How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 284 - Preliminary Battle (2)

“Charge!”

The loud sound of the alarm bell echoes through the logistics base. In the late night hours, the busy movements of soldiers who were sleeping can be felt. The same was true for us.

It was a risk we had anticipated from the beginning. The cavalry had been keeping their distance from us, but with the sound of the alarm, they began their charge.

Under the dim moonlight, we crossed through grass that reached our waists. The advance of the three Sword Masters was faster than the mounted cavalry.

We had to break through first. Mondegreen took the lead, with me on his left and Denif on his right.

“Are we moving according to plan?”

“Yes!”

It was a prearranged situation. If there was one Sword Master, Mondegreen would face them first. If there were two, I would be next, and if three, Denif would join in.

I used winds to scout the enemy camp. Among the soldiers moving busily, there were two who rushed out first.

“There are two! For now!”

“Then you and I!”

“Yes!”

I nodded at Mondegreen’s words. If there was another one, Denif would join in, but this was the best option. It was arranged based on current skill levels after all.

Denif’s role was to deal with the other soldiers to help the cavalry break through more easily.

At the planning stage, there was some minor objection from Denif. He said he wanted to fight too. But he couldn’t argue strongly.

It wasn’t just me, but Mondegreen was with us too. When we told him to save his strength for the final battle with the Great Devil, he understood.

Denif, who had been charging with us, slipped back slightly. The plan was for him to clear the way by dealing with soldiers first, and then join as reinforcement if the situation turned strange.

No matter how much difference in skill there is between Sword Masters, it’s difficult to handle two Sword Masters.

‘If there isn’t another one hiding, our victory is certain.’

In any case, the enemy Sword Masters’ movements were faster than imagined. One of them had been on guard from the start.

Before we could launch a surprise attack on the base, they revealed themselves on the plain in front of the base.

Mondegreen quickly assessed them. He was supposed to face the more experienced one. They appeared to be of similar age. Their aura was also similar.

I waited for Mondegreen’s words. As the distance closed to 20 meters, Mondegreen spoke.

“I’ll take the one on the right.”

“I’ll take the left.”

Mondegreen kicked off the ground. I also turned to the left. Words were unnecessary in this situation. At least for now.

I had thoughts of trying to persuade the enemy Sword Masters, but with the cavalry charging from behind, interference was the priority.

I drew Moonlight. The other side had already drawn their swords. Moonlight gleamed with moonlight. The moonlight on the sword was brighter than the dim moonlight in the sky.

The Sword Master approaching me narrowed his eyes. The enemy’s Sword Energy was like a red flame. It was clearly the Sword Master Ignite.

Moonlight and flame clashed in the air between us. Clang-! As the two Sword Energies collided, our swords met. Before the first metallic sound ended, four more clashes followed in quick succession.

Up, down, left, right. My hands and feet were busy. I realized that the opponent was no ordinary foe. Of course, that was to be expected.

The Sword Master I was facing appeared to be in his 40s, which meant he had been wielding a sword for at least 20 years longer than me.

Boom-! A loud noise came from Mondegreen’s direction. Fortunately, Mondegreen seemed to have the upper hand there.

“You must be Carl Schurtafen.”

As I pushed back the opponent’s sword while pulling my right foot back, the Sword Master spoke in a low voice. I took a short breath and thrust my sword.

“Has my fame spread to the east?”

“How could we not know about the nemesis of the devils?”

“And you must be Ignette.”

“I’m honored.”

The conversation was casual, but our swords were not. Flame and moonlight intermingled frantically between us. Even though it was just Sword Energy, I felt the heat.

It was as if there was a flame right in front of my face, even though it didn’t touch me. The fortunate thing was that my moonlight wasn’t consumed by the flames.

“Why do you work for them?”

When I examined Ignette’s face, I couldn’t feel any hostility towards me. Even this current battle seemed closer to a sense of duty.

Persuading the eastern Sword Masters was one of my goals. I thought the possibility was not small.

No matter how much weaker they are than devils, Sword Masters are people close to being superhuman. They are those who have opened new horizons with their enlightenment.

It was hard to believe that such people would sincerely follow devils. They must have their own circumstances.

For example, high loyalty to the kingdom, or situations that forced them into it. I deflected a sword aiming for my neck.

Ignette remained silent at my question. He just thrust his sword at me with a bitter expression.

“Surely you don’t truly follow the devils.”

It was then that a change appeared in Ignette’s eyes. A bit of anger, you could say. The flame Sword Energy came in diagonally.

It was more reckless than before. And that meant my words had provoked him. As reckless as it was, an opening appeared.

I extended Moonlight and snapped my wrist. Pushing aside the sword coming in diagonally, I thrust my sword towards Ignite’s right chest.

He hastily twisted his body. The moonlight grazed Ignette’s clothes. It was a pity, if I had done better, I could have landed a hit.

“It’s not too late. If you join our side now…”

“Well, if you go to the northeast now and save my daughter and wife, my mind might change.”

Ignette said firmly. The red flame approached me again. The momentary wavering seemed to have passed, as his flames had regained their composure.

I parried his sword and racked my brain. Hostages, huh… It was a scenario I had considered. That’s why it was the worst case.

Rescuing a Sword Master’s hostages was a difficult task. Of course, it was worth the risk. We know of three Sword Masters in the east.

It was worth taking the risk to gain one to three Sword Masters at best.

‘But the possibility is the problem. And the situation is different from before.’

The east is vast. Even if limited to the northeast, it’s the same. The Sword Masters in the east, though weaker than devils, are among the enemy’s elite.

If their families are their leash, it means the devil worshippers have naturally paid attention to this.

I could tell without seeing that they would have scattered and hidden the hostages. Otherwise, the Sword Masters would have moved together.

Even with ‘Star Cluster’, it would be difficult to locate all of their positions.

Even if we knew their locations, rescuing everyone simultaneously was another problem. There were many difficulties.

Even if we managed to rescue everyone, the families of Sword Masters are ordinary people.

Even if they had basic training, if they were daughters, wives, or parents…

There’s no guarantee they would be mentally sound in a season that doesn’t exist in the world. No, the probability of them not being sound is high.

‘And they’ve probably already been brainwashed by them.’

And the situation being different from before was because of the Great Devil. The previous devils couldn’t see the season that doesn’t exist in the world.

But just as I could see the Great Devil, the Great Devil could see me too. Even if it was a small possibility, it was difficult to reveal something to use at the moment of the final battle.

Even if the devil had some understanding of my abilities when I dealt with it last time, seeing it in person is a different matter.

Moreover, to fulfill that request, how to handle the fight here was also a problem.

‘In such uncertainty, there’s no way they would readily accept my proposal.’

Ignette swung his sword widely. The red flame came like a wave. I blocked it by creating a full moon. He nodded at me.

“What do you think?”

While I was lost in thought after hearing his words, our exchange was incomparably calmer than before. We weren’t completely still, but it was nothing compared to what was happening beside us.

Boom-! Unlike us, the fight between Mondegreen and the other Sword Master continued to produce sounds of things breaking.

“Is it difficult?”

I thought that despite his words, he might have been harboring hope in me. Ignette must have heard various things when he joined their side.

I was someone who had been giving devil worshippers a hard time. Just look at how I recently killed a devil in Fog Valley.

“I could try, but the chances aren’t high.”

Ignette showed a bitter smile as if he had expected this. Still, disappointment was visible on his face. The outcome seemed to be decided.

I used winds to survey the battlefield. Led by Denif, the cavalry was piercing through the soldiers of the logistics base.

“I expected as much, but hearing it directly doesn’t feel good.”

He sighed heavily and raised his sword again.

“It can’t be helped.”

“It’s regrettable.”

“That’s my line.”

It seems clear that Ignette had been worrying about his family’s safety from the moment he met me. Now that the conversation had gone awry, his attitude had changed.

“Do you plan to die here?”

At my words, he frowned one eye. He looked displeased. To be honest, I meant it sincerely.

The cavalry led by Denif had already broken through the soldiers of the logistics base. With a Sword Master present, it was to be expected.

From what I observed, there were no other Sword Masters here. Ignite is not a fool. He must have sensed Denif at the front of the cavalry.

We were three. This meant the outcome of this fight was predetermined. I thought the two Sword Masters would retreat by now.

‘From our standpoint, it would be good to deal with them now… but if they run away, it becomes awkward to chase them.’

If there isn’t an overwhelming difference in skill, it would turn into a long-term pursuit, and we might end up being drawn in instead.

So if Ignette and the other Sword Master retreated, I had no particular intention of catching them. But Ignette’s expression looked resolute.

“You don’t understand.”

The red flame on Ignite’s sword intensified. I also infused power into Moonlight. The moonlight illuminated the plain.

“They said they would return my family if I captured you.”

Right. The devil worshippers aren’t stupid either. They wouldn’t think of controlling a Sword Master with hostages alone. Carrot and stick is an age-old tradition.

“In that case…”

I took a short breath and readjusted my stance. The mana waves around Ignette became peculiar. It was a phenomenon that occurs when drawing on mana beyond one’s limits.

Well, with his family at stake, he would give it his all. He probably plans to deal with me before Denif arrives.

‘This might be a bit tough.’

It seemed that my fight would also become more intense, like Mondegreen’s battle that kept making booming sounds. Of course, I had no intention of shying away from the fight.

The Great Devil is stronger than Ignette. For my own sake, I won’t just keep defending until Denif arrives.