Chapter 25 (1/2)

Infiltrating the Empire ~End~

「The Tribes’ advancing route was predicted to be like this。 」

Shaomin lectured while pointing at the map with his stick.

Everyone nodded in consent.

「Invoke magic at the first signal of the whistling arrow。 At the second signal, move as we strategized。 」

「Roger」

All the present commanders there nodded altogether.

「Dismiss」

At Shaomin’s words, the commanders returned to their posts.

Shaomin and Gyukou surveyed the camp.

There, dry moat, earthen walls, and fences were built two days ago.

「They built these in two days huh、amazing indeed」

「I don’t know too much about how the Earth magic users used their magic。 」

Earth magic is quite necessary but it’s not a magic that is regarded that highly.

There’s an important rule about soil preparations for main roads maintenance, that is, with the ability to process earth mixed with excreta, things such as the army work as civil engineers and the town water treatment play a very active part, but when it comes to water treatment, a suitable person, doesn’t need to be on the level of a magician, can compensate for the work of several hundreds, if it’s solely for the sake of efficiency in civil engineering works, then it’s fine even if it’s done by hands. (TN: NOPE. Not even gonna try hard to edit that glob into fancy texts)

Earth magic users aren’t very highly favored.

That’s why Shaomin included 1000 Earth magic users under his command.

Magic users were said to make a living with just that, but in reality, it only applies for magic users other than Earth.

That’s why it’s easy to gather them.

Shaomin didn’t use this unit of 1000 Earth magic users to build a fortress on the field. He several times confined a great army with insufficient military force on his side

And several times when the opposite happen, he annihilated the enemies

His name is known as the Empire’s Defensive Warfare.

「Now then、the enemies came into view、prepare for battle」

「Prepare for battle」

With amplification magic, Gyukou’s voice resounded the camp.

As the Tribes approached, Shaomin’s army of 5000 spread around the camp to perform an ambush.

As the Tribe army saw Shaomin’s camp, countless tribes advanced forward and attacked.

Shaomin looked at the scene from a high ground.

「Their number is around 20,000 isn’t it、what a great scene to behold」

Shaomin’s army did not flinch even before the Tribes’ arrow attacks or charging attacks.

Reversely, they aimed at the horse-riders that stopped their legs at the fences or the moat.

Avoiding the fences, moat, and earthen walls, the Warriors and Fighters gathered in one place. Arrows and Fire magic were aimed at that choke point.

Those Fighters and Warriors that jumped over the fences, in their defenseless state, were aimed at by the people lying in ambush.

As time goes, the damage done to the tribes multiplied.

「Au tribe、this is different than anything up until now。 The opponent only have 4000、but we can’t break through that defense、the whole army has to plunge in for this」

Agu patriarch suggested to Au patriarch. (TN: Somebody slap this Agu guy, he’s been a b.i.t.c.h this whole time)

Certainly, in this situation, if they can’t handle the opponent’s severe damage directing at them, all their comrades will fall.

Au patriarch shut his eyes and nodded.

「Advance、squash the enemy」

At Au patriarch’s voice, loud voices of the standby tribes resounded as they all advanced.

Shaomin looked at the whole Tribes army advancing from a high place.

No matter how good his army is, 5000 against almost 100,000 is impossible.

「Gyukou、first arrow signal」

「Gotcha、Brother」

Gyukou shot a whistling arrow upwards.

A hyururururu sound resounded throughout the battle field.

At that moment, a huge hole opened up in the middle of the Tribes army’s frontline.

The Earth magic users dug that hole, they covered up the opening with magic for people and horses to pa.s.s by.

At the first whistling arrow signal, they cancelled the covering magic.

It was but a simple pitfall trap. However, its effectiveness was tremendous.

With their body weight, both people and horses sank, then from behind, the next group of people and horses fell into the hole.

Even if they saw the pit and stopped, the people behind them would push them into it one after another.

Even if they barely dodged the pitfall, spears and arrows would kill them.

A single pitfall made the whole army of the Tribes fall into disorder.

「Second arrow signal」

「Gotcha’」

As Gyukou fired the second whistling arrow, the Tribes army were encircled by the pitfall.

From there, Chau Empire’s soldiers popped out.

Utilizing the Earth magic users, soldiers hid themselves inside the ditches, then they used Wind magic to change the atmosphere of the battle and let the soldiers patiently waited.

Being suddenly ambushed, the Tribes army fell into even greater disorder.

An ambush that numbered the same to their own army abruptly appeared.

The ambush that just appeared wasn’t Shaomin’s personal troops, that’s why they’re weaker than the Tribes’ Fighters and warriors in normal combat, however, the Tribe men didn’t know about that fact.

That’s why they had an illusion of those that just popped out have the same number and same strength to themselves.

They already reached the peak of disorder. (TN: And according to Naoe Yamto, amidst the hard times, a Hiiro will appear……btw, I didn’t enjoy Miyako route)

The Tribes were defeated one by one.

s.h.i.+u and Agu patriarchs are already defeated by the enemy, the Tribes army collapsed.

「Retreat now、retreat！」

As Au patriarch shouted, the people around shouted and retreated.

The Tribes regained their vigor for the sake of surviving.

The direction of the road from which they had come was opened in the enemy’s half encirclement.

The whole Tribes army ran towards that direction.

The Fighters whose horses died also ran on their feet towards that direction.

The whole Tribes army only thought about saving their lives. However, that dream soon came to an end.

「Now then、please give out orders to pursuit。 」

At Shaomin’s words, flags flickered and drums echoed.

The tribal Warriors and Fighters who felt relieved because they escaped was pierced and cut from behind.

Not pursuing the enemies who ran. That’s Gra.s.sland Law, but that doesn’t apply for soldiers of the Empire.

When they realized that fact, it was already too late.