Chapter 268
Shifting Battlefields
Translator : PolterGlast
Chronologically, this goes back a bit to when messengers for
peace negotiations began traveling between the Griffonia Empire Army and King Kyle,
and the fires of war between Southern Gate Fort and the Southern Gate
Fortress were momentarily subsiding.
The first messenger arrived from the Imperial Army, and
after that, messengers from both countries began to come and go, finally
starting to spin the thread of negotiations looking ahead to a truce and the
post-war period.
By that time, having established a plan for dealing with the
routed soldiers remaining in the territory and post-war processing, Demon
Territory Count Takuhir and Frontier Knight Commander Darek, accompanied only by close
attendants, visited King Kyle at Southern Gate Fort, also to
report the war situation.
"Demon Territory Count, and Viscount Solis—no,
the one who inherits the title of Margrave Hastburg. Your fighting in
this battle was truly magnificent. I thank you from the bottom of my
heart."
"No, we lost our chief commander, Margrave Hastburg.
For this, prostrating myself for my own lack of wisdom, I apologize deeply.
Unworthy as I am, I cannot shamefully claim the family name of the Margrave."
My brother's voice trembled as he answered. Yes, we had
suffered a blow equivalent to losing a father, and we could not bring ourselves
to boast of our victory.
"I too have lost a friend who supported me for a long
time. This sense of loss cannot be filled even now. However..."
"Yes, Your Majesty. The war is not over yet. The
situation in the South hinges on future negotiations and is not yet secure,
while the North and West remain a back-and-forth struggle—both continue to pose
a significant threat."
"Demon Territory Count... hoping that both sides might take
this opportunity to withdraw their troops... is that nothing more than a faint
hope? "
"I believe the West will likely intensify their
offensive even further. They need a figurehead, and that figurehead is in Kylar...
Until now, they were wary of being pincered by the armies of other nations and
thus kept each other in check, but now, they will likely come attacking with
desperation."
"What do you think of the North?"
"Indeed. According to reports from the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Ice is also siding with them. Once they have clarified their
flag, they have no path of retreat. They will be facing us with desperate
resolve. To ensure the Holy Imperial Kingdom doesn't get cold feet and
run, they will likely block the retreat with a thick wall of ice, maneuvering
so there is no means of survival but to advance."
"I see... so the war continues still... I have realized
in this battle. Gouras himself seems to regret it considerably, but when
it comes to actual combat, even the Royal Capital Knights will have to
yield a step to your forces. It pains me to rely only on you again..."
"Your Majesty, I have been appointed Chief of General
Staff of the Magic Knights, and I believe that appointment has not yet
been revoked. 'Turn to the West!' Please, give that order."
"Your Majesty, we, the Frontier Knights, still stand ready. We feel deep shame that the
situation in the South—our rightful jurisdiction—resulted in troubling Your Majesty
to intercede. Please, grant us the opportunity to serve! For the sake of the Margrave's
honor, I implore you!"
"..."
His Majesty the King seemed to be still agonizing over
something. After closing his eyes for a while, he opened them and began to speak
quietly and with majestic words.
"I order the Demon Territory Count. Select the Demon
Territory Knights and subordinate Mages and head as reinforcements
to the Western Front. Please, save Clarice."
"As you command."
"I order Viscount Solis. Lead the Frontier
Knights and cavalry totaling 5,000, plus 5,000 from the Royal Capital
Knights, totaling 10,000 mounts, and head to the Northern Front. Although
the enemy is different, give his subordinates the opportunity to clear their
regrets for Hastburg's honor."
"Yes! I gratefully accept the Royal Command."
My brother and I knelt respectively and answered in loud
voices.
"You brothers, coordinate with each other, and upon
victory in the North and West, I permit you to move according to the situation.
Prioritizing the peace of the border, I permit independent judgment according
to the situation to advance beyond the border for pursuit. I will remain in
this fortress for a while, checking the Empire and determining the outcome of
this war. Henceforth, I leave the details to Gouras and you. Everyone,
no objections?"
"Yes!"
All generals present prostrated themselves. My brother and I
would each rally the soldiers left in the Demon Territory Count's domain
and head to new battlefields.
When leaving His Majesty's presence, I handed over only one
souvenir and entrusted the subsequent peace negotiations with the Empire to His
Majesty.
"Brother, you will join the main force left in Ishtar
and head North, right? The Holy Imperial Kingdom Army's Mages are
few in number, but I believe they will use tactics based on Wind Mages.
Please be careful."
"Yeah, I heard
about the hard fights of Margrave Hamish and the Minister of Military
Affairs via the Old Raccoon. Do you have any plan?"
"I wouldn't call it a plan, but... there is something I
want to try. Brother, I will entrust you with Christoph and Aura,
who know the Holy Imperial Kingdom's tactics, and 1,000 mounted
Longbowmen. Please use them mainly as agents to induce the surrender of the Holy Imperial Kingdom
soldiers rather than for fighting on the battlefield."
"Oh, that helps. I will use them gratefully. Christoph
and I learned together under the Commander in the past, so we know each other
well. It's not much in return, but I will leave 1,000 cavalry for maintaining
public order in Ishtar, so please use them. Especially since Ishtar
holds prisoners far exceeding the number of friendly soldiers; it must be tough, right?"
Indeed, the
greatest shackle I faced right now was the sheer number of
prisoners we were holding. In Ishtar
specifically, we are managing by converting the entire outer district into a
temporary prisoner camp, but the
prisoner count continues to rise even now during the post-victory mopping-up
operations. Aegis, too, has been
taking in additional soldiers who surrendered while fleeing through the Demon Territory after the battle.
Since this vast number of prisoners includes many wounded
soldiers, Alexis and the others are busy dealing with them.
- Aegis Prisoner Count: 2,500 + 500
- Ishtar Prisoner Count: 6,300 + 2,400
"Thank you. For the time being, since the battle is
over, I will have Alexis concentrate on prisoner handling and city
reconstruction, and I intend to entrust the overall management of Ishtar
to Father, and Aegis to Father-in-law for the time being. I plan to ask
Viscount Cornell for reconstruction, transport of supplies, and
maintaining public order north of Ishtar. Since each army has suffered
reasonable sacrifices in this battle."
"Hahaha, Father, Father-in-law, and even Uncle without
exception, huh?"
"Of course, since I have His Majesty's permission, it
also serves as distribution of war spoils, you
know. And naturally, that includes you too, Brother."
"Ah, I'll look forward to it. Then, Takuhir! See
you later. Let's repel our enemies and meet here again."
"Take care too, Brother! It's a promise!"
Thus, my brother and I rushed through the Demon Territory,
which was still overflowing with monsters and a danger zone, all at once. My
brother crossed the barrier gate into Ishtar, joined the forces he had
left behind, and departed for the Northern Front. I joined Count Gorman
at the barrier gate and headed for Aegis.
In Aegis, the key personnel were all assembled as if
waiting for my arrival.
"First, everyone, I want to thank you again for
achieving victory in the battles so far. Truly, thank you. But we haven't won
in the true sense yet. Please continue to lend me your strength. To protect
this country."
At my words, everyone nodded. As if to say everyone had
resolved themselves to that, and it was only natural.
"Father-in-law (Count Gorman), I apologize for
the trouble, but please take care of the defense of Aegis. Also, please
maintain a system where you can rush to the Southern border if anything
happens."
"Understood."
"Commander, the Demon Territory Knights will
rush to the Western Front with full force. We will go from Teigoon to Est,
and then to Kleirat in one go."
"Understood!"
"From here on, I will have each of you take on new
missions. Gale, I rely on you to lead the remaining Demon Territory
Count Army and Armed Vigilantes. Support Count Gorman. Christoph,
Aura, lead the 1,000 Longbowmen who migrated first and head to the
Northern Front. Follow the Frontier Knights who are going ahead to
support my brother; everyone go mounted. There should be spare horses. Raphael,
bring the Tia Trading Company under your command and come with me to the
Western Front. I will instruct you on rear disruption later. Bart, it
was just entertainment here, but in
the West, we will likely use that. I rely on you for transport. Mars,
Danke, and Astor, you three come with me too. Aral, Masrur,
Isaac, Keira, and Layla, remain with the units under your
command and support Gale."
"Yes, sir!"
Some looked like they wanted to be taken along too, but we
can't leave the defense completely empty yet.
"Michelle, head to Ishtar immediately and
handle the wounded there. Together with Mia who is there as support,
continue handling the wounded. Once Michelle arrives and the response
settles down, I will have Marianne and Lanatoria join the Western
Front. Clara and Tiara, continue handling the wounded in Aegis.
I am burdening the Holy Mages, but please lend me your strength a little
longer."
"Yes!"
"Anne...
support Miseri in Teigoon.
I'm counting on you. Claire, Yoltia, to the Western Front.
Especially Yoltia, be ready to activate that at any time with Carleen, Lilia, Irina, and Katarina. Dealing
with archers and defense against enemy magic will be centered mainly on Brandt
and Volk. Always act together with Sasha and Walrus. Leia, Shannon, and Kinia will be
stationed at the main camp with me. We will join the Mages already
dispatched to the Western Front and crush the invading army!"
Anne looked at
me with appealing eyes, but I can't take her on this expedition. Karin
has just turned one. I couldn't separate her from her mother for so long.
I dared not say the reason, but she probably understands
well enough. She didn't voice any complaints or requests.
"Information about the Imperial Army invasion should be
reaching the Western Front soon. But they don't know the end of the Southern
Front. We will make them realize the the folly of their exterior lines
strategy! And victory to us, the Kyle Kingdom!"
"Ooh!"
There was a loud response in unison. We have buried the greatest
formidable enemy, but unknown battles still remain for us.
Honestly,
even though there were only about 50 of them, the simultaneous barrage from the
Principality's mages was enough to make even the impenetrable Teigoon falter for a moment. The reports
from the Western Front claimed they had broken this offensive in the opening
battles, but having now experienced the attack firsthand—feeling its ferocity
and danger in my very bones—I was struck by a vague unease, wondering if those
reports could really be true.
And later, that anxiety would hit the mark. Those fighting
on the Western Front would learn the true terror of the Mage Corps and
fall into fear.
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