Chapter 151: Even if Mount Tai is high (1)

A series of unexpected incidents led the war, which everyone thought would unfold unilaterally, into a maze of uncertainty.

The Imperial main army did not advance as quickly as expected, and the 5th Cavalry Division was defeated by the Alloy Brigade.

During that time, new heroes emerged in Joachim.

A man named Hopper managed to hold off none other than Yalta, one of the Ten Greats, and a man named Yubi, along with his two sworn brothers, gathered people of noble spirit and raised his flag in rebellion.

The countries, excluding the Empire, intensified their diplomatic maneuvers.

All expressed deep concern over the Empire’s aggression toward Joachim and agreed that if it wasn’t stopped, that madness could turn against them at any moment.

An undercover alliance began to form among Briol, Brusen, Liberta, and the Holy Kingdom, based on their respective interests.

Time passed.

Although it took much longer than expected, the Imperial main army finally reached the forest surrounding the royal castle of Joachim.

Joachim knew full well that if that defensive line was broken, defeat was certain.

The Alloy Brigade set up an impenetrable defense around the forest. They were joined by the “miraculously appeared” Hopper and the army of Count Seckernear, who had taken him in, as well as the volunteer army of the three brothers Yubi.

The battle that would decide Joachim’s fate was approaching.

***

“Nice to meet you. My name is Yubi. I used to sell mats, but I took up arms to save Joachim.”

“I’m Hopper. A man who trained martial arts in the mountains.”

“I heard you ended in a draw against Yalta.”

“Haha, it was nothing.”

“Without a doubt, you are a hero born for this era.”

“Don’t say that. You, Mr. Yubi, have so much popularity that people follow you like a cloud. That’s what I call the mark of a true hero.”

“Jaja, please don’t say that.”

They praised each other as if they had just met. Gonte Merchin, who was observing the scene from the side, murmured.

“The two great talents born in Joachim meeting here—this really is a gathering of stars. Joachim’s national fortune is on the rise!”

It never even crossed his mind who they really were.

He might not recognize their faces, but there were gestures and habits hard to hide. Even if they altered their voices, the original tone was noticeable, and still, Gonte didn’t realize anything.

He was, honestly, a very dense man.

Yuri cleared his throat and approached Gonte.

“I didn’t know Joachim had such special forces. I thought the young knights of Joachim had grown weak, but I was wrong. It must be thanks to the excellent training of Mr. Gonte, don’t you think?”

“Of course! Jajaja! It’s all thanks to me!”

“So, from beginning to end, it was you who trained them?”

“They were all trained under my responsibility! Have you heard of guerrilla training?”

“Did you invent it?”

“Of course! I developed it for Joachim’s future!”

Yuri clenched his fist. Someday, he’d have to teach him a proper lesson.

“I see… hahaha…”

“By the way, I heard you were a mat seller, but what strength you have. Did you learn mana swordsmanship?”

“I just trained on my own, thinking it might be useful for Joachim.”

“For a self-taught man, your level is quite high. If you had set your mind to becoming a knight, you’d be a great swordsman. A real shame.”

“I’m just a humble mat seller.”

“Would you like to serve the country once this war is over? To be Joachim’s shield and protect the Alloy Range with our own hands.”

“If I survive, I’ll consider it.”

At Yuri’s words, those present nodded.

Though the atmosphere was optimistic, the most important thing was survival. They were about to face the Empire, risking their lives.

Yuri glanced up sideways. The knights of the Alloy Brigade were rotating their shifts.

Their faces were familiar to him. In the past, they were called owls. Back then they looked like chicks, but now they were proud guerrilla soldiers.

“We must settle this as soon as possible.”

Yuri spoke to Gonte, who tilted his head curiously.

“Why?”

Though he was just a former mat seller leading a militia, Gonte paid attention to his words.

In that sense, he was an open-minded man.

“The Alloy Brigade defends the forest. There’s no need to rush. Over time, the one on expedition loses more.”

“The problem is Yalta.”

“Yalta?”

“Yes.”

Yuri, thanks to his past experience, knew a few things about him.

He was violent, lacking self-control. Some superiors managed to keep him in check, but there was a limit.

Over time, his patience would inevitably run out.

“We have to end this while we can still fight honorably. Otherwise, who knows what atrocities he might commit.”

“Fight honorably…?”

“Mr. Gonte. Joachim’s cities have remained safe thanks to Sir Graham’s self-control.”

“I know that, but…”

“If I were part of the Imperial army, I would have already set this forest on fire.”

At those words, Gonte blinked.

“That would endanger even the royal castle…!”

“There’s no reason to consider the enemy’s situation. I would have done it without hesitation.”

“Hmm…”

“If the battle drags on, Yalta will do something terrible. Either set a fire or destroy another city to force the king out.”

That was something that happened countless times in his past life. Joachim was lucky to have Graham leading the Imperial army.

Gonte fell into thought.

“Now that we know Hopper can face him, we must end this quickly. Time works against Joachim, not the Empire. If not, that bastard is going to commit atrocities.”

“Your words make sense.”

He nodded.

“But leaving the forest to fight is also difficult. I think the Empire will try to attack us first. Until then, I plan to wait.”

“Understood.”

Yuri nodded. It was enough for him that he recognized the danger Yalta posed.

Just as Gonte said, it was likely the enemy would attempt to cross the forest once.

“When they enter, we’ll fight for real.”

“So it shall be.”

As soon as they finished talking, a sharp sound like a flute echoed in the distance. It was the whistle of a signal arrow, the myeongjeok, indicating an ambush.

Gonte gave quick instructions.

The army of Count Seckernear, with Hopper at the front, was to hold off Yalta, while the rest would deploy through the forest to support the Alloy Brigade.

Gonte pointed to the map.

“If the Alloy Brigade gives ground, we must block here, here, and here. We can’t allow them to cross the forest! Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

The main squadrons of Joachim that had gathered to resist the Empire also followed his orders. Although they weren’t guerrilla-trained soldiers like the Alloy Brigade, they were still much stronger than ordinary troops.

Gonte raised his sword.

“For Joachim!”

“For Joachim!”

The troops quickly dispersed to carry out their missions.

Yuri also returned to the volunteer army. His role was to support other troops from the rear. Although he had trained them, they still lacked experience.

But Yuri wanted to seize this opportunity to achieve real results.

“Hmm…”

The information about the three brothers had not yet reached the Empire. It was the perfect time to act.

If they took advantage of the gap between enemy perception and their true power, they could inflict severe damage, making what came next easier.

Yuri called Laurent and Jared.

“We’re going to join Jose in secret.”

“Are we going for Yalta?”

“Yes. Ideally, we kill him, and if not, at least wound him.”

“Understood. Who’ll lead the volunteers?”

“Leave it to Javid. He has spirit and leadership.”

“Yes.”

***

In the forest, a silent battle had already begun.

Unlike the previous time, when only the 5th Division had come, the imperial army now had a significant numerical advantage, and so the Alloy Brigade struggled to hold them back.

Each time a silent arrow struck an ally, the Empire responded with a rain of arrows and advanced. They also used their own sentries as bait to trigger traps.

Once used, traps were exposed and became useless.

The Empire advanced through the forest over the sacrifices of its own men.

And that wasn’t the only problem.

On another front, Yalta charged forward like an unchained beast at the head of the attack.

“You think you can stop me with these pathetic tricks!?”

The stealth arrows had no effect on him. He also destroyed any trap with ease.

Swinging his massive sword, he razed trees and underbrush alike. He was like a war chariot pushing aside every obstacle in his path.

The Alloy Brigade wasn’t foolish enough to challenge him directly.

However, seeing Yalta growing faster and faster, they began to panic. If they let him advance, he might actually make it through the forest.

“What do we do?”

“Should we stop him now?”

“It would be a useless death.”

The Alloy Brigade hesitated, unable to decide.

Then someone suddenly appeared, resolving their dilemma.

“Hey! You’ve come, huh? Barbarian!”

“Damn continental!”

It was Hopper, his burly frame contrasting with his handsome face.

He stood in Yalta’s path and gestured with his finger.

“Where’s your nanny?”

“Bastard!”

Yalta exploded with fury.

Since Graham wasn’t present, there was no one to stop him.

Unleashed, he chopped down all the nearby vegetation and charged like an enraged gorilla.

“I’m going to rip that tongue out!”

Yalta began swinging his sword wildly. Jose, disguised as Hopper, blocked the attacks while smiling.

“From how agitated you are… did you really wet yourself that day?”

“Shut up!”

Yalta clung to close combat, not letting Jose get away. He was deeply affected by the technique Jose had used in their first duel.

“Hey, barbarian.”

As their swords clashed, Jose smiled again.

“You couldn’t react at all, could you?”

“Shut up!”

“That’s why I said someone like you doesn’t belong among the Ten Greats.”

“Son of a—!”

Yalta unleashed his full strength and knocked Jose’s sword aside, then kicked him in the abdomen.

As Jose staggered back from the blow, Yalta raised his sword to crush his skull.

“Keep talking if you dare!”

“You have no foundation!”

Jose immediately lunged forward, rammed his shoulder into Yalta’s chest, and as he bounced off, slashed his abdomen.

Blood splattered.

But the wound wasn’t deep.

“All you know how to do is attack like a wild beast.”

“You—!”

“Know something?”

Jose smiled again, pointing his sword at him. This time, as he condensed mana, a sharp mass flew toward Yalta.

He reacted a beat late but managed to block it.

Jose let out a mocking chuckle.

“You can’t even perceive how dangerous that was. You’re a fool.”

“I’ll kill youuu!”

Yalta’s eyes turned red. His body began to emit steam.

His muscles swelled as if they were on fire.

Completely enraged, he screamed.

“You’re not the first to die talking too much!”

“You’re bragging about killing a bunch of weaklings?”

Jose stared him down.

Yes, he was strong. So much that even Jose couldn’t be sure of victory.

But Yalta couldn’t grow any stronger than this. He lacked depth. That limit was as clear as day.

For one who aspires to the heavens, Mount Taesan is just another mountain.

And Yalta stood at the summit of that mountain.

He had come far leaping on his own legs, but he could never soar beyond.

“You have no idea what this is, do you?”

“I don’t care. I just need to cut off your head. I’ll embalm it and put it on display.”

“That’s exactly why you’ll never go beyond.”

Their swords clashed again and again.

Each time Jose blocked Yalta’s sword, he felt his bones vibrate. His physical destructive power was absolutely brutal.

Yalta smiled as he cornered him.

“Training? Meditation? None of that matters. If you kill and keep killing, you become strong.”

Then suddenly, he lunged with an unpredictable angle. Jose didn’t fully block it and got cut on the shoulder.

Blood began to drip.

But Jose retaliated, stabbing and injuring him.

Both were splattered with blood.

Jose grinned.

“Of course, I couldn’t expect someone like you to know.”

“Know what?”

“That to go even higher, you need deep training. But you gave that up. You chose the easy path—swinging your sword with brute force and speed.”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Yalta’s sword grazed Jose’s hair.

“You don’t train or think because you’re lazy and hate it, right?”

“Shut up and die already!”

Their swords crossed again. Jose was pushed back.

Yalta burst out laughing and kept up the pressure.

“You’re all talk!”

Jose looked for an opening. But Yalta’s ferocity left no room for error.

For now, Yalta’s wild style overwhelmed Jose’s.

“What? You want to rise higher? That’s funny! The strongest is the one who wins! Win and kill, that’s what’s right! Got it, filthy continental?”

Just as Jose was about to respond—

“Then there’s no problem if several of us face you at once as long as we beat you, right?”

Three men appeared, each wielding a different weapon.

Yuri smiled.

“Isn’t that right?”