Chapter 250
Southern Front ⑥ — Tragic News
Translator : PolterGlast
Upon receiving the report that battles
had commenced at the Gate Fortress, we, tasked with the Kyle Kingdom
Army's right-wing defense, gathered the leadership at the barrier established
on the border between Ishtar and the Demon Territory to hold a meeting
confirming the final interception strategy.
Present at the assembly were myself as
supreme commander (Demon Territory Count Solis), Count Gorman, Count
Solis, Viscount Cornell, Baron Weiss, Baronet Bauner, and
other commanders of Knight rank or higher.
"Everyone, as I am sure you have already heard, we have
received reports that the battle at Southern
Gate Fortress began this morning. Most likely, the Imperial Army will leave
a detachment to lay siege to the fortress, while the left and right wings
detour around the fortress to invade. Margrave Hastburg is focusing on
defense, adopting tactics that prioritize 'not losing' above all else."
"Indeed. Even if the enemy army gives up on capturing
the fortress and detours from the left and right, they likely won't pass
through the Demon Territory at night. The First Prince should know the terror
of the Demon Territory well enough, after all. So, the likelihood is high that
the enemy attack will come in a few days at the earliest."
The words spoken by my father, Count Solis, matched
my own understanding. That is why we are gathering all the generals from
various quarters here now for a final conference.
"As the Demon Territory Count says, if this
fortress remains intact, it will serve as a massive wedge in the Imperial
Army's invasion route and become the key when shifting to a
counteroffensive."
"Baron Weiss, you say that, but I hear the
Imperial Army exceeds 50,000. Can the fortress hold out?"
"Viscount Cornell's concern is understandable. However, with that terrain, the frontal force is about
10,000, and even if they try to surround it, the hilly terrain becomes an
obstacle, so surrounding it with 20,000 would be the limit. As long as the
experienced Margrave holds command, they will likely hold out against an enemy
army of about 20,000. Stockpiles of supplies are plentiful, and I hear
preparations are proceeding for 7,000 soldiers to fight to their hearts'
content for several months."
"The problem is rather here. We face the possibility of
receiving enemy offensives in two locations, the Ishtar sector and the Aegis
sector, and the position of this barrier is particularly delicate."
Yes, this point raised by Count Gorman is the most
troubling one.
This barrier is a key point connecting Aegis and Ishtar,
but if one enemy unit passes through the eastern mountainous region to advance
into the Ishtar sector and another unit surrounds Aegis, we will
be completely isolated. And if we lose this barrier, communication between Aegis
and Ishtar will be cut off, forcing not only people but also information
and supplies to take a large detour via Dimos, Gaia, and Teigoon.
In this world without communication technology, coordination
between units has been a major challenge.
"We will defend this barrier to the death. We have
deployed soldiers for that purpose and have proceeded with preparations and
renovations to hold out even if pincer-attacked from both the Demon Territory
side and the Ishtar side. To fulfill a major role as a relay point
connecting communication between both sides..."
"Urgent report! Pardon the interruption. Lord
Raphael has arrived from Southern Gate Fort with
an urgent report..."
My words were interrupted by a messenger announcing an
urgent report. In the Demon Territory Count's domain, we thoroughly enforced a
rule not to hinder the report of a messenger announcing urgent news, regardless
of rudeness, even in the middle of any important meeting.
"Raphael... That's too fast, isn't it? ...Show
him in immediately!"
At this point, I steeled myself to a certain extent. I had
left Raphael with Margrave Hastburg as a trustworthy liaison. If
it's Raphael, he will return to me carrying information using Dark Magic
no matter how heavy the siege. Because I had assigned him the role of being by
the Margrave's side as an attendant and bringing back important information.
"Please forgive my rudeness for appearing during a
meeting, and in this state."
Raphael, kneeling
as he said this, was covered in blood and sweat, and his armor was dented in
various places. The generals swallowed hard and waited for the words he would
utter.
"Due to an unexpected attack by the enemy, the Southern
Gate Fortress has fallen. The enemy is..."
"Wh-What did you say?!" "But it is merely the
first day of the war!" "What about the Margrave! Is he safe?"
The generals stood up all at once, raising their voices in
astonishment. Everyone's face had turned pale.
"Everyone, please calm down. Listening to his words to
the end—I think this is the priority."
Needless to say, I, who said that, was the most shaken.
However, I was merely prepared to some extent by the fact that Raphael
had returned so quickly.
"The enemy army possesses Mages. I do not know
the total number, but about 50 Fire Mages and Thunder Mages were
participating in the attack. Due to their magic attacks, the archer units were
forestalled and the castle walls were breached without being able to mount an
effective counterattack."
"What!" "I-Impossible!" "What does
that mean!"
"..., Raphael, continue. That is a major
miscalculation, but I find it hard to believe that the Margrave would be easily
defeated by something like that."
"Yes. For a time, the situation was overwhelmingly
disadvantageous, but thanks to the Margrave's personal command, we rallied
enough to withstand the offensive temporarily. However, just as the confusion
was subsiding, the command post at the main camp received a simultaneous volley
from what appeared to be a hundred ballistas. Due to this, the Margrave was
wounded, and many commanders fell, severing the chain of command..."
"The main camp was targeted—is that it? And
accurately..."
"Precisely as you surmised. It seems the enemy employed
some sort of modification to their ballistae. Upon impact, the projectiles unleashed
a swarm of blades that ricocheted wildly inside the command post. The
casualties resulting from this were significant. It is
thanks to this Klimt Armor that the Margrave and I escaped this
disaster. However, the Margrave was pinned beneath a collapsed pillar and injured by it."
"And did the Margrave escape?"
"Amidst the confusion at the main camp, the enemy army
concentrated attacks on the left wing, breaching the castle wall, and fires
broke out everywhere on the right wing castle wall. At this point, the Margrave
decided to retreat and ordered me to run as a messenger to the Demon
Territory Count... He himself said he would lead the rearguard to cover our
allies' retreat..."
"Why did you not bring the Margrave with you!"
Here, my father let out a roar. Yeah, I understand the
feeling. I understand, but...
"Father, I understand your feelings. But please do not
blame Raphael. In his position, he had no choice but to obey the Margrave's
orders. Unlike us, for them, military regulations and lord's orders are not
things that can be easily ignored."
"Umu... that is true. Raphael, I apologize for
losing my composure."
I found it a little strange. There is no way my father
wouldn't understand such a thing. If so... Is he pretending to have
short-sighted thoughts specifically to convince the generals? To protect Raphael.
"Not at all. I myself regret my own helplessness. When
I escaped, I ordered several subordinates to confirm the Margrave's escape and
left them at the fort. Since they are capable men, I believe a follow-up report
will come in."
"Everyone, the Margrave's safety is a concern, but with
this, the aspect of the war situation has changed completely. We must now
confront an Imperial Army that has secured a safe bridgehead
in the rear. Moreover, we will confront an enemy army unlike any before, one
that has adopted magic as a tactic."
Saying this, I looked around. Everyone is greatly shaken by
my words. Until now, magic was our cheat, but the fact that the enemy army can
use it too... this change is immense.
"By the way, Raphael, you said the enemy army
used Fire Magic and Thunder Magic. Was that correct? Seeing that attack, what
did you think? Could it be the same as that?"
"Yes, exactly as the Demon Territory Count says.
It closely resembled the attack methods employed by the 'opposing force' during
the Magic Knights' combat training previously held in
Ishtar."
I knew it! Honestly speaking, the Imperial Army operating as
many as 50 attack Mages is unbelievable no matter how you think about
it. Except for one exception...
"Everyone, you likely heard about the Western Front.
The Imperial Army's attack tactics this time closely resemble the tactics
adopted by the Fearalt Principality's Mages. What can be inferred
from this fact is that the Empire and the Principality's Rebel Army are
connected."
"No way, that
is..." "Could it be..." "I-Impossible..."
"I once heard from Viscount Kampfer of the
Empire. That the Istoria Imperial Kingdom had sent a letter regarding an alliance. It is a story that could also be possible for the
Principality. Fortunately, in the process of training the Magic Knights, we
have taken countermeasures against that, and we have Mages proficient in
defensive warfare. Raphael's merit is bringing that information in
advance. If we know, we will not lose!"
I looked around with confident eyes. Of course, when
training the Magic Knights, we also applied those countermeasures to the Aegis
defense line just in case.
"In light of this, I would like to make some changes to
the deployment. Of course, on the premise of obtaining the generals' consent...
Count Gorman, I would like to entrust the defense of this barrier, the
keystone of offense and defense, to you. Is that acceptable? You also observed
the Magic Knights' training. You should know the countermeasures."
"Umu, that is so. Understood."
"Count Solis, Viscount Cornell, I wish to
entrust the defense of Ishtar to you, alongside Baronet Bauner (Alexis). I am fully
aware that in terms of rank and position, you both hold
seniority, but regarding the defense of Ishtar, Alexis possesses
a distinct advantage in experience. It is a bold request... but would you
consent to placing yourselves under Alexis's
command for this operation?"
"Umu, understood." "No objection. We will
gladly enter under his command."
"Alexis, if it's you, you can wield command
without unnecessary reservation or conjecture, right? I'll entrust you with
1,000 Longbowmen and 200 garrison troops, totaling 2,500. With this, I
want you to hold out somehow."
"Having been here for several years, I've gotten used
to the Demon Territory Count's unreasonable demands. But I feel like the
way I'm being spoken to is a bit harsh... No, excuse me! Understood. Count
Solis, Viscount Cornell, I borrow your strength."
"Commander, we will defend Aegis with 4,600
troops. The enemy's main target will likely be here. The enemy's Mage
unit will also likely be thrown against here, where the defense is
strongest."
"Understood. I'll show them the results of our daily
training."
"And regarding communication means for each
base..."
"Urgent report! It is an urgent report! Please, an
audience with the Demon Territory Count!"
Raphael opened
the door to welcome the messenger knocking with an urgent voice and urged him
to report.
"M-Margrave
Hastburg has fallen in battle!"
"Eh?" "What!" "Ugh..."
"Th-..."
Starting with me, everyone was choked for words. True, the
fortress fell. But there is no way the battle-hardened Margrave would be caught
off guard so easily. Such a ridiculous thing...
"Is that all for the report?"
Instead of me, who lost words from too much agitation, Count
Gorman threw a question at the messenger. The Count himself was trembling
slightly in his shoulders.
"Along with the report of the Margrave's death in battle,
a notice of total surrender was issued by Viscount Kyrias as the Margrave's
last words... Because this starkly contradicted the retreat order given just
moments prior, the generals were thrown into
confusion. However, the forces of Baron Kreitz, Baron Bold,
and Baron Herald—along with a portion of the Margrave's own troops—chose
to obey the previous order and initiated a retreat. As a result... fratricidal fighting has broken out between
those retreating units and Viscount Kyrias's army."
"Kyrias, that guy!"
Count Gorman
spat out like a groan. At this point, the situation is easy to imagine.
The Margrave surrendering is impossible. And an order
clearly different from just before his death. The fact that the Margrave's main
camp was targeted—something the enemy army couldn't have known—makes sense now.
At this point, I learned in the worst possible way what my
vague anxiety had been about. That the role of traitor played by Erol in
the previous history is being played by Viscount Kyrias...
I feel like I had been somewhat avoiding Viscount Kyrias
myself until now. Does that mean I was unconsciously feeling some kind of
anxiety? Then why did I not take action to prevent it? I felt crushed by
feelings of self-reproach and regret.
History is arranging the actors to reach the same conclusion
after all...
It was because Margrave Hastburg was there that I was
able to gain power to my current position. Starting with the investment that
became the catalyst for my leap, the Margrave is a great benefactor who
supported me in the shadows and in the light in many situations until now.
Have I lost the person who was my greatest sympathizer and
protector? Thinking that, I was in such shock that the ground beneath my feet
felt pitch black, and I felt like I was about to collapse at any moment.
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