Chapter 145 - Letter to Soara

Ravens flying from all directions.

Even Dorothea's magical sphere continued to glow even now.

One after another, ominous news arrived at the Bayezid army heading towards Deirmar.

"This is an urgent letter from Bayezid."

Dorothea, with the characteristic pointed ears of the beast race erect, looked at Rutiger unable to hide her worried expression.

"Lady Oksana, a summons letter has just arrived from the Vatican..."

It was a mother's effort to care for her sick child, but from someone's perspective, it seemed like a wicked act.

Oksana, a person named Oksana, had been shaped in such a way by people who only saw what they wanted to see.

Even though he shouldn't be like this.

"Father."

"…"

Deirmar is just around the corner.

Although it was only a half-day hike to reach the battlefield, ominous news still arrived.

From spies scattered everywhere, to the church sharpening its fangs, and even the lords of the surrounding areas pushing the boundaries of territory.

They all warned in unison that something big would happen in Sturma.

"I guess I should go back."

Peter, who even received the raven sent from the farthest North, spoke with a serious expression on his face.

"But, Count. If we go back now, Joseph will be left alone."

When Rutiger heard Peter say he should go back, he began to strongly oppose, saying they couldn't just leave.

"I don't know about Deirmar, but we need to get Joseph out. If you give me soldiers..."

Is it because it's an urgent situation?

Although it was just a little, Rutiger radiated sincerity.

Although they were brothers destined to fight from birth, they were still the same Bayezid.

"Don't worry. I won't leave Joseph alone."

"Yes?"

Rutiger's eyes widened as he saw a faint smile on Peter's face.

The count's wife had been summoned to the Vatican, and now with the central army threatening Sturma, Peter seemed oddly relaxed.

"The essence of war is to obstruct what the enemy is trying to do."

Victory in war largely depends on how many resources are sent to the front lines.

That's why Sigmund and Dragulia had been using the same trick to separate the main army of Bayezid from the army of Hainal.

Through a grave threat that couldn't be ignored.

"Now that we clearly know the enemy's intentions, it's easier to respond."

Peter carefully folded the last letter from the master blacksmith.

The anger that had been stored up until now began to show in his dark eyes.

"We have to return in force. It may be a bit late."

After finishing speaking, Peter's eyes looked into the distance.

It was a slightly different direction from the one they had taken so far.

***

"...For this reason, Joseph of Bayezid should come forward and apologize for his rudeness so far! I hope Baron Alicia shows respect for the West through this marriage!"

A knight from the West runs loudly in front of the castle walls while holding a white flag, symbolizing a messenger.

Although Vlad didn't know his name, he thought his courage to confidently spout nonsense in front of so many enemies was worthy of great praise.

"Why?"

However, the soldiers surrounding him didn't seem to think the same.

The soldiers of Hainal begin to look at Vlad one by one with expressions of dissatisfaction.

The expressions on their faces were as if they thought he should at least step forward and say something here.

"…Hmm. That guy. What's his name?"

It wasn't just because of a strange feeling of pressure.

I said this because now, as commander, I have to think about my soldiers' morale.

"How dare you insult the baron! Reveal your name! You're a rude bastard!"

"Lord Vlad is asking for your name!"

The words that started as a quiet murmur from Vlad turned into waves and began to echo through the soldiers and the castle walls.

"You're seeing! Lady Alicia's knight! You!"

"If we meet on the battlefield, I'll cut your body!"

Not only the knight who had come to declare war, but even Vlad himself, were bewildered by the sudden outburst of curses from the soldiers, as if they had been waiting for it.

I didn't think it would catch fire like this.

I don't know if it was my mood, but I felt like I could feel Joseph's eyes from far away.

"Whoops!"

Suddenly, an arrow flew, as if thinking things couldn't go on like this while glaring at the angry Deirmar soldiers.

Although there was no threat to his life, the arrow stuck in the horse's rear was enough to embarrass the messenger.

"A bastard like me fell!"

"Get out and kill him!"

Gaidar's intention to pressure his opponent by declaring war was shattered.

The Gaidar knight runs towards the first escaping horse.

Watching him run after falling off a horse and writhing as if he had hurt himself seemed comical.

"…This is a very high dose."

Joseph, who was observing the battlefield from the castle wall under the most colorful banner, scratched his forehead as if worried seeing Gaidar's army beginning to move at the other end.

"No matter how you look at it, that's talent. With just one word, you moved 5,000 people."

"...I'll say something later."

Gaidar's army begins to approach from the end of the meadow.

At first glance, you could see the siege tower, built up to the height of the castle wall.

"You're well prepared."

There were probably dozens of siege weapons.

The only consolation is that they can't use catapults because it's a place without rocks.

"Light the arrow."

However, Gaidar wasn't the only one who was fully prepared.Archers carry arrows to the torches and begin to set them on fire.

Hainal's army arrows rose towards the finally risen sun.

"Not yet."

Joseph calmly measures the distance and checks the range.

Joseph knew very well that when it comes to fortifying, there's no safer attack than the arrow fired at the beginning.

Definitely the most valuable opportunity.

"Next."

"Not yet."

The shouts of Gaidar's army can be heard from the front.

Western marauders running towards each other, each with a shield.

Some of those moving quickly had already reached the foot of the castle wall.

"Now!"

The edge of the siege tower suddenly leans.

Joseph, who saw this and realized the moment had come, shouted loudly and gave a signal.

It's a trap! The enemies have dug a trap!

Holy crazy! I crossed a while ago!

A trap that activates based on weight.

The deep traps, like ditches, had finally been revealed and were swallowing Gaidar's siege weapons all at once.

Arrows ablaze began to rain from the sky.

***

"…What's that guy's name?"

"His name is Joseph. He is the second son of Bayezid."

Sigmund sat on his horse, looked at the battlefield, and burst into laughter.

"That guy wasn't in his right mind either."

"Argh! It's an arrow!"

"The siege tower is on fire! Put out the fire!"

There are so many traps dug here and there that you might think you're crazy.

Sigmund laughed as he looked at the traps that were so extreme that they made him laugh.

It was a tactic that only a coward would use, but if he was really trapped at this level, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

"Now I see he was blindfolded."

The reason Peter launched a special unit to disrupt the rear was not simply to cut off the supply.

Scouts acting as eyes on the battlefield.

Numerous Western scouts who should have been spying on the battlefield long ago couldn't figure out the current situation while chasing a detachment like Vlad.

"Just avoid the collapsed area and send them back. Anyway, it's just a waste of time."

"Alright. Count."

However, even though the damage was greater than expected, Sigmund did not lose his composure.

In any case, in a siege, damage to the attacking side is inevitable.

Sigmund decided to focus on the results rather than being pressured by the process.

"Anyway, all you have to do is cross the castle wall."

The walls of Deirmar are low and there is no terrain blocking them.

Moreover, the difference in troops was almost five times greater than that of 1,300 versus 5,000.

Furthermore, his soldiers were strong soldiers who had accumulated experience in many fights, so this battle was only a matter of time.

The frantic traps clearly revealed the defenders' anxiety.

"No matter how long you wait, the father you were waiting for will never come. It's really unfortunate."

Any lord would try to avoid losing the capital.

I won't leave Sturma just to protect Deirmar, a foreign land.

"The first siege tower. It landed on the wall."

"Yes. I saw it."

As reported by Godin, a charred siege tower managed to get stuck in front of the walls of Deirmar.

Seeing the puzzled figure on the castle wall beginning to murmur, Sigmund simply smiled as he stroked his thick chin.

***

"The siege tower is approaching!"

Shoot arrows! Kill it before it gets here!

"Hmm…"

Vlad took a deep breath calmly and looked at the siege tower approaching right in front.

A huge body that burned but did not stop.

At the top of the siege tower full of malice, Gaidar's soldiers crouched with shields raised.

"Lord Vlad!"

"I know."

Stephan, the mercenary leader, was helping Vlad to the fullest extent of his experience.

"Aren't there any other guys lurking around besides those?"

"Yes, yes! There are none!"

However, his superior, who was clearly inexperienced, maintained a much calmer appearance than expected.

'…That's interesting.'

Sometimes there are people like that.

People whose blood is naturally suited for the battlefield.

There used to be people in this world who were too prepared for the battlefield to be described as strong in actual combat.

"It has reached the siege tower!"

"Bastards! Die, all of you!"

Gaidar's knight jumps and kicks down the flaming wooden door of the siege tower that finally reached the castle wall.

"I am Hommel of Gaidar... Agh!"

Gaidar's knight let out his pent-up anger and roared.

However, he was only pushed into the tower with a strong kick without even being able to pronounce his own name.

"Stephan."

"Yes!"

"Close the door."

"Yes?"

A knight was pushed into the siege tower with a loud thud.

Soon, Vlad followed suit and ran towards the tower, where his blue eyes turned a bright red.

"The siege tower's door. Hold it and close it."

Without hesitation, Vlad advanced towards the siege tower full of shouts, cries, and clamor.

"Yes, the guy who said something earlier. What's his name?"

Vlad decided to become the uninvited guest of the enemy even before the uninvited guest arrived.

Inside the flaming siege tower, Vlad's left eye burned white.

***

The smile of the rose in Soara.

The red-haired lady finally picked up a letter that had just been delivered to her and smiled, unable to hide it.

"No, what's with him wanting to write on the swaying boat? He said he was too busy to write until now."

"Well, Vlad must have insisted on it."

Harven scratched his head at Zemina's strong reprimand and sat in a chair.

A table on the fourth floor where only the most cherished guests can sit.

There was already a cup of aromatic alcohol on the table for the captain who brought good news.

"Anyway, it's true that he wrote it."

"…Hmm no. I know?"

Contrary to her words, Zemina opened Vlad's letter with trembling fingers.

The shiny ornament in her hair stood out under the lamp.

So much so that no one can look at Zemina now and think of her past.

The knight's letter to Lady Zemina began to unfold in front of the beautiful smile of a rose.

The traces of someone she had missed were engraved in the twisted handwriting.

***

To Zemina.

I'm doing fine.

"What a crazy guy!"

"Kill! Kill him!" 

It's a bit dizzy because it's on a swaying boat, but it's still bearable.

"The siege tower is shaking!"

"That crazy guy broke the ladder!"

Well, there were missions here and there, but they were all trivial, and sooner or later there would be war, so I didn't have to worry too much.

Anyway, since I'm Joseph's escort knight, I don't think I can go too deep.

That means it's safe.

"Vlad! You must come out now!"

"The siege tower is collapsing!"

So don't worry too much and see you later in Soara.

Okay then.

***

Although it was daytime, it was in a field with a cold wind blowing.

The corpses were piled up among the fallen flags everywhere.

Meanwhile, the living and the dead remained silent, there was a man who only let out groans.

"Ugh! Agh!"

"I'll ask you again. Where is this?"

A knight with impressive bright red hair.

However, Radu's hair had turned a darker red than its original color.

"North... It's the North."

"Yes. This is the North."

Appropriate light hair color for age.

However, the lion's expression in the north was full of liveliness. Lord of blacksmithing Timur.

"But why did the North ignore me? Was I amusing?"

"Bwak!"

Radu was once again thrown into the damp mud by a rough hand.

The nape, which was turning white from not being able to breathe, began to tremble urgently.

"Red bastard, although you were born with dragon blood, you only inherited half. Listen carefully."

"Ah! Stop!"

Timur's arm simply remained firm despite the aura he emitted powerfully to survive.

A cruel smile began to form on the lion's face, who was giving the day-old puppy a death warning.

"I already knew that the emperor, who now lies in his bed, had become a corpse."

"…!"

Radu's hands began to vigorously grip the mud at Timur's words.

His rough, wandering hands showed that he was reaching his limit.

"Ugh! Agh!"

Radu finally emerged from the mud when the strong pressure on his head disappeared.

"Ha."

The area surrounding the hastily raised hill was full of colorful flags of different shapes.

Flags representing the lords of the north.

There was no mercy in the lord's eyes as he coldly looked at the dragon.

"Since when on earth…"

Timur's white teeth began to laugh at the dragon, who finally realized the situation.

However, even if you repent soon, it's already too late.

The corpses of countless soldiers heading to Sturma will never be able to rise again, despite Radu's belated repentance.

"I will spare your life. So go and tell your father."

"Kwaaaaaak!"

Timur's sword was drawn so quickly that no one dared to notice.

The sword tip pierced Radu's palm and sank deep into the ground.

"I will no longer be loyal to an empire without a legitimate emperor."

A dragon crying at death. And the lion of the north smiles at that sight.

His smile, which had been hidden for a long time, shone brightly.

This is the North, full of cold silence and suppressed screams.

It was his own land where the laws of the empire no longer applied.

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