

“What is it?”

“There was Basarak’s coat of arms among the cavalry.”

“Coat of arms? If the pursuers are the Red Knights, there’s nothing special about it, is there?”

“The red lion drawn on that flag had a crown on its head.”

I paused for a moment, then chewed on the investigator’s words and let out a hollow laugh.