111. The Northern Retaking

Northern Retaking.

A phrase perhaps unimaginable for a person of the Albion Kingdom.

Especially with the Malidrian Wall standing defiant.

Kaldias, called the Guardian of the North, and the Malidrian Wall offered a truly overwhelming grandeur.

Perhaps because of that, the atmosphere of the army marching towards the North felt somewhat unsettled.

It seemed they still couldn’t believe that their wall, their great houses, had vanished without a trace.

Isaac, on the other hand, felt a renewed sense of emotion.

Northern Retaking.

‘What a resonant phrase.’

In his past life, after the Malidrian Wall fell, he couldn’t even approach the North.

The war situation was so unfavorable; retaking it was a distant dream as they retreated day after day.

‘I won’t surrender anything to you this time.’

He didn’t know what kind of scheme they used to seize the North, but Kaldias wouldn’t have retreated so easily.

Isaac still believed that Silverna was fighting somewhere.

“Front! A horde of beasts! Shieldbearers, forward! Form the line! Archers, to the rear!”

Lord Eisenwolf, upon sighting the horde, roared with mana-infused voice.

At the old general’s command, the soldiers bustled about, each eager to move.

The line of advance was based on the villages.

With the disappearance of the Malidrian Wall, the people of the nearby villages had fled.

In short, the villages were empty, perfect places for hunting beast packs to settle down, or eat the discarded food.

The guess was that beasts were nesting in each village.

Isaac was positioned on the left-wing cavalry. Thanks to the Ravenfall he received from the princess, he was assigned to the cavalry.

Even though the katana was not suitable for wielding on horseback.

Beside him was the Grand Master, who had visited his disciple, Damaen, yesterday.

The Grand Master didn’t say anything specific about their conversation.

‘If Master has decided so…’

Isaac would follow.

If Damaen betrayed them at the end, conversely, if that situation didn’t arise, he wouldn’t betray them.

“Haa, how boring.”

The Grand Master, also mounted on a horse received from the princess, was riding in a unique way – sitting cross-legged.

The way his balance didn’t waver, even as the horse moved, bordered on artistry.

The cavalrymen watched him with curiosity, or frowned, thinking him frivolous.

But everyone had seen him single-handedly wipe out the Azure Stream Society.

No one dared to treat the Grand Master lightly.

“Are we not advancing?”

“Correct. Cavalry is an expensive unit. We’ll move only when hunting the beasts that have taken root in the villages.”

“Tch, if I’d known, I would’ve joined the infantry.”

What cost does a single horse’s movement incur? Even hunting nearby mana beasts, if a horse is injured, that’s a direct loss of combat power.

Though a horse’s life is valued almost more than a man’s, it’s like that.

At any rate, when calculating on the battlefield, cavalry was a force that shouldn’t be moved lightly.

“The northward advance will proceed in two waves. Truthfully, the real extermination will happen during the second phase.”

“Second wave? Hmm, I missed your briefing yesterday, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“In the first wave, we break through straight to the Malidian Barrier. That’s our role right now.”

Like breaching a gate, we’ll pass through each village, reaching the Malidian Barrier.

“There, we’ll assess the situation and rebuild the front lines. Even if it’s just a makeshift palisade.”

“Hmph.”

Intrigued, the Grand Master takes out a tobacco pipe from his robes and puts it in his mouth.

After all, the mana beast horde was already being subdued.

“The second wave of reinforcements will arrive around then. Then we’ll spread our lines wide, like pincers, and eliminate the remaining mana beasts within.”

“Hammer and anvil, then. Classic.”

A concise summary.

What need is there for complex strategies and tactics when dealing with mana beasts?

Simple but effective, that’s what works best in the field.

“Did you speak well with Rianna?”

The Grand Master glances over.

He seems subtly curious, asking casually, feigning innocence.

“Well, we had something of a conversation.”

“Ho, so the knot that was in your eyes has vanished.”

“Knot?”

“No need to hide it from your master. Meeting your ex-wife must have felt burdensome.”

“……”

“Helmut was on the right flank, wasn’t he? You’ll be passing by him later, I suppose?”

“Haa, is there any chance of that happening.”

* * *

A few hours later.

The Grand Master looks at Isaac with a smile, pleased that his prediction came true.

Isaac, pretending not to notice, pulled tighter on Ravenfall’s reins and increased his speed.

This was Yandes Village.

A place with memories of facing the Transcendent Nortemus long ago.

And once again, it had been transformed into a battlefield.

“Left flank! Right flank! Now!”

Cavalry poured in like a flood from the left and right sides of Yandes Village.

Maintaining just enough distance so they wouldn’t collide.

The mana beasts were trampled by hooves, pierced by spears and swords, collapsing without even a proper resistance.

From the right flank’s mass of warhorses, a familiar head of red hair could be seen.

Rianna, at the very front of the right flank, swinging her greatsword.

He even felt like their eyes met for a moment, but he pretended not to notice and rode past.

“Hee hee.”

Conversely, there were those who broadcasted their feelings without reservation.

Sharen, indeed, waved a hand, greeting Isaac and the Grand Master.

A sunniness that hardly seemed befitting someone amidst monster subjugation.

Just as infantry filled the spaces left by the sweeping charge of the left and right flanks, they crowded in.

With that alone, the monster subjugation settled in Yandes Village ended anticlimactically.

“Rest! We’ll take our rest here today!”

Three medium-sized packs of monsters.

If we include the large pack that seized Yandes Village, that makes four.

The pace of advance wasn’t particularly quick considering the difficulty of the battles, but they were making steady progress.

“The commander said this was his last before retirement, didn’t he? It seems he’s calm and without greed because of it. Any other and they’d be eyeing the next village already.”

Isaac, who was setting up his tent for the night, chuckled and added to the Grand Master’s words.

“He’s a veteran, after all. He knows that our goal isn’t just reaching Malid, but establishing a base there and holding it, so he’s conserving his strength as he advances.”

“Hoh, while my sword possesses deep insight, war is a different beast entirely. A most intriguing perspective.”

“Even in your past life, Grand Master, you paved the way with your sword, not by wielding a baton.”

“Aah, it is the only thing I am good for, you know? In that vein, it is truly a pity that warhorses cannot withstand my power.”

The Grand Master muttered, stealthily crawling into the tent Isaac had just erected and lying down.

If her greatsword was swung with its full might, a warhorse couldn’t withstand it and would topple over, so she couldn’t brandish it carelessly.

“Conversely, the Hellmuth are truly marvelous. Charging with red steel clad in armor. Red steel is truly helpful in so many ways.”

“But, why are you lying down there?”

“Are Hellmuth even the strongest of steeds?!”

“……”

“Ahem, I was merely jesting. You must miss Sharen, no?”

Seemingly embarrassed, she slightly turned her body to lie on her side.

Her tail wagged playfully, indicating her jest.

“I’m asking, why are you lying down there?”

Isaac entered the tent and shook her shoulder, to which the Grand Master responded with her eyes closed.

“Master is sleeping.”

“……”

“Where does an unfilial disciple get off waking their master from her slumber?”

“Get up.”

“If, perchance, you have come to kidnap me, I shall consider it, so return in a while.”

“I said, get up.”

“Stop shaking me so. It makes me dizzy. But, has a grand event taken place in this tent? It reeks of man musk.”

“What…!?”

“Hmph, it is a jest. My disciple has been going on everyday with a grave face saying, ‘The transcendent race, I’ll kill all the transcendent race. I’ll kill them.’ So I thought I would tease you.”

“When did I ever say that?”

Just then, a presence was felt outside the tent.

Glancing up, a woman stood there unexpectedly.

“Rianna?”

“…….”

Rianna, wordless, stared intently into the tent.

Her gaze was fixed on the reclining Grand Master.

“Heh, looks like she’s ready to stab me dead.”

So saying, the Grand Master’s tail slyly wrapped around Isaac’s arm.

As if claiming it as his own.

“What business do you have? We were quite occupied just now.”

After a brief, steadying breath, Rianna replied, composure regained.

“Please refrain from such conduct within the unit. A lax unit is a unit with lax discipline.”

“But how can one stifle the passions between a man and a woman? It is said that, of all things, lust is the most fearsome.”

*Snap.*

Something broke. Didn’t know what. But it definitely came from Rianna’s direction.

“It is disrespectful to the other soldiers. Soldiers should exercise restraint, as is their duty.”

“Well, can’t I just cover my mouth like this? Or perhaps, press our lips together, muffling the sound.”

The Grand Master playfully covered his mouth with both hands. Rianna’s eyes flickered again, and she clenched her fist without realizing it.

“Grand Master, enough.”

Isaac sighed and rose from his seat, exiting the tent. The Grand Master gave Isaac a wink.

His intention was plain as day.

‘Not to be cowed in front of your ex.’

Showing her you’re doing fine even without her.

He was trying to boost morale, getting overly affectionate and, uncharacteristically, even tossing out suggestive remarks, but.

‘It was too much.’

Rianna’s gaze remained glued to the tent.

“What’s wrong?”

“…He summoned the young nobles. Apparently, the Azure Stream Society proposed they advance further.”

‘She’s still looking.’

Rianna’s gaze remained fixed on the Grand Master, unwavering.

“So he’s asking for their opinions, but it looks like he’s planning to give them a dressing down.”

“He’s not asking for opinions, he’s scolding them then.”

“He’s planning to retire anyway. He’s going to say everything he wants to say.”

“Rianna?”

Waving a hand in front of her face finally drew Rianna’s gaze away from the tent.

“…Let’s go.”

Following Rianna towards the staff headquarters.

“S-say… Isaac.”

“I’ve been thinking, did your tone change again?”

“……!”

Rianna paused for a moment.

Then quickly moved forward again.

“Lord Logan, I know that I shouldn’t meddle in your personal affairs.”

“…….”

“Still, this is a military camp, strictly speaking. Such conduct fosters internal disarray and can undermine the morale of the unit.”

“…….”

“So, please, restrain yourself.”

If only.

“If… if you really can’t bear it… th-then… to me–”

“Huh–.”

“Really?!”

Rianna, startled, whipped her head around. But Isaac wasn’t looking at her, he was gazing up at the sky.

“Huh–?”

A fissure stretched across the night sky.

Something was falling from the heavens.

Rianna, sensing something amiss from Isaac’s expression, quickly hardened her own and followed his gaze.

The creature that landed near the staff headquarters looked around in confusion before baring its teeth.

It seemed not to understand why it was here either.

Ironically.

It was a face Isaac knew.

The sleek, streamlined head of a dog.

Muscles, robust yet practical, rippled beneath its fur.

Red eyes that looked as though they could only see blood.

“Black Hound…?”

The moment he muttered the name without thinking, it was as if he’d been heard; it fixed its gaze precisely on Isaac.

Grasping the hilt of his sword firmly, Isaac spoke to Rianna.

“Call everyone. It’s a Primal Transcendent.”

As if in response, the Black Hound charged forward.

‘A hunting dog without a leash.’

In his past life, across countless battlefields, it had swept through, leaving devastation in its wake – a Primal Transcendent.

Isaac urgently drew his Tae-Do, meeting the creature’s claws.