Chapter – 54
Helen gathered the scouts and the combat engineer squad leaders to brief them on the operation.
“The mining operation will be conducted across three locations: here, here, and here.”
*Tap, tap, tap.*
Her command baton pointed to three spots on the map.
“Squad leaders, focus on mining the magic stones, but maintain thorough perimeter security so we can retreat at any moment if the enemy attacks. Also, always carry your weapons to be ready to respond to enemy ambushes.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Furthermore, if we retreat, abandon all carts loaded with magic stones. Prioritize lives over the stones.”
As he listened to the briefing, Carlisle’s eyes gleamed.
‘The distance between each mining site is appropriate. Not too far, not too close. The evacuation routes are also well-prepared for contingencies. Ordering the abandonment of carts loaded with stones must be to save as many soldiers as possible. It’s the most rational decision she can make while still following headquarters’ orders.’
To Carlisle’s ears, Helen’s commands were flawless.
She was a person who had enlisted as a lowly private second class and served as a combat engineer mining magic stones.
The fact that she was promoted to officer and even received a knighthood meant she had the skills to back it up.
Just surviving for a full seven years in the blood-soaked land of Kuvelin was proof enough of her abilities.
“Scout teams will also be divided into three groups and deployed to each mining site to secure the perimeter and assist in the retreat if necessary. And…”
Helen’s gaze swept over Carlisle, Marder, and Cudo.
“Private First Class Cudo, Private First Class Marder, Private Second Class Carlisle.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“You three will operate without a fixed assignment and carry out search and reconnaissance missions.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“As you know, the mission you are tasked with is of utmost importance. It’s no exaggeration to say the lives of your comrades rest in your hands. Therefore, do your utmost in carrying out your duties.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Deploying and utilizing subordinate troops effectively was also one of a commander’s most crucial abilities.
From that perspective, Helen was an outstanding commander with excellent military acumen.
After all, she had assigned the search and reconnaissance mission to Carlisle, Marder, and Cudo.
“I, the commanding officer, will remain on standby at the fortress to prepare for any potential enemy offensive. We cannot leave the fortress completely empty. Squad leaders and scouts, do not forget to take your signal flares.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“The operation will commence in approximately one hour. Those assigned to search and reconnaissance missions will deploy early to ensure our forces’ safety. That is all.”
Following Helen’s orders, Carlisle, Cudo, and Marder left the fortress immediately after the briefing concluded and embarked on their search and reconnaissance mission.
***
“Well then, good luck.”
As always, Cudo grinned widely and disappeared into the bushes.
“Let’s meet again alive.”
“Wait a moment.”
Carlisle stopped Marder.
“Did you happen to learn anything from him?”
“Huh? What would he teach me? He’s just a pet, isn’t he?”
Marder glanced at Hugin, who was perched on his left forearm, and asked in return.
“Hmm.”
Carlisle pondered Marder’s response for a moment before speaking.
“Try sending him flying.”
“Huh?”
*Whoosh!* As Marder sent Hugin flying, Carlisle said,
“Try copying this. Visual Link.”
“Visual… what?”
“Vi. Su. Al. Link.”
“Vi… sual… Link.”
*Swoosh.* Marder’s eyes turned white, just like Hugin’s third eye.
“Whoa? Whoaaa?”
Marder staggered on the spot, looking utterly lost.
“Heh heh.”
Carlisle laughed seeing Marder like that.
‘Must feel like flying. He’s probably looking down from dozens, even hundreds of meters up.’
The [Visual Link] Carlisle taught Marder was, as the name implied, a skill that synchronized Hugin and his owner.
In other words, Marder was now effectively flying high in the sky.
Well, more precisely, he was sharing Hugin’s field of vision…
Perhaps because of that?
*Shiver shiver shiver!*
Marder’s legs trembled as if he were a quaking aspen.
No matter how brave a scout he was, the unprecedented height likely triggered a fear of heights.
“Eek, Aaaaah!”
*Thud!*
Marder fell flat on his back.
He clearly thought he was plummeting from the sky due to Hugin’s sudden dive.
“Bleeeeeegh!”
Unable to hold back the motion sickness, Marder vomited the breakfast rations he had eaten.
“W-what was that just now? Was I flying… Ugh!”
“You were just sharing his vision.”
“Sharing vision?”
“Literally. You see what Hugin sees.”
“I-I see.”
“It might be tough since it’s your first time, but we don’t have time to build up proficiency, so you’ll have to adapt somehow.”
“So, I’m not actually flying, it’s this, right?”
“As you can see.”
Carlisle shrugged his shoulders.
“Got it. I’ll try to adapt.”
“Ah, and when Visual Link is active, your own vision is disabled…”
“So I should use it while hiding in a safe place? I could be caught defenseless by the enemy otherwise.”
“You catch on quick.”
“Wouldn’t expect less from a veteran. I’ve been around. But there’s not much to worry about, right? I have the camouflage suit you gave me.”
Marder grinned cheekily.
It wasn’t easy for anyone, even those with keen eyesight, to spot someone wearing the [Mimicry Camouflage Suit].
If one’s mind was preoccupied, they could pass right by someone hiding in front of their nose while wearing the suit.
“Still, you should be careful. Just in case.”
“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll be careful when using it. Well, I’m off. You be careful too.”
Marder gave a playful two-fingered salute and moved towards his assigned area.
‘Let’s go.’
Thanks to wearing the [Guerrilla Spirit], his steps felt several times lighter than usual.
Consequently, his movement speed was much faster, and the strain on his knees and ankles was about one-third compared to wearing other shoes.
‘Ugh.’
Carlisle shuddered, feeling an itchy sensation on his feet wearing the [Guerrilla Spirit].
‘Ah, it can’t be.’
Carlisle fervently prayed that Antyros and Begman weren’t sufferers of athlete’s foot as he quickly moved towards his assigned area.
***
The mining work, which had started early in the morning, continued past lunchtime and into the late afternoon.
‘It’s too quiet.’
Carlisle felt uneasy.
‘Maybe they’re waiting for us to finish the mining operation and withdraw.’
Perhaps that was possible.
Mining was extremely grueling labor, so the engineers’ stamina would be significantly depleted once the work was done.
If Carlisle were the enemy commander, he would target the moment the work ended.
It would be the best timing to attack when the engineers were exhausted.
‘Hmm. The Butcher Tribe was dealt a heavy blow, so maybe they’re lying low, but Crowley has no reason to…’
As the enemy remained unexpectedly quiet, Carlisle’s thoughts grew more complicated.
‘No, wait. From Crowley’s perspective, lying low might be the better choice.’
Black Magicians always had to be cautious; if their existence was discovered, it was better to either run for their lives or lay low and hide completely.
If they carelessly strutted about, they’d just get hunted down by an extermination squad.
In a way, the smartest move Crowley could make right now was to hole up in his dungeon and live quietly for a few years, or simply flee far away and relocate his base.
Of course, since Carlisle knew the location of Crowley’s dungeon, holing up there wasn’t a great option for him.
“Jeeves.”
The wyvern poked its head out abruptly.
“What is it now.”
“F…”
“Hungry? Asking for food again?”
“Yes. I’m a newborn, so I need to eat frequently.”
What kind of newborn in the world was this ill-mannered…
“Ugh.”
Carlisle let out a deep sigh and offered some shriveled jerky and hard rye bread.
“Not this stuff. You had something good this morning.”
“How could I have that during an operation?”
“Just go get it and come back. Can’t you?”
“Then I’d go to jail. For desertion during an operation. In a situation like this, leaving my post would probably get me executed.”
“Tch.”
The wyvern pouted.
“Then give me that for now, and from now on, bring some tasty stuff. How am I supposed to survive on this, even during an operation?”
“Everyone manages.”
“Northerners are so stingy, I tell you.”
The wyvern shook its head side to side and spoke while chewing the jerky.
“I’ll let it slide this time, so make sure to pack better starting tomorrow. *Munch munch munch*.”
“……”
“Answer me.”
“……”
“Answer me.”
“Eat and grow up.”
Carlisle gently pushed the wyvern’s head back into his clothes and continued walking.
Since it was unknown when the enemy might attack, even someone as lazy as Carlisle couldn’t afford to neglect his search and reconnaissance duties for a single moment.
A few hours later.
“Everyone, good work. Except for those on guard duty, get some proper rest.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At Helen’s command, the unit members dispersed to their respective positions.
In the end, neither the Butcher Tribe nor the Black Magician Crowley had attacked.
“Why the long face?”
“Just find it strange, that’s all.”
Carlisle answered Begman’s question.
“The Black Magician is one thing, but the Butcher Tribe wouldn’t back down this easily, right?”
“Maybe they’re just catching their breath for a day. Or perhaps they’ve given up. It’s not like we were the only ones who suffered losses. Their damages are probably greater.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s a good thing if nothing happens. Don’t be too anxious. It’s not like we can do much from our position until reinforcements arrive anyway.”
“That’s true too.”
“Then get some shut-eye. You haven’t slept since yesterday. We’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes. If you stress over every little thing like that, you won’t last long. You’ll suffer from neurasthenia and eventually go crazy.”
“You’re right.”
With a ‘what will be, will be’ mindset, Carlisle flopped down onto his bunk and tried to sleep.
As Begman said, there was no need to pointlessly stress over things that hadn’t even happened yet.
***
The next day.
Carlisle, just like the previous day, was assigned to search and reconnaissance duty and patrolled the area around the mining sites.
“Screech!”
In the distance, he could see Marder’s pet, Hugin, soaring through the sky, carrying out aerial reconnaissance.
Of course, most of the Blood-Soaked Land was a vast primeval forest, so perfect reconnaissance was impossible even from the sky.
The dense undergrowth and trees would obstruct Hugin’s view.
Naturally, the story might be different if Hugin grew more in the future…
‘If we can just get through today safely, reinforcements will arrive. Please, just let today pass without incident.’
Just as Carlisle was thinking this while feeding the wyvern in his clothes bread baked with lots of butter…
*Peeeewwwwwwwww, BOOM!*
A red signal flare painted the sky.
“Ah.”
A sigh escaped Carlisle’s lips.
Who set off the flare wasn’t important.
What mattered was the color of the flare.
Currently, the Decaron army used three types of signal flares.
First, a green flare meant <Enemy Spotted>, and a blue flare meant <Requesting Support>.
Finally, the red flare’s meaning was <Unconditional Retreat and Return to Unit>.
In other words, it meant that either the Butcher Tribe or the Black Magician Crowley, whoever it was, was launching a large-scale offensive.
And…
*Bzzzzzzzz!!!*
Grimungund began to tremble frighteningly.
[Alert: <Savage Bloodlust> has been detected!]
