Chapter 7

The city of Rockbell fell due to the invasion of the Red Wheel Army. Inside, severely damaged corpses were scattered, and black smoke rose from the destroyed homes and shops.

The heads of the loyal guards, who remained faithful to their duty until the end, were tied to trees, and Lord Barl Rootwing, the lord of Rockbell and Sara's father, was torn apart into eight pieces, with his head displayed as a warning.

The survivors were also miserable. Prisoners were used as test subjects, and women and children were toyed with. Screams and cries echoed from all directions, and they were covered by lewd laughter.

"Ah, this is what a battle is, after all. It's not at all interesting if it's not like this."

Geb was thoroughly enjoying the smell of blood and madness, which he had not experienced in a long time. This was the essence of battle. The battlefield was where life and death intertwined. Only those who survived could savor this smell. Once you smelled it, you became addicted. That was why Geb willingly headed towards the field of death.

"Heh, I've got to finish my job and enjoy it quickly. Otherwise, I'll miss out on the good parts."

Battle was a confrontation of instinct and desire, where lives clashed. Victory led to heaven, defeat to hell. There was no distinction in status. Whether you were a noble, a commoner, or even an emperor, it made no difference. It was simply a matter of living or dying.

"Hey, comrades, are you enjoying yourselves?"

"Yes!"

"Then that's good. Momentum is important in such situations. Go all out. However, if you still want to enjoy it, you need to know your limits. There are plenty of replacements, but faces can't be replaced!"

Geb called out to a young man who was on top of a young woman on the street. He wanted to join in, but he had a task to do. He had to endure until then, as he was a knight of Bahar, after all.

He walked through the city, savoring the smell of blood and smoke.

"Ah, this is great. Naive young people, driven by desire, fall into depravity. That's more human, and I like it. Righteousness and justice don't even fill your stomach. Live as you please, and when your luck runs out, just die."

Without thinking about the future, enjoy the present with all your might. Others' affairs are none of your concern. Regardless of the rebellion, living in the moment is more interesting.

Even Lord Barl, who was torn apart into eight pieces, must have had no regrets. He had squeezed taxes from the poor and lived in luxury. Although he met a tragic end, he had enjoyed himself thoroughly.

In contrast, he thought of his superior, who did not seem to have an interesting life. Despite harboring grievances, he did not show them and worked diligently to achieve his current position. That was Ristig.

"Our Captain Ristig apparently wants to capture the state capital, Madres, with a sweeping momentum, but how will it turn out? In any case, it will be more interesting if it gets chaotic."

While thinking about such things, he heard a scream from a house. He recognized the voice of a young man.

Feeling a slight interest, he peeked inside and saw a familiar face. It was the form of a once good young man.

"Hey, you're doing it, Fresser and Craft. Wasn't it the right choice to follow me?"

"I never knew that taking someone else's things could be so much fun! Heh, heh!"

Fresser, drinking and forcing a dazed girl to serve him, had already killed the father who tried to protect her. He was kicking the dead man's head out of boredom.

"Right, right! Taking someone else's things is the best. It's a privilege only the victors can enjoy."

"Craft, who was initially scared, is now like this. Heh, even the mountain apes would be green with envy!"

"Being young is like that. When you get as seasoned as I am, you won't be so eager. You'll have the leisure to savor it."

"..."

Craft was so engrossed in his act that he did not react to the words being exchanged. His hands, hardened by farm work, were wrapped around the woman's neck, choking her to the limit. The woman was Fresser's hostage's mother. She had rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue in an ugly manner—she was already dead.

Craft was overwhelmed by his desires. The image of the once naive, conscientious young man was gone. His face was that of a hungry wolf. Fresser, who was sneering, was no different.

They no longer thought of each other as fellow Cobrals. They did not even think of the people in front of them as common citizens, but as hated nobles.

In this city, there were only victors and losers, takers and takers.

"Hey, Craft, she's dead. Stop playing around and bring other women."

"..."

"It's no good. He's not listening at all."

"Be careful not to kill too many. The others will be in trouble! Learn how to play without killing."

"I know!"

"Then it's fine. Do as you please!"

"Of course, I'll do as I please! Because we won, after all. Heh, we are the victors!"

Fresser, in high spirits, had his glass refilled by Geb.

"That's the spirit, Fresser. After this, we plan to advance along the Milan Road and rush to the state capital, Madres. If we can capture it, we'll be treated to the most luxurious life."

"Really!?"

"Of course. There are many nobles with pedigrees there. They live comfortably on the money we work hard to earn. So, as the righteous Red Wheel Army, we have to take it all."

"...Nobles"

"They're all well-groomed. Young girls are decked out in luxury, adorned with glittering jewels. They don't do dirty work, so their hands are clean and their flesh is soft. And they must have hoarded a lot of treasure. We should take it all, take it all, and take it all!"

As Geb raised his voice, Fresser nodded with a twisted smile, and Craft, engrossed in his act, nodded as well.

(They've fallen completely. I like seeing this.)

"Ah, by the way, changing the subject, what about your comrades who joined the separate unit?"

"Um, Noel and Milt and the others?"

"That's right. We don't know where they are. Do you know anything?"

"I don't know. Maybe they went back to the village. Heh, what fools, to miss out on such fun."

Fresser imagined the regretful faces of Milt and the others from the village. Then he thought of Noel's face. He pretended the girl he was with was Noel and forcibly embraced her.

If he couldn't have her, he would take her. It was simple. When you win, consent is unnecessary. He decided to do it the next time they met.

"Hey, you look eager. Being young is good."

"Do you need them for something?"

"No, it's nothing important. I'll be going now, so let's raise a toast later."

"Yes!"

"See you."

Geb raised his hand, closed the door, and turned his head with a sigh. He had to report to Ristig, which was a tedious task.

(Ah, what a hassle. Ned, the fool, what a big deal. If he had just died, it would have been easier.)

Geb arrived at the largest mansion in the city, where Lord Barl had lived. He greeted the guards at the entrance, and the gate was opened at his signal.

Ristig, the leader of the Red Wheel Army and a thousand-man commander of Bahar, was in his office. He had been staring at the order from the governor of Bahar, Amir Valdeck, for a while. His expression was extremely grim.

"...Now, to stay here and buy time? If we continue down the road, it will be the state capital, Madres! Why should we hesitate now! Damn it, this must be Farid's doing, the accursed young man!!"

"Captain, I'm sorry to interrupt, but—"

"Too late! When did I call you! Have you been influenced by the scum!"

"Captain, calling them scum is an exaggeration. They are, after all, comrades."

"What's wrong with calling scum scum!"

"Settle down. There have been a few things. I have a report on the search for Ned and, by the way, a report on Groll's family."

"Start with the report on Groll's family! You must have caught them, right!?"

"Well, we found their location, but the incompetent pursuers were shaken off, and they completely escaped. So, the plan to use them as hostages is off."

"Damn, Cobrals are useless! How could they escape when we were so close!?"

"Well, it's an army with scouts who can follow. Expecting former civilians is a mistake. It seems Cobrals are indeed weak soldiers."

Groll's family, who were staying in Rockbell due to the arrangements of an informant, would have completed the plan if they were captured.

However, since it was a bonus, Ristig was not too disappointed. He had originally intended to capture the state capital by force.

"Then, do you know where Ned is? I haven't heard from him since."

"I went to the dilapidated fort that Ned was talking about, but all I found were terrible corpses."

"Whose corpses?"

"The only corpses in the fort were Ned's and those of Bahar soldiers. They were all killed beautifully. It must have been the work of a highly skilled person."

"Hmm, so the family was hiding there. It wouldn't be strange if Groll's family had skilled guards."

"Ned was skilled, but his opponent was on a different level. It's dangerous to underestimate Cobrals."

Two headless corpses and Ned's body, split in half. It was undoubtedly the work of a highly skilled person. This was probably the work of Cobral soldiers.

However, what was strange was why no other Red Wheel Army corpses were found. It was reasonable to assume they had betrayed or fled.

"Indeed, I might have been too lenient. Complacency is the enemy."

Ned was frivolous but highly skilled. That's why he was specially selected from the exiled Cobral soldiers for this operation.

The Bahar army was strict about discipline, but they valued talent. That's why Geb's rude language was tolerated. Ristig was inwardly dissatisfied, but he couldn't go against Amir's policy.

"There are also signs of battle near the hidden passage exit. There were three Bahar soldiers and Cobral soldiers. It seems the Bahar soldiers were specifically targeted. The men with Ned probably betrayed or fled."

"…Do you think they realized we Bahar were behind it?"

"Ned used