Chapter 387
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Northern Front ㉔ – Roaring Thunder and Raging Flames
Translator : PolterGlast
Darek and his
forces made a massive, wide-angle detour east around the battlefield from the
south side, re-aligned their marching columns, and launched a full-scale
frontal assault from the northern side. However,
their charge had not yet drastically changed the war situation. This was
because the First Prince of the Lute Kingdom personally
spearheaded the vanguard of the northern front, hardening his units into an ironclad defensive formation, and strove to wage a desperate defense with absolute, death-defying resolve.
「 Tch! Staggeringly solid, as
expected. Truly, under a valiant general,
there are no weak soldiers…… huh. Focus every drop of your brawn—we
must systematically whittle down their unyielding strong outer edges no matter
what and slice a path inside! 」
Darek
personally brandished his blood-drenched blade at the absolute front line of
the melee, relentlessly inspiring his cavalry; yet, blocked by a remarkably
thick, multi-layered defensive wall, he could not break through the enemy camp
as he desired. Commander Schulz deployed his units adjacent to Darek’s flank and meticulously
concentrated a crossbow barrage to
puncture the tip of the spindle formation, moving to widen the bleeding
structural wound; yet, the enemy side also masterfully swapped their ranks
frequently, refusing to show a single weak point across their line.
※
Seeing this intense standoff, there were those moving
hurriedly.
「 While our brave allies are firmly
holding the enemy back, hasten the re-alignment of the target-lines and adjust
the elevation angles of every single ballistae! This is the absolute crucial
moment! 」
General Golpa reprimanded his soldiers. Before long,
that massive structural re-alignment would also be completed. Once done, the exact
fraction of a second he unleashed the signaling gongs, if their allies
simultaneously split to the left and right and executed a rapid retreat, the
absolute jaws of his lethal pincer trap would snap shut and the preparations to
activate the tactic would be complete.
「 Buhahaha! General Golpa’s
tactical generalship and command is a thing of pure, peerless majesty. There
were some slight blunders caused by a fool across our opening lines, but even
including those, every single variable up to this threshold has proceeded and
rolled forward precisely in accordance with his calculations. 」
While supporting and taking personal command at the front
lines against the full kinetic violence of Darek’s fierce attacks, the First
Prince of the Lute Kingdom laughed heartily and cast his mind back
to recall the profound conversation they had hammered out inside the midnight
tent.
※
『 Your
Highness, how exactly do you think the movements of the enemy will unfold
tomorrow morning? 』
『 Hmm…… those enemies are by no means
mediocre fools. Therefore, they won't repeat the same foolish mistake. For
their next move, won't they detour the battlefield and execute a wide lateral
sweep to press their attack from the south? 』
『 As you have insightfully deduced.
Therefore, during the night, we too are secretly redeploying about one thousand
ballistae to respond to the south, and we are enforcing a highly specific
transition so that half of their lines of fire face the open southern plain,
and half are configured to face north—directly tracking the interior sectors
where our own infantry are slated to retreat. 』
『 I see. Having suffered a heavy
bleeding trauma in the previous battle, the enemy will explicitly convince
themselves to come from the south side where the ballistae are currently
un-defended. We simply need to anticipate that, align our troops, and set up
our dense formation, right? 』
『 Yes, the enemy is likely not
foolish either. When they press their attack from the south, they will approach
with extreme caution. If they are attacked by our hidden ballistae there, they
will be convinced that it is indeed so, instantly detour their army, and launch
a fierce macro-offensive from our north side, thinking this is the decisive
point. 』
『 Then
my sole obligation is just to handle the defense and support against the fierce
attack on the north side for a while, right?
』
『 Yes—after giving prior instructions
to the soldiers so they can simultaneously execute a synchronized retrograde
toward the south at the signal of a gong. While Your Highness is defending, we
will direct the lines of fire of the remaining half of the ballistae to the
north. Since the half that are difficult to transition have had their lines of
fire set to the north from the absolute beginning. 』
『 Buhahaha! So you dare to sacrifice
half at first to fire decoy arrows, and entrust it to the later trap. The group
of ballistae that originally should have been deployed to the south of our camp
and facing south, is actually aiming at the enemy pressing their attack from
the north. Is that it? 』
『 I would like to humbly ask Your
Highness to command the most difficult northern retreat…… For if the commander's hand fumbles the cadence by a single second,
the line collapses; I cannot entrust a burden of
that magnitude to an ordinary person…… 』
『 That is quite a monumental role
I've been given, General. We will have our center torn apart by the enemy's
sudden rush, and simultaneously make both wings execute a rapid sweep to
retreat to the south side. If we do that, the enemy pressing from the north
will become defenseless prey to the simultaneous volley of one thousand
ballistae…… you are quite terrifying. 』
『 There are three main tactical
prerequisites to this plan.
·
First: making the enemy launch an
all-out frontal attack from north to south.
·
Second: supporting against that
fierce attack while the lines of fire are being changed.
·
Third: securing the lines of fire
through a swift, synchronized retrograde. 』
『 Hmm……
then the responsibility walloping the shoulders of the one handling the defense
on the north side is growing ever larger……
』
『 If Your Highness were not here,
this operational matrix would not be viable. There is no
alternative soul to whom I could entrust this front…… 』
『 Then
tell me, General: what will we do after our unified artillery sweeps away the
enemy? 』
『 Confronted by a simultaneous attack
from one thousand ballistae, the enemy army will suffer considerably large
structural damage and will be in no condition to pursue. Even more so if their cavalry
takes a dense, compact formation for a charge. Taking advantage of that
opening, we will cleanly retreat south. How about this plan,
Your Highness? 』
Towards Golpa, who stated the strategy plainly, the First Prince laughed as if deeply
impressed.
『 As expected. Taking this
opportunity, we will pull back to the Empire's Countdom
enclaves anchored along the border, which is most geographically advantageous
for defense, easy to receive supplies from, and capable of continuing a war of
attrition, right? And while we solidify the surrounding region, those fanatics (Istoria)
will draw the absolute totality of the enemy's attention…… Is that the grand calculation within
your mind? 』
『 Yes, Your Highness calculates
perfectly. Fundamentally speaking, this invasion operation was something they
proposed. As for me, I believe they must bear the appropriate responsibility
for the consequences. 』
『 Right……
But assuming our master-trap achieves success, what exactly will be our
diplomatic excuse to the Empire's side
at a later date? 』
『 Through the sequence of strategic
actions that will be taken after this, it should flawlessly save face for the
Empire's Duke Harry and the First Prince standing behind him. Even if
their central faction were to win, I believe we need three non-negotiable
levers in the post-war negotiations. 』
『 Hmm……
I understand the nature of two of them, but what of the third? 』
『 As a major baseline premise, the
primary role the Empire expected of us has already been righteously fulfilled.
·
First: that we join the war in
response to their emergency request.
·
Second: to pin down the Demon
Territory Dukedom and the Empire's northern frontier noble legions.
Contributing to these two points
is a premise, so they are not included in the three levers I mentioned. 』
『 Hmm……
then what does the General propose?
』
『 The basic strategy guiding the Empire's side is exceptionally transparent: they view our kingdoms
as nothing more than convenient pawns to be ground down and thrown away. Therefore……
·
First: to "show our might"
through the verified fact that we won, even in a localized battle, against an
opponent who historically defeated the absolute might of the Empire.
·
Second: by effectively maintaining
control over a substantial chunk of Empire's
border soil, we make them think "there is a benefit" in us.
·
Third: by ensuring our victorious
military remains completely intact, we "prevent their contempt" by
making them feel that a diplomatic compromise is unavoidable. 』
『 Buhahaha! What splendid insight, general! In the unlikely event that I should be crowned, I would
definitely want to welcome your personage as a true friend and a heavyweight to
anchor the nation! 』
『 Of course, I gratefully accept your
words. If that glorious day comes, this old man would gladly rush to join you
myself. 』
Though the two veteran warriors had laughed amiably together
before the battle, both were fully aware that such a magnificent future would
likely never come to them. Because they understood that what they could achieve
right now was to return even one more soldier alive to their ancestral
homeland, and that was the utmost their brawn could wring out from fate……
※
When the First Prince sliced his gaze back toward the
rearguard of his camp, a specialized signaling flag indicating that the
artillery re-alignment would soon be ready was fluttering in the wind.
Concurrently, right before his eyes, the enemy's cavalry units were packing tightly into a massive, interlocking spindle
formation, aggressively amplifying the pressure on the front line to force a
definitive breakthrough.
「 Now then…… to connect the pride of
our ancestral houses and the lifelines of our brave soldiers, shall I become a
demon and bear the burden of the enemy soldiers' lives? As soon as the signal
is given, every single unit shall execute a synchronized retrograde
simultaneously! 」
In truth, the grand tactic Golpa had engineered was akin to a dangerous gamble. Had the First
Prince fumbled the command to retreat, their allies would have been caught
by the charging enemy cavalry and genuinely torn to pieces. Had General Golpa
mistimed the firing, he would have allowed the enemy army to pursue in
parallel, rendering him unable to deal an effective strike. However…… the
scales of destiny indicating the outcome of the battle were tilting heavily in
their favor. The massive re-alignment of the lines of fire was finished, the
flags were switched all at once, and right before the defensive formation could
be breached, the thunderous gong began to sound loudly across the plain.
「 I've been waiting for this! All
units, initiate the retrograde from here on out, break into a simultaneous
sprint! Dash recklessly to clear the rearguard andーー 」
The final syllables of the First Prince's words were
drowned out by the roar of numerous cataclysmic thunderclaps echoing across the
battlefield. Subsequently, a catastrophic cloud of hundreds of massive
fireballs flying in from the southern sky began to rain down hellfire,
blanketing the southern face of the defensive formation they had expected to be
an ironclad wall in an unbridled sea of raging flames.
「 W-What is this! 」
「 The entire southern plain where the
ballistae are set up has been transformed into a sea of fire! 」
「 Ballista encampment, no response
from anyone! 」
At the overly unexpected reports brought to him, General Golpa
could only stand entirely stunned. This was because, during the exact
split-second where their attention was rigidly focused toward the northern
horizon, a highly thinned-out group of about one thousand cavalry had quietly
approached to within 300 meters of their rear before they knew it, and
simultaneously unlocked their mana channels to unleash a devastating,
long-range magical bombardment.
「 Wh-What in the world…… 」
Before Golpa's eyes, who was attempting to coordinate
communications between both sides at the command post, a horrific scene of
absolute slaughter spread out as the entire area dissolved into an inescapable
furnace of raging flames, and the soldiers were thrown into a screaming,
massive confusion.
※
The ones
completely bewildered by this abrupt attack were actually not limited to the
camps of General Golpa and the First Prince. Darek, who
was pressing a fierce attack, and the prominent generals anchoring the Royal Knights he led were just the same.
「 What on earth is detonating across
that ridge…… who commanded a long-range bombardment of that scale……? 」
They, who had been repeating their fierce attacks,
unknowingly slowed their hands and became dumbfounded, staring blankly at the
towering inferno. However, there was one singular commander who fiercely rode
his horse up to Darek and advised him.
「 Lord Darek! Please command
all divisions to continue the all-out attack! It's unbelievable, but that
magical bombardment originated from allied forces, the Dukedom Army! 」
Commander Schulz was the only general participating
in this fierce battle who had previously experienced firsthand the terrifying,
long-range attack magic of the magical legions that the Dukedom boasted. Seeing that cascading attack accurately targeting
the rear of the enemy camp and being unleashed in rapid succession, his veteran
intellect saw through that it was an allied force.
『 The Dukedom Army? Don't
tell me that guy (Takuhir) has successfully returned? 』
Muttering so, Darek pulled himself together and once
again raised his sword high on horseback. In truth, that deduction was a major
piece of mistaken identity, but…… at this critical juncture, it was nothing
more than an entirely irrelevant trivial issue.
「 Our chance to win! Entire army,
break through the center and tear apart the enemy forces! 」
Highly reputed across the borders of the Kyle Kingdom as the
strongest, the 10,000 cavalry of the Royal Knights simultaneously began their
charge and tore through the vanguard. They dashed straight through the central
axis that had been deliberately left open as a line of fire for the ballistae,
dividing the ranks of the two nations. Immediately following the breach, Schulz
led the Third Division of the Royal Knights, leaving the primary line of
advance to circle around to the left, setting up a formation to encircle the Lute
Kingdom army. At the same time, the Empire Army led by Dlements also realized the chance of victory
and began to move, launching an offensive from the right side of the Ville
Kingdom army and beginning to solidify an absolute encirclement.
※
In just a short amount of time, the war situation changed
completely. The two veteran enemy commanders rapidly rallied their allies and
were desperately taking command of their respectively divided, isolated groups.
「「 Don't get whittled down! Lock your shields into an ironclad circular
defense network and look for an opportunity to launch a counterattack! 」」
The two generals each issued the exact same order to
reprimand their subordinates. With their absolute rearguard to the south
already an inescapable sea of fire and their path of retreat completely
lock-sealed, and the center of their encampment violently divided by Darek’s
forces while receiving attacks from the left and right, they had no choice but
to solidify their defenses and strive not to be whittled down. Even knowing
that it was a futile, short-lived illusion…… No matter how much they clustered
tightly in a circular defense network to fortify their defenses, if they received long-range magical attacks like the ones
just now, there was absolutely nothing they could do. Rather, because they were
densely clustered together, it was obvious they would be thoroughly trampled
and reduced to cinders.
It was exactly at that time.
When a mysteriously loud, staggeringly resonant sound of a bell echoed across
the battlefield, the enemy army ceased their offensive and an absolute silence
visited the plain.
「 I declare to the Ville Kingdom
army and the Lute Kingdom army. The trend of the battle has already
become clear. We possess the means to completely and effortlessly annihilate
your remaining vessels, but now that the war situation has been definitively
decided, our high command calculates that any further useless slaughter must be
avoided. 」
The exceptionally calm voice could not be determined where
it was echoing from, but for some reason, it resounded gracefully throughout
the entire battlefield.
「 I am Alexis von Solis,
entrusted with the absolute custody of this defensive battle by His Majesty the
Duke of the Westlights Demon Territory
Dukedom. Upon surrendering, I promise not to harm the lives and honor of
your soldiers, and to receive you all who fought so bravely with appropriate,
elite courteous treatment. Discard your weapons and surrender immediately. I
iterate my challenge: anything beyond this point will be a one-sided slaughter.
Avoid useless conflict and surrender your steel this exact instant. 」
At these words, a profound memory surged within General Golpa's
intellect. The rumor that the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom had
been exceptionally tolerant towards surrendered soldiers even before gaining
independence, and that many of the soldiers who were formerly from enemy
nations had abandoned their homelands after becoming prisoners of war and
safely immigrated there with their families. The story that an administrative
baseline which could be called an absurdity in this harsh world truly existed
in that nation.
「 Good grief…… to
be said 'A single general's success is built upon the bleached bones of ten
thousand soldiers' would be an outcome my soul thoroughly loathes. If the
absolute survival of over ten thousand soldiers can be saved with my single
wrinkled neck, it's an exceptionally cheap price to pay…… 」
After this soft mutter, the legendary old general issued instructions to the troops under his banner and had
them permanently cease their resistance.
※
The First Prince of the Lute Kingdom also
harbored thoughts identically similar to Golpa's. However…… the
political weight anchoring his royal station was far heavier than Golpa's.
「 Your Highness! We shall become your
unyielding shield, launch a frantic charge, and open a path of retreat! If the
entire army moves, Your Highness's safe retreat should also be fulfilled! Our
division has sufficiently accomplished the work expected of us by the Empire. I
beg you, from here on, escape this meat-grinder and make a magnificent return! 」
The subordinates who had passionately believed in him and followed
him, knelt down in the dirt and began frantically pleading for
him to escape. No, it was to the extent that there were even those already
beginning to draw their blades to order a suicidal charge.
「 Wait! What is the meaning of
charging against an enemy army that is graciously recommending our surrender!
Do your rotted minds want them to call me a shameless coward! 」
Restraining their frantic actions with those words, his
register dropped into a remarkably gentle expression as he continued.
「 I was born into the sacred
bloodline of royalty. Therefore, I must take absolute responsibility as
royalty. Fortunately, in our country I am an unnecessary, dangerous outcast;
there is no need for you to expend your precious lives for such a person. I had already prepared my absolute
resolve since the exact fraction of a second this mandatory dispatch was
validated. 」
「 If so, our steel intends to
accompany Your Highness to the very end! 」
Screaming their unyielding devotion, the First Prince
gently brushed away the hands of the veteran soldiers clinging to
his boots.
「 What is most absolutely important
to me is the physical preservation of the lives of you all who have followed me
this far. If there is any man holding a deep-seated grudge against our homeland,
it would be fine to become citizens of the Demon Territory Dukedom anew
and seek a brand-new path to live. My intelligence hears that in that country,
there are countless soldiers who successfully immigrated and made it their new
motherland, even those who formerly fought as bitter enemies. 」
「 But…… we are
devoted exclusively to Your Highness…… 」
「 My path holds no future. Even in the impossible scenario where I return to
the country as is, I will be held liable for the failure of the campaign,
disinherited at best, and sentenced to a swift execution at worst. But you all
can choose your magnificent future. Surely you've heard the rumors detailing the nature of Matsuyama, right? 」
Having been brought to a state of absolute realization and
admonished so, they all shed bitter tears of frustration around the First
Prince, violently struck the earth, and wept uncontrollably. They still had
over fifteen thousand disciplined combat strength remaining. Therefore, if the First
Prince and General Golpa cooperated and executed a death-defying
charge with their total remaining strength down a single coordinate, they could
have chosen a path to forcefully tear through the encirclement web and secure a
retreat. However, the two generals
deliberately ignored that option.
If they chose that frantic option, the cold mathematics
indicated it was absolutely certain that over ten thousand common soldiers
would lose their lives in the brutal attrition of the breakthrough and escape.
Since their absolute, overriding purpose in fighting a desperate battle up
until now had been to return even one more soldier alive to their homeland,
doing that would completely invert their goals and put the cart before the
horse. Above all else, they possessed the unyielding comprehension that to them,
the lives of the soldiers were fundamentally not mere cheap numerical metrics,
but irreplaceable, sacred assets. By surrendering their swords here, the
absolute totality of the lives of many soldiers would be saved, and there was a
possibility that the bleeding casualties wounded in this battle whose lights of
life were currently hovering on the absolute brink of total extinction could
also be saved by the specialized medical infrastructure.
『 Compassion
is not just for others. 』
It goes without saying that the lenient, history-shattering policies successfully implemented by Takuhir and the others
thus far—which were considered practically absurd in
this harsh world—such as administering high-tier medical care even to enemy
soldiers they had been bitterly fighting against just moments ago, putting
forward the advanced new preferential POW treatment policy known as the Matsuyama
Method, and actively enfranchising former enemy soldiers as
prosperous citizens of the country,
had deeply influenced and directly steered their ultimate decision-making.
Moving in perfect synchronization, the two generals both made the same decision and commanded their units to
lower their battle-flags to announce their absolute surrender. As a direct
result of Alexis's surrender recommendation being accepted, the active
clashing of iron across this northern sector ceased immediately. Following the Cain
Kingdom army vanguard which was previously annihilated, the individual main
forces of the Ville Kingdom army and the Lute Kingdom
army officially executed a full-scale, unconditional submission, allowing the
defending public forces to hoist their grand banners and sing a spectacular
song of roaring victory across the plain.
Within the newly rewritten parameters of the continent’s altered history—brought to fruition through the participation in the war by a single monarch whom the Archduke Takuhir had relentlessly assisted and proudly called a true friend—the Demon Territory Dukedom had been miraculously, flawlessly saved on the absolute verge of suffering massive casualties, and was able to escape its greatest crisis.
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