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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“The enemy is gathering their cavalry. Location: the southwestern plains. It seems they’re looking for a decisive battle.”
“Let’s teach them a lesson!”
“Let’s crush them!”
In the Fourth Fortress in the south, the commanders of the suppression force cheered.
“I’m thinking of giving them the decisive battle they want. But we can’t rule out the possibility of a trap. This isn’t a decision I can make alone, so I’ll leave it to a vote. Those in favor of launching an all-out attack, raise your hands.”
Hands shot up from all directions.
Only one person didn’t raise their hand.
A strange fellow, fully armed even indoors, their helmet still on.
Pelaine, the Holy Knights Commander.
“It’s practically decided by majority vote… But I’ll still hear your objection. Holy Knights Commander?”
“…”
All eyes turned to Pelaine at the Commander-in-Chief’s words.
He took a deep breath and spoke, his voice low and measured.
“I believe it’s too early for another decisive battle.”
“Too early? Why?”
“We have won too many battles. As a result, we have over ten thousand prisoners in the Fourth Fortress alone. The construction of the prison camp is lagging behind the rate at which we’re capturing prisoners. Currently, we’re even using the arena and zoo to house them. If we deploy our entire force and something happens at the prison camp, we risk losing the Fourth Fortress from within.”
“Are you suggesting we’re incapable of managing prisoners?!”
“How dare a commoner utter such nonsense!”
“Calm down. His concerns are valid.”
As accusations began to fly, the Commander-in-Chief slammed his fist on the table, silencing everyone.
It seemed many were unhappy with the fact that a commoner, the commander of a small knight order, was participating in the meeting with voting rights.
“Aren’t we leaving the management to the mage mercenaries? We have both physical security and magical barriers in place. There’s no chance of the Fourth Fortress falling even if we deploy our entire force.”
“…”
Pelaine remained silent.
It seemed he was the only one who didn’t trust those mage mercenaries.
Entrusting the management of so many prisoners to mercenaries?
It was difficult to comprehend, but if he pressed the issue, he risked alienating the Commander-in-Chief, his only ally.
So he decided to stay quiet.
“Aside from the prisoner issue, have you detected any signs of an enemy trap?”
In Pelaine’s opinion, it was highly likely a trap.
His intuition, honed through countless battles, screamed at him.
Wasn’t there a lowland area beyond the plains?
The heavy rains recently would have turned it into a muddy quagmire.
If the enemy lured them into the mud and surrounded them with infantry, they would lose their mobility and be forced into a disadvantageous fight.
But if he pointed this out, they would simply say they could just retreat before entering the muddy area.
The decision had already been made.
He didn’t want to make a bad impression by grumbling about it.
“None.”
“Alright. Then I will issue the assembly order to all troops. We will depart shortly and form an assault formation. We’ll launch a night attack.”
“Yes.”
The commanders scrambled to their feet and rushed out of the meeting room.
Pelaine also left and headed straight for the inn that served as the Holy Knights’ camp.
“We’re deploying. All knights, fully armed and mounted.”
At Pelaine’s command, the young soldiers sprang into action.
They were barely out of boyhood.
Most were orphans, rigorously trained by Pelaine and Vice-Commander Taylor.
He had been worried about their first real battle, but to his relief, they were all performing well, showing no signs of fatigue.
The Holy Knights were always positioned at the rear in every battle, yet they had still managed to make significant contributions.
They excelled in close-quarters combat, something that other knights often struggled with.
“Are we fighting in the plains? There’s a lowland area behind it… we might get lured in and surrounded…”
“The Commander-in-Chief is aware of that. But just in case, position our horses closer to the edge of the plains so we can retreat quickly if we enter the lowland area.”
“Yes, sir.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Commander-in-Chief.
It was simply a precaution.
It never hurt to be careful.
Soon, the fully-armed knights marched out of the fortress gate in formation.
They moved with discipline, honed through multiple battles, but in Pelaine’s eyes, it still paled in comparison to the movements of the rebel light cavalry.
Why wouldn’t the enemy equip such well-trained cavalry with heavy armor?
Would Duke Lorraine, who had raised tens of thousands of soldiers, really skimp on such a crucial fighting force…?
He couldn’t understand it.
“Advance! Walk your horses!”
The Commander-in-Chief’s order was relayed through the commanders.
A thousand knights, in perfect formation, slowly began to move.
Their target: a low hill beyond the plains.
Thanks to the bright moonlight, they could already see the enemy spears bristling on the hilltop.
Both Pelaine and the Commander-in-Chief immediately sensed it.
The enemy wasn’t fully prepared for defense.
Those massive spears might seem intimidating, but they were practically useless without sufficient numbers.
“Charge!”
A short, decisive order.
There were no detailed instructions.
But the knights, maintaining their formation, gradually increased their speed, first to a trot, then to a canter, and finally to a full gallop.
The entire formation moved as one organism.
“Enemy cavalry! Retreating!”
The enemy seemed to have been caught off guard.
Their cavalry scrambled to mount any horse they could find, fleeing in disarray.
The spearmen showed no signs of resistance.
As the cavalry crested the hill, the spearmen immediately surrendered.
“Send a message to the fortress garrison. Tell them to tie these up and bring them to the Fourth Fortress. We’re going after the enemy cavalry.”
“Commander… Sir, the lowland area is beyond that hill.”
“I know. We’ll catch them while they’re slowed down by the mud. Even if they counterattack, we have the advantage with our heavy armor.”
There was no hesitation.
Even though they were light cavalry, he couldn’t let them escape on this open battlefield, where they posed a significant threat.
They had always managed to retreat before, but this time was different.
The Commander-in-Chief judged that this was the perfect opportunity to decimate the enemy’s cavalry force.
“Pursue them! Charge while maintaining formation! Be prepared for a counterattack!”
The cavalry charged down the hill and into the lowland area.
The landscape, which had been nothing but lush grass, now featured scattered rocks and uneven terrain.
The formation crumbled as they navigated around the larger obstacles.
A sense of foreboding washed over them and everyone in the cavalry felt it.
“We’ve caught them.”
The enemy cavalry was in sight.
They had dismounted, unable to ride any further in the mud.
“Dismount! After them!”
“Uwaaaaaaah!”
The knights leaped from their horses.
Though they preferred mounted combat, even without their horses, each knight was a walking fortress.
“Uwaaaaa… Aaa… A…”
“…”
The knights’ battle cries, echoing through the mud, gradually faded.
From the forest beyond the lowland, figures began to emerge.
Beastmen with animal ears, armed with axes and clubs.
“Damn it. We walked right into their trap.”
Enemies surrounded them on all sides.
A rough estimate put their numbers at least double their own.
The enemy had already infiltrated their rear, tightening the encirclement.
“Keep our horses safe, move them to the side. Close combat!”
“…”
The knights spread out, drawing their swords.
They faced the beastmen, who snarled and growled as if ready to pounce.
The standoff continued, each side less than ten meters apart.
The Commander-in-Chief was contemplating initiating a breakthrough when—
Beeeeeep!
“Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!”
A horn blared, followed by battle cries that filled the air as the enemy charged from all directions.
Black figures swarmed their vision.
These were not the terrified, surrendering enemies they had faced before.
These were frenzied beasts, drooling as they charged.
The knights’ arms trembled, gripped by a primal fear they had never experienced before.
“Don’t be afraid! They’re nothing but rabid dogs!”
The Commander-in-Chief’s shout pierced through the cacophony of enemy roars.
The two forces clashed.
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“Ha… Ha… Ha…”
Thud.
Taylor’s sword plunged downwards, a dull thud echoing in the air.
The enemy’s skull, which should have been cleaved cleanly in two, was completely crushed.
“Huh…”
Taylor lifted his sword and sighed.
The blade was chipped and dull, its edge gone.
He tossed the sword aside and then he drew a one-handed sword from its sheath.
“Graaaagh!”
“Damn it!”
A sharp pain shot through the back of his head.
He almost collapsed, but he managed to stay upright by plunging his feet deep into the mud.
Taylor spun around—
“Dieeeee!”
“Ugh, shit.”
He thrust his blade into the charging beastman’s throat.
But the beastman wasn’t done yet.
He continued to pummel Taylor’s helmet with his fists.
He was too close, Taylor couldn’t pull his sword free.
He drew a dagger from his belt and plunged it into the beastman’s mouth.
“Gah… Ugh…”
“Die, damn it… Die already.”
Finally, the beastman’s struggle subsided.
Taylor flipped the beastman over, pinning him to the ground, and stabbed him repeatedly in the face.
By the time the beastman’s face was a mangled, unrecognizable mess, he finally went limp.
“Gwaaaaaaaaah!”
“Damn it!”
But it wasn’t over.
Another beastman lunged at him from behind.
With quick reflexes, Taylor plunged his dagger into the beastman’s forehead, but it was lodged too deep to pull out.
He saw more beastmen charging towards him.
“Huu… Ha… Shit. Come and get me.”
Inside the helmet, filled with hot, humid air, Taylor sighed and stood up.
He had lost his longsword, his arming sword, his dagger.
But it didn’t matter.
His bare hands were enough.
Crack! Thud!
“Gah! Ack!”
“Yelp!”
The beastmen swarmed him, but they couldn’t penetrate his flawless armor.
Taylor focused on keeping his legs free as he punched each beastman in the face, subduing them one by one.
Every swing of his gauntleted fist sent a sickening crunch echoing through the air, followed by a spray of blood.
“Shit!”
Crack!
“Die!”
Crunch!
“Gah!”
Thud!
The last beastman’s face caved in.
After delivering a final blow to the twitching beastman’s skull, putting him out of his misery, Taylor stood up.
His arms felt like lead.
His legs trembled, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his chest felt like it was about to explode.
He wanted to tear off his heavy, cumbersome armor.
But he knew he would be shot by a stray arrow, so he trudged through the thick mud, finally reaching the edge of the lowland area.
“Shit. I’m out. That was hell…”
He glanced back.
The knights and beastmen were still locked in a chaotic melee in the mud.
Despite being outnumbered and surrounded, it wasn’t a losing battle.
They were cutting down the beastmen one by one, and there hadn’t been any casualties yet.
Of course, Taylor hadn’t abandoned his comrades in the midst of battle because he was tired.
The Commander had ordered him to check the rear.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fought his way through the enemy encirclement, taking down over twenty beastmen by himself.
He relished the sound of his boots sinking into the soft grass, a welcome change from the suffocating mud.
His steps felt lighter, as if he were flying.
Resisting the urge to remove his helmet and take a deep breath of fresh air, Taylor stretched his back.
And then, a wave of fatigue washed over him.
“Ha…”
He saw the enemy cavalry.
A vast horde of enemy cavalry, filling the horizon.
It wasn’t a formation artificially widened to exaggerate their numbers.
He could clearly see them, wave after wave of enemy cavalry, ten rows deep, emerging from the lowland area.
“We’re fucked…”
But the biggest problem was, they weren’t light cavalry.
They weren’t the lightly-armed riders he was used to seeing, clad in leather with short spears.
These were heavy cavalry, all equipped with proper silver plate armor.
At least five thousand heavy cavalry, charging at full speed.
Their thundering hooves echoed across the battlefield, creating the illusion of an earthquake.
“Commander! No, Commander-in-Chief! Emergency! We have to retreat!!!”
Taylor stumbled, turned, and ran.
The enemy beastmen infantry hadn’t intended to surround and annihilate them.
They were simply stalling for time.
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Clang… Clang…
The faint clanging of metal echoed in the air.
The mage, seated in his chair, flipping through a book, frowned and raised his head.
It was a one-eyed beastman with wolf ears.
Darius, known as the rebel army’s second-in-command, was grinning as he rattled the bars of his cell.
“Keep it down, will you? It’s time for everyone to sleep. Don’t you give your men sleeping potions?”
“Mage, have you considered my offer?”
“…”
The mage sighed.
The offer was a bribe to release all of the prisoners, including himself.
It was so audacious and shameless that it was almost admirable.
“Are all beastmen this blunt? Can’t you express your desires indirectly? It’s because of your primitive diplomacy that you were driven out of the plains and forced to live in the Great Forest. Don’t you agree?”
“I haven’t received an answer yet.”
“Ha. An answer. Fine, I’ll give you an answer. I’ll make it simple enough for even your stupid brain to understand. Mercenaries are in the business of trust. People might think we’re just greedy bastards, but that’s before we take on a contract. Once we accept a contract, we’re obligated to be absolutely loyal to our client. We’re not just in it for a quick buck. There’s no reason for us to betray our client for your measly…”
“Ten million Tirions.”
“…?!”
“If you don’t like ten million Tirions in cash, I can offer the equivalent value in gold or silver.”
The mage’s eyes widened.
Ten million Tirions?
That was enough money to retire from mercenary work, buy land, and live comfortably as a landowner.
It was enough to throw trust out the window.
But the problem was the client.
If he betrayed the Imperial Family, there would be hell to pay.
He might be tempted by the ten million Tirions, but he had to refuse.
“N-no way. You’re lying. There’s no way you have that much cash on hand.”
“Mage, since when were you in a position to choose?”
“Huh?”
“Take a look around.”
“….”
The mage got up and surveyed his surroundings.
Now that he thought about it, the atmosphere was quite chaotic.
The entire army had just departed to annihilate the enemy, but instead of deploying to defensive positions, the soldiers were retreating to the fortress.
“Incoming communication magic! Our forces are in danger of being surrounded and annihilated!”
“…!”
A fellow mage rushed past, delivering the news, then disappeared.
As the mage stood there in confusion, he heard a disturbing chuckle from behind him.
“Hehehe… Getting the picture now? If you release us in exchange for ten million Tirions, I’ll guarantee your safety. If you refuse, all you mages stationed in this fortress will be drawn and quartered.”
“…!”
It wasn’t an offer.
It was a threat.
Accept ten million Tirions and spend the rest of his life on the run from the Imperial Family?
Or be torn limb from limb by beastmen?
A choice between two evils.
Or perhaps not even a choice.
Because the answer was clear.
The mage’s pupils trembled as he received the message directly, the Commander-in-Chief’s frantic voice ringing in his ears.
The shadow of death fell over his face.
“T-the deal… Of course you have to uphold the deal… Right?”
“Hehe. Of course.”
As the sounds of chaos echoed all around him, the mage’s trembling hand reached for the bars of his cell.
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[Your Text Here]
What a disloyal dunce.
Ded either way