Chapter 256
Southern Front ⑩ - The Iron Wall Shield
Translator : PolterGlast
The Demon Territory, overgrown with dense forests and
infested with monsters, was nothing but an object of terror for the Imperial
Army. However, having overcome that terror and advancing through the safe zone
while burning down the Demon Territory, the Imperial Army's morale was high.
First, because First Prince Glorious's strategy had
been effective. They had not only dodged the attacks of dangerous monsters
during the march but repelled them entirely, advancing this far without any
sacrifices to their own side.
Second, because the Demon Territory Count's domain,
which they were to conquer next, was said to be the richest territory in the Kyle
Kingdom, and the First Prince had permitted all soldiers freedom to plunder
and loot within the domain.
Finally, because they had captured the Southern Gate
Fortress, said to be impregnable, in just one day during the opening
battle.
"Hahaha, we will now commence the attack. Deliver the
hammer of heaven to the fools barricaded inside the hole called a castle wall,
believing in their own safety! Commence attack! Sound the gong!"
Under the First Prince's command, the sound of a gong echoed
through the main camp, and the Mages hiding in the forest on the front
lines released attack magic simultaneously. The Imperial Army leadership
watched with expectant eyes, hoping the fortress capture battle of a few days
ago would be reproduced.
Hundreds of fireballs flew as if scorching the sky, raining
down on the defensive walls where the Demon Territory Count's army was
barricaded...
Lightning strikes pierced the defensive walls with roaring
sounds...
However, the castle walls, which should have been burned by
flames and pierced by lightning strikes, continued to boast their majesty
unchanged.
"..., Hm? What does this mean? Nothing is
happening!"
The flustered voice raised by Glorious was equal to
the feelings in the hearts of the Imperial Army generals.
Lightning strikes that tore through the sky and should have
pierced the castle walls and rampaged were absorbed by the walls as if nothing
had happened. The rain of fire that should have assaulted the top of the walls
stopped just before impact, then vanished with an unpleasant sound.
At the moment their thoughts stopped for an instant due to
the unexpected event, a storm of thousands of arrows assaulted the front lines
with a roar.
"What! Their arrows reach? At this range! Not good, pull back the soldiers for now! We cannot afford to
lose precious Mages!"
From past experience, the First Prince had read the Kyle
Kingdom Army's range as 200 to 250 m. Therefore, to be safe, he intended to
deploy outside that range and attack from 300 m, just within the range of magic
attacks—in other words, out-ranging them to mow down the enemy.
However, the Estoll Bow developed by Takuhir
is evolving daily.
Coordinated with Wind Magic, even 300 m is sufficiently
within effective range, and moreover, the downward shooting from atop the
castle walls had enough momentum to pierce the shields of Imperial soldiers.
"Tch! That detestable brat. So he has taken
countermeasures..."
Only at this time did Glorious regret. That he had
used the secret tactic of magic attacks from the opening battle to show his
ability to his political rival Grat.
It was exactly as Sieghart had called him an idiot,
proving it himself. And due to the counterattack by the enemy archers, he
immediately lost nearly 200 soldiers and suffered several times that number in
wounded.
"Your Highness, there is no need to be so impatient.
Our purpose is to act flashy and distract them. Preparations for the next move
are complete."
Where Harry pointed as he said this, trebuchets
gathering the best of technology within the Empire had been assembled.
Originally meant to launch large heavy objects to destroy castle walls with
their weight, the First Prince had brought five of each of two types of trebuchets
for different purposes.
What Harry had prepared this time was specialized
only in flying a large amount of small stone projectiles further. Its range
easily exceeded 400 m.
Having suffered painfully from archers in previous battles,
the First Prince had made this the
centerpiece of his countermeasures before joining forces with the Fearalt
Principality rebel forces and obtaining Mage reinforcements.
"Good. Given the height of the enemy castle walls,
approach within 400 m and rain down stone projectiles from outside the range of
enemy arrows! This should silence their archers."
His order was executed immediately, and five trebuchets
advanced towed by horses on the pre-leveled road, moving to just before 400 m
from the castle walls.
"Hoh, physical attacks after magic attacks? The enemy
has also prepared quite meticulously. Well, there's no way they could know our
hand."
"Indeed, Commander. Christoph, Aura,
orders! Crush the enemy trebuchets with Long Spears!"
My order was executed promptly. The special attack unit
selected from former Istoria Imperial Kingdom Longbowmen formed
ranks and ran out under the command of the two.
"Raise the flag announcing the start of the attack to
them!"
At my instruction, when the flag for free fire was raised,
the two activated the secret tactic, Long Spear, matching their timing.
Given tremendous destructive power and flight distance by
two Wind Mages skilled in single-point breakthroughs, the arrow
clusters struck two trebuchets in preparation for firing directly with a sound
tearing through the air.
It was exactly as if a storm of spears had attacked with
tremendous force.
"Whaaaat!"
Watching the firing timing from the rear, the First Prince
raised his voice in astonishment. The trebuchets deployed in what was thought
to be a safe range were pierced deeply by arrows like hedgehogs, and the
fragile parts constituting them were shattered into pieces as if struck by iron
spears at close range.
Then the second volley.
Similarly, the other two trebuchets were miserably destroyed.
"Pull back! Pull the trebuchets back to the rear!"
Before the First Prince's instruction could reach them, the
third volley assaulted the last trebuchet, which had begun to retreat.
Unfortunately, because it was retreating, the men and horses towing it received
the Long Spears squarely; the trebuchet was shattered, and men and horses were
torn apart.
"Kuh, at this rate, we are nothing but foils for their
military exploits! Bring the ballistas to the front and tear them apart with
volley fire!"
"Your Highness! Please calm down. Have you forgotten
the purpose of our main unit? If you get so heated, you will lose sight of the
objective!"
"Ugh... that was true. I'm sorry, Harry."
At Harry's admonition, the First Prince regained his
composure and smiled fearlessly again.
"We will now shift to the second phase of the
operation! First, bury the dead immediately so as not to attract monsters, and
send the wounded back to the base. Do not forget to bury the deodorizing leaves
mentioned by Lord Kyrias with them. After that, shield infantry will
become small groups of 100, escorting Mages and dispersing to various
locations! Resume attacks as soon as you are in position at each
location!"
The Imperial Army resumed attacks with a new tactic again.
Leaving the response to the resumed Imperial Army attack to
my subordinate Gale, I changed my viewpoint to overlook the entire war
situation with the Commander.
"Even so, the Imperial Army has changed their response
to the tactic we dislike most."
Yes, we are overwhelmingly inferior in numbers against the
Imperial Army Left Wing unit. Our number is less than one-third. We are
overwhelmingly short-handed to defend the long, continuously extending defense
line of Aegis.
Taking advantage of their numbers, the Imperial Army
dispersed and added magic attacks to various parts of the defensive wall. The
number is about 50 locations. There is no way we have enough troops or Mages.
"Indeed. There are places where we haven't been able to
deploy soldiers. If attacked simultaneously in this many places, our forces
cannot do anything. Fortunately, Aegis's strong castle walls don't budge
even under their magic attacks, but... it's not a very pleasant feeling."
"Yes. Most of their attacks are just chipping away at
the top of unmanned defensive walls. For the moment, however, their intentions
are rather ominous..."
"Any changes in the situation in other sectors, the
barrier, Ishtar, or the mountainous area after that?"
"Yes, we have communicated via balloon that battles commenced
here, but there is no movement in other sectors."
Like me, the Commander seemed to feel some eerie, unidentifiable ominousness in the
Imperial Army's movements. But there is also the fear that they might make us
let our guard down and then break through a point where troop strength is thin.
I felt inwardly ashamed that this impregnable, vast defense
line was also our weakness.
That day, without any other notable offensive, dusk fell,
and the Imperial Army retreated to their base. Their withdrawal was splendid,
to the point that we felt somewhat let down.
"They wouldn't be foolish enough to go on the offensive
in the Demon Territory at night. However, continue strict vigilance. Lower
bonfires halfway down the castle walls and watch strictly for any enemy
soldiers clinging. In preparation for magic attacks, ensure lookouts are
conducted from positions with overhead cover."
The Commander instructed
the commanders of each unit to rest and keep watch in shifts.
"Shannon, I'm sorry, but at night we rely on your ears. Instead of resting fully
during the day, I ask you for night
vigilance. If there is anything suspicious, wake me immediately without
hesitation."
"Indeed, some blood was shed in today's battle.
Monsters will become active, and it is dangerous at night so we cannot send
scouts; we rely on you, Shannon-dono."
"Yes, night vigilance, I accept the task."
I had consulted with the Commander and set up several traps
in advance. Mechanisms to notify of enemy attacks directly under each defensive
wall, pitfalls existing right under the castle walls—we have implemented such
things.
Most likely, even if we receive a night attack from the
enemy, we shouldn't be caught off guard.
On the first day of the war, Aegis's defense network repelled all of the Imperial
Army's offensives, true to its name of Iron Wall Shield. But at this point, I
did not yet understand what the Imperial Army and the First Prince intended.
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