Chapter 53

Orcs.

Those monsters from the frightening tales told to misbehaving children now stood before the Subjugation Army.

‘They have their own crude culture, language, and even wield tools—and yet, I see now why they’re called green monsters, not green men.’

Facing orcs for the first time—creatures previously known only through bestiaries—the Subjugation Army learned firsthand why they were classified as beasts.

‘That’s no man. That’s a monster.’

They were giants, each taller than a well-built man by a head. Their monstrous forearms were as thick as the thighs of strong knights, and their thighs, in turn, were as wide as a grown man’s waist.

From their mouths jutted pairs of huge tusks, giving them a vicious appearance. Between their crooked teeth, yellowish drool dripped steadily, sliding down to wet the rusted polearms in their hands.

The orc horde, which had looked like distant dots moments ago, was now close enough to be seen with the naked eye. As soon as they entered range, Marquis Carson immediately gave the order for a full volley.

“Entire army—! Commence fire! Shoot—! Loose and throw, give them everything you’ve got!”

The 3rd Company, forming the center of the formation, loosed arrows and spells toward the charging enemy.

Boom—! Crash—!

Shrrrk—!

Every magician poured their full strength into a single devastating barrage, and behind them, the archers shot until their arms trembled. Arrows arced high into the sky, raining down like a storm.

Magic bullets and fireballs fell like a meteor shower upon the enemy ranks, and then a blade-like gust of wind followed, fanning the flames even higher. Pockets of fire burst up across the charging lines, disappearing as quickly as they came—each flare accompanied by the screams of burning orcs.

Only the hot, humid weather prevented the flames from spreading further—a pity.

Kuweeek—!

A few orcs caught aflame shrieked in agony, thrashing wildly. The Subjugation Army could only hope the burning creatures would spread the fire before they died—but orcs were not so easily used.

Whoosh—!

A swung club smashed through the air with a dull thud, followed by a sound like a melon splitting open.

Thwack—!

Green blood, flesh, and pale brain matter burst out. It wasn’t a melon that had split—but an orc’s skull. The orcs ruthlessly killed any of their kin that caught fire before the flames could spread.

“Those insane bastards…!”

They slaughtered their own comrades without hesitation, terrifying even the Subjugation Army with their brutal efficiency.

Despite their losses, the orcs pressed on without pause. In moments, they were right in front of them. What had been two small dots mere minutes ago were now close enough that they could see each other’s faces.

Up close, the sheer size and hideousness of the orcs made the inexperienced soldiers freeze. Their bodies stiffened as though paralyzed by fear.

‘We’re supposed to fight that…?’

Terror clouded their minds as their senses went into overdrive—

The thundering footsteps of the onrushing horde. The guttural roars echoing to boost morale. The clanging of metal weapons.

The acrid stench of burning flesh, the reek of blood, and the musky, animal stench emanating from the living orcs themselves.

No one had expected that what was supposed to be a simple morale-boosting mission—a continuation of the Houkijisu Tournament—would turn into such a massive battle. Especially since they hadn’t even set foot inside the Great Jungle yet.

But the battle was upon them nonetheless. The orc army attacked with murderous fury. To survive, there was only one choice—to kill the enemy before them.

‘I shouldn’t have come. What glory or fortune was I expecting, coming here?’

But such thoughts were meaningless now.

“Get your heads straight—! It starts now! Prepare for their charge!”

This was only the beginning. The true battle had begun.

Boom—!

The two sides collided with full force. The tide of orcs crashed against the Subjugation Army’s fortified defense line.

Crunch—! Crack!

At the very front, the spears of the main force and the 1st Company pierced through the orcs’ tough green hides. Even their skin, thicker than any beast’s, was no match for well-forged steel. Green blood sprayed through the air.

Many fell during that first, explosive clash. The casualties mounted quickly—mostly among the orcs who had charged recklessly.

“Cut them down—!”

“Uwaaaah—! Forward! Follow His Highness!”

After the brutal first exchange, the Second Prince drew his sword and charged forward. The 2nd Company, composed of skilled knights, followed close behind, beheading orcs that stood in their path.

Shaaak—! Slash—!

Every flash of the sharp blade was followed by a gruesome sound of flesh being torn. Seeing blood again after a long while, the Second Prince tore through the front lines, slaughtering orcs.

“Kill them! Slaughter every last one of them—!”

It was a performance worthy of the title Sword of the Imperial Family.

Wherever the Second Prince and his personal guards passed, dismembered orc corpses littered the ground, and puddles of green blood pooled across the battlefield.

“Fire—!”

The frontlines weren’t the only ones making progress. Archers and magicians, shielded within the sturdy formation, continued raining arrows and spells upon the enemy, adding to the carnage. The battle raged on for several long minutes.

The Subjugation Army was dominant. With the 2nd Company’s prowess leading the way, their momentum surged. The orcs, unable to break through the perfect formation, were mercilessly cut down. The Subjugation Army’s casualties remained minimal. At this rate, victory seemed only a matter of time.

Even those who had been expected to drag the army down performed admirably, and Marquis Carson’s military command shone brilliantly. The battle flowed one-sidedly. The orcs had numbers—but lacked the discipline or tactics to use them.

Watching from a distance, Marquis Carson felt his worries ease.

‘As long as the formation doesn’t collapse into chaos and turn into a melee, this will be an easy victory. Well, it’s not like that would happen when we’ve already all but won.’

And it should have been that way.

But, as with all things in this world—there was an exception.

* * *

Shaaak—! Crack—!

Second Prince Arencar swung the Guardian Sword cleanly. The orc that had been alive a moment ago dropped its head to the ground with a dull thud.

“Haa….”

Within a radius of twenty meters around him, not a single orc remained standing. Having cleared the area, the Second Prince surveyed the battlefield.

It had already been over twenty minutes since the battle began. Though they had slain orcs over and over, the seemingly endless horde was finally losing momentum, while the Subjugation Army’s morale surged higher. Victory was now within their grasp.

‘The losses aren’t nonexistent, but… this is a decisive victory.’

The result was built upon everyone’s efforts. Among them, the one who stood out most was the Second Prince and the 2nd Company, who cut through the enemy like falling autumn leaves. Today, the Second Prince proved beyond doubt why he was called the Sword of the Imperial Family, and why so many legion commanders supported him.

However, the prince’s thoughts were different.

‘This isn’t enough. Simply doing well isn’t enough. I need one overwhelming strike.’

With the Third Prince Bernid fallen, the one who could now shine brightest on the battlefield was none other than Second Prince Arencar. And Arencar, more than anyone, knew it—he wanted to become the hero of this battle.

‘…I must be the one to lead this army to victory.’

Just as the battle neared its end, Arencar’s gaze locked on the distant center of the orc ranks. There, towering above the rest, stood the orc leader—half again as large as the average orc.

‘That one’s the leader. The small fry don’t matter. Our 2nd Company—no, I—must be the one to slay him!’

Arencar’s eyes blazed. Resolute, he turned his horse toward the leader. The Guardian Sword pointed straight into the enemy’s heart.

“All troops of the 2nd Company, follow me! We’ll end this battle with our own hands!”

Without hesitation, the Second Prince spurred his horse forward. No one had time to stop him.

“Waaah—! Follow His Highness! Annihilate the enemy!”

“Follow the Second Prince! His Highness will lead us to victory—!”

The 2nd Company, filled with soaring morale, roared and charged after him. The sudden, reckless advance—completely unannounced—made Marquis Carson, watching from the center, grit his teeth.

“Damn it…! That reckless fool! What’s he thinking?! If the formation collapses, we’ll lose everything!”

If that happened, the hard-won advantage could vanish instantly.

Worse yet, many soldiers in the Subjugation Army were experiencing real battle for the first time in their lives.

The one thing that had supported them mentally was the solid, united formation of the Subjugation Army. Arencar’s rash decision shattered that unity in an instant.

‘Damn it. Now that it’s come to this… we’ll have to match the 2nd Company’s pace, pierce straight through the enemy’s center, and end this quickly. Morale is still high, so we have a chance. Some unnecessary losses are unavoidable now. This is the best we can do.’

If the main force maintained its current pace, the 2nd Company would be in grave danger—and if the 2nd Company was wiped out, the main body would follow.

Even in this sudden crisis, Marquis Carson drew upon his years of battlefield experience and made the most rational choice. Moments later, his order thundered across the field.

“Charge—! Entire army, charge—! Crush them in one blow—!”

Boom, boom, boom—!

The war drums signaling the advance echoed across the battlefield. The tide of battle began to shift once more.

“Advance! Push forward—!”

“Uwaaaah—!”

Drenched in orc blood, the Subjugation Army let out guttural cries—whether roars or shouts of triumph, no one could tell. Victory seemed almost within reach.

Far off in the distance, Yuwon and his detachment, who had been scouting ahead, were retracing their path while staying alert for possible ambushes.

Just then, Yuwon suddenly pulled on his reins, bringing his horse to a halt. His nape prickled, and a chill ran down his spine.

‘No way…!’

There was no other way to describe it. His instincts—those sharp, animal-like senses—were screaming.

‘Damn it…! Don’t tell me enemies have appeared right in front of the Count’s Territory. I thought if they attacked, it would be from the rear.’

Almost simultaneously, the Black Serpent in his heart and the Dragon-Scaled Serpent at his chest stirred.

Hiss, hiss—!

The two serpents told him that the threat he felt was no illusion.

“Your Highness?”

Terrien approached as Yuwon abruptly stopped. Yuwon’s expression was grim.

“Terrien. Something’s happened to the main force. We must hurry back immediately.”

“Something happened to the main force…? You mean there’s been a battle?”

“I’m not certain, but it feels that way. I have a bad feeling about this. I need to see it myself.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. My instincts say time is critical. Go fetch the Third Prince and Lady Valaris at once.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Soon after, having summoned Renania and the Third Prince, Yuwon explained the situation.

“…Therefore, I’ll return to rejoin the main force immediately. Lady Valaris, as I said, please take the magicians left with the unit and ride to the Count’s Territory as fast as possible to request reinforcements.”

“Understood. Don’t worry. I’ll ride full speed to the castle and bring back support as soon as possible.”

Perhaps because she knew Yuwon was not one to speak empty words, Renania obeyed without question or proof. The problem lay with Bernid.

“Fine then… Let’s go. Get ready, brother.”

“Why me again? Can’t I just go to the Count’s Territory and meet up later?”

Now was not the time for complaints—every second counted. Normally, when others were around, Yuwon would still treat his brother with courtesy, but not now.

“We’ll use a teleportation spell to get as close to the main force as possible. So of course you’re coming. Who else here can perform a proper teleportation spell on the spot?”

“Ah… fighting before even entering the Great Jungle, really? You’re acting purely on instinct—are you sure about this? Teleportation drains a lot of energy… Honestly, if chaos has broken out there, isn’t that good for you? If there’s a battle like you suspect, the other brothers’ strength will be greatly reduced. Why go out of your way like this?”

Yuwon paused for a moment at Bernid’s grumbling.

‘Maybe… Bernid has a point. The worse the situation there, the more advantageous it could be for me in the coming struggle for the throne.’

But Yuwon was no longer that kind of man. Perhaps Tang Yuwon of his previous life had been—but not now. After a brief pause, his reply came firm and resolute.

“It’s not three letters. It’s four.”

“…What?”

“This isn’t for Yurion—it’s for the name of Aphahiel. No matter whom those men follow, they are still citizens of Aphahiel. We mustn’t forget that.”

Perhaps the trace of patriotism Yurion had once left behind still lingered in Yuwon’s heart. Seeing his determination, the Third Prince sighed in defeat and prepared the teleportation spell.

“Haa… Fine. Let’s go. We’ll see soon enough if your instincts are right.”

Even if one became Emperor just to survive—it didn’t mean that Emperor had to be a bad one.

‘Yes… In this life, I won’t be satisfied with merely surviving.’

Clenching both fists, Yuwon steeled his resolve as he rode toward the battlefield.

Yuwon rode toward war.

The shifting tide of battle stirred the sleeping White Dragon.