Barbarian Quest

Pitter-patter!

The pouring summer monsoon harshly beat the shoulders of the warriors, making them feel sticky and uncomfortable.

Urich’s army was camped inside a forest away from the plain where the Imperial Army was most likely going to pass through. Urich gazed at the land that was turning muddy.

Katagi approached Urich, pushing his wet hair back.

“Several of our warriors have fallen ill,” he reported.

It was a hot and humid summer, and the Porcana-Alliance army was encamped in a forest where the rainwater was coming up to their knees.

Urich looked back at the bleak camp. The warriors did not come out of their tents due to the pouring rain, and even those who occasionally did walked with slumped shoulders and unsteady steps

‘Everyone is exhausted.’

No matter how strong the tribal warriors were, they too had limits and needed rest both physically and mentally, and camping didn’t provide enough. They needed to settle down and recuperate.

The disease that seemed to have calmed down was spreading again among the warriors whereas the Serpentism medicine was running low.

“We need to get their spirits up, Katagi. Go tell them that this is the last battle. If we capture the emperor here, we don’t have to fight anymore.”

Katagi nodded. He turned back toward the camp in the rain.

Urich continued to stare at the plain. There was no other place for the Imperial Army to pass through.

Squelch.

Urich, with his hair drenched in rain and looking like a ghost, climbed up the hill and sat down in the mud.

“Hoo.”

He breathed a deep sigh as he drew his sword and planted it deep into the ground with ease.

‘This land is quite fertile. It will work well for us.’

Fertile lands turned into a bog when soaked with rain. Those in armor would sink with every step, and cavalry wouldn’t be able to utilize their mobility.

‘If I’m not wrong, the emperor shouldn’t have realized our plan yet.’

Having the upper hand in intelligence against the empire was a rare opportunity for anyone. They had the opportunity to know the situation first and fight in a location where they had the most advantage.

‘The warriors are exhausted.’

The western warriors had practically marched across the continent in a rigorous advance, engaging in consecutive arduous battles that ordinary soldiers would have collapsed in long ago.

“...and so am I.”

Urich rubbed his chest. He couldn’t reignite his heart with the hot desire like before as if it had turned into cold ashes.

‘This is bad. I’m starting to doubt this whole war.’

Urich was simply moving forward out of duty because of how close the finish line was, but his heart was no longer in the war.

He turned around at the sound of someone approaching. Varca, who had grown into a decent young man, emerged from the forest as he looked at Urich with his blue eyes.

“Urich, even you will catch a cold if you stay in the rain like this.”

Varca undid his cloak and draped it over Urich’s head and shoulders. Raindrops trickled down the texture of the cloak, which was treated with oil and wax to be waterproof.

“This war… you think it’ll end once we catch the emperor?” Urich asked in a shaky voice, perhaps due to the rain.

“You saw it too, didn’t you? The emperor is the focal power of the empire while the local lords are descendants of duchies and kingdoms that perished over five decades ago. If the imperial power collapses, so will the empire.”

Varca also looked in the direction Urich was staring.

“You’re probably right.”

Urich showed his desire to end the war by asking a question to which he already knew the answer.

“It seems like Brother Gottval is quite fond of you, judging by how worried he is about you,” Varca said.

“Yeah, he’s pretty eager to make me believe in Lou. Probably because he baptized me himself, think about it, how big of an achievement would it be if he could convert the entire west, starting with me? He would be remembered as one of the greatest saints in the history of Solarism.”

“You know he’s not that kind of person, Urich.”

“I know, I know. I’m just joking. Gottval is just a straightforward priest.”

Varca sat down next to Urich and stared straight at him.

“I also want you to believe in Lou. I often dream of the Porcana fleet discovering the Eastern Continent after a long voyage, but you’re never there.”

Urich burst into laughter.

“Why the hell is everyone so obsessed with which god I believe in? Who cares?”

“It’s because we all like you. Brother Gottval, me, we all worry about you. We want your soul to find peace.”

Urich quietly turned his head to look at Varca whose blue eyes were sparkling with religious fervor. Without a doubt, Varca was a devout believer in Lou, and he believed that exploring the Eastern Continent was a mission given by Lou.

“I can’t put my faith in Lou,” Urich said as he touched the sun necklace he got from Gottval, which he had been wearing without any sort of faith.

“Then do you believe in Ulgaro?”

Varca frowned and sighed.

‘It’s not my place to interfere with what Urich believes in, but...’

Urich was silent for a moment before answering.

“I almost did. He did save me a bunch of times, you know.”

Urich thought of Ulgaro’s shadow that used to show itself occasionally to shout at him.

“Or do you praise the sky like other warriors?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

Urich simply smiled and looked at the rain-soaked plain.

Varca pursed his lips at Urich’s vague answer.

“In the end, we have no choice but to believe in Lou, Urich. You’re trying to choose your own god, but that’s just arrogant and outright wrong. We have no right to choose a god. We just believe and follow.”

“You are a good friend, Pahell.”

That was all Urich muttered.

Varca sighed and stood up.

“Don’t keep acting so arrogant because you think the gods love you. We must be humble before them, Urich. I hope you find the right path.”

Varca prayed softly for Urich and then returned to the camp.

* * *

The emperor's army was marching south toward the capital.

“Dammit, of course, we get hit by the rain.”

Alfnan, the Sun Warrior Commander, grumbled as the moisture seeping through his clothes made his entire body feel sticky and swollen.

Clatter, clatter.

The horses were dragging wagons loaded with armor and supplies through the mud, but the wheels often got stuck due to the weight. Eventually, it was the squires who had to carry the armor themselves. The uniforms of the unarmed supply soldiers were covered in mud.

“The imperial road is just around the corner!”

Under the encouragement of the supply officer, the supply soldiers pushed and pulled the wagons forward.

Things were going to turn for the better once they reached the imperial road as the rain would not affect the well-maintained pavement. Once the wagons move at their usual speed, the speed of their advancement would double.

“Push!”

The supply soldiers, sweating mixed with rain, pushed the wagons with all their might. The wagon wheels that were stuck in the mud finally came loose, and the horses pulled the wagons forward energetically.

“Huff, huff.”

Someone approached the supply soldiers who had collapsed in the mud to catch their breath.

“Y-Your Majesty!” The soldiers jumped up in surprise.

“No, don’t get up. Take your breaks, soldiers. The empire will not forget your efforts.”

Emperor Yanchinus praised the soldiers as he passed by. Yanchinus had spent a lot of time among the soldiers to the point that even the lowest-ranking soldiers knew his face and voice.

Yanchinus, who was harsh with the nobles, was always generous with the army.

‘Stay close to your army. That’s what Father always said.’

Yanchinus always practiced the teachings of his predecessors. Expansion, defense, and even quelling rebellions all required the army's strength.

‘I can strike at Porcana and the plunderers once I gather the rest of our forces in Hamel. We even have a kingdom that will help.’

Yanchinus had already formed a plan in his mind.

‘Things never go as planned, but it’s better to have a plan than not.’

Yanchinus spurred his horse and returned to the commanders, who were in no better shape than the rest of the army due to the rain. If they weren’t so pressed for time, they wouldn’t be marching in such conditions.

“Your Majesty, it seems the rain is delaying the supply unit. The one we were supposed to meet isn’t here.”

“Do we have enough food?”

“It should still last us if we cut down by one meal, and the horses can graze since the plains are not too far away,” the supply officer quickly answered.

“Then there’s no problem. We’ll reach the imperial road before sunset,” Yanchinus spoke firmly.

Though it was a forced march to reach the imperial road through the muddy terrain in one day, the emperor and the commanders all preferred it over spending another day in the mud.

Pitter-patter.

The rain grew heavier. Yanchinus pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders.

With the diligent march, the Imperial Army reached the imperial road faster than the commanders expected. It seemed they could rest before nightfall.

“Your Majesty! A messenger from Hamel has arrived! He says that Hamel is under attack!”

A knight came running, followed by a panting messenger who had just arrived.

“A siege?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sure Garrison Captain Sarvan will defend the wall with caution. He’s not someone who would fall so easily.”

Not only was Yanchinus not fazed, but a slight smile also played on his lips.

“This is a chance for us to hit them from behind. If we attack while they’re laying siege, they won’t be able to fight properly.”

“And we’ve reached the road earlier than expected. Your Majesty, it might be best to close down the distance even further while we can.”

The knights advised, to which Yanchinus listened attentively.

“We’ll keep moving until nightfall!” The knights shouted the order as they rode around the army.

The Imperial Army continued moving along the imperial road without resting as many knights and soldiers were excited by the news of Hamel being attacked.

‘Why would they lay siege on Hamel? Did they simply underestimate our capital, or do they have another trick up their sleeve?’

Yanchinus knew he was going against Varca and Urich, and both knew how difficult it would be to breach Hamel.

‘A war of attrition is significantly favorable for us. Hamel has more than enough supplies to last, so even if they managed to surround it, starving it with a long siege would be impossible. In fact, they could end up just wasting their troops.’

Yanchinus, like a habit, tried to put himself in his enemy’s shoes to read their strategy.

‘This has to mean that Urich and Varca have another plan to break through Hamel. Does Hamel have a weakness that I don’t know about?’

Yanchinus raised his head. He decided to think more fundamentally.

‘Would I attack Hamel if I were in their position?’

No, there was an easier way to gain a decisive advantage in the war, and it struck like lightning in Yanchinus’ head.

“Bring me the messenger from Hamel!”

Yanchinus shouted. The messenger, who had arrived earlier, hurriedly tried to flee on his horse.

Thwip!

A crossbowman shot the messenger’s horse. The messenger, who broke his leg from the fall, drew a dagger and attempted to slit his own throat as he limped away.

“Get him!”

The soldiers seized the messenger and pinned him down. The swollen-faced messenger lay before Yanchinus.

“You are not an imperial messenger.”

“Kek, keke.”

The messenger chuckled softly. Yanchinus recognized him as a knight of Porcana. It was a highly loyal, low-ranking knight who had risked his life on a dangerous mission for what was presumably King Varca’s promise of his family’s revival.

“They were trying to deceive us…” Yanchinus muttered and called his commanders.

“We’ve already fallen into their trap. Go get your armors and weapons”

But a horn blared loudly before the Imperial Army could fully arm themselves.

“Enemies! Enemies incoming!”

Warriors with weapons emerged from a forest not far from the imperial road, marching confidently through the pouring rain. Soon, they charged one by one.

“Oh, ooooh!”

The advancing warriors roared loud enough to drown out the sound of the pouring rain and reached the Imperial Army, who had to face the enemies before they could fully prepare for battle.

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