Chapter – 119…
“ I won’t forgive you… Absolutely… I will take you down… no matter what…!”
Asnatal grew even larger.
He nearly reached 3.5 meters in height as he pressed forward, as if intending to kill Carlyle.
Crack!
Rumble!
As Asnatal’s iron club slammed into the ground where Carlyle had been standing, it shook the earth as if an earthquake had struck.
“Die! Enemy of my tribe!”
Even while Asnatal unleashed a furious barrage of attacks, Carlyle remained calm, his composure unshaken.
Why?
From Carlyle’s perspective, there wasn’t a single reason for him to be emotionally affected. He had simply done what was necessary to survive and thought strategically to defeat his enemies.
Moreover, he had no personal grudge or competitive feelings against Asnatal, so maintaining his calm focus in battle was not difficult.
‘Time to pass him off.’
Carlyle considered letting his allies handle the enraged Asnatal and quietly withdrawing.
Coincidentally, his comrades had already broken into the Predator Tribe’s camp, so stepping back now wouldn’t cause any problems.
As if in response to Carlyle’s thoughts, the situation unfolded favorably.
“Carlyleeeeeee!”
Kravel appeared, soaked in blood, shouting for Carlyle.
He looked as if he had waded through a pool of blood after cutting down countless enemies. Despite his usual behavior, his skill was undeniable.
“Great work! You pulled off a difficult mission! Hahaha!”
“…?”
“From here on, the battalion commander will handle things. You can step back! You must be exhausted from all your efforts!”
Carlyle was momentarily dumbfounded, almost hit by Asnatal’s attack because of the surprise.
Until his desertion, Kravel had constantly picked on him, and now suddenly he was pretending to be friendly?
“Step back for your own safety!”
“Scram, little bug!”
Smack!
“Ahhh!”
Kravel was kicked by Asnatal and sent flying.
‘This is good,’ Carlyle thought, suppressing a desire to thank Asnatal.
‘Time to leave.’
He decided to leave Asnatal to his allies. From Carlyle’s perspective, Asnatal was just another barbarian chieftain. There was no value or meaning in risking his life for a one-on-one duel.
Ding!
A notification appeared before his eyes:
[Disciplinary Mission]
Defeat Barbarian [Heroes] of 5-star rank or higher.
Type: General
Progress: 0% (0/3)
Reward: Promotion (Private → Second Lieutenant)
Caution: You cannot be promoted unless you defeat three heroes.
“Ha.”
Carlyle let out a sigh.
He had hoped to pass Asnatal off to his allies…
‘Hmm.’
He pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion:
‘So what if I’m a private.’
For ordinary people, higher rank came with responsibilities and obligations that had to be taken. But for the second son of the great Sigmund family, a notorious troublemaker across the continent, it was different.
Even the battalion commander Kravel had struggled after Carlyle deserted.
‘I’m out.’
Carlyle stepped back without hesitation. His mana was nearly depleted from maintaining his rage-fueled state, so there was no reason to insist on a one-on-one fight with Asnatal.
“You cowardly rat! Where do you think you’re running?”
Asnatal chased after Carlyle furiously.
“You coward! How can you, a Sigmund, turn your back on your enemy! Aren’t you ashamed before your father—!!!”
“Eh, not ashamed.”
Carlyle snorted, avoiding Asnatal’s attacks as he ran.
What was pride or reputation worth? Carlyle had nothing to lose. The northern notorious troublemaker had no fear of being called cowardly.
“I will get you…!”
Swoosh! Thunk!
Marder’s arrow hit Asnatal squarely in the chest.
Of course, that single arrow did not bring Asnatal down. His chest muscles and bones were too strong to be pierced.
Still, the arrow succeeded in piercing the skin and embedding itself in the muscle.
“These cowardly continentals…!”
Asnatal tried to pull out the arrow, but at that moment, dozens of arrows rained down on him.
Thud, thud, thud…
Asnatal, now resembling a porcupine of arrows, groaned in pain. Even a barbarian hero couldn’t withstand dozens of arrows; only someone around 7-star rank could survive such a barrage.
“Well then, good work.”
Carlyle left Asnatal to his allies and turned away without regret.
After about ten minutes of struggle, the Decaron army successfully captured Asnatal.
Even a barbarian hero could not have defeated thousands of Decaron soldiers.
“You cowardly continentals! Attack me! I want to go to Valhalla! I must die an honorable death!”
Asnatal shouted, struggling as he was tightly bound.
Barbarians valued dying honorably in battle; being captured and executed was considered shameful. His furious protests were natural.
“Shut up!”
Smack!
Kravel kicked Asnatal in the back.
“How dare you, barbarian! You will not be granted Valhalla by me, Kravel!”
Kravel strutted as if he had personally captured Asnatal, exaggerating his contribution for recognition.
“Good work, Private Carlyle.”
“Yeah, it was a lot of work.”
Carlyle accepted Helen’s praise. Usually, he might have been modest, but this time he truly had worked hard.
“Your efforts in this mission will be rewarded accordingly.”
“Of course.”
“Also… we’ve decided to overlook your desertion, so take note.”
“Yes.”
“And… sorry I’m late. You must have been waiting.”
Helen smiled awkwardly, apologetically.
“That’s fine. Don’t worry about it; it’s nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Carlyle nodded. He knew Helen would stop at nothing to save her subordinates, so he understood her reason for being late.
“Sigmund!!!”
Asnatal yelled at Carlyle.
“How can you still call yourself a Sigmund! Aren’t you ashamed before your father? Come! Fight me! Let’s finish this!”
“Annoying. Can you quiet him down?”
Carlyle frowned.
“I’ll take care of it. But…”
“…?”
“Do you really need to finish the duel?”
“Why should I?”
Helen seemed a bit taken aback by Carlyle’s reply.
“If you step back now, your family’s honor will suffer… is that okay?”
“If it’s honor that can be ruined so easily, then let it fall. Compared to what I’ve done so far, this is nothing.”
“…”
“Why risk your life in a battle that’s already won?”
Helen could only chuckle awkwardly at Carlyle’s words.
As a northerner, she had never imagined a Sigmund family member stepping back from a duel. No matter how much of a troublemaker he was.
“If you wanted an honorable death, you should have made your decision earlier. Trying to be both chieftain and warrior is just greedy.”
Carlyle approached Asnatal and spoke.
“Tch, that’s…”
“You fail as a chieftain and as a warrior. You’re a half-measure at best. And don’t even bring up my family. It’s useless. There’s no damage, because I am the son you produced.”
“…”
“So don’t look for me, and die quietly. Don’t cling pathetically.”
Carlyle turned away, delivering the harsh words.
“…The son of a devil is cowardly and cruel.”
Asnatal muttered to himself but didn’t yell at Carlyle anymore. Why? He had no words left.
The battle was a decisive victory.
The Predator Tribe, suffering from high fever and stomach pain, could hardly fight, and with their chieftain and key officers gone, they were slaughtered.
Moreover, the combined forces of the Decaron army and the Lauren family’s Schwabern army had already begun the battle, so the enemy was at a severe disadvantage.
The allied forces suffered minimal losses. Out of 1,500 Predator Tribe members, fewer than ten died—a completely overwhelming victory.
“A Sigmund private…?”
Alicia approached Carlyle, astonished.
“You still haven’t passed the noble verification?”
“I did.”
“Then shouldn’t you be an officer?”
“Promotion denied.”
“Promotion denied…?”
“I apparently committed insubordination.”
“What did you do?”
“I held a knife to a superior’s neck.”
“…It’s amazing you weren’t executed.”
Alicia shook her head in disbelief.
“Anyway, see you next time.”
“What…?”
“Go now.”
“Just… go?”
“Yes. Do you have something to say?”
“Not even a thank you?”
“Why should I thank you? This was a deal.”
“Still, you brought the army to help, and you won’t even offer a cup of tea?”
“Look at my rank. Do I look like I can afford to offer tea? I’m a private.”
“…”
“Anyway, be careful. I’ll repay the debt properly, so don’t worry.”
Carlyle said this and brushed past Alicia as if no further conversation was necessary.
Alicia trembled with rage at his rudeness. How could he treat her, a lady of the Lauren family, like a servant?
‘Ugh, irritating. He thinks he can boss me around just because he’s handsome?’
Alicia watched Carlyle’s retreating figure for a long while, a budding emotion forming in her heart.
“…Annoyed.”
It was a spontaneous, unconscious mutter, but it revealed her true feelings.
