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Vol 02 Chapter 69-1: The Seven-Day War VI

On the early morning of the third day, lord Blouse, who was stationed in Dress Village, received the news that the town of Blouse had fallen. Lord Blouse hurriedly set out to reclaim his capital.

Under normal circumstances, he should have regrouped with the main force of the Domorgal army before trying to recapture the town. However, Lord Blouse, being the patrician tasked with defending the southern borders of King Domorgal’s Country, hadn’t fought against cavalry and was unaware of the power of a cavalry attack. He believed that with the numbers of his detached force, he could easily defeat an enemy force of five hundred.

Moreover, the fall of his own capital and his family being taken prisoner made it impossible for him to wait for reinforcement leisurely.

Thus, Lord Blouse left five hundred soldiers to defend Dress Village and led a forced march with fifteen hundred soldiers toward the town of Blouse.

◇

On the third day, the Rosais army’s detachment left the town of Blouse late in the morning. They departed after filling the captured wagons and carriages with prisoners and loot. Having acquired additional horses for the journey, they were able to transport a large amount of plundered goods. Although the return journey was slower due to the carriages filled with loot, their march was still much faster than it would have been if they were infantry.

Around noon, the Rosais army’s detachment encountered two hundred Domorgal cavalry.

「A fight at last? Excellent. We’ll show them the strength of the Equus Tribe!」

With a shout, the Equus Tribe charged forward energetically and drew their bows to fire in unison.

The two hundred Domorgal cavalry were pierced one after another, the momentum of their charge halted.

As the Equus Tribe closed in on the Domorgal army, they stowed their short bows and drew their swords and spears for a charge. The Equus Tribe, horse riders since they were born, easily slaughtered the Domorgal forces one after another.

The Equus Tribe used saddles supplied by Almus. These men, born to be riders were wielding lances and swords with the aid of saddles, the Domorgal cavalry, wealthy men riding bareback, stood no chance against them.

In no time, the Domorgal cavalry was decimated. For the record, their casualties were one hundred dead, and eighty prisoners. Only twenty were able to flee.

On the other hand, the Equus Tribe had three dead and five injured.

It was an overwhelming battle.

「Are we even needed here anymore?」

「Hey, don’t jinx us!」

Roswald silenced Vilgar.

「Well, let’s start the interrogation. I doubt the Domorgal army only sent two hundred soldiers to deal with us.」

Mutzio began questioning the captured enemy soldiers.

The information they obtained was that Blouse the lord of the territory was heading toward the town of Blouse commanding fifteen hundred men. They had departed early in the morning, but there was quite a distance from the town of Blouse to Dress Village.

They probably wouldn’t meet today. Despite using carriages to transport the loot and the prisoners their own marching speed had dropped considerably.

◇

Early morning of the third day, Teria plains.

The Domorgal army’s military council was in turmoil.

The debate between those advocating for retreat and those arguing to continue attacking the fortress continued without an end in sight.

It was clear that they needed to retreat after the town of Blouse fell. However, the patricians were desperate to continue the war.

Their main concern was the cost of the war, retreating now, without making any profit while heavily in the red was out of the question for them.

「If this continues, we risk the collapse of the entire army. We will retreat.」

It was Carlo, who had been silent up until now, who spoke out. The room fell silent instantly.

「Are you sure?」

Tonino asked Carlo with a trembling voice. If they retreated now, Carlo’s chance of obtaining the throne would become impossible.

「We have no choice, do we? I think we should retreat while our losses are not too severe. Fortunately, the army hasn’t suffered significant damage yet. After expelling the enemy from Blouse’s territory, we can regroup and plan our strategy again. I think having options is much better than getting stuck in a quagmire.」

With their master, Carlo, deciding to retreat, Tonino and the other generals, were left with no choice but to remain silent.

「Understood. Let’s start preparing for the retreat. I will take the rear guard.」

With Tonino’s words, the military council concluded. The Domorgal army began their retreat preparations.

◇

「It seems the enemy is starting to prepare for retreat.」

「I see, let’s start preparing for a pursuit battle.」

The Rosais army left five hundred men to guard the fortress and with the remaining seven thousand prepared to pursue the fleeing Domorgal army. Leading the charge were the elite five hundred heavy infantrymen from the Aris army.

As the Domorgal army began their retreat with their backs turned, the Rosais army opened the gates of the fortress and started a fierce pursuit.

The Rosais army began with a bombardment with blast javelins and catapults using black powder to the rear of the escaping army, when the bombardment finished, the Rosais army charged in. Mixed with the explosion, particles of a hallucinogenic herb were scattered, the Rosais army’s magicians used those particles as a medium to create the illusion of flames.

During the last skirmish against the Dibel Family, there was only one magician, Soyon, to control the spell so this tactic effect had been moderate, but this time, several magicians from King Rosais’ Country were using it.

The magicians from King Domorgal’s Country tried to counteract the spells but were unable to dispel them fast enough, in no time the Domorgal army fell into disarray.

Realizing their defeat, the demoralized Domorgal soldiers scattered and fled. Their formation broke, and the Rosais army’s attacks inflicted heavy losses among them.

By the time the Domorgal army managed to escape back to Blouse territory, their numbers had dwindled from twenty-five thousand to twenty thousand.

The Rosais army entered Blouse territory in pursuit. The surrounding villages, learning of the Domorgal army’s defeat, immediately surrendered.

◇

Nighttime

「It seems that our separate detachment has defeated the two hundred enemy cavalry. It was a resounding victory. According to reports, they will clash with the enemy infantry by tomorrow and regroup with us by evening,」

As I said that, the Rosais army’s patricians erupted in excitement.

If I don’t stop them, they will begin a banquet in no time.

「Why would the enemy disperse their forces like that? Is the enemy commander stupid?」

Bartolo frowned at the enemy’s strange action.

Sending two thousand infantry towards the town of Blouse doesn’t make sense. They should have regrouped with the main army that retreated to Dress Village to mount a defense.

「The commander of the two thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry detachment is Blouse—the local lord. It’s understandable.」

If one’s own territory is being ravaged, it’s hard to idly wait for reinforcements. Moreso if you have four times more forces than the enemy. It’s understandable to try to defeat the enemy as soon as possible.

The Seven-Day War was about to enter its fourth day.

◇

Fourth Day

While enduring fierce pursuit, ten thousand Domorgal soldiers managed to reach Dress Village around noon and set up camp there. However, with all the defensive facilities destroyed by the Rosais army, they had no choice but to forgo the destructed defensive facilities and start from scratch.

「Damn it, Blouse-dono… Why did he sortie at this moment …」

Tonino sighed. He had received the message that Lord Blouse was attempting to recapture the town of Blouse.

But at the moment, with their forces significantly diminished, the two thousand troops commanded by Blouse were extremely valuable. Tonino had sent an urgent message via hawk to order him to return, but there was no sign of them coming back.

「Tonino-sama… A response has arrived from King Domorgal…」

Tonino had sent a request for reinforcements to King Domorgal on the morning of the third day, and the reply had just arrived.

「I see, by your expression, that the response is not satisfactory.」

Tonino read the response from King Domorgal.

In summary, the king wanted to help but couldn’t move carelessly as the Rozel kingdom was moving suspiciously. The king was rushing to organize the soldiers. The message urged them to hold out for at least three more days.

「What should we do, Tonino-sama?」

The patricians looked at him, their faces pale.

「We should let the troops rest first. Then we’ll wait for Blouse-dono’s fifteen hundred to return. After that, we’ll settle everything with a field battle. We still have the superior numbers.」

Dress Village was not a fortress, and its defensive facilities had been destroyed. It would be better to fight in an open field rather than here.

「Will the enemy wait for us?」

「The enemy likely won’t move until their separate detachment arrives. So it’s a race against time—whether Blouse-dono returns first or the enemy’s detachment arrives first.」