Chapter 61
(Kyle Calendar
Year 506: Age 13)
To the
Battlefield
Translator : PolterGlast
【⚔Annals of the Solis
Barony⚔ Steps to Ruin】
Kyle Calendar Year
506: The Kingdom is again beset by the ravages of war.
Goth Margrave, the
mighty of the Gryphonia Empire, invades the Kyle Kingdom once more during
harvest season.
Margrave Hastburg,
leading his seasoned warriors, intercepts them.
While forces were
evenly matched, and the standoff seemed destined to be prolonged,
A viper in the
Margrave's bosom dramatically shifts the tide of battle.
The young Light
Swordsman, pride of the Solis family, falls prey to an ally's treachery and is
isolated.
Fighting valiantly,
saving countless soldiers, yet the light falls and does not return.
The warriors of Estol,
driven by rage, charge repeatedly into the enemy ranks. Though they bury many
foes, many of their own also do not return. The people of Estol grieve deeply,
lamenting the lost light.
-----
One day, as the autumn
harvest drew near, a fast horse arrived from Margrave Hastburg for my father.
"Signs of enemy
invasion detected. Let all lords gather their forces and proceed to the
Southern Gate Fortress as quickly as possible!"
This time, I led 200
cavalry from the town of Teigun towards the town of Est.
"Takuhir-sama,
the detached unit will now depart. We will remain in hiding until there is
enemy movement."
"Yes. The hiding
place and mission are dangerous, but prioritize everyone's safety, and retreat
if it gets too dangerous."
As a detached unit
from Teigun, a squad of fast horses with Dark Mage (Raphael) and scouts was
positioned in advance near the border, passing through the edge of the Demon
Realm.
They would hide using
Raphael's dark magic skill and carry out reconnaissance missions.
If there was any
anomaly towards Teigun, their crucial role was to deliver urgent news to the
town of Teigun and to me at the Southern Gate Fortress.
I hoped it would end
up being an unnecessary worry, but my anxieties were endless.
◇ Forces Dispatched from Teigun
＜Main Force＞
Iron Cavalry: 50 riders
(entrusted by Father)
Light Cavalry: 80
riders (70 soldiers + 10 mages)
Mercenary Corps: 70
riders
＜Detached Unit＞
Light Cavalry: 12
riders (Scout unit including Dark Mage (Raphael))
＜Remaining Forces＞
Mages: 13
Archers: 80
Mercenary Corps: 30
※
Seeing the 200-strong
force heading towards the town of Est with the soldiers who had departed from
Teigun, I felt a little emotional.
Four years ago, the
entire Solis Baronial army had only 200 cavalrymen dispatched. Now, Teigun
alone had the same 200 cavalry.
"Our army has
changed quite a bit in these four years."
"Indeed. Not just
in numbers, but the quality of their training and striking power have also
changed significantly."
Commander Weiss
responded to my murmur.
"The mercenary
corps has also more than tripled in size since we first met five years
ago."
Yes, the mercenary
corps had also rapidly grown from 30 members five years ago to over 100
members.
"Well, it's all
thanks to the schemes of a certain someone..."
"..."
I understood what he
was referring to, but I remained silent.
"The mercenary
corps will not leave the land of Estol until we have repaid our debt of
gratitude to that person.
For the time being, we
wish to serve you. That is the consensus of the mercenary corps..."
Well, it was true that
I had done a lot to keep them.
While exchanging such
words, by the time we arrived at the town of Est, preparations for the
expedition were almost complete.
※
Immediately after we
arrived in Est, the assembled Solis Baronial army departed.
Since Bart was also
accompanying us this time, all the improved compound crossbows (Estol Bows)
were concealed and transported by Bart using his spatial storage, while the
soldiers carried their regular crossbows individually.
Bart was also carrying
a large number of arrows and food supplies procured in the town of Est. This
allowed the baggage train to carry fewer loads, enabling a swift march.
The military strength
of the Solis Barony, including the forces from Teigun, had reached an
unprecedented scale.
The forces now
numbered a total of 500, plus 70 from the Twin-Headed Eagle Mercenary Corps, an
increase of 170 dispatched troops compared to four years ago.
＜Solis Baronial Army＞
Iron Cavalry Corps:
200 riders
Light Cavalry: 100
riders
Archers: 200 men
Mercenary Corps: 70
riders
And all 570 of these
would outwardly use crossbows, but in reality, would also perform as archers
using Estol Bows.
Upon arriving at the
Southern Gate Fortress, the Gorman Viscountcy army also arrived almost
simultaneously. Combined with the previously arrived Kilius Viscountcy,
Hiyorimi Viscountcy, Cornell Baronial, Kreutz, Bold, and Herald Baronial
armies, the entire force of the Margrave of Hastburg was assembled.
The composition of
each army, except for ours, was almost the same as four years ago.
＜Hastburg Margrave's Army＞
Margrave Hastburg:
3,200
Viscount Kilius: 1,000
Viscount Gorman: 800
Viscount Hiyorimi: 600
Baron Solis: 570
Baron Cornell: 230
Baron Kreutz: 200
Baron Bold: 200
Baron Herald: 200
Total: 7,000
The reinforcements
from other nobles with territories in the southern part of the Kyle Kingdom had
not yet arrived.
That night, a general
war council was held, and the latest information was shared.
"The invading
army is estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000 strong, with the main force
being 15,000 Imperial Guards directly commanded by the First Prince.
The Imperial Guards
are strong in numbers, equipment, and training, and caution is advised.
We will conduct a
siege battle until reinforcements arrive and the disparity in forces is
balanced."
The battle was
expected to begin in 3 to 5 days.
The Youth Knight Corps
of 2,500 men had already departed from the royal capital, and a total of 10,000
men from neighboring nobles were expected to gather as reinforcements.
"We are
outnumbered, but our main objective this time is to defend the border. Everyone
should be mindful not to rush for glory."
Until reinforcements
arrived, our allies were less than one-third of the enemy's strength.
Honestly, it was a
tough force ratio even for a siege battle.
In the [previous
history], the enemy also had roughly the same numbers, so this, too, was a
result of my interference, changing the flow of history in [this world].
◯ Neighboring Reinforcements
Earl Armies: 4 houses,
total 5,000 men
Viscount Armies: 8
houses, total 3,200 men
Baron Armies: 12
houses, total 1,800 men
Total: 10,000 men
Unlike the frontier
nobles who were constantly exposed to war, the military strength held by each
noble house was smaller than expected.
Could this even be
called reinforcements?
A disorganized rabble
of 10,000 with an ununified command structure.
2,500 raw recruits
with little experience, who would only be a burden.
"Does the Kingdom
really intend to win?"
I involuntarily
whispered to my father.
Even with all the
reinforcements combined, it would be less than 20,000... just in terms of
numbers, this time was considerably tough.
※
The next morning, the
first wave of reinforcements arrived.
It was the Second
Youth Cavalry Corps, led by my brother, who had rushed all the way from the
royal capital.
The farthest unit was
the first to arrive...
Did the other
reinforcing nobles even have any motivation?
I only felt an
increasingly ominous premonition.
"Takuhir, are you
well? Father, I'm glad to see you in good health!"
"Brother Darek,
thank you for your hard work on such an important task."
"Now the three of
us are together. Do they seem usable?"
Father also seemed
happy about my brother's arrival.
"Their combat
experience is still lacking, and their training is undeniably insufficient.
Still, I hope they can do the minimum required. You brought the crossbows,
right?"
"Brother, I think
we can prepare 570 units."
"Father, could
you lend them to these men? If so, I believe they can perform at least
minimally as a defensive force."
"And Takuhir,
about the mage discovery matter, it has been leaked to some people in the royal
capital! One of the reasons I had to accept this role is that it's out in the
open."
"What?! Is that
true?!"
"Huh, just
how..."
Father and I
involuntarily exclaimed at the unexpected information.
"The source is
probably the church. Information from there can reach the royal capital."
"Indeed. I will
also give them a warning, but Takuhir, you also need to be careful."
"Understood. I
will be more careful from now on."
It was a blind spot.
It was only natural, but it meant the church was selling information to people
in the royal capital.
Those who knew the
information would use it to either excessively praise us, view us as dangerous,
or put us in the line of fire...
This time, that was
the reason my brother, and indirectly we, were put in the line of fire. I
realized that if I didn't think of countermeasures from now on, things would
get ugly.
"Also, as a military
unit, I've already drilled the bare minimum of group movements into them during
the march here.
Now, all that remains
is for them to get used to being archers."
"It'll be a lot
of work, but I'm counting on you."
I handed all the
crossbows that the Solis baronial army had brought to my brother. After all, we
would be using Estol Bows in combat anyway, so they were unnecessary.
After that, it was
just a matter of waiting for the right timing to bring out the Estol Bows that
Bart had brought and distribute them to the Solis baronial army.
My brother immediately
began training the Second Youth Knight Corps with crossbows, including test
firing from the castle wall.
If they could just
grasp how to aim and the feel of the range, even amateurs could perform decent
volleys. The advantage of the crossbow was being utilized.
We had already
procured a massive amount of arrows, quantities that normally couldn't be
transported, from the workshops in the town of Est.
Bart was transporting
them.
Father, my brother,
Commander Weiss, and I discussed the information on the mages accompanying us
this time and the anticipated battle plans.
Thus, preparations
were made for the impending war.
-----
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