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Chapter 21: Break the Encirclement!

「Uncle Athos! We’re running!」

「Right!」

Uncle Athos and I burst out of the Vaffancrow Empire’s command tent at full speed, heading straight back to the Barbar Mercenary Party camp.

I checked the [Sma-ho!] skill screen—enemy forces from the Kingdom of Algeas had completed the encirclement.

If we didn’t break through now, we’d all die here.

By the time we reached our camp, it was already a fierce battlefield.

I shouted out orders as loud as I could.

「Get the wounded to the center! Load them onto the donkey carts!」

「Gaia! You’re late!」

「Sorry, Rosso! Just hold on a little longer!」

「Hurry up, damn it! We can’t last much longer!」

At the front line, Rosso of the Great Lizard Tribe was bracing behind a shield wall, urging me to get moving.

(Move it, Crown Prince! Come already, you idiot!)

As I helped treat the wounded, I cursed internally. I had no intention of dying alongside that pudgy fool.

Worst-case scenario, I’d leave him behind.

「Gaia! The Empire’s forces are on the move!」

「Oh!」

Uncle Athos pointed.

The Empire’s soldiers were surging toward the western road—the one that led to Pyrrhus.

It was chaos, but better to run in disorder than get wiped out.

「Hey! You there—Barbar scum!」

I turned to find Crown Prince Muno approaching on horseback with his entourage.

He even had a woman riding behind him.

Well, I suppose abandoning the women would’ve looked bad…

I switched to the Empire’s language and saluted him.

「Your Highness. We’ve been waiting. Time to escape!」

「Are you sure we’ll make it?」

「Absolutely! Leave it to me!」

The Crown Prince’s face was pale.

I grinned and thumped my chest reassuringly.

Beside me, Uncle Athos was sneering wickedly. He was probably thinking about how we could squeeze a fat reward out of this later.

「Barbar Mercenary Party! Time to break out!」

「「「「「Yeah!」」」」」

「Elranief! Use magic!」

「Understood!」

Elranief, the Elven chieftain, responded at once.

Elven fire magic exploded among the enemy lines.

Booming blasts and flashing flames lit up the field, sending Algeas soldiers flying.

A hole opened in the encirclement.

Their formation was hasty—thin.

We could break through!

「Rosso! Go!」

「Yeah!」

Rosso of the Great Lizard Tribe led the charge.

As enemy soldiers moved to close the gap, Rosso knocked them aside with his shield.

Barbar warriors followed right behind.

「Follow Rosso!」

「Don’t fall behind!」

「Forget killing! Just break through!」

I stood atop Donkey’s cart, surveying the field.

The enemy’s movements were fast.

From what looked like their main command, orders were flying, and a unit was heading straight for us.

I turned and shouted at the Crown Prince and his group in Empire-speak.

「Stay close! Don’t fall behind! Move it!」

I and the surrounding Barbar warriors plowed ahead, carts and all.

Donkey ran for dear life, the cart shaking and rattling.

That’s when I locked eyes with a man in gleaming armor—an officer of the Kingdom of Algeas.

(That’s Crown Prince Alex!)

He had slicked-back black hair, a sharply defined face, and a warrior’s physique.

And he was super competent on top of that? Talk about overpowered.

I shouted at him in the Algeas Kingdom’s language.

「I’m Gaia, chieftain of the Blumund Tribe! We are the Barbar Mercenary Party! Remember us!」

I thrust my right fist toward him, locking eyes with a glare.

Crown Prince Alex noticed me too—he pointed his own fist right back.

We both smirked as we passed each other, our gazes never breaking.

「We’re through!」

「We broke the line!」

Cheers erupted from the troops around me.

I turned forward again and gave my next command.

「Keep going straight ahead! Right for the northwestern forest!」