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Chapter 26
“Why are you coming back from leave so early?”
Hendris could not hide his bewilderment as he looked at Arteon, who had returned after only ten days.
It had been a full month of leave—what reason could there possibly be to come back so soon?
Arteon replied with an awkward expression.
“It just sort of happened. Would it be possible to put the remaining twenty days on hold?”
“By regulation, leave that’s already been used can’t be put on hold. But it’s also strange to have a soldier who’s technically on leave staying in the unit… Hah, honestly. This is the first time I’ve seen a case like this, so it’s a bit troublesome.”
Hendris burst out laughing.
He knew Arteon was an oddball soldier, but he hadn’t expected behavior like this.
Still, Hendris soon spoke with a small smile.
“For now, wait in the barracks. Things are rather complicated at the moment.”
“…Did something happen?”
At Arteon’s question, Hendris let out a small breath.
“We achieved a major victory at the First Defense Line thanks to you, didn’t we? After that battle, it seems the Kar tribe pulled back their formation and moved to the rear canyon…”
Hendris explained to Arteon the contents of an official notice that had come down from higher command.
“For that reason, they’re currently recruiting soldiers who are familiar with the terrain of Helikel Canyon.”
“Helikel… Canyon?”
At that moment, Arteon’s expression stiffened.
The victory at the First Defense Line had been overwhelming, but could it be that after just that single defeat, the Kar tribe had abandoned their existing camp and retreated all the way to Helikel Canyon?
‘If that’s the case…’
From the allied side, it was an opportunity they absolutely could not afford to miss.
If they could seize Helikel Canyon, they could use it as a foundation to build a solid defensive fortress.
Moreover, Arteon himself had lived for about eight months in the fortress built in Helikel Canyon.
No one knew the terrain of Helikel Canyon better than he did.
Arteon spoke.
“I know the terrain of Helikel Canyon.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Please recommend me. I know it well.”
At Arteon’s resolute answer, Hendris couldn’t hide his startled expression.
Just who was this kid, to know the terrain of Helikel Canyon, which lay beyond their own territory?
And he was only fifteen years old.
But considering everything Arteon had shown them so far, hadn’t he already proven too many unbelievable things?
Without even a moment of hesitation, Hendris nodded.
“All right. I’ll report it to higher command. In the meantime, wait in the barracks.”
“Heart of Steel! Yes, sir!”
When Arteon returned to the barracks—
“…?”
“What? Why are you back so soon?”
“Has it already been thirty days? It feels like only about ten days passed.”
The flustered squad members blurted out comments one after another. In response, Arteon chuckled and held out what he had brought.
“Dried fruit. Share it.”
“F-Fruit!”
“Whoa! As expected, Squad Leader, your sense is on another level…!”
Although they occasionally picked fruit from fruit trees, eating fruit in the north was no easy matter.
Especially dried fruit like this—the sweetness was far more concentrated than usual, making it a precious snack for soldiers.
Arteon smiled faintly as he watched his squad members share the dried fruit he had brought.
It had been worth spending his very last money on it.
But it wasn’t long before—
“Sergeant Arteon! The division commander is summoning you!”
It was a messenger sent by Belkein.
Judging by how hurried he looked…
‘This seems pretty urgent.’
Perhaps returning early from leave had turned out to be a stroke of divine luck.
Arteon immediately followed the messenger to the barracks where Belkein was.
“Heart of Steel! Sergeant Arteon reporting to the division commander!”
In his past life, he had hardly ever visited the division commander’s barracks.
But now, it had become familiar to the point of routine.
Belkein glanced at Arteon’s salute, raised his hand slightly, and went straight to the point.
“I hear you know the terrain of Helikel Canyon?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you know it?”
At Belkein’s question, Arteon thought, So it’s come to this.
‘If I say I lived there before I died, they’ll call me insane…’
So he gave the excuse he had already prepared.
“I learned it from my father before coming here.”
“Your father?”
“Yes. My father had a great interest in the northern front, and he told me many stories about former terrain and battles—areas that have since been lost.”
“…I see.”
Even Helikel Canyon itself had been imperial territory roughly ten years ago.
It had simply been taken after the Kar tribe pushed down, and much time had passed since.
Belkein looked slightly dubious, but soon nodded.
Then Ervan, who was standing beside him, approached Arteon.
“Then can you draw the terrain of Helikel Canyon?”
“Yes. I’m not very good at drawing, so I can’t reproduce it perfectly, but…”
Arteon roughly sketched the canyon’s terrain on the paper laid out on the table.
Helikel Canyon, vividly etched in his mind.
He quickly drew not only the area crossing the center of the canyon, but also the branches extending to the sides and the inner terrain.
As the drawing took shape on the paper, neither Belkein nor even Ervan could hide their surprise.
“Hm… At this level, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’ve actually been there.”
“However, it would probably be impossible to educate other soldiers using this drawing alone.”
The only regret was that his drawing skill didn’t quite keep up.
Still, the canyon Arteon had drawn bore many striking similarities to the known terrain of Helikel Canyon.
Just looking at it was enough to tell that his words were not lies.
Belkein spoke.
“The Kar tribe has withdrawn its formation into Helikel Canyon and is reorganizing its forces. If more time passes, they’ll replenish their troops and advance south again toward the First Defense Line.”
Arteon listened silently.
“We don’t intend to miss this opportunity. We plan to form a small special assault unit, cross the canyon, move inside to strike the enemy from behind, and then attack the canyon from the front in coordination.”
If they succeeded, it would mean reclaiming Helikel Canyon once again after more than ten years.
“Can you serve as the guide for this special unit?”
Belkein’s gaze, as he asked the question, sank calmly.
This could be more dangerous than any operation before.
Even if they succeeded, the chances of returning alive were slim.
It was not an operation where unwilling soldiers could be forced in.
It was the kind of mission that required a desperate resolve, a willingness to stake one’s life.
But—
“If you entrust it to me, I will do my utmost, even at the cost of my life!”
There was not a trace of hesitation in Arteon’s answer.
Seeing that, Belkein rose from his seat.
“You may go.”
“Heart of Steel! Sergeant Arteon, I will take my leave!”
After Arteon departed—
“It may not be certain.”
“It wouldn’t be too late to decide after conducting reconnaissance with that soldier.”
This operation could become a critically important turning point in the empire’s history.
It couldn’t be carried out recklessly—but neither could they afford to do nothing but test the waters forever.
The current situation, where nothing was certain, was frightening and dangerous.
But—
“Now is the time to draw our swords and move.”
Belkein showed unwavering conviction.
Ervan nodded in agreement.
“I also believe we should first conduct reconnaissance using that soldier… and if we see potential, proceed.”
“Then summon the officers immediately. We’ll conduct reconnaissance first through the special unit.”
“Understood.”
As Ervan nodded and went outside, Belkein also stepped out of the barracks and gazed northward.
‘Now…’
It’s our turn to attack.
The atmosphere in the unit began to change little by little.
Rumors started to spread.
“Hey… have you heard that we’re preparing to attack first?”
“Well, I did hear that some kind of official notice came down regarding Helikel Canyon…”
“No way.”
For a long time, the empire had done nothing but defend the northern front.
An attack?
Most soldiers didn’t believe the sudden rumors—and at the same time, they were afraid.
Just holding back the Kar warriors at the defensive line was exhausting enough; the idea of entering their formation was hardly welcome.
But then—
“Arteon, the company commander is calling for you.”
At Hendris’s words, Arteon stood up.
At last, the signal had come.
Arteon immediately went to see Captain Reichen Brams, commander of the 3rd Company.
Thinking about it, although he had met the division commander Belkein several times, he had hardly ever had a direct meeting with the 3rd Company commander.
“Heart of Steel! Sergeant Arteon reporting to the company commander!”
“Sergeant Arteon. You probably know roughly why I called you.”
With an angular face, thick lips that looked stubborn, and sharp, intense eyes, Reichen looked at Arteon as he spoke.
Arteon nodded.
“I have an idea.”
“We are forming a special unit for reconnaissance into Helikel Canyon. You will accompany it as the guide.”
It was a decision made with great caution by higher command.
That alone showed how important the operation was—and how absolutely it must not fail.
If successful, it would be a historic moment, reclaiming Helikel Canyon.
‘If it fails…’
They could lose elite troops and end up being pushed back even from the First Defense Line.
No—at worst, they might be forced to pull back the entire northern front.
With a hardened expression, Reichen spoke.
“This operation must succeed. Your performance is… extremely important.”
“…I will do my best.”
That was all Arteon could say at the moment.
Apparently satisfied, Reichen nodded.
“Then follow the soldier waiting outside. I pray that fortune in battle will be with you.”
“Heart of Steel!”
Arteon clenched his right fist, placed it against his left chest in salute, and turned around immediately.
The soldier waiting outside looked at him.
“Heart of Steel!”
“Heart of Steel. What’s your rank?”
“Corporal Bilk. It’s an honor to guide you, Sir Arteon.”
“…You know me?”
“I was a supply soldier at the First Defense Line. I saw you fighting a mid-ranking Kar warrior with my own eyes.”
He looked at Arteon as if he were meeting a great hero.
By now, Arteon had become extremely famous throughout the company—and even the division—due to the battle at the First Defense Line.
Arteon nodded and followed him.
And then—
“It looks like everyone is here now.”
“…!”
The moment Arteon saw the person who appeared to be the commander at the gathering place for the special unit, his eyes wavered.
‘No way… I never thought this person would be here…’
Perhaps this operation—
It felt like it might write a new page in the kingdom’s history.
