Ruswena’s supply soldiers were walking cautiously, escorting the wagons. Boxes were packed tightly in the cargo holds. The road conditions in the dead lands were uneven, causing constant swaying.
An officer on horseback walked slowly, constantly scanning the surroundings.
“Move slowly but don’t stop!”
“Yes, understood!”
Squelching mud and gravel protruding here and there.
One of his subordinates made a suggestion to the officer. No matter how he looked at it, this route seemed wrong. Wouldn’t it be better to move supplies as quickly as possible? They were taking the longest route through the dead lands.
This wasn’t efficient, and above all, it was tremendously draining for the soldiers. It seemed better to turn the horses now and go toward the side closer to Clifford.
“General, there’s a fork in the road just a little further ahead that leads to the upper path. Given the soldiers’ fatigue and potential damage to the wagons, wouldn’t it be better to change our route? The rear guard is falling behind, widening the gap. That’s slowing us down even more.”
“Not possible. We’ll go as far around Clifford as we can. Queen Eripony said that Bariel has announced they’re suspending trade with Ruswena.”
The Foreign Ministry had sent a formal protest, but it was unclear when a response would come. Even if it did, it was unlikely to contain anything satisfactory.
“Bariel has noticed the existence of our supply line. Swift delivery is important, but even more crucial is accurate delivery. We might have pursuit teams on our tail, so our only option is to hide by taking the roughest paths possible.”
They were transporting dragon scales and several other materials needed for manufacturing black armor.
The one fortunate thing was that since they were moving secretly, they weren’t carrying much cargo. Of course, over a dozen large wagons were moving in a line, but considering it was a transaction between kingdoms, it was modest.
‘It seems His Majesty anticipates the possibility of us being discovered.’
The enemy forces had mages.
Beings who could swim through the sky as if it were water could easily spot them. Therefore, Eripony had planned the supply route half genuinely and half as bait.
The general urged his subordinates on without letting his guard down, and groans could be heard from all around.
Creak.
Neigh!
“You damned horse, why are you acting up too?”
A soldier angrily pulled the reins of a horse that refused to move forward.
But at that moment, it wasn’t just his horse—all the animals in their company were faltering and disoriented.
As the pace of the convoy slowed, the general turned around with a stern expression.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. The animals won’t move.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, yes.”
Wondering if there was a problem, he put his foot on the ground and felt a subtle vibration. It was an earthquake so small and faint that only someone with keen senses could detect it.
“An earthquake.”
“Earthquake? We can’t feel anything.”
“Let’s take this opportunity to rest a bit. Ten minutes break!”
“Ten minutes break!”
When the order was given, the supply soldiers exhaled tiredly and plopped down on the ground. Then they too could feel the trembling.
“Ah, it’s true. The ground is shaking.”
“Did an earthquake happen nearby?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like it.”
They twisted their stiff bodies this way and that as they looked up at the clear sky. They never thought a war would break out in their lifetime, even though it was between foreign countries like Burgos and Clifford.
From Ruswena’s perspective, involvement in the war seemed inevitable. What would happen after completing the supply mission? Would they have to cross these dead lands again?
“Next time, I hope we can go through Clifford.”
“Wait. The rumbling is getting louder.”
One soldier lay flat on the ground, eyes wide open. He was known for making odd comments, so his comrades clicked their tongues, thinking he was at it again.
Clatter clatter!
Tap tap tap!
The soldier muttered quietly.
“Those are hoofbeats.”
At that moment, a flashing light appeared in the sky.
Everyone jumped up in surprise and grabbed their weapons. The light that extended in a straight line stopped above their heads—precisely, in the sky above where they stood.
“W-what is that…?”
If there were a path where gods walked, it would look like this. It was mesmerizing—beautifully sparkling and undulating.
Unlike the soldiers who stood dazed, the general cried out in alarm.
“Regroup! Hurry and depart! It’s mages! Bariel’s mages!”
Only mages could create such a phenomenon. They were identifying the location of the supply convoy and notifying someone.
At the general’s command, everyone hastily grabbed their horse reins, and they positioned the supply wagons at the front to depart first.
Neigh!
“Run! Don’t stop running! If you reach a fork in the road, you may split up! Meet again at the supply point!”
“Yes, General!”
“Infantry, follow me!”
The path of light in the sky gradually extended toward them. Suddenly, horses burst out from the forest. They leaped forward as if taking flight and blocked the way ahead.
Sturdy armor with ornate patterns. And blue markings. They were clearly Bariel’s soldiers.
With a swoosh, as they appeared, Ruswena soldiers charged at them, swinging their swords. They were buying time for the supply wagons to escape.
“Aren’t you Bariel soldiers! What brings you to such distant lands?”
“Crown Prince Jin of the Great Empire of Bariel personally sent us because of those who are trying to disrupt the order of the Gaia continent. You’re Ruswena’s supply soldiers, aren’t you?”
“Yes. We belong to Ruswena!”
The general raised his hand high and shouted. A yellow insignia was fastened to his armor.
“We are not thieves and have no intention of bringing chaos to Gaia. Nevertheless, this threatening confrontation is an insult and attack on Ruswena, and our king will take this very seriously!”
He was asking why they were blocking Ruswena without justification.
But the Bariel side didn’t even bother to respond and quietly instructed a subordinate.
“Chase the wagons. They can’t be moving very fast. If they resist strongly, you may kill them all. However, I want to confirm the supply point between Ruswena and Burgos, so have someone shadow at least one wagon. Handle it before they cross the border.”
“Yes, understood.”
As the Bariel soldiers moved to pursue, the Ruswena general stepped forward, swinging his sword.
“You bastards, who do you think I—!”
Whoosh!
Crack!
But at that moment, one last person leaped out from the forest. Tweller instantly struck the general’s neck with his axe, and the general’s head dangled, half-severed before he could even register what happened.
Swish.
When Tweller pulled out his axe, blood gushed like a fountain from the general’s neck. His horse fled in panic, and the soldiers were too shocked by the sudden scene to react.
This was their commander, fully armored. Yet he had targeted the neck through that tiny gap in an instant? That old man?
“Who are you?”
“Guh…grggh…”
“I’m Maxim Tweller, Minister of the Imperial Defense Department. I’ll ask again, who are you?”
The general trembled as he clutched his neck and looked up at Tweller. Due to the still-rippling bright light, his face was backlit.
Without a trace of sympathy, Tweller gripped his axe handle again.
“It seems you can’t speak. I’ll hear your name in the afterlife. By then, I too will have shed my title as Minister of the Imperial Defense Department and greet you anew.”
Swoosh!
Tweller struck the neck forcefully, as if chopping wood. The general’s head fell off with a thud. Tweller placed his foot on the head and looked at the trembling soldiers.
“If anyone wishes to surrender, I’ll accept it.”
“H-hiiik—”
“Let me tell you that a moment’s choice determines your fate.”
“Aaaaaaugh!”
Clang! Chang!
One of the general’s subordinates charged forward, swinging his sword.
Tweller’s subordinate immediately intercepted and deflected the attack, and after five or six exchanges, blood appeared. The Ruswena soldier’s heart had been pierced by the tip of Tweller’s subordinate’s sword.
That was the signal for all the soldiers to attack at once. Those fleeing and those trying to kill them mixed together, producing high and low groans and howls.
“Save me, save me—!”
“Spare those who surrender! They’ve lost their pride as soldiers! Kill all who resist! They will someday become Ruswena’s fighting force and threaten Bariel! They’re not worth keeping alive!”
Tweller shouted as he wiped his blood-stained axe.
The streaks of light continued to extend. Soon, a mage descended from the sky and pursed his lips at the chaotic scene.
“Mage, should you be coming down? What if we lose the wagons?”
“Ah, one of the wagons has overturned and stopped. The rest are heading west, so quickly deal with this situation and join the advance party.”
The mages had been waiting for Bariel’s reinforcements, so they could instantly recognize those galloping with such imposing presence. The mage pretended not to see the general’s head rolling around.
“Should I call the others who are scouting different routes to gather here? Wouldn’t it be better to combine our forces?”
Since Ian had ordered them to move according to the Imperial Defense Minister’s command, he had to ask for his intentions. Tweller thought for a moment and shook his head.
“I saw earlier that the number of wagons was quite small. They might be moving in separate groups, so continue the search from your respective positions. Just please share with the others that we’ve blocked this supply route.”
“Yes, Minister. Um, you can speak more comfortably.”
Though a mage, Tweller held the rank of minister. His unexpectedly formal behavior made the mage uncomfortable. But the old man just laughed heartily and waved his hand.
“Well, in enemy territory, I prefer to treat everyone outside my comrades as strangers.”
It was an answer that despite being on the same side, he couldn’t cross the line with those not belonging to the Imperial Defense Department.
What a strange old man. The mage shrugged and flew back into the sky.
“Continue following the light. I’ll report the current situation to the others. What about cleaning up here?”
“These are the dead lands—would it matter if corpses are left lying around? After checking if they have any possessions, we’ll pursue immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
The mage disappeared, and Tweller looked around at the area that had instantly become a sea of blood. Those who had surrendered were trembling with their heads bowed to the ground. He nodded to his subordinate, ordering cleanup, and then mounted his horse again.
“The rest, follow me! We’ll track the wagons. That light carved in the sky is our path. There’s no chance of getting lost or being late. Let’s go!”
“Yes, Minister!”
Clatter clatter!
They turned their horses to follow the light the mage had created, and soon they leaned forward to increase their speed.
Though their manpower had been halved for cleanup, Tweller wasn’t concerned. There were mages, and if needed, he could request support from those nearby at any time.
Above all, his intuition was roaring. That sensation beyond the five senses that he felt whenever bringing a thrilling victory. The old man laughed loudly with pleasure, and those following him smiled upon hearing his laughter.
In the distance, the overturned wagon the mage had mentioned came into view.
***
“Good news!”
A soldier came running, breathing heavily.
Ian and Prince Noah turned their heads simultaneously. As Akorella was about to shout at him to be more careful, Beric stuffed a grape into her mouth to stop her.
“What is it?”
“Bariel’s reinforcements have crossed the Clifford border. Their momentum was like a storm, impressing all the soldiers. We should soon hear back about the supply route front as well. Lord Ian, the palace specifically asked to convey their thanks.”
As the soldier prostrated himself, Ian merely turned his head and smiled. To receive thanks for something not done out of goodwill.
“Please tell the palace that it was a decision Crown Prince Jin rightfully made for the future of Bariel, Clifford, and further, Gaia. By the way, now that Bariel and Ruswena have clashed, this is truly the beginning.”
“The beginning? Ian, of what?”
When Beric asked, Ian raised an eyebrow as if the answer were obvious.
“From Ruswena’s perspective, they’ve essentially been attacked without reason, so they’ll use this preemptive strike to secure justification. The full-scale confrontation of four nations will begin. From now on, we won’t even have time to eat, Beric.”
At Ian’s words, Beric froze with a surprised expression.
And then his hands began moving frantically. He even snatched food that Akorella was about to eat, stuffing his cheeks and chewing vigorously.