“Hahaha, what an amusing plan,” His Majesty laughed heartily. Next to me, Layfence wore a smirk, filled with a sardonic smile.
“Well, if it manages to unsettle the enemy, then there’s nothing better,” I said.
“Very well. Let’s give it a try. I will issue a royal decree to Raisen,” His Majesty replied.
———————
Three days later, a fast horse arrived at the southern front-line army from the imperial capital.
“What is this letter?” Raisen, the commander of the Empire’s southern front-line army, expressed his displeasure.
“What on earth has happened?”
“Take a look at this.”
“So, Marquis Basam is visiting as a representative of His Majesty? And there’s a military operation with instructions to follow… What on earth…?” I wondered.
“Hmph, His Majesty, who has never been in battle, whimsically intervening in person… And to top it off, a formal royal decree. Sigh, this is giving me a headache,” Raisen looked up at the sky. It was some time later that the news reached the imperial army’s camp that Linos had arrived.
——————-
“Why… are you here?” Raisen asked, eyes wide open, skipping the greetings.
“Oh, well, I took an extended vacation,” he replied.
“A vacation?” Raisen’s surprise was understandable. After all, standing next to me was Layfence, the commander of the northern front-line army.
“It was ordered by His Majesty. Protect Marquis Basam,” he explained.
“…What about the northern front-line army?” Raisen asked.
“They’ll manage somehow, even without me.”
“…,” Raisen fell silent.
“Well, don’t worry. I can’t stay away from the imperial capital for too long either. I’ll have to return in two or three days. After witnessing Marquis’s strategy, we’ll bid our farewell,” Layfence reassured him.
Raisen stared at Layfence, who laughed it off with a “Hahaha,” with a suspicious look in his eyes.
“…Whoever moves first in this game will be the loser,” he murmured.
The old general and I stood on top of a mountain, guided by Raisen, overlooking the imperial and royal armies.
“Ah, we’ve been trying various tactics to lure out the enemy, but there’s still no sign of them making a move,” I said.
“Well, they know that if they move, they’ll lose. However, this stalemate can’t continue indefinitely, can it?” the old general replied.
“Our imperial army will not take a single step until we achieve victory,” Raisen boasted.
“Don’t be so stubborn, Lord Raisen. You’ve been camped here for nearly a month. The soldiers must be tired of the stagnant situation. As the commander of the southern front-line army, it’s understandable that you can’t openly say such things.”
Raisen turned away with a huff.
“With this being a mountainous area, there must be frequent monster attacks, right?” I asked.
“We’re managing that,” Raisen replied curtly.
“Well, considering there are hundreds of thousands of people scattered throughout these mountains, wouldn’t the monsters attack us as well?” I questioned.
“…I said there’s no need to worry!” Raisen snapped.
Raisen urged us to follow him and led us to a large tent. Inside, the staff officers of the southern front-line army had gathered.
“Well, shall we hear the strategy from the esteemed Marquis?” Raisen said.
I proceeded to explain the details of the strategy to the staff officers.
“Well, I understand the plan to lure the enemy. I hope it works out. However, the problem lies in what comes after. Why do we have to deal with such things?” one of the officers voiced his concern.
“Well, we appreciate your cooperation, even if it’s only to the extent you can manage. …Now then, we will immediately proceed with the operation,” I replied.
“Alright, looking forward to it!” another officer exclaimed.
The old general and I left the tent and headed towards the meeting point with Kunogen and the others.
“Well then, Kunogen, I’m counting on you,” I said.
“Leave it to me,” Kunogen replied.
We arrived at the Ilbezi River, where both armies were locked in a standoff. On the opposite bank, the Lamaron army had constructed barricades, creating a strong defensive line. Kunogen took out a steel thread from his pocket and aimed at one of the Lamaron soldiers.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers from the opposite bank, a member of the Lamaron army, flew through the air and crashed into the river near the Imperial forces.
The flying soldier looked around in confusion, not understanding what had just happened.
“Alright, go!”
At the command of Lafayence, five members of the Imperial Guard attacked the Lamaron soldier. He hastily got up and started fleeing through the river. The Imperial Guard pursued him, keeping a certain distance and pushing him forward without immediately killing him.
“Hey, look! Over there! Our soldiers are under attack!”
About twenty Lamaron soldiers emerged from the opposite bank, attempting to attack the Imperial Guard.
“Alright, go!”
Fifty members of the Imperial Guard charged towards the Lamaron soldiers. As they engaged in battle, there was movement among the Lamaron soldiers on the opposite bank, and one of their squads began to move.
“Now!”
I unleashed a scorching fireball into the sky. As a signal, a part of the Imperial forces started to move. Like the Lamaron army, they began advancing through the river. In terms of numbers, we were fewer than the Lamaron forces. However, the Lamaron side noticed this and pushed forward with even more troops.
“Push them back!”
The Lamaron army reached the middle of the river, and the Imperial forces started to retreat. The Lamaron side attempted to pursue them further. Just as their units at the front were about to cross the river, a barrage of arrows and magic spells rained down on the Lamaron soldiers from the forest.
“What on earth is happening at the front line? Report!”
General Carius raised his voice. There had been movement in the front line, despite strict orders not to move. Moreover, it seemed as though the Imperial forces were taking action on their own accord. This was an unacceptable situation.
“The Second Army deployed on the left flank is launching an assault!”
“Make them retreat immediately! Order everyone to return to their positions!”
Carius gave an order to the messenger soldier with an angry tone.
However, once the army started moving, especially when they were deployed in the river, it was difficult to change their course. The Lamaron soldiers became easy targets for the Imperial arrows and magic, with their corpses littering the river. To make matters worse, the soldiers from the Second Army, who had entered the river to rescue their comrades, were getting shot one after another, further exacerbating the casualties.
“Alright, let’s seize the enemy’s left flank!”
Lafayence mounted his horse and was about to dash forward when a lone samurai-like warrior raced by like the wind.
“Step aside! Step aside!! Retreat, I say!!!”
His booming voice echoed even among the Imperial forces, as he sprinted across the riverbank. The Imperial troops momentarily froze at the stunning display.
Upon hearing the warrior’s voice, the Lamaron army hastily began retreating towards their own lines. The warrior deflected arrows and magic with his shield, all the while encouraging the frontline soldiers.
“It’s alright now! Retreat calmly! The Imperial forces won’t pursue us!”
Like receding waves, they withdrew. However, the river was overflowing with the corpses of Lamaron soldiers, staining the water a deep crimson.
“Well done, Your Grace. It’s a success for now,”
Kunogen, with a beaming smile, approached us.
“Damn it… If only that knight weren’t here, I could have joined the battle myself!”
Lafayence lamented in frustration.
“No, General. If you were injured here, His Majesty would be furious. Please dismount for now,”
Reluctantly, the veteran general dismounted his horse and glanced across the river.
“That knight… It was an excellent command,”
“Yes, indeed. We never expected someone to charge alone into the frontline like that. They looked up to him,”
“Ah, truly an impressive feat. Lamaron has skilled knights as well,”
While impressed by the Lamaron army’s swift retreat, we started preparing for the next phase of the operation.
“…What is the meaning of this, Armond?”
“…”
In the Lamaron army’s headquarters, amidst the presence of staff officers, General Carius directed an angry voice towards Colonel Armond.
“…If things had continued like that, the Second Army would have been annihilated.”
“But even so, leaving your own troops and acting on your own, moreover, with just a single warrior, is not praiseworthy. If you were to die, who would command the Third Army?”
“I understand your words, General, but as a commander, how can I order soldiers to die if I am not willing to risk my own life?”
“Armond, how old are you?”
“…I am 32 years old.”
“At such a young age, you have been appointed as the commander of the Third Army because you possess the qualities of a leader. Learn to behave more like a true commander.”
Armond stared intently at General Carius. Though his voice carried anger, his eyes were as cold as ice.
“Armond, if the commander-in-chief dies, the battle is lost. A true commander must survive until the very end. What about your own actions? You were one step away from death. If you were to die, the Third Army would fall into disarray. And if that happens, this battle will become overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the Empire. Do you understand?”
Without saying a word, Armond bowed and left the scene.
“Truly… He has the potential, but it’s a shame,”
“General, isn’t it too heavy a burden to appoint a commoner like Armond as a corps commander?”
Uttering his opinion in a smooth voice, it was General Jizeu, the commander of the Second Army.
“However, it was through his actions that the Second Army escaped annihilation. Isn’t that right?”
“Ha…,”
Jizeu made a sheepish expression and lowered his head.
The surroundings were already turning towards evening.
“Hahaha, what an amusing plan,” His Majesty laughed heartily. Next to me, Layfence wore a smirk, filled with a sardonic smile.
“Well, if it manages to unsettle the enemy, then there’s nothing better,” I said.
“Very well. Let’s give it a try. I will issue a royal decree to Raisen,” His Majesty replied.
———————
Three days later, a fast horse arrived at the southern front-line army from the imperial capital.
“What is this letter?” Raisen, the commander of the Empire’s southern front-line army, expressed his displeasure.
“What on earth has happened?”
“Take a look at this.”
“So, Marquis Basam is visiting as a representative of His Majesty? And there’s a military operation with instructions to follow… What on earth…?” I wondered.
“Hmph, His Majesty, who has never been in battle, whimsically intervening in person… And to top it off, a formal royal decree. Sigh, this is giving me a headache,” Raisen looked up at the sky. It was some time later that the news reached the imperial army’s camp that Linos had arrived.
——————-
“Why… are you here?” Raisen asked, eyes wide open, skipping the greetings.
“Oh, well, I took an extended vacation,” he replied.
“A vacation?” Raisen’s surprise was understandable. After all, standing next to me was Layfence, the commander of the northern front-line army.
“It was ordered by His Majesty. Protect Marquis Basam,” he explained.
“…What about the northern front-line army?” Raisen asked.
“They’ll manage somehow, even without me.”
“…,” Raisen fell silent.
“Well, don’t worry. I can’t stay away from the imperial capital for too long either. I’ll have to return in two or three days. After witnessing Marquis’s strategy, we’ll bid our farewell,” Layfence reassured him.
Raisen stared at Layfence, who laughed it off with a “Hahaha,” with a suspicious look in his eyes.
“…Whoever moves first in this game will be the loser,” he murmured.
The old general and I stood on top of a mountain, guided by Raisen, overlooking the imperial and royal armies.
“Ah, we’ve been trying various tactics to lure out the enemy, but there’s still no sign of them making a move,” I said.
“Well, they know that if they move, they’ll lose. However, this stalemate can’t continue indefinitely, can it?” the old general replied.
“Our imperial army will not take a single step until we achieve victory,” Raisen boasted.
“Don’t be so stubborn, Lord Raisen. You’ve been camped here for nearly a month. The soldiers must be tired of the stagnant situation. As the commander of the southern front-line army, it’s understandable that you can’t openly say such things.”
Raisen turned away with a huff.
“With this being a mountainous area, there must be frequent monster attacks, right?” I asked.
“We’re managing that,” Raisen replied curtly.
“Well, considering there are hundreds of thousands of people scattered throughout these mountains, wouldn’t the monsters attack us as well?” I questioned.
“…I said there’s no need to worry!” Raisen snapped.
Raisen urged us to follow him and led us to a large tent. Inside, the staff officers of the southern front-line army had gathered.
“Well, shall we hear the strategy from the esteemed Marquis?” Raisen said.
I proceeded to explain the details of the strategy to the staff officers.
“Well, I understand the plan to lure the enemy. I hope it works out. However, the problem lies in what comes after. Why do we have to deal with such things?” one of the officers voiced his concern.
“Well, we appreciate your cooperation, even if it’s only to the extent you can manage. …Now then, we will immediately proceed with the operation,” I replied.
“Alright, looking forward to it!” another officer exclaimed.
The old general and I left the tent and headed towards the meeting point with Kunogen and the others.
“Well then, Kunogen, I’m counting on you,” I said.
“Leave it to me,” Kunogen replied.
We arrived at the Ilbezi River, where both armies were locked in a standoff. On the opposite bank, the Lamaron army had constructed barricades, creating a strong defensive line. Kunogen took out a steel thread from his pocket and aimed at one of the Lamaron soldiers.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers from the opposite bank, a member of the Lamaron army, flew through the air and crashed into the river near the Imperial forces.
The flying soldier looked around in confusion, not understanding what had just happened.
“Alright, go!”
At the command of Lafayence, five members of the Imperial Guard attacked the Lamaron soldier. He hastily got up and started fleeing through the river. The Imperial Guard pursued him, keeping a certain distance and pushing him forward without immediately killing him.
“Hey, look! Over there! Our soldiers are under attack!”
About twenty Lamaron soldiers emerged from the opposite bank, attempting to attack the Imperial Guard.
“Alright, go!”
Fifty members of the Imperial Guard charged towards the Lamaron soldiers. As they engaged in battle, there was movement among the Lamaron soldiers on the opposite bank, and one of their squads began to move.
“Now!”
I unleashed a scorching fireball into the sky. As a signal, a part of the Imperial forces started to move. Like the Lamaron army, they began advancing through the river. In terms of numbers, we were fewer than the Lamaron forces. However, the Lamaron side noticed this and pushed forward with even more troops.
“Push them back!”
The Lamaron army reached the middle of the river, and the Imperial forces started to retreat. The Lamaron side attempted to pursue them further. Just as their units at the front were about to cross the river, a barrage of arrows and magic spells rained down on the Lamaron soldiers from the forest.
“What on earth is happening at the front line? Report!”
General Carius raised his voice. There had been movement in the front line, despite strict orders not to move. Moreover, it seemed as though the Imperial forces were taking action on their own accord. This was an unacceptable situation.
“The Second Army deployed on the left flank is launching an assault!”
“Make them retreat immediately! Order everyone to return to their positions!”
Carius gave an order to the messenger soldier with an angry tone.
However, once the army started moving, especially when they were deployed in the river, it was difficult to change their course. The Lamaron soldiers became easy targets for the Imperial arrows and magic, with their corpses littering the river. To make matters worse, the soldiers from the Second Army, who had entered the river to rescue their comrades, were getting shot one after another, further exacerbating the casualties.
“Alright, let’s seize the enemy’s left flank!”
Lafayence mounted his horse and was about to dash forward when a lone samurai-like warrior raced by like the wind.
“Step aside! Step aside!! Retreat, I say!!!”
His booming voice echoed even among the Imperial forces, as he sprinted across the riverbank. The Imperial troops momentarily froze at the stunning display.
Upon hearing the warrior’s voice, the Lamaron army hastily began retreating towards their own lines. The warrior deflected arrows and magic with his shield, all the while encouraging the frontline soldiers.
“It’s alright now! Retreat calmly! The Imperial forces won’t pursue us!”
Like receding waves, they withdrew. However, the river was overflowing with the corpses of Lamaron soldiers, staining the water a deep crimson.
“Well done, Your Grace. It’s a success for now,”
Kunogen, with a beaming smile, approached us.
“Damn it… If only that knight weren’t here, I could have joined the battle myself!”
Lafayence lamented in frustration.
“No, General. If you were injured here, His Majesty would be furious. Please dismount for now,”
Reluctantly, the veteran general dismounted his horse and glanced across the river.
“That knight… It was an excellent command,”
“Yes, indeed. We never expected someone to charge alone into the frontline like that. They looked up to him,”
“Ah, truly an impressive feat. Lamaron has skilled knights as well,”
While impressed by the Lamaron army’s swift retreat, we started preparing for the next phase of the operation.
“…What is the meaning of this, Armond?”
“…”
In the Lamaron army’s headquarters, amidst the presence of staff officers, General Carius directed an angry voice towards Colonel Armond.
“…If things had continued like that, the Second Army would have been annihilated.”
“But even so, leaving your own troops and acting on your own, moreover, with just a single warrior, is not praiseworthy. If you were to die, who would command the Third Army?”
“I understand your words, General, but as a commander, how can I order soldiers to die if I am not willing to risk my own life?”
“Armond, how old are you?”
“…I am 32 years old.”
“At such a young age, you have been appointed as the commander of the Third Army because you possess the qualities of a leader. Learn to behave more like a true commander.”
Armond stared intently at General Carius. Though his voice carried anger, his eyes were as cold as ice.
“Armond, if the commander-in-chief dies, the battle is lost. A true commander must survive until the very end. What about your own actions? You were one step away from death. If you were to die, the Third Army would fall into disarray. And if that happens, this battle will become overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the Empire. Do you understand?”
Without saying a word, Armond bowed and left the scene.
“Truly… He has the potential, but it’s a shame,”
“General, isn’t it too heavy a burden to appoint a commoner like Armond as a corps commander?”
Uttering his opinion in a smooth voice, it was General Jizeu, the commander of the Second Army.
“However, it was through his actions that the Second Army escaped annihilation. Isn’t that right?”
“Ha…,”
Jizeu made a sheepish expression and lowered his head.
The surroundings were already turning towards evening.
