The Choice of Barbara
In the world of “Whole Plane,” what determines the outcome of a war?
There are countless factors and variables, but I believe the number of wizards has the most significant impact.
In Whole Plane, you only have one life. Because of this, wizards, who can unleash powerful attacks from a distance, are the most sought-after class in warfare.
When large-scale battles occur, the ability to deliver stronger firepower and defend against incoming spells can determine the outcome. If you can dominate in these two areas, you can consider the war 70% won.
And the roles that can turn the tide are the secret and rare classes.
From my personal experience, the pattern of wars has been quite similar.
Melee fighters protect the wizards, and the wizards unleash their attack spells on the enemy.
So when do the melee fighters step in, aside from protection?
It’s when victory seems certain, or when a swift pursuit is necessary, that the melee fighters take direct action…
After the incident at the last gathering, the baby unicorn had been acting out for a while.
But nestled in Baek Han-gyeol’s arms, the baby unicorn looked unusually anxious. Perhaps influenced by the dampened mood among the clan members, it cast nervous glances around.
“Kyuu!”
As we reached the front gate, the baby unicorn, who had been quietly held by Baek Han-gyeol, wriggled free and ran towards me.
I paused, kneeling down slowly. Last time, I disappeared without a word, and it didn’t even eat. This time, I felt the need to explain before leaving.
“Little one, it seems we’ll have to be apart for a while.”
“Kyuu…”
“I’m really sorry for forgetting you last time. It wasn’t on purpose, I just forgot. Truly.”
“Kyuu, kyuu… kyuu…”
As I gently patted its head, the baby unicorn shook its head and looked up at me with eyes brimming with tears, ready to burst into a cry.
‘I should leave quickly.’
With that thought, I gave the unicorn’s head a few more pats before standing up.
“I might be late, but I’ll definitely come back. So eat well and behave while I’m gone, okay?”
“Kyuu? Kyuu kyuu?!”
Just as I was about to turn away, the baby unicorn clamped onto my ankle. It seemed to be saying, “I’ll be good, please don’t go.” But it was too late to change my mind, and I couldn’t take it with me.
“When I return, I’ll give you a name.”
With those words, I turned and walked away, hearing its faint cries behind me.
With a slightly heavy heart, I joined the clan members, scanning their faces.
Some, like Go Yeon-ju, wore relatively relaxed expressions, but most had a heavy tension about them.
What should I say to them?
Countless thoughts crossed my mind, but I decided not to drag it out. I didn’t want to use empty words to boost morale. Suddenly, I felt it was best to speak from the heart.
“No one knows how long this war will last. It could end quickly, or it might take longer than expected.”
”…”
There was no response. The clan members were quietly focused on my words.
“But no matter how many months it takes, I have only one wish. When the war ends and we gather here again, I hope to see every one of you safe and sound.”
As I spoke, I caught sight of Shin Sang-yong’s calm face. He suddenly turned to look at the building, then returned his gaze forward with a slightly dazed expression.
What was Shin Sang-yong thinking just now?
“I won’t drag this out any longer. I’m just grateful to all of you for following my decision without objection.”
I couldn’t predict how my words would affect the clan members. But one thing was clear: I had conveyed my sincere wish. Regardless of participating in this war, I genuinely hoped for the safe return of my clan members.
“Let’s move out.”
The farewells were over, and I had said everything I wanted to. There was no need to linger, so I turned and walked through the gate.
Step by step.
Behind me, the footsteps of ten others echoed powerfully across the ground.
After leaving the clan house, we used the warp gate to travel to Princia.
Princia and Monica shared a similar atmosphere. The scent of war was palpable here too. However, the users walking the streets exuded a different energy compared to those in Monica. Their positivity was so strong it seemed like an unfounded confidence that they would surely win this war.
Cutting through this atmosphere, I led the clan members straight to the Hamil Clan. Having contacted them in advance, my brother greeted me warmly, and I saw the Hamil Clan members, clad in fine gear. It seemed my brother had recalled all the members sent on missions to other cities, as there were noticeably more people than before.
“Suhyeon, have you eaten?”
“I have. Let’s skip the meal and get straight to the strategy.”
At my firm tone, my brother chuckled and instructed an employee to guide the mercenary clan members. I promised the clan members I’d join them after the discussion and followed my brother up the stairs.
He led me to the office on the third floor, where I encountered an unexpected figure.
“Long time no see~.”
Inside, Lee Hyo-eul was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, waving her hand.
I frowned slightly and glanced at my brother, who gave me a subtle look, signaling me to bear with it for a while.
“What are you doing here?”
“Uh, huh?”
Grumbling internally, I sat on the opposite sofa and spoke, causing Lee Hyo-eul to drop her cheerful demeanor and respond hesitantly.
“What do you mean? I’m still a member of the Hamil Clan, so I’m here. And I’m here to explain the strategy to you…”
”…”
“Should I leave if you don’t want me here…?”
Just as I was about to agree, my brother quickly interjected.
“Suhyeon, she contributed a lot to the strategy planning. She can explain it in more detail than I can. Plus, she’ll talk about the mercenary arrangements.”
With that, I reconsidered. Participating in the war meant adhering to basic protocols, even as a free mercenary. And since there was information about our deployment, I decided to set aside personal feelings and listen to Lee Hyo-eul.
“Ahem. Let’s get straight to the point. Is that okay?”
Seeing my reaction, Lee Hyo-eul’s expression brightened slightly as she began to speak.
I nodded lightly.
Lee Hyo-eul’s explanation was lengthy, but to summarize:
The Eastern forces had assembled a total of 16,000 troops. These would be divided into four units to simultaneously attack the east, west, south, and north. If any attack stalled, the southern and northern units, having secured the warp gates of their respective cities, would join forces for a renewed assault.
There were detailed strategies involving diversions and opening escape routes for surprise attacks, but the main plan was a “simultaneous assault.”
“We’ve prepared various strategies, but we’ll have to see how things play out. We need to be flexible to adapt to any situation.”
Lee Hyo-eul, perhaps tired from talking, moved her jaw around before sinking into her chair and continuing.
“That’s the first part of the explanation. Any questions?”
“A few. You mentioned dividing the troops into four units based on clans. Who will lead each unit?”
“Consider, Moonlight, Han, and Greenwing. Users without a clan were distributed to fill gaps.”
“Okay. You said there are 16,000 troops. How are they divided by class?”
“8,100 melee fighters, 3,900 archers, 2,800 wizards, and 1,200 priests. These are rough estimates, not exact numbers.”
As if anticipating my questions, Lee Hyo-eul answered smoothly. Her responses prompted me to think deeply.
In the first round, the East attempted to reclaim Barbara with its own forces and suffered a major defeat against the Western continent and the rogues. Although the current situation is vastly different, the fact remains that the East is fighting alone.
Honestly, based on the explanation, it doesn’t seem like we’ll lose. But a subtle unease kept nagging at me.
“Why the face? You look worried.”
“It’s just… something feels off.”
“Huh? What’s so strange?”
Lee Hyo-eul asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. She had responded reflexively, and now she was unsure of how to proceed. It seemed best to approach the topic gently.
“There’s no guarantee that the war will go as planned. From what I’ve seen on the way here, some people are already acting like we’ve won. Isn’t that a bit careless?”
“Oh, the atmosphere? That’s probably because we’ve been doing a bit of media play.”
“Media play?”
“Yeah. But we haven’t made anything up. We’ve just been sharing the facts about the current situation. For instance, aside from the well-known users from the East, there are a lot of famous new arrivals from the Central and Western regions. People like the Sword Queen, the Doctor, the Nurse, the Tarot Card Magician, the Assassin of Requiem, the Cursed Sorcerer, and, oh, you and the Shadow Queen too. They’ve all agreed to participate.”
Lee Hyo-eul pointed at me with her index finger before folding her arms with a sly smile.
“Anyway, you’re right. There’s no guarantee things will go as I expect. In other words, you’re worried about variables, right?”
“Variables, yeah, something like that. We have famous users, but there’s no rule saying the enemy doesn’t have them too.”
“Ah, speaking of which, I need to tell you something about that. But first… let’s decide on one thing. What about the mercenaries?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
At my question, Lee Hyo-eul widened her eyes and spoke again.
“Most of the units are already organized, so the mercenaries need to be added to the mix. Normally, I’d make that decision, but since you’re participating as a contractor, I thought it might be nice to give you a choice.”
“A choice…?”
“Yes, a choice. East, West, South, or North. Which unit would you like to join? Just so you know, all four want you.”
“I’m going with the West, Su-hyun.”
Suddenly, my brother, who had been quietly listening, chimed in.
I pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
“I’d like to know more about the Western unit.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
(I’m taking a break from replying to comments today. The next chapter will be combined with this one, so I ask for your understanding.)
I started writing in detail about the strategy Lee Hyo-eul was explaining, and before I knew it, I had written 2,000 characters. I suddenly thought, “What am I doing?” and boldly cut it down to seven lines. Haha.
Wishing all my readers a joyful Chuseok!