Chapter 206

The beginning of tactics is knowing what weapons you have.

In that regard, both Encrid and Krais adhered to the basics of tactics.

Audin’s large stature made him an obvious target on the battlefield.

If such an Audin caused havoc on the battlefield, could the enemy ignore him?

He was a visible threat, a destroyer of siege weapons. Wouldn’t the enemy be desperate to kill him?

He was the perfect distraction, both in form and timing.

“Audin.”

“Yes, brother. Leave it to me.”

Encrid left the detailed explanation to Krais.

The crux of the strategy was simple.

If Audin made an appearance in broad daylight, everyone would be too busy watching him.

The main point was to shout and threaten from the east, then strike from the west.

“Hahaha, this will be fun, Big Eyes brother.”

Audin laughed heartily after hearing the explanation. He knew he could be surrounded and beaten to death if things went wrong, but if he were afraid of that, he wouldn’t be in the Madmen Platoon.

On the third day of battle, Encrid planned to show ‘Tap’ again during the operation.

Of course, the chances were high that the stab would be ‘Tap’ rather than ‘Thump’.

When he explained his strategy to Krais, Krais tilted his head and said,

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Krais’s tone was so rude that Encrid smacked the back of his head.

Smack.

Krais’s head wobbled significantly, perhaps because Encrid had put some force into it.

Krais, who quickly restored his head like a bobblehead, opened his mouth again.

“I get the gist of it. Tap and Knock.”

“Yes, Tap and Knock.”

Dunbachel, listening to their conversation, inwardly questioned their sanity.

‘What nonsense is this?’

But she wasn’t in a position to say anything, so she kept her mouth shut.

After all, she was an uninvited guest here.

She just stood there, quietly watching.

When something happened, they would take that little panther instead of him.

That could have been a blow to her pride.

“Growl.”

The panther didn’t even glance at her. It was busy grooming its front claws.

That disregard was actually comforting.

Most importantly,

‘Is this a flower garden?’

Everyone here was crazy in the head, but their appearances were also stunning.

Starting from Encrid, Rem, Ragna, Audin, and Krais, they were like a collection of flowers for different tastes.

Dunbachel herself didn’t particularly care about looks, but good-looking food was also more appetizing.

It was pleasing to the eyes.

She didn’t want to leave the flower garden. She wanted to stay.

To survive here, she had to prove her worth with more effort.

“I will go with you.”

Dunbachel volunteered with determination. She meant to accompany Audin.

“You will? Then go ahead.”

Encrid answered nonchalantly. There was no problem with Dunbachel tagging along as long as she didn’t get in the way of Audin.

Then, the operation began immediately.

Sneaking out of the city was not difficult.

“What do you take the Gilpin Guild for? We have at least three secret tunnels.”

The enemy had deliberately surrounded the city walls, making it difficult to leave through the opposite gate.

There were scouts patrolling even there.

Mounted scouts, too.

These horse-riding scouts were hard to catch but easily spotted.

So sneaking out was the only option.

After removing a few stones from the path that stretched alongside the south gate, they revealed a half-underground tunnel.

The problem was…

“It’s narrow, brother.”

The only problem was that Audin was too big.

This crazy religious soldier had to stand at an angle even to get through a side gate.

“Oh, I didn’t expect this.”

Gilpin replied, who was leading the way.

“Widen it.”

Encrid answered simply and clearly. If it’s too narrow, just widen it.

“Then it won’t be much of a secret passage… It could also become an easy route for the enemy to enter.”

The bald Gilpin muttered beside him. Everything he said was true.

“Just make sure they never come near the wall.”

Encrid replied. It wasn’t that he had an exceptional plan, but it was enough to make Krais, who was listening from behind, nod his head.

Right. If done correctly, the enemy wouldn’t even be able to approach the wall.

That’s how the battle was going.

The Border Guard was a fortress city, but it didn’t have a moat, so the defensive capability of the walls couldn’t be considered high.

There were many watchtowers, so they could shoot plenty of arrows.

‘But that’s not enough.’

What if the enemy charged with shields? Arrows alone wouldn’t suffice.

Pouring oil or hot water from above, or throwing stones, had clear limitations.

Once ladders started going up everywhere? If the numbers were overwhelming, the advantage of the wall would collapse in an instant.

They would also be vulnerable to siege weapons like mangonels or trebuchets.

There was no way to stop siege towers.

This is why moats were crucial.

There’s a reason why they dig trenches and fill them with water in front of castle gates.

Even if it smells a bit from poor maintenance, a moat makes defending the castle much easier.

Add some traps, too.

‘And use the collapsing outer wall strategy.’

This was instinct. Just as Encrid would lose his mind halfway when he saw a sword, Krais had a habit of imagining the worst-case scenario and devising the best ways to block it. 𝑅

Krais shook his head, having already envisioned the construction of the castle and its defensive facilities.

Anyway, this time they would make sure the enemy couldn’t even approach the wall.

That would be enough.

“Are you bringing bread again this time?”

The question was directed at Encrid, who was making his way through the widened hole.

Thanks to Audin, Encrid only had to duck his head to get through. He turned back in that posture.

Krais, who was usually anxious, was now looking at him with a bright expression.

“We’ll see.”

That was his response. As he exited and cast his gaze far ahead, he saw smoke cutting through the sky.

For some reason, the enemy was still keeping the furnaces burning. What could this mean? Confidence, perhaps?

“The Lord said, there will be times when you feel lonely and deserted.”

Audin recited a prayer. It was a clear message.

He was saying he would send some souls to the Lord. In other words, he would beat some enemies to death and send them knocking on heaven’s door.

“Don’t overdo it. Being too conspicuous is also problematic.”

Encrid reminded him of the purpose.

“Don’t worry, brother. I was once recognized as a person of neither excess nor deficiency.”

Is that true?

It didn’t seem like something that should come from the guy who always demanded excessive training.

“Your eyes are disrespectful, brother.”

That big guy has some awareness too. Encrid nodded and said,

“Let’s go.”

Jaxon followed behind Encrid, while Audin moved with Dunbachel.

Today, Rem and Ragna were not joining them.

Moving with a smaller group would be sufficient.

“You’re going without me? Without me? Leaving only me behind? Without me?”

Rem had a fit, but when it came to moving discreetly, Jaxon was the best.

Esther followed without rest.

“Kyaar.”

Hiding in the bushes under the city wall, they watched as the panther let out a small cry.

This panther, which hadn’t been seen for several days, seemed more energetic than ever.

“Jaxon.”

“Keep in sync with me. Keep quiet and stay hidden. We’ll walk to the target point.”

Jaxon, often called the sly alley cat by Rem and the surrounding platoon members, was not called that for nothing.

Even Rem admitted that he couldn’t sense Jaxon if he didn’t pay close attention.

Jaxon demonstrated his skills firsthand.

He silenced his steps and used the bushes and uneven terrain to move. Occasionally, he would sit behind rocks when they appeared.

At one point, a group of Martai’s scouts passed by just twenty steps away while he was sitting behind a rock, but as intended, they reached the point overlooking the rear supply base without being noticed by anyone.

With a perfect grasp of the surrounding terrain and anticipating the scouts’ intentions, they moved silently.

‘Even assassins have nothing on him.’

Encrid thought as he settled in a tree.

To his left and right, Esther and Jaxon were watching the supply base.

Now, it was time to wait for the commotion.

* * *

Greg, the 1st Battalion Commander under Olf, was a man deserving of the title ‘Brave General’.

He led his unit with sheer force, acting as the charge leader.

What is a charge unit? It’s the unit that stands at the forefront.

“The bear bastard that destroyed the siege weapon is here!”

Greg heard the shout of the messenger.

A figure large enough to destroy a mangonel.

Impressive. That brute strength didn’t seem human.

So, does being strong solve everything? Does that decide the course of the battle?

Not a chance!

The outcome of a fight isn’t determined that easily.

But how did they get out?

Did the city gate open? That wasn’t the case.

They had the city surrounded. Scouts were constantly patrolling. If something like that had happened, they would have known immediately.

‘Did they sneak out?’

Just because the city was surrounded didn’t mean there were no escape routes.

Being brave doesn’t mean being foolish. Greg discerned the enemy’s intentions.

They sneaked out and got caught.

‘They’re targeting the supply units again!’

Attacking the supply line repeatedly was their only way to survive.

Zimmer, the 2nd Battalion Commander, had said,

“If we keep the siege and hold out, it’s a winning battle. The only thing the war-crazed can do is so obvious. They won’t fall for it twice.”

Zimmer ground his teeth in frustration.

The big guy who was caught while sneaking out—he must have been sent out reluctantly due to limited resources. It would be hard to spare such a capable person for a task requiring a small strike force.

Greg moved with conviction.

Of course, he was wrong.

Audin was simply moving openly, busy attracting attention.

“Brothers, are you on your way to meet the Lord?”

He kept spewing nonsense while swinging his fists at the approaching enemy soldiers.

Those punches looked incredibly slow and clumsy. To the enemy soldiers, it seemed like they could just avoid them.

That’s how slow they were.

In fact, the beastwoman swinging a scimitar next to him seemed more threatening.

With white hair flying, she rampaged around, showing she was no ordinary fighter.

So what? Overturning a numerical disadvantage without being a Knight was extremely difficult.

Immediately, Greg’s 1st Assault Company moved in.

Armed infantry charged with spears and shields.

It was Martai’s proud assault unit.

Infantry armed with relatively light armor, large shields covering half their bodies, and spears.

A unit focused on charging.

“There are too many!”

Dunbachel shouted. Audin estimated the numbers.

About forty to fifty men.

It would be fine to clash with them head-on. Just fifty infantrymen.

He just had to dodge the spears and charge in. Once he closed the distance, a single powerful punch would do.

A straightforward strike without even needing Valaf-Style Martial Arts would break part of the infantry formation.

Then he could jump into the midst of the enemy. The long spears would become a hindrance.

Naturally, the enemy would try to crush him with their shields, but that was laughable.

He could push them back with strength, breaking them one by one.

But Audin didn’t do that.

He deflected the incoming spears with the back of his hand, dodging them, and swung his heavy fist slowly.

Occasionally, he picked up stones from the ground and threw them.

Whoosh!

Bang!

Stones hit the shields and shattered, scattering fragments everywhere.

“He’s just a dumb brute!”

Shouted an enemy infantryman. That was exactly what Audin wanted. He tried to appear that way.

‘Just like this.’

He drew their attention and induced complacency.

Krais had emphasized it about sixteen times just before they set out.

“Never kill them all. Just match their moves appropriately and come back.”

‘I’m not our barbarian brother.’

Audin followed Krais’s instructions.

The intention was obvious. The enemy was underestimating them, so they were going to exploit that to the fullest.

Before coming here, Audin had gained years of combat experience.

Reading Big Eyes brother’s intentions was easy.

“Are you going to hide behind your shields and fight, brothers?”

Audin spoke with an intentionally angry face.

“He’s just a brute who relies on his strength!”

Shouted one of Greg’s Company Commanders. He thought they could win by tightening the pressure and fighting cautiously.

A commotion ensued.

The rock-like stones that Audin occasionally threw could be fatal.

Most importantly, getting caught by that brute strength would not end well.

The enemy soldiers kept their distance and only jabbed their spears at him.

Audin fulfilled his role diligently. Creating a commotion at the front, his noticeable bulk naturally drew all eyes to him.

That was enough.

* * *

Encrid raided the supply base once again.

While doing so, he wanted to check on something that was bothering him.

“Jaxon, scout around the back of the supply base and see where the enemy soldiers are gathering and their formations.”

Jaxon responded by blinking instead of speaking.

‘Me? Do I really have to? Is this absolutely necessary?’

He had a knack for expressing this clearly with his eyes.

“Just do it.”

Encrid pressed on. He had realized this long ago.

They followed his orders better than he expected.

“Alright.”

With a blank expression, Jaxon did as he was told, and Encrid patted Esther’s head.

“Want some bread?”

It was just the two of them attacking the supply base. The enemy had prepared an ambush, but Encrid, with his keen senses, detected it and broke through with force.

Instead of killing everyone, he deftly avoided them, set fire to the tents again, and stole some bread.

Audin was causing a ruckus up front. The enemy’s defenses were stronger than before, but that was all.

Audin was wreaking havoc out there.

The watchful soldiers’ attention was subtly drawn to the front.

Thanks to that, the job was much easier.

Seeing this, Jaxon began to move stealthily behind the enemy soldiers.

Since he was already in motion.

“Esther, let’s go.”

Encrid decided to destroy a few more furnaces while he was at it.

“You bastard!”

An enemy soldier yelled. He looked like an officer.

‘Should I kill him?’

After a brief consideration, he decided against it. If he fought seriously, it would only raise their guard.

Encrid slipped away again. It was a hit-and-run. He had practiced this several times with the knoll, but this time it was twice as easy.

Audin was drawing their attention.

His skills had improved since then.

Esther was in great condition too.

The panther’s contribution was quite valuable.

“Grrrr!”

With a chilling cry, she would break an enemy soldier’s shin or slash with its claws, all while moving incredibly swiftly.

‘You’ve improved too.’

Encrid thought instinctively.

On the way back, Encrid naturally observed the movements of the soldiers he had faced so far. He remembered, recalled, and reviewed them.

There was something to learn from this.

No, it was natural to learn.

Jaxon would confirm the parts that concerned him.

So.

‘I’m at ease.’

Encrid returned to his original demeanor.

Along with the sword and training, he considered the direction to move forward, the path of his discipline.

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