Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C16

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Chapter 16: The Battle for the Lumber Mill, Part 3

The cave dwellers in the lumber mill soon spotted a group of adventurers on the opposite bank of the river—a familiar sight in both and . A warrior led the way, flanked by two crossbowmen and a wizard, a common configuration in these lands. To the territorial creatures of , this intrusion was nothing short of provocation. Sharp whistles pierced the air as wooden gates creaked open, and a flood of cave dwellers surged forth—two squads numbering over thirty individuals waded across the river toward the intruders.

Splitting into two groups, they attempted to encircle the adventurers. The humans noticed the movement immediately; the crossbowmen fired twice, missing one shot entirely while the second struck its mark but failed to penetrate the thick hide of a cave dweller. The impact forced the creature back a step, sending water splashing—but it simply shook its head, raised its spear, and resumed its advance.

“Thick-skinned brutes,” muttered Clenia from behind the bushes, her brow furrowed. “The rumors weren’t exaggerating. Even if we faced a hundred of them, let alone a thousand, we’d be hard-pressed.”

“And fast too,” Yuta added. “They crossed nearly three hundred feet of river in seconds. That’s frightening speed—faster than the finest cavalry.”

“Faster than the finest?” Frein chuckled dismissively, towering over the others. “You’ve clearly never seen truly elite cavalry, Lady Yuta.”

Yuta stiffened, whipping her head around to glare at him.

Brandon nodded thoughtfully. The cave dwellers’ speed rivaled that of second-tier cavalry—slower than the best warhorses, perhaps, but Vonder’s most formidable mounted units rarely relied on horses. Take, for instance, the —the term referred not just to their tactical prowess but also to their mounts: . These airborne warriors were among the elite forces within Eruin’s armies, renowned for their precision and lethality.

“Enough bickering,” Clenia interjected sharply, cutting off the argument between Frein and the red-haired commander. “Look there.” He gestured toward the lumber mill. “There are over two hundred cave dwellers inside. No matter how skilled our mercenaries are, we can’t hope to overpower such numbers alone.” The silver-haired veteran shook his head, sunlight glinting off his hair as he turned pointedly to Brandon. “My lord, do you have a plan?”

Antietta snorted softly, recognizing Clenia’s thinly veiled attempt to shift responsibility. True, with Brandon and Cinnabar’s combined strength, even a direct assault wouldn’t pose much difficulty. Two Gold Rank combatants could easily handle a hundred Iron Rank foes, especially with reinforcement from the mercenaries and the three leaders. Within two hours, they could likely seize the mill through sheer force.

But allowing himself to be manipulated so openly would undermine Brandon’s authority. Antietta glanced at the young lord’s calm demeanor and knew he had already devised a strategy long before now. Thus, she responded coolly, “Cave dwellers aren’t adept at siege tactics. Sir Lorne of Basor explored their underground realms and documented their behavior extensively. On terrain like this riverside, their abilities are severely limited—even their signature tunneling becomes useless. No matter how tough their hides or swift their movements, once we secure the mill and turn to defense, they’ll be powerless.”

Frein looked at Brandon, surprised. “Is that so? So your choice of attack point considered this factor?”

Though Brandon maintained an impassive expression, his lips twitched slightly. No, he thought privately, this wasn’t planned.

Lumber mills near rivers were common for practical reasons: ease of transporting timber downstream and harnessing water power to drive machinery. Magical energy sources were still rare luxuries in remote regions like Tonygel. Beyond knowing Cold Fir City had four lumber mills, Brandon hadn’t delved deeply into their specifics. Their current state was anyone’s guess.

“We have a plan,” Brandon said aloud, nodding confidently. “It depends on how many troops our bait can lure out.” He smiled faintly at his nominal subordinates. “Relax. This battle won’t be as difficult as you imagine. Consider it a warm-up for our mercenaries to hone their coordination.”

Warm-up?

Not only the three leaders but also several smaller mercenary captains exchanged bewildered looks. Three hundred mercenaries facing over two hundred cave dwellers hardly constituted a “warm-up.” It seemed more like a grueling stalemate in the making.

“Just wait and see,” Brandon murmured, his gaze fixed on the unfolding skirmish below.

On the riverbank, the ‘adventurers’ began retreating toward the forest after realizing the cave dwellers’ intent. Though quick, they couldn’t match the natural agility of their pursuers and were soon cornered at the forest’s edge. However, the wizard in their ranks swiftly planted his staff on the ground and recited an incantation. With a rumble, stones and earth rose beneath their feet, forming a makeshift fortress roughly two meters high and three meters wide—complete with battlements and sturdy walls of compacted soil and rock. The structure shielded the four adventurers within.

Earthcraft.

Everyone was taken aback. Such effects typically required a third-tier Rule Magic spell focused on protective barriers. Though far from the legendary feats of sorcerers who could conjure entire cities from thin air, it demonstrated that the wizard on the field possessed at least peak Iron Rank capability.

Who would squander such resources?

Eyes darted around, seeking the master willing to deploy a third-tier Rule Wizard as bait. Only Clenia caught a fleeting, indifferent smile on Frein’s face.

“Frein, is that your man?” Clenia whispered, lowering his voice.

The Firelands Warband leader shrugged nonchalantly. “Mafeli—he’s the best wizard in my unit.”

“You’re reckless,” Clenia muttered, unease settling in. He studied the tall, silent Frein, then glanced at Brandon, whose composure remained unshaken. Suddenly, Clenia felt his own position waver. Despite having fought alongside Brandon during the night battle, forging what he believed was a solid impression, he now realized this stoic veteran had quietly formed an understanding with the young lord—and possibly more.

Clenia cursed inwardly but quickly refocused as the scene shifted again. After casting Earthcraft, Mafeli retreated behind the warrior and crossbowmen, leaning heavily on his staff as he gasped for breath. The spell had clearly drained him, yet its effectiveness was undeniable.

As Antietta predicted, the cave dwellers struggled against fortifications. Their powerful hind legs propelled them forward, but their weak forelimbs rendered climbing ineffective. When they leaped to attack, they met gleaming sword blades—and mid-air evasion wasn’t an option. Within moments, two cave dwellers were sent sprawling backward, their small bodies rolling several times before coming to rest on the riverbank. Their companions hesitated, slowing their advance.

Using echolocation, the cave dwellers detected the sudden appearance of a towering earthen fortress. Confusion rippled through their ranks until a crimson-skinned Muruk issued piercing whistles, ordering them to spread out and surround the stronghold.

“This is too risky…” muttered the red-haired commander. She knew the four bait mercenaries were handpicked elites under Brandon’s command, each boasting upper-tier Iron Rank or peak strength. Even on flat terrain, they could withstand thirty cave dwellers for a time. With the advantage of fortifications, holding out seemed plausible—but enduring until they sent more reinforcements still felt like a stretch.

Yet to her surprise, the crimson-skinned Muruk warriors ordered another wave of attacks before abruptly calling for a full retreat. The cave dwellers regrouped around the fortress, maintaining a cautious distance.

What was going on?

Behind the battlements, the four mercenaries braced themselves, their stamina visibly depleted. If the cave dwellers pressed harder, they might have breached the temporary stronghold—but inexplicably, the enemy withdrew.

Mafeli, meanwhile, had recovered enough to rejoin the fray.

“The cave dwellers aren’t willing to pay the price,” Brandon explained, sensing the astonishment among the mercenary captains. “A frontal assault might succeed, but without favorable terrain or superior individual strength, doing so would cost them dearly.”

These seasoned fighters understood warfare but lacked experience with Yhaggoroth’s denizens. In the unforgiving underground, every life was precious—a fact reflected in the higher average power levels of subterranean creatures.

“I see,” Clenia said, glancing at Brandon. While mercenaries often dismissed nobles and scholars, applying such arcane knowledge tactically earned respect. “Still, I didn’t expect their siege capabilities to be so weak. Do these underground beings not build fortresses?”

Brandon nearly choked on the question. The architects of Yhaggoroth’s depths made human engineers look amateurish. Underground castles originally served as bulwarks against demonic invasions, their walls thicker and sturdier than those of Braggs’ fortified cities. Dwarven craftsmanship further refined these defenses, making Cold Fir City’s paltry fortifications pale in comparison.

“The cave dwellers aren’t incapable of sieges,” Brandon replied. “They’re part of Yhaggoroth’s first-tier units, typically operating alongside another primary force: .”

“Bear goblins?” Frein asked.

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