20-3
The Battle to Decide the Empire's
Strongest
Translator : PolterGlast
Although moving the
troops took some time, preparations for a surprise attack from the rear were
still completed before evening. Our target is the enemy's main camp. If we let Yord
escape, it's our loss; if we defeat him, it's our win. To force the enemy's
main camp further back, we concentrated our long-range fire from the city gates
of Ratatosk aimed at the main camp, completely maneuvering the enemy
into the formation we aimed for. It's full of openings. Now, all that's left is
to run down from this high ground and storm into the main camp.
「With Aniue
and I teaming up like this, even world domination seems like it would be easy
to achieve.」
「Heh...
To think the day would come when you say such a thing.」
「Of
course, I'm not serious. If the Empire gets any bigger, its distortions will
only spread. The Empire needs a force capable of opposing it.」
「That
remark isn't like you either... I want to end this kind of battle quickly and see
you return to being a free man.」
「Georg,
you shouldn't push yourself too hard either, okay? Don't try to forcibly settle
things with Yord-ani-sama, defeat him together with Ashley!」
Georg-aniue
merely furrowed his brows and didn't reply to that order.
「Georg,
why are you ignoring me!? Have you ever understood even a little bit of how I
feel waiting in the back!?」
「Durin
also agrees with Atomina-onee-sama, deshu. If Georg-sama
gets hurt, Atomina-onee-sama will be sad, deshu...」
Even so, Georg
said absolutely nothing. I couldn't say it strongly. If I hadn't been taken
hostage when I was young, Aniue would have surely won against Yord
back then.
「It's
about time. You guys stay back.」
「Jeez, Georg
you blockhead!!」
「Ashley-sama...」
Durin clung to
me, begging me to protect Georg. I understand how they both feel very
well. But there's no way Aniue would lose to Yord.
「Understood.
When push comes to shove, I'll throw a towel, a spear, or anything else, and
the two of us will strike down Yord.」
「What
are you saying, Ashley, go together from the start!」
Impossible. Georg-aniue
is stubborn. Besides, even I want to see Aniue clear away his
long-standing grudge.
「Let's
go, Ashley! Brave warriors who wish to strike a blow against the
despicable army that has joined hands with the Abyss, all forces...
charge!! Our target is the enemy's main camp, the heads of Prince Yord
and the general!!」
Following Georg's
command, orders to charge were issued to each unit one after another. Mixed in
with Georg-aniue and the most elite of the Empire's First Army, I
ran down the hill with a shovel on my back, alongside the commander himself
serving as the vanguard. The enemy hadn't noticed us. That's because they never
anticipated enemy reinforcements coming from behind. By the time they noticed
us and the Empire's strongest General Georg, we had already closed in
right before their eyes.
Blasting away the
barely formed enemy defense unit, we easily infiltrated the enemy's main camp.
The defense unit of the main camp was primarily composed of members from the
Knight Order. Heavily armed knights blocked our path, but―― they were not
something that could stop Georg-aniue.
「A
surprise attack!? Why is the army from inside the city walls―― Ugyah?!」
「Hmm...
that guy I just smacked―― could he perhaps have been the general of the 5th
Army?」
「Yeah,
I recognize his face. Capture him, I'll search for Yord.」
「Don't
run off on your own, Aniue...! I'll tell Aneue!」
「Suit
yourself.」
The general of the
5th Army was a plump, fat middle-aged man. I had intended to cut off his head,
but if he can be captured, capturing him isn't bad either. Until the soldiers
of the First Army restrained the general, I repelled the swarming enemy forces.
「I'm
going after Aniue. You guys use him to urge the 5th Army to surrender.」
All that's left is Yord.
Looking over, on the left flank, Zirant, having taken the form of a
giant dragon, was rampaging about and blocking their retreat path. Then it must
be the right flank. Running toward the right side of the chaotic main camp, I
found the figures of Georg and Yord. Yord played dirty
after all. Against Georg who wanted a one-on-one duel, he had brought
along knights to intercept him.
「Leave
the unrefined lot to me.」
「Ashley...!
Th-This surprise attack, it was you after all...!!」
「I
don't know what you're talking about.」
Heavily armored
knights are perfect sitting ducks for me. Swords, spears, armor, greaves, and
gauntlets—I stripped them all bare with my Iron-Slashing Shovel. Reinforcements
jumped in one after another, but they were no match for me. The warriors of the
Abyss also didn't differ much in combat power compared to human knights.
The fact that regular soldiers possess knight-class power would normally be a
threat, I suppose. But they were no match for the mixed unit containing the
Empire's First Army, beastmen, and elves.
「Yord-aniue,
I never thought you would go this far to try and settle things with me.」
「Why
can't I cut it... Why, why do you possess such a thing!!」
「This
sword was given to me by my beloved younger brother. So that I could fight you
on equal footing.」
「Georg!!
If only you weren't here, if only you weren't here, I would, I would!!」
The sword made by
the legendary blacksmith old man was clashing evenly with the sword made in the
Abyss. In that case, there's no way Georg-aniue would
lose. Every single strike repelled Yord's magic sword, overwhelming him.
「Surrender,
Yord. I hold a grudge against you, but... I don't want to willingly cut
down my older brother.」
「Don't
make a fool out of me!! I will absolutely win against you!! Because if you
weren't here, I would be the strongest man in the Empire!!」
「Then
you should fight Ashley――saying that would be tactless, huh. Understood,
let's settle this, Yord.」
「Bring
it on!! I will absolutely never accept the logic that a younger brother who
came later can win against his older brother!! Die in this land of stakes, Georg!!!」
You never know where
someone will step off the right path in life. If only Aniue weren't
here, could Yord have grown up properly? No, that's just Yord's
excuse.
The magic sword and
the magical sword crossed, and the blade born of the Abyss shattered. Aniue's
sword no longer stopped, slicing through Yord's chest along with his
light armor, making him drop to his knees as blood spilled.
「...You
monster... Geha...」
「Personality
aside, I respected your sword, Yord-aniue. It was magnificent.」
「Ku,
kukuku, kuhahahahaha... I despise that nobility of yours... Haha, hahaha, but,
it's too bad... this civil war, ugh... There is no one... left who can
win against... Julius... Before... that forbidden weapon... your martial
prowess... is nothing... Ha, hahahaha... Gaha...」
Once Yord was
struck down, the members of the Knight Order threw away their swords with a
refreshing amount of obedience, and voluntarily disarmed themselves. The
members of the 5th Army were the same. There weren't many who wanted to throw
away their duty of border defense just to join a civil war.
「It's
too early to disarm, take up your swords! From here on, we will sweep away the
army of the Abyss! All forces, fulfill your duty as soldiers!」
As I thought, despite the political position of coming from the national army, Aniue truly is suited to be the Emperor of this country. There were concerning words regarding Julius, but right now, we had to sweep away the army of the Abyss that had appeared on the surface and seal the labyrinth of stakes in Ratatosk City.
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