Chapter 208

Chapter 208 - Acran Outskirts

Taking the giant pangolin Vertigos was a great result, but it's naturally impossible to turn them into combat power right away. Fortunately, thanks to Homi, having them accompany the army's march was easy.

"It is my first time looking forward to training this much."

Although they are diligent and highly professional Dwarven warriors, they don't go as far as enjoying arduous training.

Carrying heavy equipment and running around dying to do formation training can be rewarding, but it can't be fun.

However, just imagining mounting Vertigos and maneuvering as cavalry seems to be enjoyable.

'Well, if you think about it, compared to infantry training, cavalry training also has a sports-like feeling.'

Eugene pondered over the training curriculum with the cavalry commanders.

A combination of riders and new creatures they hadn't even thought of. However, everyone didn't think the training would be difficult.

"If you guys are the riders, it seems the training difficulty will be the lowest among all existing mounts."

"Because both we and the guys have low centers of gravity. When we rode earlier, it felt like sticking tightly."

Rampage smiled brightly and nodded his head. Dwarves can also jump on or off them, and their movements have practically no up-and-down shaking.

"If I exaggerate a little, it felt like mounting a very large snake. Like sliding shushushuk! instead of jumping thud! thud! thud!?"

"But if you want to fight as cavalry, you might have to give up hammers? Because a weapon that can be swung with one hand while being suitably long and easy to handle is good."

Eugene spoke carefully so as not to touch Rampage's pride.

"We can just throw away something like that, what!"

"..."

It was an immediate answer.

"No, but still, your name is the Hammer Brotherhood."

"We are also prepared to rename ourselves to the Vertigo Brotherhood."

"I, I see."

For them to set down even the hammers that bestowed them such pride without hesitation. It seems the longing for cavalry was truly enormous.

For reference, the ownership of all Vertigos belongs to Eugene. Just like the Hydra armor, he intends to take the form of the Lord leasing them to his subordinates free of charge.

It is far from the common sense of this era where everyone from the lowest soldiers to knights must prepare their own equipment. However, under Eugene, it is a system everyone has become accustomed to.

Eugene had thought ownership disputes might arise since Dwarves are so attached to them, but there was no such thing.

The Dwarves also acknowledged that taming and operating them was impossible without Eugene's support. In the first place, if it weren't for Eugene, they wouldn't have even discovered them.

"As soon as this expedition ends, we will enter riding training."

"Riding is training to ride horses, so it's not a very appropriate expression, huh."

"They are certainly more special guys than horses."

Rampage nodded his head. Vertigos are the treasures of the Dwarves. A special title appropriately distinguishing them from horses fits.

"Do Your Excellency perhaps have a word in mind? Since we are completely rockheads in this kind of area..."

"I do have one, though."

"By all means!"

Fitting for an era that values honor, the act of a Lord bestowing a name holds tremendous meaning.

Eugene has already named more than 20 newborns of the Blackhand Tribe.

'It's troubling since my repertoire is slowly running out.'

When tribal warriors who established merits plead for him to name their unborn babies instead of reward money, he is just thrown into a difficult situation. Although he was happy about their loyalty.

"Since they are guys clad in hard scales all over their bodies, it's the same as riding armor. So how about calling it 'Armored Cavalry' instead of 'Riding Cavalry'?"

"Oh! Armored Cavalry!"

"Armored Cavalry, huh. It feels incredibly strong somehow."

"The nuance sticks to the mouth."

The centurions chewed the word over and over with satisfied faces.

Keureuk-.

The mother Vertigo following with the baby and Homi on its back also shook its body enjoyably.

"Look at that. Seems the guy also likes it."

'I think it's because it's refreshing after shaking off all the ticks.'

Eugene smiled appropriately and chimed in.

* *

Plains appeared in front of the army traversing the jungle. However, the soil was crumbly and almost no energy of nature could be felt.

Yellow-brown crops as tall as a person are swaying in the wind, but every single one of them is dried up like paper. This place is a cornfield abandoned after harvest.

"It seems the soil's fertility has dried up due to continuous cropping."

Valda had seen such sceneries countless times in Roman. Regions that became desolate after overexerting to cultivate cash crops like tobacco.

"How perplexed I was whenever I received requests to revive such lands."

Whether she remembered her difficult past, Valda covered her forehead and rested.

"Because you're the Forest Wizard, making plants grow should be an easy matter. Noblemen who make these kinds of demands, right?"

"Yes. But the land was steeped in poison, so even I had no way."

Living as a wizard is a more stressful matter than you'd think. Because they have to deal with powerful people who indiscriminately demand things beyond their abilities.

Therefore, apart from magical skills, eloquence and appearance were also important. Because even if you say the same 'no', the feeling the noble receives changes completely.

- A wizard's true capability is 'Skill times Charm'.

There is a reason why such stories circulate among wizards.

In that aspect, Valda had an extraordinary advantage. It wasn't just because her magic skills were outstanding that she was highly renowned in Roman.

"However, I am puzzled. The people here should have known well that these are crops that consume massive amounts of soil fertility. Do they just farm indiscriminately like this?"

Yakson nodded his head with a miserable face.

"The natives here also know farming methods that preserve soil fertility. However, hearing the rumors of Rakshas moving in the west, they became anxious. They had no leeway to care for the land while considering the future."

"They intended to squeeze out as much food as possible and flee before those bastards invaded, I see."

"That is correct, Excellency."

Sasha also swept the ruined land with a depressed face. A mutant Raksha who feels happiness looking at healthy crops and is saddened by the opposite. At that commendable figure, Eugene stroked her head.

"Call your kin soon."

"Yes!"

Sasha stepped forward and let out a unique cry. Wearing armor and shouting with both hands gathered in front of her mouth was quite cute.

This place is the rendezvous point agreed upon to meet her tribe members. However, even though Sasha called out several times, there was no answer.

"U-Uh?"

Sasha was flustered, and the warriors looked at her suspiciously. Even though they showed a docile appearance, a Raksha is still a Raksha, so there were many who distrusted them.

"Eup!"

Homi covered the mouth of Sasha who was about to call her tribe members again. Her senses had caught something.

Might kicking the ground roughly seems to have discovered an abnormal sign beyond the cornfield too.

"Prepare for battle!"

As Eugene sent a hand signal and raised Blackout, the elite soldiers at the vanguard formed a battle formation.

A moment later, Raksha warriors revealed themselves from among the cornstalks. Having protruding fangs, being armed, and having fierce expressions, at a glance, it's not Sasha's tribe.

And none of Eugene's subordinates pointed blades at the pale-faced Sasha saying, 'You laid a trap!'.

"■■■ ■■."

"■■!"

Because the Raksha warriors were also in a flustered state.

Behind them were Sasha's firmly tied tribe. Looking similar but being simple-minded and having slightly different oral structures, they can be easily distinguished.

Like log training, long bamboos were placed on their shoulders and their hands were tied with ropes. It is a typical transport method for slaves.

"What slave traders think is all the same."

Eugene pulled Sasha, who tried to run to her kin while screaming, backward, and gave the attack order.

"■■■!"

"Intestines ■■!"

"I eat the heart!"

The Raksha warriors also roared and charged.

Due to the characteristic of marching through the jungle, Eugene's army is moving divided into a long procession. It seems their numbers looked small because there were only a small number of guards at the vanguard.

Moreover, fitting for elites going on a slave hunt, their weapon level was excellent.

Instead of spears with stone blades, all of them carried spears with obsidian attached, and even if they didn't wear armor, they carried shields.

"Shoot! Be careful not to hit the prisoners!"

However, this side also had a plethora of sharpshooters, and the Rakshas' shields were small in size.

Fired bolts and arrows got stuck in parts the shields couldn't cover, splattering blood. But the Rakshas didn't even budge and kept charging. Beyond just being valiant, it was as if they didn't know pain.

"I think these bastards took medicine."

Rex realized immediately at that unnatural movement.

"I suppose so. Because moving even with thighs pierced through isn't something solved by mental strength."

Among the prisoners, there was also a Cat-folk commando unit. It seems they even mobilized medicine to fight those who engage in guerrilla warfare.

Eugene swung Blackout. The Rakshas who charged without knowing pain and fear were swept away like rotten straw bundles.

Then, reason immediately began to return to the eyes of the fox-humans who were excited by medicine.

"You cannibals! Does tasting an axe snap you back to your senses?"

"The Britannia Berserkers also became Human from this axe!"

The Hammer Brotherhood warriors chuckled heartily. Blackout is the best means for the purpose of snapping half-crazed people back to their senses.

As the engagement started, the prisoners aimed at that gap and fled. Because they were tied to bamboo, they were slow as they had to move altogether, but the Raksha warriors also had no leeway to catch them.

"Baa-shika!"

As a commander shouted, the charging Rakshas stopped and lowered their postures.

The commander was a middle-aged female warrior who looked to be in her 40s. Having survived to that age in the fierce life of Rakshas meant her skills, intelligence, and experience all meshed perfectly.

"Hakurama!"

The Rakshas lowered their postures and circled the surroundings. Since they have no chance of winning in a frontal confrontation, their intention is to hide among the cornstalks and look for an opportunity.

"Lord, we cannot see the bastards."

"Lady Valda?"

The shooters hooked their fingers on their triggers, stopped shooting, and looked at the Forest Wizard.

Valda is the most reliable existence in this kind of situation, but she shook her head.

"It will not work. Those stalks are essentially trash with evaporated life. My magic does not work."

Then, as if waiting, the knights stepped forward.

"The charge order!"

"Their crude weapons cannot pierce our armor anyway!"

This time, Eugene dismissed it.

"Is there a need to dare take a risk?"

"Pardon?"

Eugene mounted Might. The giant axe blade is not only good at slicing people.

Kwajijijijik!

Swinging it lightly a few times, the nearby cornfield cleanly disappeared.

"...?"

A few crouching Rakshas looked around the instantly desolated surroundings with blank faces.

"..."

The eyes of their comrades hiding among the fallen cornstalks were also dyed in astonishment.

Thwap thwap thwap!

Arrows and bolts poured into the wide-open spaces, and the Rakshas, reduced to the state of hedgehogs, fell.

"It makes me remember the days when I helped farm work in Kingdom End."

Eugene made a faint expression looking at the axe blade sitting brilliantly receiving the sunlight.

"No, Excellency. Have you tried farming too?"

"Are you not joking?"

"There's probably no bastard here who has done more farm work than me."

During the harvest season in the days he was receiving knight lessons from Godfrey, Eugene was the most popular person in the village.

Kwajijijik!

Udeudeudeuk!

A black storm rampaged, and the cornfield began to be demolished at an incredible speed. The momentum was as if a corn combine harvester had descended by skipping the industrial revolution.

Puhwaaak!

It was even similar to how unlucky animals hiding among the corn were occasionally ground up together.

Between the cornstalks soaring poppingly toward the sky, the limbs and torsos of Rakshas soared together.

"■■■■?!"

"■■■!"

The Rakshas hiding underneath wailed and made a fuss. A situation where the endocrine glands were pouring a liquid called fear into the blood vessels indiscriminately.

The effect of the medicine circulating along the veins was already draining out from their bladders continuously along with pee.

A few attacks flew in, but both Might and Eugene were unyielding since they were clad in Hydra leather over their entire bodies.

In the meantime, the Raksha commander aimed for Eugene from outside his vision. Taking advantage of the gap of chaos, she killed her presence, approached nearby, and threw a short spear.

Shuwaaak!

At the considerable sound of piercing the air, Eugene reflexively struck it down with the side of his axe blade and deflected it.

Ting!

When countering sudden surprise attacks like now, a broad axe blade is useful. Since it's wide enough for about one adult woman to lie down on, the area it covers is also large.

Keureureung-!

Eugene hadn't found the position of the commander yet, but Might did. Towards the direction the warhorse led, Eugene swung Blackout once again.

The Raksha commander agilely tried to dodge, but since it was an attack struck with the side of the axe blade, the covering range was too large.

Thwack!

Along with the pain as if both legs were smashed, she spun about 3 times in mid-air and crashed to the ground.

Because she rose above the cornstalks, everyone on the battlefield saw that sight clearly. The movements of the Rakshas stopped in unison.

Kwajik!

Before the commander could get up, Eugene struck her back with the head of the axe.

Blackout has a giant blade in the front, but spikes are attached to the back like a poleaxe. As the weapon is a weapon, the spikes were at a level surpassing an average pickaxe.

Eugene lifted the axe handle like a flag.

"Kiiii... Kiiii..."

Grabbing the spike that pierced through her chest from her back, the commander who waved her feet in the air went limp. At that sight, the Rakshas lost their will to fight.

"There will be no proper counterattack now. All troops, charge and annihilate."

"We've been waiting for that order!"

As the waiting subordinates pounced in unison, the Rakshas couldn't do anything and were smashed.

Eugene slowly followed behind his subordinates and maintained the commander's corpse raised like a flag.

Fear. And performance.

That is an area Eugene always researches as a commander and vanguard.

Sometimes he feels it's barbaric, but he knows that things like this reduce the number of arrows and spears heading towards his subordinates.

* * *

"Waaah!"

Sasha hugged her freed tribe members and wailed at the top of her lungs.

Though her nails were hurt while hurrying to untie the ropes, she didn't stop, and her fingers were wet with blood.

"Fortunately, it seems there are no casualties. It seems the Raksha hunters' skills were excellent, having ambushed and captured them all at once."

Even Yakson, who still found it difficult to accept good Rakshas, had his heart shaken in front of Sasha's familial love. The tribe members of Sasha who joined totaled 62.

"Fewer than I thought."

"Us. Many died. As slaves. As meat."

Having cried so much that her eyes became red, Sasha said.

When Eugene placed a handkerchief over her nose, the way she blew 'Paang!' feels like treating a child who only grew physically.

"Us. Don't have many babies."

The changes brought by the herbivorous mutation seemingly didn't end with only the mind or teeth.

Looking closely, Sasha's tribe had two breasts unlike other Rakshas who have four. The two lower ones degenerated, leaving only slight traces of nipples.

Since Sasha's group that came as envoys dressed up to not look dispirited and were so starved and skinny, it was an unnoticed detail.

'Living unable to eat meat, having a peaceful temperament, and having such a different appearance, it's not strange they were abused.'

It seems there must have been a difference beyond how white people treated black people in the history within Eugene's memory. There was a reason why Sasha risked her life to ask the foreigner's army for salvation.

Peck.

Eugene kissed Sasha's forehead.

"Live within our fence now. Peacefully, sowing seeds and touching the soil."

"Heueoeong."

Sasha, whose tears burst again, dug into Eugene's embrace and wailed.

Innate warriors.

Innate engineers.

Innate farmers.

The races with different desires are gathering and harmonizing under the banner of Mayer.

While consoling Sasha, Eugene saw the blueprint for the future increasingly becoming a reality.

This world where diverse intelligent species coexist. In Eugene's thought, what is most needed is a firm order.

It doesn't simply mean conquering the world with strong power like the ancient kingdoms.

For Eugene, who is a born soldier, there is no such excessive greed. And he also hated wandering from battlefield to battlefield to suppress rebellions his whole life.

'There are too many diverse intelligent species here. Their cultures and temperaments are all different.'

This world where races exhibiting differences far beyond the level of human races live mixed up under the logic of power. It needlessly birthed many disputes and pains.

'What if each race exclusively takes charge of the role they like and fits them within one solid system?'

It seemed it would be more peaceful and fulfilling than the currently chaotically mixed society.

Though it is an idea he hasn't told anyone yet, even Homi or Valda.