The man standing on top of the tree looked down at the scout.
"Know your place."
His voice was cold.
"You may be skilled, but you're still a scout in this group."
"I am in charge here."
"If you cross the line again, I won't overlook it."
The scout, who was standing on the ground, looked up at him.
He uncrossed his arms and gave a small bow.
"Sorry."
"I'll stay in my lane."
The man gave him one last look.
Then all ten members climbed down from the trees.
Something was clearly about to be discussed.
I wanted to listen.
But one of the men glanced at me.
"Kid."
"Don't stick your nose into things that don't concern you."
"I'll talk to this idiot."
"And this idiot will tell you everything afterward."
His eyes made it clear that he wasn't joking.
I decided it was better not to interfere.
I climbed down from Rusty and sat beside him.
I gently patted his neck.
Rusty lowered his head and licked my hand.
Behind us, the discussion began.
At first, they spoke quietly.
Then their voices grew louder.
And louder.
Soon, it sounded less like a discussion and more like ten men arguing with each other.
The scout who had brought me there didn't say a single word.
He simply stood with his arms crossed, listening to everyone.
Not once did he interrupt.
After several minutes, the argument finally began to calm down.
One of the men spoke.
"Enough."
He looked toward me.
"Kid."
"Don't drag us into your mess."
The others began moving again.
Within moments, they disappeared into the forest like the wind.
No footsteps.
No broken branches.
Not even a ripple in the swamp.
I stared at the place where they had vanished.
The scout who had brought me rubbed his forehead.
"Idiots."
"Just because they survived this long, they think they're geniuses."
He looked at me.
"Kid, follow me."
"The direction we're heading is the same direction the lizardman army took."
I immediately followed him.
"We've received information that the Northern Knights are getting close."
"They're almost at the area where the lizardman army is currently positioned."
"They should reach the nest soon."
He paused.
"Before that happens, we need to damage the lizardmen's morale."
"Heavy losses will make them hesitate."
I frowned.
"So we're attacking again?"
"Yes."
"But this time, we're not targeting the rear."
"We're going after the center."
"The center of their formation is somewhere inside the forest."
I looked at him.
"The center?"
"That's heavily defended."
"Exactly."
He nodded.
"That's why it's dangerous."
I thought about it for a moment.
Even with the explosive crystals, attacking the center would be extremely risky.
If we were surrounded, there would be nowhere to escape.
"The Northern Knights are almost here," I said.
"So why risk our lives for a few kills?"
"We don't need to destroy them."
"We just need to disrupt them."
"We could attack the rear again."
"Or the front."
"Why attack the center?"
The scout looked at me with irritation.
"Do you think I don't know that?"
He sighed.
"Those idiots want glory."
"They think they can earn some heroic achievement by taking down an important target."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And you know the best part?"
I looked at him.
Please don't say it.
Please don't involve me.
He looked directly at me.
"I was the first one assigned to this mission."
I nearly sighed.
Of course.
I swallowed.
"Sorry for asking..."
"But what exactly did you tell them?"
"They seemed unusually serious about that plan."
The scout smiled.
"I played on their egos."
I stared at him.
"So you deliberately provoked them?"
"Exactly."
He gave a small shrug.
"Sometimes, you don't need to convince people."
"You just need to make them believe the idea was theirs."
We stopped at an location.
He then sat beside the swamp.
"Rest for now, kid."
"We'll move soon."
I sat beside Rusty.
For the first time in a while, I had a moment to breathe.
I looked toward the sky.
My entire body was still aching.
My spear was damaged.
The axe blade attached to it was chipped and cracked.
My body felt as if someone had beaten me with a hammer.
But I couldn't stop.
We were heading toward the center of the lizardman army.
And I had no idea what waited for us there.
I looked at the scout.
There was something I wanted to ask him.
Before I could speak, he looked at me.
"I know what you're thinking."
I blinked.
"You do?"
He nodded.
"Don't worry."
"I'll cover you."
"I only need one thing from you."
"What?"
He looked toward the forest.
"Cover my rear."
"That's all I'm asking."
I stared at him.
He's actually asking me to protect him?
For some reason...
I couldn't help but smile.
Maybe playing on someone's ego really did work.