Chapter 2105 - 561: Aftermath Tasks (Part 3)

As for the Campbell Duchy?

Although there have been some "rumors" of the Spirit from the frontline, both the frontline officers and the commanders at the rear chose to turn a blind eye.

There's no direct evidence that the Gutaf Kingdom used Undead Magic. What if they employed the "Seal" technique from the Gana Continent?

And then there's the Dragon Language Magic.

In any case, since it's an ally matter and they didn't steal their corpses, even Edward tacitly allowed this harmless desecration.

The only one interested in the rumors about the Spirit might just be Erin, but she's busy dealing with the Divine Chosen Rats and Alchemy Golems appearing all over the frontline, unable to spare any effort.

In just three days, the Gutaf Kingdom's First Corps and Campbell Duchy's First Mountain Corps pushed the frontline nearly thirty kilometers north!

Countless Ryan people were rescued, and the displaced persons outside Cold Crow City even neared the ten-thousand mark, nearly reaching one-tenth of the local population.

Thanks to Vivian's Saint Colin Hospital Knight Order, these people survived, avoiding death by plague or wound infection.

As for the mental wounds, it might take a long time to heal...

The frontline.

The soles of boots crushed the weathered shale, producing a teeth-gritting sound.

Dickbin stopped walking, wiped the dusty sweat from his forehead, and looked forward while comparing the map in his hand.

Here, the altitude is twelve hundred meters.

Although the mountain temperature is slightly cooler than below, that fierce sun shows no mercy, almost baking the silver medal on his chest.

On the morning of July 11, 1054, Aus Calendar, Dickbin, a second lieutenant of Campbell First Mountain Corps' Laine Camp 1st Company, 1st Platoon was ordered to lead a platoon of young men to the casting group's position which had previously rained Fire Meteors onto Laine Camp and plant Laine Camp's flag there.

Until now, Sir Dickbin still remembers that night of hell vividly, where nearly an entire camp of young men was sent to heaven by the Fire Meteor in their sleep.

After that thrilling "meteor shower," Duke Edward personally inspected the frontline.

He didn't punish anyone for Laine Camp's heavy casualties, instead, he fairly promoted every outstanding survivor.

The nearly hundred surviving soldiers became experienced veterans, taking the new recruits and refilling Laine Camp's ranks.

Even Dickbin received an equal reward, his military rank rising from Junior Sergeant to Second Lieutenant.

Honestly, when that badge was pinned on his chest, he almost couldn't believe it was real.

He always thought Edward had tossed him into this meat grinder-like frontline purely from annoyance with a nagging envoy and an open shaming of the Devalu family.

But now, he had a different view of that Duke and finally understood why the Campbell Duchy was so formidable.

If someone like him could be justly promoted, what strength could possibly stop this Duchy's iron hooves?

He didn't want to discuss Theoden's matters, as that was his Majesty, but he knew clearly that the seemingly broad-minded King couldn't even tolerate a chef.

"Platoon leader, ahead is that casting point."

A young soldier's voice interrupted his thoughts.

The kid was only sixteen, with some lingering childishness on his face, yet clutching a rifle taller than himself.

Dickbin composed himself and signaled the team to follow.

"Stay alert, watch out for rats lurking in the shadows. Although the brothers from Gutaf Kingdom didn't see signs of enemy activity, anything might happen on the battlefield... Saint Sis above, damn it!"

Dickbin couldn't help but curse as he spoke.

There were over two hundred corpses.

They lay askew in the rock formations inscribed with runes, most of their gray magic robes were tattered.

In midsummer, bodies bloated and deformed after three days of exposure emitted nauseating smells.

Several plump vultures startled by footsteps flapped their wings to struggle into the air from the corpse pile, their talons lifting several tattered cloth pieces.

The scene before them drastically changed the expressions of the young men recently baptized by fire, while even those veterans from the grilling heap couldn't help their throats from moving.

"Damn..."

The young soldier covered his nose, feeling his gut turn, but the anger in his eyes quickly overtook the nausea.

He kicked a broken Magic Wand at his feet, looking at the finely crafted remnants of magic robes on the ground, he cursed aloud.

"Saint Sis above, what more evidence do we need? Isn't this enough to prove the Academic State's direct action?"

On Aus Continent there are many adventurers and mercenaries, but only the Academic State can produce such neatly uniform magic robes and magic devices.

Sir Dickbin was aware, yet helpless. Not to mention these magic robes lacked school marks, even if there were, those mages could claim they were stolen... Even with clear proof, it didn't signify anything.

They may curse a bit in their newspapers.

It's not about being seen by the nobles of the Holy City, even Roland City upstream of Rushing River may not witness these things.

However, what needs to be done still has to be done.

"Use the Recording Crystal, capture it."