Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The captives were skilled, but no one is strong against torture.

Under the expert’s hand, they were ready to confess everything, down to the number of underwear they owned.

As a result, the situation became serious.

After extracting information from the prisoners, an emergency meeting was convened with key officials.

The meeting included Pereron, the border defense commander, his senior officers, and Vincent and Damian from the Caion Unit.

“...To think it was the work of the Spanian Kingdom.”

“Why would the Spanian Kingdom do this? There’s never been any friction between us.”

Vincent questioned Pereron.

But Pereron shook his head.

He couldn’t answer this situation either.

However, at that moment.

“There was something odd.”

“...What do you mean?”

Pereron asked as Damian brought up a new topic.

Damian responded.

“The war between the Empire and the Spanian Kingdom. The Spanian Kingdom lost, but there weren’t many territorial disputes afterward.”

A defeated country usually compensates the victor for most of the losses incurred during the war.

They might have to cede territory, pay vast sums of money, or surrender their people.

But strangely.

“Even though there were monetary compensations, it couldn’t have fully covered the victor’s damages.”

The key point was that the Spanian Kingdom had given little territory to the Empire.

There were some, but it felt like...

“It was just a formality.”

This suggested the possibility of another deal between the two countries.

For instance,

“They might have agreed to open a path to attack the Baroque Kingdom.”

“...?!”

Pereron’s eyes widened in shock.

“That’s absurd! Even if the Spanian Kingdom lost, they wouldn’t go that far.”

“If they were desperate enough, there’s nothing they wouldn’t do.”

Damian knew this was a far-fetched theory.

But knowing the future, he could make such a prediction.

‘The Spanian Kingdom is destined to be swallowed by the Empire. If that’s the future... then this is entirely possible.’

When facing death, people can resort to anything.

Damian speculated.

If the same events had occurred in his past life.

‘But I’ve never heard of the border being breached and the Empire invading.’

So someone must have stopped them.

And after being stopped.

‘The Spanian Kingdom eventually fails its mission and gets completely taken over by the Empire.’

That gives them, at most, a year.

Within that time, the Spanian Kingdom would be entirely destroyed.

Then, the Empire would start invading the small kingdoms around it.

At that point, even the Baroque Kingdom and the distant Artian Kingdom would realize something was off about the Empire’s actions.

‘But by then, it’s already too late.’

When the Empire finally drew its sword after securing its surroundings, it was too late for any meaningful resistance.

In just one year, the Baroque Kingdom lost 30% of its territory.

And after five years...

‘...Damn it.’

Bad memories resurfaced.

Damian cursed inwardly as he looked at Pereron.

“We must prepare for every possibility. If we prepare and it doesn’t happen, it’s just extra effort. But if we’re unprepared and get hit...”

Damian addressed the senior officers in the room.

“We might never recover.”

Although Damian was young, his words carried weight.

Gulp.

The border defense officers swallowed nervously.

They were overwhelmed by Damian’s presence.

Pereron let out a small sigh.

“We’ll end the meeting here. Captain Vincent, a moment, please.”

Pereron quickly left the meeting room.

Vincent followed, and Pereron asked him.

“Who is that boy?”

“Damian? He’s the vice-commander of our unit.”

“That boy is a vice-commander? He looks no older than fifteen.”

“He’s exactly fourteen.”

“F-fourteen?!”

Pereron exclaimed in surprise.

A fourteen-year-old had made predictions about the current situation?

It was unbelievable.

“...He’s an impressive soldier.”

“As I said, he’s our vice-commander. Please don’t approach him inappropriately.”

Vincent preemptively blocked any intentions Pereron might have.

Pereron laughed heartily.

“Haha, I get it. It’s just that I find him very appealing. I’ve heard his performance in combat was outstanding.”

Vincent nodded with a stern expression.

Damian had killed six enemies in an instant, which allowed them to secure two captives.

Without that...

“We could have lost lives on our side. Damian’s contribution was immense.”

“He’s an extraordinary soldier.”

Pereron genuinely praised Damian.

Thanks to him, they were beginning to see the outline of their next steps.

Meanwhile,

“The atmosphere feels off.”

“Seems like things are getting hectic. Vice-commander, do you know anything?”

Kyle chuckled beside him.

Damian offered a few words of encouragement to the rest of the unit before heading outside.

Vincent was already out, prepared for battle.

Damian reported.

“Commander, the Caion Unit is fully prepared for combat.”

“Reinforcements have been requested. The nearest 2nd Division will arrive in a few hours.”

That meant.

“If we hold out, we win. So don’t overextend yourselves trying to kill them all.”

“Understood!”

“Yes!”

With that, Vincent quickly exited the guard post and saw the approaching enemies below.

“Kill them all! If you don’t kill them, they’ll kill us!”

“For the Kingdom!”

“Uraaaaaaaaah!”

There was nothing scarier than those with nothing left to lose.

Vincent observed the enemy’s numbers.

‘Just as expected.’

But just because he expected it didn’t mean it was manageable.

The 3rd Division had around two hundred soldiers.

Despite their advantageous terrain, the enemy’s numbers were 1.5 times greater.

“Shoot! Don’t let them climb up!”

The archers fired arrows at the advancing enemies, but their poorly trained shots poses little threat.

Dozens of arrows were shot, but only a handful of enemies fell.

“Once we get through here, we’re going home! Wipe them out today!”

The Spanian Kingdom’s soldiers shouted as they charged the 3rd Division’s border defense base.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A fierce battle ensued.

At the forefront, the soldiers held the gates and defended the base.

But then.

“Gaaaaah!”

Enemies began climbing the walls, causing chaos.

“Lower the ropes! Hold this position!”

The soldiers who climbed the walls lowered ropes for the others.

If more enemies used those ropes to climb up...

‘We’re breached!’

Pereron shouted loudly.

“Stop them! Cut those ropes before they climb up!”

Once a breach began, it was only a matter of time before other areas followed.

If the gate were breached, they could be massacred.

At Pereron’s command, the defenders rushed to intercept the climbers.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

“You think you can stop us?”

The climbers fiercely resisted the defenders.

The defenders struggled, and soon the ropes were fully lowered.

“Climb up!”

“Go! Hurry up!”

Enemies started climbing into the base, and it was on the brink of being breached.

But then.

Whoosh!

A dark figure swooped down on the enemies like a flash.

Thud!

“Guh!”

The Spanian soldier fell to the ground in an instant.

Drip... drip...

Blood dripped onto the floor.

The soldier guarding his position looked at the figure with a startled expression.

“Who the hell are you?!”

Whoosh!

But the figure didn’t answer and charged straight at him.

The man swung his sword at the incoming figure.

“...!?”

The attacker seemed to know exactly where the sword would swing, evading it effortlessly.

The figure moved like a ghost, leaving the man stunned as he raised his sword again.

Swish!

“Ugh!”

A small wound.

As the spear grazed his calf, the man flinched.

But then, the spear in the figure’s hand began to glow with a blue light.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

“...”

The man, now riddled with holes, stared at the figure in disbelief.

‘What...?’

What just happened?

But he couldn’t think any further.

Thud.

Bleeding profusely, the man collapsed as the spear-wielding figure let out a small sigh.

“Hoo...”

Damian looked at the enemies climbing the ropes tied to the wall.

“Get down.”

“Uwaaaaah!”

“Aaaargh!”

Damian slashed at the ropes with his spear and looked at the border defenders nearby.

“If this place falls, we all die. So.”

His eyes turned cold.

“Defend it with everything you’ve got. I’ll help.”

The border defenders, almost subconsciously, nodded at his words.