Chapter 151
Eastern
Border War ⑪ - The
Third Secret Weapon
Translator : PolterGlast
※※※ Tenth Day of the War
"Urgent report!
An urgent report for Baron Solis! Please, allow me an audience with the
Baron!"
An urgent messenger,
addressed to Baron Solis, arrived at the Kyle Kingdom's camp. The messenger was
led by a guide to Baron Solis, who was on the rocky mountain on the right
flank.
"I have brought
an urgent report from everyone in Teigun. I humbly request you confirm it
here."
I told the messenger,
whose entire body was dirty, face haggard, and clearly exhausted, to rest for a
while, and then I read the letter he offered. The moment I saw the contents,
the shock was so immense that I collapsed on the spot.
"Why? Why? It's
supposed to be winter... And how many days ago did this even happen...?"
I muttered, and then
no more words came out. At that moment, the first report of the plague
outbreak, sent by Miseri and the others, had finally reached me via the Royal
Capital. Even if I rushed back now, the situation must have progressed
considerably, and I was far away on the battlefield. I regretted my own naivety
and carelessness.
Indeed, all previous
calamities had occurred in sync with the historical records, the history I
knew. However, the massive outbreak of monsters causing the plague was
incomparably larger this time compared to the history I knew. Given the
unprecedented results (the Empire's sacrifices), it was only natural.
Therefore, the outbreak of rodents carrying the plague should also be
incomparable to the history I knew.
It was only natural
for the timing to be off. Why didn't I notice such a thing? Was I just resting
on my laurels with my history cheat? Thinking that, I couldn't stand up due to
the shock and regret.
Seeing my extreme
surprise, Anne, worried, looked as if to ask, "May I see it too?" so
I silently nodded. Anne silently read the letter, then knelt before me, who was
slumped on the ground, and softly whispered so that no one around could hear.
"What kind of
face is that for a general of an army? If the people of Teigun knew of
Takuhir-sama's current state, they would lament their own inadequacy. As if
their beloved master still doesn't trust them. Please, believe in your
subordinates, in your wives who remained in Teigun. They have been desperately
preparing. Above all, Rosa has returned to Teigun. They will surely accomplish
it. Let's believe that. And to meet their expectations, let us win this battle
here. That is Takuhir-sama's mission, to repay their loyalty."
"..."
Lost in a daze, I
finally came back to my senses with Anne's words. And I once again realized how
grateful I was to have her.
"...You're right.
Anne, thank you. You're always pushing me forward, aren't you? I've truly
realized again how grateful I am to have you by my side."
Saying that, I stood
up and then suddenly hugged Anne tightly. A few years ago, Anne was taller than
me, and I always looked up to her, but now we are of the same height, and I'm
starting to overtake her. For a moment, Anne's body stiffened, but she quickly
leaned into me. I felt the warmth of Anne's body and her gentle, enveloping
softness, and I savored the joy of my heart being at peace.
"...Ahem."
"...Ah!"
Suddenly, I came to my
senses and pulled away from Anne. Looking around, I saw the soldiers struggling
to know where to look. Anne, who was always clad in light armor, prioritizing
ease of movement, and was as dignified as a Valkyrie, also had a slightly
flushed face.
"Commander, thank
you. I was so overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation that I momentarily
lost myself."
I thanked the
Commander and shared the news from Teigun.
"Hmm... That is
indeed concerning. The work on the rocky mountain will be completed soon. Once
we finish up here, we will send you to Teigun. To settle things quickly, I'm
thinking of using that for the fort's capture. Would that be alright?"
The Commander
requested permission to use the third item he had brought additionally from
Teigun, a weapon we had secretly developed and were researching its operation.
"If possible... I
would have liked to keep it secret, but it cannot be helped. Let's settle
things quickly before the enemy can analyze it or make a calm judgment. If they
imitate it, we'll be in a lot of trouble."
"Indeed!"
The Commander and I
exchanged wry smiles, extended our right hands, and bumped fists. In fact, this
weapon was a notorious one that had caused us, or rather, many others, a lot of
trouble during its prototype research phase.
Thus, on the night of
the 10th day of the war, all preparations were complete, and a war council was
held once again.
"The construction
on the rocky mountain is complete, and preparations for capturing the fort are
ready. With this, we can rain down arrows from above into the enemy fort. I
would like to borrow 1,000 crossbowmen from the Royal Capital Knights' Third
Army. In parallel with this attack, from the forests on both flanks, 4,500
crossbowmen each, supported by Wind Mages, will provide continuous covering
fire in teams of three. After that, the main force will stack sandbags from the
front, cross the ramparts, and capture the fort, opening the gate. In the final
phase, I would like the Royal Capital Knights' Second Army's cavalry to charge
in simultaneously with the opening of the gate and capture the fort."
I explained the attack
procedure. Commander Schultz of the Third Army nodded as if he understood.
"Won't that lead
to heavy casualties for the main force? They'll be directly exposed to longbow
attacks from the ramparts and inside the fort, won't they?"
Commander Hoffman of
the Second Army's concern was valid.
"You are right.
However, I believe that is based on the premise that the enemy can fire arrows
properly. The main force will begin their actions at our signal, after the
enemy inside the fort and on the ramparts are in chaos and unable to
counter-attack effectively."
He must have some
plan. Thinking that, Commander Hoffman deliberately avoided asking for details.
He decided to trust Takuhir's plan, given his past achievements.
"Then, shall we
discuss all the arrangements tonight, such as preparing the sandbags and the
signals for each unit to begin their actions? This operation seems to rely
heavily on coordination."
With Margrave Hamish's
words, the war council concluded. Thus, preparations for the next day's all-out
attack were steadily completed.
山山山山 山山山山
山山山山 ※※山山
山山山▼▼▼å±±※å±±
山山山 å±±※※å±±
山山山森 ▼▼▼ å±±※※å±±
山山山 ◇森森 森森◇↑山山山
山山山山 ★◇ 森 森 ◇★↑ 山山山山山
◇森 森◇
◇森△△△森◇
☆ ☆
å±± Mountain
森 Forest
▼ Border Fort (Istoria
Imperial Kingdom Army)
△ Fortifications (Kyle
Kingdom Army)
◇ Defensive Line (Kyle
Kingdom Army)
☆ Magical Cannon (during
harassing attacks)
★ Magical Cannon (during
final deployment)
※ Construction Site
(crossbowmen deployment area)
At dawn, the 1,000
waiting Kyle Kingdom crossbowmen ascended the sandbag staircase set into the
rocky mountain from the forest and advanced across the now-completed rocky terrain.
They moved slowly, carefully, to their respective positions, barefoot to avoid
making noise. Thus, flags were raised in various places, signaling that all
troops, including the crossbowmen, were in position.
I was positioned with
Margrave Hamish, the supreme commander, and the Commander, in a corner
overlooking the enemy fort on the rocky mountain.
"Margrave, all
preparations seem to be complete."
Hearing my report, the
Margrave raised his right hand straight up and then brought it down.
"Commence attack!
Ring the bell!"
At the Commander's
instruction, the bell was struck repeatedly and fiercely. The sound of the bell
echoed loudly, reflecting off the rocky mountain.
"Bell sound
confirmed, Magical Cannons, prepare to fire! First shot aimed inside the fort.
After firing, immediately prepare for continuous firing."
"Wind Mages
ready, complete."
"First shot, all
loaded with red balls, complete."
"Raise the
flag!"
Flags signaling
readiness were raised from the catapults deployed in the forests to the left
and right of the fort.
"Flags are up
from the Magical Cannons on both sides!"
"Change the bell
sound to three strikes!"
At the Commander's
instruction, the attack began.
※
The soldiers of the
Istoria Imperial Kingdom army, hearing the bell ringing from the morning,
rushed outside, wondering what was happening. The bell was ringing somewhere on
the rocky mountains towering on both sides, but the sound echoed off the rocky
mountains, making its location unknown. Many soldiers looked up at the rocky
mountains from inside the fort and from the ramparts, searching for the enemy
soldiers hidden there. And then suddenly, just when they thought the bell had
stopped, it rang out only three times after a short pause. A moment later, some
kind of spherical objects rained down on them simultaneously from the sky.
"Enemy attack!
All troops, evacuate!"
As they rushed out
simultaneously, the spheres landed around them, and red smoke rose from them.
More precisely, ceramic-like objects filled with red powder shattered upon
impact, and the red powder inside scattered like smoke, spreading with the
wind. For the soldiers of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom army, a nightmare day
had begun.
"Gahhh, my eyes!
My eyes are burning!"
"It hurts! It
hurts!"
"My eyes! My eyes!"
The soldiers inside
the fort writhed in agony, clutching their eyes and rolling around. Merciless
second and third strikes rained down, and the screams of the soldiers echoed
throughout the area.
"What is that red
stuff?! What did they do?!"
Many of the
longbowmen, who had entered alert status at the sound of the bell and were
guarding the inside and outside of the fort from the ramparts, could not
understand the catastrophe that had occurred inside the fort. While wondering,
they watched several shots from the ramparts, and then attacks from the enemy's
catapults began to rain down on them as well.
"Everyone, get
under cover! That way, you can avoid the enemy's stone projectiles!"
Since the other day,
as a countermeasure against enemy catapults, they had installed eaves on top of
the ramparts. Thanks to this, enemy projectiles crashed with a loud clang! and
shattered uselessly on the eaves and ramparts. And in that area, ominous red
smoke and white smoke rose.
"Hm, what is
this? It's not smoke! Some kind of powder... Achoo!"
"The enemy...
Achoo! What... Achoo! Quickly... Achoo!"
"My eyes! Help
me! My eyes are burning!"
"It hurts! Achoo!
It... Achoo!"
※
Watching the great
confusion of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom army from afar, Margrave Hamish felt
a chill run down his spine. If he were to suffer such an attack, even he would
not be able to command properly.
And amidst that
confusion, from the rocky mountain and the forest, following the bell's signal,
a rain of crossbow arrows assaulted the enemy army. The Imperial Kingdom's
soldiers were in chaos, unable to mount a proper counter-attack, or flee in
disarray. Some enemy soldiers could even be seen falling from the ramparts,
clutching their eyes.
"Margrave, please
give the order to the main force."
"Commence
assault! Raise the flag of the Second Knights' Army!"
At the Margrave's
signal, the troops directly under his command and the troops belonging to the
nobles of the Eastern Region simultaneously grabbed sandbags and began to scale
the castle walls. Behind them, the Second Knights' Army, fully prepared for the
charge, was lined up.
Thus, the operation to
recapture the enemy fort entered its second phase.
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