Chapter 274
The Western Front ⑪ — Battle of the
Western Border
Translator : PolterGlast
At the border gate on
the Kyle Kingdom's western border commanded by Takuhir and his
group, behind camouflage to hide them from the Principality side's border gate towering before their eyes, the installation of
catapults and the deployment of the Mages in charge were steadily being
completed.
"Lord Takuhir, we are almost ready. The
installation of the catapults and the adjustment of firing angles are already
complete, and everyone is in position. Except for the Wind Mages in
charge of the magic cannons, the rest will join the cavalry unit after the
second volley and deploy defensive wind walls during the charge."
"Commander, thank you. I apologize that you and your
men are the only ones working without rest."
"Not at all, we have trained for such situations as
well."
While the Commander laughed and replied, reports came
flooding in one after another.
"Magic cannons, all four loaded with suppression rounds
as the first shot, preparation complete!"
"Catapults, all six loaded with suppression rounds, Mages
are also on standby. Aims are
locked. We are ready to fire at maximum range!"
"Demon Territory Knights, all mounted and ready
to charge. Awaiting your orders!"
When that report came in, the Commander knelt towards me. Yes,
all that was left was for me to give the order. The Commander’s silent demeanor
seemed to convey exactly that.
"Final confirmation! First volley of magic cannons will
be converged fire of suppression rounds, fix aim on the enemy border gate's
superstructure! Next, switch to base destruction attacks
with magic cannons! Other catapults, fix aim on the corridors atop the ramparts
extending from the border gate to the Principality side and fire suppression
rounds in diffusion mode! Next, continue
attacks using normal rounds. Wind Mages, I rely on you to guide the
projectiles for each catapult! Cavalry unit, commence the charge with the
opening of our gate as the signal after the second volley of magic cannons!
Sound the signal bell to Raphael and his group! All forces, maintain
combat readiness and hold position until they make their move!"
With my order, multiple
bells were rung all at once. It closely resembled the sound of church bells
announcing a funeral, which Takuhir heard last in his previous life. Yes, as if announcing the end of
something...
This sound of bells reached the border gate within the Fearalt
Principality as well, echoing eerily. From past experience, they could
understand that this bell sound meant the enemy army was about to start
something. However... they hadn't the faintest idea what it could be.
"Hey! What is that bell sound? What on earth do they
intend to launch at us?"
Marquis Scuria, driven by a tinge of unease, said so
and looked around at those nearby. But no one answered that question.
Although the two sides were facing each other at a slight
distance, they are easily over 500 m away from
the Kyle Kingdom side's border gate. And above all, the Principality
side's border gate is solid and its ramparts are high. Launching something from
a long distance seemed utterly impossible. Indeed, by all common sense...
"R-Report! One unit among our allies seems to be
ignoring orders and sallying out! Claiming it is Marquis Scuria's order,
they say they will open the border gate and charge into the enemy army."
"Idiot! Headquarters issued no such order! Have them
turn back immediately!"
One of the Marquis's staff officers shouted at the
messenger. The Marquis, who was watching the situation, intervened.
"Leave them be!"
"B-But..."
"If they are merely hot-headed fools ignoring orders,
they shall serve as bait to lure the Kingdom's army into a death trap. And the same applies if they are traitors. With the border
gate open, the enemy army will likely invade in large numbers lured by them.
Into the endless Corridor of Death, hemmed in by walls on both sides."
With those words, the Marquis smiled fearlessly. If they
become arrogant with victory and advance into a death trap to be annihilated,
it is rather a welcome story. After all, the Marquis himself had just been
wondering how to lure the Kyle Kingdom Army there.
"Issue orders to all archers! Annihilate the rats that
scurry inside from atop the walls on both sides. The surviving Mages are
also deployed on the ramparts, are they not? Give them the same order!"
Following this instruction, about 300 of the unit led by Raphael
had the border gate opened from the inside and charged toward the Kyle
Kingdom side's border gate while raising shouts.
The sight of a part of the Principality Army opening the border
gate and charging toward the Kingdom side's border gate could be clearly seen
from the watchtower where we stood.
"Lord Takuhir, now!"
"All catapults, commence volley fire on designated
targets!"
At the Commander's signal, I instructed the volley attack.
Four magic cannons and six normal catapults swung their arms
down greatly. And over a thousand suppression rounds guided by Wind Mages
flew onto the ramparts of the border gate boasted by the Fearalt Principality.
"Magic Cannons, switch ammunition immediately and
prepare for converged fire! All other catapults, prepare
standard rounds for the next volley!"
While following the flying suppression rounds with my eyes,
I issued the next order, but without even waiting for that order, the personnel of each catapult had already begun reloading
and preparing for the second volley immediately after the first shot.
And so, the first volley landed accurately at every
designated point, sending up plumes of smoke.
"Magic cannons, second volley ready!"
"Catapults, will be ready shortly."
The magic cannons attended by Gravity Mage Yoltia
loaded quickly, and the next rounds were loaded promptly simultaneously with
the rewinding of the arms. We watch the situation of each catapult with bated
breath.
"Catapults, 1 through 6, all blue flags are up!"
"Then Commander, please take command of the assault
unit."
"Understood."
I waited until I confirmed the Commander descended the
stairs and straddled the horse waiting directly below before issuing the order.
During this time, not even a count of 200 had passed since the firing of the
first round.
" First, a
full-power volley from the Magic Cannons! Bell, begin three strokes!"
Bells rang out on the battlefield, and the Demon
Territory Count's strongest weapon—the Magic Cannons, loaded with metal
spheres as ammunition—were about to
be fired.
"H-Ha, choo, r-report, choo, someone... choo!"
Marquis Scuria tried to issue orders, but couldn't
stop sneezing and couldn't even speak properly. It was the same for the staff
officers surrounding him. Because something that had flown an incredible
distance landed in large numbers at the center of the border gate where he set
up his main camp, exploding upon impact and enveloping it in white smoke.
However, they might have been the lucky ones. Many of the
Archers and surviving Mage Corps units waiting atop the left and right ramparts
were clutching their eyes, screaming, and rolling around in agony.
Then, the
sound of bells from the Kingdom side's border gate echoed once
more. Hearing that sound, goosebumps rose
all over the Marquis's body, and his legs trembled.
"C-Cowards... All forces... get under cover... or inside...
take shelter..."
Just as the Marquis barely finished saying that, the entire border
gate was enveloped in a large vibration, and a roar and screams echoed. The Marquis
bolted without thinking. Overlooking the outside from the watchtower
disregarding danger, the superstructure of the border gate front about 300 m
wide, its left rear part, and the rampart part extending from there were
miserably destroyed and raising thick smoke. It had buried the soldiers
stationed there in rubble...
"I-I-I-Impossible!"
The horrific
sight left the Marquis speechless. But at that moment, another massive tremor
and roar assailed them again. Debris rained down on the main camp from the
shockwave, and screams and angry roars flew back and forth.
"E-E-Enemy magic attack! Please, evacuate."
"I've never heard of such magic! What is
happening!"
Despite his
shouting, he knew that taking a direct hit from such a thing would mean instant
death. The Marquis and his staff frantically began to move from the main camp—located
on the upper part of the gate, slightly to the right—toward the safety of the
right rampart, which was still intact.
The ramparts split into right and left, extending for 2 km while creating a corridor serving as a safe zone within the
Demon Territory spreading in the Fearalt Principality. If they
follow the passage on the rampart originally built to annihilate enemy armies
passing through the corridor, they should be able to escape to a safe zone
outside the range.
The Marquis and his group began to run desperately.
"Attack, incoming!"
Looking at the eastern sky upon the soldier's report,
something inviting them to death was flying at tremendous speed while emitting
a sound tearing through the air.
"Eeeeek! Whyyy!?"
Gemini said
Those were
the last words the Marquis ever spoke. While
moving to the right rampart on the border gate, the Fearalt Principality
rebel army lost all its top brass, starting with Marquis Scuria himself.
Shortly
thereafter, the Magic Cannon attack struck the section connecting to the right
rampart where the Marquis had been heading. Furthermore, a massive barrage of stone bullets rained down upon the left
and right corridors.
Because the
majority of their forces had been deployed on the front gate and the ramparts
on both sides to annihilate the Kingdom Army as they attempted to run through
the corridor, they suffered catastrophic losses and were forced into a rout.
Naturally, the few surviving members of the Mage Corps met the same fate, perishing right there.
Among a part of the Fearalt Principality Army stationed at
the border gate, there was a group making
suspicious movements.
They were a different unit from those who ignored orders
earlier, opened the border gate, and charged into the Kyle Kingdom Army.
Simultaneously as the border gate was opened, they advanced to the opposite
side of the border gate (toward the Fearalt Principality side),
retreated to near the exit of the corridor extending from the border gate, and
waited there.
"Border gate direction, four large impact sounds, and
numerous other impact sounds from catapults confirmed!"
"Hmm, the enemy survivors will be routing toward here
soon. Don't engage them from the front. Shoot the enemy in the back from behind
them while maintaining distance."
Raphael and the
200 others, who had retreated quickly to the rear, toward the Salaam
side taking advantage of the confusion, were waiting near the exit of the
corridor. They had also trained and knew how to deal with enemy soldiers
routing through the narrow pass of Teigoon. Here, utilizing that
training, they finished off the routing enemy army without taking unnecessary
risks.
"The rebel army should have numbered nearly 5,000 including the joined border gate garrison.
Even though they are routed and scattered, those fleeing here number a little
over 1,000 in total. Magic cannons... I knew it, but they sure are terrifying weapons. And the Demon Territory Count
who devised them..."
Raphael muttered
so and thought again that it was good he was a subordinate of the Demon
Territory Count. He had not witnessed the attack at Kleirat
personally. Therefore, this was his first time seeing the Magic Cannons used in
actual combat.
Several hours after the battle on the western border began,
we advanced through the border gate and the corridor that the Commander and his
men had secured, and joined up with Raphael, the Commander, and the
others at the corridor exit.
The battle for this gate—once thought impregnable—and the
corridor resulted in a near-perfect victory, thanks to the catapults and Magic
Cannons. And we confirmed that the Fearalt Principality rebel army, the
expeditionary force to the Kyle Kingdom, was annihilated.
With this, the battle on the Kyle Kingdom Western
Front completely concluded, and the Kingdom's crisis was removed. Yes, not just
the Kingdom; our victory should have also been an assistance to the Fearalt
King, the person who called me a friend, who is likely struggling in the
southern part of the Principality right now.
Just in case, we had Earth Mages fortify the area near the corridor exit on the Principality side and constructed a defensive base prepared for emergencies. At the same time, we sent Raphael to Salaam for reconnaissance and sent a messenger to the Royal Capital Kylar.
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