Chapter 259: Upper and Lower Jaw |
Late at night on August 14th, countless balls of light illuminated the land of Reisleaf. There would be no sleep in the battle between the Quordenze army and the Spierzeig army. Occasionally, the sounds of fierce battles echoed through the summer night.
The camp of Spierzeig’s army was located just a stone’s throw away from Reisleaf Castle. This could be said to be a sign of their intention to take it back.
It has already been three days since Galfis Quordenze developed a magic power malfunction. Although the initial onset tends to last a long time, this is not always the case. Sometimes it recovers in half a day, sometimes it lasts for about a month. In any case, it would not be surprising if he recovered at any time.
The upper echelons of Spierzeig’s army were in repeated discussions to realize the quick recapture of Reisleaf.
It was exactly at that time that a messenger rushed in.
[It’s a surprise attack by the Quordenze army!!]
Hearing that report, the previous Head of the Spierzeig family, Kindlor Spierzeig, turned his gaze sharply.
The messenger told them that it was a surprise attack by the “Quordenze Army”, not the “Galfis Army” that was holding out at Reisleaf Castle.
[He has come as expected…!]
[Have the sickles moved? Be sure to cut off that boy’s head.]
The Sickles was the name of a special unit in the Spierzeig army. This is a unit that is responsible for missions that are highly confidential or cannot be made public.
When the Galfis army withdrew from the front lines, Kindlor immediately urged Othelloria to dispatch the Sickles. They’re currently lurking outside the Quordenze territory with a secret mission to assassinate Wilk.
However, the messenger continued to report in a loud voice that cut off Kindlor’s expectations.
[The Quordenze army will assault Dosellan City this evening!! There are many enemy soldiers!! We are outnumbered!!]
All the knights and military officers present, as well as Kindlor, were speechless for a moment.
Dosellan City is a city located in the northern part of Voistra. It was located in the southeast part of the northern division. In the northern part of the country, the area is adjacent to the outer territory of Quordenze territory across the mountain, but this city does not fall under this category.
[Dosellan!? There must be some kind of mistake!?]
One of the senior military officers raised his voice. If you think about it with common sense, it’s not a city that would suddenly be attacked by the Quordenze army, so it’s a natural question.
[No, there is no mistake.]
The person who answered that voice was Knight Dosellan himself. He is the lord of Dosellan City, but this time he was taking part in the operation to recapture Reisleaf at the behest of his master.
The military officer who served as the messenger was a member of the Dosellan knight army and was related to the Dosellan family. Naturally, Knight Dosellan remembers the messenger’s face. Sadly, he was the one who knew best that there was no lie in that testimony.
[Continue reporting.]
The words of Knight Dosellan revived the tension around them.
[…..Yessir! Based on the scale of the threat to the city, we have determined that this is a unit made up mainly of Lord-class! The number of enemy soldiers is about 3,000, but this is a unit with an extremely high proportion of Lord-class soldiers!]
Looking closely, everyone could see that the messenger’s equipment was in tatters and he had injuries all over his body. It was easy to tell that he had been hit with attack magic many times.
As a messenger, he himself understood that the report would be shocking to everyone. He also said that in order to convey information correctly, it is necessary to communicate directly without the intervention of other people. For that reason, he whipped his aching body, used all his magic power to the limit, and ran all the way to the front line of Reisleaf.
[…by any chance, did they cross through Amelia river?]
One military officer muttered. The voice was filled with confusion, but it seemed that many military officers were thinking the same thing, and another person continued speaking, as if to provide some additional information.
[There have been no reports of them crossing the mountain pass in the north. In that case, we should think that the great river has been crossed…]
There is currently a strong security network in place on the route over the mountains in the northern part of the Voistra Plains. This is because a large number of soldiers have been mobilized for the Sickle’s logistical support. Therefore, if there was a force that was trying to force their way through, a message would have arrived from them first.
Also, in the first place, there is no point in attacking Dosellan City at this moment by crossing the mountains. It would be extremely unreasonable to suddenly target a city located in the southeast of the north. If they had succeeded in crossing the mountain, it would have been more logical to aim for the Spierzeig army’s rear, since they were preoccupied with attacking Reisleaf.
Taking these into account, it was a reasonable conclusion to think that the Quordenze army invaded by crossing the Amelia River rather than the mountain pass.
[But, is it even possible to cross the river?]
They’ve always been on guard of anyone crossing the river from Quordenze territory. Strong forts are tightly built in areas where large armies can land, making it difficult to break through. Also, just like on mountain roads, if a battle broke out on the coast, messages would first arrive from there.
[…..Arknoa?]
This was Knight Dosellan speaking. The people in the room used that idea as the starting point and arrived at the same answer.
[If it’s possible, a small group of elites made up only of Highlord and Lords could forcefully break through Arknoa…]
When crossing the corrupted land, a huge number of Lord-class soldiers will only become a hindrance. Therefore, the answer that a small number of elite people would conquer the area was correct, but at the same time it was also incorrect.
The idea of breaking through a contaminated area with a team of elites and making a surprise attack is something that is only “theoretically possible”. When it comes to actually thinking about a plan, a number of issues will arise, and implementation will be judged to be unreasonable from a realistic perspective.
[That kid did the same thing in Nambonan at the beginning of the year. Did you think that if he only brought elites, it would be possible to traverse the corrupted land?]
It was Kindlor who let out such a hateful voice. The grudge of losing his grandchild in Nambonan City was now resurfacing in his head.
[It’s hard to believe that he crossed through Amelia and Arknoa, but…]
[But, Dosellan was attacked by surprise.]
[If they indeed crossed through the Arknoa Contaminated Area…]
The eyes of everyone in the room naturally focused on a young military officer.
[…If that’s the case, what happened to Weldburg?]
The city closest to the Arknoa contaminated area is Weldburg. Dosellan City is located west-northwest to it.
[If they really crossed Arknoa, Weldburg should have been attacked before Dosellan.]
Knight Weldburg’s son was present at this discussion. He is also the next Head of the Weldburg family, and is leading an army in the battle to retake Reisleaf in place of his elderly father.
When asked for his opinion by those around him, he opened his mouth while maintaining a stiff expression.
[Since we brought the main forces of Weldburg here, the city only has at least about 1,500 territorial militia and a very small number of foot soldiers left. With this, there is no way it can withstand attacks from the elites, including the Highlord. Probably not. If the enemy is attacking Dosellan now, then my father… Knight Weldburg…]
He declared to the end that Weldburg City might have fallen into the hands of the enemy before the city could send the message. The atmosphere in the room became even more heavy because of the bad news that had not been reported.
[I see. So they procured the territorial militia in Weldburg and sent them to attack Dosellan. If they gathered them from the towns and villages along the way, the number of soldiers would be just under 3,000…]
The military officer dared to remain calm, lined up his words matter-of-factly, and developed his reasoning. He thought it would be rather rude to offer consolation here and now.
The northern region of the Voistra Plains is averagely developed, so large towns and villages are scattered here and there. If the enemy successfully attacks these places, they may be able to secure some soldiers for the time being. Although they would end up being a shoddy unit that would carry around peasants with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
[With a small group of elite Highlord and Lords, traverse the contaminated area and move forward while procuring troops locally. That may be their basic policy.]
Once the military officer finished speaking, attention once again focused on Knight Dosellan. He understood the meaning.
[We have 1,000 soldiers left in Dosellan.]
Like Weldburg City, Dosellan City had also committed most of its soldiers to the battle to recapture Reisleaf. And it was common in many cities in the northern and eastern parts of the Voistra Plains.
[I know this, but I dare to say it. There are no soldiers left in the north and east.]
The knights who ruled the north and east who were also there agreed with Knight Dosellan’s words.
[But, we can’t move the west and south.]
On the other hand, cities in the western and southern Voistra Plains do not send many territorial militias to the front lines. If a large number of people disappeared from those areas, the Noble families affiliated with Spierzeig based in the western mountainous region and the independent noble families in the south might think something bad would happen.
This is the result of the failure of the major counter-offensive operation against the Quordenze family, “Operation Wheat and Sickle”. The Spierzeig family’s centripetal force had declined significantly.
[In any case, it will be difficult for the city to hold out on its own against the Lord-class army. Dosellan won’t be able to buy much time with only its remaining troops. It’s as good as having already fallen into the hands of the enemy.]
As a result, the northern part was divided into the western and southern parts, but Knight Dosellan never showed any dissatisfaction until the end.
Kindlor, who had been silently watching the situation for a while, straightened up slightly. Everyone noticed that he was going to say something.
[Why do you think they decided to cross Amelia and Arknoa?]
One senior military officer answered that question on behalf of the group.
[To ease the pressure on Reisleaf. If someone gets hit in the gut, they’ll instinctively reach out due to pain.]
The Weldburg City and the Dosellan City are the gut, the fists punching them are the Quordenze army, and the hands holding the aching stomach are the Spierzeig army. Knight Dosellan agrees with that opinion.
[Maybe it was intentional to let the messenger escape here. It’s dangerous in the rear, so go back and get your hands off Reisleaf… I think that’s what they’re trying to say.]
There were voices of approval and agreement with that opinion.
In fact, there was only one messenger from Dosellan City who rushed into this camp. If you look at it carefully, it seems like they intentionally overlooked it.
[Certainly, even if a city is captured by a small number of elites, it will not be possible to control it.…The enemy may be getting impatient.]
It may be possible to take down a poorly defended city in one go with a small, elite force, but it is difficult to maintain it as a base and make it function. This is because controlling a city requires a lot of manpower. However, it would be unrealistic to assign locally procured territorial militia there as there would be too many concerns.
[If it was just a rescue mission, they could have just entered Reisleaf Castle via Nambonan City. Why did they go through the trouble of crossing Amelia-Arknoa?]
[Perhaps they were afraid of being ambushed. The Quordenze would have expected us to move the Sickles.]
[In that case, wouldn’t it be safer to proceed via Amelia-Arknoa, where the security is laxer?]
[No, or maybe it’s retaliation. If things continue like this, Quordenze will be unilaterally defeated and retreat. By punching us from sideways, it was an even fight, and Quordenze won’t just lose… But just maybe, he’s trying to keep up appearances?]
[If you think about it that way, it makes sense to cross through Amelia-Arknoa. It’s a barbaric act, but it will show the next head of the family’s courageous attitude both inside and outside.]
[I see. The Imperial Nobles have a strong tendency to respect those who display courage. I guess they understand that too.]
[Now that we can see what lies ahead of the Red Demon Galfis, does this mean that Quordenze needs a new symbol of martial prowess? For better or worse, it is not possible for the weak to overcome Arknoa. He might be intending to make a name for himself.]
[Besides, from now on, we have no choice but to turn our attention to the defense of the Arknoa side. Even if it is a realistically impossible invasion route, if we allow it to happen a second time, our military prestige will be lost. We need to take care of it.]
[Is he trying to create a psychological hole in the northeast? …This is not a simple rescue, it should be seen as a surprise attack with an eye on future diplomacy. It’s not a strategy to win now, but a strategy to win next time.]
[Galfis’ courage and Luxus’ wisdom. They’re difficult opponents.]
Discussions among military officers continued for a while, but no new opinions emerged. Kindlor drew a conclusion based on the opinions expressed at the time.
[It will be pointless to deal with the attacking Quordenze… Wilk’s army. If we turn back, the brats will run around lazily, and in the end they will flee back from Arknoa to Newnelly. In the meantime, Galfis will regain his footing back.]
Since they are dealing with a Highlord, their side’s Highlord also needs to come out. However, Kindlor says that’s Wilk’s ploy.
[There is no change to our policy of taking Reisleaf back first. It would be extremely frustrating to have our backs disturbed, but this is only a temporary fall after all. It won’t be difficult to take it back.]
The city has been breached, but not conquered, and most of the soldiers led by Wilk’s army are only locally procured Spierzeig territory militia… In that case, if we deal with it calmly, everything will be fine.
There is no need to rush back, but rather, if you surround the area where they have penetrated deeply, you may be able to crush them to death. The enemy’s goal is to threaten the front line of Reisleaf, so we don’t have to make a move. That’s what they thought.
[If Wilk’s army finds out that they didn’t manage to lure us, they might get impatient and come forward. Either they’ll come here, or they’ll head to Othelloria…]
The officer said that the enemy will either approach in a pincer attack, or pretend to aim for their home base in order to create more fear and panic.
[It can’t be helped, let’s move Othelloria’s reserve forces. If they’re heading south, the forces can hold them back. If they’re aiming for a pincer attack, it’ll also serve to block their advance…]
[That might be difficult.]
If there were enough soldiers left in the north, it would have been possible to hold them back in the cities along the way and thwart the pincer attack. However, there are currently very few soldiers left in the north. If a small group of elites were to start running at full speed from Dosellan City, in the worst case scenario, they might appear in Reisleaf in the early hours of tomorrow.
[….it’s unavoidable.]
It was decided that the Othelloria’s reserve army would be in charge of intercepting Wilk’s army should it move south. No one disputed that conclusion.
[If there is a pincer move, I, the Commander of the Second Army, will move to the rear.]
The current Head of the Spierzeig family, Magnis Spierzeig, also participated in the operation to recapture Reisleaf. Originally, it was only Kindlor, but Magnis also came to the front line after learning about Galfis’s condition.
The Commander of Spierzeig’s First Army is Magnis, and the Commander of the Second Army is Kindlor. The defense of Reisleaf Castle had become extremely tough as the First and Second Armies continued to attack alternately.
Even now, the First Army’s onslaught continues. That was why Magnis was absent from this discussion.
[We will send some of our soldiers to confirm the current situation in Weldburg City and identify the route of Wilk’s army’s invasion.]
Kindlor accepted Knight Dosellan’s proposal. They decided that this was not the time to be generous with the soldiers’ sacrifices. More than anything, they wanted information right now.
[That’s all for the discussion.]
And Kindlor stood up to report the current situation to Magnis, his son and the current head of the family.
In this way, the policy regarding Wilk’s army became largely a 「wait and see」 approach.
At that time, no one noticed that there was a large gaping horizontal hole that ran through Voistra Plains.
===========
The night sky looked a little brighter, probably because there were fires all over the city.
There are no clocks on the Eruo continent, so the change of days is vague. I guess we are now on the border between August 14th and August 15th.
[In a sense, it will be like that competition with Orshian…]
I didn’t tell the guard standing nearby. My mouth opened on its own, probably because I was nervous. I am carrying out a major strategy that will either expand or warp, and if I relax, my mind will become strangely restless.
[Balaika Castle isn’t tall enough either. You can’t see much of the city.]
I quickly addressed the guards. All in order to cover up the monologue that I accidentally spilled.
[It’s different from Newnelly Castle.]
I look down at Balaika City, which we have just broken through.
I went all the way to the roof, but I couldn’t see very far. This castle was just a small building in the city. It is different from Newnelly Castle, which was built on slightly elevated land.
After looking at the city for a while, an officer appeared. I guess they have already checked the situation.
[What about making preparations for the next one?]
[Affirmative. There is no delay.]
Quordenze soldiers are now arriving one after another in Balaika City, passing through the interior of the region, crossing the Arknoa Contaminated Area, Weldburg City, and Dosellan City, which they fell in the evening.
From breakthrough to domination. By the end of the night, this new beachhead should be more solid. And its defense power increases as time passes.
[I want to leave before dawn. Our next attack target is Fanes City.]
The elite 3,000 soldiers that I lead can move right away, however it will be meaningless if the latecomers don’t follow suit.
[Fanes City…?]
[What’s wrong, are you against it?]
The officer’s expression turned grim.
[I don’t think continuing to Fanes will be wise.]
After capturing Weldburg City, there was about a day left until soldiers arrived from inland, so we were conducting a secret search. The surprise attack was so successful that Knight Weldburg didn’t even have time to mount a defense or get rid of important stuff.
Thanks to this, we were able to view military secrets as much as we liked. Since we didn’t have much time, we weren’t able to confirm everything, but we were able to secure at least the materials related to the “Reisleaf Recapture Operation” currently underway.
[Reisleaf Castle is currently being attacked by the two armies led by Magnis and Kindlor…]
According to the information I found, the current head of the family, Magnis, is also participating in the operation to recapture Reisleaf.
It seems that the Noble families affiliated with Spierzeig, which are based in the western mountainous region, are not doing well. The head of the family wanted to go to the scene and wave the flag in order to blast these guys…or rather, to restore Spierzeig’s centripetal force. Also, it goes without saying that the castle will be easier to take down if there are two Highlords rather than just one.
It is clear that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Spierzeig family. Magnis must have been raring for the fight as well.
It’s possible that a messenger will be flying into Newnelly City by now saying, [Magnis Spierzeig has appeared at Reisleaf Castle].
[I think it might be better to leave the cities along the way to the following units and rush to Reisleaf on our own.]
As expected, the countdown to the fall of Reisleaf will quickly accelerate if two of the Highlords’s armies move. The officers seemed to be worried about my grandfather, and their overprotective switch has been ticking between on and off for some time now.
[That will be unnecessary.]
I’m worried about my grandfather too, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It can’t be helped.
That’s why I try not to show any vague attitude.
[We’ve already achieved great results with the piercing attack. There’s no need to continue Operation Jaw…]
[Grandfather made up his mind, and I believed in his will and moved. If I waver now, I won’t be able to face him.]
Before I knew it, Operation Snake’s Jaw had come to be called Operation Jaw. Since the snake’s jaw appears next to the snake’s fang, it seems to have been simplified as the snake series.
It’s true that it’s troublesome to say 「Operation Snake’s Fang」 or 「Operation Snake’s Jaw」 one by one. Although official documents are a different matter, there is also a desire to avoid redundant words when speaking in the field.
However, while 「Operation Fang」 sounds cool, 「Operation Jaw」 makes me imagine something akin to an a*s-jaw. Wouldn’t it be better to say 「Operation Maw」? …Is it a little strange? Well, I don’t care about the name.
[There’s no point in being attached to Reisleaf. I should have explained that.]
And in a sense, I trust the overprotectiveness of military officers. If things got really dangerous, they would retreat, even if it meant wrapping up my grandfather. Reisleaf Castle may fall, but my grandfather probably won’t die.
At that time, something was caught in my detection magic.
[…It looks like they’ve arrived from Dosellan City. The lower jaw.]
When I said that, I could feel the pressure on not only the officer’s shoulders but also the guards’ shoulders.
It was a little while later that Raylight and Melgin entered Balaika Castle.
[Young Master, the fall of Balaika is wonderfully done.]
Probably wanting to change the atmosphere of the audience to a brighter one, Raylight was the first to say words of congratulations. He seemed to be concerned about the strong tension emanating from the guards and military officers waiting in the room. I’m also curious.
[The hard part is about to start. Not just for me, but for you too.]
When I said that, Raylight laughed lightly and then turned around. There, a man and a woman were prostrating. They look like they are in their late teens, but I don’t know their exact ages.
When I allowed them to speak, the two of them spoke in a confused tone.
[Congratulations, Young Master.]
[Congratulations, Young Master.]
Raylight must have told them to say that for now, and even the tone they used was the same.
Just like my military officers, these two were also nervous. Mutual tensions intertwine, creating a spectacularly tingling space. This is exactly what a vicious cycle is.
[Take it easy. As I said in Weldburg, I allow you two to live. I won’t do anything bad to you.]
Relaxing, I said that to everyone except Raylight and Melgin.
However, it is understandable that military officers were concerned. This is because these two are natural Highlord born from serf parents, the so-called Blessed Children.
[They’re called Oz and Ado.]
The guards were holding the forbidden weapon with some force in their hands. These Blessed Children duo probably don’t understand the situation, however they remain tense.
[Yes. I’m Oz.]
[I’m Ado.]
Oz is the female one and Ado is the male. We briefly met in Weldburg City, but we didn’t have much of a chance to talk.
This was the first time I’ve seen their faces clearly. When the two of them line up, they look like a high school girl and a high school boy.
[I heard that the two of you are twins, but from the looks of it, could Oz be the older sister?]
Ado seemed to be the silent one of the two, therefore Oz basically acted as the spokesperson for the two. It gave me the impression of a reliable older sister and a younger brother who prefer to keep to himself.
[…..we are twins.]
I think she is probably warned not to make rude comments to the Nobles. I could tell that she was choosing her words very carefully.
Thanks to that, I had no idea what Oz was trying to say, but Melgin gave me some additional explanation. Apparently, the two of them only know that they are twins, but had no idea which one was the elder sibling. She wanted to say that because they are twins, there are no older or younger siblings.
[They don’t look much alike.]
When I compared the faces of the twins, I didn’t think they looked much alike, even considering the differences between men and women. I can feel that they are related by blood, but I think it would be more acceptable if they were called sister and brother instead of twins.
I don’t know if the reproductive mechanisms of Eruo continent people are the same as those of Earth, but if it’s the same, they would be fraternal twins. Is it natural that they are not similar?
The only similarities are their beige hair and eyebrows.
They both have different types, but their eyebrows are strangely thick. Oz’s eyebrows are generally drooped, giving her a simple and gentle impression. It’s potato-like and cute. On the other hand, Ado’s eyebrows were very thick and sharp.
[However, it’s interesting to have male and female twins. It’s as if their blood has been tinkered with…]
They are twins, male and female, and both are Blessed Children. If you think about it simply, the probability of birth should be very low. However, other than being rare, there is no added value.
The amount of magical power the two had was extremely poor. Agara and Nepio of the Orshian’s “Royal Guards” I saw in the Royal Capital were also Blessed Children, and I think they are in the same class as those. To put it bluntly, their amount of magic is inferior to Viscount Galliana.
However, of course, compared to Lord-class, they have overwhelmingly more magical power. Even if they are weak, they are still Highlords, and their existence cannot be underestimated. You can clearly see this by looking at the guards who are on high alert.
[So, they were originally from a foreign country?]
For now, let’s have a chat to ease everyone’s tension. I asked what I knew. Raylight also understands this.
[Affirmative. Apparently they were born in a Noble territory in the eastern part of the Empire, and survived through the turmoil of war.]
In the stable Noble territories, appropriate measures are taken as soon as a Blessed Child is discovered. The female Oz would be detained and become a birth attendant, and the male Ado would be immediately slaughtered.
[In that sense, they were saved thanks to Quordenze.]
The invasion of the Noble territories in the eastern part of the Empire by the Quordenze family was the first step in the invasion of Spierzeig. Those territories were torn apart by my father and grandfather, and in the end, they were annexed to the Quordenze territory.
There was a time when the area currently known as the outer territory of Quordenze territory was in such turmoil that there was no time to hunt down these Blessed Children.
It can be said that the cause and effect of Quordenze and Spierzeig have turned around, and now the twins have appeared before me.
[…However, with the start of our foreign rule, it seems that they have nowhere to go.]
By wiping out the Nobles in the eastern part of the Empire, the foreign lands became the domain of the Quordenze family. Although its governance is still shallow, the hunt for the Highlords has somewhat resumed.
Oz and Ado had managed to survive until now, but it seems that they felt that their lives were in danger. It is said that they secretly crossed the mountains and escaped into Spierzeig territory.
[I’m sure that was last year?]
[Affirmative.]
After many twists and turns, they ended up in Weldburg Field near the Weldburg City, Spierzeig’s territory. In that space where detection magic is difficult to work on, even a Highlord can hide and live there.
It is said that the twins have been secretly communicating with the Misty Village and have survived in secret. That’s when Melgin saw them.
[But once again, I think you guys are doing something outrageous. If the Spierzeig family had discovered this, not only Oz and Ado, but all the villagers would have been executed together.]
The military officers were also nodding their heads as if to say that was true. Alright, I’m on to the chat.
Hiding a Blessed Child is a serious crime. It’s the same in Quordenze and Spierzeig.
Then, Melgin spoke in a slightly apologetic voice.
[Well, by the time the village realized their true identities, it was too late…]
Oz and Ado secretly entered the Field and settled there. And in order to obtain food, the two apparently bartered the products they obtained in the Field with the villagers of Misty Village.
It seems that the villagers who responded to this thought were casually thinking, “They must be great adventurers”. It’s hard to imagine that these two are Blessed Children.
[…..so you decided to hide the fact.]
There is a fine line between whether or not the village will be punished even if they honestly report to the lord. I don’t think all the villagers will be executed for their involvement, but I feel like they will be given some sort of penalty.
In a sense, the Nobles are afraid of the birth of a Blessed Child. Thus, the penalty tends to be harsh.
[Yes. We had no choice but to keep it a secret…]
Even though life is already difficult, the village will no longer be able to survive if they are penalized. It seems that the village chief decided that if he was going to die anyway, he would be prepared to execute all the villagers and keep it a secret.
It seems that this story was only shared by a very few people, and neither Lupetta nor Melgin heard about it until recently. Well, Lupetta is quite honest. If you tell her something like that, her behavior might become suspicious.
[However, I don’t think the Spierzeig army was aware of the Blessed Child’s intrusion into their territory. It’s almost a miracle they made it safely.]
That was coming from one of the officers.
[No, it might seem that they’re aware of it.]
When I pointed at the water, Raylight again gave the answer.
[I heard from the chief of Misty Village, it seems that it has been revealed that the Blessed Child has entered the Voistra Plains. The northern and eastern areas are suspicious. Actually, several searches have been carried out.]
They must have been caught in the magic detection network somewhere. I don’t think the twins, who have no knowledge of magic, can dodge it well.
If they had continued wandering around Spierzeig territory, they would have been caught right away, but these twins were in their late teens and had acquired a certain amount of wisdom. It seems that they thought it would be better to hide somewhere than to move blindly. There, while receiving food through barter, they simply hid inside the Weldburg Field, holding their breath.
And these twins were surprisingly quick-witted. Even when bartering, they seemed to offer rates that would benefit the villagers. You can earn a decent amount of money just by giving away a small amount of food… This is information that you don’t want to share with anyone other than yourself. As a result, very few villagers knew about the existence of twins. Even if the twins didn’t say anything, the business partner had voluntarily kept their existence a secret. Although the twins couldn’t even read or write, they had the wisdom to live.
Thanks to this, the village chief was able to simply reply to the Weldburg’s knight army who came to patrol, saying, [There are no Blessed Children in our village]. And many times. Even if he didn’t know, it was not good for him to lie to the lord. I think this is also the reason why he gave up on reporting.
[However, if they’re not found, there will always be anxiety in the territory…]
The theory is that if you find a cockroach before going to bed, you must kill it to get a good night’s sleep. I understand what the officer wants to say.
[I heard from the village chief that there were almost no searches going on around December last year.]
Raylight supplements Melgin’s explanation.
[This is just a prediction, but it seems that the Spierzeig army thought that the Blessed Child had fled outside their territory.]
It’s a problem if it’s in their own territory, so there’s no need to chase them if they leave.
However, I don’t know why Spierzeig’s army thought so. I have some speculations, but they are still just my imagination. However, I decided to tell the military officer about it.
[Last year, the Demon Beast Sibelkorga appeared in Newnelly city. Do you know the rumors that spread in the city after that?]
There was a rumor going around that the Holy High Church in Newnelly City was secretly raising a Blessed Child within Newnelly Field to become a warrior to oppose the Quordenze family.
[The source of this rumor is probably our military. I think the information that the Blessed Child was lurking in Newnelly Field spread and developed into a conspiracy theory with the Holy High Church.]
In fact, there was a Blessed Child in New Nelly Field, and after the incident, the military investigated the Holy High Church in the city.
[I think Spierzeig’s spies have carefully investigated the information in that area and sent some information to Othelloria that they can be sure about…that’s what I think.]
The Spierzeig family is a family that specializes in schemes. Gathering information is therefore very important.
There must be one or two spies sneaking into Newnelly City. Counterintelligence has its limits, so any small amount of information will likely be leaked.
[There was a Blessed Child lurking in Newnelly Field. What if this information became known in Newnelly City?]
It is true that the Blessed Children was lurking. There is a strict gag order on information regarding the breeding of demonic beasts, but when it comes to the Blessed Children, there was not much consideration given to confidentiality at the beginning of the incident.
The fact that the rumor of the Blessed Child itself had circulated around the city signifies that there was a leak somewhere.
[Roughly at the same time, a Blessed Child appeared not far away in terms of straight line distance… What do you make of this if you are Spierzeig spy?]
[…We cannot be certain, but it is highly likely that it is the same person. If it is a Blessed Child, it will be easy to cross the Arknoa Contaminated Area. The search in the territory will continue, but nothing will be said for a certain period of time. If results are not achieved, I will consider discontinuing it.]
The search effort itself isn’t free. The Spierzeig family, currently at war with Quordenze, wouldn’t want to stretch it too far.
The judgment will probably change depending on whether Spierzeig’s army detected one or two Blessed Children, but that’s something Quordenze doesn’t know anymore.
[After that, it seems that there were plans to build detection magic auxiliary facilities in various parts of northern Voistra. Judging from the village chief’s tone, it was probably planned independently by the knights who ruled those areas.]
Although it was no longer an issue for the Spierzeig family as a whole, the local knights may have thought of taking measures just in case.
Well, this is also just my imagination. If we dig into the secrets of Weldburg City, we might be able to find an answer, but that would be best after the war.
The important thing is that the blessed twins are here now.
[That’s why Melgin consulted me about the twins. In the southern part of the continent, Blessed Children are sometimes sent into battle, so why not try using Oz and Ado?]
At the moment when the decisive battle between the Quordenze army and the Spierzeig army takes place, the twin Highlords attack Weldburg City. A blow from behind will be effective.
It’s easy to understand why Melgin didn’t like the explanation via Lupetta. This is like a terrorist attack using the Blessed Child. If an officer had asked him, he might have been treated as a dangerous person.
The reason I became positive about that story was because I met Orshian in the Royal Capital. Having seen the precedent of Orshian’s “Royal Guards” and Ruotad soldiers with my own eyes, I had more room to consider it. Since Orshian uses Blessed Children such as Agara and Nepio, I thought I might be able to do it too.
Perhaps intrigued, another military officer also joined the conversation.
[I have heard that there are areas in the south where it is not possible to hunt the Highlord satisfactorily.]
The Free Cities in the southern part of the continent continue to be in turmoil, so there are many places where governance is unstable. For this reason, it is said that there are rare cases of Blessed Children surviving.
[…However, wouldn’t using the Blessed Child make it difficult to handle them after the war?]
Blessed Child is still Highlord, and the Highlords are the ruling-class of Eruo continent. Some people think that if a person shows courage and achieves great deeds, they should be respected as a “one of the Lords” rather than just a “Blessed Child”, even if they are just trying to run away.
You can’t use it a lot and then throw it away when you’re done. If you do that, your reputation with users will be very bad.
If you cut off another territory in a war, you can transfer that land and use it as a semi-puppet Noble house, but if you use it for defensive battles, you will continue to have it in your own territory. A Blessed Child who has learned how to fight is a potential threat.
Therefore, although this tactic is powerful, it is said to be difficult to use. Well, in the first place, Blessed Children who have grown to a certain degree rarely appear.
[Father said the same thing. If I let them participate in the operation, I might have trouble dealing with them later.]
The Quordenze territory is vast, and there are a lot of undeveloped land, especially in the outer regions. Melgin also took this into consideration and made a proposal to me. However, for a Noble family, a Blessed Child is like a powerful drug. It is understandable that my father would be cautious.
[However, we are currently in an emergency situation. It was my judgment to allow the two of you to participate in the war. I am also thinking about what will happen after the war.]
It would be a good idea to give them a territory in the westernmost part of the foreign land, an area adjacent to the Imperial Noble territory. If it is known that there are two “Fighter Highlords” who cooperated with us in the Spierzeig invasion, it will serve as a deterrent. While asserting this, I will try to explain to my father that I am acting solely on my own. It’s not a bad idea for me.
In the past, the Quordenze family also supported the Blessed Children and cooperated in the founding of the Evenafis family, so there is a precedent. …I didn’t let them participate in the Quordenze war like I did this time.
For now, even if the worst happens, let’s do our best to save Oz’s life.
[Of course, I want you to do the bare minimum, but…]
So, I stared at the twins.
I couldn’t read anything from the tense expressions of the two of them, whether they were scared of the upcoming battle or just scared of me.
[I’ll attach Raylight as your assistant. Also, Melgin too.]
The twins will be the lower jaws of the snake’s jaw strategy. However, there is no way a complete amateur could command an army. It would be necessary to appoint a military officer from Quordenze as an adjutant, but that alone would make communication difficult.
Raylight and Melgin were indispensable. They have infiltrated Misty Village since last month and have been spending several weeks in the Field with the twins. I’d like to think that they had a certain level of trust in the fact that they were able to bring the twins before me.
[As long as you follow the instructions, there will be no problem. You may be faced with terrible things, but if you endure it, your future life will be guaranteed. You just have to endure it. I won’t tell you to go and kill the enemy.]
The twins are just decorations, and I have no intention of bringing them forward to fight. It is simply a flag that shows the enemy that “this army has Highlords”. I want the soldiers of Quordenze to wave that flag well.
[It doesn’t matter if you just stop the enemy.]
The reserve troops of Othelloria City have probably already started marching towards us. The role of the lower jaw is to attract it and buy time.
[I’m sure you’ve heard, but this operation is called Operation Snake’s Jaw. …Have the two of you ever seen a snake?]
Oz and Ado looked at each other once and then nodded in unison. This kind of movement indeed has that twin-like feel to it.
[A snake has strong fangs in its upper jaw, but only weak teeth in its lower jaw.]
Oz, who seemed to be imagining a snake in her head, nodded. Ado also showed an expression that says he understands.
[It can’t kill anything with the small teeth. They can only make sure the prey it bites doesn’t escape.]
It is my role as the strong fang to pierce the enemy.
And the twins will act as the weaker teeth. Their role will be to bite at Othelloria’s reserve forces so they wouldn’t be able to move.
[I am the upper jaw, and you are the lower jaw. Think carefully about your role and act accordingly.]
============
At noon on August 15th, the atmosphere in Spierzeig’s camp had completely changed since last night.
Currently, Magnis’s army and Kindlor’s army were both engaged on the siege. As a result, only a few senior military officers remained at the interim headquarters. Together with their subordinate military officers, they were desperately scrutinizing the information from the messengers that came in one after another.
[Wilk’s army has appeared near Torsa!! Approximately 3,000 soldiers!!]
Everyone looked bitter at the report from the messenger who rushed in. It was an urgent report, but in a sense it was one they had become accustomed to hearing.
Every time Wilk’s army approaches a city, a messenger comes to deliver the first news. Starting with a surprise attack on Dosellan City, they were heading towards Reisleif, passing through the northern cities of Balaika City and Fanes City one after another.
The Spierzeig army wasn’t just standing by and watching. They had sent messages to cities where Wilk’s army may appear to be on guard. The Torsa City was one of them.
[Torsa City? They’re getting pretty close.]
The military officers were able to accept the messenger’s words relatively calmly.
[It seems that Wilk’s army continues to advance through the night… As expected, the Othelloria reserve army will not be able to intercept in time.]
[It would be better to take the Second Army to the rear at the right time to prevent a pincer attack.]
They can’t afford to be attacked from behind while attacking Reisleaf Castle. They once again discuss the timing of sending the Kindlor army to intercept. It was necessary to come up with the best answer based on the invasion route and progress speed.
[Weldburg, Dosellan, Balaika, Fanes… and this time it’s Torsa. I still don’t know when Weldburg fell, but the attack on Dosellan started yesterday evening. Less than a day has passed. But, I didn’t expect him to break through this far.]
Due to the rapid advance of the army, there has been little progress in gathering information. The headquarters was busy responding to the ever-changing situation.
[But, why aren’t they heading straight for Reisleaf…?]
That was the big question.
It is clear from the light that the current northern part of the Voistra Plains is empty. If that’s the case, it would be better to ignore the cities located in the middle and head straight to Reisleaf and conduct a pincer attack. It would be a waste of time to destroy cities one by one.
[…Even if we break through, the fall will only be temporary.]
That’s what they thought.
Even if a small number of elite troops could break through the city, they would not be able to control it. If that is the case, it would be better to abandon it for now and implement swift military action. They couldn’t understand why Wilk’s army, which was so strong that it had to march all night, wouldn’t choose that option.
At that moment, a loud noise was heard from outside the headquarters. They were already used to the moment of confusion when a messenger arrived. While they were preparing to greet them, a military officer rushed in.
[Dosellan City has been felled by the Quordenze Army…!!]
That military officer belonged to the Dosellan Knight Army, and happened to be visiting another city when the Dosellan surprise attack by Wilk’s army began. When he returned to Dosellan City after completing his errands, the city had completely fallen.
Information that Dosellan City had already been attacked was received late last night. Since there had been no follow-up report since the first report, the senior military officer concludes that the information brought by this military officer has some value.
It was expected that the city would fall. What deviated greatly from expectations was the report that followed.
[The number of enemy soldiers is over 20,000!! It continues to increase!!!]
Those words made the Spierzeig camp shudder.
It was at this moment that they finally realized that the northern part of Voistra was in a completely different situation than they expected.
=============
It was a little difficult to capture Torsa City.
Apparently, a message had arrived in advance announcing the surprise attack. In order to intercept us, the city was in siege mode from the beginning.
However, no matter how hard Torsa City tried, it cannot overcome the reality of not having enough soldiers and the shortcomings of having a small number of Lord-class soldiers.
In the end, the battle was concluded without much difference from the time it took to defeat Dosellan City, Balaika City, and Fanes City.
[It’s already evening.]
We defeated Balaika City in the middle of the night, Fanes City in the morning, and Torsa City in the early afternoon, so three cities in one day today.
It was quite a forced march, and the soldiers were almost at their limit. I would like to take a long break in the next city.
[Is our lower jaw moving properly?]
I separated with Raylight and the others at Balaika City. The detached unit [Mandibles] is to slowly move south and meet the Othelloria reserve forces.
[We are working closely together, but we can’t know everything right away. I don’t think there has been a clash yet…]
From Torsa City, I could clearly see the vast Voistra Plains. Even though there was no way I could see the detached squad, I couldn’t help but look into the distance.
[…I want to leave before the sun sets.]
There’s no point in worrying about what’s behind you. I spun around and told my adjutant while looking at the setting sun.
[From here, we can aim for Meiziode City and Dornia City, but what should we do?]
If we crush Meiziode City, which is located north-northwest of Torsa City, we can aim for Reisleaf Castle next. On the other hand, if we pass through Dornia City located in the west-northwest, we will complete the crossing of the northern Voistra Plain.
[We await your orders.]
The adjutant’s voice was slightly bemused. Even though he already knew which one I was going to choose, he’s probably still required to ask the question.
I’ll follow your orders, so show me your determination here and now…that’s what it actually sounds like.
I made the decision after clearing the five premises. Prioritizing the overthrow of Spierzeig above all else. I feel sorry for the Quordenze soldiers who are continuing to fight to the death in Reisleaf Castle, but I would like them to buy a little more time.
I can’t go there yet.
[Let’s take down Dornia.]
============
On the night of August 15th, the residual heat of the summer day lingering on the land mixed with the cold wind. The dazzling ball of light was still shining on Reisleaf today as well.
The atmosphere in the temporary headquarters of the Spierzeig army was becoming more and more somber as time passed. Even now, new messengers rushed in, and the military officers faced each other grimly once again.
[Wilk’s army has broken through Torsa City and is starting to advance towards Dornia City.]
When the report was finished, everyone in the room turned pale.
[D, Dornia…?]
If they’re going to rescue Reisleaf, there’s no point in targeting Dornia City. In other words, the target of Wilk’s army was not Reisleaf.
It was extremely frightening for them. This is because they had made the mistake of deciding on a policy based on a misunderstanding of the enemy’s goals.
[If their goal is rescuing Reisleaf, they should’ve broken through Meiziode instead.]
That knight dared to say something that everyone understood. It was also a proposal to reconsider the situation they were in.
[There is also information that 20,000 Quordenze soldiers have invaded Dosellan City. It’s hard to believe it all of a sudden, but…]
They would like to re-investigate, but didn’t have enough time.
Wilk’s army acted too quickly. By the time information arrives, they have already taken new actions, so the situation is constantly being swayed. The time lag between determining what is true would be too long.
As a result, the headquarters was unable to take any effective measures and simply followed the originally decided policy.
As the military officers continued to debate, racking their brains, a new messenger burst into the headquarters. The messenger was a veteran soldier who was sent to investigate Weldburg City last night.
The messenger began giving the most necessary and most frightening report to the current headquarters.
[Report!! A large army has been sighted in the Arknoa Contaminated Area!! It’s the old Amelia public road!! Countless soldiers are invading from Quordenze territory!! Weldburg City is already under the control of Quordenze!!!]
The next moment, a tremendous roar echoed inside the room. One of the military officers banged on the wall as hard as he could.
[There are also a large number of Quordenze soldiers in Dosellan, Balaika, and Fanes!!]
The messenger continued his report despite the flying dust. It seemed they didn’t have time to check the situation in Torsa City, so there was no particular information about that.
[Are you saying that the purpose was not to break through, but to suppress them?]
This is a report from a messenger who returned after investigating under the direction of the headquarters. It had all the information they wanted so well that they almost hated it.
Thanks to this, the true purpose of Wilk’s army becomes clear. The military officers felt their skin tingle.
[The situation is extremely serious. If Dornia is broken through and suppressed, northern Voistra will be cut off…]
Everyone’s gaze turned to the map on the desk.
Weldburg, Dosellan, Balaika, Fanes, Torsa, Dornia… that line beautifully divided the northern part of Voistra.
There are other large cities in the northern region, but given that they are already infected with the poison of Quordenze soldiers, it was easy to imagine that they would rot over time. It’s bad… Everyone knew that, and their hearts sweat.
[At this rate, it will be impossible to maintain Reisleaf even if we take it back! It’s unbearable!!]
Reisleaf Castle was on the verge of falling due to the onslaught of Spierzeig’s army. However, once it’s retaken, it would become difficult to maintain at this rate.
If Wilk’s army were to attempt to recapture Reisleif Castle, they would begin a slow siege after taking control of the cities in the northern part of the Voistra Plain. However, Spierzeig’s army cannot be confined satisfactorily. This is because none other than them themselves have completely destroyed the defenses of Reisleaf Castle.
When Spierzeig’s army succeeded in recapturing Reisleaf, it would also be when the defense power of Reisleaf Castle was reduced to zero.
[This is a problem that goes beyond maintenance. If this happens, Reisleaf itself will no longer function.]
If the Arknoa Contaminated District becomes a road and the northern part of Voistra Plains is taken away, the northernmost Great Shield of Spierzeig territory will no longer have any meaning.
[You mean to nullify it instead of destroying it…!?]
It was a strategy not to physically destroy Reisleaf Castle, but to strategically nullify it.
[However, for someone with the blood of Quordenze to allow Reisleaf to be retaken by us…]
Conquering Reisleaf Castle is one of the Quordenze family’s earnest wishes. Its name carries more weight than its actual value. The reason why Galfis is still in siege is because of his will.
And the people at Spierzeig could understand that feeling. Reisleaf Castle is a place with such great meaning and value.
As a result, the next Head of the Quordenze family has adopted a strategy of destroying the value of Reisleaf itself, rather than desiring its existence. This fact revealed a distorted and eerie mentality. They found something terrifying there.
[Using Galfis as a decoy…unbelievable…]
Because Wilk’s army prioritized the control of the northern cities, many of the Quordenze soldiers defending Reisleaf Castle suffered many casualties. Galfis also continued to be exposed to brutal threats from the two Highlords. There should be concerns that his prognosis is poor.
However, Wilk’s army had swallowed their suffering and pressed on, and now they were about to swallow the northern part of the Voistra Plains.
[Recapture Weldburg immediately! We must protect the old Amelia public road!! Where is the Othelloria reserve army now!?]
The military officer in charge of coordinating with the reserve forces raised his hand and began to speak.
[The Othelloria reserve army has encountered a separate detachment of the Quordenze Army heading south of Balaika City. Since it was an Army with Highlord, there was a report that they would intercept it at an advantageous point…]
As the military officer spoke, he realized that this was a bad situation. In retrospect, it was a trap.
[Damn it!! The south movement is a fake!! The enemy forces are planning to buy time by having the Othelloria reserve unit take an interception stance!!]
The Othelloria reserve army was only going out for defense. It’s only natural that you’d want to pick up the enemy from a position where it’s easier to fight, rather than jumping into the enemy’s army yourself. After all, Voistra Plains is the garden of the Spierzeig family, so they have a geographical advantage.
[It’s the enemy who is trying to intercept the reserve force!! We’re screwed!!]
The senior military officer’s voice trembled. Just as the recapture of Reisleaf was approaching, it became clear that their own army was at an overwhelming disadvantage, so their reluctance was not something to be taken lightly.
[Call the messenger!! Tell the Othelloria reserve army to attack immediately!! Hurry up to recapture Weldburg!!! Do it no matter what!!]
Still, he mustered up his strength and gave instructions. There was no time to grieve.
[If this continues, the entire north will be swallowed up!!]
In their minds, the image of a large snake with its mouth wide open appeared.
===========
Dornia City is located just before the mountainous area to the west of Voistra.
Since they began attacking the city after sunset, they were unable to see the majestic scenery of the mountains.
In Dornia City, the shadow house’s Highlord was waiting. They were probably placed there to be used as a counter in the event that the Nobles affiliated with Spierzeig, who were based in the mountainous region, betrayed them and invaded the plains.
I think the Spierzeig army probably thought that I was aiming for Reisleaf Castle and marching into Meiziode City. Dornia City was more relaxed than Torsa City.
Thanks to that, we were able to surround the shadow house’s Highlord with the Quordenze army and easily crush them to death. If it is a Highlord without support, it is possible to defeat one-sidedly. Of course, it is assumed that there’s also a Highlord on this side.
However, it took some time to conquer it as we were dealing with a Highlord. In order to make sure that they were defeated safely, we had to chip through bit by bit.
In the end, it wasn’t until night fell that I was able to settle down in the city.
[Have you received any communication from Meiziode City?]
Even the Quordenze army, which has no Highlord, can at least surround the city. After all, there are fewer soldiers in the cities in the northern region.
For that reason, I gave instructions before heading to Dornia City. I told them to keep a proper siege around Meiziode City.
[Affirmative. A message has just arrived. Meiziode has fallen. Our army has begun to take control.]
That was a surprising report.
As expected, my advancing speed was too fast, so not many Quordenze soldiers were able to reach Meiziode City. I thought it’s already good to just manage to surround the city, but…
[Did they brute force it?]
I was planning to attack Meiziode City after Dornia City, so I don’t want them to overdo it. That’ll be wasting our troops needlessly.
[No, Young Master’s plan worked apparently.]
[Ah, are you talking about the rotten rope? I didn’t think it would be that useful, but this is good for us. Thanks to this, I think we can make it all the way to Reisleaf tomorrow.]
It looks like we will meet up with the Quordenze army in Meiziode City and head straight for Reisleaf. I count myself lucky that I don’t have to do a siege battle in Meiziode.
[How are the soldiers doing? Today… or rather, the battle has been going on since yesterday evening. Let them rest well until tomorrow’s departure.]
[Understood.]
I was able to defeat the five cities of Dosellan, Balaika, Fanes, Torsa, and Dornia all at once, albeit with a short break in between.
The greatest contributor to this series of city capture battles was probably the Nambonan soldiers. Even with the help of physical strengthening magic, you need mental strength to continue your activities. Their high morale helped keep the whole unit motivated.
[Young Master, please rest. Tomorrow is also a critical moment.]
[Tomorrow too…maybe. That’s a restless goodnight greeting.]
After a brief laugh, I wrapped myself in the blanket provided.
I thought I was too excited to sleep, but soon my consciousness faded away.
=============
At noon on August 16th, gray clouds piled up like a mountain, casting a dark shadow over the earth.
This sky, which looked like it was about to rain at any moment, seemed to express the state of mind of the Spierzeig army.
[Reisleaf. I guess we’re not making it in time…!]
Just a little more, just a little more, the fall of Reisleif Castle was already sweet for the taking. However, before they could take another step, Wilk’s army was rapidly approaching.
[Magnis, I’m going to intercept them. In the meantime, take Reisleaf…]
Reisleaf Castle, which repelled the invasion of the First Emperor of the Zinkaen Empire, was also a symbol of glory for Kindlor. No one else is as obsessed with reclaiming Reisleaf as him.
[I understand. I will trust you, father, to protect the rear.]
Magnis vowed to continue attacking Reisleaf. It wasn’t because he prioritized his father’s feelings, but because if he gave up on taking back Reisleaf at this point, it would be inevitable that the centripetal force would further decline.
Recapture Reisleaf Castle, make his achievements known to the Noble families under his control, and encourage them to participate in the war. At the same time, send the soldiers from the western and southern Voistra Plains north and block the road to Weldburg… It’s a tightrope walk, but if he can’t accomplish these things, not only Reisleaf, but the entire northern area will be taken away. In this big moment, Magnis faced reality without running away.
What was worrying was the Spierzeig’s Second Army and Kindlor that would be facing Wilk’s army.
[Don’t worry. No matter how strong the boy’s magic power is, I won’t go down so easily.]
Kindlor’s army had been facing Galfis’ army for a long time. If you consider only the number of soldiers, it can be said that the situation is more severe than facing Wilk’s army.
In addition to the number of soldiers gathered from the northern and eastern regions, Kindlor’s army is also well equipped with forbidden weapons and other equipment. It’s safe to say that it’s impossible to defeat it with a normal attack.
[Please be careful. Wilk Quordenze’s amount of magic power is extraordinary. And his thoughts are extremely foreign, making it impossible to predict what he will do… No, if you try to make predictions too easily, it could be fatal.]
Trying to read the opponent half-heartedly leads to mistakes. Magnis advised that people should calmly face the facts and deal with them appropriately.
Kindlor obediently accepted his son’s advice.
[You should be careful, too. Even if Galfis recovers now, our victory at Reisleaf must not be shaken. That’s why we have to be precise in our movements after taking it back.]
After that conversation, the two go their separate ways.
Spierzeig’s First Army began moving to Reisleaf Castle, while the Second Army moved to the southern part of the Reisleaf region.
Eventually, Kindlor discovered an enemy army encamped in the distance.
[Is that Wilk’s army?]
[Affirmative.]
Unlike the city attack, the Wilk army that appeared this time was not an elite group of 3,000 soldiers. The number of soldiers had now swelled to about 30,000.
The adjutant standing next to Kindlor quickly assesses the current situation based on the reports received in advance and the results of visual confirmation.
[There are less than 5,000 Quordenze soldiers. Most of them are our Spierzeig territorial militia. They must have been gathered from the north.]
The territorial militia of Kindlor’s army were surprised at the sudden appearance of a large army, but Spierzeig’s military officer had long come to the same conclusion as his adjutant.
Most of the regular soldiers in Wilk’s army looked poorly equipped. It was clear that they were needed to maintain the same number.
[Then, do you think we can buy some time for now?]
[Affirmative. The Sickles will be back soon. We should be able to launch a pincer attack from here.]
As soon as it became clear that the assassination would not be possible, the Sickle was given new instructions. The next mission was a pincer attack against Wilk’s army, which was approaching Reisleaf Castle.
[More importantly, we have to take Reisleaf Castle back into our hands…]
Thick clouds covered both armies.
It was soon after that that Wilk’s army made its move.
Wilk’s army invasion route :
