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Vol 04 Chapter 114: Battle Against Evile

After spending just one day in the capital of King Belvedire’s Country to rest the troops, the allied forces headed towards King Evile’s Country.

King Belvedire looked quite frustrated. Well, winning and losing are part of war. Our Rosais army has also been defeated.

What’s important is to not lose the last battle—the battle that decides whether the country lives or dies—the battle our country is fighting right now.

Lezado and Gehenna’s infantry stayed behind to watch over King Belvedire. I hired Lezado’s Germanis cavalry and two individuals, Alexios and Melia, for a hefty sum, gaining five hundred excellent cavalry and a capable staff officer.

I think a good point about mercenaries is that they can be easily gathered with money. Although, they do require careful handling.

Before moving towards King Evile’s Country, I sent letters to the autonomous cities and patricians I had made surrender. I instructed them to keep an eye out so that other cities and patricians wouldn’t get any strange ideas.

I told them I’d reward them if they reported anything in advance.

Hopefully, this will keep them paranoid…

Well, there’s no chance of a rebellion anyway. King Belvedire, whom they will need to rely on if they want to have a chance, has already been disarmed.

◇

「My king! Ahead, Raymond-sama with a thousand of the Rosais army and King Equus with four thousand Equus cavalry are approaching!」

「Understood. Let’s merge with them immediately. Pass the message.」

Our scouting cavalry spotted our allies about a kilometer ahead. We had been communicating with them using hawks, so I knew we were about to join forces.

…However, I had expected interference from King Evile. What’s going on? Well, Raymond, who has been fighting until now, would know better. I’ll ask him later.

◇

As the day was drawing to a close, both armies merged and set up camp.

「My king! It’s good to see you safe!」

「I’m glad to see you too, Raymond. Great work delaying the enemy …First, I want to know. What’s happening with King Evile?」

I already have some information from the magicians and the couriers. Raymond and King Evile’s army have been engaging in minor skirmishes.

As expected, the smaller Rosais army was at a disadvantage and seemed to be gradually pushed back. Nevertheless, they managed to hold back the Evile army by slowly retreating while continuing scorched earth tactics.

The situation changed when the Equus Tribe’s reinforcements arrived. It was a wise decision to go to Raymond’s location instead of mine. Mutzio really knows what he’s doing.

Upon hearing that the Equus cavalry was approaching, King Evile’s forces quickly retreated back to their homeland. Unfortunately, it seems they were not able to pursue them. After all, if a thousand tried to chase three thousand, the likelihood of being counterattacked was high.

So far, so good. What concerns me is that they allowed us to merge.

With our forces merged, we now have about seven thousand infantry and four thousand five hundred cavalry, making a total force of eleven thousand five hundred. This is a force that King Evile can hardly defeat.

Wouldn’t you normally aim to defeat us in detail?

I want to know the reason why they didn’t try to do… no, the reason why they couldn’t do that.

「I don’t know the details either… but it seems the enemy troops have headed west.」

「West, huh… Does that mean the Zoldias army has started to mobilize?」

However, according to Iarl, the Zoldias army was supposed to move after we had defeated King Evile. What does this mean?

「If we consider the logical sequence… it means Iarl-dono has made his move.」

「Him, huh… It’s a shame we can’t contact him.」

To get from King Zoldias’ Country to King Rosais’ Country, one must pass through King Evile’s Country’s territory. It’s unthinkable that King Evile, who is currently at war with our country, would let us pass through his territory without interfering.

Thus, sending a courier horse is impossible. We would need to use a controlled owl or a hawk.

However, detaching their souls for a long time to possess an animal is a significant burden on the magicians. Moreover, there is the risk of attacks by wild beasts, and other accidents, so it’s not something that can be done frequently.

Furthermore, since hawks and owls are animals, they need to eat meat, which means they have to hunt along the way. Controlled hawks and owls are the best method of communication in terms of stealth and speed, but they become inconvenient over certain distances.

Since magicians are valuable, we can risk them so easily. Therefore, we had decided to only communicate with Iarl when absolutely necessary.

「Well, it’s fine. Either way, it’s not a bad thing. Let’s march straight ahead tomorrow. Since King Belvedire’s Country has a unique system of governance, we need to turn everything into direct-controlled territories. We’ll harvest the lands of King Evile’s Country and prepare them as rewards for the patricians.」

I have imposed various burdens on the patricians. If I don’t use this opportunity to reward them no patrician will follow me next time.

The carrot and the stick are important.

「Hey, my friend. May I ask you something?」

「What is it?」

「Who are those two, the man and woman over there? They don’t seem to be Adernians or Kirisians.」

Mutzio pointed out Alexios and Melia, who were standing among the patricians, and asked.

I beckoned the two over.

「These two are a general and a magician from Lezado. This time, they will lead Lezado’s cavalry. The man is Alexios, and the woman is Melia.」

「It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Alexios, from Pofenia. I don’t have a nomen1.」

「Likewise, I’m Melia, also from Pofenia. I too, don’t have a nomen.」

Mutzio raised an eyebrow. He seemed intrigued by the mention of Pofenia and the fact that they had only praenomen.

「Pofenia… that’s the country on the southern continent, right? Why don’t you have a nomen? Is it a Pofenian custom?」

「No, it’s not that. We used to have one… but we abandoned our Family.」

Mutzio seemed curious, but he stopped probing further. He probably thought it would be rude to delve deeper. After all, knowing the details of their family backgrounds won’t earn us any benefit.

「So, I take it you represent Lezado. Is that correct?」

「No, the five hundred cavalry and I are merely mercenaries. This time, we are employed by King Almus. That’s all.」

That’s how it is. If Lezado were truly invested in this war, they would bring a larger force and send one or two councilors.

Lezado doesn’t want to get further involved in this war. However, they want me to owe them a favor. That’s why they’ve lent Alexios and their cavalry.

In an emergency, they can claim: ‘They are just mercenaries, our country isn’t involved’.

Conversely, if they prove useful, they can say: ‘Our country helped you win by lending you mercenaries’.

As expected of the Kirisians. They are adept at profiting from the situation.

「Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, let’s proceed to the military council.」

I said, looking around at the patricians, Mutzio, Alexios and Melia.

◇

「It’s a great victory.」

「Well, with this many cavalry, victory was easy.」

The next day, we invaded King Evile’s Country. We engaged in battle with the patricians who came out to repel us and secured a grand victory.

They were trying to employ scorched earth tactics with a thousand troops, just like us. However, we had four thousand five hundred elite cavalry.

Our cavalry was faster than the enemy’s retreat. And since we also had superior numbers, we could encircle them and attack from the flanks at will.

It was more of a rout than a battle, so much so that it would be more accurate to describe it as a crushing defeat.

This time, the patricians who came out to intercept us were five in number. We captured them all, including their families, and transported them to King Rosais’ Country.

I pardoned the vassals of the patricians. Executing them would make governance unstable. They followed without much resistance once I promised them positions.

Still, there were those full of loyalty… those were captured and transported to King Rosais’ Country.

I won’t kill them. Killing them would deter others from surrendering.

I kill traitors from within, but I try not to kill enemies from outside as much as possible. That’s my policy.

The former, even if pardoned, might betray again, but the latter, once they surrender, tend to work well hoping to improve their treatment through achievements.

Well, it depends on the situation and circumstances.

Already, the patricians under my command have started buttering me up regarding the distribution of land.

It’s a good trend. Keep up the good work.

Buttering up means they are willing to follow me.

「However, does King Evile’s Country not have cavalry?」

Mutzio looked puzzled; it seems that he hadn’t encountered any cavalry.

For Mutzio, whose main combat units are cavalry, the absence of cavalry was even more baffling.

「King Evile’s Country is mountainous. While there are plains near the border with our country, it’s inconvenient to deploy cavalry there.」

Additionally, cavalry is expensive to maintain. Even our country didn’t have decent cavalry until I organized it. That’s just how it is.

In fact, if we exclude the Equus and Germanis cavalry, our own forces only amount to about three hundred cavalrymen, so I’m hardly one to talk.

「To recognize the value of cavalry on your own and to organize them is truly commendable, King Rosais. I’d like the senators in my country to learn from you.」

「Cavalry will likely become the main actors in wars from now on. Heavy infantry will become obsolete. …Perhaps it would be wise to think of new formations now while we can.」

We need a formation that offers more flexibility than the current ones. A formation that ends if cavalry flanks it is too risky. Well, that’s for after the war is over.

「My king! An envoy from King Evile has arrived!」

「Finally.」

Now, whether to accept their surrender will depend on the terms.

◇

「It’s nice to meet you, King Rosais. I am Gnaeus Evile Domitius, serving as the vice king.」

「Nice to meet you too. I’m Almus Aris Rosais. May I address you as Gnaeus-dono?」

「Yes, that would be fine.」

Gnaeus was an elderly man, his face marked with numerous wrinkles.

Yet, his eyes convey a strong will. Even through his clothes, it is evident that he still possesses a robust physique, clearly still a warrior in active service.

If my memory serves me right, he is the half-brother of the previous king. He must have been assisting King Evile until today.

He is in a similar position to Raymond.

「So, what brings you here today? I am quite busy at the moment.」

「Ha ha ha, King Rosais, you are too blunt. I have come to discuss a peace treaty between our countries.」

With his piercing gaze, Gnaeus laid out his conditions.

「Our country is currently losing to yours. However, our capital is well-fortified. If we hole up, it won’t fall easily. What your country needs most right now is time. How about we both withdraw our armies and call it a draw?」

「An interesting joke. Is that all you have to say?」

Such a ridiculous proposal. There’s no way I can accept that. I have my pride, and more importantly, I need to secure land for the patricians.

「And surely your country is also short on time?」

「Oh? And why is that?」

I let a small smile show.

「Isn’t King Zoldias about to invade? I know about it.」

「Ha ha, what are you talking about… Our country and King Zoldias’ Country are allies. There is no such thing.」

I stared straight into Gnaeus’s eyes. Gnaeus returned my gaze, but it was he who looked away first.

「I can’t deceive you, it seems. Yes, it’s true that King Zoldias’ army is gathering near the border. We would like to concentrate our forces there.」

It was a half-gamble. I had learned from Iarl that King Zoldias would support our country and move his troops after our victory, but I had received no communication from Iarl since then.

「Your country attacked us from behind and ravaged our land, I cannot simply act as if nothing happened.」

「I understand. So, what terms does King Rosais propose?」

I presented the conditions that I had previously discussed with Raymond and the others.

1. King Evile acknowledges King Rosais’ effective control over the conquered territories.
2. King Evile pays a thousand gold coins as reparations, five hundred are to be paid immediately.
3. Both countries will sign a five-year truce.
4. The crown prince of King Evile will study in King Rosais’ Country.

「Ha ha ha ha, you jest!」

「Still have the nerve to laugh? Truly a warrior. Shall we fight another battle?」

Gnaeus and I glared at each other for a while.

As a result of the negotiations, the following treaty was agreed upon:

1. King Evile acknowledges King Rosais’s effective control over the conquered territories.
2. King Evile pays one hundred gold coins immediately.
3. Both countries will sign a five-year truce.
4. The crown prince of King Evile will study in King Rosais’ Country for three years.

The outcome was a decent result for the two countries, the amount of reparations is negligible though.

Well, we managed to secure a truce and even got a hostage. That’s good enough.

Now that King Evile’s Country has submitted, the only enemy left is… Rozel alone!

◇

「Hey, Gnaeus! How did it go?」

「I managed to deceive them.」

「Good. This way we can repel the Zoldias army that’s been advancing towards us.」

Almus anticipated that the Zoldias army was gathering near the border of King Evile’s Country. However, the reality was different. The Zoldias army had decisively defeated the Evile army and advanced deep into their territory. That was the real situation.

Gnaeus’s role was to negotiate as favorable a treaty as possible without letting on about this fact.

「But when he said the Zoldias army was attacking… My heart nearly stopped. Well, I managed to deceive them. It’s good that the king is still young… but as he grows, he might become a formidable enemy.」

「Ha ha ha, never again will we face such a foe! From now on, we’ll approach King Rosais’ Country with utmost humility… Well, at least it didn’t turn out like it did with Belvedire. Isn’t that good? Now that we’ve dealt with Rosais’ young upstart, next up is Zoldias’. Gnaeus, I’m giving you four thousand troops. Go and defeat them!」

「Ha ha! Certainly!」

TN1: For those who forgot, Nomem is the clan name, something similar to our last name. Roman names were composed of Praenomen (name), Nomen (clan or family name), and Cognomen (nickname to differentiate individuals of the same clan, later used to denote branches within the clan, the latter meaning is the one used in the story).