The Overlord of Blood and Iron

Chapter 15. Monster Subjugation (3).

Kang Chul-In, in the eyes of Rustler and Lana, was like a beam of light.

The impending doom, and the invasion of the Orcs.

And the Sovereign that appeared at the moment of death.

The strength and prowess of slitting the Orc’s throat in one stroke while on the back of a white horse. For this father and daughter, Kang Chul-In was their life savior and a rope sent by the heavens.

‘Oh, my Lord has come…!’

Rustler was overcome with awe.

It was the same for Lana.

She thought she was going to die.

The Orc’s fierce cries when she and her father had fallen to the ground was enough to bring chills down to her bones. And when she had given up all hope and accepted her fate, a miracle happened.

‘Oh, my Lord…!’

Lana, as her life hung from a thread, felt her heart pounding as she saw Kang Chul-In on top of the white horse.

‘He is Laputa’s Lord…!’

Amidst the bloody situation, a spring wind formed in the heart of the young girl. It was an unforeseen thing, but it was understandable. A knight on top of a white horse was every girl’s dream!

However, Kang Chul-In had no interest in the feelings of Lana.

And he never even looked at her in the first place. He solely focused on the Orcs that were to harm his people.

“You four!”

He called to the soldiers who were armed with shields and spears.

“Move that father and daughter to somewhere safe.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

The four soldiers who were commanded quickly moved to Rustler and Lana, escorting them out of the danger.

“James!”

“Yes, my Lord!”

“Take ten soldiers and protect the people escaping. I will take here.”

“But…but… how will you…!”

“Now!”

“Ye…yes!”

And like that, James and ten soldiers left the group.

‘Fifteen gone. 35 left. This is enough. I will end this in 10 minutes.’

Kang Chul-In, who had divided the little he had, remained calm.

“Those with shields, come forward and maintain a close formation!”

Kang Chul-In roared and began to lead the troops.

“Those with muskets, head to the back!”

The troops moved quickly with Kang Chul-In’s orders. They were quite good in following orders.

Squelch!

Squelch!

The Orcs, that until a couple seconds ago was looking forward to their killing and stealing, showed their fangs and screeched at the unexpected visitors. They were menacing.

‘How dare you?’

Kang Chul-In’s eyes, that were looking at the Orcs, were filled with disgust and anger.

Dirty living things that would have not even been able to look at him before, were threatening him and his people. This was disrespect unforgivable by the Grand Sovereign Kang Chul-In.

“Sigh…”

Kang Chul-In dismounted from his horse with a loud sigh.

He did not fit well with horseback riding.

The speed and weight that a running horse brought was definitely powerful. He had just killed an Orc with one swing. They did not call Calvary troops powerful for nothing.

However, with battles like these, it was better to just fight on foot. Kang Chul-In himself also preferred to fight with his two feet on the ground compared to on a horse.

“Musket soldiers, calmly shoot!”

Kang Chul-In ordered immediately after he had gotten off his horse, and joined the Royal Guard’s ranks.

Boom! Boom!

The Breech Loading muskets that loaded every two shots, fired at the Orcs, leaving a thick smoke.

“Shields, hold! If you crumble, we all die!”

Kang Chul-In worried most about those who faced the Orcs in the front of the line. In order for the musket soldiers to safely fire, the role of the shield holding soldiers were important.

“Use your spears when you can! Aim for the neck!”

The soldiers’ spears penetrated the Orcs’ necks.

‘Orcs are nothing.’

In the face of Kang Chul-In who was staring at them, was a smug smile.

Orcs were quite dangerous monsters.

Even for Kang Chul-In, in his current state, it was difficult to take on even two Orcs. If he had overextended himself, three. And if four, then he too would have to put his life on the line. However, that was in case of a 1:1 battle. He had an army.

Orcs were strong, but their only tactic was to use their large physique and group together to break and hit everything in their way. It was primitive and one sided. This might be effective in a scuffle or hand-to-hand combat, but if it was a battle with ranks, it was a different story. Humans knew how to group, and knew how to use that to their advantage. Especially Kang Chul-In, the master of war strategy!

Boom! Boom!

The ten musket soldiers fired their weapons again.

‘Reload!’

The basic musket had two fires. A bit of time was needed after two blows in order to reload.

“Shields! Push harder! Hold!”

Kang Chul-In yelled.

If there was a threat, it would be this moment.

The moment where firepower had seized for a quick moment during reload—it was a bit of time for the Orcs to attack.

Kang Chul-In’s prediction was right.

Squelch!

The Orcs who had realized the flying bullets stopped for a short while began to advance fiercely. They were monsters with a bit of intelligence.

“Prepare well and brace yourselves! It won’t be easy!”

Kang Chul-In warned the soldiers holding the shields in the front of the lines.

Boom–!

An explosive sound was released as the soldiers’ shields and Orcs’ body met. The soldiers swayed. An Orc’s average weight was about 120kg, much larger than a human. It also had great muscular strength. It was expected.

‘Danger.’

Kang Chul-In, when he saw this, realized that it was his turn. He could not just sit back.

If the front formation was destroyed, then the soldiers will be hit by the Orcs in an instant. In order to win this battle, the formation must be maintained.

“Sigh…”

Kang Chul-In released a loud breath.

His heart pounded.

From the top of his head to his feet, he felt all his muscles tighten.

And a lone shiver went down his spine.

Because he was afraid?

No way.

Kang Chul-In’s body that had been away from battle was filled with excitement.

It was a thrill of sorts.

Like people who enjoyed extreme sports, Kang Chul-In enjoyed going to battle with his life on the line. It was something that the ruler of a land should never do, but what could he do. He was born a destined warrior and had a heart of steel. He could not control his blood boiling when he went to battle.

‘Let’s have some fun.’

Kang Chul-In left his spot from behind the shield and went towards the Orcs.

“Ah!”

“My Lord!”

A couple of the soldiers called to him when they saw his unexpected action.

“Do not worry!”

Kang Chul-In yelled.

“Do not concern yourselves and maintain the ranks!”

Kang Chul-In, after giving his order, began to swing his Blood Sword as if he was possessed.

Swish swish!

Thick weapons flew towards him from all directions. It was expected, seeing that he had made his way right in the center of the Orcs.

‘I just need to create enough chaos.’

Kang Chul-In, who had made his way into the Orcs as a Level 1 Sovereign, was extremely level-headed.

He knew something.

Orcs were much larger than humans, which meant there was not enough space for more than three Orcs to attack one person at once. Even if there were a lot of Orcs, no more than three attacks will come at once. Although, this was the typical ‘theoretical’ battle. It was easier said than done—therefore, this was almost suicide.

But Kang Chul-In could.

Countless, numerous battles and the swordsmanship of his past life was clear in his head. Although his physical state would not completely support him, it was enough to buy a little time.

Swish,

Swish!

The Blood Sword grandly drew deathly tracks as it bore through the Orcs. Kang Chul-In did not show brute courage and foolishness.

He faced the weapons that came to him, but he did not wrestle strength. If he did, he would break bones, or be in a disadvantageous position that would get him lynched by the Orcs. If he was to fight with strength, he would cross the valley of death. And therefore, the method he chose was to pretend to respond to the Orcs’ attacks while actually letting it flow through. It was a skill that was only performed by extremely well trained and experienced swordsmen.

“Huh?”

The soldiers were surprised when they saw Kang Chul-In.

There could have been no other feeling.

A Sovereign had used himself as a distraction amongst the Orcs… he had put his life on the line. A person of his status?

“You…you… retched Orc bastards!”

A soldier enchanted by Kang Chul-In’s example yelled with rage.

And that was the start.

“How dare!”

“I will kill you!”

“You dogs! Die! Die I said!”

As the musket soldiers were reloading, the other soldiers started to put forth immense fighting power and began pushing back the Orcs. They had skyrocketing morale, but it was possible because Kang Chul-In had disheveled the Orcs.

“Reload complete!”

The reload was finally done.

“Fire!”

Kang Chul-In roared.

He was still in the center of the Orcs. He could, by chance, be shot by friendly fire.

“Bu…but!”

“Just shoot!”

Kang Chul-In yelled and the musket soldiers slightly hesitated, but went into firing position, aimed at the Orcs, and pulled the trigger.

Boom! Boom!

Ten gunmen, and ten bullets were fired, aimed for the Orcs.

‘Down!’

Right before the soldiers pulled the trigger, he threw his body quickly on to the ground.

Squeal!

Three or four Orcs were shot and fell to the ground. The soldiers’ spears found its home in the fallen bodies.

The sharp spear penetrated their necks.

“Push further! Do not give them a chance to think!”

Kang Chul-In, who had moved to safety in a moment shouted, encouraging his troops.

And it was then.

The soldiers who had gotten the hang of the battle began to push further into the Orcs’ ranks. They adapted fast, as if to prove that nothing was better than practice.

‘It’s done.’

Kang Chul-In, who realized his troops had gained momentum, smiled.

From this moment, everything will fall in place. All they needed to do was to move like a machine, taking the Orcs one by one. Almost ten Orcs had fallen, so it was already a battle won.

“How…how can this…!”

Commander James who had returned to join Kang Chul-In and his forces, after evacuating the people of Laputa, could not believe what was happening in front of him.

It was a grand victory.

There was not one Orc alive. 20 Orcs were littered on the plains, cold and dead.

Compared to that, how were the friendly troops?

There were some with minor abrasions, but there were none with serious injuries.

“If you follow my lead and orders with loyalty, I promise no lives will be lost. Trust. Trust me, and do not doubt victory.”

Commander James remembered what his Lord had said right before the battle occurred.

‘Really, not one has died…!’

It was hard for James to believe what was happening, because something that he was on the fence about had become reality. To completely wipe out 20 Orcs with 35 soldiers! With no casualties!

“Did you evacuate the people to a safe location?”

James heard Kang Chul-In’s voice as he was marveling and admiring his Lord.

“Yes, my lord!”

James quickly turned towards the direction of the voice and answered.

And there was Kang Chul-In.

Kang Chul-In, sitting atop a straw bed, sipping beer like any other foot soldier.