Azpen's words echoed across the swamp.
For a moment...
No one spoke.
Only the rustling leaves and the gentle ripples of the swamp water could be heard.
Everyone understood what this meant.
Casualties would be high.
Many of us didn't know whether we'd live long enough to see the moon rise tonight.
Azpen stood before us, watching the morale sink.
His expression didn't change.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
"I know..."
"This isn't the promise I made when you accepted this contract."
"But right now..."
"We don't have another choice."
"If we let them reach the nest..."
"They'll regroup."
"They'll fortify their defenses."
"You already saw it during the second raid."
"They've already begun changing their tactics."
"They've adapted."
"If we give them more time..."
"This war becomes even harder."
He slowly looked across every mercenary.
"So now..."
"It's time to look death in the eyes."
"I know many of you standing here..."
"I won't see again."
"Some of you..."
"May not survive today."
His voice remained steady.
"But hear me."
"If any of you fall..."
"I'll personally make sure your family is cared for."
"Your parents..."
"Your wife..."
"Your husband..."
"Your children..."
"They won't be abandoned."
"I'll see to it myself."
"And your names..."
"They'll be carved into the Mercenary Office's Wall of Honor."
"So no one forgets the sacrifice you made."
He lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm asking all of you to risk your lives."
"But..."
"I don't have another choice."
"Rest."
"We move in one hour."
The scout beside him simply nodded before climbing into the trees and disappearing among the branches once again.
I leaned forward on Rusty, gently stroking his neck.
His breathing remained calm.
Compared to the enemy...
Nothing was in our favor.
They had numbers.
They had mages.
They had warriors protecting those mages.
Even if Azpen could carve through dozens of enemies...
What about the rest of us?
I closed my eyes while continuing to pat Rusty's neck.
This might be the battle where I died.
Or...
The battle where I somehow survived again.
Only time would tell.
Strangely...
My fear slowly disappeared.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
I'd already looked death in the eyes more times than I could count.
Maybe today...
We'd meet again.
I only hoped she'd reject me one more time.
Faces drifted through my mind.
Duracal.
Bharam.
Siena.
Rathen.
Even Lerana during our duel.
But no matter how hard I tried...
I still couldn't remember my mother's face.
I climbed down from Rusty.
I drank a little water.
Checked the edge of my sword.
Ran my fingers along the spear shaft to make sure there were no cracks.
Adjusted every strap on my armor.
The hour passed faster than I expected.
Soon...
Azpen returned.
A crow landed on his shoulder.
He removed the letter tied to its leg and quickly read it.
Then he looked up.
"The bombardment has ended."
"The infantry has begun clearing the nest."
"A portion of them has already been diverted to reinforce us."
"The rest will join us once the nest is secured."
"It'll take time."
"So..."
"We move."
This time we formed a spearhead formation once again.
Azpen stood at the very front.
The scout guided us through the swamp, weaving between trees while taking unexpected turns to avoid being seen.
After nearly two hours of riding...
We finally spotted them.
An army.
More than seven hundred lizardmen.
Some marched on foot.
Others rode water lizards.
The entire column was steadily advancing toward the nest.
Azpen slowly raised his hand.
The signal to charge was about to come.
Then—
A crow suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Even Azpen looked surprised.
He quickly untied the red letter and read it.
His expression hardened.
Without saying a word, he raised his hand again.
"Fall back."
"Slowly."
"No noise."
"No engagement."
Confused, we obeyed.
Our horses quietly retreated into the cover of the swamp.
Nearly thirty minutes later, after putting enough distance between ourselves and the enemy, Azpen finally spoke.
"More Northern Knights are on their way."
"They've already crossed the border."
"But they still need time to reach us."
He looked around at every rider.
"Our objective has changed."
"We're no longer trying to win this battle."
"Our job..."
"...is to delay them."
One mercenary couldn't hold back.
"But, sir..."
"There are more than seven hundred of them."
"How are we supposed to stop an army that large?"
Azpen answered without hesitation.
"We don't stop the whole army."
"We keep cutting at it."
"We strike their rear."
"Disappear."
"Strike again."
"Keep slowing their march."
"Every minute we steal..."
"...is another minute for the Northern Knights to arrive."
He slowly drew his greatsword.
"So remember."
"We're not fighting for victory."
"We're fighting for time."
He pointed his blade toward the rear of the marching lizardmen.
"Ride."
Without another word...
We turned our horses toward the enemy's rear.