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Vol 04 Chapter 108: The Battle of Equus II

The strategy was straightforward.

Mutzio will engage in a duel to provoke the enemy, then return to our lines. We have prepared a fence just high enough for the Equus Tribe’s horses to jump over, making it look like we underestimated the Equus Tribe’s riding prowess.

When the Equus cavalry surpasses our defenses and enters our lines, we will retreat swiftly and set fire to the oil and alcohol we previously scattered on the ground. The fire will burn intensely for a moment, temporarily halting the enemy’s advance.

It will be our win if we can stop their charge for a moment. After that we only need to wait for the timer-controlled black powder, which we activated during our retreat by infusing magic on its magicraft timer, to explode.

This time-controlled black powder will be buried in the ground, essentially acting as landmines. All we need to do is leave a part of the activation mechanism exposed, bury everything else, and then channel magic into it quickly when we escape.

While it’s possible to make landmines that explode on contact, Tetra said that the magic formula would be too complex, making production difficult. Plus, there’s a risk we might trigger them ourselves, and digging them up afterwards would be troublesome.

Furthermore, if the time-controlled mines fail to detonate, they won’t immediately be a problem. The structure of their fuse is just a modification of the normal blast spear fuse’s formula, the modification slows the transmission of magic, delaying the explosion.

Incidentally, these mines are much less lethal than the blast spears. Obviously, burying them in the ground will produce less damage than striking an enemy directly with the explosive.

The purpose of these mines is to create noise and smoke to disorient the enemy troops… especially the horses.

◇

「Well then… the enemy has fallen for the trap, so I’ll go ask for another duel.」

「You don’t need to do that, I’m pretty sure we already won.」

I stopped Mutzio as he tried to return to the frontline. There’s no need for him to fight now.

「Even if it was for the plan, I showed my back to Redus once. That act might have won the battle, but if I leave it like this it will affect how the rest of the tribe see me. Besides, If I leave everything to your soldiers, this will become your victory not mine. I should at least claim the head of Redus myself.」

Hmm, indeed. If we help him too much, it might affect the government of the tribe later.

「Are you confident you can win?」

The real question is whether Mutzio can defeat Redus. I am able to somewhat understand someone’s skill after seeing them fight, but it’s hard to measure Redus’ skill in such a short time.

「Of course. He’s no match for me.」

Mutzio said this and kicked his horse into a gallop. He drew his bow and fired an arrow, passing just beside Redus’ ear.

He seems to be pretty confident in his victory. Well, if he shot him in the back he might be denounced as a coward. It’s better to fight face-to-face and win more honorably.

Good luck.

As Redus turned back and began to flee, Mutzio taunted him.

「Hey, hey, are you fleeing? And you dare call yourself one of the people of the horse?!」

It was the same line Redus once said to Mutzio. Redus stopped and turned to face Mutzio.

「You coward, what kind of magic did you use?!」

「There’s no cowardice or shit in war. Weren’t you the one who taught me that? Now, let’s duel again.」

With that, Mutzio slashed with his sword at Redus. The clash of metal echoed loudly.

「Hey, why didn’t you shoot me in the back then?」

「Idiot, do I look like a coward who would shoot an enemy in the back?」

「Tch… I’ll make you regret this, you bastard!!」

Redus swung his arm and slashed with his sword at Mutzio, gradually driving him back.

「Ha, fool! If you had shot me then, you could have won!! Regret your arrogance in hell!!」

「…Is that all?」

「Ugh!!」

Mutzio’s swing deflected Redus’s sword. Redus’s body reeled back, almost falling off his horse.

「Is that all? Pathetic.」

Mutzio kicked his horse and closed the distance rapidly. With every swing of his sword, Redus’s horse was being pushed back gradually.

「I don’t even need to use my blessing to defeat you!!」

A loud metallic sound rang out as Redus’s broken blade spun through the air and plunged deep into the ground. Mutzio pointed his sword at the stunned Redus’s face and declared.

「Is this the swordsmanship you pride yourself on? It’s laughable.」

Mutzio then swung his sword toward Redus’s neck.

Clang!

A high-pitched metallic sound echoed.

「Great Warrior Chief… would you mind stepping aside?」

「I can’t abide by that request.」

The Great Warrior Chief strongly deflected Mutzio’s sword. Mutzio’s horse slowly stepped back.

「I’ve heard you were a friend of my grandfather. You are one of the few remaining great warriors chiefs and a valuable asset to me. If you cut off the head of that usurper right now, I will spare you.」

「Redus-sama is my precious grandson and the chieftain I swore loyalty to. I can’t simply comply. I refuse to heed the words of a man who has sold his soul to a cowardly tribe who doesn’t know of honor merely scratching the earth all their lives!!」

The Great Warrior Chief closed the distance quickly and swung his sword, which Mutzio blocked. The clash of metal resonated, and Mutzio’s horse stepped back three paces.

「You’re still as strong as ever. Even in your old age, your strength remains intact.」

「I’ve certainly declined compared to my prime. But Mutzio-dono, you are strong too. Had we fought when I was your age, I would have lost. However… now I would win!」

Their swords clashed intensely, and gradually, Mutzio began to be pushed back. A hint of desperation began to appear on his face.

「Your life is mine!」

The Great Warrior Chief swung his sword towards Mutzio’s neck. However, the blade did not slash through Mutzio’s neck. It stopped just a few centimeters away.

「…I don’t like to use this because it’s not really honorable, but…」

A strong gust of wind blew, causing the Great Warrior Chief’s horse to stagger. The Chief looked at Mutzio in astonishment.

「…Oh wind.」

As Mutzio muttered, several hidden knives he had on his body started to levitate around him. Their number was twenty.

「I should mention, these knives are coated with aconite… Sorry, it’s your fault for being too strong.」

Mutzio said this and swiftly closed the distance between them, swinging his sword. The Great Warrior Chief easily blocked the attack.

Two knives launched at the Great Warrior Chief simultaneously. The Great Warrior Chief swung his left hand, deflecting the knives with an iron bracelet on his wrist.

The knives were blown back about five meters, then they halted and attacked the Great Warrior Chief again.

「Argh!」

Three knives plunged into the Great Warrior Chief’s back. He collapsed from his horse. Twenty knives swarmed towards the Great Warrior Chief.

After a moment of groaning, the Great Warrior Chief fell silent. Once he confirmed that the Great Warrior Chief had died, Mutzio turned his gaze towards Redus.

「Tch…」

「You’re the only one left now.」

Mutzio brandished his sword and quickly closed the distance. Redus frantically reached for his dagger, but he was too late.

With a swift slash, Redus’s head flew off. Mutzio grabbed it and lifted it high, shouting triumphantly.

「Redus the usurper has been slain by me, Mutzio, chieftain of the Equus Tribe! If you want to keep your lives surrender now!!… It seems is all over now.」

Mutzio surveyed the surroundings. His men were already slaughtering the fallen enemy riders.

When Mutzio shouted, the few resisting cavalrymen slumped to the ground, defeated.

Thus, the battle was decided.

◇

「It seems the battle is decided.」

「It seems so, Leader.」

Ron nodded next to me. Gram and Roswald are also on the battlefield. Gram provided support with his bow, while Roswald fought alongside the cavalry loyal to Mutzio.

Since the outcome is already clear, there’s no real need for Ron to step forward himself. Thus, he is by my side as my guard.

「Still… without Bartolo, our tactics are completely reliant on the black powder.」

I can’t help but feel a bit guilty.

「What’s wrong with that? We won.」

Ron said with a smirk. Well, he’s right, of course.

「Nii-san… my King!! I’ve captured a woman with a Galian accent!」

Roswald announced as he approached us. Behind him, a female magician, her hands bound, was being led away.

Roswald dragged the woman before me.

「King Rosais, I was being threatened by Redus. He took my family hostage… Please, spare me.」

She looked up at me with pleading eyes, her cleavage visible through the gaps in her clothing.

…Without prior information, I might have been deceived.

「I will have you tell us everything you know about Rozel Kingdom’s involvement in Redus’ coup.」

When I said that, her expression changed immediately. She opened her mouth slightly preparing to do something.

At that moment, Ron trusted the pommel of his dagger into her mouth.

「I will let you bite your tongue later. Only after you spill everything you know though.」

「Guh… you…」

The woman glared at me fiercely. Now, the issue is how to deal with the curse that makes her heart explode if she reveals any secret.

… I’ll have to get Julia to dispel the curse.

◇

「Rakela!」

Mutzio embraced his wife, and then, exchanged a kiss.

…Do you not see the six thousand soldiers behind you? You don’t mind? Ok then…

My Rosais army crossed the Alva Mountains and entered Equus territory. There’s no enemy left to defeat, but it’s a show of force. After all, Mutzio himself only has two hundred soldiers. Plus, I need to crown Mutzio.

「Mutzio, how soon can all the tribes gather?」

「We can hold the coronation ceremony tomorrow. After that, we’ll deal with those who didn’t come. Bad sheep need to be dealt with… I should be ready to send two thousand cavalry to help you in a week. Hold on till then.」

I see… We have to endure for a week, huh? We should be alright, probably.

「My king!!」

A messenger soldier rushed up to me.

「Sir, a message from Raymond-sama has arrived!」

I opened the dispatch from Raymond.

• No change on the front with King Evile’s Country; our forces are gradually retreating.
• On the front against King Belvedire’s Country; The Belvedire army has retreated; it seems the Lezado-Gehena alliance has won.
• Advises that attacking King Belvedire’s Country next would be wise.

These three points were noted in the dispatch.

It appears that Belvedire’s army of three thousand clashed with the Lezado-Gehena alliance of two thousand, and Belvedire’s forces were soundly defeated. Pursuing them now would likely result in a definite victory.

…Right. If there’s no change on King Evile’s Country’s front, it might be better to move against King Belvedire’s Country now.

Alright, King Belvedire’s Country is next. Maybe I should write a letter to Raymond.

◇

「Anyone who thinks that I, Mutzio Equus Sulpicius, am not fit to be the chieftain, leave this place immediately and prepare for battle!」

Mutzio proclaimed this after gathering all the clans that formed the Equus Tribe. Some clans—the ones from Redus’s mother’s family—had not come. This means that those present here have decided to follow Mutzio. So, this is just a formality.

No one moved from their spot. Naturally.

「Mutzio-dono.」

I called Mutzio while bringing forth the crown of the Equus Tribe, then I placed it quietly on Mutzio’s head. Since I am taller, it is easy for me to do so.

「I, Almus Aris Rosais, swear before the gods that the Equus Tribe and Mutzio Equus Sulpicius are King Rosais’ Country’s eternal allies.」

「Mutzio Equus Sulpicius swears before the gods that King Rosais’ Country and Almus Ariss Rosais are eternal allies of the Equus Tribe.」

Mutzio and I declared almost the same lines. Then, we poured wine into cups and drank together, following the customs of the Equus Tribe.

「Well, I must be returning soon. Friend, make haste, will you?」

「Of course. I am not one to repay kindness with enmity.」

Mutzio and I lightly bump fists.

◇

「Julia, Almus won.」

「Really? That’s great!」

Julia and Tetra celebrated together. Then they spoke to their children.

「…Daddy won.」

「Yay, Fiona. Your daddy is the strongest.」

After sharing their joy, the mood between the two women grew a bit somber.

「…I wish I could follow him.」

「And leave the children behind?」

Julia gave a wry smile. That was not an option.

「It’s tough, isn’t it? I’m worried about Almus too… but leaving the children is hard.」

「And we can’t take them with us, either.」

They were deeply conflicted about whether to follow Almus. For now, they had decided to not join the battle against the Equus Tribe, but…

「Waiting for one’s husband is also a wife’s duty, they say… but Almus can be a bit careless sometimes.」

They were worried sick about him. Both were skilled magicians, so accompanying him wouldn’t make them a burden. In fact, they would be quite useful. Julia was an exceptionally talented magician, and Tetra was a powerful mage as well.

「…I wonder how Almus handles his sexual needs on the battlefield.」

「…Julia. You are in front of the children.」

Tetra hugged her son Ankus while chiding Julia. Julia, while stroking Fiona’s hair, gave a wry smile.

「It’s okay. They’re too young to understand. And you’re worried about it too, right, Tetra?」

「…Well, it wouldn’t be good to increase the number of wives.」

The two would prefer that the number of Almus’s wives not increase further, if possible.

「Our opponent this time is Rozel Kingdom, right? Where Merlin is.」

「Yes, our enemy is the kingdom build by the world’s oldest magician.」

Meaning, that in a magical battle, their opponents would have the advantage.

「Alright, I’ve decided! I will definitely go with Almus when he heads to King Domorgal’s Country! Even if Almus opposes it!!」

「…Same here. I’m just too worried.」

They firmly resolve to follow Almus to battle.