Chapter 100 : Chapter 100

Chapter 100 : White Night Tactics (5)

“Linda, what are you trying to do…?”

“Stay right here.”

Declan couldn’t continue.

For a moment, his sister’s back seemed larger than life.

Clatter!

Linda sharply pulled the reins.

The earth churned loudly under the horse’s hooves.

“What’s that? Is it coming toward us?”

The Archduke’s vanguard, charging fiercely, noticed Linda.

From a distance, she was still a small dot.

“A scout? Bold one!”

“Ignore it! His lordship ordered a swift strike! Hurry!”

“Raaah!”

The Archduke’s vanguard didn’t slow, rushing forward in unison.

Dust rose like a tidal wave over the trembling ground.

Keen—!

Linda raised her sword, gripped low, to shoulder height.

The rainbow-like glow sparkled brighter in the sunlight.

As the distance between them closed,Linda swung her sword.

Boom—!

The air rippled along the sword’s arc, and a formless barrier slid across the plain, carrying a heavy current.

“What…?!”

“Something’s coming! Stop! Stop!”

Some in the vanguard sensed the anomaly, but it was too late to slow down.

From afar, it was hard to notice, but those close realized it instantly.

It was as if the entire space was crashing toward them.

The barrier suddenly halted at a point.

The vanguard, unable to slow, slammed into the transparent wall.

Crash! Boom! Boom! Crash—!

Amid the deafening blasts, men and horses tangled chaotically.

The front ranks fell, and those behind piled up on them.

“It worked…!”

A thousand men.

Executing the plan was crucial, but improvisation like this, reducing enemy numbers, was a valuable achievement.

Swish.

Linda quickly turned her horse.

No time to bask in awe.

The sound of the transparent barrier shattering mixed with the screams.

“Brother! Run!”

The plan was to lure the enemy.

If the barrier didn’t break, it’d be problematic.

“Such vile tricks…!”

“It’s that girl! Get her!”

The vanguard, recovering their formation, spurred their horses at full speed, seething with rage.

A chase ensued.

Hundreds of hooves thundered behind Declan and Linda.

The vanguard’s goal was clear: crush the main force led by Bihen Benkou.

Their task was to disrupt Adeline’s army before the mage unit arrived.

“Captain! She’s heading toward their main camp! Keep pursuing?”

“Doesn’t matter! Charge!”

The commander gritted his teeth.

He had no suspicions of an ambush.

The enemy camp was in an open plain with no cover, the ground solid and rough, free of traps.

“Captain! Up ahead…!”

A subordinate shouted from behind.

The commander looked up.

His face twisted in dismay.

Whoosh!

Waiting for them wasn’t a defensive formation but a burning enemy camp.

The tents within the palisade were engulfed in flames and black smoke.

“…What the hell is this?”

The halted soldiers stared at the burning camp, bewildered.

The commander checked his map repeatedly.

This was definitely the enemy’s main camp.

“They… set their own camp on fire?”

The commander’s mind raced.

‘Scorched-earth tactics?’

He shook his head.

There was no reason for them to do this.

Scorched-earth tactics involve burning one’s own resources to deny the enemy supplies or bases, typically a last resort for defenders in a prolonged war against invaders.

Then—

“Captain! It’s that girl!”

Beyond the flames.

The girl who provoked them was leisurely riding, looking their way with a mocking expression.

“You insolent…!”

The commander ground his teeth.

In that moment, Linda turned her horse and vanished into the billowing smoke.

He shouted urgently.

“All units! Chase her now!”

“Captain?! Recklessly pursuing is dangerous!”

“Then what, sit here? We need to find them! With their camp burning, they’re hiding somewhere nearby! Follow her, and they’ll show themselves!”

At the commander’s order, the vanguard resumed the chase.

Ash and embers kicked up by hooves scattered fiercely.

“Don’t let her escape!”

Breaking through the smoke, they spotted the girl’s trail again.

Now there was another figure.

The two kept glancing back leisurely, infuriating the commander.

“I’ll tear them limb from limb…!”

“Captain…! The enemy!”

“From behind!”

The commander whipped around.

The enemy was closing in from the rear, all in black cloaks on black horses, wielding long wooden poles.

‘What the hell are they!’

They fanned out, approaching from both sides like crows swarming.

Screams erupted everywhere.

Thwack!

“Argh!”

The commander scanned around.

The enemy infiltrated the ranks, causing chaos, but their numbers were few.

“Some stay and engage, the rest keep pursuing!”

The thousand-strong force sent to crush Bihen Benkou wasn’t a rabble.

These vanguard cavalry were handpicked elites from the Archduke’s main force.

“For Archduke Callence—!”

“For the Archduke!”

The troops split naturally, maneuvering skillfully even at speed.

Clatter—!

The sounds of fighting between the black ambushers and his men faded.

Veins bulged on the commander’s forehead.

His vision narrowed, focusing only on the two figures ahead.

A subordinate shouted.

“Captain! If we get too far from the rear, both groups could be isolated! We’re already faster than planned!”

The commander didn’t reply.

The die was cast.

At this point, he had to either find Bihen’s main force or return with his head.

One or the other.

‘…!’

How long had they chased?

The commander’s face paled instantly.

“Captain…!”

Flames rose in the distance, similar to before.

‘Another camp burning?’

Did they split their camp into multiple parts?

Or was it even a real camp?

Either way, the confusion was the same.

The commander’s mind reeled.

Then, an arrow whizzed past his helmet.

Whoosh—!

He reflexively ducked.

Only then did he notice.

They were no longer in an open plain.

Scattered cliffs rose in the distance, and they were now under a canyon-like terrain.

“Ambush…!”

He couldn’t finish the command.

Arrows rained from scattered points.

Thwack thwack thwack!

Arrows pierced not only soldiers’ armor but also horses’ bodies indiscriminately.

Screams mingled chaotically.

“Hold formation! Don’t panic!”

The cavalry dismounted to avoid falling, pulling tin bucklers from their backs to block arrows.

A turtle-shell defensive formation formed quickly.

“Don’t scatter, or you’re dead! Hold!”

The commander shouted desperately.

The rain of arrows and layered shields kept narrowing his vision.

Through the gap, he saw her.

The girl sat leisurely on her horse, backed by the burning camp, beckoning with her finger, one corner of her mouth twisted.

* * *

I stared blankly at the sky for a while.

Why was I moping like this? Honestly, I don’t know.

I meant to gauge the time, but the drifting clouds kept pulling me into stray thoughts.

‘…They’ll handle it fine.’

The plan had no issues.

If it went smoothly, about a third of their vanguard should be crushed by now.

‘They’ll be safe.’

I straightened my neck.

It creaked from how long I’d been like this.

“Bihen.”

Clyde called from beside me.

A signal that preparations were done.

I looked down before answering.

Below the hill, wagons and troops moved in a line—the Archduke’s rear, specifically the critical supply convoy and mages.

“How many have passed?”

“Half, based on the lead wagon. Now’s the perfect time.”

I’d been impressed by the enemy’s formation from the scout’s report.

The Archduke’s thousand-strong deployment showed finesse.

Troop composition, numbers, routes, and unit spacing—all intentions clear, calculations precise.

I’d felt it since the Litania Order’s encirclement: Callence was an exceptional field commander.

‘In my past life… was he alive then?’

It was once my greatest curiosity and fantasy.

Who was Conwell’s lord back then?

Adeline or Callence.

Coldly, Callence was the likely victor.

But I couldn’t conclude easily.

The Solari Order, now barely avoiding heresy status in the Kingdom, had its deity Elzerus cited as the first rule of chivalry by Old Knight Jayden in my past life.

For Solari to thrive that much, it’s plausible Adeline, their biggest supporter, held power.

But it’s all moot now.

Since realizing the Second Son Killian’s existence.

‘Hmm.’

My focus kept slipping, a sign I was too relaxed.

It made sense—I’d been through similar situations in my past life.

Luring a larger army with fewer numbers and picking them off was a familiar tactic.

“Shall we go?”

I loosened my wrists and ankles.

The vanguard was handled by the Theodore siblings, Ramba, and Anderson; the rear’s front by Viscount Mosfield.

They’d do their parts well.

If I dealt with the tricky mages, this battle would be our victory, as planned.

“Bihen, don’t overdo it.”

As I was about to leap, Clyde grabbed my arm.

His face looked like he’d mustered great courage.

“Overdo it?”

“Uh, I mean… don’t overuse Aura here. You should conserve strength. Leave some to us…”

I failed to control my expression.

To Clyde, I probably looked like a smug jerk. I let out a hollow chuckle.

‘…Aura, huh.’

In my past life, I’d have been pissed.

Even in this life, probably.

Until I met these people.

“Of course.”

I didn’t correct him that it was Sword Aura, not Aura.

It didn’t matter.

“Cover my back.”

Clyde’s actually a pretty cool guy.

He has a lot I don’t—things I could never have.

So I want to keep watching him.

Maybe one day, I’ll become a cool person too.

Tch!

I launched myself down the hill.

The air resistance felt refreshing.

The enemy’s convoy grew larger in my view.

One guy, either by chance or sharp instinct, looked up and met my eyes.

Bad luck.

Boom—!

I used the finesse of Quake Earth.

Supply wagons and carts scattered in all directions.

“Ambush!”

I landed in the middle of the convoy, right where about a dozen mages were gathered.

I drew Zahara Toxeed.

No time for pleasantries.

Stab—! Stab!

I swiftly targeted only the mages.

They probably couldn’t even see my movements.

If they caused a fuss, the precious supplies would burn, so I had to act fast.

“Aaagh! Another ambush…!”

On cue, our hidden soldiers emerged.

Not many, but with no mages and the enemy in chaos, this force was enough.

The fight would end before they could regroup.

Thud—!

Clyde landed ahead.

He signaled me from a distance, and I nodded back.

I stole a nearby horse, mounted it, and turned.

Toward the Litania Order.

‘Callence, Killian, and Kuhn.’

The Order’s Magic-Sealing Formation would soon collapse.

Now, it’s a race against time.

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