The Genius Archer Who Became a One-Man Army

Chapter 22

It was truly the worst condition they could be in.

Their clothes and armor were soaked, and the cold had caused ice to form on them. The soldiers were significantly exhausted.

“We’ve finally arrived.”

Lian felt a surge of emotion as he looked down at Saleron from the hill.

It seemed the enemy had not yet arrived.

“We’re almost there, just a little further.”

“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to die. My feet are completely swollen.”

“My feet and boots are practically one now. They won’t come off, haha.”

The situation was dire, but the soldiers, pleased with their successful mission, made jokes.

However, Tyler, seeing the exhausted soldiers, approached Raymond.

“Captain, wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit on the hill before going down? There might be a battle or a need to form ranks while descending.”

“I thought the same. It’s best to rest whenever possible.”

The main force wouldn’t arrive for at least three more days.

This was all possible due to the efforts of a young soldier.

“Phew… we still have time to plan our strategy.”

Raymond immediately ordered the soldiers to rest.

He told them to rest comfortably as long as they didn’t leave the area.

Raymond looked down at Saleron from the hill.

It was clear that it was a vulnerable fortress to defend.

The low walls were an issue, but the most problematic aspect was the open plain surrounding the fortress, which couldn’t block the enemy.

And yet, they had to defend it with just one battalion and their own company…

“…Hmm?”

At that moment, Raymond noticed someone.

He was so used to seeing him that it didn’t surprise him anymore.

“Lian?”

Despite being given rest, Lian was at the edge of the hill, sketching something as he looked down.

Although not clear, it seemed he was drawing a map of the open plain surrounding Saleron.

“…”

Raymond questioned if he was really just an ordinary soldier.

During the rest period, Raymond immediately called a meeting with the platoon leaders.

The meeting place was just a bare hill.

All they had was a map spread out on a cut tree trunk.

“You all know why we came here first, right?”

“Yes.”

“We are here for a special operations mission.”

But what this special operation entailed was still undecided.

They were only supposed to support the first battalion while being able to operate independently.

This meant that the Eagle Company had to undertake its own mission to win this war.

Some might call it abandonment, but Raymond knew better.

He knew they were sent to create even a sliver of hope.

There wasn’t much to check on the map.

How could they make a plan on an open plain?

Raymond had already checked if any soldiers were familiar with Saleron, but none were from around here.

As Raymond stared at the map, someone’s image came to his mind.

“…Tyler, could you bring Lian here?”

“What? Why do you need Lian?”

This was an important meeting.

It wasn’t a place for a squad leader. He had no justification for it.

Tyler sensed something could go wrong from Raymond’s expression.

Lian had achieved a lot so far and played a significant role in crossing the Isis River.

But bringing him to a commanders’ meeting without reason could cause dissatisfaction among other squad leaders.

Derek, the second platoon leader standing next to Tyler, spoke up.

“I respect Lian as a soldier, but calling him to this meeting might be unfair.”

“Agreed. It could cause complaints from other squad leaders.”

Their words were reasonable.

They weren’t wrong. But Raymond, looking at the platoon leaders, spoke.

“During the rest period, Lian was the only one sketching the situation of the open plain around Saleron. He was drawing a map of this barren plain.”

“What?”

“No way…”

The platoon leaders looked incredulous.

Everyone was exhausted from the long march. And yet, someone was preparing for the next step?

None of the platoon leaders had done that.

Raymond lightly tapped the table with the map.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke slowly.

“In my long military career, I’ve learned one thing.”

The platoon leaders fell silent and listened intently.

Raymond continued.

“Small things create something special.”

Something that might seem insignificant to others.

But Raymond firmly believed that these small things accumulated to create something extraordinary.

That’s why he didn’t discriminate based on rank when appointing or rewarding people.

And that was one of the reasons Raymond was respected by other soldiers.

Tyler nodded.

“I’ll bring him.”

“…I’m curious too.”

“He sure gets mentioned a lot.”

Other platoon leaders somewhat agreed.

Especially considering his unexpected achievement in crossing the Isis River.

Before long, Tyler returned with Lian, and Raymond spoke.

“Lian, what were you doing earlier?”

“I was observing the plain around Saleron.”

Lian pulled out a piece of paper, seemingly having been briefed by Tyler.

Though crudely drawn, it was a fairly detailed map.

There were also strange markings here and there.

“What is this?”

“These are places where stones are piled up beside fields. I believe these are stones removed while cultivating the land.”

“Potential ambush sites.”

“Yes. To attack in this open area, we need to ambush, but digging trenches in Saleron’s current state is almost impossible.”

Soldiers needed to dig at least a meter deep for an ambush.

But digging a meter into the frozen ground was nearly impossible.

Raymond nodded at Lian’s explanation.

“In that case…”

Raymond stared at Lian’s map, observing the dotted lines leading to the stone piles and fields.

Raymond’s eyebrows twitched, and then he spoke to the platoon leaders beside him.

“How much gunpowder do we have?”

“Gunpowder, sir? We didn’t bring much to maintain mobility. We have about 10kg.”

“10kg…”

It was an insufficient amount to use against two thousand enemies. However,

“Do these dotted lines represent where we would ignite the gunpowder?”

“That’s correct.”

Lian silently admired Raymond for deducing that from the map he drew.

‘This was one of the strategies mentioned in the future…’

The longer he stayed with Eagle Company, the more he realized how many valuable talents it had.

Lian looked at the fields depicted on the map.

“Although the harvest is over, there are still plenty of remnants left. If we spread the gunpowder here and create confusion for them, we can create an opportunity.”

“But 10 kg of gunpowder won’t cause significant damage.”

“That’s why we need a diversion.”

“A diversion?”

Lian nodded and began explaining his strategy.

Eagle Company would not enter Saleron but would instead set up an ambush in the plain using the stone piles.

The distance between allies would be kept within 30 meters.

Since there were already stone piles near the fields, it wouldn’t look out of place.

“And we’ll send a messenger along this path to inform the main force coming from behind. They’ll wait in the plain and attack the enemy simultaneously once we give the signal.”

“But why aren’t we informing Saleron of our arrival?”

Arriving early and receiving supplies from Saleron would help them focus more on the battle.

But Lian shook his head.

“If Saleron knows we’ve arrived, they will feel relieved.”

“Relieved?”

“With all due respect, I think the kingdom’s army underestimates the enemy too much.”

“What do you mean?”

“They also have their own strategies and tactics for warfare, though they differ from ours.”

Lian pointed to Saleron.

“They will undoubtedly assess Saleron’s situation before attacking. If they know there are no reinforcements in Saleron, they might act more aggressively.”

“Are you saying the enemy will recognize Saleron’s vulnerability and lack of troops?”

“Absolutely.”

If the reinforcements don’t arrive, Saleron will attempt to bolster its defenses in any way possible.

And the enemy will definitely take note of Saleron’s condition.

“They’ll think they have the advantage and will try to end the battle quickly. Reinforcements would be troublesome for them as well.”

“Hmm…”

Raymond pondered.

He hated to admit it, but Lian was right about the kingdom’s army underestimating the enemy.

They didn’t consider their tactics because they deemed them barbaric.

However, completely acknowledging the enemy also bruised their pride a bit.

Raymond asked Lian.

“Why do you believe they have tactics?”

“Just look at the ambush they set up in the Pellon Gorge.”

Normally, an ambush in a canyon would be expected.

But they had dug into the plains, creating an ambush outside the canyon.

“That alone shows they have their own strategies and tactics. Even if they seem lacking from our perspective.”

Those seemingly lacking aspects were easy to overlook for the kingdom’s army.

“Thinking ‘it’s impossible’ is the most dangerous mindset when dealing with the enemy.”

“Aren’t you overestimating them?”

“Are you saying our kingdom’s army is inferior to them?”

Some of the platoon leaders frowned at Lian’s words.

It was hard to admit, as Raymond had said, and it hurt their pride.

Raymond sighed deeply.

“Phew… this is indeed a difficult situation.”

He crossed his arms and tapped his arm with his fingers.

Finally, Raymond spoke.

“You’re right, Lian.”

“…Yes?”

“Perhaps it’s these minor reasons that cause us to lose to those barbaric enemies in war.”

Though they seemed like mere monsters, they had their own intelligence.

And from their long conflict with the kingdom’s army, they had accumulated their own data.

Emboldened by Raymond’s words, Lian continued.

“They will never think Saleron’s vulnerability is a lie. It’s not a lie.”

“You mean to deceive the enemy, we must deceive our own side as well.”

“Yes.”

Raymond nodded at Lian’s response.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

It was already an unfavorable battle. But defeat wasn’t an option for the kingdom’s army.

No matter how politically charged the situation was,

“We will win. And,”

Return to our families alive.

Raymond’s words steeled everyone’s resolve, and they clenched their fists in determination.