The Extra Wants To Live

In the desert, where the midday sun blazes, soldiers are taking a break in the shade, hiding in the crevices of towering rock mountains.

"Master Carl, would you mind not taking a break?" Billford asks Carl, who is silently looking out into the distant wilderness.

"Okay. I've had enough rest already."

Contrary to his calm words, Carl only slept for about two hours right after ordering a rest in the morning when the heat started rising.

This was because Carl was in good physical shape, but also because he couldn't sleep, unsure of when Camilla would make contact.

"Why don't you rest a little more?" Carl turns around and says, "Just because I'm awake doesn't mean you have to be awake too."

"I also got enough rest."

Billford hadn't rested long either, but he wasn't exhausted enough to collapse.

Catherine, after a short nap, woke early as well, checking on the soldiers and taking care of the tired horses.

"Are you worried?"

"Yes."

At Carl's sudden question, Billford answers calmly.

"I thought that Carl would take a more stable strategy."

Billford knows what kind of person Carl is. In a cornered situation, Carl is willing to risk his life to turn the tide of battle in one decisive strike. But he is originally a cool-headed strategist and politician, who moves step by step, securing victory before the battle even begins.

If the original plan were followed, they would have either executed a mobile war while blockading Jihan and seized control of western Tumaria, or they would have steadily deployed troops to block support for Jihan in advance.

"Do you know why we went north and then returned?"

"Isn't it to make Western Tumaria focus on defense? But I don't understand why we had to make a decision so hastily at this awkward time."

Carl advanced slowly northward, giving the castles and cities of northern Jihan and western Tumaria time to solidify their defenses. Because of this, it became impossible to storm the enemy's defenseless castles and cities with the fiery mobile warfare that had been originally planned.

However, they were able to blockade all movement in the western part of Tumaria, preventing them from interfering with Carl or supporting Jihan. So far, so good.

It was clear that Carl was completely swaying his enemies with simple troop movements, but Billford couldn't understand why they were wasting time and returning at such an awkward moment. And why were they trying to decide the war's outcome in a battle at this time?

"The Tumari rebels don't have the resources."

Carl watched the slowly setting sun, gauging the time.

"The battle with Yusuf alone is already overwhelming. If we destroy their support just once, we can advance north with peace of mind."

"But how can you be certain that this one support is the last?"

All of Carl's plans hinged on the assumption that the Tumarian rebels would only provide support once. But what if more came? Not once, but twice, maybe three times, or more?

"I can say for sure. This is the end. The opponent has no more room to move," Carl said in a leisurely voice. In the shade, Carl's blond hair shone brighter than in the pebbly desert, dazzling under the sun.

"It's not intuition; it's based on actual evidence."

"But you can't explain it," Billford said.

"Yes. The more losses, the better, and the more hidden, the better. Are you curious?"

"I am, but as you said, the more you hide your defeat, the better, so I won't be curious."

Carl was hiding something from Billford, but Billford felt no regret about it. Should he question what his lord is trying to conceal? If it's necessary, Carl would tell him plainly, and if it's unnecessary, he doesn't need to know, so it's better to ignore it.

Carl smiled faintly at Billford's stern attitude. Billford wasn't only first-class in talent and ability but also in his attitude as a subject. Leaving aside the information about Billford in the original, the Billford Carl knew was one of the few loyal subjects he could trust and entrust with work.

"Go ahead and take a nap. We have to reach our destination tonight."

"Yes, you too, Carl, must rest."

"Okay."

After Billford withdrew, Carl turned back and looked out at the desert.

"Support has started."

A shadow rose from Carl's armor around his neck, whispering in his ear.

"…There's no need to hide inside the armor."

"Because it's comfortable here."

Carl felt Camilla's shadow, hidden inside the armor, gently caressing his body. He rubbed the shadow on the back of his neck with his fingertips.

"Did you check the messenger?"

"After the first messenger arrived, I placed a bloody ring finger just in case, and I found the messengers that came afterward and eliminated them."

Camilla had come late because she had dealt with the second messenger. With this, Carl could now focus solely on destroying the reinforcements that had arrived from the east.

Camilla's talents caused the realm of strategy and tactics to be chaotic, and since she couldn't explain it, Carl had to lead everyone with his charisma. The best asset Carl currently had was, without a doubt, Camilla.

"Well done."

"Just words?"

"After the war."

"Do you know how long that will take?"

"Did you find Siana?" Carl spoke calmly, ignoring the shadow caressing his chest, which was slowly descending.

Camilla swallowed her disappointment as Carl didn't respond.

"Not yet… But I have to step forward before Sultan Yusuf's sword reaches my chin, if only to tease his black tongue."

No matter how powerful Siana was, it would be hard to overcome the terrible situation of a two-front war. If Yusuf, determined to use all his might on the Arbana River, reached them with his wizard and master, Siana would have no choice but to die.

So before that, to turn the difficult situation around, Siana would have to show up and use that black tongue.

"Camilla, kill Siana."

"… …"

Camilla hesitated at Carl's firm command.

"Your work here is finished."

"But…"

"This war is none of your concern."

Carl spoke with ruthless firmness to Camilla, who had accepted him in her heart and wrapped herself around him.

Camilla was no longer needed in the war that would take place in western Tumaria. The bloody apothecary was sufficient for information, and the Laurel Alliance would fare well in battle.

Camilla was unnecessary. What was needed was a specialty, not a hollow victory achieved without proper battle because commanders kept dying one by one for incomprehensible reasons.

This was war, but it wasn't war. It was all just part of a bigger political scheme. Hardion had to fight for a cause and shed blood for a cause.

"Siana must be killed. And the Black Tongue must be destroyed."

"…yes."

Carl wasn't giving orders to avenge Camilla but based on his cool-headed judgment. Knowing that, how could Camilla defy Carl's will?

"Seize the moment and decide the outcome in one go. When Yusuf reaches Siana and strangles him, kill him in one go and return."

"… … Are you worried right now?"

Camilla whispered softly into Carl's ear, somehow sensing his cold command. The shadow that had stopped crawled inside the armor again and tickled Carl's body.

"Exactly. Make it clear."

"Doesn't that mean we should move after ensuring safety?"

"No."

"Then why don't we just find Siana and kill her right away?"

"I need to kill him…."

"I guess so. Haha."

Camilla smiled, flicking Carl's ear before disappearing like a shadow.

Carl frowned at the dry sensation and the tingling pain on the back of his neck where Camilla had bitten him. He covered the nape of his neck where Camilla had left her mark. The violent hickey quickly faded, but Carl stood there for a long time, hiding his neck from everyone.

***

"Move quietly."

Taking advantage of the darkness, soldiers stealthily walked down the rocky mountain west of Jihan. They came out through a hidden passage near the gate, avoiding the visible path, holding onto ropes as they carefully descended the steep slope close to the cliff.

On the side of the rocky mountain, in a location where the enemy couldn't easily attack, about fifty soldiers huddled together, awaiting orders.

Among them were mana users, and there was even one noble magician.

After a while, the eastern gate of Jihan will open and the troops that pour out will begin to engage Hardion.

At that moment, we strike at their rear and cause confusion.

And if possible, get rid of that damn catapult.

'How stupid. How could you be relieved just because the mountain path was blocked?'

The soldiers of Tumarius laughed at Hardion's camp, which had retreated far away to avoid the onslaught from the high ground on the mountain.

You seem relieved that you've only blocked two visible paths, but you're not stupid.

There's no way that's the end, right? Of course you've created a secret passage.

Everyone gulps, feeling nervous.