Chapter 292: Turning Point

Commander Victor of the Fourth Knight Division sat on the corpse of a giant orc, listening to reports from his subordinates. Frankly, he didn’t want to sit on such a eerie chair, but it was necessary to maintain the image of a robust and dependable leader.

Victor’s personal combat record included delivering the final blow to eight giant orcs and assisting in the takedown of ten others, showcasing his remarkable performance. If there had been a bounty on giant orcs, he would have become a millionaire in half a day.

Exhausted beyond measure, he couldn’t stand any longer. If a bed had been offered right there, he might have paid a hundred gold coins to buy it.

To maintain dignity while seated, he decided to sit on the prey he had brought down. Observing this, his subordinates interpreted it as:

“Commander is truly amazing…”

In reality, his legs trembled like a newborn deer’s the moment he stood up, so he was just covering it up.

There was good news. Following the main force, the separate unit had also wiped out all the giant orcs without letting even one into the village.

No harm came to the villagers; this would hold significant meaning in the future. Victor sighed softly with relief.

There was also bad news. Numerous casualties were reported among the knights and squires. Here, “squires” did not refer to servants but rather to candidates aspiring to become knights. They were no less valuable than formal knights.

Among the casualties were trusted knights he had known for a long time and promising squires. Victor listened to the report, enduring a painful tightening in his chest.

He regretted intensely. Why hadn’t he prepared more forces? Initially, he had thought even a hundred people were exaggerating. But in reality, it was far from enough, and he had ended up pushing his subordinates too hard.

Should he have investigated the enemy’s strength more thoroughly? Were the former Thirteen Knights who went on reconnaissance incompetent?

No, Victor quickly reconsidered. The most critical duty of reconnaissance troops is to return safely with information. It’s not hard to imagine what would have happened if they had forcibly entered a settlement where fifty giant orcs roamed; they would have only inflated the ranks of the enemy.

They had returned with crucial information. At that moment, the knights on reconnaissance duty had been outstanding. Just thinking about what would have happened without their information was terrifying.

Should he have reassessed the equipment and personnel based on the information from the advance team? While theoretically correct in a classroom setting, it turned out to be a poor move in practice. While leisurely re-evaluating, requesting reinforcements for the capital, the village would have been attacked by the giant oaks.

In warfare, the enemy acts according to their own convenience, which is natural but also troublesome. Thorough preparation is not always the correct answer.

The more he thought about it, the more Victor became unsure of what the correct decision was.

He had done everything possible within the limited time and information available. Any further regrets would be like saying, “I should have bet on the other side” after losing a gamble. It’s pointless to regret the unknown future after knowing the results.

It couldn’t be helped; he had done his best.

Or so he thought. Could the commander really leave it at that, with numerous casualties?

Should he have gathered more troops, specifically involving other knight divisions? Furthermore, preparing crossbow units would have made a significant difference.

…Ah, but that’s a pointless hypothesis.

He had thought it was excessive to send a hundred people; how could he have persuaded the other knight commanders?

The deployment of crossbow units would not have been approved. It could even invite the intervention of the church. Depending on how you look at it, they could be more troublesome opponents than the orcs or the allied nations.

An army incurs costs just by existing. Moving it incurs even more costs. The upper echelons preferred to keep deployments to a minimum.

It was almost miraculous that the king had allowed a hundred people to be deployed. If it weren’t for the camaraderie among the renowned swordsmen, he might have been pushed to accept half.

If the king hadn’t harbored a vague fondness for Victor and insisted on cutting it in half, the village and the Fourth Knight Division would surely have been annihilated.

Fate’s turning points are truly indiscriminate.

Once again, Victor found himself trapped in endless thoughts. His fatigued mind was being further worn down. If he let his guard down, he might faint right there.

“Commander…?”

Victor remained silent, still bowed down, so a knight reporting to him cautiously spoke up.

The knight’s voice brought Victor back to reality. He slowly raised his head. A smile that seemed glued on appeared on his face.

“So, it means we’ve won a great victory, doesn’t it?”

“…Yes, sir. That’s correct, Commander.”

The knight showed a momentary hesitation but quickly understood Victor’s intent and nodded.

“We’ll provide compensation for the wounded. We’ll take care of the families of the deceased, ensure their livelihoods continue, even if I have to get hold of His Majesty by the neck and squeeze out the money.”

“Commander, that statement worries me.”

“No one’s listening except for this guy.”

While saying that, Victor kicked the carcass of the giant orc with his heel.

“Tell the wounded what we just discussed to put their minds at ease. And of course, there will be rewards aplenty for those stubborn survivors as well.”

“Yes, thank you very much. Everyone will be delighted.”

After the knight thanked the commander for his concern and hurried away, Victor lightly moved his legs to check his condition. The numbness still lingered, making it difficult for him to stand.

Things began to get noisy. A familiar trio was approaching them.

“Ah, looks like it’s over…”

Their safe return meant that the whole series of events had been resolved.

Keith straightened his posture before Victor and snapped to attention. Victor, with a tired expression but a genuine smile, welcomed the heroes.

“Keep your report brief, just the results. I’ll hear the details later. So, what happened?”

“We’ve disposed of the mushroom source of the infection.”

“Phew,” Victor let out a short whistle. That was it. Those were the words he wanted to hear. Now he could give a good report to the king and the villagers. Above all, he could proudly say that those who had died did not die in vain. It was a moment when this nightmare-like battle was rewarded.

Seeing Victor’s relieved smile, Keith looked somewhat apologetic and took out a book from his tool bag.

“Um, there’s something I want to show you, Commander…”

“What is it, a love letter?”

Victor made a dull joke as he took the charred book. The contrast in his expression afterward was simply severe.

Keith later recalled that moment, saying he truly regretted what he had done.

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