Becoming a Swordmast Chapter 56 : Chapter 56

Chapter 56. Unexpected Reward(2)

A few more days were still needed to finish enchanting all the shields with magic.

But the situation did not wait.

While Roden was honing his carving skills and searching for an energy source to replace the Mana Stone.

And so, while he succeeded in enchanting 14 of the 32 shields based on this.

The mont to depart for the next transport operation had arrived.

"Transport Unit 2! Forward!"

And so, the 3rd Infantry Platoon once again set out on an operation with Havier's resounding voice.

"Alright, everyone move sharp! Just like we've trained!"

"Nothing to be afraid of! We've already been through this once!"

The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon moved in perfect order, reassuring the new recruits.

Perhaps because they held the title of the battalion's best platoon, they looked even more disciplined.

Havier, who was riding ahead, stopped his horse and watched the 3rd Infantry Platoon.

Then he nodded in satisfaction.

‘Even if sothing happens, the operation won't fail.’

Recently, the Imperial Army cavalry had significantly reduced their interference with transport operations.

The proof was that they had not attempted an ambush five tis in a row after their major defeat to Transport Unit 2 last ti.

But because of that, this operation was even more dangerous.

From the Imperial Army's perspective, if they continued to allow the Allied Forces' supply to proceed this easily, the war situation would gradually turn unfavorable for them.

They had to interfere sohow, and this was about the right ti.

‘Strangely, Transport Unit 2 keeps finding itself in these situations. I wonder where it all went wrong.’

Roden, leading the 3rd Infantry Platoon in front of the supply wagons, was having similar thoughts.

He thought it was too much of a coincidence that this kept happening.

But it couldn't be helped.

It wasn't as if he could go to the Imperial Army and ask them to change their ambush timing.

For that reason, Roden assud an attack from the Imperial Army cavalry and ca up with the following thought.

‘It's a good thing our platoon has regained its original combat strength. I hear the 1st Archery Platoon's situation has improved even more as well.’

As Roden had instructed, Chevalier continuously relayed news about the 1st Archery Platoon.

And through this, Roden learned that the new 1st Archery Platoon Leader had succeeded in taking complete control of the unit.

In other words, it ant that even if there was an ambush by the Imperial Army cavalry, the 1st Archery Platoon was likely to perform to its full potential.

This was a great relief for the 3rd Infantry Platoon, which had suffered heavy damage despite showing powerful combat strength due to this problem last ti.

‘Of course, it would be best not to be ambushed at all.’

But objectively, the possibility of being ambushed was higher than the possibility of not being ambushed.

That was why Transport Unit 2, except for the first few days, moved toward the main battalion while being on alert from the beginning of the operation.

Perhaps due to the tension, the steps of the moving Transport Unit 2 were very heavy.

***

Due to the heightened alert from the beginning, the fatigue of the transport operation was imnse.

It felt like the fatigue was growing day by day.

But it couldn't be helped.

Just because our allies were tired didn't an the enemy would go easy on them.

On the contrary, if they found out, they might even welco it.

And so, Transport Unit 2 continued to move in a state of tension, without letting down their guard.

And a short while later, a soldier raised his voice.

"I see the main battalion's camp!"

The other soldiers responded with cheers.

"Waaaaah!"

"We're saved!"

Havier also let out a sigh of relief, whew.

With the main battalion's camp right in front of them, even if they were ambushed by the Imperial Army cavalry, their allies could respond.

In the first place, in a situation like this, the possibility of an ambush by the Imperial Army cavalry was considered to be nonexistent.

Of course, since there was always a ‘what if,’ Havier quickly ca to his senses and gave an order.

"Everyone, keep walking until the very end! It's not too late to cheer after we've completely entered the camp!"

"Yes!"

And so, Transport Unit 2, which had been cheering, once again advanced steadily toward the main battalion.

Jamie, who was watching, approached Havier and spoke.

"It seems the Imperial Army cavalry intends to take another break this ti."

At Jamie's words, Havier nodded.

"They must have judged that we would anticipate their ambush timing and be fully prepared."

"Still, it would have been better for them to attack this ti. It seems the Imperial Army has misjudged."

"I think so too. Since they didn't attack this ti, our allies will be even more prepared for the next transport operation."

Certainly, from Havier's perspective, the Imperial Army cavalry's choice was incomprehensible.

Timing wasn't called timing for nothing.

Once the timing was missed like this, it beca much easier for their allies to prepare for an ambush.

‘Did they simply make a mistake?’

Havier had this thought.

Jamie, who was having the sa thought, attempted his own reasoning.

"Could it be sothing like this? Next ti, they'll increase the scale of the attack or sothing."

"That's a possibility, but there's a limit to the scale they can increase it to. If they recklessly divert personnel, they could be pushed back in the front-line battles."

"Then why?"

"Perhaps they think that just by making us prepare for an ambush like this, it's enough of a check in itself."

"Ah. They could think that way. A foolish thought, but."

Just as Havier and Jamie were trying to figure out why the Imperial Army cavalry hadn't attacked Transport Unit 2.

"They were probably aiming for a mont like this."

Soone's voice interjected into their conversation.

When they turned their heads, Roden had approached them at so point.

Havier tilted his head and asked Roden.

"Aiming for a mont like this?"

"A mont like this, when our Transport Unit 2 is off guard, thinking we will never be ambushed."

"What do you an? Are you saying we're about to be ambushed? With the main battalion's camp right in front of us?"

"No, not now. The enemy isn't a fool either. But when we return to the unit. Then it will be a different story."

To summarize, Roden's words were this.

They would deliberately let Transport Unit 2, which had successfully transported the supplies, let their guard down and then launch an ambush when they were returning to the unit.

Certainly, if they had refrained from attacking with this in mind, the Imperial Army cavalry's sche was formidable.

If Transport Unit 2 was in such an unguarded state, they would be completely at the rcy of the Imperial Army cavalry.

Originally, no matter how excellent one's combat power was, one could not defeat any enemy in an unguarded state.

That was how war was.

However, Havier was negative about Roden's idea.

"I understand what you're trying to say. But what does the Imperial Army cavalry gain from winning in that way?"

Usually, during the return to the unit, Transport Unit 2 lowered their alert level significantly.

It wasn't just Transport Unit 2.

Other transport units did the sa.

And the reason this was possible was simple.

There was no reason for the Imperial Army cavalry to attack a transport unit that had already successfully transported all its supplies.

Because of that, Havier couldn't agree with Roden's statent that there would be an ambush by the Imperial Army cavalry during the return to the unit.

Jamie seed to think the sa, nodding his head from the side.

"Certainly, in normal tis, the Imperial Army cavalry would have launched an ambush aiming for our supplies. But these are not normal tis."

"......Don't tell ?"

"Yes. From the Imperial Army cavalry's perspective, it's a ti when they must succeed in crushing the transport unit, even if they can't get the supplies."

"That way, they can easily avenge their last major defeat and comfortably set the timing for their next ambush. Is that right?"

"That's right. Therefore, Transport Unit 2 must raise its alert level even during the return to the unit and prepare for an ambush. If we don't, we will surely be defeated."

Havier's expression darkened after hearing Roden's story.

He thought that if the Imperial Army cavalry really did attack their allies returning to the unit, they would be at a considerable disadvantage.

The entire Transport Unit 2 was physically exhausted from transporting supplies to the main battalion with a heightened alert level so far.

Now that they had arrived at the main battalion, they would get a comfortable day's rest, but that wasn't enough.

It would take at least a few more days to fully replenish their depleted stamina.

"This isn't a ti to rejoice, but a ti to prepare for the next situation...... The scale of the Imperial Army cavalry will also be larger than usual, right?"

"They would have increased it as much as possible without affecting the front-line battles. I think the number would be at least 60 to a maximum of 80."

Usually, the Imperial Army attacked transport units with 40 cavalry.

This was enough to crush a transport unit of just under 100 n.

But if that number increased to 60, and could even reach a maximum of 80, it would be too much for the already exhausted Transport Unit 2 to handle.

Because of that, Havier's worries could only deepen.

It was then.

"Since it's co to this, how about we do this instead?"

And so, Roden proposed an operation to Havier.

As the story progressed, the eyes of Havier and Jamie, who were listening, widened.

***

After arriving at the main battalion and staying for a day as usual, Transport Unit 2 began to move to return to their unit.

However, the faces of Transport Unit 2 as they moved seed sohow relaxed.

They didn't look like they were expecting an ambush from the Imperial Army cavalry at all.

A soldier who was watching Transport Unit 2 from a distance smiled.

Then he began to move quickly to deliver the news.