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Chapter 102: Gantz’s Bloodless Capitulation part1

Selena and Sharon pushed far ahead, sweeping up stragglers as they went. With two cavalry elements pinching both flanks and dropping spells into the pocket, the enemy’s retreat turned into a rout. Those who couldn’t move—or had lost the will to fight—surrendered and became prisoners. We marched the ones who yielded a little way toward Ares; the rear echelons disarmed them and loaded them onto wagons. In preparation for not being able to regroup with them soon, I’d issued extra rations to Selena and Sharon in advance, enough for yesterday and today, but their pursuit speed was so outrageous that we might not be able to reunite with them until Gantz.

On foot, the road between Gantz and Ares takes five full days. We’ve set up four relay camps. Strictly speaking we should have a dedicated cavalry bivouac at the midpoint, but that isn’t built yet. We’ll need waystations for messengers sooner or later.

The field battle happened about halfway between the two cities. There are two camps on the Gantz side of that midpoint. Riding the momentum, Selena and Sharon advanced all the way to the camp closest to Gantz—dragging some prisoners along, apparently. A force riding the momentum is unstoppable.

This is how our forces distribution looked like: Selena and Sharon were at Camp 1; Elna and I with the main body at Camp 2; Baron Kael’s unit, bound for Ares, at Camp 3. Camps 1 and 2 were each a one-day ride from Gantz. Tomorrow every unit I led out of Ares would arrive at Gantz.

「Selena, Sharon—you two pushed too far.」

「Sorry, Alan.」

「We kept thinking we could go a little farther…」

Off the plan, yes—but still within correction range. And if we held every camp the enemy could conceivably reach, they’d be forced to bivouac in the open. Each camp had a ditch and an earthen wall. Even these last two nights, when they were able to use the camps, they had been whittled down by monster attacks. Spending the night outside a camp in the Great Demon Forest is suicide.

「I’ll have Gloria carry food to your camp today and tomorrow. That’ll cut the risk of a prisoner riot or a night raid.」

「Understood, Captain.」

「Thanks, Alan.」

「Counting on you, Gloria.」

The twins chimed in with thanks. We hadn’t budgeted food for the extra prisoners; they would’ve come up short starting tonight. We’ll rendezvous in front of Gantz tomorrow, so this is enough for the moment.

「We’ve seized every camp the enemy could make. That alone is a win. Don’t get sloppy—then finish the now-shrunken enemy cleanly.」

「「Roger!」」

Plenty of hard problems remain. Still, I need a proper night’s sleep. Magic detection helps, but I have to tell Dalshim to increase sentries and tighten prisoner watch.

At dusk I called in Dalshim and Elna.

「Dalshim, Walter, Elna—got a minute?」

「Yes, Alan.」

「Yes, Alan-sama.」

「Selena and Sharon should be fine, but if they’ve taken prisoners their food might be tight. I’m sending Gloria with provisions to their camp.」

「Gloria can do that?!」

「Yeah. I’m nearly certain they’re at the next relay. If Gloria remains there, W won’t have to worry about the spearhead getting hit.」

「I’ll get the food prepared.」

「Once it’s ready, pack it tight, Dalshim. Gloria’s hauling it—secure it well. Then draft a watch rotation.」

「Understood. The watch plan is already drafted.」

「Perfect. That helps. The rest of us will handle the prisoners Heinz’s squad is in charge of and any other issues there.」

「I’ll accompany you.」

With Walter and Elna in tow I checked the prisoners. The ones captured in the fight with Count Gantz had been sent to Ares with Baron Kael. The ones taken during the pursuit were tied hand and foot and riding in wagons. No one had flagged it, but there should still be some severely injured mixed in. Bound hands make toilet breaks a problem. No one wants to sit in their own filth.

Heinz had things in hand. Those who asked to use the latrine were untied and escorted; the bindings themselves were proper.

「I could use a fenced-off area just for prisoners, though.」

「Got it. I’ll raise a simple enclosure with earth magic.」

I built a low earthen wall to mark the prisoner sector. Not enough to block sightlines, just a boundary between captives and guards. I added latrines—several for men and a dedicated one for women—and hauled water jars off the wagons, filling them with Water magic.

No need to fret about rain. At this temperature it’ll feel like a shower.

「Heinz. I’ll leave a canvas or two. If it rains, rig them over the prisoners. I’ll cut drainage channels so groundwater won’t seep in.」

「Understood.」

「There are a lot of women soldiers. Make sure desperation doesn’t lead to assaults—by their side or ours. Ria won’t tolerate a breakdown in discipline.」

「I know. I won’t let anyone stain Ria-sama’s name.」

The water jars proved popular—crowds formed fast. We only had two ladles, so they shared in turns, working it out among themselves like comrades. Once the bathroom anxiety eased, thirst kicked in. We came close to passive abuse without meaning to. Binding hands is unavoidable in a field camp, but the environment we can improve. I topped off the jars with another Water.

「Walter, bring one more jar? We can collect it anytime, but leave it when we move tomorrow.」

「On it.」

I cast Heal on those who looked the worst off. Officially we’re not supposed to heal enemy POWs, so Elna kept watch while I ‘looked the other way’.

Finished, I stood there a moment, scanning for anything I’d missed.

Elna stepped to my side. 「We won today because of you.」

「It was thanks to everyone. And you earned your laurels—taking Count Jurgen Gantz was a major feat. It was clean work, Elna.」

She lit up at the praise. 「Thanks, Alan.」

She suddenly hugged me, whispered something far too exciting right in my ear, and—masked by prisoners crowding the water—stole a soft kiss.

「…I can’t move forward unless Ria-sama permits it, but—」

She cupped my cheeks and brushed my lips again.

「…I’m looking forward to the future, Alan.」

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Morning broke quiet. No monster raids, no prisoner unrest. We just pushed for Gantz. We scooped up exhausted enemy stragglers who’d collapsed along the road and loaded them as POWs. I had Drones watch the highway; thanks to that, plenty of enemy soldiers who slept roadside survived the night unmolested by monsters. For larger clusters, we did the opposite—and sicced monsters on them.

「Iris, status on the enemy groups?」

I’d been too tired last night and failed to confirm their positions myself. Iris would have pinged me if anything broke, but a commander should verify.

「They’ve split loosely into three groups, all heading for Gantz. The largest intended to night-raid Selena and Sharon’s camp, but abandoned the idea once they learned Gloria was on station.」

That was close. Without Gloria, the twins’ overreach might have drawn blood. Credit to the food-lift idea—it started as a logistics patch.

「Iris, log a one-grade promotion recommendation for Gloria for this op—post-action.」

「Acknowledged, Captain.」

Somewhere along the line, Selena and Sharon’s detachment had passed the enemy main body. Or maybe the enemy had backtracked to poach a camp. Either way, those who failed to secure a camp left the road seeking water.

Net effect: our cavalry would hold the highway and get to Gantz first, while the enemy detoured. That decided our priority—reach Gantz before them and keep them from holing up.

How to take Gantz—that was the hard part. Our edge was reputation. People in Gantz know us; fewer frictions in negotiation. It’s worth a try.

Forcing a wall like the one surrounding Gantz with a small force would be difficult. With the right authority, we could get lawful control recognized. That meant we had to occupy Gantz intact.

We reached Gantz early afternoon. The prisoners were burning through our food reserves faster than planned. Wagons make POW handling easy, but we need this wrapped quickly.

We linked up with Selena and Sharon ahead of us and took position at the gate. Iris confirmed there were barely any troops left inside—Captain Guido and a skeleton guard holding the gate, that was all.

「Adjutant Dalshim.」

「Yes, Alan-sama.」

「I’m going to talk with Gantz’s garrison. Come with me.」

「At your side.」

「Selena has command until I’m back.」

「Yes.」

「Selena, Sharon—hold here.」

「Roger.」

I intend to make a deal. Ares needs trade with Gantz, and Gantz needs resources from the Great Demon Forest. I’m famous in this city. We should be able to settle this without force.