The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 344

223. Imperial War (2)

“All troops!!! Prepare to attack!!!”

The red armor gleamed like the rising sun, stretching across the plains as the vanguard of a fiery onslaught.

Waaaaaaaah—!!
Waaaah—!!

Led by enemy knights wielding massive battle axes, an army of 300,000 began its march south.

The southern great plains.

The tall prairie grasses were mercilessly crushed under the hooves of countless horses, the vast expanse a perfect arena for cavalry to unleash their power.

“A textbook attack.”

“With no obstacles on the plains, it’s a battlefield where brute force will likely decide the day.”

“The old man is putting up a fight, I see.”

Miliana maintained a relaxed expression, even as she gazed at the tens of thousands of enemy troops arrayed before her.

“Shall we wait for reinforcements from the Twin Armor?”

“Me?”

At her subordinate’s suggestion, Miliana frowned slightly and said,

“Do you think it makes sense for Digon to stand before the enemy and wait for someone else’s help?”

“……Yes?”

“Who taught you that kind of thinking?”

The subordinate was startled and knelt down, stammering,

“To which faction do you belong?”

“D-Digg-nim [Referring to Digg, one of the Digon sisters].”

“Entrusting things to children only creates weaklings. Kanocho, for the time being, don’t assign any soldiers to the third child [Referring to Digg] and have him go to the battlefield alone. His sword has become dull, and his thinking has grown complacent.”

At her words, the subordinate turned pale.

“Yes. Knowing that about himself, he is already preparing for battle. He will probably be at the very front. It would be good to incorporate him into the left flank at this opportunity, as that will be the most intense area.”

Miliana nodded at the words of her second child, Kanocho. Her hair was tied back tightly, and she was taller than Miliana by a head, with two twin swords in the shape of a crescent moon strapped to her back.

The size of the swords was also unusual, like her height, appearing heavy and thick enough to be difficult to wield with one hand.

“You.”

“Yes…… Yes!”

“You go to the left flank as well. If you don’t bring back 100 heads, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

At her command, the subordinate hurriedly bowed and ran out. Watching his retreating figure from inside the tent, some chuckled.

It was hard to believe that this was the staging ground for a war with a massive army about to clash, given their relaxed demeanor.

“Hmph. Choosing the great plains, where I am, as the battlefield is the old man’s foolish move.”

Miliana muttered quietly, facing Jarvant’s massive army.

The Digon clan’s forces gathered on the great plains numbered 100,000 in all.

It was a scale comparable to the army of a nation, but inevitably smaller compared to the Empire.

“What about the Vestal Marquisate?”

“It seems they are still engaged in battle. The Anthem Howard army, which advanced centering on the marquisate, seems to be having a harder time than expected against the Bran Gaunt forces, who are holding their ground.”

“The damage?”

“Thanks to the dispatched golem unit, military damage seems to be low. However, golems are magical mechanical soldiers that require activation stones… Considering the operating time, it seems there are only about three days left.”

“That means we have to settle things within that time.”

“Yes.”

Miliana nodded.

“Even if the stuffy strategist of the marquisate is like that, if Carryl had detected that 300,000 of the Empire were moving, he wouldn’t have stayed still… I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

“Like the fool who went out a little while ago said… Is it a signal for us to win in the marquisate and then come south to support us?”

“Well, I remember hearing that Carryl put in quite a bit of effort to bring him under his command. Considering that, his achievements are insignificant. That’s where the battle started first. But the fact that he hasn’t produced results yet only proves his incompetence.”

“Could it be that the enemy’s strategist is also excellent?”

“What’s the point of admitting that the enemy is excellent? Does that mean it’s okay to lose?”

“No.”

“Whether they are excellent or lacking, in the end, war has only two outcomes: victory and defeat. Remember, Digon never stands in the position of the defeated.”

Clack-!!

As soon as her words fell, the warriors inside the tent placed their hands on their chests and bowed their heads.

“You know what I’m trying to say, right?”

“Of course.”

Kanocho drew one of the twin swords hanging on her back and, passing the bowing subordinates, flung open the door of the tent.

The eyes of all the gathered clan members turned to that place.

“Everyone, listen well!! The first battlefield, the Vestal Marquisate, will be decided within the next three days. That means we still have three days given to us.”

Clang-!!

Kanocho drew out both swords and crossed them.

The blades sparked, creating a sharp ringing sound.

“As always, the first move is ours. We must also be the first to seize victory.”

Waaaaaaaah—!!
Waaah–!!

At her cry, the clan’s warriors all raised their weapons high into the sky.

A threefold difference in troop strength.

It would certainly not be an easy fight.

However, the moment the great plains were breached, the Empire’s advance through the south would begin, so this was definitely a battlefield that had to be defended—no, where the enemy had to be annihilated.

“Enemy troops!! Advancing into firing range!”

At the scout’s cry, Miliana drew her sword.

“The difference in troop strength can be overcome with the commander’s capabilities. At most, it’s a difference of 200,000. I alone am enough.”

She shouted.

“Everyone, listen!! There is no need to have doubt or fear. You just follow me!”

Thwack-!!

As she pulled on the reins of the Kargon [A breed of desert horse], called the desert horse, it pawed the air with its front hooves and let out a rough breath.

“Then we will win.”

Waaaaaaaah—!!

The clan’s morale, which had soared in an instant, seemed to disregard the numerical inferiority.

‘Miliana-nim’s command ability has increased even more since the Duchy Civil War. She is truly worthy of being called a conqueror.’

Kanocho unconsciously felt a tingling thrill and gripped her weapon tightly in her hand.

However, on the other hand, watching that figure, she once again realized the greatness of the man named Carryl, who had captured her heart.

Dudududududu—!!
Dududu–!!

“Hunt the enemy!!”

Digg, the youngest of the three Digon sisters at the forefront, shouted, holding two sharp daggers inward.

Both formations were in a sharp wedge shape. It was a formation that could never be done unless there was confidence in each other’s vanguard.

Whoosh……!!

Jarvant Redak drew the Burning Retribution as he watched her rushing towards him.

A young girl who looked to be only in her teens.

He wore an incredulous expression at the sight of Digg riding on the massive Kargon as if she were perched on it.

“Savage bastards. Are they even using such young children as meat shields on the battlefield?”

“Nonsense. The meat shield is the old man.”

“……!!”

It was then.

In an instant, Digg closed the distance, and Jarvant hurriedly raised his chakram [A bladed weapon shaped like a ring] to block her blade.

“Keuk?!”

The Burning Retribution, one of the five great weapons of the Blader, possessed tremendous power in itself, but unfortunately, the problem was that it was an unfamiliar chakram that was not Jarvant’s main weapon.

In a battle between masters where skill is more important than the power of the weapon itself, abandoning the weapon that had been used until now and fighting with an unfamiliar weapon was a huge mistake.

‘What……. At this age…….’

He realized that every one of her daggers, which were pouring down relentlessly, was aimed at his vitals.

Digon Dual Swordsmanship 1st Form – Crimson Moon Wind.

Digg stepped on the Kargon’s head and jumped up, aiming for Jarvant’s back and thrusting her dagger in a semicircle.

Clang-!!

Jarvant was barely able to block Digg’s attack. He hurriedly concentrated his magic power on the Burning Retribution. Flames erupted from the curved blade of the chakram, and Jarvant hurriedly swung his weapon to push her away.

Whoosh!!

However, despite his counterattack, Digg, who had jumped back with light movements, once again stepped on the forehead of the Kargon, which had appeared out of nowhere, and unleashed the 3rd Form, Flying Bird Wave.

“Insolent!!”

Whoosh……!!

Jarvant threw the chakram with all his might.

The momentum of the flames spewing out of the circular chakram, as if a giant hoop was rolling, gradually grew larger and seemed to engulf her.

“Keuk?!”

Digg, whose magic power was weak compared to that, hurriedly retreated from the giant ring of fire that seemed to engulf her, unlike her previous momentum.

Not missing the opportunity, Jarvant swung the massive axe he was carrying on his back with one hand.

Kwaang—!!!

“Digg-nim!”

The subordinate who had rushed out of the tent a little while ago hurriedly blocked her path from Jarvant’s attack and threw himself.

“It shows in a different sense that the difference in skill is more important than the difference in weapons. An unfamiliar weapon is used to defend, but the difference is made up with one’s own magic power.”

Kanocho said in a low voice, watching the clash between the two.

Soldiers began to cling to each other here and there, and the stench of blood was thick in the air.

“Since he has something to believe in, he must have come to the front lines instead of hiding in the rear as an old man.”

“Shall I step in?”

“No. It seems there’s already someone who’s stepped in.”

“Yes?”

She pointed forward.

“……!!!”

The axe that Jarvant had swung a little while ago had stopped in front of Digg.

Creak…… Creeeeak…….

A black doll was standing there, blocking his attack.

“Who are you……?”

The subordinate who had fallen to the ground looked around with a bewildered expression. Digg hit the back of his head and pulled him by the scruff of his neck as if snatching him.

[Keke…….]

A laughter that did not seem human came from his mouth, who had blocked Jarvant’s axe.

“Reinforcements.”

Miliana turned her head and said to the voice she heard next to her.

“Where’s Carryl? Why did you come? Kay Rothschild.”

“He went somewhere else. He told me to tell you to annihilate Jarvant and head north. He’s already turned the Empire upside down.”

“Hmm?”

Miliana looked at her with interest at those words.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t behead the Emperor, but instead, he cut off the head of the main unit’s commander. Cam Gray? Something like that name.”

“……!!!”

At her words, Jarvant shouted with his eyes wide open as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Nonsense!!”

A roar filled with anger.

He hurriedly tried to pull out his axe, but his axe, which was tightly held by Zarka Hochi, did not budge.

“Are the reinforcements over with this? Just one of you?”

It was then.

Kuduk…… Kudududuk…….

The desert sand gradually rose, and dozens, hundreds of small pillars sprouted.

Kay Rothschild glanced at Miliana, then turned her head again and began to make hand signs as if conducting a performance.

The sand began to fall downward like water.

The number of pillars increased even more, and the Digon clan looked at the desert with anxious eyes, unable to gauge what was happening in the exponentially increasing scene.

The pillars stopped at about the height of a person.

Ssssssssss…….

The sand piled on top of the sprouted pillars scattered as if seeping quickly into the floor like falling water.

“……!!”

The Digon clan could not help but be surprised when the identity of the sprouted pillars was revealed after the sand was cleared.

It was none other than thousands of skeletons.

“N-No way…….”

“Where did they get such…….”

“How many are there?”

[Krrrrrrrr……!!!]

The undead did not stop there.

As all the humanoid skeletons were resurrected, this time even the hunted animal-type monsters began to appear one after another, rummaging through the floor……

For many years, the tribes of the great plains had made a living by hunting the surrounding monster dens and selling their skins and flesh.

They occasionally sold the monsters whole to the Empire’s nobles who had the strange hobby of taxidermy, but they at least tried to maintain the rules as hunters.

Respect for the prey.

Although they took their lives with their own hands, it was also a sacrifice to continue another life, so the tribes of the great plains cut out the flesh of the prey but buried all the bones that supported their bodies here.

Dozens, no, hundreds of years.

The prairie grasses of the great plains grew particularly long, perhaps because they grew by eating the nutrients of the corpses.

“Because that’s where so many corpses are sleeping.”

[It’s been a while. This fragrance. She’s not a dragon. At most, she’s just a small young dragon. Is changing the landscape of the battlefield the commander’s ability? In that sense, real ability would be something like this.]

“Lead them, Zarka.”

Zarka Hochi said, spreading his chest upward as if taking a breath.

[I shall obey.]

Creak…… Creeeak…….

[Krrrr…….]

Thump!! Thump……!!

Behind him, not only skeleton soldiers but also animal-type monsters such as wolves, basilisks, and war bears appeared as undead.

Kwaang-!!

Zarka Hochi pushed Jarvant’s axe with all his might and stepped back.

[I heard that a guy named Nine Darhon created an immortal army. Isn’t a young punk who has only lived for a few decades being presumptuous?]

Then, as he knelt down and stretched out his hand, Kay Rothschild sat on his shoulders as if she was used to it.

Chakang-!!