Chapter 65 (1/2)

The Siege

The three thousand cavalry lead by Ria were mostly Manesh Kingdom’s cavalry that tasted victory in that battle.

Accompanying their journey, Ria made use of the two precious dragoons lent to her by Casalia.

They could attack from above in battles or use their famous charging capability that was even stronger than cavalry’s, but Ria decided to use them specifically for reconnaissance.

“You aren’t considering us as war potential?”

“Although flying dragons certainly are strong, they are powerless before the might of an army. It’d be different if we could integrate many of them into our army like Casalia though.”

Those who accompanied her on this march were Carla, Fio, and Serge, with everyone else house-sitting.

s.h.i.+zuna, who was not well versed in the operation of cavalry, was also house-sitting. To be accurate, she was scheduled to go along with the large army that would cut off Cordova’s retreat.

The only exception was Serge, he was once again drafted as the essential supplies transporter for the siege. He was currently on Rudolph’s back.

“Well, if we don’t fight, that’s also fine.”

The strategy was simple. Force Cordova’s troops to stay in Salf, break apart their supply lines with beastkin troops.

Manesh and Casalia’s combined armies would make Cordova’s only choice be to give up the capture and return home.

Then the troops that departed from Salf would attack Cordova’s armies from behind, forming a pincer attack.

“Will it go that well?”

The night before they arrived at Salf, the four top executives gathered in a tent.

Even though Carla had seen Ria break Cordova’s forces with her magnificent ability, she was uneasy.

This was Fio’s first time on a campaign, her lips were pale from the stress.

“Well, it probably won’t go that well.”

Ria said so plainly.

“The first problem is whether or not Salf can endure Cordova’s troops.”

Ria gave the uneasy elements one-by-one.

“Cutting off the enemy’s supply lines as well, they might be vigilant for it this time. It’s doubtful whether or not we can catch the enemy’s army with good timing with our forces. And whether or not we can win, that relies on if everything goes smoothly…”

“Our military forces number sixty thousand people with just our current army, more should come out from Salf, but…”

For Fio that had received military training as a knight, she thought they could win if they succeeded holding again the seige. Because the enemy numbered thirty-six thousand, they had almost twice their number.

“Cordova usually wins against countries that have even two or three times their number though…”

Even in their recent battle, their infantry persevered greatly. Their cavalry had also withdrawn from the battlefield splendidly.

If it weren’t for the ogres’ charge, even though they wouldn’t have lost, they probably wouldn’t have gained a complete victory either.

“Well, we have various secret weapons, so let’s go playing it by ear.”

Saying that, Ria closed the strategy meeting.

Seeing the town of Sia, Ria thought it was crude.

Enclosed by a mote and rampart, it was a typical fortress city. However, the moat was narrow and the walls were low. It wasn’t a defense made with being attacked by armed forces taken into consideration.

“We welcome your majesty’s arrival.”

When the mayor went up out to greet Ria, she decided to immediately set out to inspect the city’s defenses.

“The moat’s shallow.”

“We haven’t been attacked by enemy forces for years…”

“The walls are low, too.”

“This is also for the same reason…”

Though she wasn’t particularly laying the blame on him, the mayor’s voice quickly became small.

“How many soldiers are there?”

“Three thousand between mercenaries and guards, five thousand volunteers.”

Although that couldn’t be considered a small number, the volunteers held children, those that couldn’t move well due to injury, and unsteady old men.

“Carla, heal the sick and injured. Fio, select those that can’t fight for logistical support.”

The volunteers that they could use were, at most, half of them.

“What about weapons and defensive equipment?”

“We are preparing them still now… all of our blacksmiths are working in full force.”

They probably wouldn’t finish in time. Although than mercenaries and the guards that already had weapons, Ria would still have to make enough for the volunteer soldiers.

When she looked at their current armory, many of the items were lacking maintenance and many of the weapons were unable to be used.

“Are there any logs?”

“… Logs?”

“Logs. Along with dropping them on enemies that try to scale the walls, they can be used to strengthen the walls.”

“I do not know. I’ll search.”

Ria’s genesis magic could not make wood. At worst, even though she could make huge sticks of metal, it would consume a ma.s.sive amount of magical power.

There weren’t enough arrows either. Ria would have to make those as well.

“You seem to be pulling water from the river to the east huh. Are you concerned about the river’s flow being stopped?”

“We’ve heard stories about Cordova’s military engineering force, but it should be impossible with a mere ten or twenty days. We have a well, too.”

“And your food storage?”

“About ten days’ worth if we ration it. We are continuing to gather more even now.”

(I see. That’s plenty.)

“First, dredge the moat. They could currently pa.s.s through it easily.”

Even while saying this, Ria made the moat deeper with her magic.

When carrying the soil drawn up onto the walls, the walls would be strengthened by using hardening magic.

Carla saw to healing the injured, there were many soldiers that said they could fight if their old wounds were healed as well. Although it would take an extra among of magical power to make old wounds look natural once again, it was even so a good thing that they could get more experienced fighters to join them.

Night by night, Ria would busily create armor and weapons.

First, she created enough spears for the people. Then, she needed to make arrows. Same with armor, they were all the same type but she made them strong.

“What kind of weapons are used in castle sieges fought in this world?”

Serge asked while storing the produced weapons and armor. Incidentally, Carla was already asleep to restore her magical power and Fio was busy at work a.s.signing staff members.,

“I think it’d be generally the same as our previous world, but… maybe they use catapults a lot? With this town’s walls, long ladders might be effective.”

“Well, there is magic.”

“Yeah. However, even if you can prevent magic with magic, science cannot be prevented by magic.

That is, surprise was also a weapon.

“But that oil… It has more uses than I thought at first huh, that genesis magic.”

“That cyclops would be an easy win now.”

Their enemy that should have arrived after three days finally arrived four days later.

Moreover, their siege weapons that should have been prepared practically couldn’t be seen at all.

She knew since she had received a report about it from Pineau, but it seemed that they went to conduct arson on the Cordovan army’s weapons. It was news she was thankful for.

The Cordovan army cordially made their encampment, starting to enter battle formation from there.

Although Salf had gates in the south, north, and west, it seemed the majority of their efforts would be on attacking the west gate.

Ria had set herself up there. For the enemies to the south and north, she chose experienced people from the mercenaries and volunteers to be commanders.

Although there was a cavalryman sent to the front of the gate to recommend their surrender, he was sent back running by stones tossed at him before he could finish conveying it all. It was a small mercy that they didn’t use arrows on him.

Then, the battle began.

The Cordovan infantrymen help up their s.h.i.+elds, rus.h.i.+ng into the moat. They then began to throw sandbags into it.