Supporting Characters Also Need Some Love

CHAPTER 4: EACH TRUTH AND EACH HAPPINESS (XXIII)

Part 089

 

The battle, which started as soon as the sun rose, continued fiercely and the sun was already setting. The Count’s Allied Forces and the Capital Army together had less than 10,000 troops, but despite losing their cavalry, they were in a close battle with the Taln army, which was nearly twice as large. Yes, it was like that until a few days ago. In Laurentine, where each soldier was precious, a delicate strategy had to be drawn up, and no one could match Ethan in using tactics that penetrated the board. Metallurgy: the point at which Taln began to use defensive strategies, growing impatient as the number of Taln forces was reduced, coincided with the point at which Adrian began to go berserk. Last Saturday, when the defeat of Jezero Plains was announced, Adrian, who had suppressed his desire to head to Midoc immediately, was unable to sleep from that day on. He was better off as long as he was swinging his sword. Because he didn’t have to think about anything. The nights spent killing time in the castle of the lord of the Great Countess were hell. Even at this moment, Adrian felt as if all the blood in his body was drying up due to the anxiety that something might happen in Midoc. After barely surviving the crazy night, when the sun came up, Adrian wandered around his battlefield like a crazy person again. As Adrian cut through the Taln army like a demon on the battlefield, Laurentine’s tactics became meaningless, and disaster struck the Taln army. The Count’s allied forces, who had never experienced Adrian, were watching in fascination how just one person could change the course of the war.

 

Colin and Lutvan, who were looking down at Adrian from the top of the Great Lord’s Castle, looked at each other with bored faces, then looked at Ethan standing next to them with a similar expression. Ethan felt the gaze and made eye contact and smiled awkwardly, but soon all three of them had similar faces. Colin, who knew full well the reason why Adrian was in such a state, opened his mouth with a distraught heart.

 

“I was thinking of asking the duke about the situation at there. Dock, but I guess I’d better not.”

 

“Don’t worry. The outer walls of Midok are not very shabby.”

 

“I know, but I can’t help but feel anxious. The duke over there probably feels the same way. Is there any news yet from the delegation that went to Cologne?”

 

Ethan, who had committed no crime, lowered his head in apology. Colin and Lutvan looked down at Adrian once more and then went down the castle wall. Ethan looked down with confused eyes at the middle of the Great County, where a battle was in full swing. Even the Knights of Bigor did not approach Adrian, who was rampaging in the middle of the battlefield. George came to Ethan’s side at some point and asked softly.

 

“Still no news?”

 

Ethan, who had been asked the same question by Colin, sighed and lowered his head. Adrian was falling apart to the point where it was difficult to watch from the side. Doesn’t Ethan know what Colin and George are worried about?

 

“It’s time to contact you, but I still don’t know if I can hold my master for a few more days.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to just ask my lord to go and see?”

 

George, who was watching Adrian’s black horse jump up again, clicked his tongue and asked. Ethan looked at the same thing and sighed again, shaking his head.

 

“If the lord leaves, it will be an all-out offensive. And why do you fight a war alone?”

 

“You’re doing it alone now…”

 

Among the soldiers, a circle formed around Adrian. Ethan felt his heart sink as he watched the Taln army, equipped with spears, arrows, and even nets, rushing around to catch Adrian. If you get injured like that, it’s a big problem. He knew he felt like he couldn’t sit still, so he couldn’t stop him. Taln will turn his head if he moves from the Duchy of Cologne. It’s been a while since the delegation left, and there had been no communication yet, and the clear eastern sky was dark.

 

“George, go ahead. But you should listen to me. You have to come back now, but you’ll lose.”

 

“You go today. I almost got stabbed yesterday.”

 

He couldn’t say more to George, who was falling behind, and was about to walk away, but he stopped. When he looked down, the Taln army was already retreating. He wouldn’t go into enemy territory, so he would be back soon. He didn’t have the courage to face his cold face. Even with a much larger number of troops, the Dalun army must have been heartbroken because they couldn’t catch even one Adrian, but Ethan’s heart was also burning dark as he looked at Adrian, who was turning into something sharp as if he were being cut. The main unit would have arrived at Midok by today.

– means that a battle will soon break out over Midok’s outer castle.

 

There was no way that the walls protecting the capital of the military powerhouse Laurentine could be breached so easily. There were great commanders, and although their numbers were reduced, the capital army was alive and well. Everyone knows this, but Adrian will go even crazier tomorrow. Ethan and George looked at each other and let out a long, long sigh. Adrian returned only after the sun had completely set and the Taln army had fled into the camp. His eyes, as red as the blood covering him, flashed menacingly, and he threw away his sword and headed toward his bath. As Adrian was washing, Jeon Seo-gu, who had been waiting for him in Midoc, arrived. As expected, there was news that rebel forces were encamped in front of Midok’s outer castle. While pondering how to convey this message to Adrian, Ethan unfolded the second rolled up piece of paper. And then I ran to Adrian.

 

“Master! The Duchy of Cologne has declared war. We will move the army soon!”

 

Adrian, with a sharp look on his face and water dripping from his hair, was handed the paper by Ethan. As soon as he finished reading, Ethan stopped Adrian, who was picking up the sword he had thrown away.

 

“No. We have to make sure they defeat you, my lord.”

 

“Move over, Ethan.”

 

Adrian gave an order in a calm voice. When he met his red eyes, goosebumps ran down his spine, but Ethan stubbornly stood in front of him again.

 

“It’s a week away from here to Midok. I just returned from battle, but I can’t stand it. My lord. Our children need to rest for the night, too. Leave tomorrow morning. Don’t you think you can do something by taking the knights with you?”

 

Adrian, who was staring at Ethan’s head as if he was going to eat it, who was blocking his path with his arms outstretched, nervously put down his sword. After barely getting Adrian to his seat, Ethan released the ‘Moon’ as much as possible to observe the Taln army’s movements. George, who had personally infiltrated the Taln military camp, brought news that the Taln army was withdrawing, and only then did Ethan shake off his hesitation and pack his bags. The next morning, as soon as the sun came up, Adrian got on his horse with bright eyes shining. The Bigor Knights and the Capital Army cavalry also turned their backs on the Great Territory. Fortunately, the Taln army also turned its horses around in the morning and began to return. He ran from the Jezo Plain to here at top speed in four days. It’s a week away to Midoc, get there as soon as possible

 

He had to do it.

 

* * *

 

The news that the Taln army had deserted the front was also delivered to the rebel army and the capital army in Midok. Dozern was busy as he had to capture Midoc before Adrian led the cavalry and joined the capital army. Although the rebel army’s general offensive continued for several days, Midok’s outer walls remained strong. Rather, it was the anxious rebels who suffered more damage. In the midst of the war, Remina was smart and cool-headed to block the rebels. Remina’s strategy of using a separate unit worked amazingly well. First, the southern gate’s forces are loose and they appear to be panicking as if they are in danger of being captured. When the rebels who were attacking the nearby west gate flocked towards the south gate, looking for an opportunity, Ban and Cale’s detachment that was waiting inside the west gate rushed out. They stirred up the rebels who were moving toward the south gate and returned to the fortress before the enemies came to their senses. Dorzern was caught up in Remina’s tactics of using the four gates in turns, and his blood dried up. Now, on the 63rd day of autumn, after having missed the opportunity to get beyond the gates right before his eyes this morning and losing his men, Dozern let out the bitterness he had been holding back.

 

“It’s already been four days! What on earth are you doing? How can a person who is the commander of the National Guard just get caught up in the tactics of a woman!”

 

Unlike Dozern, who was always running around, Boromir calmly acknowledged the princess’s abilities.

 

“I may not have learned it properly, but it’s pretty good. I’m reading the battlefield accurately.”

 

“So what? Are you going to send me flowers to say it’s great?”

 

“It’s not right for someone who has to do a big job to be unable to control their anger like that.” 

 

“Don’t sound frustrated. You never know when that guy Adrian will attack, but this is not the time to sit idle and talk nonsense.”

 

“Unless you fly, you won’t be able to come within this week. And we fooled you enough to fool you. Now it’s our turn to fool you.”

 

As Boromir spoke with his narrow eyes shining, Dorzern lowered his voice and asked with anticipation.

 

“Is there some plan?”

 

“I used my brain quite a bit, but these are the limitations of the tactics I learned from books. Aren’t we continuing to use the same tactics? That’s taking advantage of them.”

 

“Tell me in detail, in detail.”

 

“Sir, just pretend to attack the side they are using as bait. I will jump out and enter the castle with a separate unit in my hand.”

 

Boromir gritted his teeth as he thought about Ban leading the detachment. His father, the Marquis Luther, fell at the hands of Ban. Boromir’s father-in-law and brother-in-law were also killed by Ban.

 

Boromir smiled darkly, determined to catch the bastard this time. The battle began again and as Dozern concentrated his attack on the south gate as planned, the defense of the east gate began to weaken. Dozern, caught in the action, ran from the south gate toward the east gate, and Boromir, who was at the north gate, also pretended to move his troops to the east gate. Sure enough, the north gate of the outer castle opened, and Cale and Ban’s detachment appeared. Boromir, who had not strayed far from the north gate in the first place, attacked the detachment with his elite knights who had been disguised as ordinary soldiers. Ban, who was excitedly cleaning up the rebels in front of the North Gate, shouted in panic when he discovered Boromir returning with an elite army.

 

“It’s Boromir! They didn’t go towards the East Gate!”

 

Cale also urgently turned his horse’s head and shouted.

 

“Retreat! Return to the castle!”

 

And Boromir caught up with the detachment fleeing into the North Gate. The rebels who pushed through the castle gate before it closed finally crossed the gate. They chased the fleeing detachment deep into the castle, but there were no troops standing in their way, as everyone had gone to defend the eastern gate. Boromir, who was running excitedly into the castle, suddenly had an ominous feeling, so he slowed down and tried to prepare the soldiers who followed him. When Boromir stopped, Ban and Cale, who had been running away, turned around. Boromir, who had been nervously watching the detachment adjusting its battle stance, snorted.

 

“Are you saying you’re going to deal with me with just that many numbers?”

 

He left the north gate wide open. The rebels outside would come flooding in, but Boromir was confident because the detachment alone was a very small force. Cale, who was sharpening his sword on his horse, received Boromir’s words with a smile.

 

“Among the people I know, there is one person whose timing is amazing. Do you know who he is, Radius?”

 

“I’ve heard the rumors too, Boromir. Perhaps you know him too?”

 

When Boromir, who was about to attack, heard a signal ringing from behind and turned his head. An unfamiliar flag caught my eye in the distance. A black wolf was clearly embroidered on the fluttering white flag. Boromir’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

 

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Translator Note: