Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Knock knock-.

Squeak-.

“Oh, sit down.”

Dojae sat down at one end of the round table in the commander’s office.

Inside, the captain, deputy captain, and each platoon leader were already seated and gathered.

Except for Squad 1.

“Everyone’s here, so let’s begin. Second-in-command?”

“Yes, let’s begin.”

Deputy Commander Song Hoon unfolded the large map laid out on the table.

He began reporting the situation using a long pointer.

“The current operation is about 70% complete. And Red Oak in Sector 7, Hoiin in Sector 1, and Death Ent in Sector 3 were maintaining a balanced equilibrium. However, this morning, we detected unusual movements.”

Song Hoon pointed to Area 7.

Until yesterday, this Red Oak sector had been under Dojae’s command.

“Bring up the image.”

Song Hoon gave the order to one of the extermination force soldiers. A few clicks sounded, and an image appeared on the large monitor placed behind him.

“These are the photos taken by Squad 2. Please review them first, and I’ll explain further afterward.”

The photo showed a dense cluster of Red Oaks.

Even at a glance, it was a considerable number.

The next photo was taken from closer range.

Each Red Oak bore a weapon and wore crude armor.

As if ready to march into battle at any moment.

“This was roughly four hours ago. Currently, they’re at war with the Death Ents in Region 3, and the Red Oaks hold an overwhelming advantage.”

“I heard it’s been just over a year since the Dungeon Break in Gaeseong…”

“Orcs have exceptional reproductive capacity and grow quickly. One year is enough for one to become a fully capable warrior. Don’t you know that?”

Hearing Shim Young-jin’s mutter, Captain Kim Hwan-soo scolded him.

Shim Young-jin looked at Dojae and made a sad face.

“Therefore, we’ve continuously conducted campaigns in Region 7 to reduce their numbers. Since they’re creatures that prey on each other between tribes, we thought reducing their numbers would lead to their self-destruction. But judging by these photos…”

“It means our judgment was wrong, and we’re in big trouble.”

“That’s correct.”

Song Hoon’s agreement dampened the mood.

Everyone sensed the aura of a major battle brewing due to this sudden turn of events.

“So what’s the plan?”

“The Red Oaks will engage in a full-scale battle at the end of Zone 3 once the fight with the Death Ents concludes.”

“What about Zone 1?”

“I have something to say about that as well.”

Song Hoon picked up his pen and drew a circle on the map.

Then, tracing a curve, he moved the pen from Region 7 to Region 3.

“This is the Red Oaks’ route. They bypassed Region 1 and circled around to move to Region 3.”

“They deliberately avoided the Hoiin territory.”

“Correct. They passed through the area our Chilgok Division had already cleared and headed for the Death Ent zone.”

“Sounds like there’s a smart one among them.”

“Yes, exactly. The Hui people won’t engage in combat unless their territory is invaded. Once they’ve dealt with all the Death Ents, we’ll be their next target.”

“So we’re aiming for the moment when the Red Oak and Death Ent battle concludes.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Song Hoon set down his pen.

Waiting for Captain Kim Hwan-soo’s decision.

And not long after, Kim Hwan-soo spoke.

“Each platoon is to terminate its current operation and assume full combat readiness. With this many Red Oaks, the battle will surely conclude by tomorrow. We will target that moment to launch our Red Oak extermination. Departure is scheduled for dawn, so platoon leaders are to ensure their members get sufficient rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

Song Hoon added one more thing to Kim Hwan-soo at the end.

“And I believe we should also recall the 1st Squad Leader.”

“Understood. All dismissed.”

Do-jae thought as he left the captain’s office with the other section leaders.

‘Come to think of it, who is the 1st Squad Leader?’

***

The next day.

All troops except a few remaining personnel had assembled in Sector 5.

Area 5 was separated from Area 3 by a low mountain range, making it ideal for both keeping distance from the Red Oaks and surveying the battlefield.

“This is practically a massacre.”

“It’s organized and disciplined. And more than a tribe, this… looks like an army.”

Kim Hwan-su and Song Hoon surveyed Area 3 from the mountain.

The battle between Red Oak and Death Ent was nearing its end.

The Red Oak’s momentum was even more formidable than anticipated.

“Commander, I don’t think a full-scale battle is feasible.”

Death Ent corpses were piled up like hills everywhere, but the Red Oak casualties were far fewer.

Given the Death Ent’s nature, being more sensitive to smell than sight, they should have the advantage in a round-the-clock battle. Yet the Red Oaks used fire.

The charred, half-burned trees scattered everywhere made that clear.

“I don’t see any Red Oak priests.”

“I see. They abandoned berserker mode for organization. Typical Red Oaks.”

Had they used Berserker magic, their amplified physical abilities would have turned them into living weapons focused solely on combat, ending the fight swiftly.

But the fact that the Red Oak priests didn’t do that meant they wanted to conserve their strength.

Ultimately, it meant the Red Oaks weren’t thinking only of the Death Ent, but what came after it.

“If we push through like this, our casualties will be severe. It was my misjudgment.”

“It’s hardly a mistake. Since it was just yesterday, let’s revise the plan.”

Kim Hwan-soo decided to abandon the frontal assault and devise a different plan.

The current number of Chilgokdae’s troops was vastly outnumbered compared to the Red Orcs.

Even if he and the other officers fought like one man against a hundred, each regular soldier would still have to face at least ten Red Orcs.

Especially in open terrain like this, with no cover or urban structures, if a melee broke out, they could be surrounded by Red Oaks, unable to fight back, and lose their precious lives.

“Sergeant Kang. Has Sergeant Kang arrived yet?”

“He left at dawn and is on his way here. He should arrive soon.”

Kim Hwan-soo nodded.

The 1st Squad leader was a formidable force.

If he arrives soon, it would be perfect for shaking up the battlefield.

“Revise the strategy. Assemble the section chiefs.”

Having given the order, Kim Hwan-soo gazed intently at a particularly ornate wooden structure standing in the center of the battlefield.

***

Song Hoon called the squad leaders, and they, already fully prepared and waiting for orders, quickly assembled.

“We’re changing the plan.”

Kim Hwan-soo explained the new plan.

The initial plan for all members to attack simultaneously was put on hold.

Each squad member would form a semicircle formation to the south and wait.

Then, the squad leaders, including Kim Hwan-soo, would personally infiltrate deep into enemy territory and begin hunting the Red Oaks.

This strategy was feasible because the squad leaders were capable of handling dozens of enemies alone.

“And in accordance with the commander’s judgment, all members will push northward from the south. Then the Red Oaks, now at a disadvantage, will naturally retreat northward and eventually clash with the forces in Sector 1.”

Divide and conquer.

It was a perfect strategy, given the Huai people’s determination to defend their territory.

Then, cautiously, Dojae asked.

“What if that doesn’t happen?”

Kim Hwan-soo looked back at him with a questioning expression.

“What do you mean, ‘if not’?”

“What if the Red Oaks don’t retreat? I think it’s too human-like to assume the Red Oaks would retreat when they’re at a disadvantage.”

Kim Hwan-soo nodded at Do-jae’s words.

“True. They’re monsters. But these ones are different. The fact that the tribes are united and moving as one sets them apart from the others. Plus, they’re trying to preserve their strength.”

Kim Hwan-soo stroked his sword as he continued.

“Our current course of action is to prevent them from advancing south. It doesn’t matter if they don’t push into Zone 1. We just need to block their southern advance and buy time until the reinforcements we requested arrive.”

Faced with Kim Hwan-soo’s firm stance, Do Jae had no choice but to concede.

However, this strategy was undoubtedly one that accepted casualties, based on the assumption that Song Hoon and the remaining members positioned in the south would hold out.

“I know this is presumptuous, but may I add one more thing?”

Do-jae asked once more.

Kim Hwan-soo looked slightly irritated but accepted it nonetheless.

“Go ahead.”

“Captain, does the unit happen to have any magic stones in its possession?”

Song Hoon, who received the question, thought for a moment.

As the overall manager of the unit, he had a general grasp of the quantities available.

“We have about thirty low-grade and lower-grade magic stones. And one upper-grade magic stone. But why?”

Magic stones were one of the crucial spoils needed for unit operations.

A single high-grade magic stone could cover a month’s worth of operational expenses.

“I won’t ask for the high-grade magic stone. Could you provide all the low-grade magic stones?”

“What? How much is that altogether? No…”

Song Hoon waved his hands to refuse, but Kim Hwan-soo cut him off.

“Give them.”

“Huh? What on earth would you need magic stones for in this situation….”

“Section Chief Lee, are you trying to make a golem?”

Kim Hwan-soo asked.

The golem that everyone in the unit already knew about.

Only Song Hoon, who hadn’t been particularly close with the other members, was unaware.

“Yes, I want to reinforce the rear with the golems. I also want to use them as shields to reduce casualties.”

“I heard it’s okay to be separated from the golems.”

“Active control becomes difficult at greater distances, but I can monitor the golem’s status up to 4km. Beyond that, it gets a bit tricky.”

“Understood. Then deploy this squad leader as close to the southern region as possible. Does anyone else have anything to add?”

“No!”

“We’ll depart within 30 minutes. Everyone prepare and assemble…”

Swoosh-.

Just as Kim Hwan-soo finished speaking, someone opened the tent flap and entered.

“Oh, Squad Leader Kang! We’ve been waiting for you!”

The long-awaited Section Chief of Team 1.

Upon seeing him, Do Jae’s eyes widened in surprise, and Shim Young-jin trembled violently.