Chapter 258
Southern Front ⑫ - Battle for Ishtar
(The War Commenced)
Translator : PolterGlast
After the First Prince, who conducted the dawn surprise
attack, received an unexpected counterattack and temporarily withdraw his
battle lines, he spoke to a man waiting at the main camp.
"Now then, Lord Kyrias, you've had many obscure
tasks until now, like guiding us through the Demon Territory and night guard
duty at the encampment, and haven't had time to establish military merit, have
you? Therefore, I now grant you a new mission."
"..."
Kyrias was
silent. And he resolved himself to the fact that the First Prince's intention
was for him to turn his blade against his compatriots again.
"Our army has already advanced about 20,000 troops from
the Demon Territory into enemy territory and is in the process of capturing the
land called Ishtar. You are to attack the barrier leading to that land
from the Demon Territory side. Since it will be a pincer attack from inside and
outside the barrier, it will also be an opportunity to establish military
merit. Furthermore, when that brat's army heads for rescue, intercept and annihilate
them."
"Understood."
Muttering briefly, Kyrias understood he was being
sent to his death. Although it is an overwhelmingly advantageous pincer attack
superior in numbers, there is a sufficient possibility that Kyrias
himself will be pincer-attacked by the garrison defending the barrier and the Demon
Territory Count's army rushing for reinforcements.
Moreover, the possibility that the opponent is not the Demon
Territory Count's army but a horde of monsters is also high.
To Kyrias, who hid his displeased expression and
answered with a bow, the First Prince continued.
"Lord Kyrias, do not worry so much. I intend to
highly evaluate your caliber for guiding us safely this far. My subordinate
Iron Cavalry are lurking at the intermediate point heading to the barrier,
sharpening their claws to destroy the Demon Territory Count instantly if
he sends reinforcements. You only need to look forward and fight."
"Y-Yes, gratefully..."
The First Prince's true intentions are still unknown. But it
didn't seem like he intended to just use him and his army as bait. Kyrias
pulled himself together and began moving, leading 1,000 soldiers. Yes,
including casualties, about 400 subordinates have already left him or parted
ways raising objections to his actions.
"I cannot die yet. Not until I achieve my great
ambition. However, I wonder how many soldiers will follow me to the end... But
in this battle, the soldiers' hearts will also harden. Knowing that we have
already entered the path of carnage from which
there is no turning back."
Muttering self-mockingly, he stood at the head of his army
and began to march.
Around the time the sun rose and began to brightly color the
earth, there was a group of men and horses clearing the cliffs and defensive
facilities like abatis set up in the mountainous area separating the former Viscount
Hiyorimi territory and the Demon Territory, breaking through to the Demon
Territory Count's domain.
"Listen up! This is the last difficult spot. All Iron
Cavalry dismount and leave your armor to the supply train and infantry! Just
pay attention so the horses don't slip or go wild! Beyond this lies a plain
sufficient for us to gallop to our hearts' content and raise military exploits.
Men, rouse yourselves now!"
Responding
to Duke Harry's rallying cry, the
army advanced through steep slopes and narrow paths. Relying only on the
expectation that they could rampage to their hearts' content ahead, they clenched their teeth and traversed the
difficult mountainous area.
And their hardship was eventually rewarded. Because before
their eyes, having passed through the mountains, a gently sloping plain with
good visibility spread out.
"Your Highness, we have finally achieved it. Men! The
time of hardship is over. Now is the time to make the Kingdom's guys realize
the terror of the Imperial Army Iron Cavalry!"
Duke Harry
urged the rousing of the troops under his command, reaching as many as 19,000.
Similarly, as the morning sun illuminated the surroundings,
there were those who couldn't grasp the situation of what was happening now and
were confused.
"There is no mistake in the flags, right?"
"Yes, two balloons: Red-Red-Blue, and
Yellow-Red-Blue!"
"Attack started by enemy forces on both the barrier and
Ishtar; be on guard... is it?"
"Shall we send a messenger to ask the Demon
Territory Count his true intent?"
Neither the barrier nor Ishtar is currently under
enemy attack. Scouts have confirmed up to the point that part of the enemy
infantry attached to the mountainous area and subsequently built a bridgehead there.
Count Gorman
himself had released scouts several times, but the enemy patrol line was
strong, and he hadn't been able to confirm the enemy's movements since yesterday.
And now, he received a signal from Aegis that
normally he or the Ishtar side should have issued. The true intention of
the Demon Territory Count who ordered it is... After hesitating for a
moment, Count Gorman decided.
"It is the command of the Supreme Commander (Demon
Territory Count)! Raise two balloons: Yellow-Z Flag, and Red-Red-Blue! All
barrier garrison troops, assume interception positions toward both inside and outside the barrier immediately! The
enemy is coming soon!"
Unlike the barrier (Gorman) which receives balloon
signals directly from the Demon Territory Count, the Ishtar side
received strange signals and was even more confused. Representing the generals
lined up at the main camp, Count Solis asked the commander, Baronet
Bauner (Alexis).
"Commander, what do you think of the strange signal
from the barrier?"
"Well, I think that is relaying a signal from the
Supreme Commander, not from the barrier. One of the two balloons was Barrier
(Yellow) and Z-flag, after all."
"Hmm, then it is an even stranger story. The fact that
the Supreme Commander on a distant battlefield announces the start of an attack
on Ishtar itself will be a source of confusion for the soldiers.
Immediately after receiving the flags, we selected fast scouts and sent horses
toward the barrier, but..."
"Viscount Cornell, thank you for your response.
For now, let's raise Red and Z-flag balloons too. And issue a notice to shift
from combat standby to combat readiness."
"Is it not a mistake on the barrier side?"
Among the lined-up generals, squad commanders with the
status of Baronet or Knight raised voices of objection. They are neither Alexis's
subordinates nor Takuhir's subordinates.
In the rewards for the previous civil war, Count Solis
and Viscount Cornell's territories more than doubled at once. In the
process of rapidly increasing territory, they employed soldiers who had shown
submission even under the former lords or abolished neighboring nobles,
including those called quasi-nobles like Knights and Baronets, adding them to their
subordinates.
Serving new lords, they faced this battle, their first
opportunity to raise military exploits, with quite rough breathing (eagerness).
However, the commander of the area army they belonged to was
not their respective lords, the Count or Viscount, but Alexis, a
quasi-noble who could be said to be of equal rank. They were indignant and
disappointed about that.
Of course, they understood it was a personnel appointment reflecting
the Supreme Commander's will, but they couldn't behave like Count Solis
or Viscount Cornell, who accepted the appointment calmly and followed
the command of someone lower in rank.
"I do not think Count Gorman, a hero of many
battles, would do something that invites such confusion on the battlefield.
Furthermore, the movement of the enemy army that attached to the mountainous
area yesterday is still unknown. Normally, it wouldn't be strange if they had
already attacked either here or the barrier."
"Can a large army, let alone cavalry, cross that
mountainous area! Moreover, Aegis protected by the Supreme Commander is
impregnable; it stands to reason that the enemy main force is in the Aegis
sector to attack there. Besides, didn't yesterday's report say Aegis was
superior!"
"I'm sorry, but this is not a place to hear your opinions.
You will follow the instructions issued according to my responsibility. Is that
acceptable?"
"..."
『Really, this is why I hated it. I hated status and
complicated hierarchies from the start. Ideally, I'd want to leave command to Count
Solis, the highest ranking... But that person is more of a fierce general,
possessing talent to be active on the front lines... Thanks to Takuhir-dono
saying something unnecessary before the battle, it's even harder to do...』
Alexis muttered
in his heart. Takuhir's unnecessary remark; that was when he formally
introduced Alexis to Count Solis after the final general
meeting adjourned the other day.
『Father,
he is an exceptional talent who will become a son-in-law of the Solis
family in the near future. Please support him. Chrisia strongly desires
it. Please...』
Faced with Count Solis, whose jaw dropped in too much
astonishment, Alexis, usually cheerful and aloof, didn't know how to
react and was choked for words.
While Alexis was recalling such things, a report that
changed the flow of this meeting was brought in.
"Urgent report! Urgent report from the scout released
earlier! About 10,000 soldiers are advancing toward the barrier! It seems they
will enter combat soon!"
"T-Ten thousand, you say! Did the enemy army divert as
many as ten thousand troops here? Isn't that three times our entire army!"
"Commander! I advise sending reinforcements
immediately. If the barrier falls, the enemy will invade the Demon Territory
Count's domain from there. Count Gorman's army alone won't
hold!"
"Is everyone's opinion the same?"
The commanders gathered there, except for the three
including Alexis, stood up.
Count Solis,
Viscount Cornell, and other veteran commanders had their arms crossed
and eyes closed. Most likely, though not putting it into words, they feel the
same anxiety Alexis feels.
Aral, assigned
by Takuhir as commander of the Ishtar garrison, remained silent
with an expression suggesting that everything should be as per Alexis's instructions.
"Just to confirm. The enemy army is about 10,000, and
all infantry?"
"Yes, exactly as the Commander says."
The scout invited into the assembly hall replied
confidently.
"Then, select skilled cavalry from each unit and send
1,000 reinforcements. Each cavalryman is to equip mounting harnesses, and
advance with Estoll Bows and spare
crossbows loaded and safety locks on. I would like Count Solis to take
the trouble of being the commander; would that be acceptable?"
"Understood. All forces! Prepare for departure
immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Those who had looked dissatisfied until now also raised loud
voices in high spirits hearing that Count Solis would go out as
commander.
『Really,
what calculating people.』 Alexis thought so, but of course, he didn't put it into words.
Actually, all soldiers in the Demon Territory Count's
domain are trained as cavalry to enable rapid action.
Also, as a result of accepting combat training for Mages
from the eastern frontier since last year, many military horses were provided
in return, and the nobles of surrounding territories also benefited from this.
Therefore, many horses have been provided via the Demon Territory Count
to the noble armies gathered here as well.
For these reasons, Alexis was in a situation where he
could prepare a maximum of about 1,500 cavalry. Leaving 500 of them, he
entrusted the elites as much as possible to Count Solis.
"Count Solis, I have a little something to
discuss before your departure. Do you have a moment?"
Saying so, Alexis whispered something to Count
Solis. After a short standing conversation with Alexis, Count
Solis mounted his horse and departed leading 1,000 cavalry.
Thus, the curtain of fierce battle was raised on the Ishtar
sector as well.
With some defending generals harboring eerie anxiety about
the Imperial Army's intentions... And their anxiety would lead to facing an
unexpected development in the worst possible form.
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