“S-sir! We have to run now! That is the witch’s monster!”
“WE MUST RUN!”
“NO! I can’t… I must kill that evil witch’s monster…”
“Knight Geros was killed!”
The noble’s eyes opened in shock as he heard that the knight that charged against the Marauder was thrown up into the air. As he fell and tried to get back on his feet, the machine ran on top of him, crushing his body into a mixture of blood and flesh.
“It’s the curse… Curse of the witch!”
Soldiers knew the tales of the Witch of the Khalodian, but they mostly ignored because it seemed very exaggerated. Since they saw the terrible sight that was left by the Red Monster, they knew it was true.
Soldiers began throwing away their weapons to run in all directions. Officers tried to keep them in formation, but it was no use. Soon, they also rode their horses to run away from the attack.
“Hey! You can’t be running already!” Jinpok shouted angrily as he watched. He couldn’t even fire a shot yet.
“They all ran!”
Jinpok frowned as he watched the battlefield littered with dead bodies. He then turned to the back.
“They’re here.”
“We’ll return now.”
“Yeah. But to think that one Marauder will change the outcome of war so easily.”
The Marauder was more effective than assassination. This vehicle let out a roar and rumbled, making it look like a real monster.
“They believe in myths. That’s all.”
“Oh, right. They do believe in witches.”
“These people do not know what they are up to. Even when they were sent out to their deaths.”
“I see. But is that why?”
“Huh?” Joonbum asked back, confused. Jinpok smirked.
“The reason why only the two of us came here.”
“Oh… yeah, part of it is.”
Joonbum sighed.
“Hey, I know you mean well, but you shouldn’t overdo it. If you keep winning wars like this, the people will not know to grow to be thankful for you. They will never want to fight a war ever again. What do you think will happen if you are not there, or if you refuse?”
“I see.”
Joonbum groaned. It was something he never thought about. They moved out of the battleground and returned to the forest. Joonbum was deep in his thoughts.
‘I can last ten years, but who knows? I should not rely too much on the stuff from Earth from now on.’
Joonbum started a bonfire and began preparing some coffee.
“Are you done thinking?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Should we go for some more?”
Joonbum nodded. Their goal was to disperse the army and show them the might of Khalodian.
“If we divide them into smaller groups, the armies from neighboring countries will attack them,” Joonbum explained quietly as he watched. Then the sound of a galloping horse approached them. The messenger soon arrived.
“Lord Joonbum. One-third of the army has been captured as prisoners of war. Viscount Dunahan and Viscount Dureno are following enemy troops from different sides and Viscount Ale is pushing the main army. Barisman forces will be retreating back to their country today. Viscount sends thanks to your aid.”
“What did he send us?”
“Yes?”
The messenger flinched as Jinpok asked. He then blushed and lowered his head.
“Go tell the viscount that we received the message.”
“Yes, sir!”
The messenger hopped on the horse immediately to remove himself confronting Jinpok. More messengers arrived with similar messages.
“How many more should we do?”
“Until they will not dare to start a war,” Joonbum smiled as he replied. After that day, they continued to attack Barisman forces that were preparing themselves to advance once again. They were attacked day and night with no way to fight back against the Marauder. Traps were futile and the only trap that seemed to work was to dig up a hole, but the Marauder seemed to know the whereabouts of the traps easily.
The news of thousands of Barisman forces being eradicated spread quickly throughout the kingdom. News of the first king of the Barisman Kingdom dying due to rage and shock spread along with it.