Chapter 165
The Rebel
Army's Battle ⑧ - Showdown at the New Gate (Erol Stands Up)
Translator : PolterGlast
"Er... Ero...
Erol! How can that be! He was supposed to have been killed by the
pursuers!"
He was unaware that
several soldiers had overheard his careless remark.
"Soldiers of the Hiyorimi
army, the story I am about to tell you is different from the one you have been
told; it is the whole truth. Please, stop fighting and listen to my
words."
"Lord Erol?"
"Why is the young
master here?"
Feeling the danger as
some of the Hiyorimi soldiers lowered their weapons and began to pay attention
to Erol's words, Viscount Hiyorimi issued a new, and merciless, command.
"He has gone mad.
Never mind him! Fire!"
The soldiers of the Hiyorimi
army were greatly shaken by this order. While some refused to obey, a volley of
arrows, clearly fewer than before, was fired at Erol.
Yet, as the numerous
arrows flew toward him, Erol did not flinch. Rather, he spread his arms wide as
if to welcome them.
Several arrows seemed
to be drawn to Erol, as if to pierce his body. No, they should have pierced
him. But he stood as if nothing had happened and resumed his speech.
Darek, watching from
the side, felt his apprehension grow closer to certainty. No matter how safe he
was told he was, it was not something one could easily do, to receive a volley
of arrows so boldly.
"Soldiers, listen
carefully.
My father and brother
have raised the banner of rebellion against the kingdom. I want you to know
that you are a rebel army led by traitors. Soon, punitive forces from all over
the kingdom will descend upon you. The Viscount Hiyorimi's army is by no means
an army of justice.
And now, where are you
attacking? Do you understand that you are turning your arrows on people who
have taken in the refugees from the Hiyorimi domain suffering from the plague,
and are struggling to save their lives?
Have you forgotten
whose territory this is? Have you forgotten the benefactors who were the first
to rush to our aid when we were struck by floods, bringing us relief and the
blessing of turnips?
Please, I beg you to
realize this."
"Th-that man is
an imposter of Erol! What he says is nothing but madness. Do not let him speak
any more nonsense!
Fire! I said,
fire!"
Viscount Hiyorimi
screamed. But the soldiers' movements were sluggish.
Just as Erol paused in
his speech, a bright, yet gentle light, as if erupting from the very earth,
enveloped the soldiers deployed before the fortress.
"Hmm, the area of
effect is still too wide. The light is dispersing... it won't work like it did
that time, huh?"
Darek seemed a little
disappointed, but the murderous intent of the Hiyorimi soldiers was beginning
to subside.
"He's the real
one, isn't he?"
"That voice, it's
Lord Erol."
"Why is our lord
trying to kill the young master?"
Some of the attacking
soldiers lowered their weapons, and suspicion toward Viscount Hiyorimi began to
bubble up in their chests.
"Soldiers, I will
say it again.
In this very fortress
you are attacking, hundreds of citizens from the Hiyorimi domain are being
sheltered, people who were driven from their homes by my father and brother and
came here seeking help.
Will you rain arrows
upon the place where your compatriots, your comrades, your families are being
sheltered? Will you turn your arrows on the benefactors who extended a hand to
us?
Soldiers of the Hiyorimi
army...
Since when did you
become so ungrateful!
Since when did you
become so shameless!"
Viscount Hiyorimi's
army had fallen silent.
"Knowing of this
rebellion and the merciless treatment of our citizens suffering from the
plague, this inhuman act, I remonstrated with my father and brother. But they
would not listen, and sent pursuers to have me killed.
As a proud member of
the kingdom's nobility, I made my decision. To strike down my father and
brother and quell this rebellion. To save you, the soldiers, who are caught up
in this reckless war.
All of you! I want you
to stop fighting immediately and return to the righteous path. I intend to apologize
alongside you to the Solis family, to the people of Estol who are our
benefactors.
And I plan to beg for
a chance at redemption. I will never abandon those of you who have returned to
the righteous path."
When Erol had spoken
this far, a change occurred within Viscount Hiyorimi's army.
Pressured by the
Viscount's incessant cries of "Fire!" and the blades brandished by
his retainers, some soldiers nocked their arrows and began to shoot at Erol.
"You bastards!
Didn't you hear what the young master said!"
"What the hell do
you think you're doing to the young master!"
Seeing this, other
soldiers suddenly attacked their comrades who were shooting. At first... it was
a small skirmish, involving only a few people.
But the number of
those joining the fight grew exponentially, and the Hiyorimi army began a
spectacular bout of infighting. Soldiers of the same Hiyorimi army were thrown
into a chaotic melee, and the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.
"Lord Erol, at
this point, we have no choice. We will save your allies, will you come with
us?"
Darek asked Erol as he
ran down the stairs.
"Of course! Only
by striking down my father with my own hands can the honor of the Hiyorimi
family be preserved. I will bring the curtain down on this battle with my own
hands!"
Pushing his body,
which had not yet fully healed, Erol endured the pain and ran after him.
"Then come with
us! Lady Leia, I leave the rest to you! You three, with Lord Erol! Do not
forget what I told you earlier."
Leaving those words
behind, Darek, Erol, and those assigned to be his guards ran down the walls of
the North Ravelin to open the gate and sally forth.
※
"Sixth Corps of
the Frontier Knights, we will now save the enemy soldiers who have returned to
the righteous path and strike down the enemy's ringleader! Follow me!"
The gate of the North
Ravelin, which had been firmly shut, opened, and over 300 cavalry led by Darek
charged out at once. Simultaneously, from the top of the walls, orbs of light
like signal flares flew continuously and slowly, beginning to illuminate their
path and the enemy army.
"Lord Erol, please
don't push yourself, and stay in the rear!"
"It's nothing...
a wound like this is nothing!"
Erol tried to act
tough in response to the concern of one who had followed him on horseback, but
the wounds he had sustained were deep. He had only survived thanks to the Holy
Mage's (Tiara's) magic, and now, all he could do was cling to his horse.
Before Darek, who was
riding at the head of the charge, a fierce battle, a chaotic infighting, was
unfolding.
"Honestly, I
can't tell which side is our ally..."
After pondering for a
moment, he deployed his allies in a horizontal line to intimidate the enemy
force and shouted in a booming voice.
"Soldiers who
have returned to the righteous path, Lord Erol is here. Now is the time to
gather to Lord Erol's side!"
Many soldiers rushed
toward Darek's line. Most of them were those who had gathered out of admiration
for Erol. For anyone to deliberately charge into a formation of 300 cavalry
aiming for Erol could only be called reckless.
"Now, Lord Erol.
Please act as their banner and rally more soldiers. I'm going to capture the
ringleader."
Darek told Erol this,
then turned his horse, leaving 100 cavalry as his guard, and rode off leading
the remaining 200.
"Well then, we're
counting on you here. I'm in your hands."
Darek spoke to another
person who had escorted Erol this far and had followed him on horseback, in addition
to his own subordinates whom he had briefed earlier.
Capturing Viscount Hiyorimi
was no empty boast. Darek had a secret plan.
※
On the battlefield,
the Hiyorimi army was in great chaos, and while infighting broke out in various
places, the tide was beginning to turn in favor of those gathering to Erol's
side.
"There's no
choice! We're retreating for now! We will cut through my domain and join up
with the Goyoku army!"
Viscount Hiyorimi
issued a new order to the 200 cavalry who still followed him.
"The fact that
the little brat of light is here means the Margrave's forces are that much
weaker. If that's the case, then the battle at the border must be proceeding
favorably for our side. I can't stand the thought of that greedy pig getting
all the credit for the greatest military achievement, but it can't be helped
now..."
Muttering this, he
began his retreat under the cover of darkness.
However, things did
not go as he had thought. Even as they tried to slip into the darkness, light
flew from the fortress walls, continuously illuminating them.
While they were
zigzagging to avoid the light, their escape route was cut off by Darek's 200
cavalry.
"All troops! Form
a wedge formation! We will now charge and break through them. We will ride
straight through to my domain!"
Viscount Hiyorimi's
order flew.
"Hmph! A central
breakthrough against me? How I'm underestimated... All troops, charge in a
column formation! Don't meet them head-on; envelop them in a sack!"
And so, the armies led
by the two commanders clashed head-on, and the outcome was to be decided.
Their battle would now
move into the final phase of this siege.
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