Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The Makstri unit advanced in their assault formation, stomping heavily on the ground.

The soldiers of the Iren Kingdom couldn’t hide their alarm at the sight of the approaching enemy.

“One, two. One, two.”

The Makstri unit members marched in perfect unison, mentally chanting commands in their heads.

The Iren Kingdom soldiers holding their position launched another volley of arrows.

“Fireeeee!”

At Goodwin’s command.

Swoosh!

Over a hundred arrows surged toward the Makstri soldiers.

“Fire!”

Swoosh!

Arrows were fired continuously.

However...

Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!

Despite shooting several volleys, the Makstri unit’s advance was neither halted nor significantly harmed.

“Dammit...!”

One of the Iren Kingdom soldiers cursed.

This made no sense.

Even Goodwin couldn’t hide his shock.

“Did they really master such a tactic in such a short time? How is this even possible?”

Goodwin couldn’t believe the situation unfolding before him.

At first, he thought they were merely mimicking tactics.

But when the reality set in, it was a completely different scenario.

“They’re tougher than I thought.”

Harming them with arrows seemed nearly impossible.

Only a skilled archer with precision could strike through the gaps between their shields...

“Damn.”

But such a marksman wasn’t present here.

Goodwin frowned as he watched the advancing soldiers.

The Baroque Kingdom’s soldiers had already reached just below the hill.

Goodwin shouted.

“Roll the logs! Stop them from coming up!”

“Yes, sir!”

The other soldiers were well aware that arrows were ineffective.

They quickly prepared thick logs that had been set up in advance.

The logs were massive and long, making them extremely difficult to lift.

With about a dozen strong men lifting with ropes, Goodwin shouted.

“Light them up!”

Fwoosh!

As the oil-soaked logs caught fire, the Iren Kingdom soldiers began to roll them downhill.

Rumble! Thud! Thud-thud-thud!

Five thick logs rolled down the slope with a deafening noise.

Goodwin’s eyes sparkled.

“Their tightly packed formation will be their downfall.”

With momentum, the logs themselves became an immense threat.

The Makstri soldiers were also...

“Ahhhhhh!”

“Logs! The logs are rolling down!”

Without any command to break formation, they could only keep advancing.

The incoming logs posed a significant threat.

But then it happened.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Damian, at the front, dashed forward.

Seeing Damian rush toward the logs, the eyes of the squad leader beside him shook.

“Captain!”

Was he really planning to stop those rolling logs by himself?

With such momentum?

The expressions of the Makstri soldiers, including the squad leader, hardened.

It was too reckless.

Vrrrrr!

Grasping his spear, Damian maximized his magic power, watching the oncoming logs.

The log was so thick that two adults could barely embrace it.

“They’ve prepared well.”

If the enemy prepared this much in a camp that changed every three months, it meant their commander wasn’t a fool.

But still...

“Haaaargh!”

Damian channeled his magic into the spear, shouting loudly.

With his feet firmly planted on the ground, he twisted his waist, and his previously drawn-back arm thrust forward.

Some squad leaders questioned Damian.

The other soldiers, surprised by Damian’s unexpected words, widened their eyes.

However, Damian firmly addressed them.

“We’re retreating! Everyone, return to Makstri!”

Despite just having recaptured the base, he was ordering them to abandon it immediately.

The soldiers were visibly confused, unable to understand.

“It’s an order.”

With that single word, they had no choice but to return to the Makstri base, leaving behind their doubts.

* * *

“...What?”

Goodwin jumped up from his seat upon hearing the news that the Baroque Kingdom soldiers had abandoned the base.

“That... that is...”

Seeing Goodwin’s twisted expression, the reporting lieutenant stuttered.

Goodwin cursed at the following report.

“Those crazy bastards! Then what was the point of risking their lives to take the base?”

“It seems it’s because of the agreement deadline. If the flag isn’t changed within three months, the battle here ends.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? But even a fool knows that defending the base is a much more advantageous strategy! So why did they leave?”

“I... don’t know.”

Even the lieutenant couldn’t answer Goodwin’s question.

It was an unreasonable situation.

“What are they plotting?”

Goodwin recalled the soldier who had shattered the log.

He was clearly a commander-level figure, but Goodwin couldn’t grasp his intentions.

However,

“It doesn’t matter. If they’ve left, we’ll just take it back.”

They would have to endure another three months, but that was their fate.

Moreover...

“Now that we know their tactics, we’ll prepare even more thoroughly this time. Focus on rolling logs in succession instead of arrows, and prepare large boulders near the cliffside.”

“Understood!”

It no longer mattered why they retreated.

“They might have given it up once, but they won’t get away so easily a second time.”

No, there would be no second chance.

Goodwin’s eyes flashed with determination.

He was set on making Damian regret his decision.

With that resolve, Goodwin led his troops to reclaim the now-empty gold mine base.

* * *

After the Makstri soldiers returned to their base, something unusual happened.

The squad leaders gathered and came to Damian’s tent.

“Captain, do you have a moment?”

“...What is it?”

Upon Damian’s response, they entered the tent.

They all wore determined expressions.

Damian tilted his head, noticing their serious demeanor.

“If you have something to say, speak. What’s going on?”

The squad leaders addressed Damian.

“Captain, we’ve thought about it, and we just don’t understand. Why did you order the retreat?”

“That’s right. Even we, as dumb as we might be, know that defending the base would be far more advantageous.”

“Yes, we drove off the Iren Kingdom soldiers with hardly any casualties... Why did you give the retreat order?”

They had likely discussed this amongst themselves before coming here.

They couldn’t figure it out, so they came as a group.

Damian.

Smirked.

He looked at the squad leaders, his lips curling up.

The squad leaders’ eyes widened, and their faces turned pale.

Damian’s gaze shimmered with the same fierce intensity as when they had first met.

“S-Sorry...!”

The first squad leader quickly fell to his knees, shouting.

But before he could finish speaking.

“Fine, I’ll explain just this once.”

“...Huh?”

“Why are you on your knees?”

Damian asked the first squad leader, who seemed ready to bow down completely.

“Haha... well...”

The first squad leader awkwardly stood up, scratching his head in embarrassment.

Damian spoke, looking at the embarrassed leader.

“At least it’s good to see you trying to think. Even idiots like you showing some initiative is a positive thing.”

The squad leaders wore sheepish expressions at Damian’s remark.

Then Damian asked.

“By the way, do you guys even know how to defend a position?”

“...Huh?”