Chapter 70
Teigun Defense Battle ⑦
(Day 4 of War)
The Path
Stained Crimson
Translator : PolterGlast
Christoph,
Vice-Commander Kira of the mercenary corps, and Claire stood in the bell tower
of the Teigun checkpoint.
They received a report
that the invading army had passed through the narrow pass of the corridor and
moved towards the border with the Demon Realm, routing east, towards the
border.
Their numbers were
around 900.
Most were reported to
be moving on foot.
"Phew, we've
managed to overcome the crisis for now."
"Christoph, it's
not over yet. They've left many wounded behind in this corridor."
"Kira's right. We
also have to bury the dead in the valley. We need to hurry..."
The officers and
soldiers defending the Teigun checkpoint, and the members of the Self-Defense
Corps, had no time to enjoy the afterglow of victory.
Amidst the jubilant
victory, Christoph issued a directive for their next actions.
"Everyone, carry
out the following with utmost urgency:
Report the victory to
the main army fighting at Southern Gate.
Provide aid (recovery
and treatment) to the wounded enemy soldiers remaining in the corridor and
recover abandoned warhorses.
Recover and bury the
bodies in the corridor and recover and bury the bodies of enemy soldiers who
fell into the valley.
And from now on,
maximize vigilance against monsters. Not a single one must be allowed
through."
Regarding the
messengers, the route passing by the Demon Realm was expected to be extremely
dangerous due to the likely influx of monsters, so they were dispatched towards
Southern Gate Fortress, detouring the area as much as possible.
A recovery team was
immediately formed to recover the wounded enemy soldiers, and the abandoned
supplies and bodies.
Out of 100 soldiers
and 500 Self-Defense Corps members, 100 were left to defend the checkpoint, and
the remaining 500 formed the recovery team. Temporary bridges were built over
the two collapsed bridges.
The recovery team
immediately rescued approximately 400 wounded Gryphonia Imperial Army soldiers
and over 600 warhorses that had been left behind. After several trips, they
also recovered all the bodies that had been abandoned in the corridor.
And again, in
preparation for monster attacks, the bridges were removed, and the narrow side
path that the Imperial soldiers had excavated was filled with stones.
In case allies came
this way, a bell and a sign were left to announce their arrival.
Christoph surveyed the
corridor and took a breath.
"All the men and
horses in the corridor are gone. I hope this means the monsters' attention will
shift elsewhere."
"It's likely the
monsters' attention will be drawn to them for the time being. The smell of
blood from so many wounded will attract them."
Kira closed her eyes,
contemplating their future.
"Even if they
didn't know, they violated a taboo. That path will surely lead to ruin if
traveled carelessly."
Claire, who said this,
couldn't help but feel sympathy for them when she considered their future, even
as invaders.
"Moving with so
many wounded along the edge of the Demon Realm... it's like asking to be
attacked.
They are
already..."
"You're right,
Kira.
It's likely the
monsters' attention will be drawn to them for the time being. However, we also
need to bury the bodies at the bottom of the valley quickly, or it will become
dangerous."
"Lana has already
treated enemy soldiers, and I plan to ask for their cooperation whose wounds
have healed sufficiently."
"Claire, that
would be helpful if possible, but it won't be that easy..."
Christoph's concern
was understandable, but Claire seemed to have a plan.
In the temporary
infirmary, Rosa and Mia were tending to the seriously wounded, while Lana was
outside treating those with minor injuries.
Already, dozens of
prisoners had recovered enough to be able to descend the valley.
Several who could now
move were already helping to bury their comrades' bodies.
"Do you remember
the enemy soldier who was stranded on the cliff face and surrendered?"
"Ah, he
voluntarily offered to help with the burial and is working alongside the
lightly wounded enemy soldiers."
"I'm planning to
talk to the enemy soldiers who can now move through him."
Yes, he wasn't
stranded in the middle of the cliff.
He was Masrool, a
soldier who had stopped fighting of his own accord.
After her exchange with
Christoph, Claire went to talk to him.
※
"From tomorrow,
100 soldiers, 200 Self-Defense Corps members, and enemy prisoners will descend
into the valley.
We will recover the
bodies in the valley and cremate and bury them at the bottom.
I apologize for this
unpleasant task, but Kira will command the recovery, also Claire and Elan, I'm
counting on you for the post-recovery response."
"Understood. Even
I would hesitate to ask this of others. We have no choice but to do it
ourselves.
If we leave them, the
valley will become a monster's nest."
"Claire, sorry.
Kira, please request manpower from the mercenary corps."
※
~On the edge of some
demon realm~
"Monsters on the
right rear! Several wolf-like monsters are pursuing us!"
Another urgent report
came from the soldier guarding the rear.
"Retreat in a
defensive formation! Never stop moving! More monsters from deeper within the
forest will come!"
Orders flew from the
leader of the unit.
Yes, this was not the
first attack. They had already lost count of how many attacks there had been.
There was no Demon
Realm within the Gryphonia Empire.
Therefore, there were
almost no soldiers with combat experience against monsters.
Even the soldiers who
had managed to survive the battle in Teigun were now increasingly losing their
lives as they fled towards Southern Gate...
At the beginning of
their retreat, they started with approximately 300 soldiers and 600 wounded.
And the first attack
occurred about half an hour into their march through the Demon Realm's border.
The first few times,
the attacking monsters were solitary, and the soldiers fought well, so they
were successfully repelled.
However, after that,
the frequency of attacks and the number of attacking monsters increased
steadily.
It felt as if all the
monsters in the entire Demon Realm were targeting them and gathering.
Everyone rushing
towards the border began to feel this.
As time passed, the
number of uninjured soldiers decreased, joining the ranks of the wounded.
Although they fought to protect the wounded, it often became impossible to
fully protect them.
Now, there were just
over 200 unharmed soldiers, and the wounded had decreased to around 300.
Nearly 300 had already
lost their lives to monsters.
"H-h-help
me!"
"Don't leave me
behind!"
The soldiers' screams
echoed here and there.
But there was no time
to rush to their aid.
They simply maintained
their defensive formation and rushed towards the border.
Large wolf-like
monsters attacked in groups.
Those who carelessly
approached the bushes were attacked by giant, camouflaged mantises.
Those who ventured
onto the sandy ground were suddenly swallowed by gaping holes.
Some were swept away
by huge bears with four front legs.
Some let their guard
down and were engulfed in flames unleashed by monsters.
Some were tossed into
the air by the charge of boars with tough hides.
They no longer had the
luxury of even identifying the attacking monsters.
They ran frantically,
terrified of the unknown beasts.
Even the soldiers who
had initially been heartbroken lost even that leeway to do so.
Attacked by monsters,
even when they heard their comrades' cries for help, they were now desperately
trying to protect themselves.
Yes, they didn't know.
The [Taboos] of those
who dwell on the edge of the Demon Realm.
That monsters who
taste human flesh will become more aggressive in attacking humans.
That the smell of
blood attracts and enrages monsters.
That the smell of
blood from a large number of wounded soldiers attracts an unprecedented number
of monsters.
That the blood spilled
from battles occurring during their retreat indicates the location of prey to
monsters, and that even more monsters are following them, trailing this scent.
And that they were
unintentionally leading many monsters with them as they advanced.
As a result, they
would return to the Southern Gate camp, having attracted and led a massive
number of monsters from the entire area where they were defeated.
『Those who dwell on the edge of the Demon Realm, never
violate the taboos.
Those who violate the
taboos shall learn them at the cost of their own lives.
Never commit the folly
of inviting monsters into the human world.』
<Taboo of
Incursion>
Do not carelessly
proceed beyond the bamboo forest.
Understand that the
bamboo forest is the boundary separating humans from non-humans.
Never forget that
monsters' territories extend into the bamboo forest.
<Taboo of
Bloodshed>
Never shed blood near
the Demon Realm (bamboo forest).
Monsters are lured by
the smell of blood and come from deep within the forest.
In case of injury,
immediately stop the bleeding, cover the affected area with strong-smelling
leaves, and immediately burn blood-stained clothes.
<Taboo of
Direction>
When pursued by
monsters, never head towards human settlements.
Monsters who learn the
way will leave the Demon Realm and head towards human settlements.
<Taboo of
Persistence>
Monsters that have
attacked humans must be hunted down and killed.
Monsters who have
tasted human flesh will surely target and attack humans again.
<Taboo of the
Unexpected>
Do not carelessly
confront multiple monsters without preparation.
When confronting them,
make thorough preparations, such as traps.
Never neglect
preparations to always be ready for unexpected attacks.
Never forget that cornered
monsters will call for their comrades.
<Taboo of No
Retreat>
Even at the cost of
horses or livestock, you must stop monsters.
Even at the cost of
your own life, you must not allow monsters to advance.
-----
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