Barbarian Quest

Chapter 269

The imperial army was preparing for an offensive on the northern front. Even in the north, summer was warm. The climate was more favorable to fight in for the imperial army. Mobile siege towers that the imperial army had assembled were scattered among the camps.

“The negotiations with the Giskin Kingdom are done. The Caselmaroni army will retreat soon as well,” a bureaucrat who had returned from a diplomatic mission reported.

The empire had agreed to return the old territories of the Giskin Kingdom. In return, the Giskin Kingdom would attack Caselmaroni.

‘It’s not a bad deal if you look at it from the perspective of the Giskin Kingdom. They can recover their old territories and, if they manage to seize the land of Caselmaroni on top of that, they will become a powerful nation in one stroke.’

If the Giskin Kingdom expanded as planned, even the empire would not be able to treat them lightly. The Giskin Kingdom accepted the empire’s request because they knew this.

Yanchinus was bitter, but he was also relieved at the same time. He was extinguishing one urgent fire at a time.

Imperial scouts were watching the movements of the Caselmaroni army. The imperial army planned to advance north simultaneously as soon as Casemaroni went to stop the Giskin army.

“Bilker the Boy King...”

The nickname "Boy King" spread far and wide quite quickly.

He was the descendant of Mijorn and was also young. The northern warriors were highly motivated when they were fighting alongside Bilker. No northerner was going to hesitate when even the young descendant of Mijorn fought at the forefront.

On the other hand, the morale of the imperial army was precarious. The boost in morale from the emperor’s participation in battle did not last long. As the stalemate on the front lines dragged on, various opinions arose within the imperial army.

‘The news of Carnius’ complete defeat is making things especially dire. We’re almost lucky that there haven’t been any desertions.’

In the southeast, the army of plunderers was coming, along with Porcana.

‘We need more support from other kingdoms. If we can get two more kingdoms besides the Giskin Kingdom to help us, things will look much better.’

Yanchinus pondered how to entice the kingdoms. The kingdoms were not all of one mind. In fact, neighboring kingdoms were often mortal enemies, like Caselmaroni and Giskin.

‘We need to create allies by maneuvering these diplomatic relationships well.’

If the empire gave up on keeping vassal states, diplomatic possibilities with the kingdoms were very much open.

Tap, tap, tap.

Yanchinus drummed his fingers on the table as he looked at the map. Various thoughts swirled in his mind.

“Your Majesty, there is someone here to see you.”

Any news reaching his ears at a time like this was likely bad news. Yanchinus frowned because he knew that.

There was a commotion outside. An ordinary envoy or messenger wouldn’t have caused such a reaction.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

A girl on a donkey crossed the imperial army camp. She was wearing a dirty sun cloak. The hem of the cloak reached the donkey’s rump. Her face was grimy, but the corners of her smiling mouth exuded a strange sense of ease.

“What’s with the commotion?”

“Well, the one who came to see you is a young girl. She brought a letter bearing the seal of Count Gargan.”

Gargan was a lord of a relatively peripheral land. Yanchinus had never met him personally but had heard several times that he was a diligent and prudent man.

“Is she supposed to be a gift for me? Surely, he isn’t thinking of advancing to the central government at a time like this, is he?”

Yanchinus chuckled with his fist to his mouth.

“Her attire is truly odd. She is shabby but dressed in a priest’s cloak.”

“Enough with the descriptions. I need to see for myself.”

Yanchinus gestured, and a soldier brought the girl to him.

“I am Basha.”

“You are a peasant with no education in manners,” Yanchinus said coldly.

Basha's mannerisms and speech were not those of a noble or an educated person.

"I've come a long way to see you, Your Majesty."

"There is no need to tell me what I can tell just by looking at your disheveled appearance."

The knight beside him handed the letter he got from Basha to Yanchinus.

The letter was tattered, but the seal was unbroken. Yanchinus melted the seal over a candle and checked the contents of the letter.

He took his time reading the letter. As he did so, he occasionally glanced at Basha’s face.

"Did you travel alone?" Yanchinus asked Basha.

"I was able to reach you thanks to the protection of Lou, Your Majesty," Basha replied.

"It’s indeed close to a miracle for a young girl like you to make it all the way here by herself. It seems you do have a bit of Lou’s grace."

"...My actions and words are the direct will of Lou," Basha spoke quietly. At her words, the knight flinched and placed his hand on his sword hilt.

Basha's words were extremely rude as well as blasphemous. If a priest had heard her, they would have been outraged. It was unthinkable that a mere girl could claim to speak for Lou.

—...It was a bizarre sight. A corrupted priest died because he tried to violate the girl. That little girl claimed she knew the will of Lou.

The letter detailed Basha's journey to this point.

"You’ve somehow managed to survive after being raided by the plunderers."

"I nearly died, but Lou, who took the form of a barbarian, saved me."

Yanchinus gave a bitter laugh at her words. He finished reading the letter and closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts.

‘She lost her entire family to the plunderers and was raped by a priest. She’s gone mad.’

The girl in front of him was simply mad. That was the rational conclusion that Yanchinus came to.

"I have heard the rumors that the empire is in dire straits. Those who took Lou’s grace for granted and neglected him are paying the price. The priests have fallen into corruption, and the people stopped truly revering Lou,” Basha said.

"It seems you've forgotten who stands before you."

Yanchinus snapped his fingers. The knight drew his sword and pointed it at Basha's neck. Despite the cold steel at her throat, Basha's eyes remained calm.

"If you give me armor and a sword, I will prove Lou's greatness. He is the only one who can save us from this plight."

Basha's face was flushed as if she were in love. Her heightened spiritual state made her forget even the fear of death.

The knight, unable to tolerate Basha’s insolence and arrogance, spoke up, "She’s a mad, lowly bitch, Your Majesty."

But Yanchinus slowly lowered his raised hand.

"Clean her up and give her armor that fits."

Yanchinus smiled, resting his chin on his hand.

"I knew Your Majesty would grant my request. After all, Lou was the one who guided me here."

"Lead the vanguard in battle. I’m sure Lou will protect you. Since you are clad in the grace of the sun, no arrow or flame will harm you."

Basha grew even more excited at Yanchinus' words. A faint light flickered in her blurry eyes.

"Now, go. The knight will guide you."

Basha knelt and kissed Yanchinus' hand.

Basha and the knight left the tent. Left alone, Yanchinus put away the letter and laughed.

‘Whether she lives or dies, she’ll certainly raise our spirit.’

A young girl clad in armor was about to lead the vanguard. Whether she lived or died, the soldiers inspired by her would fight bravely. In fact, it might even be better if she died heroically on the battlefield.

"A mad woman can still be useful. You just have to know how to use one."

* * *

The Caselmaroni army that had been targeting the rear of the imperial army retreated. News came that the Giskin army had crossed Caselmaroni's border.

Yanchinus' imperial army decided to attack the fortress where Bilker's main force was stationed. Attacking the main force directly was a risky move, but time was of the essence for the imperial army.

“Basha?”

“I heard she came a long way to save the empire.”

“A girl is going to fight on the battlefield?”

The soldiers chattered among themselves.

Basha, clad in chainmail, held the sun flag high. She looked at the northern fortress before closing her eyes.

‘Oh, Lou, if my purpose is to be your servant, let it be proven here.’

Chains clinked every time she moved. The armor weighed heavily on her shoulders.

“There’s no need for you to wield a sword, Basha. Just hold the flag and move forward. We’ll protect you.”

The knights ordered by Yanchinus guarded Basha.

“Lou will be watching over us. Just as He saved me, He will protect all of you who are with me.”

Basha spoke to each knight and soldier she met. The faces of the soldiers who heard her words were filled with peculiar expressions.

Boom, boom, boom.

The soldiers beat the drums, to which the imperial army advanced. Their formation was perfect, with not even a single man falling out of line.

Creak, creak.

The sound of winding catapults came from all directions. The siege towers on wheels moved slowly.

Basha looked at the fortress as she listened to her pounding heart. Although the fortress currently belonged to the northerners, it was incredibly sturdy as one would expect from the empire’s construction.

Buuuuuup!

The charge trumpet sounded long. As the catapult stones rained down, the imperial soldiers approached the walls in formation.

“Basha! Hold the flag and follow me!” A knight urged Basha.

Basha continued to pant. She opened her eyes and mouth wide.

“A-ahhh!”

Out of nowhere, Basha screamed like an insane person. The unique high-pitched voice of a woman echoed through the ranks.

“Basha!”

The knights were startled. Basha had broken out of formation and charged forward. Just a lone sun flag advanced, fluttering.

Thwiwiwip!

Arrows fell at Basha's feet, but she tripped on her way and fell, ultimately avoiding the arrows. She moved awkwardly as she was not used to wearing armor, which ironically helped her evade the skilled archer’s arrows. A more seasoned soldier would have been hit a long time ago.

“The blessing of the sun is with us! Fight with me, good-hearted men!” Basha shouted as she picked herself back up.

A little girl, young enough to be a little sister or even daughter to the imperial soldiers, shouted in the middle of a battlefield full of men.

“Advance! Advance! Chaaaarge!”

As Yanchinus ordered his army to charge, officers shouted from all directions.

Soldiers roared and sprinted. It was a distance they normally would have advanced at a slower pace, but the army darted forward as if it was possessed and eventually clung to the base of the walls.

“She really is crazy!”

The knights assigned to guard Basha looked at each other and laughed. Basha's sudden actions were absurd. Such behavior was unthinkable in the imperial army where discipline was of utmost priority.

The knights frantically followed Basha. She climbed the siege tower and waved the flag high. The knights raised their shields to protect her.

The sun flag was carried by Basha. There wasn’t a single man in the imperial army who was going to feel fear when a little girl was standing at the forefront of the ranks. Even conscripted soldiers, who usually had the lowest morale, were inspired and fearlessly crowded into the siege tower.

“Lou is with us in many forms! Do not be afraid!”

The excited Basha advanced despite the rain of arrows. A cold spearhead grazed her head.

“Dammit!”

A knight pulled Basha by the arm to protect her. Up close, she was just a girl who was on a wild rampage. The knights used every means to protect her.

“Ahhh!”

Basha took advantage of the opening created by the tangled knights to leap onto the wall. She threw off her helmet after jumping into the enemies, raised the flag high, and swung it widely. Her reddish-blonde hair flowed wildly in the air.

“Woooaaaaah!”

The soldiers who were tussling between the siege tower and the wall suddenly went berserk and advanced as if they had turned into barbarian warriors themselves. The soldiers charged in before Basha could be killed.

The imperial army with the sun flag at its center had a tremendous breakthrough power. The madness that the civilized army lacked was present in this mere girl. Even if she were to die fighting on this battlefield, it would have its own tremendous impact.

“The sun flag....”

Bilker, who was defending the fortress, also realized that the flagbearer carrying the sun flag was encouraging the imperial army. He led his elite warriors and climbed to the top of the wall.

“Come with me! We have to defend the western wall!”

Bilker ran along the wall, thrusting his spear long. His spear pierced countless imperial soldiers climbing the ladders. Despite his young age, his solid spear technique was truly impressive.

“Ohhhhhh!”

The northern warriors, though they believed in Solarism, still had their warrior culture and customs within them. They loved violence and the sight of blood still exhilarated them. Before them stood the descendant of Mijorn who had matured into an excellent man.

“King of the north!”

Bilker and his warrior unit cleared the wall with fierce momentum and targeted the sun flag bearer’s unit.

“Ohhhhhh!”

Bilker thrust his spear deep with a roar. He skewered an imperial soldier with his spear and threw them off the wall.

He could see the sun flag ahead. The face of the bearer was hidden among the knights, but it was certain that they were a brave person who was brave enough to expose their position with a tall flag. Bilker tensed.

‘Surely, an exceptional knight is holding that flag.’

Bilker swallowed and narrowed his eyes.

‘Oh, Ulgaro...’

His heart still belonged to Ulgaro.