Overgeared

At the port city of Galest, the imperial army was preparing to sail through the route in the Red Sea that Grenhal had left behind. Earl Baget was moving among the bustling soldiers. “Only three flour bags? You pathetic bastards! Can you call yourselves soldiers of the empire?! Can you defend your country with this much strength and passion? Stop talking nonsense! It must be hard for your parents!”

“...!”

Earl Baget had long been famous for his military discipline, but there were no cases when he had cursed at soldiers who were doing well. Now he even mentioned their parents? The soldiers suffered great shock and hurt. Those soldiers—who were working hard to prepare for the journey—lost their motivation as Earl Baget’s words continued, and their overall work efficiency was lowered. Marquis Fulbas ran after hearing the news and tried to stop Earl Baget. “I understand that your heart is impatient, but do it moderately. Why are you cursing the soldiers who are doing well instead of praising them?”

“It is funny they are reacting like this from being yelled at! Do you think it makes sense that those who swore to sacrifice themselves for their country can’t take a bit of cursing?! Marquis Fulbas, you are the problem! People are always talking behind the scenes that you are sensitive to public sentiment and don’t have a backbone! There is a rumor that it is the aftereffects of a domestic violence incident when you were young!”

“W-What?” Marquis Fulbas’ gaze sank. The fact that Earl Baget raised his voice to the marquis was a secondary issue. The family of Marquis Fulbas was famous for being kind and generous. There was no such thing as domestic violence. Yet there was a rumor going around that he was a victim of domestic violence...? It insulted his parents and his entire family.

“You dare...! You dare say that?!” Marquis Fulbas, who had always shown a gracious appearance in front of his men, was enraged. He shouted while stomping his feet, “Who dares to spread such rumors?”

“...I can’t tell you. I will never speak about who it is, even if there is a blade against my neck. I’m not an unscrupulous person who will sell out my colleagues. However, the act of insulting one’s superiors and destroying your position is no different from treason. I will give you a hint out of loyalty. It was one of the earls.”

“Earl...? Earl!! I...! I have been doing so well that now they want to hit me in the back of the head?!” Marquis Fulbas’ neck was red from anger as he stumbled away from his position.

A soldier approached Earl Baget, who looked 10 years older. The man was called Serun, and he had the Disguise skill. “How come you don’t even miss a day? It is really great.”

“...I don’t feel too comfortable. I have to do it because of my duty.”

“You seem to be enjoying it...”

“...” Earl Baget looked restlessly at Serun. In other words, Huroi wanted to say something, but he refrained from doing so. The duration of the Disguise skill was three days. Without Serun’s active help, Huroi wouldn’t have progressed so far in this infiltration mission.

Serun was smiling. “In any case, it is thrilling and fun. I want this to be a real adventure. I’m glad I listened to Euphemina and followed you.”

“...” Huroi was dying of nervousness. He had dreamed of being captured and executed at least 10 times, but it was a risk he took for Grid’s sake.

‘I need to get the route as soon as possible... Marquis Fulbas isn’t giving me a gap.’

***

“It feels bad when I think about it.”

Three days had passed since the imperial army retreated without looking back.

The Overgeared members praised the soldiers who suffered during the war, comforted the people, and devoted themselves to Reidan’s restoration. They had to join in the exploration of the Ruins of the War God, but could they afford to intrude on the empire? They had to do it. The empire couldn’t be allowed to monopolize the ruins. However, they didn’t have the route. It wasn’t simple to find the Ruins of the War God. They had to concentrate on saving their energy while the empire was in the process of exploring the ruins.

The Overgeared members, who had been exchanging information while running around for three days, suddenly became enraged. They had risked their lives in the war against the empire. They put everything into the war. Yet for the empire, the war with them was just a game. The moment they discovered the ruins, they left without looking back.

There was now an empty desert. The vacant spot left by the imperial army was a great disgrace.

in a Korean style. None of the curse words he knew in Japanese fit better than the

slammed a fist

“...”

as he forgot his manners and recklessly expressed his anger. The number of enemies Katz had killed during the war was

for the first time, and it was the

However...

However...!

guys weren't serious? How ridiculous and insignificant would our desperate fighting seem?

table again and again. He couldn’t control his

“I’m sorry.”

felt the same as Katz.

sorry.” Grid stopped Katz. Then he deeply bowed to all his companions. “I was incompetent. I was lacking, and the Overgeared Kingdom ended up like this. That’s why the empire arbitrarily came and left. I’m sorry. I’m really

he shared many memories and mental rapport with. They

by the empire, I should’ve shown a more powerful look to the empire. Maybe these

He was weak. Grid was daunted

you and prepared for all the variables. If

and made only swords and armor, which was the worst mistake. In large-scale combat, the armed status of the soldiers wasn’t the most important factor. It would’ve been better to concentrate on strengthening the equipment of the 10 meritorious retainers, who had the ability to kill thousands of

turned a blind eye to his colleagues. This was the result. His colleagues who believed in him and chose production materials as the reward for the National

“...It’s all my fault.”

sudden? Did you receive an arrow

while everyone was confused by

sprang up and spat out coldly.

words weren’t based on her

the situation more soberly than

a group of geniuses. Ever since being

Clang!

Rather than the table, she struck the more expensive and easily broken glass window. It wasn’t just one. Every step she

incompetent than you expected.” Jishuka broke the last remaining window before smiling and

was more imposing than

like Jishuka. The period of time in which Yura had been a member was too short for her to rebuke her colleagues. Yura clenched her hands into fists, and her eyes shook as she alternated before the proud Jishuka and

answer

the difference in heart. She was a woman, but she also thought

suddenly muttered to himself, “Kukukuk... This,

extent, revealing white teeth as he grinned. “I got the route to the Ruins of the War God from Huroi. Since we are

of the war or the empire’s arrogant attitude. He was only interested in the historical ruins. If the 10 meritorious retainers’ trust in Lauel hadn’t been so deep, they would’ve misunderstood that he

he struggled more than anyone else behind the scenes. Thus, everyone waited for Lauel’s next words. What did the genius who raised and led

“Once the ruins emerged, the empire withdrew the army without any hesitation. This suggests something big. In the first place,

doesn’t want to go

the empire leaving without stationing any troops behind the moment a plausible excuse