The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel-Chapter 19 : Awakening (2)

A heavy tension hung over the castle.
Arthur had suddenly declared he would carry out an 'Orc subjugation'.
It was something that had to be done eventually, but no one had predicted it would happen so suddenly.
And at a time when Count Yarve had just declared war, no less.
Everyone wore puzzled expressions, but they silently followed his orders, busy with preparations to march.
Arthur brought Van and introduced him to the members of the Devil's Corps.
No one among them was unfamiliar with Van.
They just looked puzzled by the fact that such an unexpected person was joining them.
“Is Van going to fight with us too?”
“No.”
“……?”
“From now on, he will be in charge of our weaponry.”
“Really?”
Everyone's eyes widened.
“So if you have any weapons in mind, tell me now. That way, he can make them before the territorial war. Right?”
When Arthur looked at Van, he laughed in disbelief.
“Are you telling me to make them all in just two days?”
“Can't you handle that much? Did I overestimate you?”
“I have some usable weapons in the warehouse. Can I give them those?”
“They aren't failures, are they?”
“What do you take me for? They are all top-grade weapons. I'll bring them and show you right away.”
Van stormed out of the place, huffing like an angry bull.
Arthur smirked and looked at the Devil's Corps.
Freed from the Weight Magic, they were overflowing with confidence.
Of course, he didn't show it outwardly either, but he could feel that he had become much stronger than before.
It felt like he could take on Skevin without much difficulty.
What he and they needed right now was to hone their practical combat senses and to confirm the extent of their own skills.
“Show off your skills to your heart's content.”
One of them raised his hand with a worried expression. It was Muldarasmusran, who had an orange aura.
“I'm worried about whether we can handle the Orcs.”
Everyone else nodded gravely, as if they shared the same thought.
“You'll find out soon enough.”
This time, Dark met his eyes and asked.
“In your opinion, Young Master, how do we compare to the Phoenix Knights?”
“Find that out for yourselves, too.”
Arthur continued with a meaningful smile.
“From now on, when you go to the battlefield, you will give me absolute obedience. If you refuse, I will punish you on the spot, so keep that in mind.”
Hah!
“And before we march, think of new names and share them.”
“Like Dark, you mean?”
“Yes, something easy to call.”
Hah!
“Good.”
After parting with them, Arthur went up to the castle wall and looked toward the West Mountain Range.
The sun was setting over the mountain ridge, and today it shone with a particular redness.
“It's the same wherever I go.”
Arthur's brow furrowed.
It was like this on Earth, too.
Before a battle, when he looked at the sky, the sunset would be red. As if foretelling a battlefield that would be stained with blood.
So, like everyone always did, he offered a prayer to 'God'.
Asking for everyone to return safely.
But not once had his prayer been answered.
‘Will it be the same here?’
Arthur looked up at the sky with contemptuous eyes.
After a long while.
The people of the territory began to gather at the castle, their belongings loaded onto carts.
And Millerf, who had gone to the village, came up.
“I have returned.”
“You've informed everyone, I assume?”
“Yes, I've told them all to take refuge in the castle by tomorrow at the latest.”
Millerf came and stood beside him, continuing.
“I just heard from Skevin. Is there a reason you are rushing the subjugation?”
“We can't fight a territorial war with an enemy that could pop out at any moment, can we?”
“That's true, but we are unprepared.”
Arthur looked at Millerf.
“War comes without an appointment. And if we face them in our current state, we'll all die.”
“Are you saying this isn't a simple subjugation?”
“It's time for them to awaken. And gain some combat experience as a bonus.”
“Young Master…”
For a moment, Millerf felt a chill run down his spine.
Arthur gave a meaningful smile.
“The Orcs will transform them into warriors.”
*        *        *
An hour before the Phoenix Knights were to march, Arthur led the Devil's Corps to the West Mountain Range.
He planned to use the Devil's Corps as a special operations team, but this time, they were assigned the role of a reconnaissance unit.
Arriving at the mountain peak, he carefully observed the place where lights were visible down below.
“So monsters know how to use fire.”
All around was pitch black, but thanks to Millerf's 'Hawk Eye' magic, he could see as clearly as if it were day.
There seemed to be about a thousand of them, and he could see them standing guard here and there in their own way.
Well, since they could talk, it was certainly possible.
As he scanned the surroundings, a large tent in the center caught his eye.
The security was also tighter compared to other areas.
Their leader must be in there.
The numbers were about twice what was expected, so the casualties could be high.
For that reason, he decided to reduce the damage by eliminating the leader as quickly as possible.
After finishing his reconnaissance, Arthur returned to where the Devil's Corps was.
The members, who were scattered and standing guard, were not wearing the blue armor of the Phoenix Knights, but black armor and helmets.
On the day Van became a member of the Devil's Corps, Arthur's first order had been to make black armor.
It happened to be completed today, so they could wear it.
On a dark day like this, they were buried in the darkness, with only their brightly shining eyes visible.
Moreover, each of them held a weapon that exuded a craftsman's touch just by looking at it.
They were the ones Van had brought from the warehouse, their blades shining sharply even in the dark.
With this, they had finally taken on the appearance of warriors.
“Their command post is in the middle of the habitat.”
Dark asked quietly.
“How many are there?”
“About a thousand.”
“That's a damn lot.”
The face of the largest man with the orange aura, Mullan, contorted fiercely.
He looked at Latale, a defense-type knight with a sturdy build and a large rectangular shield, standing next to him.
“You two, when the knights' attack begins, charge toward the enemy command post and clear a path. The rest will follow behind and block their attacks.”
“Understood.”
“When you reach the command post, Dark and Kasan will enter and eliminate them, while the rest secure the area around the barracks.”
Dark asked.
“Young Master, aren't you coming with us?”
“I have something else to do. When you defeat the leader, set fire to the tent as a signal.”
Millerf, who had gone to check the area down the mountain, returned.
“It seems the Knight Order will arrive soon.”
Arthur spoke to the Devil's Corps with a grim and solemn expression.
“It would be a waste to die here, so make sure you all come back alive. And when you meet Skevin, be sure to tell him this: Fight with all your might.”
They nodded and swiftly descended.
Arthur returned with Millerf to the spot where they had scouted the enemy.
He took the Cheytac he was carrying on his back, set it down in front of him, and took beads out of his pocket.
A total of 30 rounds.
It wasn't enough to awaken everyone.
‘Only for those who show potential…’
Millerf looked at the beads and asked.
“Won't that be insufficient to deal with them?”
“I didn't come here to deal with them.”
“What do you mean by that...? Surely you don't think this is also a part of the training?”
Millerf's face hardened.
Arthur gave a meaningful smile and looked toward the Orc habitat.
“We're going to reap the rewards of our training here. In the form of an awakening.”
*        *        *
At that moment.
The Phoenix Knights were climbing the rough mountain path without rest.
In the past, this would have been impossible, but thanks to the stamina they had strengthened through training, this much was manageable.
However, their mouths were dry with the tension of having to face the Orcs soon.
When Skevin saw lights ahead, he raised his hand high.
The knights following him stopped and became as quiet as mice.
Hellot approached, leading the scouting party.
“Do you see them?”
“Look over there.”
Skevin pointed to the lights ahead.
Upon spotting the lights, Hellot sent the scouting party to check the situation.
After a few minutes had passed.
The knights who had gone to scout returned.
“It is the Orc habitat. But the security was too tight, so we couldn't scout properly.”
“Surely, they haven't noticed us coming, have they?”
Hellot looked at Skevin with a serious expression.
“Hmm.”
Skevin's face hardened as well.
Orc shamans were known to have magical abilities.
If that was true, the enemy might be fully prepared.
“This won't be an easy battle.”
“If we attack like this, we might suffer immense losses.”
Just as Hellot's face filled with worry, a group emerged from the forest.
It was the Devil's Corps.
“Where is the Young Master?”
Dark, who was acting as the team leader, answered Skevin's question.
“He is at the mountain peak. He said he has something else to do.”
“What about the reconnaissance of the habitat?”
“The Young Master did it himself and said their numbers are around a thousand.”
“What?”
Skevin was stunned.
He had thought there were five to six hundred, but a thousand?
The numerical disadvantage was a problem, but he was also worried about how many Orc warriors were among them.
If even a third of them were warriors, the Knight Order could be annihilated.
Arthur couldn't be unaware of that fact.
He must have another plan besides just charging in like this.
“So, what did the Young Master say?”
“He told us to take care of the command post, and for you, Commander, to fight with all your might.”
“Nothing else?”
“No. Then, we will strike the command post in the confusion after the Knight Order's attack begins.”
Dark led his team members and moved toward the Orc habitat.
Skevin watched them, lost in deep thought.
He believed that Arthur must have another plan this time as well.
“Prepare.”
“Commander!”
Hellot's face contorted.
“Everything the Young Master has done so far has had a reason.”
“That may be so, but the situation is very bad. It's difficult to say this, but the Young Master, like the trainees, has almost no practical combat experience.”
“I know. But considering what he has shown us so far, I believe he will surprise us this time as well.”
“Umm…”
Hellot hesitated for a moment, then spoke heavily.
“I think the Young Master is amazing. But this time, I will trust and follow you, Commander, not the Young Master. The other men probably feel the same way.”
“When this battle is over, you too will realize. What kind of person the Young Master is.”
“I certainly hope so.”
Hellot bowed respectfully and then ordered the knights to prepare for the sortie.
A moment later.
The knights waited with grim expressions for Skevin's order.
Skevin, who had been staring intently at the Orc habitat, glanced once toward the mountain peak.
He thought of Arthur, who would be watching them from somewhere.
‘Please let my decision be the right one…’
Skevin drew his sword from its scabbard.
Shhhwing—.
The treasured sword 'Bokaras', bestowed by the House of Count Julius upon its guardian, revealed its noble form.
As moonlight reflected off the blade held high in the air, a chilling sharpness glinted.
Skevin drew up his mana.
A blue aura enveloped the sword like a mist.
At the same time, his horse snorted like an angry bull and reared up, its front legs high in the air.
Gripping the reins tightly, he thrust his sword forward with all his might.
“For golden glory! Charge forward!”