Chapter 402
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Southern Front ⑱ - The Demon King's
Hammer
Translator : PolterGlast
Hundreds of metal spheres fired from each Magic Cannon
cleaved through the atmosphere and took flight, landing on the earth 1 km behind the positioned First Prince's Army. The earth
was gouged out with a thunderous roar, sending up dense clouds of dust.
「Hii!」
The First Prince unconsciously let out a small scream
and clung to his thrashing mount. This was because the horrifying memory of the
past, the terror he was shown at the Battle of Teigoon, had been vividly brought back to
his mind.
「Hey! That is...」
「Yeah, I've seen that before. It's
the Demon King's Hammer.」
「It's hopeless, we should retreat...」
「Hey, it landed far behind us! Do you
understand what that means!」
Those who had formerly served in the Royal Guard Army
understood the situation far more accurately than the violently shaken First
Prince. Just as it was called a warning shot, there was absolutely no
damage to them, but the earth in the rear where the shots landed had been
gouged out in various places, completely changing the landscape. As if to
foretell that this would be their own fate in the future...
「You must have understood well enough
by now. That you have carelessly stepped deep into our firing range. There is
no escape for you. Never forget that it is our army that holds the power of
life and death over you right now.」
「N-No way, the Demon King
is...」
「That can't be! How much distance do
you think there is!」
「I heard he is currently fighting the
enemy army far to the north!」
「Then why is that weapon here!」
Even the commander class, who knew the circumstances to some
extent, were violently shaken, falling into an unmanageable state. Not to
mention the soldiers who had just been told the truth.
「How is it, do you understand now?
Some of you may know it, but this is the tactic of my friend. There is no other
way to replicate it. You lot cannot gather allies without selling off pieces of
the national territory. But I have a friend who supports me. Officers and
soldiers. Return to your roots once more and consider what loyalty to the Empire
truly means.」
These words uttered by the Third Prince could be said
to be the final blow for the soldiers belonging to the rebel army. They were
just about to throw down their weapons and move to surrender when it happened.
「Denka!
Issue the order for a full-scale attack immediately!」
While everyone was dumbfounded in this worst-case scenario,
the old general who had pushed his horse all the way to the front row shouted
beside the First Prince. He, who had always acted as the brakes for one
thing or another, had been alienated this time as well and placed at the very
rear, but...
「Harry, but with that attack...」
「What are you spacing out for! At
this rate, everything will be over!」
He alone was still brimming with fighting spirit, glaring at
the fort that had unleashed the attack just moments ago. Even in this impending
crisis, his face was full of confidence.
「The power and range of that catapult
are beyond imagination, that is certainly true. However, that is only if they
can aim at us accurately. Retreating is precisely the folly of falling into the
enemy's trap and diving right into their firing range!」
「W... What do you mean.」
「Do you not understand? There is no
way such a large-scale contraption of a catapult can easily adjust its firing
angle. In that case, we simply need to advance and burn them away with our own
concealed weapons.」
「With that... can we win?」
Seeing through the fact that the First Prince had
already nearly lost all his will to fight from the previous attack, Harry
usurped command on his own authority.
「We must now find life in the midst
of death, Mage Unit, follow me! Soldiers, do not be misled by the enemy
army's schemes! If we move forward, that attack will not come flying at us!」
Saying so, he took along the soldiers under his direct
command and the mages belonging to the Principality of Fearalt Rebel Army,
and they charged forward all at once.
「We shall serve as your arrow
shields! Once we reach 300 m, sweep the top of the city walls with Fire
Magic and Lightning Magic!」
Those who followed his words, a group of 300 cavalrymen,
followed while surrounding the 30 mages.
※
Our hope that the rebel army's morale would drop from the
simultaneous volley of the Magic Cannons and that this would settle
things was betrayed. This was because, drawn in by the group of over three
hundred cavalry riding at the vanguard, the Imperial Army also began to
show signs of gradually advancing.
「Oho, it seems there are some quite
spirited individuals in the enemy army as well. To attempt a charge, offering
themselves as a sacrifice to restore morale. However, that attack... it does
not seem like a mere charge.」
The Commander is certainly right. "There are no
weak soldiers under a brave general," as they say. To think they would
turn it around and exploit the weakness of the large-scale Magic Cannons...
Moreover, I have a bad feeling about this.
「Relay this to all Magic Cannons!
Distance yourselves from your respective cannons immediately! Inform Denka (His
Highness) to temporarily pull back to the
rear as well! Issue an evacuation advisory to the surrounding Imperial Army
too!」
To begin with, the Magic Cannons stand out. Since
they are installed on top of the city walls, their imposing appearance can be
clearly seen from the enemy camp. Conversely, they could easily become prime
targets. Due to the circumstance of Yoltia handling
three roles by herself, all three units are installed
adjacent to each other, making them stand out all the more.
「Orders for Christoph! Quickly
move west from your current position and prepare to attack with 『Long Spear』! At the same time, have the Special
Fire Corps prepare for suppressive fire after moving!」
At this time, I ignored the chain of command for the
defensive battle and moved to deal with the situation on my own authority.
Because I judged that we wouldn't make it in time if I went asking for
permission for every little thing.
「The enemy cavalry has temporarily
halted at the 300-m mark. It appears the Imperial Army on the city walls
has begun preparations to fire the Catapults!」
「Hmph... They are planning something,
aren't they? I will head down below and begin preparations for the Demon
Territory Knights to sortie.」
Just as the Commander said, I feel something too.
Because there is no way they would launch a meaningless attack at this late
stage.
「Evacuation status?」
「Numbers one through three have
completed evacuation to the interior!」
「Grat-denka has also
temporarily stepped under the eaves.」
「The Special Fire Corps is
moving to the western edge of the north wall. They will be in position shortly!」
Almost simultaneously with that report, just as a thunderous
roar echoed in the sky, a flash of light pierced through the Magic Cannons.
Immediately after, masses of hellfire rained down from the sky, aiming right at
the Magic Cannons!
「Damn it! Just as I thought!」
There was no mistaking it; that was an annihilation attack
by the Magic Corps of the Principality of Fearalt. So they had
still survived after all!
「Takuhir-sama, please evacuate too!」
Walrus, who came forward to advise this, was desperately deploying
Water Magic and supporting me so that the flames would not reach
where I was. The Imperial Soldiers on the city walls were running about
in a great panic.
「I'm fine! At this rate, the second
volley will come! Is the bell unharmed? Have them start striking it three times
after a rapid beating! Counterattacking with 『Long Spear』 is the top priority!」
Once the rapid beating of the bell begins, my safety will be
conveyed to everyone. With that, they should fulfill their own roles according
to the previous orders.
※
When the enemy army's weapons that threatened their lives
were engulfed in flames by the mages' attack, the disheartened First Prince,
his staff officers, and a portion of the Imperial Soldiers raised a
massive cheer.
「Hahaha, how unsightly. Is this the
result of all that big talk! We also have concealed weapons (Magic Soldiers).
The weapons threatening us are now lost. Seize this opportunity and have the
entire army transition to a full-scale attack!」
The First Prince, who had been disheartened, suddenly
regained his momentum and issued the attack order. The soldiers responding to
it also began to move all at once.
「No... is this okay? I believe
attacking in the middle of negotiations after sending a military envoy is an
unforgivable act...」
「That's right, I haven't forgotten
the conversation from earlier. Pulling off a sneak attack like this concerns
the honor of the Imperial Army too.」
「Stop it, stop it, I'm starting to
feel this is ridiculous.」
「Our unit shall stand by and watch
from here! Participation in the attack is strictly forbidden!」
「Entire army, break formation for
now! Our unit will secure a retreat path!」
Within the thirty thousand-strong army led by the First
Prince, there were those who raised such voices of doubt. Because they were
a minority within the army of thirty thousand, it did not lead to concrete
rebellion, but they avoided participating in the battle line, choosing to
command their own troops and stand by and watch. Here, a fierce battle was
about to begin between the approximately twenty-five thousand Imperial
Army led by the First Prince, and the Big Bridge Fort Garrison
Army.
The Magic Cannons deployed at the center of the city wall were engulfed in hellfire, flames rose from various places atop the north wall, and the means to intercept them were steadily being lost.
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