As Prophet - Chapter 121



Only Krnovel

Episode 121. Mountain Battle and Provocation

The guy up the tree came down silently and reported.

“They were headed towards the cesspool.”

“What about the rear guard?”

“I haven’t reached the ridge yet.”

“We should have swept it away before it came up. Who planned this?”

Although he growled softly, the guy who had been watching flinched at the aggression of someone living in the wild.

“Fix it. This is a battlefield.”

Yoo Seok-do closed his eyes at the words that seemed to be a scolding. In the past, he would have been in a situation where he would have ordered his superiors to do this and that. Now, they are not my subordinates, and I have only temporarily gained command of 50 people. What he sees must be right. And he is the commander. Why would he say such things to his commander?

“Going to the gutter.”

“Loyalty!”

I left some outside just in case, but there was no need for that. They were heading toward the swamp in a line. It was a dark night on a mountain path. If you only look at the backs of the people in front of you, you’re like a blind man. The one in front pointed ahead.

“That’s where it was. They’re going down there. They can’t come back up. The front is blocked, and if they try to go up, our soldiers will be guarding from a high place. You just have to block and guard the back.”

“It might not all go down.”

“Of course. Are you thinking of destroying them all?”

“Yes.”

“There are bound to be some who can’t find their way. The rear is way behind. We can’t throw them all into the gutter. Some will turn back and run away.”

Yuseokdo looked at the ridge path they would come up along. If you go down either side of the ridge, there is no way to deal with them. Yuseokdo pointed to a small path that led from the ridge to the swamp.

“Lure them there.”

“Loyalty!”

The will is my will, and consent is the approval of those who agree with me. It is clear that Yoo Seok-do’s argument is excessive, but Su-ha confirmed it. You can’t argue about whether it is right or wrong on the battlefield.

When the two reached the point overlooking the cesspool, the leader of the men reached the path leading into the cesspool.

A red flag was planted below and red cloth was hung on the tree branches.

“Here it is.”

The reason I chose the swamp is because it looks like a straight path leading to the academy far below. As you go down, the ridge twists and leads to the valley at the foot, which at first glance looks like it could lead straight to the academy.

“I see the school building over there. It’s lit up and ready to die.”

A man who seemed to be the leader raised his hand and stopped the advance.

“Stop!”

“Loyalty!”

The order to stop was given, and the enemy was lined up on the ridge leading to the swamp. Suddenly, the back of the person in front of me touched my stomach. I could look down far below while catching my breath. It was the perfect temptation. It seemed like it would be easy if I jumped down and stirred. There was also the fact that everything looked easy when viewed from above.

“array!”

The order was passed back again, and 150 men stood together on the mountain path. The man leading them took a deep breath and then gave the order to advance.

“It’s downhill. Go down in one breath and make a mess. Kill them. Charge!”

“Advance!”

“Advance!”

“Advance!”

The order was passed on to the back, and we ran down the slope from the front. The moonlight was brightly shining down on the tree-lined ridge, and the mountain path was clearly visible.

The leader stood on the peak and encouraged his soldiers.

“Advance! Run! Run!”

It was his job to encourage the guys running along the ridge. Dozens of them ran down, and after the guys who started running late, he jumped down the path the leader was going down. The ridge path that continued from where the ridge ended turned into a zigzag, so he followed it down. The lights in front of him were a kind of temptation. He could just get there and start making a fuss. It would be a decisive blow to the guys who were blocking the frontal attack.

That hope didn’t last long. A steep slope blocked the path ahead as we continued down. It was a hollow place, and there was no way up, left, right, or back. The only way up was the path we had come down, but countless friendly troops were running toward us.

The leader, realizing what was happening, turned around and shouted.

“Stop! You’re going the wrong way! Stop!”

They couldn’t hear their voices. Even if they could, they couldn’t do anything because they were going down so terribly. They moved to the side to avoid the people who were coming down after them, and then crawled up the slope on all fours.

Something sharp, black, rose up through my palm.

“Ahhhh!”

The first scream came from the one who had stepped on the sledgehammer thrown down the slope. A hundred or so people came down into the swamp. The leader, who saw those who were still coming down and those who had stopped, stopped himself, but was pushed down by the friendly troops running behind.

“What! Why are you standing there!”

“All directions are blocked. I took the wrong road.”

“Didn’t you check the cover?”

“Confirmed.”

“There’s no choice! I have to go back.”

“Loyalty!”

But he couldn’t turn back.

When all 150 people had come down, a large man like a divine general stood in front, blocking the way. About 20 people blocked the way back.

“You will all die here today!”

“Huh! Who are you?”

“Yes, it’s your father.”

“What a piece of shit!”

The guy raised his hand and faced forward.

“firing!”

About fifty arrows fell toward the swamp. The people who were crowded together were unable to avoid the arrows and were hit by the rain.

“firing!”

Another fifty or so arrows flew from all directions. All I could do was stand behind my own body and dodge the arrows.

“Oh no, it’s a trap!”

The enemy leader shouted towards a place with a relatively gentle slope.

“Get out of there! Hurry up!”

What he sees is also seen by others. Those who had fallen into the swamp ran. But the bushes blocked their way. As they cleared the bushes and advanced, a wooden spear struck their chest. Hundreds of wooden spears were standing at sharp angles, pointing at the necks of those who were running away.

“Not here either!”

“Run in all directions! Run in all directions!”

About fifty men stood on the high side of the slope and fired, and I looked around, telling them to dodge in all directions. The battle didn’t last long. Before the sun went down, there wasn’t a single guy standing properly.

Yoo Seok-do looked down with frightening eyes. The enemy general standing in front of the bushes raised his spear and pushed it to the side, cutting through the bloody path.

‘I have to go and kill him.’

My heart was telling me so, but I bit my lip and held back.

“I’m going back!”

“debriefing!”

* * *

The men who had been attacked by Cheolmuwoong arrived at the main gate of the school when the moon was high in the sky. However, it was too quiet. The dazzling moonlight illuminated the road whitely. The torches lit here and there flickered like ghostly lights. There was no sound from the school, which seemed to be sleeping quietly, so I wondered if we were doing something stupid.

Although they had lost many troops, they received reinforcements that arrived late and formed a line of about 200 troops in front of the school building. It was a difficult journey. They continued to advance despite being hit and broken.

“Why are you standing still?”

Yoo Seok-do, still breathing heavily from jumping down, asked Dal-cheon.

“I just wanted to see how you do it.”

“What do you see?”

“I intend to drag them in deep and then destroy them.”

“Close enough.”

Dalcheon turned his head with a smile and spoke softly.

“Grandpa, be quiet. Grandpa, be quiet.”

There is no one else who can call the world’s best Yuseokdo a grandpa. The prince who was sitting behind the women’s clothing raised like a castle wall laughed. As the prince laughed, he said to the prince.

“Hot, old man! Shhh!”

They used to call him a grandpa, but now they call him an ajusshi. Those who had been hiding behind women’s clothing covered their mouths and laughed.

“No, I guess we should watch them fall into the trap we set up in front of them.”

“Huh. Then please say it like that.”

“You were looking somewhere else during the meeting earlier. Oh my, you sleep during the meeting and make a fuss while working. Eight! Why are there only grandpas and middle-aged men in the world?”

Yoo Seok-do grumbled at the criticism he received.

“Yeah, it’s nice to be young.”

The suddenly surprised general also said a word.

“I’m still in my prime, and you’re calling me an old man. Haha, my goodness.”

Is it because of the two victories? I am not nervous at all. I am encouraged by the news from the victors. Dalcheon called Cheolmuwoong. But he said he was not there.

“None. I sent them out earlier. I sent them out to attack from behind with those who were lying in ambush.”

“Oh, right. I see. I forgot for a moment.”

Dalcheon scratched the back of his head. The training center’s Sajik asked.

“What are you curious about?”

“I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince is here.”

The general raised his head slightly and looked outside through the gap in the women’s clothing. He looked over the people lined up in a row carefully and then answered.

“None. Your Highness the Crown Prince is not among them.”

I guess that’s because no one knows his face.

“It’s a shame.”

“I’m not the type of person to do something like this.”

“Okay, then let’s get started. They’re just reorganizing their formation and not coming, so they’re probably waiting for the flanking force to come down from behind. We can’t tell them that the flanking force is all dead… … Since they’re not coming, ahem. Your Majesty, please step forward.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Stand up and say, ‘The great king is here!’ Or, ‘Catch me!’ Try to draw him in a bit. The deeper you draw him in, the better.”

“This isn’t some kid’s play.”

As the prince hesitated, Dalcheon urged him on.

“That’s what I’m saying. I feel ashamed of myself for doing such childish things. This isn’t a civil war, what the hell is going on? I can’t even fathom what these guys, who aren’t even a handful, are doing.”

“Do I have to do it?”

“You don’t have to do it, but it will take some time. Please give them some motivation. They call it work, so wouldn’t it be better if they did it with enthusiasm and a sense of mission?”

“I don’t really understand why you feel a sense of mission there.”

“That’s what they say.”

“Then, a true man, come forward and try to lure those guys!”

“No. If I get up and start making a fuss, they’ll all run away.”

“Ugh.”

The great general gave up and got up. Two soldiers followed him up and covered his left and right sides with their shields, leaving only his face exposed. The great general lowered his shield slightly, brought the torch closer, and shouted.

“Hey you guys! You came to capture me! His Majesty the King of Joseon’s second prince, Grand Prince Lee Yeong, is here! If you’re confident, come and capture him!”

The Grand General’s words had a bigger impact than expected. The men standing in a line were muttering. The barely formed battle line seemed to be shaking. They might have put money around the Grand General’s neck.

“The wall is low and there are few soldiers, so you really think this great army is ridiculous! I can’t just die, so come quickly and receive my sword!”

Dalcheon, who was sitting with his back to the mat, shook his head repeatedly. It was because he thought that he shouldn’t say things like that. It’s good for people to be polite when they’re friends, but it’s not helpful in times of war.

“Oh, so they’re coming?”

As Dalcheon grumbled, a crack appeared in the enemy camp. Just as they were forming their formation and preparing to attack, a few men began to incite their comrades to attack right away. A few impatient men had already jumped out and were inciting their comrades to go quickly.

“We must go and cut off his head immediately!”

“One moment is all it takes. Give the order to attack!”

“Oh, what are you so afraid of? I will take the lead.”

The rabble is a rabble because they talk too much. The battle line was noisy as each one spoke. Some seemed to be rushing forward. The chieftain, who had been badly beaten up on his way here, was worried that it might be different, but when the soldiers urged him to attack, he could no longer stop them.

“Attack! Attack! Whoever kills the great army will be rewarded separately. Kill the great army!”

“insect!”

“insect!”

“insect!”