***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 193 Dark Night***
Alberan's Western Army――Keithriton's headquarters.
There was the West General Felworth Keithriton.
and Assistant Marshal Eluga Faren.
A female general from the center, Tekrea Lemin.
And her three adjutants.
Even the squire went outside to clear the room, and the one who was kneeling on one knee in front of the six of them was the spy, Dagris.
"Defeating Gulshan...so Alberinea is already here, huh?"
She was as tall as a man and had dull golden hair.
A face that was well-groomed but lacked the softness of a woman――Tekrea looked astonished at Dagris's words, as if she couldn't believe it.
Her adjutants were the same, but Eluga and Felworth didn't seem surprised.
Embarrassed by her own astonishment, Tekrea returned her expression and said ‘my apologies’.
She seemed to be cowering, aware that she was several levels behind the two experienced generals.
She did not become a central general solely because of her bloodline as a duke, and she was an excellent personnel in terms of ability, but she had not participated in any civil wars and had little actual battle experience.
This was her first battlefield as a general――and her motivation also didn’t rise .
Eluga's evil face distorted as he saw her and smiled bitterly.
"It's no wonder I'm surprised. However, Krische-sama is someone like that."
"...Yes sir"
Nervous, Tekrea lowered her head, and Eluga put his hand on his chin, looking a little troubled.
Her personality wasn't bad, nor was her quick wit. If one looks at her as a soldier, she would be a good soldier.
The problem was perhaps that she simply had a complex about being a woman, or was too careful and too afraid of failure.
She probably didn’t want to be looked down upon as a woman after all.
Her well-trained body, always stern expression――perhaps because one of the corps commanders under her command was killed the other day, there were parts of her that were even more rigid.
‘Is there anything to relieve her tension――’
"...Even I wouldn't believe my ears if I listened to this without knowing it’s Krische-sama. Haha, I might even lose my nerve and break a bone."
"……My apologies"
――it was a failure.
Except for Krische and Selene, a superior's consideration was extremely rare.
His adjutant, Quinez, looks at Eluga with a shocked expression of bewilderment at the words, which were so unsuitable for him, but he was immediately glared at by Eluga and averted his gaze.
Quinez’s superiors were always very strict with him.
Felworth shoulders trembled, laughing, telling Eluga that it's better not to do anything he's not used to doing.
"General Lemin, don't worry. There are two types of failures on the battlefield. Either it was a clear error in judgment, or the enemy was stronger than expected――regardless of the former, this time it's the latter. In the chaos of the battlefield, you made the best plan, and your opponent outperformed you, that's all. And the fact that we were able to obtain information that our opponent possesses such an elite force will guide our future actions.''
The battlefield is a chaotic darkness.
Commanders were constantly forced to make countless choices based on little information.
Naturally, it is impossible for humans to continue to do their best under any circumstances, and sometimes it is necessary to have the courage to accept failure.
War is simply a means to an end.
Considering that, the loss of one corps commander was small.
The military, including his own, were merely pawns to ultimately achieve their goals.
"Thanks to you, I was able to understand that the enemy general in the center is decisive and aggressive――he is a person who aims to break through by concentrating his forces rather than stabilizing and crushing us enemies with numbers. This will be a big consideration in the future."
Sometimes it is necessary to explore the nature of the opponent's commander, even if it means abandoning some pieces.
Accept the failure and swallow it as a piece of information.
In this way, the outline of the opponent would be highlighted.
Felworth Keithriton was not a genius, but a mediocre general.
He doesn't have the power to overwhelm opponents with his talent like Krische, Nozan, and Eluga.
That is why he had the patience to obtain and scrutinize all the information he could find, and to persevere even after a series of small defeats, until he had achieved a definite victory.
It was not mere luck that he survived the civil war against the Verreich army, which was at the peak of its morale.
When Gildanstein's shadow warriors were defeated on the first day, he had anticipated that the battle would be settled more quickly than he had imagined.
He thought that if he bought time, the news of the outcome would reach the battlefield, so he bought time.
Using information and logic to shone a light on the darkness of the battlefield, and doing his best to achieve the goals.
Don't be afraid of failure, accept everything and remain unfazed.
For this reason, Felworth was hailed as a great general who never gets rusty even in his old age.
"Regret comes after the war...I see you as a comrade. If you want some nagging from the old man, Faren and I will do it for you after this war is over. You are still young, so failure can be a source of growth. Don't be afraid to fulfill your responsibilities now."
"Yes... Thank you, Assistant Marshal Farren, General Keithriton."
Felworth nodded with satisfaction, and Eluga rubbed his eyebrows.
"Truly, after becoming an old man, it’s best to not do what one is not used to huh."
"Hahaha, it’s amusing to see you like that.… What is Krische’s request on the night of the new moon?"
"No. Krische-sama said to just relay the information."
Dagris simply said so.
Defeating Gulshan on the first day, taking care of the spies and heading towards here, on the night of the ner moon, the enemy's southern forces――crush the right flank.
What was conveyed was brief and the bare minimum necessary, and no instructions were given.
"Is she saying she’s going to leave everything to us? It seems like she trusts you quite a lot, huh?"
Felworth smiled and looked at Eluga.
His skull-like face was carved with deep wrinkles, making a smile full of evi――no, happiness.
"Kuku, I’m so happy.…Dagris, please continue."
"Yes sir. It’s what we learned from the captured spies and the enemy squad but――"
What Dagris talked about was the inside information of the enemy that they got from torturing.
The enemy was divided into three armies, each commanded by a different tribe.
This battle is largely related to the post-war power struggle, and although the three armies appear to be working together on the surface, they were not on good terms――secretly, each army wants to outwit the other two and achieve great military achievement.
There are rumors that the current king was suffering from illness, and the fact that he had not appeared on the battlefield seems to be contributing to this, and in reality, the three armies should be viewed as allied forces of different individual countries.
There seemed to be quite a bit of factional conflict within each army.
Of course there was information that the three of them already knew, but that didn't mean they were going to interfere.
They knew that the more information overlaps, the more accurate it becomes.
Ther listened to what Dagris was saying smoothly, paying attention to the slight differences in the information they had received from the prisoner.
There was endless talk about internal circumstances, camp policies, command, and other various things.
Even here, in front of the three generals, he didn't feel nervous.
"――In the south, the enemy's right-wing general Gein Miklea is an outlaw barbarian who binds his subordinates with fear, but his military discipline is lax and his soldiers have high morale due to repeated plundering. The general in the center, Shelna Veeze places a high value on discipline, but she is not well-received by the soldier...The northern and left-wing general, Toba Arkaz, had become a receptacle for those who stray from these two.''
‘It's an incoherent army,’ Dagris laughed.
"Profit, ideals, and moderation. However, regardless of whether it's true or not, it seems certain that Shelna Veeze stands out among them."
"...Stand out?"
"Although she is a woman, she is a warrior with extraordinary skills that cannot be rivaled by the warriors of Elderant. Elderant is a society that values――her presence is a big reason why the army hasn't collapsed even in such a state."
‘I don't know to what degree though’, he continued.
What Dagris imagined was a cliché, and the same goes for Eluga when he heard it.
"Kuku, if this was Krische-sama, I’m sure my head would have already flown away. ...That said, I'm sure she’s a great warrior. It's information that should be taken into consideration. ...Is that all of it?"
"Yes sir. Unless there’s other instructions from the generals, I have been ordered to return to the capital."
"…General Keithriton, General Remin, anything from you two?"
"No. He's an excellent spy, it would be best to return him to the capital as soon as possible."
"Neither do I, Assistant Marshal."
Eluga nodded and looked at Dagris.
Dagris stood up, bowed, and left the tent.
Seeing this, Felworth's already narrow eyes narrowed even further.
"His posture, his breathing――it's quite something. He's an unfamiliar face to me though."
"He used to be a spy for an unscrupulous merchant. Now he is loyal to Krische-sama. He is a calculating man who cannot be trusted as a person, but he is an egoist who is not bound by faith or morals――He can be trusted as Krische-sama's spy. If you think about profit and loss, he wouldn't be so foolish as to make an enemy of Krische-sama.''
The face that said all that with a happy smile was the personification of evil itself.
Female General Tekla looked slightly frightened, and Quinez made sure to not look at his superior.
Eluga’s evil look was not something you can get used to even if you keep looking at it.
"…Shall we attack at the night of the new moon as well?"
"That's decisive. What's the reason?"
"We will launch a blatant night attack on the enemy center, and at the same time, Cliche-sama will destroy the enemy's right wing. The center of the enemy will definitely be confused when they realize that they have lost one of the arms they rely on. It seems to be an uncoordinated army to begin with after all.""
Pointing to the map, he narrowed his eyes.
"The enemy will do everything in their power to prevent our attack. If they suddenly lose their right wing forces, they will have no choice but to use their reserves to stop our attack."
Overlaying the assumed Alberinea army with the enemy's right wing.
From there, around the outside to the center from behind.
"During that time, Krische-sama will lead the highly mobile Black Flag Special Forces and make a detour from the enemy's right wing to the far center rear... and take the head of the enemy general from behind."
Eluga said happily, and Felworth frowned.
"It’s as if you two have arranged this beforehand huh, Faren. How confident are you with that assumption?"
"...Krische-sama said she would finish it. In that case, there is no such thing as confidence or uncertainty."
He sipped the black bean tea, moistened his tongue and took a breath.
"If they don’t know about the existence of Alberinea and don’t notice this situation, it would be a dead end. ...This is not a battle, this is just post-processing."
Tomorrow night――in preparation for the new moon, a meeting was being held at the Alberinea army's large tent.
"Kurofuyo will bypass the rear of the enemy and take the lead. Krische, Vinthril and the others will also accompany the night attack on the right wing but will quickly slip out and join the other side. Ojii-sama and each corps continue to pound the right wing until they lose their organizational resistance, and the final cleanup to the enemy's right wing is Keith's 1st corps. Meow Meow and Bagil, once things have calmed down, will support Skeleton."
‘Well, this is good’, Krische smiled, stepped onto the platform, and tapped the map behind her with a pointer.
"By that time, Krische and Kurofuyo will have completed the surprise attack on the enemy's main camp from the rear. It's basically a clean-up battle. Be careful to not do anything stupid like try to attack each other, also search thoroughly――take as few prisoners as possible and get rid of the enemy.''
And Krische declared it clearly.
Each corps commander and battalion commander――the atmosphere of the place was tense for a moment.
"Under conditions of poor visibility, our opponents are Elderant soldiers whose land is mostly covered in forest. A counterattack with a small unit is quite possible, and the enemy formation is also divided by tribe, making it difficult to determine the commander and chain of command. There are too many concerns to take them as prisoners of war for humanitarian reasons."
Krische blurted out what she had thought beforehand.
There was no indecision or hesitation there.
"What is stipulated in the Holy Spirit Covenant is that even if the enemy is disarmed, has lost the will to fight, and has no intention of continuing the war, it is prohibited to massacre or mistreat prisoners of war after the end of the battle. There is a possibility of an organized counterattack by the enemy, even on a small scale, and it is not applicable under conditions of poor visibility where the alert state cannot be lifted."
She smiled and held up her finger.
Of course there were strategic and tactical reasons for this night attack, but everyone understood that.
The girl in front of them had deliberately chosen the night of a new moon to carry out a legal massacre.
"We will only take prisoners of war those soldiers who surrender after dawn and after our visibility is secured. It will be nighttime, and our cooperation is not sufficient. Please understand that securing prisoners without permission before then may cause great confusion and endanger the entire military operation. Before the battle, each battalion commander please gives strict orders to the centurions under your command."
It is a word that implicitly forbids actions that were not in accordance with her will.
Her purpose was clear――she was trying to reduce their military power and force itself in order to make it difficult for the Kingdom of Elderant to rebuild itself after the war.
By lawful massacre
Some of them felt remorse in their conscience, but under these circumstances...
The reason they were able to overwhelm Gulshan, and the reason they were able to gain this advantage, was because of the existence of this Krische Christand.
The war situation remained hopeless, and Alberan had no leeway to show mercy to their opponent.
And everyone understood the importance of this army led by Krische.
Therefore, like swallowing lead, they listened to it in silence.
As for Krische who had expected some backlash and had prepared various answers, she felt a little disappointed.
She continued, feeling as though all her preparations had been wasted.
"Since the situation with the Keithriton army is uncertain, Krische have decided to completely leave it to them without giving them any instructions. Krische has informed them of the night attack and Skeletons are there, so if the situation is not too bad, they will attack the center of the enemy from the front. If this doesn't happen, you will standby――Krische will also wait behind the enemy for an opportunity."
‘Though there doesn’t seem any need for that worry’ Krische said, sitting back down in her chair.
They must not let them know of Krische’s existence no matter what.
The other party was in a state where they had no concerns whatsoever about an invasion from the south.
The distance between them was even closer than it was the other day. Just flying Griffin from here could arouse suspicion, and that was the reason for sending Dagris, an excellent secret agent, on a one-way trip.
The reason she didn't give instructions to Felworth or Eluga was because she couldn't grasp the detailed situation over there.
However, judging from the number of days that have passed since the start of the battle and the positioning of the enemy's right wing, it could be seen that the gradual retreat has been carried out largely as planned without any particular problems.
Although she doesn't really like Felworth, he had a good reputation for his ability based on his past records and fighting style in the civil war, and Eluga was the commander that Krische trusted the most in Alberan.
That's why she placed him in the west, where there were many forests and complex terrain, there was a strong trust there.
She believed that unless they were forced into a dire situation, a night attack would definitely be carried out, and considering the current strategic layout, Krische had no worry.
Reasoning on assumptions――even before the war started, this situation was one of the assumptions she had made.
For her, this was just a matter of fitting the numbers into the equation that she had created.
"Ah, that's right."
Krische said as if she just remembered it.
"It seems certain that the quality of the Elderant soldiers is not good, and in the unit that Krische killed, civilians were forced to mate――no. …uhh, it seems like they were captured and roughed up."
The men frowned, and Mia and Kalua, who were listening, held their heads.
It was not wrong but it was not correct.
The two of them had explained beforehand that if she was going to talk about it, she should say it in this way, and sure enough, as they thought.
"It was a group of about 200 people, but it was said that they attacked two villages. We found one of them, but the village was burned down, and everyone was killed. It seems that there were many villages around here that the notifications didn’t reach, and it’s likely that this happened in other places as well.''
Krische nodded and continued without worrying about their stares.
"In that case, there is a possibility that Alberan prisoners are being treated badly by bad enemy soldiers, and there is also a very high possibility that some civilians are being held prisoner as well. Krische said we wouldn't take prisoners, but we have to be flexible in this area. ...Hmm, wouldn't it be better to have a unified policy?"
"...That's right. When you deal with people like that, you never know what they'll do if cornered."
First Corps Commander, Keith answered.
"Using prisoners of war as shields and hostages in their struggle. Something like that could happen."
"Yes, that's true. Krische wonders how it is..."
Hostages are actually a fairly effective method, and at least in the past with Mother Grace, even Krische stopped moving.
Krische tilted her head in confusion,
"...The situation is very possible, but let's stick to the principle. The priority is the mission, and hostages should be treated as dead at that point."
Kolkis, who had crossed his arms, spoke clearly.
At least it was his role to be the first to say that.
It was because he thought it should not be Krische.
"That's right. If you're attacked without asking questions, you'll prioritize escaping over the hassle of killing a human hostage. Even if you're ruthless, it will cause the least amount of damage in the end."
Bagil followed.
The person trying to escape using the hostage as a shield――their psychology would be based on their own survival.
People like that will most likely give priority to running away from someone they couldn’t negotiate with.
Incidentally, if the person was capable of killing the hostages, the hostages would be killed regardless of whether the negotiations were successful or not.
There was no point in hesitating because civilians and prisoners of war were taken hostage.
"Hmm...As expected is that how it is after all"
A very rational girl. The statement she made earlier about not taking prisoners.
Everyone thought that she would understand easily, but Krische thought about it a little more.
The men looked slightly confused, only Gallen understood as they narrowed their eyes at her and placed their hands on her shoulders.
He nodded at Krische, who looked up at him curiously, and said on her behalf.
"It's cruel, but as soldiers, we have the Kingdom of Alberan――the lives of all the people living there on our backs. It's not something we can trade for the lives of a few people, so you should control your emotions and prioritize mathematical logic over ethics.''
A grim expression appeared on his deeply wrinkled face.
The old man's hoarse voice strangely resonated well.
"As Commander Argand said, hostages should be treated as dead people. For simple prisoners and civilians, we'll set up a team and deal with them at the bare minimum. As soon as the battle stabilizes, we'll deal with them one by one. This time, you guys are just prioritizing the defeat and mopping up the enemy army...If you have any objections or points for improvement, raise your hand."
Gallen looked around at each person, and the one who raised his hand was Fagran, the commander of the Third Corps and Bagil's adjutant.
"I have an opinion, Adjutant General."
"Okay. Just say it."
Fagran stands up and puts his hand on his chest in salute.
"Well, this is a bandit’s method, but...if we're dealing with such a person, one possible option would be to mix the captured woman with a relative or a spy and have them monitor from the inside. In any case, it would be better to make arrangements so that the commander will not be directly involved in the response."
Fagran is an old subordinate of Grunmeld, originally a bandit.
He knew well the methods used by thieves.
"I see. It's certainly an assumption that needs to be taken into consideration. ... Great chaos is expected. People here should be on guard. Do not approach prisoners of war or civilians, even if it is in the name of providing information, and let the non-commissioned officers deal with them."
Krische drank sweet tea while listening to those words.
She nodded, seeing as there was no other opinion.
"Guess that's about it...This time, let's do what Ojii-sama said."
No prisoners were taken and all were killed.
But it would be better to help the civilians who were caught up as much as possible.
Krische’s crazy circuit of conscience was at a loss as to what to do, but if Gallen said it, she would accept it as if it were correct.
She recalled the dead Grace and wondered if she would have survived if she had slashed without hesitation, but no answer came out.
Even for Krische, the past is irreversible.
She knew that it was pointless to think about it.
"Hmm…well, for now, the general purpose of the action and possible situations are as mentioned. As for the magical beasts like Suika, this is also what Krische said before. Please inform each centurion again and keep them on alert."
Krische said, stretching slightly and continuing.
"Next, let's talk about the details, future courses and placement..."
――It was a moonless night.
A quiet night, with only the light of bonfires and stars illuminating the grassland.
Tomorrow there will be a decisive battle decided by Shelna Veeze.
If she didn’t win here, the war was over――they would suspend any actions other than defensive battles to maintain the territory they have cut off, as well as any offensive invasions.
The main reason was the terrain.
This area was patchy with forests and plains, but if Alberan's army were to escape east of here, there would be a large sea of trees blocking central and western Alberan.
Forests are natural strongholds.
No matter how accustomed the Elderant soldiers were to the forest, it would take a huge amount of blood to achieve victory there.
The Central Veeze army set up camp on the plain, and the Keithriton army was on the opposite plain to the east across the forest.
The entire Elderant army bent in a くshape, with Arkaz, the left wing on the north slightly ahead of them, and Veeze with a forest in between Keithriton army, were also trying to threaten the flanks and rear of the Keithriton army.
Similarly, the Meeklea to the south had gone a little ahead of them and had laid down their army in a large forest to the south of them..
Tomorrow, at dawn, there would be an attack from the three sides――there was no certainty that it would go well.
To say it was semi-encircled, both the left and right wings were only slightly protruding. There was also distance.
Considering that the enemy was also expecting this, there was a good chance that they could simply flee to the east.
There was also information that behind them, in the sea of trees to the east, there was a campfire-like bonfire being lit.
It was safe to assume that they had sent some of their troops ahead of us and were taking all possible measures against our pursuit, and there was also a fort, though not a large one, in front of the sea of trees, so at least this battle would be over if the enemy escaped there.
――This was a gamble.
Whether or not they would be able to capture the enemy’s head in the pursuit.
This was such a battle.
If they could capture Felworth Keithriton's head, they could inflict a huge blow and throw the enemy into a whirlpool of chaos, and they could even consider challenging them to a decisive battle in the Sea of Trees.
"Hey, it's time for your shift, Ledo. Go to bed early."
"...I'm not sleepy, Zuren."
As he sat on a box and watched the bonfire, a large man with a rugged face appeared.
Veeze's hunting squad――the leader of the its 1st squad, Zuren
Sitting next to Ledo, carrying a large spear and holding a sake bottle in his hand. He had the usual mocking smile on his face.
"What, are you scared of tomorrow's battle?"
"Let go, I’m not like you."
He said with a wry smile. He was three years older than Ledo――but they had been close friends for a long time.
When he was a child, he was the brats leader, a hopeless bully, and a bastard, but now, like his adjutant Bez, he was Ledo's most reliable comrade.
"I remember well when you were so scared by Suiko that your nose was dripping and you were on your knees, Zuren."
"That’s a story from when I was a kid...And you're probably the same, Ledo. It's shameful that you burst into tears as soon as the chief warrior arrives."
"Shut up"
A little adventure when he was a kid.
Shelna was visiting a large village in Rani.
Ledo and Zuren enthusiastically lead her around to show her a beautiful waterfall, and they meet a Suiko in the forest.
It was probably fortunate that the Suiko wasn't hungry.
If it had wanted to, they would have been killed in an instant――but the Suiko didn't attack them all of a sudden, and slowly approached them while growling.
Shelna was the only one who could keep her calm in that situation.
She held a fallen tree branch in her hand and told Ledo and Zuren not to move――He remembered how her body was shaking as well.
Realizing that the three were gone, Ledo’s and Sherna's father, and Bez rush into the Suiko.
He will never forget that time.
"...His Majesty and my father were both amazing."
"Ah... that was cool. I still don't feel like I've caught up."
His eyes narrowed as he stroked the large sword beside him.
The sight of his father slashing the Suiko with this in his hand was still etched in his eyes.
Shelna's father, the king, with a spear in hand, attracted the Suiko’s hostility and jumped around in the forest, while Bez and his friends shot countless spears and arrows.
It was this giant sword that delivered the final blow.
"I've never felt so much pain."
"...I see. I was surprised that they would even hit Shelna-sama."
Still, there were injuries.
Naturally, the three of them were severely scolded, and even Ledo's mild-mannered father was furious.
All three of them were slapped, all three of them were hugged, all three of them were locked in the hut, all three of us were locked in the hut――and after that too it kept stinging, it was a slap that hurt far more than just physical pain.
"...I still haven't finished repaying Shelna for that time. Tomorrow is an opportunity I couldn't have hoped for in that sense."
"Don't be so reckless, Ledo. ...If you die, you won't be able to repay her."
"Are you worried?"
"It's about Shelna-sama, who fell in love with a helpless person. I’m not worried about you okay?"
‘You bastard’, Ledo laughed and tried to knock Zuren in the head, but Zuren flicked it with his hand.
The two of them laughed and turned to the bonfire.
Zuren then took a sip of the sake he brought and handed it to Ledo.
Ledo sipped it, and let out a breath and looked up.
"...Well, I have to force myself a little. At the very least, it would be bad if Meeklea monopolized the credit."
"…I never thought we’d be handing over the initial response to Meeklea."
"They said they wouldn’t go along with our strategy otherwise. It can’t be helped."
Veeze, Meeklea, Arkaz.
The three tribes were allies and future enemies.
They basically follow requests, but each has command authority, and in a sense, this army was close to an allied army.
"Shelna thought there was no chance that Meeklea would make the decision. Those guys wouldn't be able to defeat Keithriton. I agree with her, but...I’m not sure if it becomes a melee."
The attack would start from Meeklea on the right wing, and quickly moved to Arkaz on the left wing.
The central Veeze became the rearguard and pressed down on the enemy from the front.
If the enemy retreated to the east, it would be easy to target enemy generals using Meeklea and Arkaz.
If Veeze could target some, it would most likely be the general of the enemy rearguard.
Veeze needed to definitely finish this off.
If Meeklea and Arkaz were to fail against the main aim and still stall, there would be room for Veeze to make a move――no matter what the possibility was, it was less than 50%.
The next best option was to whittle away at the enemy's strength, but either way, it was inevitable for Veeze’s battle to be brutal.
"...If only we were on the same page, a large army of 120,000 versus 60,000. We could have won more easily... But it's pathetic."
"That can't be helped, Ledo, every tribe is mutual... each has its own opinion, and even we can't compromise."
With that said, Zuren continues, ‘Well, it’s just for now’.
"...Several decades from now, I'm sure that you and Shelna will change the country so that such trivial troubles will no longer exist, right?"
"...That's right. Sorry, did I sound like a complainer?"
Zuren laughed and patted his shoulder.
"No matter what the result is, do your best, Ledo. I'm dying to steal Shelna-sama from your side at your wedding."
"Hah, I'll kill you before you can count to three."
Ledo laughed and pounded Zuren's thick chest with his fist.
"!?"
――The sound of a bell echoing in the forest.
They both stood up at the same time.
It was not just a mistake.
The sounds of bells echoed from the forest, countless bells shaking the night air.
"Wake up now, hunters of Veeze! Prepare for battle!"
Zuren howled, and Ledo frowned.
――The enemy's choice was a night attack.
What was the aim and how big was it?
"Zuren, it's a night attack at this time. We don't know what's going to happen, so stay here and protect Shelna."
"But――"
"I'm going to lead some people to see what's going on. Please send Bez and the others right away. In any case, in this situation, Meeklea and Arkaz won't be able to move immediately. Depending on the situation, we, the Central Forces, may have no choice but to prevent the enemy's initial attack on our own."
Zuren nods with a solemn look on his face.
Ledo quickly gathered up the soldiers who were awake and assembled them――and soon, a chestnut colored hair shook, and Shelna appeared on the spot.
"Ledo, Zuren!"
Shelna, who seemed to have jumped out of the tent, sweating in her thin nightgown, looked around.
Her skin and underwear were slightly transparent in the light of the bonfire.
"...You looking like that"
"This isn't the time to worry about how I look...just look at the situation first, don't be reckless. Understood?"
"Is that what you came here to say?"
"Because Ledo is an idiot."
Shelna caught her breath and closed her eyes.
"I have been informed of the possibility of a night attack. Do not go forward until instructed to do so, and wait behind the vanguard. Only respond if there is a breakthrough. Understood?"
"…Yeah, muh!?"
Then she pounced on him and kissed him, glaring into the indigo eyes.
"If you die, I'll kill you."
"I know. See you later."
"It's fine if you understand――see you later."
Before Shelna could finish speaking, she turned on her heel and ran.
The surrounding soldiers and Zuren looked stunned and looked at Ledo with envy.
"...What are you looking at?"
"Damn, I'm so jealous. I also want to be kissed."
Nodding to Zuren's words, the soldiers repeated the same thing.
Ledo scratched his head, his face red.
He was aware that was why she jumped out without armor.
"Don't say something stupid, let's go, you guys. Show them that the night forest is our garden."
"It's not cool if you said with your face red, Ledo."
"I'll kill you, Zuren. Anyway, let's go!"
――The sky was dark with a new moon.
A world filled with a stiff atmosphere that cooled flushed cheeks.
And so began the first and final attack of the Alberan army in this western region.
***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 193 Dark Night***
Alberan's Western Army――Keithriton's headquarters.
There was the West General Felworth Keithriton.
and Assistant Marshal Eluga Faren.
A female general from the center, Tekrea Lemin.
And her three adjutants.
Even the squire went outside to clear the room, and the one who was kneeling on one knee in front of the six of them was the spy, Dagris.
"Defeating Gulshan...so Alberinea is already here, huh?"
She was as tall as a man and had dull golden hair.
A face that was well-groomed but lacked the softness of a woman――Tekrea looked astonished at Dagris's words, as if she couldn't believe it.
Her adjutants were the same, but Eluga and Felworth didn't seem surprised.
Embarrassed by her own astonishment, Tekrea returned her expression and said ‘my apologies’.
She seemed to be cowering, aware that she was several levels behind the two experienced generals.
She did not become a central general solely because of her bloodline as a duke, and she was an excellent personnel in terms of ability, but she had not participated in any civil wars and had little actual battle experience.
This was her first battlefield as a general――and her motivation also didn’t rise .
Eluga's evil face distorted as he saw her and smiled bitterly.
"It's no wonder I'm surprised. However, Krische-sama is someone like that."
"...Yes sir"
Nervous, Tekrea lowered her head, and Eluga put his hand on his chin, looking a little troubled.
Her personality wasn't bad, nor was her quick wit. If one looks at her as a soldier, she would be a good soldier.
The problem was perhaps that she simply had a complex about being a woman, or was too careful and too afraid of failure.
She probably didn’t want to be looked down upon as a woman after all.
Her well-trained body, always stern expression――perhaps because one of the corps commanders under her command was killed the other day, there were parts of her that were even more rigid.
‘Is there anything to relieve her tension――’
"...Even I wouldn't believe my ears if I listened to this without knowing it’s Krische-sama. Haha, I might even lose my nerve and break a bone."
"……My apologies"
――it was a failure.
Except for Krische and Selene, a superior's consideration was extremely rare.
His adjutant, Quinez, looks at Eluga with a shocked expression of bewilderment at the words, which were so unsuitable for him, but he was immediately glared at by Eluga and averted his gaze.
Quinez’s superiors were always very strict with him.
Felworth shoulders trembled, laughing, telling Eluga that it's better not to do anything he's not used to doing.
"General Lemin, don't worry. There are two types of failures on the battlefield. Either it was a clear error in judgment, or the enemy was stronger than expected――regardless of the former, this time it's the latter. In the chaos of the battlefield, you made the best plan, and your opponent outperformed you, that's all. And the fact that we were able to obtain information that our opponent possesses such an elite force will guide our future actions.''
The battlefield is a chaotic darkness.
Commanders were constantly forced to make countless choices based on little information.
Naturally, it is impossible for humans to continue to do their best under any circumstances, and sometimes it is necessary to have the courage to accept failure.
War is simply a means to an end.
Considering that, the loss of one corps commander was small.
The military, including his own, were merely pawns to ultimately achieve their goals.
"Thanks to you, I was able to understand that the enemy general in the center is decisive and aggressive――he is a person who aims to break through by concentrating his forces rather than stabilizing and crushing us enemies with numbers. This will be a big consideration in the future."
Sometimes it is necessary to explore the nature of the opponent's commander, even if it means abandoning some pieces.
Accept the failure and swallow it as a piece of information.
In this way, the outline of the opponent would be highlighted.
Felworth Keithriton was not a genius, but a mediocre general.
He doesn't have the power to overwhelm opponents with his talent like Krische, Nozan, and Eluga.
That is why he had the patience to obtain and scrutinize all the information he could find, and to persevere even after a series of small defeats, until he had achieved a definite victory.
It was not mere luck that he survived the civil war against the Verreich army, which was at the peak of its morale.
When Gildanstein's shadow warriors were defeated on the first day, he had anticipated that the battle would be settled more quickly than he had imagined.
He thought that if he bought time, the news of the outcome would reach the battlefield, so he bought time.
Using information and logic to shone a light on the darkness of the battlefield, and doing his best to achieve the goals.
Don't be afraid of failure, accept everything and remain unfazed.
For this reason, Felworth was hailed as a great general who never gets rusty even in his old age.
"Regret comes after the war...I see you as a comrade. If you want some nagging from the old man, Faren and I will do it for you after this war is over. You are still young, so failure can be a source of growth. Don't be afraid to fulfill your responsibilities now."
"Yes... Thank you, Assistant Marshal Farren, General Keithriton."
Felworth nodded with satisfaction, and Eluga rubbed his eyebrows.
"Truly, after becoming an old man, it’s best to not do what one is not used to huh."
"Hahaha, it’s amusing to see you like that.… What is Krische’s request on the night of the new moon?"
"No. Krische-sama said to just relay the information."
Dagris simply said so.
Defeating Gulshan on the first day, taking care of the spies and heading towards here, on the night of the ner moon, the enemy's southern forces――crush the right flank.
What was conveyed was brief and the bare minimum necessary, and no instructions were given.
"Is she saying she’s going to leave everything to us? It seems like she trusts you quite a lot, huh?"
Felworth smiled and looked at Eluga.
His skull-like face was carved with deep wrinkles, making a smile full of evi――no, happiness.
"Kuku, I’m so happy.…Dagris, please continue."
"Yes sir. It’s what we learned from the captured spies and the enemy squad but――"
What Dagris talked about was the inside information of the enemy that they got from torturing.
The enemy was divided into three armies, each commanded by a different tribe.
This battle is largely related to the post-war power struggle, and although the three armies appear to be working together on the surface, they were not on good terms――secretly, each army wants to outwit the other two and achieve great military achievement.
There are rumors that the current king was suffering from illness, and the fact that he had not appeared on the battlefield seems to be contributing to this, and in reality, the three armies should be viewed as allied forces of different individual countries.
There seemed to be quite a bit of factional conflict within each army.
Of course there was information that the three of them already knew, but that didn't mean they were going to interfere.
They knew that the more information overlaps, the more accurate it becomes.
Ther listened to what Dagris was saying smoothly, paying attention to the slight differences in the information they had received from the prisoner.
There was endless talk about internal circumstances, camp policies, command, and other various things.
Even here, in front of the three generals, he didn't feel nervous.
"――In the south, the enemy's right-wing general Gein Miklea is an outlaw barbarian who binds his subordinates with fear, but his military discipline is lax and his soldiers have high morale due to repeated plundering. The general in the center, Shelna Veeze places a high value on discipline, but she is not well-received by the soldier...The northern and left-wing general, Toba Arkaz, had become a receptacle for those who stray from these two.''
‘It's an incoherent army,’ Dagris laughed.
"Profit, ideals, and moderation. However, regardless of whether it's true or not, it seems certain that Shelna Veeze stands out among them."
"...Stand out?"
"Although she is a woman, she is a warrior with extraordinary skills that cannot be rivaled by the warriors of Elderant. Elderant is a society that values――her presence is a big reason why the army hasn't collapsed even in such a state."
‘I don't know to what degree though’, he continued.
What Dagris imagined was a cliché, and the same goes for Eluga when he heard it.
"Kuku, if this was Krische-sama, I’m sure my head would have already flown away. ...That said, I'm sure she’s a great warrior. It's information that should be taken into consideration. ...Is that all of it?"
"Yes sir. Unless there’s other instructions from the generals, I have been ordered to return to the capital."
"…General Keithriton, General Remin, anything from you two?"
"No. He's an excellent spy, it would be best to return him to the capital as soon as possible."
"Neither do I, Assistant Marshal."
Eluga nodded and looked at Dagris.
Dagris stood up, bowed, and left the tent.
Seeing this, Felworth's already narrow eyes narrowed even further.
"His posture, his breathing――it's quite something. He's an unfamiliar face to me though."
"He used to be a spy for an unscrupulous merchant. Now he is loyal to Krische-sama. He is a calculating man who cannot be trusted as a person, but he is an egoist who is not bound by faith or morals――He can be trusted as Krische-sama's spy. If you think about profit and loss, he wouldn't be so foolish as to make an enemy of Krische-sama.''
The face that said all that with a happy smile was the personification of evil itself.
Female General Tekla looked slightly frightened, and Quinez made sure to not look at his superior.
Eluga’s evil look was not something you can get used to even if you keep looking at it.
"…Shall we attack at the night of the new moon as well?"
"That's decisive. What's the reason?"
"We will launch a blatant night attack on the enemy center, and at the same time, Cliche-sama will destroy the enemy's right wing. The center of the enemy will definitely be confused when they realize that they have lost one of the arms they rely on. It seems to be an uncoordinated army to begin with after all.""
Pointing to the map, he narrowed his eyes.
"The enemy will do everything in their power to prevent our attack. If they suddenly lose their right wing forces, they will have no choice but to use their reserves to stop our attack."
Overlaying the assumed Alberinea army with the enemy's right wing.
From there, around the outside to the center from behind.
"During that time, Krische-sama will lead the highly mobile Black Flag Special Forces and make a detour from the enemy's right wing to the far center rear... and take the head of the enemy general from behind."
Eluga said happily, and Felworth frowned.
"It’s as if you two have arranged this beforehand huh, Faren. How confident are you with that assumption?"
"...Krische-sama said she would finish it. In that case, there is no such thing as confidence or uncertainty."
He sipped the black bean tea, moistened his tongue and took a breath.
"If they don’t know about the existence of Alberinea and don’t notice this situation, it would be a dead end. ...This is not a battle, this is just post-processing."
Tomorrow night――in preparation for the new moon, a meeting was being held at the Alberinea army's large tent.
"Kurofuyo will bypass the rear of the enemy and take the lead. Krische, Vinthril and the others will also accompany the night attack on the right wing but will quickly slip out and join the other side. Ojii-sama and each corps continue to pound the right wing until they lose their organizational resistance, and the final cleanup to the enemy's right wing is Keith's 1st corps. Meow Meow and Bagil, once things have calmed down, will support Skeleton."
‘Well, this is good’, Krische smiled, stepped onto the platform, and tapped the map behind her with a pointer.
"By that time, Krische and Kurofuyo will have completed the surprise attack on the enemy's main camp from the rear. It's basically a clean-up battle. Be careful to not do anything stupid like try to attack each other, also search thoroughly――take as few prisoners as possible and get rid of the enemy.''
And Krische declared it clearly.
Each corps commander and battalion commander――the atmosphere of the place was tense for a moment.
"Under conditions of poor visibility, our opponents are Elderant soldiers whose land is mostly covered in forest. A counterattack with a small unit is quite possible, and the enemy formation is also divided by tribe, making it difficult to determine the commander and chain of command. There are too many concerns to take them as prisoners of war for humanitarian reasons."
Krische blurted out what she had thought beforehand.
There was no indecision or hesitation there.
"What is stipulated in the Holy Spirit Covenant is that even if the enemy is disarmed, has lost the will to fight, and has no intention of continuing the war, it is prohibited to massacre or mistreat prisoners of war after the end of the battle. There is a possibility of an organized counterattack by the enemy, even on a small scale, and it is not applicable under conditions of poor visibility where the alert state cannot be lifted."
She smiled and held up her finger.
Of course there were strategic and tactical reasons for this night attack, but everyone understood that.
The girl in front of them had deliberately chosen the night of a new moon to carry out a legal massacre.
"We will only take prisoners of war those soldiers who surrender after dawn and after our visibility is secured. It will be nighttime, and our cooperation is not sufficient. Please understand that securing prisoners without permission before then may cause great confusion and endanger the entire military operation. Before the battle, each battalion commander please gives strict orders to the centurions under your command."
It is a word that implicitly forbids actions that were not in accordance with her will.
Her purpose was clear――she was trying to reduce their military power and force itself in order to make it difficult for the Kingdom of Elderant to rebuild itself after the war.
By lawful massacre
Some of them felt remorse in their conscience, but under these circumstances...
The reason they were able to overwhelm Gulshan, and the reason they were able to gain this advantage, was because of the existence of this Krische Christand.
The war situation remained hopeless, and Alberan had no leeway to show mercy to their opponent.
And everyone understood the importance of this army led by Krische.
Therefore, like swallowing lead, they listened to it in silence.
As for Krische who had expected some backlash and had prepared various answers, she felt a little disappointed.
She continued, feeling as though all her preparations had been wasted.
"Since the situation with the Keithriton army is uncertain, Krische have decided to completely leave it to them without giving them any instructions. Krische has informed them of the night attack and Skeletons are there, so if the situation is not too bad, they will attack the center of the enemy from the front. If this doesn't happen, you will standby――Krische will also wait behind the enemy for an opportunity."
‘Though there doesn’t seem any need for that worry’ Krische said, sitting back down in her chair.
They must not let them know of Krische’s existence no matter what.
The other party was in a state where they had no concerns whatsoever about an invasion from the south.
The distance between them was even closer than it was the other day. Just flying Griffin from here could arouse suspicion, and that was the reason for sending Dagris, an excellent secret agent, on a one-way trip.
The reason she didn't give instructions to Felworth or Eluga was because she couldn't grasp the detailed situation over there.
However, judging from the number of days that have passed since the start of the battle and the positioning of the enemy's right wing, it could be seen that the gradual retreat has been carried out largely as planned without any particular problems.
Although she doesn't really like Felworth, he had a good reputation for his ability based on his past records and fighting style in the civil war, and Eluga was the commander that Krische trusted the most in Alberan.
That's why she placed him in the west, where there were many forests and complex terrain, there was a strong trust there.
She believed that unless they were forced into a dire situation, a night attack would definitely be carried out, and considering the current strategic layout, Krische had no worry.
Reasoning on assumptions――even before the war started, this situation was one of the assumptions she had made.
For her, this was just a matter of fitting the numbers into the equation that she had created.
"Ah, that's right."
Krische said as if she just remembered it.
"It seems certain that the quality of the Elderant soldiers is not good, and in the unit that Krische killed, civilians were forced to mate――no. …uhh, it seems like they were captured and roughed up."
The men frowned, and Mia and Kalua, who were listening, held their heads.
It was not wrong but it was not correct.
The two of them had explained beforehand that if she was going to talk about it, she should say it in this way, and sure enough, as they thought.
"It was a group of about 200 people, but it was said that they attacked two villages. We found one of them, but the village was burned down, and everyone was killed. It seems that there were many villages around here that the notifications didn’t reach, and it’s likely that this happened in other places as well.''
Krische nodded and continued without worrying about their stares.
"In that case, there is a possibility that Alberan prisoners are being treated badly by bad enemy soldiers, and there is also a very high possibility that some civilians are being held prisoner as well. Krische said we wouldn't take prisoners, but we have to be flexible in this area. ...Hmm, wouldn't it be better to have a unified policy?"
"...That's right. When you deal with people like that, you never know what they'll do if cornered."
First Corps Commander, Keith answered.
"Using prisoners of war as shields and hostages in their struggle. Something like that could happen."
"Yes, that's true. Krische wonders how it is..."
Hostages are actually a fairly effective method, and at least in the past with Mother Grace, even Krische stopped moving.
Krische tilted her head in confusion,
"...The situation is very possible, but let's stick to the principle. The priority is the mission, and hostages should be treated as dead at that point."
Kolkis, who had crossed his arms, spoke clearly.
At least it was his role to be the first to say that.
It was because he thought it should not be Krische.
"That's right. If you're attacked without asking questions, you'll prioritize escaping over the hassle of killing a human hostage. Even if you're ruthless, it will cause the least amount of damage in the end."
Bagil followed.
The person trying to escape using the hostage as a shield――their psychology would be based on their own survival.
People like that will most likely give priority to running away from someone they couldn’t negotiate with.
Incidentally, if the person was capable of killing the hostages, the hostages would be killed regardless of whether the negotiations were successful or not.
There was no point in hesitating because civilians and prisoners of war were taken hostage.
"Hmm...As expected is that how it is after all"
A very rational girl. The statement she made earlier about not taking prisoners.
Everyone thought that she would understand easily, but Krische thought about it a little more.
The men looked slightly confused, only Gallen understood as they narrowed their eyes at her and placed their hands on her shoulders.
He nodded at Krische, who looked up at him curiously, and said on her behalf.
"It's cruel, but as soldiers, we have the Kingdom of Alberan――the lives of all the people living there on our backs. It's not something we can trade for the lives of a few people, so you should control your emotions and prioritize mathematical logic over ethics.''
A grim expression appeared on his deeply wrinkled face.
The old man's hoarse voice strangely resonated well.
"As Commander Argand said, hostages should be treated as dead people. For simple prisoners and civilians, we'll set up a team and deal with them at the bare minimum. As soon as the battle stabilizes, we'll deal with them one by one. This time, you guys are just prioritizing the defeat and mopping up the enemy army...If you have any objections or points for improvement, raise your hand."
Gallen looked around at each person, and the one who raised his hand was Fagran, the commander of the Third Corps and Bagil's adjutant.
"I have an opinion, Adjutant General."
"Okay. Just say it."
Fagran stands up and puts his hand on his chest in salute.
"Well, this is a bandit’s method, but...if we're dealing with such a person, one possible option would be to mix the captured woman with a relative or a spy and have them monitor from the inside. In any case, it would be better to make arrangements so that the commander will not be directly involved in the response."
Fagran is an old subordinate of Grunmeld, originally a bandit.
He knew well the methods used by thieves.
"I see. It's certainly an assumption that needs to be taken into consideration. ... Great chaos is expected. People here should be on guard. Do not approach prisoners of war or civilians, even if it is in the name of providing information, and let the non-commissioned officers deal with them."
Krische drank sweet tea while listening to those words.
She nodded, seeing as there was no other opinion.
"Guess that's about it...This time, let's do what Ojii-sama said."
No prisoners were taken and all were killed.
But it would be better to help the civilians who were caught up as much as possible.
Krische’s crazy circuit of conscience was at a loss as to what to do, but if Gallen said it, she would accept it as if it were correct.
She recalled the dead Grace and wondered if she would have survived if she had slashed without hesitation, but no answer came out.
Even for Krische, the past is irreversible.
She knew that it was pointless to think about it.
"Hmm…well, for now, the general purpose of the action and possible situations are as mentioned. As for the magical beasts like Suika, this is also what Krische said before. Please inform each centurion again and keep them on alert."
Krische said, stretching slightly and continuing.
"Next, let's talk about the details, future courses and placement..."
――It was a moonless night.
A quiet night, with only the light of bonfires and stars illuminating the grassland.
Tomorrow there will be a decisive battle decided by Shelna Veeze.
If she didn’t win here, the war was over――they would suspend any actions other than defensive battles to maintain the territory they have cut off, as well as any offensive invasions.
The main reason was the terrain.
This area was patchy with forests and plains, but if Alberan's army were to escape east of here, there would be a large sea of trees blocking central and western Alberan.
Forests are natural strongholds.
No matter how accustomed the Elderant soldiers were to the forest, it would take a huge amount of blood to achieve victory there.
The Central Veeze army set up camp on the plain, and the Keithriton army was on the opposite plain to the east across the forest.
The entire Elderant army bent in a くshape, with Arkaz, the left wing on the north slightly ahead of them, and Veeze with a forest in between Keithriton army, were also trying to threaten the flanks and rear of the Keithriton army.
Similarly, the Meeklea to the south had gone a little ahead of them and had laid down their army in a large forest to the south of them..
Tomorrow, at dawn, there would be an attack from the three sides――there was no certainty that it would go well.
To say it was semi-encircled, both the left and right wings were only slightly protruding. There was also distance.
Considering that the enemy was also expecting this, there was a good chance that they could simply flee to the east.
There was also information that behind them, in the sea of trees to the east, there was a campfire-like bonfire being lit.
It was safe to assume that they had sent some of their troops ahead of us and were taking all possible measures against our pursuit, and there was also a fort, though not a large one, in front of the sea of trees, so at least this battle would be over if the enemy escaped there.
――This was a gamble.
Whether or not they would be able to capture the enemy’s head in the pursuit.
This was such a battle.
If they could capture Felworth Keithriton's head, they could inflict a huge blow and throw the enemy into a whirlpool of chaos, and they could even consider challenging them to a decisive battle in the Sea of Trees.
"Hey, it's time for your shift, Ledo. Go to bed early."
"...I'm not sleepy, Zuren."
As he sat on a box and watched the bonfire, a large man with a rugged face appeared.
Veeze's hunting squad――the leader of the its 1st squad, Zuren
Sitting next to Ledo, carrying a large spear and holding a sake bottle in his hand. He had the usual mocking smile on his face.
"What, are you scared of tomorrow's battle?"
"Let go, I’m not like you."
He said with a wry smile. He was three years older than Ledo――but they had been close friends for a long time.
When he was a child, he was the brats leader, a hopeless bully, and a bastard, but now, like his adjutant Bez, he was Ledo's most reliable comrade.
"I remember well when you were so scared by Suiko that your nose was dripping and you were on your knees, Zuren."
"That’s a story from when I was a kid...And you're probably the same, Ledo. It's shameful that you burst into tears as soon as the chief warrior arrives."
"Shut up"
A little adventure when he was a kid.
Shelna was visiting a large village in Rani.
Ledo and Zuren enthusiastically lead her around to show her a beautiful waterfall, and they meet a Suiko in the forest.
It was probably fortunate that the Suiko wasn't hungry.
If it had wanted to, they would have been killed in an instant――but the Suiko didn't attack them all of a sudden, and slowly approached them while growling.
Shelna was the only one who could keep her calm in that situation.
She held a fallen tree branch in her hand and told Ledo and Zuren not to move――He remembered how her body was shaking as well.
Realizing that the three were gone, Ledo’s and Sherna's father, and Bez rush into the Suiko.
He will never forget that time.
"...His Majesty and my father were both amazing."
"Ah... that was cool. I still don't feel like I've caught up."
His eyes narrowed as he stroked the large sword beside him.
The sight of his father slashing the Suiko with this in his hand was still etched in his eyes.
Shelna's father, the king, with a spear in hand, attracted the Suiko’s hostility and jumped around in the forest, while Bez and his friends shot countless spears and arrows.
It was this giant sword that delivered the final blow.
"I've never felt so much pain."
"...I see. I was surprised that they would even hit Shelna-sama."
Still, there were injuries.
Naturally, the three of them were severely scolded, and even Ledo's mild-mannered father was furious.
All three of them were slapped, all three of them were hugged, all three of them were locked in the hut, all three of us were locked in the hut――and after that too it kept stinging, it was a slap that hurt far more than just physical pain.
"...I still haven't finished repaying Shelna for that time. Tomorrow is an opportunity I couldn't have hoped for in that sense."
"Don't be so reckless, Ledo. ...If you die, you won't be able to repay her."
"Are you worried?"
"It's about Shelna-sama, who fell in love with a helpless person. I’m not worried about you okay?"
‘You bastard’, Ledo laughed and tried to knock Zuren in the head, but Zuren flicked it with his hand.
The two of them laughed and turned to the bonfire.
Zuren then took a sip of the sake he brought and handed it to Ledo.
Ledo sipped it, and let out a breath and looked up.
"...Well, I have to force myself a little. At the very least, it would be bad if Meeklea monopolized the credit."
"…I never thought we’d be handing over the initial response to Meeklea."
"They said they wouldn’t go along with our strategy otherwise. It can’t be helped."
Veeze, Meeklea, Arkaz.
The three tribes were allies and future enemies.
They basically follow requests, but each has command authority, and in a sense, this army was close to an allied army.
"Shelna thought there was no chance that Meeklea would make the decision. Those guys wouldn't be able to defeat Keithriton. I agree with her, but...I’m not sure if it becomes a melee."
The attack would start from Meeklea on the right wing, and quickly moved to Arkaz on the left wing.
The central Veeze became the rearguard and pressed down on the enemy from the front.
If the enemy retreated to the east, it would be easy to target enemy generals using Meeklea and Arkaz.
If Veeze could target some, it would most likely be the general of the enemy rearguard.
Veeze needed to definitely finish this off.
If Meeklea and Arkaz were to fail against the main aim and still stall, there would be room for Veeze to make a move――no matter what the possibility was, it was less than 50%.
The next best option was to whittle away at the enemy's strength, but either way, it was inevitable for Veeze’s battle to be brutal.
"...If only we were on the same page, a large army of 120,000 versus 60,000. We could have won more easily... But it's pathetic."
"That can't be helped, Ledo, every tribe is mutual... each has its own opinion, and even we can't compromise."
With that said, Zuren continues, ‘Well, it’s just for now’.
"...Several decades from now, I'm sure that you and Shelna will change the country so that such trivial troubles will no longer exist, right?"
"...That's right. Sorry, did I sound like a complainer?"
Zuren laughed and patted his shoulder.
"No matter what the result is, do your best, Ledo. I'm dying to steal Shelna-sama from your side at your wedding."
"Hah, I'll kill you before you can count to three."
Ledo laughed and pounded Zuren's thick chest with his fist.
"!?"
――The sound of a bell echoing in the forest.
They both stood up at the same time.
It was not just a mistake.
The sounds of bells echoed from the forest, countless bells shaking the night air.
"Wake up now, hunters of Veeze! Prepare for battle!"
Zuren howled, and Ledo frowned.
――The enemy's choice was a night attack.
What was the aim and how big was it?
"Zuren, it's a night attack at this time. We don't know what's going to happen, so stay here and protect Shelna."
"But――"
"I'm going to lead some people to see what's going on. Please send Bez and the others right away. In any case, in this situation, Meeklea and Arkaz won't be able to move immediately. Depending on the situation, we, the Central Forces, may have no choice but to prevent the enemy's initial attack on our own."
Zuren nods with a solemn look on his face.
Ledo quickly gathered up the soldiers who were awake and assembled them――and soon, a chestnut colored hair shook, and Shelna appeared on the spot.
"Ledo, Zuren!"
Shelna, who seemed to have jumped out of the tent, sweating in her thin nightgown, looked around.
Her skin and underwear were slightly transparent in the light of the bonfire.
"...You looking like that"
"This isn't the time to worry about how I look...just look at the situation first, don't be reckless. Understood?"
"Is that what you came here to say?"
"Because Ledo is an idiot."
Shelna caught her breath and closed her eyes.
"I have been informed of the possibility of a night attack. Do not go forward until instructed to do so, and wait behind the vanguard. Only respond if there is a breakthrough. Understood?"
"…Yeah, muh!?"
Then she pounced on him and kissed him, glaring into the indigo eyes.
"If you die, I'll kill you."
"I know. See you later."
"It's fine if you understand――see you later."
Before Shelna could finish speaking, she turned on her heel and ran.
The surrounding soldiers and Zuren looked stunned and looked at Ledo with envy.
"...What are you looking at?"
"Damn, I'm so jealous. I also want to be kissed."
Nodding to Zuren's words, the soldiers repeated the same thing.
Ledo scratched his head, his face red.
He was aware that was why she jumped out without armor.
"Don't say something stupid, let's go, you guys. Show them that the night forest is our garden."
"It's not cool if you said with your face red, Ledo."
"I'll kill you, Zuren. Anyway, let's go!"
――The sky was dark with a new moon.
A world filled with a stiff atmosphere that cooled flushed cheeks.
And so began the first and final attack of the Alberan army in this western region.
