Chapter 247
Southern Front ③ — The Beginning of the
Final Battle
Translator : PolterGlast
【⚔ Chronicles of Baron Solis Territory ⚔ Final Chapter】
In the year 513 of the Kyle Calendar, a large-scale invasion
by the Griffonia Empire occurred.
The Black Hawk, pride of the Empire, struck the Kyle Kingdom in accordance
with the Emperor's will.
The Shield protecting the border, Margrave Hastburg,
barricaded himself in the fortress to intercept. In response, the left wing of the Imperial Army executed
a large-scale encircling advance. They passed through the territory
border of a secretly collaborating Viscount and struck the Estol Territory.
The Baron Solis Army set up camp in Teigoon to intercept but
was routed. The Baron surrendered, pleading
for the lives of his subjects and remaining soldiers, and that the harvest not
be seized from the people.
The Estol
Territory surrendered to General Weiss, Legion Commander of the Northern
Expeditionary Force. The
young Baron was executed, the Baron's house was extinguished, and thus met its
end.
In the autumn of the year 513 of the Kyle Calendar, the
Empire's invasion finally began. It came after years of effort, historical malice, and twists and
turns, in a form completely different from the previous history. And yet... as
if steering toward the very same demise, it arrived laden with a multitude of
malicious intents.
Commander Weiss and Erol are figures to be
relied upon as allies in this history. Conversely, the Imperial Army has
prepared a much larger force than in the previous history and is invading with
stronger hostility. And in place of the Commander's presence, Sieghart
exists in the Third Prince's camp.
Does history mean that even if a key person is missing,
someone else will stand in their place? Then, who will take Erol's place?
Is it Lugner, who still evades capture? Or... A touch
of anxiety remained within me.
The day after we left the Southern Gate Fortress, the
Griffonia Empire Army marched en masse to the border.
"Report! The Imperial Army vanguard of about 30,000 has
crossed the border and is heading this way!"
A scout's report reached Margrave Hastburg, who had
been waiting fully prepared. There was no agitation whatsoever among the Margrave
or anyone in his camp.
"They've come! Messenger, convey the enemy attack to Lord
Darek at the Southern Gate Fort and the Demon Territory Count
at Aegis! All forces, prepare for interception!"
The Margrave's instructions were executed immediately.
Messengers exited the rear gate, spurring their horses in two directions, while
soldiers ran busily within the fortress to take their positions.
The main unit of 4,000 led by Margrave Hastburg defended
the center of the fortress, the Farmus Army of 1,200 took position on
the fortress left wing, and Viscount Kyrias's army of 1,400 took
position on the right wing.
"Draw the enemy in as much as possible, then mow down
their center with a simultaneous volley from the catapults. Vanguard archers,
coordinate with Wind Mages to conduct suppression fire.
First, blunt the Imperial Army's advance!"
At the Margrave's instruction, about 6,000 soldiers on the
castle walls readied their crossbows, waiting for the signal to volley.
Meanwhile, far behind the front lines where the First
Prince's headquarters faced the Kyle Kingdom Army to capture the Southern
Gate Fortress, the Third Prince had set up camp as the rearguard. They
could not make sense of the movements of the vanguard led by the First Prince
and were suspicious of his intentions.
"Sieghart, is that guy just a simple idiot? Or
does he have some kind of plan? To me, it only looks like he's advancing to
become prey..."
"Well... They will soon enter the range of the enemy's
catapults. However, the range of the crossbows fired by the enemy army is far
longer than ours. At first glance, it looks like nothing but a reckless
advance. But..."
"So even for the wise man of our army, it is
inexplicable behavior?"
"Yes. To begin with, the composition of the army led by
His Highness Glorious is vastly different from before. His prized iron
cavalry is fewer than expected at 10,000, and he has equipped all the remaining
20,000 infantry with heavy shields. Those 20,000 are currently moving to attach
to the castle walls, but with that number, taking that fortress is impossible.
I do not think His Highness Glorious is that much of a fool, so he must
have some plan."
As if hearing their conversation, there was a man boasting
on the front lines.
"Hmph, both friend and foe alike probably see me as a
fool conducting a reckless charge. They will realize in this battle who the
true fool is. Harry, once we advance to the range of the enemy
catapults, advance the infantry all at once! Accompanied by them."
"Understood. This could serve as a prelude to the
battle in the Demon Territory."
"Aye. They will realize why I dare to challenge an
impregnable fortress."
Saying so, the First Prince, Glorious, smiled
fearlessly while staring at the enemy fortress.
Several months prior to this battle, he and his aide, Duke
Harry, had met again with an unpleasant man.
"Fweh heh heh, Your Highness, it has been a while. I am glad to see you in good health. I heard you intend to
dare pull chestnuts from the fire in this campaign, but do you have any
concrete calculations?"
"Hmph, we do not need to borrow your hands. You've
probably just arranged for some useless traitors anyway, haven't you? We don't
need such things. We intend to crush them head-on."
"Hoh, quite a bold thing to say. To break through the Demon Territory Count's
fortress, which utilizes Mages, from the front. Assuming you can take it
with human wave tactics, what will you do after? Are you saying you will take
the Royal Capital with diminished
forces?"
"..."
"I surmised that you lacked a decisive factor even if
you had a plan, so I came to intrude. With two gifts..."
Glorious did not
like the old man laughing eerily as he said this. A gloomy old man burning with
obsession to sell out his motherland, a man who instigates traitors and brings
harm to his country.
"Then I permit you to offer your strategy. Of course, I
will decide whether to adopt it after hearing it."
But it was also true that the plan Glorious was
currently formulating lacked a decisive factor. He didn't expect much, but if
it could serve as even a little reference for his thoughts... It was with such
casual indifference that he agreed to listen.
"Very well. Regarding my first proposal, I shall offer
a means that could be a ray of hope for Your Highness's army, which has been
unilaterally overrun by the use of magic until now. If you do this, the enemy
army's absolute advantage will be overturned instantly."
"Is-Is that true? Tell me in detail!"
Glorious leaned
forward all at once, urging the old man.
And later, it was precisely because of the strategy bestowed
by the old man at this time that Glorious desired the vanguard in the
opening battle and gained confidence in his plan to break the enemy right wing.
On the other hand, starting with Margrave Hastburg of
the Kyle Kingdom, the generals in charge of the front lines were
perplexed.
The Imperial Army vanguard stopped just before the 500-m
range of the catapults and began to align their formation, raising shields all
at once. Then, under a command, half of them—10,000 troops—recklessly began a
simultaneous charge with shields raised.
"Th-Those madmen! Do they intend to send their vanguard
of 10,000 into a suicidal charge, with absolutely no regard for casualties?! No,
that cannot be. Catapults! Keep your aim fixed on the rear guard of 10,000!
Maintain your firing positions! Archers! Hold your fire and draw them in! Once
they close to within 200 m, unleash a full volley!"
At Margrave Hastburg's instruction, the crossbow
soldiers took firing positions and waited for the enemy army to come within 200
m. At this distance, with the support of Wind
Mages, they could not only
surpass the enemy in range but, positioned on the high ground of the castle
walls, could unilaterally kill the enemy army. Thanks to Takuhir's
teachings, trenches indicating distance were dug in the earth in front of the
castle walls, allowing all soldiers to fire after grasping the accurate
distance.
However, when the Imperial Army approached to 250 m, they
stopped again, overlapping shields to create numerous defensive formations.
"Fuhahaha, I've won! Sound the gong announcing the
start of the attack! Give them a taste of raining hellfire and roaring thunder
on their heads!"
With the First Prince's signal, a simultaneous attack by as
many as 50 Mages began.
"Wh-What is thaaat!"
"Gwaaah!"
"H-Help me!"
Screams raised by Kyle Kingdom soldiers echoed
everywhere atop the castle walls.
"W-Why! Why do they possess Mages? Th-This
attack is not from just ten or twenty people!"
Amidst the panicked screams of the commanders, the top of
the fortress was engulfed in a sea of fire in various places, and the soldiers
led by the Margrave, who should have been poised to attack from a position of overwhelming
superiority, were instead thrown into utter chaos.
"Hmph, magic attacks are not solely the possession of
the Kingdom Army. Receive your own past deeds upon your bodies and realize your
own foolishness."
Amidst years of grudges, the First Prince watched the
miserable state of the Kingdom Army with a relieved heart and declared loudly.
This was one of the souvenirs from the creepy old man.
The proposal was about a united front with the Fearalt
Principality Rebel Army during the invasion of the Kyle Kingdom. As
part of that deal, it was added that they were prepared to provide 40 Fire Mages and 10 Thunder Mages specialized in attack.
The First Prince rejoiced at the proposal. Immediately,
messengers went back and forth frequently between the two countries, leading to
today.
"Press the attack! Push the ballistas deployed in the
second wave to the front lines! Riding this momentum, we will make this
fortress ours at once."
Waiting behind the protruding 10,000, the other 10,000
infantry also began to advance. Beside them, large siege
weapons—ballistas—brought in amidst the confusion on the front lines, shone
their dull-colored blades, ready to be fired into the enemy camp.
"Report! The central part of the castle wall and the
left wing have been breached in multiple sectors by enemy magic attacks, and we
cannot mount an effective counterattack!
Casualties are numerous!
Requesting immediate reinforcements!"
"Report! Fires have broken out in various places inside
the fortress as well! Intermittent attacks make firefighting impossible to
catch up!"
Even between those reports, loud impact sounds echoed.
"Report! We are currently receiving a simultaneous
volley from enemy ballistas! The number is approximately 100! Our catapults are
being targeted, and most have lost functionality in the first strike!"
The reports brought to Margrave Hastburg were all
close to screams mixed with shrieks.
"We... were arrogant in our advantage of possessing Mages.
To the extent we couldn't even imagine attack magic raining down on
ourselves... No, perhaps we relied too much on the existence of the Demon
Territory Count, who saved us from predicaments many times."
The Margrave muttered quietly, then raised his head.
"Everyone, do not panic! This fortress has not fallen
yet! With the number of enemy Mages, they cannot attack this entire
fortress. Move the archers to positions with overhead cover. Concentrate fire
with long-range crossbows aiming at the positions where the Mages are!
It doesn't have to hit; the act itself will be a check. If the magic attacks
stop, regroup!"
At the Margrave's rebuke, the shaken command center regained
its composure. However, the situation had not necessarily turned for the better
yet. Flames were rising everywhere on the central and left-wing castle walls of
the fortress, and Water Mages were desperately conducting
firefighting activities. The catapults were in a state of near-total
destruction.
"Rotate the reserve forces in the center to support the
left wing on the defensive wall and fill the gaps. Order Kyrias to
support the right side of the central part!"
The defense of the
fortress, which was on the verge of falling into total destruction, barely
managed to hold on at the last line under Margrave Hastburg's tenacious
command.
The battle had only just begun, and the Margrave and his men
had merely held out temporarily. And a new move from the First Prince's camp,
which would plunge them further into a predicament, was about to assault them.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Xavier O'Donoghue
Alan Sharman
Anton Lim
Austin Lorenzo
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Didntpassit
nick nasca
openope
rads
SD Fox
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
