3 bar menu

Vol 04 Chapter 118: The Joint Battle

「Report!!」

A scout shouted, delivering the information he had gathered to us. According to the information, it seems that an army of two thousand commanded by Lettis Blouse and an army of twenty thousand led by the Rozel Kingdom’s general, Kailas, are engaged in battle.

Lettis seems to be avoiding a direct confrontation, retreating bit by bit while repeating guerrilla warfare tactics. It seems they are putting up a good fight using the terrain to their advantage. However…

「We must send reinforcements soon, or it’s only a matter of time.」

Raymond muttered.

It’s troubling. Our top priority is to rescue Bartolo, but to leave Lettis’ forces to die would be against our moral code. It could lead to a bad reputation later on too.

Moreover, losing two thousand troops would be a waste. If possible, I would like to join forces with them.

「My king, I believe we should go to their aid. There are two reasons. First, it’s a chance to reduce the enemy’s strength. The enemy general is not as capable as General Kuryuu. So, we should defeat these twenty thousand first. The second reason is the two thousand troops. More troops are better. The Carlo faction, scattered throughout the region, including Lettis-dono’s forces, totals four thousand. They have been spreading out their troops for fear of a direct confrontation with the Rozel army, but if we defeat Rozel, they should come together again.」

Yes, that’s not a bad idea. It would be better to defeat the weaker enemies first. Let’s trust Bartolo’s ability to endure a little more, and start by rescuing Lettis-dono who is close by.

「Order the forces to change direction! We will head towards the Blouse territory inmediatly!!」

◇

「King Rosais! Thank you again for your help. I will definitely repay this favor…」

Reuniting with Lettis Blouse was relatively simple, thanks to the guide he had sent.

By using a marching route unknown to Kailas, we were able to join forces without any interference. This clearly shows the importance of knowing the terrain.

「Don’t worry about it, Lettis-dono. Right now, we are comrades in arms. Let’s help each other.」

We quickly exchanged greetings and started our military council.

「The enemy army has set up camp in a basin ahead. There are a total of twenty thousand enemies, including a thousand cavalry.」

「Are there any of the reported hairy beasts in their midst?」

「We weren’t able to confirm any.」

Hmm… It seems that they think they don’t need to use the hairy beast or cavalry just to deal with the small fry.

Well, that’s correct. Lettis has been luring the enemy into the mountainous areas and repeatedly ambushing them. The cavalry would have been useless there.

「Then let us also organize our troops and head out soon. … We have nine thousand infantry and four thousand five hundred cavalry. Although we are outnumbered in total, we have more cavalry.」

◇

「Kailas-sama! It seems that King Rosais and Lettis Blouse have joined forces,」

Kailas’s aide reported the information from the scouts to him. Kailas smiled.

「Is that so… How convenient.」

The extermination of the ‘flies’ had been more troublesome than expected. After all, the opponent wasn’t engaging in a pitched battle. They could only chip away at them slowly.

However, their merger with Rosais’ forces changed the situation.

They would definitely challenge Kailas to a pitched battle.

All that was left was to trap and completely defeat both Rosais’ and Lettis Blouse’s forces together.

「Ha ha!! King Rosais’s head will be mine!!」

Kailas laughed cheerfully. Originally, Kuryuu and Kailas had assumed that the Rosais’ army would head straight to rescue Bartolo Pompeius.

They expected him to prioritize his own forces.

However, King Almus chose to assist Lettis Blouse before Bartolo. It was not something completely unforeseen, just something they had deemed less likely.

「… Kailas-sama. General Kuryuu has advised against engaging in a pitched battle…」

「Foolishness!! Who would be so foolish as to not fight when the enemy general is right in front of them? Kuryuu just doesn’t want me to earn any distinctions, that’s why he’s saying such things!」

When sending Kailas out, Kuryuu had said:

「Rosais’ forces are fewer in number to us, but they are formidable. They have a larger number of cavalry, and that king has won many battles. Do not engage in a pitched battle. Even if provoked, keep to the defense. After we take the capital, we’ll crush them with fifty thousand. Understand?」

However, to Kailas, it seemed like Kuryuu was just jealous of his talents. People only see what they want to see.

「We will engage in battle… Hehe, if we win this fight, the greatest honor will be mine!!」

◇

Both armies faced each other on a vast plain. The Rozel forces held the higher ground on the hills.

The terrain slightly favors the Rozel army.

「Well, this kind of terrain shouldn’t be a problem.」

I kept glaring at the enemy.

Our equipment is pretty different.

The Gallians wore trousers and were equipped with swords rather than spears.

They might have better mobility than our heavy infantry.

「Hey, Almus, are you sure this is okay?」

Tetra looked up at me anxiously. I stroked her hair while answering.

「It’s alright. I’ve also gained a fair amount of experience by now.」

This time, I’m in charge of leading the strategy. I have led troops several times as a king, but this is the first time I’m facing a battle of this scale.

But I’m not too anxious. Raymond and Alexios are here as my advisors.

Ron, Roswald, and Gram are also leading the front lines as tribunes. Soyon and Lulu are participating in the war as magicians too.

「We are here too.」

「That’s my only worry,」

「Isn’t that a bit harsh?」

Julia gave a wry smile.

Of course, it’s a joke. I’m relying on you.

「Your anti-curse abilities are top-notch. I’m counting on you. And you too, Tetra.」

「Mmm… My magicraft isn’t all that useful, though. I’m no match for Julia, but leave the countermeasures against the enemy’s illusions to me… I’ve heard that Rozel’s magicians are skilled.」

Well, in war, curses aren’t all that useful. Of course, illusions can be employed. But since methods to counter them are well established, they are easily resisted.

Magic is much easier to use in defense than in offense.

「Well, let’s get started… We’ll finish this with the Rosais army’s sure-win pattern.」

The first to launch an attack was the Rosais army’s light infantry. Led by Gram, the light infantry approached the Rozel forces, starting their assault with javelins and arrows.

The Rozel army responded by deploying their light infantry, and an exchange of projectiles began.

「Prepare the blast javelins… Throw!!」

Gram’s command echoed across the battlefield. With the command, the blast javelins traced an arc, tearing through the Rozel army’s formation.

With the explosion, powdered herbs scattered into the air. Using this as a medium, the Rosais army’s magicians began to cast curses.

「The earth shakes…」

「The heavens turn!」

Lulu and Soyon chanted the spell. It was a curse to disrupt the enemy’s sense of balance.

「Here’s a little extra.」

Tetra raised her staff. Lightning burst from the tip of her staff, electrocuting the soldiers of the Rozel army.

◇

「We can’t see through the smoke!!」

「What’s happening???」

「The ground, it’s shaking?」

「What was that light??」

「Lightning!! Does the enemy have a thunder god?」

Panic spread through the Rozel army. However, the magicians of the Rozel army were skilled. They quickly dispelled the curse that disrupted their sense of balance.

And they reflected the curse back. When you curse someone, prepare two graves. Such is the rule of curses.

Reflecting curses is very simple, often easier than casting them. That’s why using curses on the battlefield is a highly risky tactic.

「Fools. The ones who will be cursed are you!!」

Kailas smirked gleefully.

(In the end, that king is still an inexperienced brat.)

However, the repelled curse was perfectly blocked by a certain woman.

「Well, we did expect the curse would be reflected. We’ve planned for this much.」

That was Julia. Julia alone reflected the curse that was sent back, sending it back once again.

Moreover, Soyon and Lulu layered additional curses. The front line of the Rozel army was beginning to collapse.

「Now’s our chance. Let’s go. All units, follow me!!」

Almus mounted his beloved horse, Sakura, and started galloping into the fray. The heavy infantry desperately followed him.

The cavalry on both flanks sped up to encircle the Rozel army’s sides and rear.

「Ron! I’m leaving my back to you. Let’s go!!」

「Understood!! Leader!!」

Almus charged into the Rozel army. His sword, made of Dragon Damascus steel, gleamed in the sunlight, and enemy heads flew, casting shadows over the enemy soldiers.

Any enemy that attempted to strike at Almus from behind was completely blocked by Ron.

「I’ll support you!! My king!!」

Gram nocked his arrows and released them one after another. Gram’s arrows pierced through the Rozel soldiers, targeting the officers primarily.

As he aimed for the enemy captains, Gram continued to release his arrows.

The Rozel army, lacking a robust command structure, became disorganized with the loss of their captains. Almus exploited this disarray.

However, the Rozel army had more than twice the number of infantry compared to the Rosais army. Gradually, the Rozel forces began to push the Rosais forces back.

「Go! Break through in one push!」

The Rozel forces, holding the higher ground on the hill, had a stronger momentum when they charged. They repelled and broke through the Rosais lines.

「This is bad… The difference in infantry numbers is becoming painfully obvious.」

Almus, while slashing through the approaching Gallians soldiers, tried to inspire his troops to hold the line.

「Do not retreat! I am the son of the war god Mares! The gods are with us!」

「That’s right! Do not fall back! Your king is fighting at the front!」

Almus and Ron raised their voices. The soldiers desperately held their ground, fighting against twice their number in Rozel troops.

They couldn’t retreat while their king fought alongside them.

However, the disparity in forces was not something that could be overcome with morale alone. Gradually, the Rosais army was being pushed back. But…

「All units, shoot your arrows to disrupt the enemy’s formation before charging!」

Mutzio, having circled to the rear, commanded his Equus cavalry.

「Cavalry, charge… The one who kills the most enemies will receive a special reward from me!」

Alexios, who had maneuvered to the right flank, ordered his Germanic mercenary cavalry.

「Don’t let those foreign riders outdo you!」

「That’s right! Don’t disgrace your captain by showing weakness!」

Roswald and Vilgar, leading the Rosais cavalry, charged into the Rozel forces from the left flank.

Front, rear, right side, left side…

The encirclement and annihilation formation was flawlessly completed.

◇

「Damn! The cavalry numbers have come into play…」

Kailas tried to regroup his disoriented troops. However, surrounded on all sides, there was no way to reorganize effectively.

「Order the soldiers, we’re retreating!」

With that command, Kailas mounted his horse and attempted to flee the battlefield. His adjutants and guards scrambled to follow him.

Retreating was a military tactic that normally involved the commander staying until the end to ensure the safe withdrawal of his troops. Kailas’s action was merely an escape.

「I won’t let you run away!」

Such shouts were hurled at Kailas’s back. Kailas glanced back in panic.

「I am Roswald Fabius. I’ll take that head of yours!」

Roswald declared as he swung his sword downward. In a panic, Kailas drew his sword and blocked the attack.

However…

Slash

With that sound, both the sword and Kailas’s head were split in two.

A sword crafted from the immature ironworking techniques of Gallia versus one made of Dragon Damascus steel. A battle between a man raised in a pampered enviroment and a man blessed by the [Blessing of the Emperor].

The outcome was to be expected.

「The enemy general has been slain!!!」

Thus, the battle quickly tilted in favor of Rosaïs’ forces.