Barbarian Quest

Chapter 202

Chapter 202

War was an uncompromising game of chess. Rushing to move pieces just because of an immediate benefit right in front of one’s eyes could bring dire consequences. In war, it was real humans that died, not game pieces.

Carnius focused on the immediate benefits. He didn't have time to ponder. His soldiers awaited his command.

'Internal traitors among the barbarians, a gate that opened by itself, and an overwhelming advantage.'

All circumstances pointed to the victory of the imperial army.

'Honestly, even if it's a trap, I can't see us losing.'

What surged in Carnius’ heart was a confidence bordering on arrogance. Yet, he remained wary of that arrogance.

"General! The barbarians are going to close the gate again!"

An adjutant urgently shouted. If the gate closed, they would miss a perfect opportunity. Reopening it would result in dozens of casualties.

'Is it just my unnecessary apprehension...?'

Carnius extended his hand forward. Even if it were a trap, it was too good an opportunity to miss. He sent the heavy infantry and knights into the gate.

"Ooooooh!"

The imperial army stormed inside the gate.

Clang!

The warriors trying to close the gate clashed with the soldiers trying to break in. The resistance was fierce.

'Would they defend the gate so desperately if it were actually a trap?'

Carnius’ lips quivered. He slowly became more and more certain.

'Leo, forgive this pitiful father.'

Carnius was filled with endless regret. Leo's final moments haunted him constantly.

'If I had stopped you then... or at least had I sent more soldiers with you...'

Regret was always too late, no matter how quick one was to regret. Carnius had lost his precious son.

"Leo..."

His voice was melancholic.

The day Leo was born, Carnius felt he owned the world, and when Leo died, he lost it all.

'It was my greed. If only I hadn’t tried to raise him as a knight to succeed me...'

Carnius furrowed his brow.

The old knight who had lost his son desired the blood of the barbarians. No amount of blood spilled at his son’s memorial was ever going to be enough.

'Lou, I crave vengeance. If you deem a father's yearning to avenge his son a sin against your will, then take this old body.'

Carnius kissed the sun emblem on the hilt of his sword. He opened his eyes and tightened his throat.

"Chaaaaarge!"

Carnius thrust his sword forward as he shouted. The heavy cavalry beside him charged into the village.

The heavy cavalry trampled the barbarians, securing the gate entrance. Once the entrance was secured, the imperial soldiers flooded in.

A large part of the imperial main forces had entered the village. The barbarians resisted in the narrow passages, but the number of the barbarians dying off far exceeded that of the imperial soldiers.

'Is this irresponsible strategy truly all they have?'

Carnius laughed hollowly. He was feeling rather foolish for having been so tense for no apparent reason.

"General! The gate entrance is closing!"

The imperial soldiers guarding the gate were falling.

"Hah! Cunning bastards! I knew it!"

Carnius laughed. He was expecting a trap or two.

Near the gate, barbarians who seemed dead began to rise one by one. They were not betrayed; they had merely pretended to have been, smearing themselves with blood and lying down. Georg and the mercenaries also joined the barbarians and closed the gate.

Buuuuuup!

The barbarians sent their signal.

Whoosh!

Flames spread from the outskirts of the village. The wooden houses, liberally doused with oil beforehand, caught fire quickly. The flames rapidly spread throughout the village.

'They trapped us inside the village and are attacking with fire... that’s somewhat clever for some barbarians.'

Carnius was not perturbed. The village walls were just a wooden fence. The imperial army could break out in mere moments if they chose to. There was no chance the imperial troops would die engulfed in flames.

‘Are they really trying to fight in all this fire?’

Carnius' eyes widened. The entire village would soon be engulfed in flames, yet the barbarians had gathered to confront them head-on.

"Kaaaaagh!"

The clash had already begun up front.

Boom!

The barbarians kicked oil drums down, rolling them out and spreading the fire everywhere. The flames blocked the soldiers' path and destroyed their formation.

"Crazy bastards!"

The soldiers screamed.

The warriors donned heavy wet leather. They were in a much better position than those in metal armor.

The situation was critical for the knights in full plate armor. The trapped heat was making it nearly impossible for them to breathe, as the quilted or leather garments underneath the steel did not allow any of the heat to escape. Several knights had already thrown off their helmets.

Thwack!

And the warriors did not miss this opportunity. Their arrows pierced the heads of the helmetless knights.

"Are they trying to get all of us burnt to a crisp?"

The knights grimaced and swung their swords. The barbarians darted in and out of the burning houses and snuck up on the imperial soldiers.

"Do not follow them inside the houses!"

Many soldiers who chased the barbarians into the burning buildings were crushed to death.

"Huff, huff."

The soldiers poured water over their heads. The water in their skins was woefully insufficient.

The barbarians did not engage in direct combat. They only engaged in brief exchanges to ensure that the imperial army couldn’t leave the village and backed off. The flames and heat prevented the imperial soldiers from pursuing them. And it wasn’t like they could afford to turn their backs to the barbarians, either.

"Aaaaah! F-fire, fire! There’s fire everywhere!"

To make matters worse, the residents of Valdima continued to cause a commotion. Some that were running toward the fence were engulfed by flames and jumped into the imperial ranks.

'Where is Sir Gorn, and why haven’t I heard from him yet? Did I not send him to tear down the fence?'

The gate was locked tight, and the winch was broken. The troops waiting outside seemed to be engaged in combat themselves as well.

Carnius' face had lost all composure. It seemed like they were going to burn together with the barbarians at this rate.

The barbarians who had wet leather on them were not much better off themselves. Several had their skin seared red, and many who tried to lure the soldiers died crushed under collapsing buildings themselves.

Ssssss.

Shadows flickered in the direction Golen's unit had gone.

"Uuuuuurich is heeeere!!”

The warriors suddenly erupted. Even a dying warrior sprang up and shouted Urich's name.

Buuuuuuuup!

A horn blower blew a signal from within the fireball.

"Huff, huff."

Urich appeared, breathing out the smoky air. He was also wearing wet leather like the other warriors. As he crossed through the flames, steam billowed from the leather.

Swoosh!

Urich threw a severed head in front of the imperial army. It was the head of Sir Gorn, who had broken off earlier to tear down the fence.

One by one, warriors appeared behind Urich. Their clothes and leather were bone-dry, sending off sparks. Their hands and feet were scorched black.

In the suffocating heat and throat-blackening smoke, the tribal warriors endured as they always had. They endured the hardship as if they were enduring the dry season while waiting for the rain.

The moment Carnius faced Urich, he knew this man was the head of the barbarian horde.

Swoosh.

Silently, Urich raised his axe.

The warriors no longer backed off after initiating their attacks. They emerged amidst flames and smoke, boldly confronting the imperial army. The dried-up leathers no longer protected them from the heat. The warriors' bodies, marred by burns, were rather hideous.

The barbarians had turned Valdima into the most terrible battlefield. Now, the side to turn their backs to run away from Valdima were going to be the ones to suffer. To survive, they had to defeat the enemy in front of them.

'...or burn altogether.'

Carnius' lips twitched. Flames flickered in his eyes.

"Urich...?"

A few knights who were facing the barbarians muttered that name.