I Was Abandoned by the Demon King I Served for 10 Years

Chapter 10

As the day broke, Durin immediately took action.

The Expedition Force, having efficiently dealt with the surrounding tribes, advanced toward the enemy camp without delay.

It was a march of heavily armed soldiers rarely seen in the South, where scantily clad barbarian warriors usually dominated, except for the Legionnaires. Verdia, the commander of the right flank, observed the advancing troops from a high ridge. With Aurela absent to rally the soldiers, the view became hers alone to savor.

A report has come in that part of the central forces has already reached the valley. It seems they intend to cross it within the day.

The Ghost Knights of the left flank are also nearby, so we’ll be next.

General Verdia, isn’t the Regent pushing this Expedition too hard? As a noble of the South, I’m deeply concerned for his Excellency.

By Verdia’s side stood young nobles from Ractelrun. They had joined forces when Aurela seized command of the right flank, seeing an opportunity to align themselves. Though they consistently displayed disdain towards her barbarian origins, traces of unease now seeped into their demeanor.

His Excellency the Regent has accounted for everything. Why say such things?

Isn’t there a risk of falling into a Rebel Army ambush?

Even after witnessing the strength of our forces that burned down the surrounding tribes, you still say that? I can’t fathom what you’re thinking.

The opponent is the Great Chieftain. We’ve fought him more than anyone else. And we’ll face him again this time.

It wasn’t you, but the Legionnaires who fought him.

Verdia smirked inwardly. The fear of death that young, hot-blooded nobles had experienced firsthand in war was now beginning to surface.

Concern for the Royal Guard? Such naive talk. In truth, they were afraid the right flank, composed of Southern soldiers, would crumble when faced with the Great Chieftain.

There’s one thing I must say before we proceed.

Speak, General.

In a glorious battle, great sacrifice is a given. What could be more honorable for a warrior of the South?

.......

I hope you share the same sentiment. Surely, you’re not disgracefully thinking otherwise?

The nobles responded with silence. Verdia clicked her tongue in frustration, glared at the pitiful lot, then turned her gaze to the distant sky.

That moment had taken place on a far darker night than now. Memories of her time with Durin replayed vividly in Verdia’s mind.

Verdia.

At your command.

Durin, immediately after meeting the Prophetess of Oracle, moved straight to his office. Two Southern demons standing guard outside accompanied him. As soon as he took his seat, he began issuing instructions.

From now, prepare the army and ready yourselves for deployment. Our Royal Guard is already prepared; only you remain.

Your Excellency, our Defense Force is always in combat readiness.

The Slave Soldiers have also completed their training. We can move out at any time without issue.

Aurela answered swiftly, cutting in, and Verdia promptly followed suit. The unstable right flank always matched its pace to the main force in this manner.

Simple readiness is not enough. We will advance deep into the Southern Continent.

Deep into the continent... Does that mean Rock Mountain?

Yes. The Rock Mountain they revere as their Mother. We will seize it.

Conquering the Mother of Rock. Verdia’s heart raced. It was instinctual, like the thrill of a demon. Imagining the destruction and the monumental legacy she would build upon it filled her with exhilaration. The thought of earning glory as part of the Expedition Force set her ablaze.

I will offer everything Your Excellency desires.

I will give my all.

The charged atmosphere excited them. The heat of the impending war stirred their demonic instincts.

But Durin shook his head.

The right flank will cross the valley but will not go as far as Rock Mountain.

Your Excellency? Then, where will we...

You will hold your position here.

Durin stood and pointed to a map on the wall. His finger landed on a narrow gorge. Aurela, born and raised in Ractelrun, could not discern much, but Verdia understood Durin’s intentions at a glance.

Are you planning to block the midpoint until the main force completes their mission?

Once we cross the valley, the Great Chieftain will attempt to lure our army to a favorable battlefield. Your role is to prevent us from falling for that temptation and to ensure we move toward the Expedition’s ultimate goal.

Durin turned to look at the two commanders.

You, along with the Dullahan Royal Guard, will fend off the waves of attackers. The success of this operation depends on this location.

Your Excellency, leave it to us. Not even a rat will get past us.

Verdia responded with a formal salute. Durin nodded in approval.

I trust you, Verdia, and Governor Aurela.

Durin placed a piece on his table.

Two units defending the narrow gorge against the advancing Southern warriors.

If you succeed, I’ll handle the rest. After Rock Mountain, their capital is next.

He clenched his hand, crushing the Southern piece completely.

Are you ready?

Of course. It’s been a while since we’ve set out, so I’m eager.

And now, as the Expedition Force crossed the valley, their mission began. Accompanied by Aurela, who had approached unnoticed, Verdia sounded the horn of advance.

Defense Force! Complete the final supply check! We’re crossing into the Southern Continent as well! Forward, all units!

Bwooooom—!

After meeting the Prophetess of Oracle, Regent Durin declared his intent to seize Rock Mountain.

Verdia, a barbarian, had no idea what he was planning. Simply surviving in the chaos of this era, created by the fleeing Demon King, was overwhelming enough.

Yet she never questioned herself. The Regent had given an order, and she would follow it.

Even if it meant annihilating her father’s forces, she was ready to comply.

I’ll make you regret the choice you made that day.

Verdia reflected on the day she was abandoned, cursing her weakness and fear that had left her powerless. She would fight on the battlefield to cleanse herself of those shameful memories.

#

Great Chieftain, they’ve finally appeared.

A messenger burst into the tent, speaking in an urgent tone. Gullan, the leader of the Southern Rebel Army, known as Blue Horn, clenched his fist tightly.

Their numbers?

Much larger than before—2,000. The forces they bolstered by pillaging nearby tribes exceeded expectations.

Even so, their overall strength remains the same. The Slave Soldiers, after all, yield no meaningful results.

He curled his lips into a sardonic grin. It was a calculated attempt to temper his excitement. For a Southern warrior, a grand war was like a magnificent painting to complete an epic tale. Facing an opponent as formidable as the Regent of the Castle was a joy he could barely contain.

He had sacrificed everything, abandoning even his kin and subordinates sent to the central forces to realize his dream of independence. In his heart, he resolved to harvest the fruits of that sacrifice this time.

"The Regent will likely prefer a swift and decisive battle. Bringing only a small elite force must be for that reason. Are they advancing toward us?"

"No, they are not. The Regent's army has set up camp on the plains immediately after crossing the valley."

"They must be wary of an ambush. To draw them in for sure, we’ll need to dangle some bait."

Gullan fell deep into thought. Underestimating such a small force would be a grave mistake. A single misstep could lead to the complete collapse of his army at the hands of their powerful elite troops. The disparity in power was evident, but this very fact could be used to lure the Expedition Force into complacency.

To them, Southerners were nothing more than barbarians.

After a brief deliberation, Gullan made his decision.

"Instruct the soldiers at the forefront to engage in skirmishes. It doesn’t matter how many die. Throw lower-ranked warriors at them and keep wearing them down."

"Great Chieftain, then where do you plan to finish them off?"

"Right here. We will settle it in this place."

The spot Gullan indicated was not a rugged rocky terrain but a relatively gentle hill and plains. It seemed to be a location where the Dullahan, who formed the core of the Regent's army, could move with ease.

However, that was only when viewed on the map. Upon their arrival, they would be confronted with a rough rocky terrain stretching far beyond their line of sight.

"When their movements become hindered, deploy the shamans and the Elite Beast Infantry to finish them off in one strike. Organize all the necessary forces until the baiting is complete. The moment they appear on the battlefield, we will unleash our full strength."

"Understood."

The time had come to shed the yoke the South had borne for a millennium. The officers within the camp roared their responses in unison.

In the chaos left by the vanished king, it was the swift warriors who seized opportunity. Gullan had no doubt about this. Perhaps, this grand battle could etch his name in history. The thought drove him to push his plans even further.

Yet chaos brought with it more variables than opportunities—a troublesome reality.

"Gr-Great Chieftain! The Expedition Force is heading in a direction other than the capital!"

"What? Does anyone know their exact target?"

"That…"

"Speak quickly!"

"It’s toward Mother's Rock Temple. The entire army is moving, not just a part of it."

Durin’s forces were advancing in the exact opposite direction of what Gullan had anticipated. They were accelerating their march to conquer what the Southerners held sacred—their Mother.

"Th-this cannot be…"

He had sacrificed 500 lower-ranked warriors as bait, but the situation had completely unraveled. The Great Chieftain could only clutch the crude map in frustration, letting out a heavy sigh of dismay.