The Extra Wants To Live

The agent respectfully presented Carl with a piece of paper containing detailed information on the enemy's force composition, troop deployment, and supply status.

"...."

Carl read it silently, his gaze dark and unreadable. Then, without hesitation, he threw the paper into the brazier, watching it burn.

The agent hesitated for a moment instead of retreating immediately.

He trembled, not raising his head as he knelt, before speaking in a small voice.

"Master, may I ask you something?"

"Camilla was treated and left behind to recover."

"...Thank you."

At Carl's calm words, the agent let out a trembling sigh of relief, bowed his head in gratitude, then stepped back and quietly walked away.

Camilla was important to Carl—she was a precious person—but ultimately, she remained nothing more than a pawn on the board. Even Carl himself saw her that way.

But to the bloody ring finger, Camilla was almost like a princess.

When contact was lost, everyone's heart had sunk.

***

Late at night, Carl sat alone in his tent, plotting tactics in his head.

Based on the information provided by the Bloody Finger agent, he examined all the enemy's possible tactics, selected the most likely one, and analyzed his forces' strategies to counter them.

His army outnumbered the enemy by 30,000 troops. Since the purpose of the Hardion Expeditionary Force was to "occupy the rear of the enemy weakened by civil war," 50,000 men was already an excessively large force. However, the war had expanded, and once again, they found themselves in a situation where they had to fight a larger enemy with a smaller army to secure victory.

Moreover, the proportion of conscripts in the current Hardion Army exceeded half. Unlike in the battles against Hidan or at Tishal Mountain, where Carl had executed perfect tactical maneuvers with highly trained soldiers, this time, it would be more difficult. Of course, with Carl's devilish charisma, even inexperienced soldiers could be turned into an effective fighting force. However, there would still be limitations.

In the first place, Carl had never commanded so many conscripts at once. He didn't know how far his influence could extend, so he couldn't deploy them like elite troops.

And the most significant threat in this battle was Siana's power.

From Camilla's delirious mumblings as she hovered between life and death, Carl had learned about the power of the black light that emanated from the book bound in human leather. That alone could change the course of the war. But when combined with the black tongue's power, the battlefield could become unpredictable.

"...Camilla..."

Carl was troubled by Camilla's absence.

As a commander, he coldly calculated the numbers, but as a strategist, he lamented the loss of his best asset at a critical moment.

If Camilla had been here, she could have located Siana in advance, kept her in check, and set up an ambush. The battle would have been much easier.

But lamenting what was missing wouldn't change anything.

Carl simply sharpened his blade in silence, mentally preparing both his soldiers' tactics and his own for Siana's demise.

Early the next morning, as the army prepared to march, scouts spotted Siana's forces and delivered the urgent news.

A hastily convened war council was held, and the nobles, eager for battle, passionately argued their strategies.

"Now that we've caught her in the open, this is the perfect opportunity! We must strike quickly and finish her off before she retreats behind castle walls with her 80,000 troops!"

Everyone desperately wanted to avoid a prolonged siege.

It wasn't just about logistics or the risks of an extended campaign—it was about glory.

If the enemy remained trapped inside the castle, the best strategy would be to maintain the siege and let them starve. Eventually, they would surrender without a major battle, allowing Carl to win without significant casualties.

Moreover, if Sultan Yusuf's army arrived from the east, Hardion's 50,000 troops would struggle against overwhelming numbers.

"If we advance at this pace, we will engage them tomorrow," Baduan assessed calmly, advising Carl. "However, we do not yet know how the enemy will react. The wisest course of action is to wait for more information before making our move."

Unlike the nobles blinded by the desire for a decisive victory, Baduan analyzed the situation with measured judgment.

"An enemy that discovers us may flee or attack. The priority is to understand their intent and develop tactics accordingly."

"Ahem, ahem..."

Although Baduan's words were formally directed at Carl, they were also a veiled warning to the reckless nobles.

"I believe Lord Jigel's suggestion is the most reasonable," Carl said. "What do you all think?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

The First Expeditionary Force and the nobles of the Laurel Alliance quickly voiced their agreement.

The military was already split into factions due to these arrogant nobles obsessed with gaining personal merit. Carl's intimidating presence and mythic status prevented open rebellion, but it still felt like leading an army weighed down by a tumor.

The issue of factionalism needed to be properly managed.

After all, war was driven by politics before it was won on the battlefield.

Carl stewed over these thoughts, waiting for the scouts to return with additional intelligence. In the meantime, he wasted no time—he meticulously planned for every possible move Siana might make, devising countermeasures and strategies in response.

Then, the long-awaited reports arrived.

Siana's forces had begun moving westward.

A wave of silent excitement spread through the command tent.

If they continued their march, they could engage as early as this afternoon.

"We will encircle and crush them," Carl ordered. "Time is short, so prepare immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

Despite the soldiers' enthusiastic response, Carl's face remained impassive.

Another battle loomed ahead.

But this time, the unknown variables were too many.

If Siana had fled and fortified her position, things would have been simpler. Instead, she was advancing, forcing an unpredictable engagement.

Carl tightened his grip on his sword.

The battle against the witch would soon begin.

Again, it's battle.

But this time the unknown variables are too big.

It would have been easier to take them down if they had run away and held a sit-in.