âThe tribes that formed a shield against the invadersâ assault are too dissatisfied.â
âIsnât it an inevitable sacrifice? Try to console them.â
The main issue for Gundar and Dmitry was the problem of harmony among the tribes. They had gathered them together, but they couldnât control them properly.
That was natural, since Gundar didnât secure his authority through a duel, as was the tradition of the north, but integrated the tribes at the entrance of the mountain range by using his power when they felt threatened.
Especially, as the small-scale skirmishes with the empire continued, this discontent erupted everywhere.
âMost of the warriors of our tribe have died. Even if you are the great chieftain, this is too much!â
âThere are also foreigners with unbelievable power beside the great chieftain, why donât you use them instead of forcing our sacrifice, huhâŠâ
Gundar looked at Dmitry with a gloomy expression.
âIf you could consider the situation of the tribes a littleâŠâ
âThatâs impossible!â
Dmitry cut him off firmly. He didnât think of Gundar as anything more than a simple pawn from the beginning, and there was a more important problem.
âDo you think itâs easy for us to maintain our strength while blocking the superhumans?â
This time, Grand Duke deployed four squads of shadows, and even if they only deployed two squads, they could not completely stop one superhuman, but they could barely hold him back.
âIf the rotation for resting breaks, we wonât have anyone to stop Count Anderson on this side.â
Therefore, they were taking turns to block Count Anderson, who was a superhuman.
âPlease bear with it a little longer. We donât have any leeway either!â
Gundar had nothing to say.
In any case, they were in a dominant position in this relationship.
âWell, at least there wonât be any big cracks for a while.â
That dayâs conversation ended there. But contrary to their expectations, they didnât have to wait for a crack, as the collapse had already begun.
***
One of his staff members asked him with a doubtful expression as he rode his horse.
âAre you sure His highness really came here himself?â
âIâm tired, but Iâm not at the point where I see things.â
Count Anderson also came out with his troops at dawn, but he was also uneasy.
The staff member expressed his concern.
âBut this surprise attack is too sudden. Even if itâs His highnessâŠâ
âHmmâŠâ
The count also had to worry about that part. How should he explain about Eurius, who appeared and disappeared like a ghost?
But he didnât take long to decide.
âLetâs trust Eurius for now!â
That was his final judgment.
It was a decision made because of the trust he had built up in the north for so long.
âIâll have to fight those annoying guys again.â
The count prepared for a surprise attack with his knights as the core.
âCharge!â
âHehehehe!â
The imperial armyâs night raid began with the sound of horses.
***
Rustle!
Ambitious Dawn Gundar woke up with a start from his sleep.
He was also a remarkable warrior among those at the entrance of the mountain range. He sensed that something had happened in the camp.
âWhat the hell is going on!â
âGreat chieftain!â
His close aides rushed in and reported the situation.
âItâs an attack from the foreigners. We need to respond quickly.â
âA night raid?â
Gundar was puzzled for a moment.
If it was a sudden surprise attack that they werenât prepared for, it would be different, but there was no point in attacking a place that had a well-established camp and a defensive line.
âI have a bad feeling about this.â
He felt an indescribable uneasiness. The enemy wasnât stupid, why would they suddenly attack without any benefit?
âCall them!â
Soon, the shadows, including Dmitry who had just woken up from his sleep, hurriedly came to Gundarâs tent.
âThey said itâs a night raid, whatâs going on?â
âI donât know either. Anyway, according to the report of the scout warrior, itâs almost a full-scale warâŠâ
ââŠ!â
Dmitry also looked pale. Did Count Anderson decide to fight them to the death?
âAnyway, weâll go and stop the enemyâs knights. You just take care of the warriors and defend well.â
âI understand.â
âWhat the hell is going on?â
The two conspirators, Gundar and Dmitry, left the tent with doubtful eyes.
***
Clang!
Soon, the countâs knights and the shadows led by Dmitry clashed their weapons again.
âWhy is this old man doing this crazy thing in the middle of the night?â
âI hope His highness made a wise decision.â
The initial confusion was only temporary, and the front line began to regain its tense balance.
The knights, including the count, were blocked by the warriors, and even the ordinary soldiers entered a fierce battle with the immigrants.
âIt seems that the foreigners are blocking the enemyâs warriors well.â
âThere is no problem with the defense of the camp either.â
Gundar sighed with relief every time a report came in.
âIt was just a reckless surprise attack.â
But before his relief could fade away, a shout from the mountain side shook his camp.
âWaaaaah!â
âGreat chieftain! It looks like some tribes from inside the mountain suddenly attacked us!â
âThere are also foreign troops that we havenât seen before on the side of the front line!â
âWhat?â
Gundar hurriedly ran out to observe the front line with his accompanying warriors. But what he saw wasâŠ
Crash!
The back door of the camp, which was made of sturdy wood and reinforced with heavy rocks behind it, was completely shattered.
âLong time no see, great chieftain!â
With a fierce smile, he stood at the front and broke through the camp in an instant. Behind him, the elite warriors of his allied tribes followed.
âSt⊠Stop them!â
All the warriors and soldiers around him rushed to stop Nuadaâs charge at Gundarâs command.
âAnnoying pestsâŠâ
Boom! Boom!
Anyone who got hit by his casual punches and kicks, whether soldier or warrior, was crushed.
âAll warriors, stop that bastard!â
But if it was a matter of numbers, Gundarâs side had the overwhelming advantage.
They had gathered all the tribes from the mountain entrance. They were barely holding on with a defensive strategy.
***
Meanwhile, the second attack route where Eurius was located was going smoothly.
âBreak through!â
Eurius also mobilized his knights to smash the barricade in one go and infiltrate the camp.
âThings are going as planned so far.â
Slash!
âAaargh!â
He easily cut down a charging warrior and led his soldiers deeper into the enemy lines.
âAs His highness predicted, there are no outstanding warriors on the flank and the guard level is low!â
âMost of the elites must have gone to face the Count or protect the Chieftain!â
Eurius aimed for a flank breakthrough. And his true goal, taking advantage of the gap left by the elites, was!
âIt should be around here?â
âWho are you!â
Stab!
âWho am I? Iâm here to capture you bastards!â
Eurius blew off the sentryâs head with his invisible sword and gave careful instructions to his knights.
âRegular knights, split into groups of two or three and face them. Even if they are not in normal condition, they are not ordinary elites!â
âYes, sir.â
The place they raided was where the Shadow behind Chieftain, his secret force, was resting for recovery or preservation.
âI have to deal with as many of the Chieftainâs secret forces as possible in this opportunity.â
It was more than enough for Nuada and Count Anderson to collapse the enemy formation.
He just had to capture or kill the Chieftainâs dogs who were resting here or left as reserves.
Of course, even if they were injured, the Shadows behinf Chieftain was strong. But that was only when Eurius, a superhuman, did not intervene!
âAaargh!â
His counterattack and invisible sword were optimal for surprise attacks.
âIf it was a superhuman like Count Anderson who pushed with brute force, it would be possible to block him with a formation, but not me.â
Euriusâ movement was truly unprecedented.
The Shadows were already in bad shape, and while they were fighting with the northern knights, his invisible sword pierced them unexpectedly.
They had no way to resist.
âWhere did these guys come from?â
âI have to inform Captain Dmitry!â
But that was easier said than done.
Soon enough, the Shadows were annihilated by Eurius and his knights without any chance.
âAny casualties?â
âFive knights were seriously injured and about ten others.â
âThe damage is bigger than I thought.â
âAs Your highness said, they were not ordinary opponents.â
Eurius clicked his tongue as he looked at Linfield, who reported with a grim expression.
âAs expected, the Chieftainâs elites are hard to deal with. The Count must have had a hard time.â
But he didnât have time to mourn them now.
âWe have to join the Countâs main force quickly. There must be similar bastards giving him trouble.â
âYes, sir.â
Euriusâ detachment ran straight towards the front line where the Count was. The enemy soldiers who were already in chaos were like scarecrows.
But before he could break through half of the enemy lines, Eurius met the Count.
âYour highness Eurius!â
âCount Anderson!â
They looked at each other with surprised expressions.
They met much sooner than Eurius expected.
âDidnât the Chieftainâs dogs block the Count too?â
âIâm glad youâre safe.â
âIâm sorry for breaking the military law as I told you before. Iâll take responsibility for it later.â
As they drove their horses side by side, Eurius got to the point.
âBut as I was running through the battlefield, I saw a lot of strange people who were not from this tribe. Werenât they blocking you and your knights?â
âYou also encountered them, Your highness.â
The Count widened his eyes in astonishment and explained.
âAt first, they blocked me as usual, but when they realized that the situation behind them was unfavorable, they gave up on stopping me and ran away like ghosts.â
âThere are some among the Chieftainâs subordinates who can judge the situation very quickly.â
Eurius nodded inwardly. They must have retreated since the situation was hopeless.
âItâs a pity that I couldnât wipe them out completely, but itâs a big gain to deal with half of them.â
He actually planned to join the Count and finish off the rest of them, but there was nothing he could do if they withdrew.
Around the time Eurius and the Count made contact, the fight in the rear also ended and Nuada came running with his men.
âBarbarians!â
âLook at their mark! They are not enemies.â
Eurius raised his hand to stop Nuada who was running towards him. He spat out angrily as soon as he saw him.
âI almost captured Gundar himself, but those weird foreigners you mentioned popped out and I lost him. Iâm ashamed.â
âDonât worry too much. Itâs a big gain to inflict a fatal blow on him. How is the situation of our allies?â
âAs you said, wearing marks helped us distinguish enemies from friends. We also captured quite a few warriors and chiefs.â
Nuada showed him the yellow cloth wrapped around his arm as he spoke.
âIâm glad the identification band helped.â
This was an idea that came up when he first discussed the surprise attack with him. When he suggested a night raid, Nuada raised a question.
âIsnât it hard to tell apart our tribes from different ones when we mix with enemies in a night raid?â
âAh!â
Eurius realized then that the situation was different from his previous life. Of course, it was different when the northern immigrants were allies.
If they raided at night, it would be hard to distinguish between Euriusâ allied tribes and Gundarâs tribes who wore the same clothes in a melee.
But it was a surprisingly simple problem to solve.
[Help â Viewing identification methods.]
[Colors that stand out well at night are yellow, white, etc. This is called complementary contrast and⊠]
âI still donât understand the rest, but anyway, I just have to wear a yellow band, right?â
The tribes allied with Nuada who participated in this raid wore yellow bands on their shoulders according to the information Eurius viewed from the help.
âAs I said before, we have to be prepared for some sacrifices when we clash on a large scale, but we have to shed as little blood as possible.â
The result was quite successful.
When they attacked at night, they could distinguish enemies from friends, so they didnât have to spill unnecessary blood.
And except for the tribes who ran away quickly with Gundar, more than half of the remaining tribes were intimidated by Nuadaâs power and surrendered.
âYour highness⊠who are they?â
The Count cautiously looked at Euriusâ expression.
Eurius smiled and started to explain to the Count.
âI didnât explain in detail, did I? They are my allies.â
And Eurius changed the subject.
âJust remember that they are allies for now. Letâs start with cleaning up the battlefield.â
âYes, sir.â
Eurius was busy planning his next move as he drove his horse. He actually had thought of the situation when Gundar ran away.
âHe sent more of his subordinates than I expected, so it must have been hard for Nuada to break through them all.â
There were quite a few tribes who ran away with Gundar. But would they still acknowledge Gundar as a reliable Chieftain after he abandoned many of his tribes and ran away to save himself?
He smiled triumphantly.
âI hope I can finish off the Chieftainâs force and the Chieftain himself in one go with the next operation.â