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Vol 01 Chapter 29: The First Battle I

It took about a day and a half for the vanguard of King Ferme’s army to arrive at the village.

「Hand over the village. And provide food for two hundred soldiers! If you do so, we will spare your lives.」

「Food for two hundred? Are you really only going to take that much? Don’t you plan to take everything after occupying the village?」

「Of course not, we only want to secure provisions. We desire nothing more.」

It seems to be the truth. However, he didn’t specify how much food constitutes enough for two hundred soldiers. It might be almost the entire harvest of this village… well, when that time comes…

I took a moment to think.

Negotiations usually happen between parties of equal status or with the oversight of a powerful mediator. Is there any real guarantee that they will honor their agreement? Without such assurance, we cannot accept those terms.

Moreover, the commander has ordered us to surrender the village. This suggests they intend to use it as a forward base, likely targeting King Rosais’ capital.

King Ferme, by establishing this village as a base, likely plans to launch a surprise attack on King Rosais’ capital. He is probably counting on the assumption that no one would risk passing through the Romalia forest, fearing to anger Griffon. Surrendering the village would jeopardize Julia and, by extension, King Rosais. This is another factor I must consider.

◇

「Where’s the proof you will honor your promise?」

「I swear on King Ferme’s name.」

「That is not enough, we can’t allow you to enter the village.」

The negotiation broke down. Since both parties had anticipated a battle from the start, the negotiation ended swiftly.

「Getting cocky, are we? What can a mere forty or fifty soldiers do? We have two hundred. We’ll take it by force!」

The commander observed the village carefully. Deep ditches and high wooden fences.

There was only one gate. The village was of considerable size, so it would be difficult for two hundred men to surround it.

Since a quick decisive battle was the goal, it would be better to concentrate all the forces at the gate and break through. The enemy might have only forty or fifty soldiers, but if you counted the villagers, their number exceeded one hundred.

However, the primary objective this time was to secure provisions and a base. There was no need to kill everyone. After cutting off the head of the enemy’s leader and offering them to surrender, they would likely surrender immediately.

There might be many casualties, but their role was to clear the way. What was important was to capture it before the main force arrived, or at least weaken it if they couldn’t.

This time, unlike before, they had a battering ram, and they had also prepared many archers.

「First, secure the area around the gate. Then smash it with the battering ram!」

The battle-hardened soldiers formed ranks and rushed towards the gate.

But suddenly, their formation started to disorder.

「A pitfall, huh… what a nuisance… go around it.」

It seemed there were spears planted pointing upwards at the bottom of the pitfall, resulting in twenty casualties, but the pitfalls only caught people at first. If one carefully looked at the ground, one could see the pitfalls.

They were easy to avoid.

However, going around them increased the time to reach the gate.

「Damn. I wasn’t told about such defensive facilities.」

The commander grumbled. It seemed they must be prepared for some losses after all.

Still, pitfalls were basic defensive facilities. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

「But if we occupy this village, we can secure the provisions. We must secure the base before the main force arrives.」

「Yes, that’s corre… watch out!!」

The adjutant pushed the commander off his horse. The commander rolled on the ground.

「You bastard! What on earth are you…」

The adjutant was dead. An arrow was stuck in his head.

The commander looked around.

「Damn! This arrow, it pierced through the shield!」

「Even though it’s made of bronze…」

「Is it made of iron?」

One after another, soldiers were shot down by arrows.

「What’s going on! What are our archers doing?」

「Our arrows can’t reach them from this distance!!」

The archery unit leader answered.

Unbeknownst to them, the bows Almus and his group were using were longbows purchased from Kirisian merchants. The range of these bows was much longer than those of King Ferme’s country.

Furthermore, unlike King Ferme’s forces, which used stone for arrowheads, theirs were made of iron. Shooting from a high tower allowed them to attack from far beyond the range of King Ferme’s archers.

「Raise your shields! Block the arrows and advance…」

The adjutant was shot through the head after passing through his bronze shield. The realization that their trusted shields were ineffective spread unease among the soldiers.

「Hey, are you alright?」

「I’m fine. The arrow pierced through the armor, but it’s just a scratch. Just spit on it and it will heal—argh!!」

Soldiers who were hit by the arrows began writhing on the ground. Not just those who were deeply pierced, the soldiers who were merely grazed also began writhing in pain.

「They are using poisoned arrows!? Cowards!!」

The commander shouted. In response, a poisoned arrow stuck into the ground at the commander’s feet.

「Yikes!」

「Commander, please retreat to the back!!」

Protected by his subordinates, the commander retreated to the rear.

◇

「Do you think we can win?」

「Yeah. We’ve already reduced the enemy’s numbers by about fifty.」

That leaves one hundred and fifty. If we reduce their numbers by another fifty, they’ll likely retreat.

The enemy’s equipment consists of bronze spears. Most wear wooden armor, with some in leather. The captains wear bronze armor, and only the commander has iron armor. Our bows are longbows purchased from Kirisian merchants at a high price. And the arrowheads are iron, coated with aconite poison.

It would be strange if we lost.

「The enemy’s arrows will soon be within range. Be careful, Almus-san.」

Gram shouted from atop the arrow tower.

Initially disorganized, the enemy steadily approached the village, shielding themselves from arrows.

「Be careful, all of you. Just focus on not dying.」

「Understood.」

Gram answered with a smile.

I’m worried, but I have to leave it to them.

「Ron, it’s about time for you to return to your post. When the enemy reaches the gate… you know what to do, right?」

「Understood. I’ll show them what we’re made of.」

With that, Ron returned to his position.

Now, I too must go back. Staying here would just make me a target for arrows.

Gradually, the sound of the enemy’s footsteps became audible, and with it, the sound of arrows striking the village buildings.

The enemy has about forty archers. Since they outnumber us, the more intense their attack, the less opportunity we have to shoot back. Hidden behind large iron shields, Gram and the other archers look for openings to prioritize shooting the archers.

The tide of battle is leaning towards the enemy… For now.

「Leader! It seems the enemy has occupied the area around the gate!」

Ron reported with glee.

「Good, let’s do this!」

As I said this, Ron grinned and nodded.

He was holding something that looked like a spear. Ron called out to his nine subordinates.

「Guys! You’ve got your blast spears, right? Just like in training. Make sure you don’t hit the fence! Anyone who fails gets castrated!!」

With that call, Ron readied the blast spear… a spear with black powder tied to its tip.

As Ron prepared to throw the spear, it began to faintly glow. The magic circle had been activated.

「One, two, three, go!!」

Following Ron’s command, ten spears flew over the gate, falling among the soldiers who had swarmed around it.

They ignited upon impact. The black powder caused a huge explosion.

Suddenly, the enemy’s arrows stopped. Screams could be heard from outside the gate, and white smoke rose.

「Good, it’s a success. Prepare for the second round!」

Again, ten spears hit the enemy.

Screams rose.

「That should be enough. Stop. Let’s go, Roswald.」

「Understood, Nii-san.」

I mounted the horse brought by Roswald. Roswald and I lined up side by side.

There were six cavalrymen, including me and Roswald.

「Open the gate! As I charge, Gram and the others will stop firing arrows! Ron, you and your team follow us later!!」

The gate opened. And we charged through.

「Wow, this is terrible.」

The situation outside the gate was worse than I had imagined. Bodies were scattered around like crushed tomatoes.

Some of the bodies were so horrifically mangled that it was questionable whether they were human.

I am reminded anew of the horror of what I had created. The thought of my enemy using black powder on us sends shivers down my spine. Its manufacturing process must be kept secret at all costs.

The enemy was thrown into great confusion by the sound and white smoke of the explosion, and the sudden death of their comrades.

It seems there is no need to do anything else here…

「Let’s strike down the enemy commander!!」

I called out and charged into the enemy, who were in chaos.

There was no need to swing my spear. Seeing me, the enemy soldiers gave up and cleared a path.

We have already won.

We broke through the enemy forces in no time.

Looks like we don’t need to charge again.

As the white smoke began to clear, the enemy’s attire became visible. Most soldiers wore leather or wooden armor, with a few in bronze armor.

「You there, the one in the iron armor on horseback! You’re the enemy commander, aren’t you?」

Roswald kicked his horse’s sides and approached the person who appeared to be the enemy commander. The man began to flee in fear.

「As if I’ll let you escape!!」

Roswald threw the spear he was holding.

The spear arced through the air and stuck into the enemy commander’s back.

「Roswald has slain the enemy commander!!」

As I shouted this, our allies raised a cheer.

At the same time, the enemy seemed to give up and sat down on the ground.

For now, it’s a victory.