Chapter: 365
I rushed off to the Sarei front with Mukgwangdae in tow. Even if Mukgwangdae is relatively small in scale, a unit is still a unit. With me actively involved, we could make a meaningful impact on the front lines. If luck was on our side, we might be able to chase down Dorgon and take him out.
However, the moment I arrived, I spotted the Patriarch falling off his horse, and I quickly revised my plan. If the Patriarch was already incapacitated, my goal should shift from pursuing Dorgon to successfully thwarting the attack.
‘It’s not too late.’
I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it. Watching the Patriarch fall made my heart drop, but he still showed signs of consciousness, moving to guard his head.
I hadn’t arrived at the worst time, even if it wasn’t the best. No matter how grave his injuries, as long as he was alive, recovery was still possible.
“Retreat with the Patriarch and Lord Hiden.”
“Yes.”
Ordering Mukgwangdae, 4th Manager responded shortly and dashed toward where the Patriarch and Count Horfelt were. Just as I was concerned for the safety of my father, to 4th Manager, the Patriarch is like a father-in-law. I trusted he would do his utmost to protect him.
The one thing nagging me was Dorgon lurking around the Patriarch—
“Oh.”
Spotting me, Dorgon curled his lips into a grin and changed direction.
“Have you come, Krasius Carl!”
I drew my sword against Dorgon, who charged at me holding a strange wooden stick. I have no idea why he chooses to fight with nature as his weapon instead of using a proper sword, but if he wants to handicap himself, I won’t complain.
In the midst of all this, I was somewhat grateful that Dorgon didn’t decide to finish off the Patriarch while trying to provoke me. If he was really determined, the Patriarch would’ve already met his end right before my eyes.
“Long time no see, you orphaned brat!”
Of course, I was thankful, but a fight is a fight. If I had to get into a tussle with Dorgon, I need to shake his mental state a bit.
Fortunately, to Dorgon, I was like a living bait. Just a slight jab from me could provoke a lot of emotions.
“If you’re lonely living by yourself, why not dig up your family instead of trying to create more orphans?”
Dorgon’s smile widened at that remark. I had never seen anyone laugh after being roasted like that.
“Your mother would be sad to hear that! Even if your father is dead, your mother is still alive, so you’re not an orphan, are you!”
‘What the hell?’
For a moment, my mind froze. That counterattack was insane.
But contrary to my frozen thoughts, my body moved instinctively. Dorgon swung the wooden stick that had approached my face, and I swung my sword to block it.
“Tsk.”
Dorgon quickly tossed aside the split wooden stick and took a few steps back.
That was only to be expected. Neither Dorgon nor I could overwhelm the other even when we used all our strength, so fighting with a stick was an act devoid of conscience and intelligence.
“I had quite the fondness for that piece. What a pity.”
Unfortunately, it seemed Dorgon still had some conscience and intelligence, as he drew his sword without any further fuss.
What an idiot. Why the hell was he swinging a stick around when he knew it wouldn’t work?
“Looks like you were properly armed. I thought you lost everything while living on the streets.”
“Ha! Why does your sword look so rusty? Is it a trend to decorate swords with rust in the Empire?”
Smirking, Dorgon parried my reckless provocation.
Hearing his response made my lips curve up naturally. I got exactly the reaction I wanted.
“Maybe I drank your father’s blood, so it turned red.”
With that bold jab, Dorgon’s eyes narrowed sharply. Sure, I insulted him as an orphan before, but this time I was taking a shot at Cal, who had died. Naturally, he was bound to lose his cool. If he laughed it off again, this brat would go down in history as a true parricidal jerk.
“Congratulations. Your father is dead, but his blood lives on in this sword. This sword is no different from your father himself. It’s been a family reunion.”
With that, I didn’t miss the chance to keep throwing insults. I may be older now, and using such blunt provocations doesn’t thrill me, but considering who I’m up against, I had to use every trick in the book. If Dorgon wobbled mentally because of my barbs, then it’s a win for me.
“Ah, now that I think about it, since I’m handling your father, I must be your grandfather.”
“Your mouth still smells like something soaked in sewage.”
Dorgon, who had previously remained unresponsive, could no longer keep his cool after I hit him with two powerful jabs. He spoke in a somewhat icy voice.
However, seeing him quickly compose himself reminded me that he wasn’t exactly normal either. Most people wouldn’t bother if things escalated to family issues.
“This is a pretty unfair fight. Some have lost their parents, while others have only lost a few friends.”
Biting my lip from Dorgon’s renewed smile and his sharp retorts reminded me that tongue-fu doesn’t grant immunity against clever insults.
Fortunately, while buying time with words, Mukgwangdae had safely secured the Patriarch and Count Horfelt. Seeing 4th Manager waving to signal from behind Dorgon put me at ease. Though fighting was still going on, Dorgon was the only one who could breach Mukgwangdae. We were safe, for now.
And since the Patriarch was now secure, I had no reason to hesitate.
“Looks like I can’t avoid it. But hey, you’ll see your parents soon enough, so don’t feel too bad.”
I decided to confront this guy. Unlike my expectations of a one-on-one face-off with the Patriarch, Count Horfelt, and Mukgwangdae absent, I didn’t mind. Instead, it was a welcome chance to settle the personal vendetta I had against him.
“Well, I might as well see my grandfather. You, on the other hand, don’t you miss your friends? If I remember correctly, you don’t have any left except for those who have kicked the bucket.”
It seemed Dorgon felt the same, as he gently stepped his left foot forward. Lowering his body, he seemed ready to barrel straight into me.
Earlier, running at me with a stick wasn’t terrifying, but colliding head-on with Dorgon at full strength could easily result in a broken arm. However, if I braced for injury and countered…
– Broom—!!
Suddenly, the sound of a horn silenced the battlefield’s noise, interrupting my thoughts.
“Damn it.”
At the sound, Dorgon clicked his tongue and adjusted his stance.
“Unfortunately, it’s not the right time. It seems my chatter has wasted the moment.”
“What?”
I frowned at his remark, which sounded like he was preparing to back off. This guy was so adept at retreating that “Runrgon” suited him. But to bolt without exchanging even one blow with me?
“You came at the wrong time. If you had come a bit later, you wouldn’t have had to see my face, and you’d have left without regret. If you had arrived earlier, we might have had at least a little exchange.”
Seeing Dorgon look genuinely disappointed felt oddly sincere, not just a joke.
Damn this brat. Could he really act like a dog that barks for the wolf without restraint?
“Do you think I’d just let you go?”
“Of course, if I know Krasius Carl, you’d stubbornly chase after me.”
He shrugged as if it were obvious, and I felt my teeth grind. I wanted to land a solid punch on that smirk of his.
“However, the son Krasius Carl, not the warrior Krasius Carl, I believe will give up.”
But I had no response to that. The Patriarch was under Mukgwangdae’s protection. Even if the Patriarch was a strong warrior, he could still hold on for a while with his injuries.
But if I stuck to Dorgon, the semi-retreating nomads would certainly continue the fight, causing delays in the Patriarch’s treatment. There might be plenty of mages and clerics on this Sarei front, but halting their attacks to focus on healing in a chaotic battlefield would be tantamount to suicide.
A combat with Dorgon, the duration of which was uncertain. And during that time, the Patriarch wouldn’t receive treatment—there was no way I could pull back without affecting the soldiers’ morale.
…
“Get lost.”
“Excellent judgment.”
Dorgon nodded, seemingly satisfied, as he mounted his horse.
Damn, should I just kill that horse to at least inflict some fall damage? No, an uninjured opponent falling off his horse wouldn’t even flinch. If I provoke him recklessly, he could very well go wild and charge at my father and Mukgwangdae.
“Well, then, I’ll take my leave. Today isn’t my day, but I’ll make sure to settle this properly next time.”
As Dorgon backed off, I quickly scanned the battlefield. The nomads began retreating after the horn blast.
‘Those bastards are the enemy.’
They weren’t merely gathered under the Khan’s name; they were staunchly allied with the Khan, willing to die fighting the Empire.
If these tribes visible here weren’t present in battles directly commanded by the Khan, then they were likely factions more aligned with the Empire. We could no longer claim neutrality.
‘Identification of friend and foe is complete.’
I let out a deep sigh as I read the flag held by the rider. It was a lousy end, but identifying friends and foes is still a small achievement.
I decided to think that way. It might drive me crazy to treat this battle like a complete waste.
Once the nomads retreated, sorcerers and clerics rushed in. They must have witnessed the Patriarch and Count Horfelt facing the Khan. Their loyalty was unwavering.
“Given the number of injuries, did you really gather this many people just to treat two of them? Get back at once!”
The two main parties were sent back, bewildered by how many had shown up.
“Patriarch.”
“Carl.”
As I approached the Patriarch, who was removing his upper robe to show his wounds to a sorcerer, he turned his head and locked eyes with me.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
I immediately regretted saying that. It wasn’t exactly appropriate to say such things to someone injured in battle. Even more so because the person nearly crossed the threshold of death.
“Thanks to you. If you hadn’t come, he would have killed me.”
His words made me smirk wryly. The thought also sent chills down my spine. Had I not chosen to come to the Sarei front or had I arrived just a tad later, it would have resulted in an irreversible situation.
I rubbed the back of my neck momentarily and then shifted my gaze to Count Horfelt. I felt awkward about what more to say, considering the injuries affected not just the Patriarch but others too.
“I’m relieved to hear that Lord Hiden is safe too.”
“I think so too. If I had died, Zenobia wouldn’t have bothered to build me a grave.”
His joking remark made me stifle a laugh. This too was his way of expressing gratitude.
“By the way, your verbal skills are quite impressive.”
“Ah.”
In that moment, I froze.
“Yes, disrupting the enemy’s morale is a tactic too! Well done!”
Ignoring Count Horfelt, who burst into laughter, I cautiously turned to the Patriarch. For the sake of mental warfare, I can afford to say these things. But now I was the son who threw those jabs in front of his own father.
“I’m thankful to you as well. I was able to survive thanks to you.”
“The, the flattery!”
As he awkwardly turned his head to avoid my gaze, I could see the Patriarch thanking the 4th Manager too.
The Patriarch seemed to be in several emotional states of confusion.
‘Damn it.’
This is all Dorgon’s fault.
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