Chapter 87: Hector's Star (1)

At the border between Cairo and Hector.

A group of people had set up camp nearby.

It was a secret base not visible to the outside, and a rough estimate would put the number of people at several hundred.

"We have just received a report that they passed through the southern training ground and are heading to the rear base. It seems our operation has worked. The Kingdom of Cairo is so busy defending their front lines that they haven't noticed our strategy at all."

This was the knight's report.

The man, who received the report with a calm face, was Edwin Hector. He examined the map on the desk and said,

"It's too early to be complacent. Tell the commanders attacking Cairo's defensive positions to drag out the time as long as the enemy doesn't give up. Our goal is not to destroy the walls in front of us. If our plan succeeds, we will naturally take control of the southern front."

This operation.

Secrecy was key.

That's why they spent a whole year understanding the southern front's defense pattern and infiltrated Jackson's ranger unit into the southern front before the operation began.

It was a very dangerous route, climbing steep mountains, but Jackson reported that he had arrived at the designated location and hidden himself as scheduled at dawn today.

The operation was just beginning.

The Kingdom of Cairo would be flustered by the sudden attack, but the real intention was hidden within.

'The southern front's strength is very weak. If we had attacked with full force from the beginning, we could have destroyed all the defensive lines of the southern front in at least 4 hours. However, that alone wouldn't mean we had completely occupied the southern front. Ultimately, the key is the existence of the Warp Gate. If Cairo's main force crosses through there to the southern front, we will have a tough fight.'

The Kingdom of Cairo.

Even if they were complacent, they were not without any countermeasures.

The Warp Gate is a magical construct.

It was a means to instantly move over vast distances, and its appearance changed the way wars were fought.

Troops from the south to the west.

Troops from the west to the south.

What was physically impossible, the Warp Gate made possible in an instant.

Therefore, occupying the Warp Gate on the battlefield was a crucial issue.

There was also the intention to cut off the enemy's reinforcements, but if a normally functioning Warp Gate was captured, it could be used offensively.

Known as Connect. It was a method to reset the coordinates of the Warp Gate and use it in reverse, and for this reason, Warp Gates typically had explosive devices installed.

In the rear base of Cairo.

There was a Warp Gate.

It was the reason Roman could arrive in the south in ten days, and the Kingdom of Cairo had placed a Warp Gate in the rear to prepare for any unforeseen situations.

Even if they were attacked by the enemy.

While the front-line defensive positions were doing their job, they could call in allies or choose to destroy it, so they believed it was in a safe location.

That was exactly.

Edwin Hector's plan.

'The Kingdom of Cairo is completely complacent now. They didn't even expect us to attack, and they are flustered by the visible attack. This is the perfect opportunity. If Jackson's ranger unit secretly infiltrates the rear base and captures the Warp Gate, we can swallow the southern front in one go.'

If it succeeds.

It would be a strategy with no chance of failure.

Without the Warp Gate, the Kingdom of Cairo would not be able to quickly send troops to the southern front, and if we attack from the front and rear simultaneously during that time, the defensive positions would inevitably collapse.

From then on, it would be a very simple matter.

The moment the southern front is under our control, the Kingdom of Hector will gain the upper hand.

In the basement of the secret base.

A Warp Gate had been installed over the course of a year.

The moment Jackson sends a report of success, all the troops here will move to the rear base.

Edwin Hector said,

"We cannot rule out the possibility that the operation might fail. Prepare to destroy the Warp Gate in case of the worst scenario. If Jackson's operation fails, we will destroy the Warp Gate and move to the second plan."

"Understood."

A judgment as rational as it was cruel.

The knight bowed his head and thought,

'The man called Hector's Star. Because of Edwin Hector, the Kingdom of Hector will rise again.'

That was his certainty.

Edwin Hector's birth as a prince was a blessing for the Kingdom of Hector.

* * *

MacBurney woke up quickly.

He had momentarily lost consciousness in relief at being alive, but as the potion's recovery effect kicked in, he regained his senses.

"......Ugh."

Pain surged throughout his body.

His stomach churned.

The potion quickly healed the wounds, but it didn't completely eliminate the aftereffects.

Looking at his abdomen, the torn skin was intricately stitched together.

It seemed someone had treated him while he was unconscious.

"Have you woken up?"

It was Chris.

At the sight of him, his last memory came back.

At the moment he was accepting death, Chris's lord, Roman Dmitri, appeared and saved his life.

'How did he get to the southern training ground?'

A question arose.

Roman Dmitri was assigned to the 5th defensive line reserve force.

Before the southern training ground was attacked, the 5 defensive lines were in a very precarious situation, and logically, Roman Dmitri had the duty to help the 5th defensive line, not be here.

He wondered if Roman Dmitri had fled out of fear.

He knew Roman Dmitri wasn't the type to do that, but the battlefield was a place where unexpected traits often emerged.

MacBurney asked honestly,

What had happened.

The answer he received surprised him.

"We heard that the Kingdom of Hector was attacking and immediately headed to the 5th defensive line. And there......"

The story was short.

Content different from his worries.

Instead of fleeing, they had repelled the enemy, and MacBurney was genuinely impressed.

"You are truly remarkable."

He meant it.

The sudden attack by the Kingdom of Hector.

There was no time to prepare, yet Roman Dmitri made the most ideal judgment and achieved the result of repelling the enemy.

The decisiveness and military strength he showed.

Even without witnessing it firsthand, it was clear how great it was.

'As expected.'

The only person who had been preparing for war.

Roman did not disappoint.

The fact that such a person was on the southern front was a great comfort to MacBurney.

The conversation could not continue.

Roman.

He came out of the building.

* * *

Roman checked MacBurney's condition.

Finding no special problems, he immediately got to the point.

"Explain in detail what happened at the southern training ground."

"Understood."

He recalled the memory.

His condition was terrible, but the events of that time were vividly remembered.

"The Kingdom of Hector attacked about 2 hours ago. We were preparing for the next batch of training as usual when Hector's soldiers appeared and attacked us. We quickly gathered our troops and tried to resist, but the difference in strength was too great, and we had no way to hold out. As you can see, we were massacred, and the fate of Sir Vale, the commander of the southern training ground, is unknown to us."

2 hours.

It was an important point.

The fact that they could attack so quickly meant that the enemy had clearly infiltrated the southern front in advance.

"Was there anything unusual about the enemy's attire?"

"They were all wearing light armor. And the face of the person who seemed to be the enemy's commander was full of scars."

"Full of scars?"

"Yes."

Light armor.

A face full of scars.

A specific person came to mind.

Roman, who had been investigating the southern front, had also confirmed the key figures of the Kingdom of Hector.

"It could be the Ranger unit."

"......Ah!"

MacBurney's eyes widened.

He had heard of it before.

The Ranger unit of the Kingdom of Hector.

Their leader, who regarded the scars on his face, earned in numerous wars, as badges of honor.

It was old knowledge that he himself could hardly recall, but he was surprised that Roman had immediately recognized it.

However.

That alone did not resolve his doubts.

MacBurney asked,

"If it was the Ranger unit, they could have infiltrated the southern front in advance. But I don't understand why they attacked the southern training ground. If they had occupied a favorable high ground, they could have used that advantage to quickly collapse the front-line defensive line. Instead, they moved in the opposite direction, attacking the southern training ground, which is on the way to the rear base."

"You're right."

"What......"

"Because the southern training ground is on the way to the rear base, you were bound to be attacked."

A flustered MacBurney.

Roman told him the truth.

"The Kingdom of Hector is using a diversionary tactic. Attacking the front-line defensive line is just a ruse. Their real goal is the Warp Gate in the rear base."

That was.

A shockingly true fact.

* * *

When he first met the soldiers from the southern training ground.

Roman thought,

'The fact that the enemy attacked the southern training ground means their real target is not the front-line defensive line. The only destination along this path is the rear base. What could their purpose be? If they make a mistake, they could be surrounded from both sides.'

He formed a hypothesis.

If the reason for the attack, even with a diversionary tactic, was the rear base.

Could it be the Warp Gate, which could create a variable?

At that time, it was just a hypothesis.

And.

He gained certainty by interrogating Hector's soldiers.

'The Kingdom of Hector has a strong confidence in this war. A surefire strategy that guarantees victory if it succeeds.

The only thing that can achieve this is capturing the Warp Gate in the rear.

If this operation succeeds, the Kingdom of Hector will not only cut off Cairo's reinforcements but can also use it offensively.'

The Warp Gate.

The most surprising part of the new world he was learning about.

A magical construct that bypasses space, which taught Roman that magic was as impressive as martial arts.

Edwin Hector.

His strategy was discovered by an unexpected presence.

MacBurney jumped up.

His face contorted with extreme pain, but that was not important now.

"If that's the strategy, shouldn't we help the rear base immediately? I will also lend my strength."

"No."

Roman shook his head.

MacBurney said,

The timing of the Ranger unit's attack.

2 hours ago.

Then one conclusion could be drawn.

"The Hector Kingdom's Ranger unit attacked the southern training ground and left 1 hour and 30 minutes ago. That's enough time for them to have already executed their operation. MacBurney, have you received any reports of attacks from the rear base?"

"......No way."

"Yes."

Even knowing the truth.

Roman did not rush.

More accurately, there was no reason to rush.

"They have prepared for this war for a long time and have likely already captured the Warp Gate. What we need to do now is clear. Soon, the enemy will appear in the rear, and the troops on the southern front, including us, will be completely isolated. We must fight and survive here against the Kingdom of Hector without the kingdom's help."

As expected.

At that moment.

The Hector Kingdom's Ranger unit had successfully captured the Warp Gate.