Vol 2 Chapter 14 (1/2)

Chapter 14

Chapter 2, Episode 14: The Battle begins

There stand ruins of a fort 21 sels (63 km) away from the location of Liz’s battle with the rebel army’s advance unit

It was an i fort until just the other day, but now lies destroyed by the Fourth Imperial Army’s attack

There, was Hiro He walks inside the fort while having the 「shi+ryu」wait at the entrance

「Your Highness I have been waiting for you」

A soldier appeared before him, struck his chest, then knelt

He is one of Margrave Grinda’s private soldiers

Hiro had Margrave Grinda send out a letter to have a unit of soldiers arrive here ahead of him This was the leader of that unit

「Is everything set?」

「Yes Everything has been prepared as you ordered This way please」

Hiro walks after the soldier who began to walk ahead of him Hiro spoke to the man’s back

「What about the other soldiers?」

「They are lying hidden in this fort」

The soldier stopped at the waiting area and opened a door

After a lo, he pointed his hand inward to urge Hiro in

In the waiting area were five soldiers in armor

All together, they rose from their seats and saluted

After pointing his hand to the the table

After looking down at a spread out map, he asked a question

「Whereabouts of the Fourth Imperial Army now?」

「I can’t accurately say until the scout returns, but they’re probably around this area It’s about a day’s distance from here」

「And the rebel army?」

「According to intel froo, they are here」

One of the soldiers placed a piece on top of the map of the Lichtein Dukedom

It is a location 32 sels (96 km) away from the current fort

「What about the Lichtein Dukedom’s activities?」

「They haven’tto focus on defense, but they’ve summoned soldiers fros on the castle walls increase with each passing day」

「Flags on the castle wall, is it…」

「Is there so you?」

「Yes, just a little」

Hiro grabs a piece from the table and places it on the map

That location steals the gaze of the soldiers, and the unit leader muttered…

「Fort Azba…」

「Did you investigate this place?」

「Not in detail…」

「Do you kno many soldiers are stationed here?」

「I believe around 2,000 It seems they did not reduce the nuic point which has influence in all directions」

「…」

Hiro silently glares at the map

He puts himself in the shoes of Lichtein’s officers and soldiers and hay in his head

(Draw them into an inescapable situation and cut off their supply lines for water and food provisions You don’t knohat the eneht do in such a situation In which case, either corner them into an appropriate fort and force them to starve to death with a protracted battle, or force them to disperse and crush them individually But the Lichtein Dukedos slowly)

And so their options are limited

(Without tih soldiers The activities of other countries is a concern, too Considering what may lie in the future, a short decisive bat

tle would be desirable If they’re able to force the Grantz Grand Empire to withdraw, other countries would hesitate to attack In which case, for that to be possible with limited forces, throw the Fourth Imperial Army at the rebel army and crush theht)

If it cain, and hoill the terrain look?

(Only Fort Azba’s has the optih to the capital to race there in case anything happens The flags on the castle walls of the capital are probably fake)

Hiro lifted his face

「Do you knoho the prominent leaders of the Lichtein Dukedom are?」

「Most of theainst the rebel army」

「So are you saying there aren’t any noteworthy leaders left?」

「No, there is just one There is one called Ranquil Caligula Jilberist」

「And his combat history?」

「His na that time, the Republic of Schteizen invaded the Lichtein Dukedoed to drive them aith less than 3,000 soldiers He ca that disadvantageous situation and achieving victory」

「So they shunned that talent of his and demoted him…」

「It is as you say It sees As a result, he apparently becai said that, it is an important location, so you can also say he was suitable for the position」

(Although he’s popular with the people and soldiers, he’s hated by the nobles)

There e of that It may be possible to make the Lichtein Dukedom fall

Hiro pounded all the information currently available into his head and looked at the unit leader

「Do you have parchment and a pen?」

「Here, please use these」

Ink, pen, and a bundle of parchment are placed in front of Hiro

Hiro dips the pen in the ink and moves it across the parchment

「Here are instructionsforward」

「Understood」

The unit leader confirmed the contents of the two pieces of parchments, wrapped it up, then handed them to a subordinate

「Will your Highness be joining with the Fourth Imperial Army now?」

Hiro strokes his eyepatch and thinks

If he rode the 「shi+ryu」 and headed in their direction now, he could probably reach Liz by tomorrow afternoon

The strategyforward is written on the parchments It won’t be a problem if he’s not here

「Yes, I’ll be departing immediately Can I leave the rest to you?」

「Please rest assured I will execute your orders without fail」

「Then I’ll trust the rest to you」

「Yes Please give hness Celia Estreya」

The soldiers see Hiro off as he goes outside

Hiro squinted at the dazzling sunlight and walked towards the 「shi+ryu」

Iust 4

Under a blazing sun, a slave liberation arainst the Fourth Imperial Army

The slave liberation army is in a spear formation

The vanguard is composed of slave infantryuard are composed of ca the tip of a spear

The army’s second-in-command, Gahda Obunano, was in the second battalion

Gahda turned around and stared at headquarters

He, a man who fears not even death, had a weakness, and it was there

A young girl who had become their leader was in headquarters

「What’s wrong, boss?」

「… I wasn’t able to persuade Milieu」

「Don’t worry If push coave out orders for the men to escape with the miss, even if they have to carry her」

「If possible, I wanted her to return to her hometown」

「Thewilled There’s no way she would just nod her head yes if we told her to escape」

「… If it looks like we’re about to be surrounded, take Milieu and escape immediately」

「Huh? Boss, I’onna stay with you until—」

「You can’t You go back to headquarters and protect Milieu If the situation gets dangerous, take Milieu and break away from the battlefield After you do, take her back to her home for me」

It’s not that he’s planning to lose, but you never knohat ht happen on a battlefield

He can’t bring hi life to disappear here

To maintain a sense of mystique, her face is kept hidden, and only those who are close to her knoho she is

So even if she were returned to her home, no one would be able to pursue her

「Understand? Do me this favor」

Gahda tightly grips his subordinate’s shoulders and looks at him sternly

「All right… May fortune be with you」

「You too」

The subordinate returned to headquarters, and Gahda looked out ahead

The Fourth Is formation, and he can see that both flanks come back around like bows

He would like to crush the tips of the flanks, but all he has are untrained slaves

But even if they are ah the center

They’ll take the commander’s head, disturb the chain of command, and annihilate them

「… Even if we kill him, the Sixth Imperial Princess is a problem」

He didn’t see any shortcoht yesterday

If she’s able to fight to that point against Gahda, she’s likely competent as a military leader as well

Even if they’re able to defeat the co officer, he’s not sure ould happen if she were to take command…

After shaking his head to dispel his anxiety, he let out a voice loud enough for the entire army to hear

「Now, let the drums roar out! Let the enemy hear your war cry and shake in fear! Advance forward! It is ti!」

He raises 「Beben Slave」 with one hand A battle cry rises up from the mercenaries and slaves

「Follow meeee!」

『『『Ooohhhh!』』』

Although they were not all in step, the entire army commenced their assault on the center of the Fourth Imperial Army

Ready to s formation

Behind the vanguard unit of 500, are 2,000 units on the right flank, and 2,000 on the left flank They have the crucial role of surrounding their enemy

In the center was headquarters with 1,000 units, and in front of them was the second battalion with 2,000 units To the sides of headquarters were the third and fourth battalions, each with 500 units The re 1,500 are reserves

In headquarters, General Kielo sneered

「… So they can’t think of anything except plunging forward, can they? Well, that is a for a rebel army」

「I’m sure the enemy will continue as they are and head for our center Would you like us tothem as planned?」

One of the staff officers asked, to which General Kielo nodded satisfied

「There will be no changes Just surround the enemy slowly and annihilate them」

General Kielo, atching the approaching cloud of dust, raised his hand

「Give the starving slaves some arrows to eat」

「Yes!」

The staff officer waved his arnaled to the standard bearer

A large flag rises up fro out

At these signals, the archery unit of the second battalion let loose their arrohich rained down on the enemies

The enein to fall, but their momentum does not stop

Arrows co back in response

Shots while in nificant attack with their shi+elds

「Ohh… they counterattacked It seems even slaves have what they called mettle」

「Our right flank has raised their flag It see siun to move」

「… But I haven’t given out any instructions」

「The rebel arhness likely decided that it was better to act before it was too late That’s impressive coordi—」

The staff officer was about to praise her, but he shut hisfrom General Kielo

「For her to disregard the co officer and make a decision of her own accord… I would have had her head were she not of the Imperial family」

The right and left flanks began to open their wings If things continue to go s the enemy

General Kielo glared at Liz’s coat of arms unamused

Completely unaware of General Kielo’s discomfort, Liz was currently near headquarters with Tris

There were a number of reasons for this

First of all, although she reported to General Kielo about the zorosta, she was brushed aside and told that it wasn’t a problem

Knoell the strength of the zorosta, Liz aiting on the right end so she could race to the second battalion in case the eneh

「With 「Laevateinn」 in my possession, I’m the only one who can face that man」

「But, if so were to happen to you, Princess…」

Riding alongside her, Tris tried to give his honest opinion, but Liz shook her head

「But I have to do it If General Kielo happens to be defeated, the rebel arain momentum」

「That is true, but—」

Before Tris is able to finish his sentence, the rebel aruard collided with the second battalion

Angry voices shake their eardru weapons

With just a single clash, somewhere between dozens and hundreds of men left this world

Stepping over their corpses, the slave infantry towards the heavy infantrymen

Froe cloud of dust rising up

「It’s begun Tris!」

「Yes!」

「We’ll drive into their flank and separate them! Make everyone pick up the pace!」

「Understood!」

Right when Liz tried to drive into the flank, a new developan to unfold in the center

The slave infantrymen are no match for the Fourth Imperial Army with their shabby equipment

They’re slaughtered one after another by the swords of the far better trained soldiers But still, they were obstinate

They don’t want to go back to being slaves Their drive allows theh and open up the center of the second battalion

At this rate, the ca in

「Don’t let these lowly slaves get the better of you!」

The man who shouted out was the commander of the second battalion of the Fourth Imperial Army