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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter: 145
When we returned to the camp, everyone had already finished setting up their tents and was resting.
"Your Highness."
My grandfather approached from behind. Why was he coming from over there?
Had he gone to the privy?
His expression was not good, so it seemed he hadn't had a very pleasant time.
"Yes."
"Have you been around to look at the surroundings?"
Looking again, I saw that my grandfather was with Jincheon. Jincheon timidly poked his head out from behind his grandfather.
...Had the two of them always been close?
It didn't seem like they were that close...
Strange.
I wonder if, by any chance, that fellow will really inherit the So family's estate.
"Yes, I have. I have something to tell you about that gorge, and since I've run into you, may I
speak now?"
"Very well. I will listen."
I entered the tent with my grandfather and sat down. Jincheon followed.
"I've taken a look around, and the path isn't very good."
As soon as I said that, I realized my mistake.
"Well, we've been walking on rough paths all along... but this one is different."
"In what way?"
"I found a way down into the gorge. The water doesn't flow straight. If you go upstream, there's a place where the current stops. However, the path is narrow and steep, so it will be difficult for the entire army to move at once."
"We'll have to divide them."
"I think so, but..."
When I trailed off, my grandfather's gaze pierced me.
"Since factions have formed, it won't be easy to decide how to divide the troops."
The nobles from the capital, the local lords, and the commanders gathered from various northern regions.
It was no surprise that they formed factions based on their origins and positions, as they were a group gathered together.
It would be even more shocking if they were to unite without excluding a single person.
After Gong Chomun was suddenly injured and disabled, his influence greatly diminished.
However, there were still commanders and soldiers who followed him.
I didn't understand why they would follow a general who couldn't even hold a sword.
"Are you worried about General Gong's faction?"
"Isn't it an exaggeration to call it a faction? But what you said is correct."
My grandfather nodded.
"Then do this. Have General Gong's subordinates follow Your Highness, and assign those who won't rebel to General Gong's command. There will be fewer problems that way."
Although Gong Chomun had a falling out with Jincheon, he was not a major problem for me. I could follow my grandfather's advice.
"I will do that."
My grandfather nodded and headed towards where the other generals had gathered. And he sent out scouts to confirm the location of the path I had mentioned.
* * *
Actually, since the water wasn't that wide, it might have been worth a try to cross.
If only the current wasn't so strong.
After seeing the rock shattered to pieces, I couldn't dare suggest crossing that current.
When I said that we should go upstream against the current first, some of the generals insisted that it would be easier to just cross the water...
But even they shut their mouths after actually seeing the current.
After arriving at the path Gon had told me about, I and my troops set off at the front. My grandfather followed behind.
Except for the path being steep and narrow, there were no other dangers.
If there was any danger, Gon would signal me.
I glanced up at the sky. The creature was circling in the sky, quite a distance from my head, watching its surroundings.
"I can't believe I can see the sky."
Yoo Gueng said bitterly.
With the leaves so thick that I couldn't see the sky, I felt strangely out of place now that the space above my head was so empty.
I just nodded in response. When the other commanders spoke, I answered with a nod.
I wasn't speaking for the same reason Yoo Gueng was shouting.
The sound of the rushing water in the gorge easily drowned out human voices. Because of that, everyone had to shout to be heard.
The roaring sound of the violently flowing water, no matter how long I listened, never grew familiar.
It was different from the place where we had set up camp. To get used to this sound, I would have to tear out my ears.
After enduring the noise for a long time, the number of people gradually increased. The rear units were arriving.
It would take quite a while for everyone to arrive.
To have to endure this torture for so long...
"I'd rather be knocked unconscious," I muttered. No one would hear me anyway, thanks to the roar of the water.
But as if Jincheon had heard my mutterings, he suddenly turned and looked at me.
Our eyes met.
...Did he hear me?
Nah, it couldn't be.
Quite a long time passed. But the rear units still hadn't appeared.
If my memory served me right, it was Gong Chomun's unit.
Although it would take quite a while, they should have arrived by now...
No matter how long I waited, I couldn't see them.
I glanced at the rushing water of the gorge. And I recalled the precarious path. One wrong step and I would be swept away by the current.
Even if I was a good swimmer, I couldn't escape death if I were swept away by such a current.
"Why..."
They should have arrived by now. But there was still no sign of them. Why weren't they coming?
A bad feeling crept in. Even though we were only halfway across the gorge, I had a bad feeling.
Everything had been going smoothly...
Then a soldier approached cautiously and spoke. His tone was as harsh as the others.
"Your Highness, we'll go and check ourselves."
He was one of the soldiers I had sent as scouts. Before answering, I fell into thought. My grandfather nodded.
They immediately set off to find Gong Chomun's unit. But they too did not return. Even after a long time.
Even the soldiers who had gone to look for them had disappeared without a trace.
Should I send out another scouting party? But if I sent out a similar number of people, they would likely end up in the same situation.
With so many eyes watching, I couldn't call Gon to ask, and I couldn't find out anything here because of the noise.
I fell into thought again. It was dangerous to cross the gorge again.
But I couldn't just wait without knowing why. There was nothing else I could do here but wait.
"Just a few of my elite troops will come with me to find the rear guard."
When I shouted, the commanders tried to dissuade me.
"Then are you going to go and find them?"
When I said that, they said they would. But they hesitated before answering.
When I frowned and took a few soldiers with me, no one else tried to stop me except my grandfather.
"I'll go find them instead."
"I'm the commander-in-chief, not you."
I flatly refused.
"You command the remaining troops."
Leaving the general behind, I took only Jincheon and a few elite soldiers and set off.
* * *
I retraced my steps, but I couldn't find Gong Chomun or his unit. The scouts who had gone to look for them had also disappeared without a trace.
As I retraced my steps, I eventually reached the ridge before I descended into the gorge.
The roar of the gorge was much quieter now that I was far away.
"They're not here..."
Still, I couldn't find any trace of the people I was looking for. How could this be?
"Did they not even cross over?"
I asked myself aloud, and Jincheon replied, "Unless they were swept away by the river, they couldn't have disappeared without a trace."
Jincheon seemed angry for some reason.
Although he maintained his usual expressionless face, I could clearly see that he was displeased.
It was probably because he thought Gong Chomun was the culprit behind this situation.
"Are you saying that they fell and died?"
"If we can't find any traces, that assumption would be correct."
The other elite soldiers who had followed me stared at Jincheon in astonishment. Of course, he didn't care.
Then something shiny on the ground caught my eye. It was buried in the long grass and wasn't very visible.
I bent down and picked it up.
"This is..."
It was a metal piece about the size of a fingernail. It wasn't wet. It didn't seem like it had tried to descend into the gorge and returned.
I narrowed my eyes and examined it, then held it up to the shoulder of a soldier next to me.
There were water droplets on his armor. On the other hand, the piece in my hand was completely dry. The silver metal piece gleamed.
"It's a piece of armor."
I looked around. As soon as I found one piece, several others caught my eye.
There were larger pieces and smaller ones. Even after fighting hundreds or thousands of monsters, armor didn't break that easily.
If the armor was broken, the person wearing it would be dead.
Maybe a monster had suddenly appeared and attacked them... As soon as I had that thought, I realized that the arrangement of the pieces was unnatural.
The armor pieces were scattered on the ground, forming a trail as if inviting us to follow.
Was it a trap? Or was it a plea for help? Either way, it was clearly a signal to follow.
The other soldiers glanced at me awkwardly, as if they had something to say. They had also noticed that the situation was strange.
"Don't take me for a fool," I said.
Reassured by my words, the soldiers relaxed their tense expressions.
However, since not only Gong Chomun's unit but also the scouts who had gone to find them had mysteriously disappeared, there was only one choice, even if I knew the answer.
Looking at the direction in which the armor pieces were scattered, I said to Jincheon, "I found a trace, so retract what you said about them falling into the gorge and dying."
Jincheon answered promptly. But he still couldn't hide his displeasure. He seemed to really dislike the fact that Gong Chomun was involved.
"I will."
The other soldiers looked at Jincheon in bewilderment.
"Alright," I said, pointing with my chin in the direction where the armor pieces were scattered.
"Let's go."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Jjescus ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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