Chapter 187
Surrounded by forest, there was plenty of space for a quiet conversation.
Henry followed Damian deeper into the woods as he continued speaking.
“I've heard of your achievements. Quite impressive.”
“You flatter me. But why did you request this meeting?”
At Damian’s words, Henry chuckled.
“Haha, you’re quite direct. I wanted to discuss the Everblade assault strategy with you.”
Damian’s gaze sharpened instantly.
Had they already formulated a plan?
Henry turned toward Everblade as he spoke.
“A full-frontal assault is foolish. The terrain narrows and slopes upward, giving defenders a huge advantage. And of course, there's him.”
Alexandro Falcoz.
Though he had retreated from Statznal, even Celestine would struggle to defeat him.
“You want us to fight together?”
“No, that’s not it. To be honest, I’ve never seen you fight, but… even if you joined forces, I doubt you could break through.”
A comment that could have easily offended any Aura Master.
Henry studied Damian’s reaction. Most warriors would have been furious.
‘He should be insulted…’
Yet Damian remained expressionless.
In fact, he nodded.
“I agree. If Lord Hainel were here, it might be different. But as I am now, I wouldn’t be much help in a direct assault.”
“……”
Henry hid his surprise.
He hadn’t expected such level-headedness.
Henry continued.
“So, while the main force keeps Alexandro occupied, an elite unit will infiltrate Everblade.”
“…We’ve used this method to take previous strongholds. But can it work here?”
At that moment, Damian recalled something.
“Oh, one of my soldiers suggested infiltrating through Everblade’s eastern mountains. He scouted ahead and said it was possible.”
“Oh? Already?”
Henry was surprised.
The coalition had only been here for a day, yet they had already conducted such reconnaissance?
Celestine had spoken highly of the Caion Unit, but they were proving to be even more formidable.
Henry nodded in approval.
“Impressive. I, too, was considering entering from the eastern wall. But I have a different approach.”
“A different approach?”
“Do you know that most of the trees in these mountains are rubber-trunk trees?”
“Rubber-trunk trees?”
“Yes. I plan to use them to build a massive launcher.”
“A launcher? For what?”
“For people.”
Henry’s response was immediate.
He pulled out a diagram and handed it to Damian.
“We’ll twist the rubber-trunk trees into a launch mechanism.”
It looked like a giant slingshot.
“Given the trees' elasticity, I estimate it can launch four people—four of the best warriors—into Everblade.”
“…Four people.”
“To pull this off, we must first lure Alexandro out. Though even if he stays inside, his Aura abilities won’t be effective within the castle.”
“……”
Damian’s gaze turned serious.
Henry’s plan was forming in his mind.
If they entered the fortress where enemy soldiers were packed tight, Alexandro wouldn’t be able to unleash his full power.
On the other hand—
“We, however, can use our full abilities. The more chaos inside, the better.”
If the plan worked, they could wreak havoc inside, destroy the gates, and let the main force in.
“If that happens, Everblade can fall.”
“This is a tactic never before used in warfare. Which means… we have only one chance to pull it off.”
Damian stared at Henry.
‘Where did this guy come from?’
‘How have I never heard of him before?’
A genius, no doubt.
But more than that—
‘He’s… a lunatic.’
Who else would think of flinging people into a fortress using giant slingshots?
Then Henry spoke confidently.
“The top two candidates for the mission are General Celestine and yourself.”
“I… am not a general. Just call me a commander.”
“You’re not a general? But you’re an Aura Master?”
Henry looked genuinely shocked.
Damian scratched his cheek awkwardly.
‘Come to think of it… I really haven’t stopped moving since this war began.’
From the moment the war against the Empire started, he hadn’t had a single day of rest.
Because of that, he had reached the level of an Aura Master, earning great merit in battle.
‘But ranks don’t matter much to me.’
Though, after this war, he was curious what rewards he would receive.
Henry was still astonished but continued.
“Regardless… You and one more warrior from Artian will join. That warrior is Count Vasili Waker, a master of advanced magic control.”
“Advanced magic control…”
“He can use sword energy. His swordsmanship is among the best in our kingdom.”
“I see.”
Including him meant Henry was confident in the plan’s success.
“Who is the fourth member?”
“That… General Kiaran mentioned a reinforcement is arriving soon.”
“A reinforcement?”
“Yes. Kiaran asked us to wait for their arrival.”
“…Understood.”
Damian was curious, but he would find out soon enough.
He rose from his seat.
There was much to prepare for this absurd operation.
“Now… Who could it be?”
With his conversation with Henry concluded, Damian returned to his soldiers, contemplating the battle ahead.
***
“Did you call me?”
“……What do you mean?”
At the sudden question, the vice-commander, Hylas Erkenbruck, tilted his head in confusion.
The commander of the Blackflame Knights, Apel, also tilted his head slightly.
“I was sure someone called me… Must have been my imagination.”
“You’ve had a lot on your mind lately.”
“Ah, well… I’m just excited about the journey.”
“……Have a secret lover waiting for you?”
Apel smirked at Hylas’ teasing remark and shook his head.
“No, but I have an old friend here.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Hylas was a little surprised by Apel’s response.
He couldn’t recall a time when Apel had referred to anyone as a friend.
He studied Apel for a moment, then turned his gaze forward.
“……Regardless, we’re almost there.”
“I see it.”
Apel responded as he spotted the coalition army’s encampment in the distance.
They had traveled swiftly, and at last, they had reached Everblade.
A faint smile crossed Apel’s lips as he thought of his imminent reunion with Damian.
And when the Blackflame Knights arrived at the coalition’s encampment—
“Oh, you’ve arrived.”
Kiaran, who had come personally to welcome them, focused on Apel at the front.
A soldier who had rapidly risen from a commoner’s rank to become the commander of the Blackflame Knights.
‘Now that I look at him, he seems about the same age as Damian.’
Though not an Aura Master, Apel was highly regarded among knights.
Unlike Damian, he had made his name primarily in the southern regions.
And Apel was one of the four elite members chosen for Henry’s daring plan.
The strongest endorsement for Apel had come from First Army Commander Tuslan Almont.
Tuslan was notoriously strict, yet even the First Army’s knights had unanimously praised Apel’s abilities.
The First and Sixth Armies operated quite differently, with little information exchange, so many in the Sixth Army were unfamiliar with Apel.
“To the glory of the kingdom!”
Apel placed his right fist over his left chest and saluted Kiaran.
Receiving the salute, Kiaran addressed Apel.
“You’ve traveled far.”
“It was nothing. I apologize for not arriving sooner.”
Kiaran then led Apel toward the main encampment.
She intended to introduce him to the others quickly and proceed with their strategy meeting.
“Summon everyone.”
“Yes, General.”
Edmund swiftly moved to gather the coalition’s officers.
A full-scale strategy session for the Everblade assault was about to commence.
As the officers arrived, Henry immediately recognized Apel as the fourth member of the plan.
Though he couldn’t sense mana, his extensive experience in assessing warriors told him enough.
Henry spoke.
“A well-deserved recommendation.”
It wasn’t mere flattery.
Apel’s posture radiated balance and discipline, and his hands, though elegant, were rough with years of training.
Apel, noticing Henry’s scrutiny, extended his hand.
“Apel Vanstreol. So you’re Henry Saint-André of Artian, the man I’ve heard so much about.”
“You’ve heard of me?”
“Yes, from the diplomatic meetings at the royal palace. You’re regarded as one of Artian’s greatest minds.”
“You flatter me.”
Henry responded with a polite smile.
As more officers arrived, Kiaran introduced Apel, and the gathered officers greeted him warmly.
Then—
“My apologies for being late. I was confirming something.”
Damian entered the tent, addressing Kiaran.
At that moment—
“It’s been a while.”
“……?”
A voice addressed him.
Damian turned to see a man staring at him with a smirk.
His eyes flickered with recognition.
“……You?”
“Have you been well, Damian?”
Apel grinned at him.