After casting the Light White Eomancy Spell ‘Far Sight’ again, I looked at the leeches from as I sat on the throne. Being rained down by salts, they were wrenching in pain as they struggle to be away from the salts.

But it was impossible as the entire field where most of the leeches were standing were already flooded with salts. I never thought I would mastermind a mass killing of hundreds of leeches with tonnes of salt but such is the wonder of life.

But thinking about how many bags of salt I had used, I can’t help but to think that I had jeopardized the surrounding supply and demand of salt. I think I have to write letters of apology to all the settlements nearby.

Thankfully, salt mines were abundant in Athryshiayl, so it wouldn’t be a problem for too long.

Also the salted grounds are now barren. I did think of the consequence but this much is fine I supposed.

As most of them were bleeding to death, I noticed the Cloud was disappearing as though some invisible struggle between the Cloud and the Wind of Eomancy, the Wind had prevailed.

It seems my theory hold water, as I had theorized that the leeches were like horses and the Cloud was like the chariot. Without the horses, the chariot cannot move and the chariot would kick the bucket.

Now that a major component of the victory had been achieved, the only thing we need to worry about is that Ultra-class Mal’eur but thankfully we have Sir Drafgnai but he was currently incapacitated as he was laughing hysterically on the ground with his eyes went teary.

He had been like that ever since he saw the proceeding of Operation: Salty Storm.

“Seriously, I never thought I lived long enough to see death by salt!!”

After he said that, he stopped laughing, got up and wiped his tears. I wasn’t insulted at all because if I were in his shoes, I’ll probably be overwhelmed with the desire to burst into a laugh by such ridiculous notion too.

“Sir Drafgnai, can you handle that Ultra-Class Mal’eur?”

“Aye, can do. If I got Katarinova and Therius to help me, it’ll be easier.”

“Alright then, inform all units to retreat to the fourth line!!”

After confirming with him, I stood up and shouted to all four towers.

“Aye!!”

As we retreated to the fourth line, I had walked on top of left frontal tower. I was looking at the first line of bunkers then the second line and then the third line all of which had been overran by Mal’eurs. Most of the bunkers were still intact but what I focused on were what was on top of them.

On top of each bunker was a canvas made of Kashra Paper and an Eomancy spell circle formation was etched on them. It was like the Deep Red Sealed Words that blown up the library of Folcruza but with circle formation.

The difference between a Circle Formation and Sealed Words was that the former was an organized form of stored spell that can only be casted by the caster that had control the formation and the latter was the most rudimentary form of Eomancy that had no origin circle but are still able to emit a rough Eomancy spell but of low in power that anyone that learned Eomancy of Colourless and the likes of my special ability can activate them although mine would do it much faster.

I activated [Synikorvus] and started Operation: Surprise Motherfuckers! Or the actual boring name Operation: Landmines.

One, two, three bunkers blew up as reddish explosion engulfed the surrounding Mal’eurs, burning them. The sudden explosions would disorient them and their instinct would throw into confusion.

Dozens of bunkers had been blown and hundreds of Mal’eurs was caught in the explosions. Seeing this, the regiment roared an exulted battle cry that resounded heavily in the air.

“Commander, we spotted another regiment from a far behind. It must be the reinforcement!!”

I sighed in relief. The others around me were shouting joyfully. With this, all three, battle weary line of units can finally rest as the reinforcement can take over.

For a moment back then, I nearly fell into despair at the sudden appearance of the Ultra-class Mal’eur but it was swept away as soon as it came. Now, victory is certain.

With that in mind, waves of fatigue had flooded me. About four hours had passed but right now, all I could think of was sleep.

So I fell on my back and promptly lie down. Good old floor, we met again.

--

The battle was an overall victory. Thousands of Mal’eurs had died on that field while on our side there about three hundreds or more casualties. The Cloud was fully dissipated and the Leylines were restored. Although there were straying Mal’eurs that had deviated and went into the forest on each side, the bordering patrols can track them down and eliminate them.

The Ultra-class Mal’eur was defeated by the combined effort of Sir Drafgnai, Katarinova, Therius, Ubermensch, Kiefy and Vefal. There was one thing that had baffled me from the start since this whole Incursion had started: Why were the leeches were heading here?

And that question was answered when I received a report from Rucrik that few of the leeches had escaped from the salted field and kept moving. Some of them were killed by the soldiers but a few were left alive as they were curious as though why the leeches were ignoring everything around them.

Then some of the leeches stopped at certain places and began to ‘dig’. After seeing the curious behaviour, the soldiers observing them had put them down and started to dig at where they were digging.

There, they found crystalized Eo Stones. An Eo Stone was a major resource and the reason why border villages existed. They can only be found near the border and they were quite abundant in the Endless Western Reach. The use of them are in a layman term, are like batteries to power up the various facilities in Athryshiayl like the Fhagecs.

After being mined, they would be sent to Tchekaz into a facility where the stone would crystalize the Eomancy Energies. A raw crystalized Eo stone leaks out Eomancy Energies that can attract sensitively attuned Mal’eur so after the process of crystallization, The Eo stone would be refined to suppress the leaking but the stones that they’d found were not refined.

It seems that the leeches are sensitively attuned to the Eomancy energies, so it isn’t any wonder that they can sense it and came here. Still who had buried them here? Who are these enemies?

It was a scheme only on a tip of an iceberg.

This reminded me of the disappearance of the First Sons of Eoum and a report of a massacre in one of their hideout.

It seems there was an enemy within the enemy.

……

Better not to think about this yet.

On another news, salt had become a high sought commodity and so the food that I was currently eating were lacklustre as there were no salt in it although we could pick them up from the salted field but everyone was apprehensive about bloodied salt.

“Just eat the gruel or you’ll grow too weak.”

Vefal chided me from the side.

It was just yesterday when the battle had ended, so the regiment was camping at the site of the battlefield.

Soldiers were recuperating and the Healers were scurrying about, checking the injured. Scouts went around gathering reports and Eomancers were burning the bodies of dead Mal’eurs.

We set up camps and built bonfires near the bunkers in the earlier morning.

Right now, Sitting and eating near our bonfire was Kiefy, August, Vassil, A sleeping log of a Krolve as he needs to enter hibernation for hours every time he use his Soul Weapon, Katarinova, Vefal, Ubermensch and I.

Sir Drafgnai went back as soon as the battle ended so he can bring the notified the victory and prepare for the after-battle ceremonies. Therius had already left without saying anything.

“I never thought we would participate in a battle against monsters but you never know what would happen in life right?”

August while eating, said as such.

“A complacent life back on earth huh? I think if I have to choose, I rather like it here, even with all this fighting.”

Ubermensch hearing August, expressed his opinion.

“I heard from Ruigne, that your world was quite peaceful but there were truly no monsters there?”

Vassil asked while looking at August.

“We have large animals like elephant or crocodile but I once told Vefal that, with our technologies, we’re basically the top in the food chain. Heck, if there is a monster back on earth, it’s us human.”

As I tried to at least savour the gruel, I said quite a pessimistic statement.

August and Ubermensch did nothing to refute.

Afterward, we had conversations about our daily assignment and whatnot. I was sandwiched between Vefal on my left and Katarinova on my right and they were talking to each other between me but I felt an invisible tension between the two of them or maybe it’s just my imagination.

Although I might act like I didn’t noticed but I had threw a few side glance towards Vassil. Although he looked haggard and exhausted because he only had three hours of sleep, he was staring at Katarinova with a solemn expression like an expectant father seeing her daughter had grown.

I do know that he see Katarinova like his own sister because of how long they had been together, so I can safely assumed it was that.

“Rino, I have something to tell you in private, would you mind coming with me?”

Vefal got up and held out her left hand towards Katarinova.

“… Alright.”

Katarinova took it and they left.

…….

“So it’s only us guys now, okay quick vote: Rino or Vefal? Who is better in their undergarments?”

Vassil suddenly leaned close and muttered quietly.

“Naturally, my sister.”

Kiefy answered without hesitating.

“Uh, I have to say Vefal just because.”

“Rino is the prettier one.”

“Yeah, Rino got the charm!”

August, the wobbling rooted Krolve would had awoken just now and Vassil said their choice.

All four that had answered looked at Ubermensch and me.

“I think… Miss Katarinova certainly looks beautiful but Miss Vefal isn’t far off.”

With a vague answer, Ubermensch deftly avoided taking the final answer just as I wanted to go first. I stared at him with a bit of resentment.

“Well,of course August would looked better in a woman undergarment.”

Everyone except Ubermensch and me groaned.

“Indecisive and Ruigne, the image of scantily dressed August had burned in my mind!”

Vassil snickered at both of us. We all laughed as we realized that the laidback and calm times had descended upon us once again.