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Vol 01 Chapter 31-1: The First Battle III

We captured about fifty prisoners. After checking the bodies, there were about a hundred dead.

Probably around fifty soldiers managed to escape.

Also, from what we’ve learned from the captured prisoners, we got a sense of the enemy’s strategy. As expected, their target was not our village, but the capital of King Rosais.

They planned a direct assault on King Rosais’s territory with a force of three hundred soldiers. Their strategy was to draw King Rosais’ main army towards the invading force, creating a diversion. Concurrently, they would execute a surprise attack from the forest side.

Our village is close to the capital of King Rosais, so capturing this place would give them the perfect base to launch a surprise attack. No one usually dares to enter this forest for fear of Griffon so it’s an effective strategy, King Ferme is quite bold to attempt this.

We also learned that another four hundred troops commanded by King Ferme are heading this way. Defeating another four hundred will be very difficult.

「Do we have any casualties?」

I asked, feeling a bit tense.

「No one died. There are ten wounded. Of those, five were injured from falls. Three were cut by the enemy, and the remaining two have fractures.」

Ron reported.

Good… No deaths, then.

「Show me the wounded. I’ll treat them.」

I’m not a doctor, but I know how to treat simple injuries. For scrapes you need to wash the injury, then disinfect it with alcohol, and wrap a clean cloth around it. For fractures, you have to splint the damaged bone with wood and securely wrap it with cloth. For cuts you need to press the injury with a cloth to stop the bleeding, and when the bleeding stops, do the same as with scrapes.

The people in our village are strongly influenced by my blessing, so they probably won’t die from injuries of this level.

「Now, we have to take care of the four hundred led by King Ferme next…」

It probably won’t be as easy as last time.

「Iarl, please explain the situation to King Rosais once again. He might have recovered now. Also, ask for reinforcements; if necessary, tell him we are willing to merge with his country.」

「Understood.」

Iarl dashed out of the village.

I hope the reinforcements get here in time, but it’s doubtful.

「Tetra, Soyon, sorry to ask, but could you go on a reconnaissance mission? Lulu, please go and report our victory to Boros and his allies. Please be careful.」

「Understood.」

「Yes!」

「Got it!!」

The three went to get soul drift grass to use the possession spell.

Now, it’s time for us to prepare as well.

◇

「They were defeated!?」

Ferme couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

「Yes… Suddenly, fire erupted, and one after another, our soldiers were blown away…」

「Is there a spell that can do something like that?」

Ferme asked the magician near him.

「 There is no spell that can do something like that.」

「Is that so?」

Ferme looked down at the soldier before him. The soldier was trembling, his face pale.

「You don’t seem to be lying. But to lose to just forty. It seems we need to be cautious.」

Ferme stroked his chin, deep in thought.

「It’s a crisis!!」

A new messenger soldier came to King Ferme.

「What happened?」

「A rebellion! The remnants of the Aris faction have incited the peasants and have risen up! The capital is under attack by fifty soldiers of the Aris faction and one hundred and fifty peasants!」

「What? What were the one hundred soldiers I left in the capital doing!!」

「That’s the thing… the report says some nonsense about the soldiers being suddenly engulfed in flames and blown away…」

Ferme clicked his tongue.

「We’re heading back! It’s no longer a matter of defeating or not King Rosais. At this rate, we won’t have a country to return to!」

Ferme stood up and mounted his horse. If they marched at full speed from here, they would have plenty of time. The capital’s defenses were not so weak that they would fall so soon to two hundred enemies.

「Urgent news!!」

「What now?」

「The three hundred who were sent to distract King Rosais’ army have been defeated! The enemy army has crossed the border and is invading!」

Dizziness hit Ferme.

「Damn it!! We need to hurry back!!」

In a great rush, Ferme’s army began their retreat.

◇

「Almus! King Ferme has suddenly started retreating!」

Tetra, returning from reconnaissance, told me this.

「I see… Maybe the army he sent to King Rosais’s country was defeated, and they’re being invaded in return?」

But in the last battle, King Ferme’s side won with five hundred against a thousand… Could they really be defeated so easily?

Even if they were defeated and invaded in return, there’s some distance from the border to King Ferme’s capital. If King Ferme attacks King Rosais’s capital by surprise in the meantime, King Rosais’s army would have to hurry back, so in this case, shouldn’t he be aiming for King Rosais’s capital quickly? Considering his personality, it seems like something King Ferme would do…

「A rebellion, perhaps?」

「Probably that. Or both.」

「Are Boros and his allies okay?」

「Who knows? I did leave them some black powder, so if they use it effectively, they should be able to win just like us now…」

They should be able to even take down the palace. In this region, there are no such fancy defenses as stone castle walls. And King Ferme’s country is a small country with a population of thirty thousand.

The capital’s defensive structures are probably made of wood. The black powder should be enough to blow them up.

But since they’re outnumbered, they might lose if King Ferme’s army returns.

「There’s also a possibility that King Domorgal has attacked… Though he’s in the middle of fighting King Gilbed, so it’s unclear if he has the capacity to intervene.」

King Domorgal’s country is a major power, with more than three times the strength of King Rosais’ Country. With some effort, it would be possible to send an army to King Ferme’s Country.

As I pondered this, a hawk descended. It was Lulu.

「Almus-san! Boros and his allies have already started a rebellion!! They’re about to take over the capital. Also, it seems King Rosais’s army has invaded King Ferme’s Country.」

「I see… Just as I thought. Thanks.」

And then, a sudden thought came to me.

Wait? We don’t need to fight anymore?

「Hey, Leader. Do we not need to pursue them?」

「Hmm… Do we really need to pursue them?」

As I said this, all eyes turned to me at once.

「 Whether we join the attack or not, King Ferme’s Country is going to be destroyed, and even if it’s not destroyed, it will certainly suffer a major blow. They won’t be able to take military action for a while, and we have already repelled them once, so now we can negotiate from a position of strength…」

「That’s not good!!」

Soyon raised her voice. The rest of my companions were nodding in agreement.

「If we leave it as it is, all the credit will be taken by others.」

「But life is more important than glory…」

As I was about to say that, a headache struck me. My vision wobbled.

It hurts…

「Are you okay?」

Tetra shook me worriedly.

「I’m fine.」

Gradually, the headache began to subside.

「You all are right. Let’s prepare to pursue. If possible, we’ll take down King Ferme and eliminate the root of future troubles!!」

Preparations started immediately.

Ten people will stay behind to watch the captured prisoners. They’re properly tied up, and their weapons have been confiscated, so ten people should be enough.

Speed is crucial this time. We won’t bring much food, aiming for a quick decisive battle, so we need to move fast.

「Shouldn’t we wait for reinforcements?」

「There’s no time to wait… Alright, I’ll write a letter. Soyon, please deliver it to Iarl via hawk.」

「Understood!」

Soyon performed the spell for animal possession again.

It’s not really something I should let her do repeatedly… but it can’t be helped.

「Anyway, we can’t just sit back and do nothing. It’s unfortunate for King Ferme, but we need him to die.」

As long as he lives, danger will continue to follow us.