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"You will be in the front row. That way, no one will interfere with your aim. With your talent, surely you can survive the enemy attacks... The rest? Don't worry, we'll be three rows behind you, so we won't get in your way. This is the highest honor I can give you. Be grateful, Golden Archer!" Armand said with a villain's grin.
'Why does he hate me so much? Did I murder his whole family? Did I have problems in my past life with his ancestors? This time, I'm innocent! I swear!'
"Ha, that's what happens when you offend the general of the military archer division."
"Everyone knew Armand wanted to be the number one archer. But now a nobody is on everyone's lips because of his magic arrows."
"He must be a noble bastard, that's why he hides his appearance. Only that kind of trash would have the money to afford such arrows!"
'These damn leeches! Because their general showed his hatred in public, the others immediately supported him to curry favor with him!'
"We've finished the military formations. Now march! It's time to start the full-scale war with the enemy!" shouted Armand Teninse.
"Ooohhh!"
'God Solus, I have never asked you for anything, but I hope you will make this humble servant's wish come true... Can we call a truce? I know I haven't repaired the Solitary Temple yet, but I assure you that someday I will... You may want to know why I haven't done so until now. It's because a Saint lives there. I would feel bad if I evicted her just to start repairs. Once I find a place for Delia to stay, I will start the repairs. I assure you! Amen.'
''Did you see him?''
''Yeah. That guy's praying! He must feel his death approaching!''
''Hahaha, even if he prays to all the saints and god himself, no one will be able to protect him!''
''You're right. Once the battle starts, there will be thousands of arrows that will fall!''
'Calm down, calm down. You just finished praying. It will be a bad omen if you answer offenses with offenses. You must keep your peace of mind and... activate [Luck] profile, just in case.'
'Activate Profile [Luck].'
"General Armand! Reporting!"
"You may speak."
As we march towards the vanguard army, a soldier on horseback approaches the general. At a glance, it is possible to tell that he does not belong to the military archer division.
"The Tower Brigade has been designated for your protection; they will meet you one kilometer before your destination," said the soldier.
"Understood. You may leave... Ah, right. Tell General Hernan that it will be a pleasure to fight together from now on."
"I will do so, I take my leave now"
After the soldier's departure, we continued walking on foot. Because our initial location was not too far away, in just minutes we managed to see the vanguard army and the brigade that the soldier spoke of earlier.
They are knights in full armor, whose levels start at 25, the highest of which is level 35. The special thing about them is their shields. Although their swords look normal, their shields really stand out.
Tower shields of almost 2m in height. They were all different in appearance, but none stood out more than the others as the one belonging to the Tower Brigade's general.
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[Hernan] [Knight Lvl 35]
"I've heard a lot about you lately, Hernan. It's not easy to get to such a position solely based on your own achievements. I will feel confident if your brigade protects us" Armand stretched out his hand in Hernan's direction.
"You flatter me, Armand. It will be a pleasure to fight by your side. Our groups coordinate very well. I hope this alliance will be fruitful for both of us" Hernán also extended his hand.
In front of everyone, they shook hands to start the joint work.
But I can see that these generals really hide a lot of thoughts behind those smiles. My main reason for thinking this is that their conversation was said in a loud tone for all of us to hear. Those were simple words, only said to raise the fighting spirit of their men.
''The generals seem to have had a friendship for years.''
''I know about that. In fact, when they both belonged to the lower strata of the army, they formed a very promising duo. To the point of becoming sworn brothers.''
''God! Then we have to be really careful. Whoever makes a mistake here will pay dearly for trying to end such a friendship.''
'These knuckleheads… the moment they mentioned 'sworn brothers' both generals' eyes contracted. Perhaps there was such a friendship, but it's all in the past. Now they rather look like old foxes plotting against each other-...! Hm? Why is Hernan looking at me?'
"The time has come, men! Protect the archers even at the cost of your life!"
"Yes, general!"
After the order given by Hernan, his brigade split up one by one. There was a knight for every two archers. I see... the weakness of the archers will be nullified at the very moment of having a bodyguard.
'Of course I, the newcomer, have no bodyguard. That's to be expected, isn't it? I'm in the front row, while everyone else is three rows behind me. I'm practically cannon fodder, but no one dares tell me to my face.'
It's at that very moment when someone walks in my direction.
"General Hernan? Where are you going?" Armand said, a little worried.
"Do you see that man?" Hernan pointed his finger at me.
"Yes," Armand said, having a bad feeling.
"That man who stays in the front row to set an example for others... He is one who will have a promising future, and a person who is not afraid of death. He is someone who truly loves his kingdom!"
Emir: "..."
'I’m sorry, Hernan, but I think you're getting the wrong person.'
Armand Teninse: "..."
'- You don't say! This guy is planning to...!!!'
"I'll protect that archer even if it's at the cost of my own life!"
"Oooohhh!"
At their general's words, everyone screamed in excitement.
'- You just want to see me dead damn it! You just don't dare to do it with your own hands!' Armand Teninse looked like he had eaten shit. Now all the archers have a bodyguard to protect them except him!
General Armand watched as General Hernan walked towards me, without being able to say anything to him. Although at a glance it is possible to tell that these generals hate each other to the core, I am the only one able to see it. The others seem to be brainwashed, most likely by their generals' gift of gab.
"My name is Hernan, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I am the Golden Archer"
"Oh! You're the one of the rumors. Then I hope we'll manage to defeat a lot of enemies" He held out his hand.
"I also wish the same"
I answered politeness with politeness, so I stretched out my hand and we shook hands as a greeting. Of course, we both smiled as we looked toward his men.
'Haa, it's tiring having to pretend in front of strangers. It's a good thing I have experience with it thanks to my previous revenge; otherwise, my smile would look fake.'
The introductions ended and both generals gave the order to depart. Then we continued our march toward the vanguard army.
As we arrived, I managed to realize the immensity of the army.
Thousands of soldiers of different classes and races are in front of us. There was a slight separation for every 10,000 soldiers, implying that they belonged to a different military division.
Perhaps my ability to distinguish groups of people isn't the best, but I can be sure of something... There are more or less 200,000 soldiers in this army at the very least.
'Is this 'just' a military exercise for Commander Cael? So... what will a proper war be like?'
"Attention everyone! The Admiral General is addressing you!"
Today I will finally meet the admiral general. I have never seen his appearance, but I know he should have a gift of the gab that I have never seen before.
It is the skill with which he made the three annoying beauties, and everyone who listened to his welcome speech believes that this war has been waged for the Lucia River and for every citizen who has seen the water dwindle due to overpopulation. It's a skill every womanizer wishes to have.
While Fabio also has a gift of gab, it is surely on a completely different level from the admiral general.
As soon as everyone fell silent, a man riding a horse appeared at the front of the army. Black haired, with some gray hair and some wrinkles on his face. But this, rather than old age, shows maturity. He is Dorian Aranis, a blue-eyed and very handsome man with whom I have been well acquainted since...
'That's the same guy who sent me to the reconnaissance group! I curse the day I met him!!!'
After a long silence, Dorian said, "I ask you all..." He pointed with his hand towards the dividing river.
"What do you see there?"
That question caused everyone to start murmuring. But although there was much conversation, no one dared to give a direct answer to his question. Understanding this, the admiral general spoke again.
"What I see is life. The same life with which grow the medicinal herbs that, when you were children, you smeared to recover yourselves, the one that freed the needy from thirst, and the one that helped you come here to stand before me,"
Everyone remained silent, listening fascinated to Dorian's words.
"Water, regardless of race or intelligence, forms a natural cycle on itself and the life of those around it. It is a beautiful way of understanding life... But!..."
His last word sent shivers down the spine of everyone present, and I was no exception.
"The Drial Cenit kingdom seeks the destruction of this cycle... and we will not allow it!"