Chapter 348
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Malice Never Fades
Translator : PolterGlast
At the instruction of Takuhir, who received the news,
the heads of the Durouza Trading Company and the Kempurna Trading
Company were invited into the meeting place held in Kusanagi. Seeing the
members assembled there, they seemed a little surprised, but appeared to
understand the situation immediately. Then Takuhir intentionally spoke
to them with a calm smile.
「Viscount Durul, it's been a
while. I am always grateful for your cooperation with us. And head of the Kempurna
Trading Company, is Lord Sieghart well?」
「I am very sorry that I haven't been
able to visit you recently either. I also thank you for giving us your time in
such an important situation. Our report includes the matter of Count Kampfer
that you just inquired about.」
When the Viscount, who seemed to have already resolved
himself and had a philosophical demeanor, said so, the head of the Kempurna
Trading Company bowed deeply in accordance with his words.
「First, allow me to state the
conclusion. The war in the south have commenced. And in the north as well, our camp is pressed to respond
to an unexpected situation.」
「For the Viscount, who is at the core
of His Highness Grat's camp, to say so, does it mean the situation is not
good?」
「Yes, first regarding the movements
in the northern Empire, the
situation is believed to be the worst even among our assumptions. According to
reports from those deployed at the border, the invading army seems to exceed
50,000.」
「「「Fifty thousand!」」」
Everyone let out voices of surprise and choked on their
words.
「I see... the Orthodox Theocracy is a little over 20,000, plus the three
countries of Lute, Ville, and Cain making a little under 40,000, I suppose.」
「Yes! It is exactly as His Majesty
the Archduke perceptively observed. It is highly likely that those military
forces will begin to move within a few days. After this, I too will move to the
front lines to take up defense duties, but I have come here to ask His Majesty
the Archduke to also prepare his defenses.」
「Yeah, we were just talking about
that. Is the defense of the Empire...
only the army the Viscount leads?」
「Yes, we shall show the pride of the Empire at the risk of our lives. We
intend to become the shields of the territory residents and protect them as
much as possible, but we would like to ask His Majesty the Archduke to protect
the territory residents who evacuate...」
Does he intend to die...
Viscount Durul's direct unit is a little over 5,000 people, and even
combining other residual units, there should be about 8,000 at most. If they
receive an offensive from an enemy army of 50,000, they probably wouldn't even
be able to hold them off properly.
「Viscount Durul's resolve to
protect the territory residents until the very end, it is truly splendid.」
Exactly as the words Marquis Gorman involuntarily
uttered, to me it only looked like he had come to bid us farewell, entrusting
the aftermath to us.
「Viscount, pushing yourself too hard
is forbidden. We were just discussing how to protect the people living in the Empire right now. That naturally
includes the Viscount and the army.」
「My word! Are you saying you will
assist us?」
「Of course. The crisis of allied
forces is also our crisis. Besides, Lord Sieghart earnestly asked me to
watch over the house in his absence.」
「Guh... I sincerely thank His Majesty
the Archduke and everyone for your feelings. Thank you very much. With this, we
can fight without regrets!」
『No, you have regrets! Like about Rosa
and such...』
I directed my gaze to Rosa, who was participating in
this meeting, and somehow swallowed the words that came to the tip of my
tongue. Surely his resolve also includes protecting Rosa.
「However... the matter is also a
problem for the Empire itself.
Regarding that, what of reinforcements from within the Empire?」
This time my father, Marquis Solis, asked. But
judging from his expression, it seemed he was merely confirming what he already
knew the answer to. Because in the past, Father and Marquis Gorman had
also suffered time and time again from enemies among allies, and they
understand that agony better than anyone.
「Yes, above all else, the eyes and
ears of the Empire are focused on
the south. Even in the Imperial Capital, there seem to be those specifically trumpeting
that. The soldiers are expected to head south. Exposing the shame of our own
family, it is a disgraceful story, but...」
「Previously, I heard from Lord Sieghart
that he would 『repeat
strategic retreats and defeat the enemy in detail utilizing the advantage of
interior lines』,
but was there actually some problem?」
「Yes, currently the army led by Lord Kampfer
is... completely surrounded at the land of Big Bridge. The total number
of the enemy army is unknown, but roughly 100,000, they say...」
「「「「One hundred thousand, you say!」」」」
Everyone replied in surprise. Because even from that number,
they could understand that the enemy in the south was attacking in earnest.
「Yes, and moreover, the crucial enemy
(Glorious) is not yet included in the besieging army.」
「Wha...」
Then it easily exceeds 120,000, and if things go bad
130,000... an enemy army of such numbers... That is a level even we have never
experienced. In the past, we too were invaded by enemies totaling over 100,000
from four directions. But... it's on a different dimension from that.
「Lord Kampfer had devised
tactics to win even taking that into account. However... the Eral Knight
Kingdom participated in the war...」
「What did you say!」
At this, the Commander, who was the most surprised, involuntarily
stood up from his seat. His clenched fists were trembling slightly.
「As one whose profession is
mercenaries, I prided myself on understanding the Eral Knight Kingdom
better than anyone else. But... it seems I was mistaken.」
「Commander, what do you mean?」
「That country does not take sides
with anyone and always makes neutrality its principle. That is why they can
sell mercenaries to any camp. The creed of the Eral Knight Kingdom is
said to be 『Value
concluded contracts above all else, and as a nation, do not take part with any
state.』 I hear a
mercenary unit from the Kingdom has been dispatched to the Third Prince's camp
as well, but why? Even as a fellow mercenary, it's a story hard to understand.」
「Viscount Weiss, this is an
undeniable fact. Lord Kampfer thought the same, and because that
weakness was struck, his initial operational plan collapsed.」
「So what is the latest war situation?」
「This person will answer that.
Because he was there until very recently.」
Prompted by Viscount Durul, the head of the Kempurna
Trading Company stood up. He has participated in past biddings receiving Sieghart's
intentions, so he is not a stranger to us either.
「When I departed, my lord was
fighting desperately at the Big Bridge fortress with a military force of
a little over 10,000. They repelled the Sura Principality army exceeding
60,000 once, but by now, the 10,000 allies retreating from the west side are
expected to have joined them. However, at the same time, the enemy army will
also be welcoming 30,000 fresh troops...」
No... repelling 60,000 enemies with a little over 10,000 is
amazing, but aren't 30,000 fresh troops bad? 20,000 vs. 90,000 is... I can only
think of it as checkmate, but...
「I think His Highness Grat had
other forces as well, though...」
「The 8,000 led by Count Astray
deployed to the west of Ende to suppress the Eral Knight Kingdom
and are unable to move. And the 10,000 army deployed furthest south and the
20,000 main unit led by His Highness went out to intercept the Sura
Principality army invading from the furthest south, but... they lost
contact there.」
「That... doesn't mean they have been
defeated yet, does it?」
「Yes, even if they are safe as we
wish, breaking through an encirclement laid by an enemy several times their
number to merge with us would be uncertain.」
Tch! Does this mean the south is completely checkmated in
the current situation... The meaning of that is clear. The new future I had
finally wrested by changing history, that is now becoming a castle built on
sand.
Damn it, what... what should I do?
Thinking so, the surrounding scenery turned dark, and I fell
into an illusion as if I was made to stand before a cliff in the darkness. Just
when I thought I had suffered through so much and overcome the malice of
history, it came to flip over all the pieces on the board with the final move.
The corrective power of history, just how persistent are you!
「Are you a stalker...」
I involuntarily let out a complaint. In order for us to
grasp the future, the sole requirement is to save the Third Prince... but what
can I do? To the south... taking my precious companions into a place of certain
death... can we really win? Moreover, what about the defense here? Even at this
point, it's slightly under 30,000 vs. 60,000. It's overwhelmingly disadvantageous...
What should I do to obtain the best future? There is no
longer a history book to tell me the answer. Even so, I... must protect the
ones I love, my companions, and the people of this country...
Someone... tell me what I should do! The future of this country,
the lives of everyone, hangs on my judgment.
Thinking so, my hands trembled, and I was tormented by a sense of despair attacking me one after another.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Tbaum56
Xavier O'Donoghue
Anton Lim
Austin Lorenzo
Baelee
Bloodyemperor
Ctdela
Curious Panda
David Bankole
Enrique Miranda
nick nasca
SD Fox
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
