Charge!

The Amaranth Troop newly reformed with one thousand taemusas changed formation and amassed into a triangular formation.

A natural movement like water flowing and amassing.

At the head of the troop.

There was Roan.

Boom!

A explosive roar burst out every time the Travias Spear holding flame split the air.

The sharp spearhead drew lines onto the ground and created fissures.

Fwooosh!

From within those fissures, dark red flames erupted out.

Kuak!

Ho, hot!

Enemy soldiers turned into balls of flame and rolled on the ground.

At every place Roan went, at each spot he stabbed, fire blossomed.

At that moment, a resounding voice pierced through the flame and was heard.

Roan Lancephil! Take my, Bud Dalys spear!

It was the Daly Troops commander and one who uncommonly used as a noble used a spear.

Spat!

Roan lightly dodged the spear aiming at and flying towards his side.

If he is Bud Daly, hes the noble who followed Simon in the last life and got his head cut off.

In this life, he was continuing his life a bit longer as Roan eliminated Simon.

Of course though, that too would meet its end today, with this very moment.

Spear isnt something to be used like that.

Roan lightly spat out the words as if to berate him and twisted his wrist.

Pbat!

The spearhead blazing with flame disappeared without a trace and then appeared before Buds eyes.

A thrust fast enough to be difficult to chase with ones eyes.

Hph!

Bud gasped deeply and bent his body back.

Fwoosh!

A flame brushed past behind his nose.

Siiiz!

Kuuk!

His helmet redly cooked and pressed down on his forehead and nose.

He felt a pain intense enough for his mind to turn faint.

His flesh turned mushy and pus flowed down.

The flame wavering along the Travias Spear was that hot and fierce.

This much is useless!

Bud forcibly screamed out as if he were mad.

Neeigh.

At that time, Roans warhorse neared tightly close.

The warhorses brushed each others sides and lined alongside.

A situation too close for both to use their spears.

He must plan to shorten the Travias Spears length!

Bud inwardly surmised Roans intent and quickly flicked his wrist.

Chang!

With a clear metallic sound, a sharp dagger appeared from inside his wrist guard.

Bud planned to directly swing his arm and stamp down Roans forehead.

A chilling smile hanged on his mouth.

However brilliant a magic spear the Travias Spear is, it should take just as much time to shorten its le

The instant his thought reached about that point, his breath abruptly caught and his sight turned faint.

Kuuk!

A pain like his throat would rip off was felt.

Bud lowered his eyes and looked at the front of his chest.

T, throat grab?

Tips of his eyes sharply trembled as if he couldnt believe it.

Rather than controlling the Travias Spears length, Roan instead skillfully extended his left hand, lightly deflected Buds dagger aside, and then directly grasped his throat.

Although it felt as if Roan had abruptly grabbed his throat from Buds position, in reality it was not such a simply trick.

Roan faintly smiled and spoke in a quiet voice as if to whisper.

Not throat grabbed it is Reid Art of Fighting.

The motion of simply extending a fist, the motion of grasping the throat, in everything the essence of the Reid Art of Fighting was held within.

Because of that, Bud who was rather famed knight had given up his throat without even understanding the situation.

Gguruk.

Bud writhed and rolled his eyes backwards.

A very painful sight.

Roan wished to quickly end that pain.

Burn.

Quietly chanted word.

Simultaneously, a dark red flame erupted from the left hand holding the neck.

Fwoosh!

The flame directly swallowed Buds head.

That closely brought to mind a hell fire.

Sss.

When the flame subsided, Buds head that originally should be there was visible no more.

Roans flame had exactly turned only his head into ashen dust.

It was a terrifying might.

Hihick!

He, he isnt a human!

The Daly Troops knights and soldiers looked at Roan and screamed.

All were of looks of jerkily falling back in fear.

Obviously, the formation and lines that had been strong collapsed apart.

And the one thousand strong Amaranth Troop pounced on top of them.

Charge!

Destroy the enemy troop!

Amaranth Troop moved shockingly quickly and smoothly and slaughtered the Daly Troops soldiers.

There was not even a need for Roan to step up any further.

My lord! The enemy army has been destroyed and are running!

At the adjutants report, Roan quickly gave out a hand signal.

Snap the enemy armys flag! Take their troop flag and use it as a blanket for the horses.

That from the start was Roan and the Amaranth Troops goal.

Right now, he was freely stirring up the battlefield as a detached force.

Yes sir!

Short and heavy answer.

The Amaranth Troop chased the fleeing Daly Troop, snapped off the enemy armys flag pole, and stole their troop flag.

Vvuuuu!

Soon, a sound of horn signaling the destruction of the Daly Troop echoed across the battlefield.

Roan grasped his reins and studied the battlefield.

A hole opened up in the enemys right wing from the Daly Troops destruction.

It was the desired result.

On the other hand, the center army which was the body and the left wing was still thick.

However, that side too was slowly being pushed back at the Lancephil Fief Regiments fierce attack led by Brian, Harrison, and Pierce.

I should split apart the bastards body.

The next goal was decided.

Roan faintly smiled and powerfully raised his Travias Spear.

The Amaranth Troop was awaiting with its lines already reorganized for the next order.

From the west to east! Pierce through the enemy center army! The next target is the Renji Troop led by Wilston Stark!

Yes sir! West to east! Pierce enemy center army! Wilston Stark! Renji Troop!

The Amaranth Troops soldiers repeated back in one voice and then grasped their horse reins.

All were of appearance of tightly pressing their chests into the horses backs.

It was the moment for the gust-like charge to once again begin.

Roan once again stepped up to the vanguard and flashed a sharp light from his eyes.

Let us burn the enemy armys heart.

The voice quietly pierced into the ears.

And soon, Roan pressed strength into his thighs and spurred his horse.

Pabat!

The warhorse kicked off the ground and began to race.

Behind it, Roans sonorous voice shook the battlefield.

Charge!

*****

Just how did this happen, sir?

Isnt this different than what you have said, sir?

Five castles including a fort and one key region has already fallen into the bastards hands!

The headquarter was noisy with all sorts of shouts.

The commanders who wore full armors all directed looks of condemnation towards one person.

Everyone please calm down.

A soft voice.

The one who was receiving the stinging eyes was in fact Clay.

He looked at the various categories of reports and a map with complicated symbols drawn in above the table and formed a bitter smile.

The things the reports and the map meant was but one.

Rinse Liberation Armys defeat.

This is rather beyond my expectation

Though he was laboriously smiling, Clay too becoming flustered was also the same.

Clay, with the war with the Lancephil Fief Regiment ahead of him, had completely grasped and prepared everything.

The number of soldiers, placements, formations, logistics, intelligence, enemys condition, predicted paths, and even the abilities and personalities of Roan and the warriors who followed him.

He meticulously checked and rechecked without a single bit remaining and weaved the perfect military strategy.

No, he thought he had weaved it.

But just one amongst the things he thought was perfect had plainly turned amiss.

Roan Lancephil, was he this strong?

Only a bare few years had now passed since he had left his side.

Clay knew that Roans talent was only a little more outstanding a level than ordinary.

Of course, he also knew that he was a perversely hard worker and that an incomprehensible luck strongly followed him.

I mulled plentily of various matters and situations and surmised to how much his various abilities including might will have grown

The surmised result was the level of Royal Palace Knight Order praised as the topmost level amongst the Rinse Kingdoms knights.

But Roans abilities he had shown in these first battles of the war wasnt of just that level.

At the least Royal Palace Knight Captain, no, he became a powerhouse counted amongst the top three within the Rinse Kingdom.

A growth that far surpassed Clays prediction.

To think Ive made such a mistakeThere were two reasons why he, who was listening to news of Roan through the druids and the agents, had made such a large mistake.

Amongst them, the first was in fact the elves obstruction.

Though Clay still hadnt noticed, Aily and the elves who followed her were making small chips on the intelligence druids gathered.

They had mixed fake intelligence within real intelligences or elaborately switched few intelligences.

Thanks to that, cracks were forming very slowly and little by little on the various results and plans Clay had predicted.

However, in truth the biggest reason Clay failed to properly predict Roans growth was.

I underestimated Roan Lancephil too much.

It was because of his slight towards Roan that was laid deep within his heart.

He still believed Roan had greatly succeeded because his luck was good in comparison to his abilities.

Its also because he has gotten good subordinates.

But from this moment on, he had to throw away such complacent thoughts.

He is a much more outstanding a man than I thought.

Clay acknowledged Roans abilities.

Now that he had acknowledged him, he couldnt treat him carelessly.

This is purely my mistake, sirs.

Clay lowered his head towards the commanders who were still glaring at him.

An abrupt apology.

Hmm. Well, then

It is good since youve acknowledged that quickly, but

The numerous commanders could only step back with unsure expressions at the sight of him quickly acknowledging his mistake.

For a moment, an awkward mood flowed.

At that moment, Mills who was observing the situation asked in a calm voice.

You do have a solution, yes?

A question that precisely pick out the flow.

Clay made a faint smile.

Of course, sir.

He quickly answered and then pointed at the map with a tip of his finger.

Roan Lancephil is currently staying in the McGinley Region, sirs. This place is a wide plain region without even a small hill. It is a place perfect for him to freely run and play around on.

Sss.

His finger moved a little north.

On the other hand, the terrain of the Newark Region at north is rough that it is an advantageous position to attempt ambushes, assault attacks. We plan to form a detached force and lure the Lancephil Fief Regiment into the Newark Region. At this place, we will deploy the knight order forces and

The moment his words reached about that point.

To dig all sorts of traps and wait like a coward. Tch tch tch.

A husky voice jumped out.

Clay stopped his words and looked towards the direction the voice was heard from.

The other commanders including Mills also did the same.

The gazes all turned towards once place.

Certainly, minor kingdom people befit minor kingdoms people.

The owner of the voice was a young man of a giant stature.

Mills slightly creased his forehead.

Viscount Heder Myers. Coward and a minor kingdom, sir? Youve said too much.

Is it? Apologies. Im inherently a type that cant lie, you see.

The young man of giant stature, Heder Myers widely opened his large mouth and burst out a laugh.

The expressions of many commanders excluding him, especially those of the nobles from Rinse Kingdom stiffly hardened.

Cowards.

Heder inwardly sneered at the stinging glares pouring down on him.

He casually moved his steps and stood in front of Clay.

Commander in Chief Clay. Theres no need to spin your head around so complicatedly.

A pointlessly loud voice.

Heder lightly tapped his wide chest with his right hand.

Ill go to the McGinley Region.

His eyes flashed with a horrible light.

Ill go and cut off Roan Lancephil or whatever called bastards head.

A confident expression and voice.

Gulp.

Other commanders dryly swallowed with slightly tensed expressions.

On the other hand, Clay stared at Heder with calm eyes.

Bear Viscount Heder Myers.

A noble and a knight of the Estia Empire he knew well of through rumors since long ago.

Originally, he himself should have taken the seat of Rinse Liberation Armys Commander in Chief if looking with just the nobilities.

However, Heder yielded, no, dumped the Commander in Chief positions onto Mills and Clay saying he cant freely fight if he take a job.

They say hes a powerhouse who stands out amongst the Empires young nobles, no, even amongst knights.

He was counted as one of the knights who had high probability of later becoming a swordmaster.

Hmm.

Clay fell for a moment into his thought.

Although he was the Rinse Liberation Armys Commander in Chief, he couldnt openly disregard the demand of Heder who was an Estia Empires noble.

Furthermore.

I do also wish to see the skill of the empires knight at this chance.

The inside of his head rapidly spun.

It was good too if Heder caught Roan, and there was nothing bad either even if he instead lost or got his head cut off.

The war is over if he wins, and my authority will become further stabilized if he loses.

The noses of the Estia Empire commanders who had Heder at the head would become snapped.

Clay slowly nodded his head.

That would be fine, sir. There would be nothing more to ask if you would do just so.

The instant his words ended.

Kuhahahaha! Alright! Alright!

Kuhahahaha! Alright! Alright!

Heder burst out a crazed laugh.

An unusual light swayed in his eyes.

They say Roan Lancephils old nickname was Crimson Ghost, right?

A sharp pressure poured out.

Kukuku. Ill turn him into a real ghost.

A confident look.

This day, the Estia Empires bear, Heder Myers led his knights and troop and marched to the McGinley Region.

It was the full-scale beginning of the war.

< Northern Expedition (2) > End.