Chapter 72
Southern Gate Defense Battle ④
(Day 2 of War)
Those Who
Plot in the Battlefield's Shadows
Translator : PolterGlast
This time, the
timeline goes back a bit from Chapter 71.
Also, the location
shifts from Teigun to Southern Gate.
The subtitle indicates
the timeline and location, so please refer to that.
~Timeline: Returning
to Southern Gate Fortress on Day 2 of the War, ~
-----
"You fools! Not
only did you disregard military orders and lose many soldiers, but you even
caused unnecessary casualties among our allies and put us in a difficult
situation! What is the meaning of this?!"
Margrave Hastburg's
roar filled the air.
"Bringing
unnecessary retainers to the battlefield and arriving late is already
inexcusable. What in the world were you thinking?!
Upon your return to
the royal capital, I shall, by my duty, formally charge you with your crimes.
Until then, you are confined to quarters!
However, depending on
your future military achievements, I may consider a reduction in your sentence,
but you are strictly prohibited from marching out to the field without
permission!"
The Margrave was
furious, but he managed to restrain himself from executing them on the spot.
Their noble lineage,
at this time, saved them.
"To think you'd
have to study with such idiots at the academy... I can only imagine the
hardships you endure daily, elder brother," I muttered softly to myself.
"You'll join me
when you turn 15..."
At my brother's reply,
I shivered at the not-so-bright future ahead.
"I-I don't want
to go to the academy."
I muttered even more
softly.
Since Goth Margrave
had achieved his objective and withdrawn his army, the reinforcements who had
been waiting outside the fortress were now pouring in.
In the end, the newly
added reinforcements totaled 9,150 men, plus the 1,200 men of the First Youth
Knight Corps.
4 Earl Armies: 5,000
men (5,000 at deployment)
8 Viscount Armies:
2,800 men (3,200 at deployment)
9 Baron Armies: 1,350
men (1,800 at deployment)
"Even if the
enemy sent a detached unit, they still have 20,000 men. We, on the other hand,
only have about 18,000 even with all the reinforcements. This difference is
significant."
I could only grumble.
"Don't the mages
have any ultimate moves or anything?"
"Brother, if we
had those... I wouldn't be worrying."
"I see. I thought
for sure you, of all people, would have some secret plan."
"I think the only
thing we can do now is a drastic reorganization of our forces. Our allies are
too fragmented."
"That's right,
the only thing we can do now is..."
"Yes, and then..."
"So, the
formation would be like this?..."
"Yes, if we do
that..."
Their tactical meeting
continued, and it would later be submitted as a suggestion to Margrave
Hastburg.
※
In a corner of
Southern Gate Fortress, in this large hall, those leading the First Youth
Knight Corps, who had been ordered to be on house arrest, were gathered.
"I cannot
tolerate receiving such humiliation!"
"Is it not said
that victory and defeat are common in warfare? Does this not deny us the chance
to clear our names?"
"More than that,
it is an unbearable humiliation that the commoners of the Second Youth Knight
Corps, including the Turnip Baron, have achieved military honors."
In a room where dim
candlelight cast a faint glow, they gathered, each voicing their selfish
complaints.
The members of the
First Youth Knight Corps, who were supposed to be confined, continued to drink,
forgetting their own predicament.
"Can't we teach
him a lesson?"
"..."
"Excuse me, I
have a proposal I would like to make."
From somewhere in the
darkness, a blurry figure emerged and advanced towards them.
"What is it? Do
you have a good idea?" one of them replied arrogantly.
"This is a
battlefield. Arrows do not necessarily come only from the front, from the
enemy."
"Hoh, go on, but know
that if it does not meet our noble intentions, you will have no standing
here."
"From our
perspective, a viscount's family in the frontier is like a feather that can be
blown away. Understand that before you speak, and be prepared." Another
joined in.
"Of course, I
understand. First, I will tell you the information I obtained from my
subordinates."
The eyes of the
complaining members of the First Youth Knight Corps gradually became vacant.
But none of them
realized it.
"In the first
place, the Solis Baronial family is viewed with extraordinary hostility by the
enemy army, Goth Margrave. And that animosity is directed more towards the
eldest son, Darek, than towards the Baron."
He presented a
seemingly dangerous, out-of-the-ordinary proposal.
"This is our
chance. Let's lure him to the front lines and have him act as a decoy.
If he uses light magic
and makes his presence known to the enemy army, Goth Margrave's army will rush
to him.
They, with their
long-standing grudge, will become desperate soldiers and attack him alone.
After all, even if he
fights valiantly alone, he cannot win. His corpse will be left on the ground,
and he will no longer cause us any trouble."
"But how do we
lure him out?"
"According to my
subordinates' information, the army will be reorganized soon, and he will be
deployed to the front as part of the cavalry unit.
If the First Youth
Knight Corps makes a sortie at the opportune moment and if he believes they are
in a difficult situation, he will surely come to their rescue.
We will make him think
we are counterattacking together, and then we will withdraw our troops. The
enemy soldiers will happily deal with him.
And when the enemy is
relieved that they have achieved their goal, you will reverse and go on the
offensive.
Ultimately, the honor
of bravely avenging our comrades' enemy... will belong to the glorious First
Youth Knight Corps."
"So, to achieve
our goal, we also have to expose ourselves as a decoy on the front line, is
that what you mean?"
"Precisely as you
say."
"But what if he
doesn't come to our rescue?"
"Yes, then we
will simply become fodder for the enemy, won't we?"
Several voices
questioned his strategy.
In response, the
proposer replied with an eerie smile.
"If he does not
come to our rescue, he will be blamed for being a coward who did nothing in his
allies' moment of crisis.
Besides, with your
strength, is it not true that 1,200 elite riders, the pride of the royal
capital, would easily escape a minor predicament if they fought head-on without
being careless?"
"Hmph, it's not a
very good plan, but if it means entrapping him and reclaiming our honor, a
little risk is necessary."
"If we unite and
face them, it won't be difficult."
"Glory to the
legitimate nobles of the royal family!"
With vacant eyes and a
strange fervor, they accepted the dangerous proposal.
Despite it being a
proposal that their true selves would have scoffed at.
"Thank you very
much for your astute judgment."
※
Sometime later, in a
small, dimly lit room in a corner of Southern Gate Fortress, two figures spoke
in hushed tones, unlike the previous scene.
"How is it? How
far have you progressed?"
"They are fools,
obsessed with vanity and ignorant of their own abilities. Even knowing they
were bait, they readily fell for my suggestion (magic)."
"It would be
excellent if they served as fodder and perished together. If they die in a
reckless battle, the responsibility will also fall on the Margrave."
"The Margrave is
the cornerstone of the Kingdom's border. If we can eliminate him this time, it
would be for the best..."
"Well, no matter
how it turns out, it will still benefit us and those people (over there). By
the way, what about him?"
"He is confined
to a room. The First Youth Knight Corps also completely mistook me for him."
"Hoh, it seems
your dark magic (suggestion) has improved. That fellow, he caused unnecessary
trouble with his impulsive actions."
"Yes, he should
have stayed quiet at the academy..."
"Even so, the
formation of the Youth Knight Corps, and this disregard for military orders,
and the success of the dark magic (suggestion) you planted in them after
infiltrating the royal capital, it's all going very well, isn't it?"
"Yes, they are
highly conceited but lack substance. If you guide them to disparage others and
stimulate their vanity, it's a trivial matter..."
"Indeed. Well
then, I shall make arrangements with the Margrave on my end. I shall get his
commitment so they are more prone to running wild."
"Then, I shall
take the opportunity to spur them on... and make them explode."
"By the way,
shouldn't the report from their side (Teigun) arrive soon?"
"Perhaps...
around tomorrow, the town will be ambushed and overrun."
"Then the good
news will come the day after tomorrow, or the day after that? It will be quite
amusing to see the abhorrent brat panic."
"Yes, by then...
we must also take care of the other brat."
"That's right.
Finally, our long-held ambition will soon be realized.
The beginning of the
end, delivering the final blow to this Kingdom."
The two laughed lowly
in the darkness and left the room.
Night deepened over
Southern Gate Fortress, and silence once again enveloped the surroundings.
-----
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