The Genius Archer Who Became a One-Man Army

Chapter 17

*Whirrrk!*

With his right foot as a pivot, his body spun quickly, and in an instant, his center of gravity dropped.

Isaac, who had lowered his posture almost to the ground, struck Kyle’s ankle with the wooden sword in his left hand.

*Crack!*

“Argh!”

Even though he was wearing a guard, Kyle screamed from the pain that felt like his bones might break.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Isaac, who had been in front of him just a moment ago, had disappeared.

“What, what?!”

“Kyle! Behind you!”

“What?!”

At someone’s shout, Kyle hastily turned his body, but Isaac’s thrust came first.

*Thud!*

“Ugh!”

When Isaac’s wooden sword struck Kyle’s solar plexus, Kyle’s body bent like a right angle.

*Thunk!*

Then, with the wooden sword he was holding, Isaac pressed it against Kyle’s neck, making him collapse to the ground and look up at Isaac.

“Hah… I lost, you rascal.”

“You did well, heh heh.”

The fierce spirit he had shown moments before vanished, replaced by a simple smile.

At that expression, Kyle grimaced, clutching his stomach where he had been stabbed last.

“Ugh… I thought it was going to pierce through.”

“Are you okay?”

“Not really. What the hell did you do? How did you get so strong all of a sudden?”

Grabbing Isaac’s outstretched hand, Kyle stood up.

At Kyle’s question, Isaac glanced over at Lian.

Lian gave a thumbs-up to Isaac, who was looking at him.

‘You’re a genius, Isaac.’

The squad members’ training had started in earnest, and Lian was the first to tell Isaac to abandon the spear.

‘He has tremendous creativity in combat, but the standardized spear techniques of the unit didn’t suit him at all.’

It’s not that the unit’s spear techniques are bad.

After all, some people have risen to the rank of general with the spear techniques learned in the unit.

However, just as each person has clothes that suit them, for Isaac, the spear techniques were so ill-fitting they could be called fatal.

Therefore, Lian gave Isaac two wooden swords.

And told him to fight freely.

‘After all, the reason Isaac became famous was his dual-wielding sword technique.’

So with a hopeful heart, I also looked into swordsmanship that handled two swords.

Thinking it might help him. But when I first sparred with him holding two swords, I realized it was a huge mistake.

‘A genius is a genius.’

No other word was needed.

He had become a completely different person.

“What kind of magic did you use?”

Brent, who had sparred with Lian, also saw the change in Isaac with his own eyes.

After all, the kid who had been ordinary just a while ago had suddenly changed.

“Magic…”

Magic, perhaps?

Lian smiled slightly at Brent’s question and gathered the squad members.

As the amount of training increased recently, they became much stronger compared to before.

Feeling themselves getting stronger, their enthusiasm for training naturally grew hotter.

‘But managing the intensity properly is also a skill.’

If you push too hard, it can end up damaging your body instead.

“Let’s stop here for today. And make sure to rest well during your breaks. If you push yourself too hard out of unnecessary greed, you might not be able to keep up during training.”

“Yes.”

“I feel sore all over and need to rest a bit. Oh…”

Kyle, who had sparred with Isaac, groaned.

For someone who rarely complained about difficulty to say such things, it showed how intense it was.

Lian, who chuckled at Kyle’s words, headed straight to Raymond’s personal training room.

‘Practicing the magic breathing technique also provides rest… two birds with one stone.’

Unlike usual, Lian sat cross-legged on the floor and started the Child Magic Breathing Technique.

With each slow breath he took, magic power began to circulate through his body.

“Huuuu…”

During this time, Lian experienced many changes.

Compared to when he first practiced the Child Magic Breathing Technique, the amount of magic circulating in his body had doubled.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was at the level to use aura, but the circulation of magic had significantly accelerated his physical recovery.

When Lian finished his magic breathing practice and left the company commander’s personal training room, an administrative soldier came running toward him.

“Squad Leader, are you here?”

“What is it?”

“The platoon leader has ordered all squad leaders to assemble!”

“Alright, I’ll be there soon.”

Lian headed straight to the office where the platoon leader, Tyler, was.

Despite coming as quickly as possible, when Lian arrived, all the other squad leaders were already gathered.

Seeing Lian drenched in sweat, Tyler asked.

“Oh, Lian. Were you training?”

“I just finished.”

“I hear the 6th Squad has been working hard lately? Good to see.”

“Thank you!”

At Lian’s words, Tyler nodded and then addressed the squad leaders.

“The reason I called everyone is because we’ve received deployment orders from the company.”

“Deployment orders?”

“Is it war?”

Sudden deployment orders.

No, it couldn’t be called sudden.

Since the supply operation battle in the Pellon Canyon, this was the first time.

However, the word ‘deployment’ made Lian’s expression slightly stiffen.

‘Deployment at this time…’

Of course, the savage tribes were becoming more rampant as winter approached, but the current situation was a bit different from other times.

Due to the health condition of the current king, the three princes were vying for power and had started their power struggles.

Thus, while it was said to be a war to fend off the savages, depending on which side you aligned with, it could lead to being sent to a deathtrap.

‘The Eagle Company already disappeared in the last battle. In this state, who knows what will happen…’

Even Lian couldn’t grasp the movements of the Eagle Company, so he couldn’t recklessly judge anything.

But beyond that, as a squad leader, Lian had to focus on advancing even one step further before the period of great chaos arrived.

Lian asked Tyler.

“Which region is the Eagle Company heading to, Lieutenant?”

“We’re going to Saleron.”

“Saleron?”

“Saleron, the place where the walls were destroyed by the savages last year?”

“Ah…”

As soon as Tyler finished speaking, sighs escaped from the other squad leaders.

It was inevitable because Saleron was notorious for its vulnerability in defense, even in the northern regions.

Being a castle built on a plain, every side had to be defended.

Moreover, the castle was small in size, and its walls were low due to continuous repairs over the years.

‘A place with recurring problems but no proper improvements.’

Being sent to such a place likely indicated that someone higher up in the Eagle Company was losing in the power struggle.

“When are we departing?”

“In three days. Prepare everything by then.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lian responded calmly.

Complaining wouldn’t change the decision that had already been made.

Besides, although Saleron was a weak fortress in terms of defense, it wasn’t entirely bad.

‘There are quite a few stories about Saleron.’

Because it had so many issues, there were many stories about it, and with many stories came a lot of information.

And during Lian’s time, there had been several wars in Saleron with victorious outcomes.

‘We’ll have to see how the situation unfolds.’

But suddenly,

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing.”

At Tyler’s question, Lian quickly shook his head.

It was such a sudden thought that it escaped his lips before he knew it.

“Then go inform your squad members and make sure they prepare well.”

“Yes, sir!”

The squad leaders loudly answered and headed towards the barracks where their squad members were.

And on the way back, Lian recalled.

‘Saleron, if I remember correctly…’

The Bracelet of Jiaf.

That was where it was first discovered.

—

The Bracelet of Jiaf became famous after the appearance of the master assassin Jiaf.

In truth, the bracelet itself wasn’t an absurdly powerful artifact.

[Instant Acceleration]

When infused with magic, it provided a momentary burst of speed.

It might seem insignificant at first glance, but it earned Jiaf the title of master assassin in the underworld.

‘The key is how you use it.’

Among the various materials found at Jiaf’s residence after his death was information about the bracelet.

It was then that the nameless bracelet was dubbed Jiaf’s Bracelet.

“It suits me perfectly.”

While Lian used a bow for sniping from afar, he preferred to use it more aggressively.

‘The notion that bows are weak in close combat is a misconception.’

Of course, there were many limitations. But obtaining Jiaf’s Bracelet could offset what were considered weaknesses.

“Think of it as a good opportunity.”

It might seem like they were being pushed into a deathtrap.

But the more intense the situation, the more there was to gain.

“Hoo… There’s never an easy task.”

On his way to the squad members, Lian let out a small sigh.

The expressions of the squad members, upon hearing the news from Lian, were all grim.

“We’re going to Saleron?”

“Oh my god! Saleron?”

The squad members’ reactions were no different.

Given Saleron’s notorious reputation among soldiers, it was understandable.

But Lian nodded with a calm expression.

“We will deploy in three days. Write letters home and prepare whatever you need.”

“How long will we be there? In Saleron?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that.”

At Lian’s words, they let out small sighs.

“But the entire 6th Corps is going, right?”

“Of course. Saleron is a place where hordes of 2-3 thousand savages gather. It’s a real battlefield.”

“Even with a fortress, it’s said to be defenseless. We have to fight while protecting the people there, making it even more disadvantageous.”

“Haa… They say even if you win the war there, half of us will die…”

They had many concerns even before departure. Lian spoke to them.

“Everyone, listen to me carefully.”

The squad members’ attention was focused on Lian, whose expression had turned serious.

Lian looked at each of the ten squad members.

“The fact that it’s dangerous means there’s a lot to gain if we return alive.”

Lian looked each squad member in the eye.

“I plan to achieve great feats in Saleron and form my own special unit.”

“A special unit?”

“Yes, and if that special unit is formed, I’ll appoint all of you as commanders of five hundred.”

A special unit of five thousand soldiers.

A position above the corps commander, a general.

Lian’s ambition was clear: to become the most outstanding great general.

Hearing this, the squad members’ expressions were slightly dazed.

It seemed like an unrealistic ambition.

How could a soldier of commoner origin become a general?

There hadn’t even been a case of a commoner rising above the rank of company commander.

“I’ll follow you, squad leader.”

“I’ll follow too.”

Isaac was the first to place his right fist on his left chest and speak. Brent followed.

Somehow, they felt that Lian could really reach that exalted position.

“Eh, I’ll follow too!”

“Me too!”

Following Kyle’s words, the other squad members also shouted towards Lian.

Commander of five hundred.

A position equivalent to a battalion commander, surpassing even a company commander.

Lian smiled broadly at their response.

“Our goal in Saleron is not merely survival.”

The squad members swallowed nervously at Lian’s words. Looking at them, Lian continued.

“We will win.”

In a glorious battlefield, we will gain everything.

Lian’s eyes shone brighter than ever.