Chapter 17
(Kyle Calendar
Year 502: Age 9)
Bloodstained
Earth ②: Secret Plan
Translator : PolterGlast
"Hmph, they've
deployed just as I expected.
To think they wouldn't
understand why we ostentatiously marched our troops forward and allowed them to
take the hills."
Goth Margrave,
commanding the invading army, muttered in disgust.
"The Kyle
Kingdom's lot only know how to defend. That's why they eagerly seize the hills
advantageous for defense,"
The adjutant's
flattery made Goth Margrave nod in satisfaction.
"Then, as planned,
we'll feint on the front and right wing. First, we'll tear off the enemy's
right wing with our left wing army.
The Iron Cavalry will
wait in the rear, join the battle at the opportune moment, and trample the
enemy's right wing."
Goth Margrave raised
his right hand high.
"Forward!"
At the commands of the
respective officers, Goth Margrave's forces began their advance.
~On a small hill~
"Just as
expected. Request all units of the Solis Barony army to prepare for long-range
fire.
Sniping positions will
correspond to the designated numbers. Hold your positions until the
command."
Commander Weiss smiled
at the predictable development and requested Father to prepare for battle.
On the battlefield,
the movements of Goth Margrave's forces were clear.
Towards the left wing
(Kilius Viscountcy army), they advanced to the very edge of arrow range,
halted, and glared at each other.
They deployed
similarly towards the center (Hastburg Margrave).
Only Goth Margrave's
left-wing army launched an offensive against the enemy's right wing (Hiyorimi
Viscountcy army, Gorman Viscountcy army).
Completely ignoring
the small force on the enemy's far right.
Goth Margrave's
intentions were clear.
The only forces to be
wary of as cohesive combat strength were the Margrave of Hastburg and Viscount
Kilius.
While feinting against
them, they could concentrate their attack on the enemy's right wing.
The enemy's right wing
was a rabble. By throwing their main force against the enemy's right wing, they
could overwhelm them with numbers and defeat them individually.
Once the battle line
collapsed, they would deploy the Iron Cavalry behind the enemy and extinguish
the enemy's right wing.
At that time, they
would first trample the small force positioned on the lowest hill on the far
right.
After that, the faster
cavalry would circle around from the enemy's right flank to their rear and
strike the camp of the commander-in-chief, Margrave of Hastburg.
The charge of the
2,000-strong Iron Cavalry would easily tear through their camp.
Goth Margrave was
satisfied with the battle plan he had devised and the way the battlefield was
unfolding exactly as he had envisioned.
***
"Approximately
2,000 enemy troops, believed to be their main force, are fiercely attacking the
camp of the Gorman and Hiyorimi Viscountcy armies."
From the small hill
where the Solis Baron and Commander Weiss were positioned, the situation was
clearly visible without needing reports from soldiers.
Outnumbered and with
low morale in each of their armies, the Hiyorimi Viscountcy army, facing a
frontal assault from enemy troops nearly twice their number, began to collapse
early.
They were retreating
slowly and in disarray.
The Gorman Viscountcy
army was fighting bravely, but if the Hiyorimi Viscount retreated, they would
be half-encircled by the enemy.
"Hiyorimi, you
spineless fool!"
He clicked his tongue
and ordered a retreat in pursuit.
The central army, led
by Margrave Hastburg, and the left wing army of Viscount Kilius were wary of
the enemy troops facing them and could not move.
Above all, the Iron
Cavalry of Goth Margrave, the force they should be most wary of, was waiting in
the rear of the enemy formation.
"The Hiyorimi
Viscountcy army is collapsing!"
"Following them,
the Gorman Viscountcy army is also retreating!"
Reports from soldiers
announcing the crisis of their allies and the sudden change in the situation
poured into the two men one after another.
"Is it about
time?"
"Yes."
For the Solis Baron
and Commander Weiss, this short exchange was sufficient.
***
Goth Margrave surveyed
the battlefield with satisfaction.
"Hahahaha! Look
at that pathetic panic!
Shall we finish this?
Iron Cavalry! Circle around to the rear of the enemy army and bring me the
Margrave's head!
First, crush the
isolated small force on the enemy's far right!"
The order to trample
the enemy army was issued by Goth Margrave.
In response, the
waiting Iron Cavalry began their advance towards the enemy's right wing from
the rear.
Against the
2,000-strong Iron Cavalry, a small force of only about 600 was nothing more
than something to be crushed.
Raising the sound of
hooves that shook the earth, the Iron Cavalry's charge began.
At this point, Goth
Margrave was certain of his army's victory.
The Goth Iron Cavalry
charged towards the allied forces of the Solis and Cornell Barons.
Facing the prey they
were about to hunt, the iron cavalrymen heightened their spirits, letting out
war cries.
***
Although the distance
was still considerable, facing the earth-shaking sound of hooves and the sight
of 2,000 riders charging fiercely, many soldiers in the Solis Baron's army held
their breath, resigned to their deaths.
The only reason they
were able to hold their ground by a narrow margin, despite their desire to
flee, was because the Solis Baron and the commander of the Twin-Headed Falcon
Mercenary Corps stood calmly exposed to the enemy.
The sound of hooves
approaching to announce their deaths grew louder and closer with each passing
moment.
"Each of you,
confirm your arrows are loaded, lie down inside the barricade while ready to
fire. Do not come out until my signal!"
At the Solis Baron's
command, the soldiers simultaneously hid inside the barricade.
Only three figures
remained exposed above the barricade.
"At my signal,
aim for the front of the enemy formation. Don't worry, if we do this calmly, we
can win this battle."
At Commander Weiss's
words, the boy, stiff with tension, managed a smile and nodded.
Soon after, Commander
Weiss, who had been glaring at the charging enemy cavalry, spoke calmly.
"Second direction
to the right, now!"
In a corner of the
battlefield, a dazzling flash of light suddenly appeared, enveloping the area
in a radiant glow, and the charging Iron Cavalry was enveloped in that light
from the leading ranks.
Blinded for a moment
by the sudden, dazzling light, the knights of the Iron Cavalry, along with
their mounts, lost their sense of balance.
For a horse galloping
at full speed to suddenly go blind was equivalent to losing all sense of
equilibrium.
Horses stumbled and
fell one after another, dragging down those behind them.
The following horses
also tripped over the fallen riders and horses, falling and further engulfing
those behind them.
Their vision was
taken, and they didn't know what was happening. Some were thrown from their
horses and incapacitated, some were kicked by those behind them, and some were
trampled to death.
The heavily armored
armor was meant to protect their lives from enemy attacks, but in this case, it
became a death trap when they fell.
Unable to move freely,
they were trampled under the hooves of their comrades' horses.
"Stop! Don't come
any closer!"
"H-h-help
me!"
"Someone! Help me
up!"
The battlefield became
a scene of hell, filled with the neighing of horses and the screams of men.
The battlefield was
filled with inexpressible death throes.
Horses galloping at
full speed could not stop immediately.
Despite the unexpected
situation, even those who managed to control their beloved horses and avoid
falling were similarly struck by tragedy.
Because they had been
galloping at full speed, the horses traveled a considerable distance in the few
seconds before they came to a halt.
Prepared along the way
were numerous traps that could have been easily avoided if they had had their
vision: small steps, shallow trenches, holes, and the like.
These were secretly
set up near the Solis Barony's camp by Commander Weiss, who had requested the
earth mages to do so.
Even those who had
avoided falling in the initial flash of light met the same fate as those who
had fallen earlier within seconds.
There were fewer of
them in the rear, so fewer were trampled by their comrades' horses, but they
themselves were slammed to the ground by the violent fall of their horses and
became incapacitated.
In this instant,
one-third of the Iron Cavalry, the elite unit of Goth Margrave, either lost
their lives or became incapacitated.
The first battle of
Dalek, the eldest son of the Solis Baron, later known as the Sword Saint, the
Swordsman of Light, would be adorned as a brilliant victory for his allies and
as an object of bitter resentment, having fallen without crossing blades, for
his enemies.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Swagaraga
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
[Silver]
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Matthew Fraser
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
