WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Asakusa
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◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈
Chapter 34: The Great Invasion
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News that the barbarians had requested the ban be lifted and asked for food aid spread throughout the Empire.
The nobles in the central government refused, thinking the barbarians did not know their place. Other nobles clicked their tongues and scoffed at the request as well.
It was hardly strange.
To most Imperial citizens, except for a few merchants who traded with them, barbarians were no better than slaves or beasts.
But I could not bring myself to laugh.
The barbarians' request for aid was a sign heralding the beginning of the Great Invasion.
“Ren, summon the head of the Camellun Trading Company and every commander in the fortress at once.”
“Pardon? Every one of them?”
“Yes. Hurry.”
“Understood.”
Though confused, Ren swiftly carried out my order.
About an hour later,
the commanders Ren had summoned and the head of the Camellun Trading Company gathered in my office.
“Ubel, everyone you called for is here.”
Once Marcus informed me that they had all assembled, I got straight to the point.
“I don't know whether you've heard, but the barbarians requested food aid from the Empire. Naturally, the central authorities refused.”
Everyone nodded, apparently already aware of the news, though their expressions suggested they did not see what the problem was.
“The fact that they requested aid from the Empire means the barbarians are in dire straits. From this moment on, Camilla Fortress will maintain an alert status equivalent to wartime footing.”
“...Is this to prepare in case the barbarians invade to plunder?”
“Yes.”
The members gathered in the office sensed that something was wrong from my unusually grave tone and expression, their faces hardening. Unlike them, Kane could not hide his bewilderment.
“I understand that barbarians requesting aid from the Empire is not uncommon. But isn't a wartime posture excessive...?”
Kane had quietly been acting as something of a retainer to me, so normally I would have considered his opinion carefully.
“We always prepare with the worst in mind. That is the mindset a soldier must possess, and it is my duty.”
I was certain.
Those barbarians would cross the Empire's border.
Setting aside Kane's concerns, I gave orders to the others.
“The First and Second strike forces will prepare to enter battle at any time and work with the garrison to reinforce the fortress's defenses.”
“Leave it to us.”
“We shall carry out your command.”
Perhaps it was because they had trained so hard.
Confidence showed in Max and Marcus's voices.
“Next, the garrison and archer corps will likewise raise their alert level beyond the usual and focus on the defenses. If anyone is negligent in their duties, show no leniency and discipline them.”
“Yes.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
Now, only the scout unit remained.
They were the most important.
“Jackson.”
“Y-yes!”
“From now on, your scout unit must become the fortress's eyes.”
“Eyes...?”
“Go outside the fortress and keep watch over the surrounding area. Report immediately if you spot barbarians. This will continue until enemy movement is confirmed.”
“...”
At the order not to return until they found the enemy, Jackson's mouth fell open.
But Jackson had no right to refuse.
“Do you understand?”
“...Understood.”
This was why I had raised a scout unit, so they had better work hard.
“Also, the supply unit must prepare to move supplies at any time.”
“Yes, we will make the preparations.”
After issuing every order related to the fortress, I turned my attention to Kane.
“Head of the Camellun Trading Company, travel through the surrounding territories and purchase supplies and weapons needed for war. If possible, gather mercenaries as well.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes. I believe around two hundred should be enough.”
“H-how could I gather that many...?”
That was a lot?
I wondered how Kane would react once he learned how many barbarians would cross the border.
“The more thorough our preparations, the better, don't you think? I will cover all the expenses.”
“...Since it is the lord of the fortress's request, I will do my best.”
The mercenaries were a precaution for any unforeseen situation.
‘You never know what might happen, right?’
After finishing my orders, I wanted to confirm one last thing.
In my usual casual tone, I asked Marcus,
“Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“Let us suppose that around two thousand barbarians attack the fortress under the current circumstances.”
“M-my lord?!”
I heard Kane cry out in alarm beside me, but let it pass through one ear and continued.
“What do you think? Could we stop them?”
“The extent of our losses would depend on who leads the barbarians and how many warrior-class fighters they have, but...”
Marcus looked at me with certainty in his eyes.
“The outcome, our victory, will not change.”
His immediate answer made me feel reassured already.
If meticulous Marcus said that much, it seemed there was no need to worry about the state of their training.
Whether Kane understood how I felt or not, Kane let out a sigh.
“My lord, please refrain from saying such chilling things. Two thousand barbarians... I have lived in this area for over ten years, but never once have that many barbarians invaded.”
“Haha, if I startled you, I apologize. It was only a hypothetical.”
I did not bother telling Kane that such an unthinkable event was about to become reality.
Kane would find out even if I said nothing.
‘I should send letters to Berun and headquarters before it is too late.’
I could not tell them that the barbarians were going to invade and that they should prepare. They would only think I was insane.
‘It should be enough to say that the barbarians' movements have been suspicious since their request for aid was refused, and that they should remain vigilant.’
Besides, I had made a promise to Berun before.
If I wrote it as a request at the end of the letter, Berun would handle things properly.
‘I hope they can hold out at the border...’
Wanting to reduce the harm done to innocent Imperial citizens,
I wrote the letters with all my earnestness.
Then, two weeks later,
seventy thousand barbarians crossed the border.
＊＊＊＊＊
Hans, a rank-and-file soldier in the defensive force responsible for the right side of the Elnes Mountains on the northernmost front, commonly called the Right Army, stood guard with the same drowsy expression as always.
“Yawn. I want this shift to end already so I can go in and take a nap.”
You might ask whether Hans was being too carefree, but the north had been incredibly peaceful lately.
Ever since the Frostfire Subjugation Operation, the barbarians who had raided them every day had vanished. The weather had also gradually warmed after winter, if not as much as in other regions.
‘I could not ask for anything more if things stayed like this.’
Hans sincerely prayed that they would.
But disasters always came without warning.
Beneath a bright sky,
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A sudden tremor spread through the ground.
“Hm? What is this...?”
Only after turning in confusion did Hans see it.
A tide of people staining the white northern land black.
“W-what...?!”
“Kill the Imperial bastards!!”
Tens of thousands of barbarians invaded. The soldiers stationed there rang the bell to announce the enemy attack and tried to respond swiftly, but they were hopelessly outnumbered.
Craaaash!!
The gate was smashed apart in the blink of an eye.
As the dust settled, the one responsible for destroying it revealed himself.
“Proud warriors of the Huran Tribe.”
A scarred, tattooed middle-aged figure stepped over the shattered gate and shouted.
“Butcher every last one of the cowardly Imperial bastards.”
Gray aura coiled around the figure's axe.
Hans stared blankly at the energy flickering like flames.
‘That...’
Hans had only seen it once from afar about ten years ago, but the thrill and sensation from that moment remained vivid in memory.
Beings who could freely alter the shape of their aura.
The world called them this.
“Masters...”
“A barbarian reached the level of a Master? That makes no sense...”
The Master was a problem, but there was an even greater one.
“Khahahaha!”
“Skin the Imperial bastards! Stain the snowfield red with them!!”
The barbarians charged forward with wild laughter, shouting words Hans could not understand.
Just how many had invaded?
There was no end in sight to the enemy ranks.
“S-save me!”
“Heh heh. Where do you think you're running?”
Blood and screams echoed everywhere. Watching them slaughter comrades and superiors as though hunting prey made Hans's legs give way.
Thud!
‘T-this is hell...’
Hans had never believed in the gods. Whenever priests spoke of hell or worlds inhabited by demons, Hans had scoffed inwardly, wondering where such things could possibly exist.
But not now.
A hell where demons ran rampant.
If such a hell descended upon the mortal world, it would surely look like this.
“Ugh...”
Hans had to get away somehow.
Forgetting everything else, Hans crawled over the ground like an insect, searching for a way out with only that thought in mind.
Hans thought escape meant survival.
Until barbarians with earrings all over their faces caught Hans.
Thud!
They drove their swords down where Hans was trying to flee.
“Argh!!”
“This one has a fair bit of flesh on them.”
“Heh heh... I think we'll eat well.”
The barbarians approached while drooling.
Hans could not understand what they were saying, but it was enough to grasp the situation.
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
“P-please...”
Looking at their hands as they drew closer, Hans prayed for anyone at all to save them.
But it was useless.
Crunch.
Limbs were torn away.
The horrific pain consuming Hans's mind was too great to even scream properly.
The Cannibals stripped away Hans's living flesh and put it into their mouths as though savoring food.
‘Ah...’
With the memory of becoming food as the final thing left behind, Hans drew their last breath.
The horrific sight was like hell itself.
And it was only the beginning.
The Great Invasion, called the Empire's nightmare, had only just begun.
Under the surprise assault of seventy thousand barbarians, the Right Army collapsed completely in less than half a day, and the fortress they had defended became ruins overnight.
“Chieftain, we have dealt with all the enemies.”
The one who had broken down the gate.
Kantulan, a warrior who had reached the supreme realm and gathered tens of thousands of barbarians to invade the Empire for survival, looked at the military rations piled in the Right Army's storehouse and gave a cold smile.
“...Unlike our barren tribal lands, the Empire is truly prosperous. There is this much food stored in a mere garrison.”
“Is that not simply the habit of well-fed pigs?”
“Well-fed pigs...”
When negotiations with the Empire had broken down and Kantulan crossed the border, the plan had been to obtain only enough food to feed the tribe and then return.
But at the sight of all the food piled in the storehouse, a thought suddenly came to mind.
‘What if we suffer through a food shortage like this again?’
Would they have to repeat the same life of begging for food or plundering it?
‘Then how long must we live like this?’
Their current reality and the tribe's future.
Those two thoughts began to circle in Kantulan's mind.
“Mukan.”
“Yes, Chieftain.”
“Unlike our lands, the Imperial people's soil seems truly fertile.”
“Yes.”
“I have thought of a future where the children of our tribe live here.”
“...”
“A future where the children do not starve. A future where they need not beg others or risk their lives plundering to survive.”
“...”
“I have come to want to give such a tomorrow to the descendants of our tribe.”
It would not be easy.
But it was something that had to be done.
“Listen.”
Kantulan's low voice drew the attention of those nearby.
“At first, I believed obtaining food would be enough. But how long must we repeat this? If food runs short again, must we risk our lives crossing the border once more?”
The harshness of the north.
It was something every barbarian could understand.
“Though I live for today, I want to give tomorrow to my descendants. Therefore...!!”
Thud!
The great axe that had been with Kantulan for many long years made its presence known.
“Today, I will claim a new home.”
“!!!!!!”
“I will give the children of our tribe not harsh, dry land, but rich and fertile earth. I will secure them a future where our descendants can live without starving!!”
The cry echoed through the ruins.
It became a great wave bound together by shared purpose and conviction.
“Mukan, warrior of the Red Axe Tribe, will follow Kantulan's will.”
“We will follow!!”
“Please become the Great Chieftain and lead us.”
“Lead us!!!”
Tens of thousands of barbarians bowed their heads at once.
That day, the Great Chieftain who would command all the Huran people was born.
“As Great Chieftain, I give my first command. Take the Empire's land.”
It was a task that had to be accomplished for the tribe's grand future.
“We will tread upon the blood and corpses of Imperial people to forge the future of the Huran Tribe.”
“We shall carry out the Great Chieftain's command.”
Consumed by an indescribable fervor, the barbarians hurried to prepare for their next battle.
“Mukan.”
“You called for me, Great Chieftain?”
“Do you know where the most fertile lands in the Empire are?”
“I do not know in detail, but I have heard the eastern and central regions are the most fertile.”
“The east and center... We will divide our forces in two.”
If the land was fertile, they had to claim it.
“I will use the tribes with great strength as the main force and keep the Imperial Army still remaining at the border occupied. Send the rest of our forces to infiltrate the rear.”
“The rear means...?”
Kantulan took out a map seized from the Imperial people and showed it to Mukan.
Having encountered many forms of civilization as a chieftain, Kantulan had no difficulty reading a map.
“We are currently at the far edge of the north. The Imperial Army responsible for the right side of the border collapsed, leaving a gap in the front. It means there is an opening for us to exploit.”
“You mean to exploit this gap and throw the rear into chaos.”
“That is right. It would be even better if we can open a route to the east and central regions.”
“Understood. I will inform the tribal chieftains and warriors at once.”
“I leave it to you.”
“Leave it to me!”
After saying that, Mukan ran to the small and medium-sized tribes and assigned them the regions they were to occupy.
Among them was Camilla Fortress, the bridge between the east and the north.
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