Chapter 67

While the Rosais and Domorgal armies were repeatedly attacking and defending the Terial fortress, Raymond, Rozward, Mutio, Virgil, Soyon, and Dora were descending the Adelnia mountain range. Once they reached the bottom, they would pass through the Romano forest and enter the Domorgal territory.

Everyone was on horseback.

The supply wagons were too difficult to move through the forest, so they had been disassembled and carried. They were designed to be quickly reassembled using nails.

The wagons were essential not only for transporting plunder but also for carrying wounded soldiers and important prisoners.

This operation involved infiltrating the kingdom of the King of Domorgal through the forest while the Domorgal army was preoccupied with the Terial fortress.

Their mission was to destroy supply bases and wreak havoc.

Once this happened, the Domorgal army would have no choice but to retreat.

The main force would then pursue and strike them.

Afterward, the detachment would evade the Domorgal army to wear them down.

At the right moment, they would join forces with the main army and defeat the Domorgal army.

A worn-out Domorgal army would be easy to defeat.

"Still, it's impressive how you know the animal paths in this dense forest so well."

"The forest is like my and Rozward's backyard."

Soyon answered Mutio's question with a smile.

They had already done their reconnaissance, so there was no hesitation in leading the way.

The soldiers could march without worrying about divine punishment thanks to Soyon and the others' guidance. Most of the soldiers, who were Alva and Germanis people, were unfamiliar with griffins because the Romano forest was not adjacent to their territories, so there was no hesitation in the first place.

"Don't worry once we enter the King of Domorgal's country. I'm from there. I lived there until I was ten."

She had also used an owl to scout at night.

Her knowledge of the geography was perfect.

"By the way, that owl. It seems to be a species that doesn't exist on the Adelnia Peninsula... Where did you get it?"

Dora asked Soyon.

Dora was older, but Soyon was the senior.

Besides, Soyon was more skilled as a sorceress.

"I bought it from a Kirsia merchant five months ago."

"Five, five months ago..."

Dora was astonished.

It usually takes at least three years to form a bond deep enough for soul riding.

"Soyon is unparalleled when it comes to animals... really, she is."

Rozward praised Soyon.

"Hey, we're about to leave the forest... Everyone, stay alert."

Raymond gave the order to the five hundred soldiers.

Technically, Raymond was the commander of this detachment.

Due to Mutio's status as a prince, only someone of higher rank could serve as the commander.

Although Raymond had no experience commanding cavalry, Rozward, the specialist Virgil, and Mutio were there to help, so there was no problem.

"Great, we're finally out of the forest! Let's go, Captain!"

As Virgil was about to charge, Rozward grabbed his chain.

"Ow, that hurts!"

"Idiot, it's already dark. We can't march properly."

The sun was setting.

If they started the operation now, the entire army would scatter and get lost.

If they carried torches, they would be too conspicuous.

"There's a small stream about ten minutes from here. The trees are sparse, so we can camp there."

Soyon pointed into the forest.

The horses couldn't run through the forest, and they had to choose places they could walk, so it took time.

They had anticipated that it would be night by the time they left the forest.

"Well, that's fine. The horses are tired too."

With Mutio's agreement, they decided to camp in the forest for the night.

---

Early morning.

The sun had not yet fully risen.

It was dim, but not completely dark.

"Let's go!"

Raymond led the detachment into motion.

Horses are most effective on flat ground.

Therefore, the detachment advanced on narrow paths often used by farmers.

Other areas were either swamps or forests, making it difficult for horses to pass.

But there were villages on such paths.

The detachment occupied the villages without hesitation.

The village, which had no defenses, was quickly occupied by the detachment.

The villagers, assuming the Domorgal army had been defeated, immediately bowed to Raymond.

"Please, we'll give you all our food. We'll even give you our young girls. But please, don't enslave all the villagers..."

"No, we don't need the food or the girls. We're in a hurry. ...However, Village Chief, I would like you to come with us."

Raymond said this, ordered the Rosais flag to be raised, and quickly left, taking only the village chief.

The villagers watched the departing cavalry with puzzled expressions.

"Wasn't that a bit too lenient? At least we could have burned the village, right?"

Mutio asked Raymond.

Raymond shook his head.

"No, that's unnecessary. All the food in this area is gathered in Dress village. What's left in the village is just enough for the villagers to survive. Burning it wouldn't cause significant damage to the enemy of twenty thousand. It's better to show that we won't do anything if there's no resistance. Right, Village Chief?"

Raymond smiled at the village chief, who shuddered involuntarily.

There was also the reason that they didn't have the time or the luxury to leisurely take slaves or kill people.

The detachment continued to raid villages, raising flags and leaving, taking the village chiefs with them.

They sent the captured village chiefs to villages that showed resistance to persuade them to surrender without a fight.

By noon, they had reached Dress village.

---

"What's going on?! We haven't received any reports of the main army being destroyed! Where did the enemy come from?!"

"No, we have no idea..."

"Are you saying they used magic to teleport? That's impossible!!"

The commander of the Dress village garrison was shouting.

It was understandable why the commander was upset.

It would be chaotic if an enemy of five hundred appeared without any reports.

"So, they're all cavalry?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Then close the gates and defend firmly!! We only have three hundred infantry. We can't fight cavalry. Hey, order the sorcerers to send hawks! We need to request reinforcements immediately."

Dress village was a very strong fortress.

It was built with a combination of stone and wood, and the walls were high.

The gates were made of wood for opening and closing, but they were reinforced with multiple layers of wood and a physical barrier cast by sorcerers, making them difficult to break.

"Will you break through like that?"

"We'll use ballistae. We assembled them last night, right?"

The detachment had brought four ballistae, or rather, their parts.

They had assembled the parts last night and transported them on wagons after reaching the plain.

The arrows were, of course, explosive spears.

"If the ballistae don't work, we'll have to use battering rams. But we can make them from nearby trees. For now, let's use the ballistae... before they destroy it..."

Raymond paused.

"Let's issue a surrender demand first. Village Chief, please."

Raymond smiled.

The village chiefs went to the commander.

"I apologize!"

The village chief first prostrated himself and apologized to the commander.

"There's nothing you could do. Your village has no soldiers. So, you came to issue a surrender demand?"

The commander's words made the village chief nod nervously.

"The Domorgal army will surely come to our aid when they notice the abnormality. We intend to resist until then. Tell them to surrender."

The village chief hurried back to the Rosais army.

"Hmm. Well, there's nothing you could do."

"Finally, a battle."

Mutio took out his bow and said happily.

This was the detachment's first battle.

"Ballistae ready! Five seconds to launch. Four, three, two, one, launch!!"

As Rozward shouted, the ballistae fired, hitting the wooden gate.

The spear penetrated deeply and then exploded.

The explosive spears repeatedly damaged the gate.

Their design, which involved penetration before explosion, made them very effective for gate destruction.

"Charge!!"

The Rosais army poured through the broken gate.

The battle was quickly decided.

The enemy, who had intended to defend the fortress, was surprised by the sudden flames, smoke, and noise, as well as the cavalry, and was either killed or captured before they could put up a proper resistance.

The commander was the last to resist, but outnumbered, he was quickly captured.

The sorcerers who tried to send hawks were also restrained.

Once captured, they couldn't send hawks. If they did, their bodies would be destroyed, and their souls would be unable to return to the earth, which was a terrifying prospect for the Adelnia people.

Thanks to the village chiefs' calls, the villagers of Dress village were captured without resistance.

Raymond gathered the villagers and the hundred captured enemy soldiers and declared:

"We have a score to settle with King Domorgal and his subordinates who are invading our country. We have no intention of killing the villagers. In exchange, tell us the locations of all the food stores in the supply bases. Rest assured, we'll leave enough for you to survive."

The villagers cheered.

For them, it was no problem as long as they had enough food to survive.

To the hundred soldiers, he said:

"Normally, we would have to kill you. But you have families. So, we won't kill you. In exchange, please tell your comrades that our target is only the Domorgal army. We will protect the villagers if they don't resist."

Raymond said this, disarmed the soldiers, and let them go.

There were three reasons for letting them go:

1. It would be a waste of time to kill them all, and they might resist.

2. If they were all killed, the Domorgal army's resistance would become more intense, and their morale would rise. If they knew they wouldn't be killed if they surrendered, future operations would go more smoothly.

3. Capturing and escorting prisoners would slow down their march.

---

"Oh, there are horses. Yeah, they're not bad. Let's take them. Horses won't be a hindrance!"

Mutio and the others immediately started distributing the spoils.

The equipment of the Domorgal army was also very popular.

Seventy percent of the Domorgal army's arrows had iron tips, which was a treasure trove for Mutio and the others, who used stone-tipped arrows.

Raymond watched the Equus people from a distance.

Iron equipment was heavy and couldn't be carried.

Besides, the main force would obtain a large amount of iron equipment when they pursued the enemy's main force, so there was no need to collect it now.

Raymond, being idle, spoke to Soyon, who was nearby.

"You're from the King of Domorgal's country, right? Which village?"

"This one."

Raymond couldn't help but ask again.

Soyon smiled.

"My family ran a farm in this village. It was quite large, and we had many slaves and cattle."

"Hmm..."

Raymond nodded, a bit puzzled. Sensing a dark atmosphere, he tried to change the subject, but Soyon wouldn't let him.

"But my mother died of a plague... and my father was conscripted and died. Then all our property was taken by relatives..."

"I'm sorry. That's enough."

Raymond cut the conversation short.

Soyon looked puzzled.

"Is that okay? There's a happy version where I get saved by Ron's father and grow up fighting with Ron, and an unhappy version where Ron's father dies of a plague and we're both sent to live with Ron's relatives. Then there's the hopeful version where we're abandoned in the forest by the curse and saved by Mr. Almus after being rescued by Mr. Griffin."

"No, I'm really full..."

Raymond declined, slightly concerned but uncomfortable with the dark atmosphere.

"Is that so? That's a shame. But don't worry. I've visited the city of Braus many times to pay taxes with my father. The way is ingrained in my body!"

---

"Is this the last food store?"

When Rozward asked, the villager nodded.

Rozward ordered Virgil to set up black powder and oil.

When the fire was set, it burned fiercely.

The smoke would attract curious residents, who would then send a fast horse to the original checkpoint.

But by the time the fast horse arrived and the enemy reinforcements came, they would be long gone.

"What a waste... With that much wheat, we could feed tens of thousands of people."

"It's just heavy. There's something better."

"What's better? Don't be so mysterious, tell us quickly, Captain."

Rozward tilted his head at Virgil's words.

"Huh? Didn't I tell you the final goal?"

"You said it was a surprise and wouldn't tell us!"

The other detachment members nodded.

Rozward scratched his head and laughed.

"Ahaha, sorry. The final goal is the city of Braus, where the noble family Braus has their mansion... the city with the garnet mine."