The 24th Regiment of the Heavy Cavalry ended up trotting towards Mengsk Fortress slower than expected. Despite being promised to be provided with much of the supplies at Mengsk Fortress, the cantering rate was not that much different from regular foot soldiers.
As such, Sunhyuk asked why, which Clarke then answered.
"If it was a simple training, then it might be different. However, there's no need to tire out our horses already, when there's a high chance that we might be immediately deployed into a battle the moment we arrive at the fort. In addition, there is a low possibility that those Sastanes are quietly waiting for the battle to come to them after crossing the border."
In case of a sudden attack, Frederik was alternating two of his cavalry squads on patrol. Thanks to that, the slow canter felt even slower.
"Anything, vanguard?"
"There are no traces of the enemy in the southwest direction!"
Watching the patrolling cavalry busily come and go, Sunhyuk's mouth became unpleasantly dry. As such, Sunhyuk unknowingly continued to fiddle around with the cork of his water bottle. Seeing him, Clarke shook his head.
"Your blood will probably seem dry and your mouth will feel burnt. However, keep this in mind, that once the real battle starts, the tension you feel now will be nothing in contrast. As such, do not expend your strength carelessly."
"Even if you say that, it's not that easy to control."
Seeing how Sunhyuk still reacted to his encouragement despite his anxiety, Clarke burst out laughing.
"Huh?"
As such, they trotted like that for quite a while. Suddenly, he saw some small images from afar. Grasping his spear stronger and tightening his muscles, he readied himself before Hansen slapped him on the back and said.
"They are refugees. Relax."
"Ahh…"
It seems that due to the activity around the borders, the sensitive citizens that were under danger were already migrating.
"Go and ask if they know of the border's situation."
With Frederik's order, one of the cavalrymen immediately ran to the refugee crowd and returned quickly.
"I think the atmosphere is much worse than we first thought. There are many witnesses claiming they have seen cavalry with red-feathered helmets, despite not having seen a battle arise just yet."
"It's those Sastanes. There's no one, in our army at least, wearing such an unsightly ornament on their helmets."
After receiving the report, Frederik increased the patrolling squad by one and ordered them to increase the range of scouting. From those words, one of the patrolling squads rushed to the battlefield as dust flew up in their quake, causing the refugees to be filled with fear as they passed by.
"A real war…"
Seeing those terrified eyes, Sunhyuk stopped breathing for a moment, as if he was choking on something. He returned back to reality from the game-like world of status and skills that he was living in.
"Wake up! The real war hasn't even started yet."
From those words, Sunhyuk slapped his cheek with both hands, as he recollected himself. It was only a matter of time before he had to jump into the centre of such a battlefield. If he were to be stricken with fear, he wouldn't be able to bear it later on.
"We will communicate from the front. In order to prepare for an unknown battle, prepare your weapons so that you won't become food for the Sastanes arrows."
That quiet order caused the cavalrymen to grab onto weapons that were in their sheathes. With the clattering of iron, Sunhyuk regathered himself a few more times.
"Ugh. My whole body is tingling."
Thankfully, nothing had transpired on the first day, but with how he had to spend the day under stress and anxiety, his body was not left in a good state. Even in his sleep, due to the nightmares he was having, his whole body felt heavy.
"Endure it a bit. No matter how slow we go, we'll arrive there in 9 days at the latest."
"Wouldn't it be better to reach there quicker?"
Thinking that it was ineffective to divide the two days distance from Mengsk Fortress into many more, he queried, after which Clarke replied.
"Maybe, but our Commander is over there so."
In short, he was saying that he could do nothing about it. Having nothing further to retort with, Sunhyuk ended up sighing.
With his nickname being, 'Boar of the Battlefield,' he was definitely full of caution.
This time, he's was probably worrying about the possible flaws and errors in his career over achievements and feats, so it makes sense regarding the Lieutenant Colonel's hot-temperedness. But it seemed that he couldn't overcome his impatient nature, as he continued to slowly increase the speed.
But that was only for a moment as well.
There was a Rider riding in through the dust as he galloped over. The Rider appeared to be a heavy cavalrymen on patrol. But alongside him was another man with a light cavalry uniform.
"What could this mean?"
The cavalry cried out in relief, after hearing the cavalrymen announcing the drill-order of the Kingdom of Ardenburg.
"Forward! It is Owenson, Sergeant of the 3rd Squad, from the 2nd Light Cavalry unit of the 27th Regiment."
"So? Why is a Rider of the 27th Regiment here?"
Normally, Frederik would accept his salute adequately as a member of the army, however, the tone of Lieutenant Colonel Frederik's voice was a bit cold due to the faint smell of blood leaking from the Rider's body.
"In the present situation, the 27th Regiment is currently rearranging and repairing their equipment, after retreating from a sudden attack by the enemy. I was sent to inform Lieutenant Colonel of the danger."
"Damn…"
This ominous feeling could never be wrong. With how Owenson's 27th Regiment was retreating, it meant that the casualties weren't small at all.
"The size of the enemy army seems to be one company, but with the color and tactics they've displayed, they are clearly the heavy cavalry unit of the Sastein Cavalry."
"Those damn bitches!"
"What the hell are those border guards doing!"
A deafening clamour exploded from within the cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Frederik's face hardened as he settled them down by raising his hand, before asking Owenson.
"The time and position of the engagement?"
"Yesterday afternoon, the first encounter with the enemy was in the southwest direction five hours from here, and two hours later, full-scale engagements began. The battle lasted endlessly until our regiment concluded that we suffered too many casualties before retreating."
If it's 5 hours in distance, there's no difference from the enemy being right in front of them. After concluding his report, all of the equipment that were on the wagons were delivered to the heavy cavalrymen, and in a split moment, battle preparations were completed.
"So there's a high probability that those guys are monitoring us."
"With those Sastein bastards' tactics in fighting, it is highly so."
With Lieutenant Colonel's words, the 1st and 2nd Sergeants, both battle hardened veterans, fumed as they talked.
"Damn! This is why I told them that we should move out all together. What the hell were they thinking? That they could herd such a force of that calibre from three sides and annihilate them?"
Seeing the discretion not fitting of his nature, he called for Watson and laid down a separate order. However, considering how Sunhyuk felt such a tactic was quite poorly constructed, the strategist who planned this must not be that competent.
"This might end up badly…"
Although he didn't want to say this ominous statement, but soldiers under an incompetent commander will always be in trouble. That was common in the other world, and applied to this one as well. However, if there was a difference, it was that the price to pay was much more severe in this world. In the other world, where you just needed to overwork your body a bit more, in this place, many lives were hanging by a thread.
"Alright. I pay homage to your troops, and I deeply regret your unfortunate losses as a consequence. Also, I thank you of your consideration in this hectic matter."
"It is nothing. We hope that the Lieutenant Colonel, leader of the highest, prestigious regiments will be able to give back to those wicked men what we suffered."
"Your will will be fulfilled."
Owenson of the 27th Regiment, ended his report and disappeared.
Now, there were two options for the 24th Regiment of the Heavy Cavalry. One was to increase their pace and quickly arrive at Mengsk Fortress in order to prevent any sudden attack, while the other was to maintain the current pace, while preparing for a battle.
It was not an easy choice, thus Lieutenant Colonel Frederik asked for Clarke's advice. Even he knew that the true leader of the cavalry was none other than Clarke.
"If the 27th Regiment has already been defeated, then it is highly likely that the Sastane Cavalry is now aiming for us. In those circumstances, recklessly increasing our pace might cause us to be attacked in a weary state."
"I think so too. If we had done that in the first place, then maybe, but we have already wasted too much time that the alternative is now void."
Since their opinions were alike, the only thing left to do was to hope for the best. He too, was fully armed, as well as all of the heavy cavalry, so much so that the preparations were completely finished, so Frederik looked on with a satisfied face.
"Call those on patrol back. With those guys aiming for us, there's no reason to weaken our forces."
With that order, the messenger departed and soon returned with the scouting squad. But the numbers of those returning were insufficient.
"It seems that the members of the 8th Squad have already been preyed upon."
Over half of the 8th squad, that was deployed for various scouting missions, was missing. The enraged cavalrymen were furious, as they wanted to immediately kill the Sastane bastards, but Frederik and the other commanders remained calm.
"Even though the Sastanes are capable of guerilla warfare, it will be quite a burden for them to wander around our borders for too long, and thus they will definitely show up."
Frederik's prediction wasn't wrong.
Before the sun came down, the appearance of the enemies became apparent.
"Are they the Sastanes?"
Sunhyuk stricken with anxiety relaxed his throat as he looked on at the oncoming force.
With reinforced iron armors that did not look to be so heavy, spears and bows on their back, it displayed the way and style they fought in.
If their side were like the knights in their world, then the enemy looked like the Mongolian horsemen with reinforced armors.
"All cavalry, in charging formation! The Vanguard will be the 3rd Squad. Behind that, the 1st and 2nd Squad will provide support!"
However, there was no time to comfortably appreciate the enemy. Before Sunhyuk was able to gradually pick himself up, Frederik's command was declared, and the cavalrymen promptly moved into formation.
As such, Sunhyuk was the spearhead of his first battle. While Frederik had expressed concern about assigning the spearhead position to a Stranger, with the recommendation of the other cavalrymen, he did not refute further.
"If you are the first to be stricken with fear and hesitate, I'll behead you myself personally."
With Frederik's growl, Sunhyuk had a surprised look.
From the front, the Sastane cavalry were growling, and in the back, Frederik was messing with the sword he was given. Literally, he was between two fires. Then, the enemy began to mobilize.
"Do not be caught in a flank attack by any means!"
The 100 or so Heavy Cavalry of the 24th Regiment responded as they galloped out onto the battlefield. Sunhyuk too, was swept away by the momentum, with his heart beginning to jump wildly one step behind.
TL Afterword:
Calvis: God, so intense. Finally, a battle where fear, anxiety, and tension is included in a battle. Now, this feels like an actual war battle. Awesome. So hooked onto the story.
TL Notice: I've been sick the last 3 days now due to a severe cold, but will definitely do my best to not delay any releases! Thanks for all the support!
PR Afterword:
Sai101: MC's tense & nervous feelings helpfully well conveyed in this chapter..
BM: I just wanna see the reaction of the Sastane when a large and windy explosion happens in the middle of those Sastane bastards
Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101,Borderline Masochist