Side Story 107: The Two Strategists (14)

Questions arose one after another as Kruger descended the hill without managing to organize his thoughts—a nightmare of a situation he never could have imagined.

What on earth was happening?

Why were we being driven back so one-sidedly, retreating with our tails between our legs?

Had the enemy commander really killed Salute just now?

How was he supposed to explain this to the King? Was he supposed to tell him that ten thousand soldiers had been defeated without being able to do a thing? This was not something a mere reprimand would settle.

No, we hadn't lost all ten thousand soldiers. Two thousand of the advance force—no, nearly three thousand—had been taken out, but I had managed to decide on a retreat with minimal losses. In the first place, we were in this situation because Rajur had foolishly picked a fight with Aarsel.

It was all Rajur's fault. That's right. Rajur was to blame. It was only right to make Rajur take responsibility.

Kruger desperately thought of excuses.

And that was precisely why he failed to notice at all.

The unit watching him from within the forest...