Chapter 15 - Volume 2 (1/2)
The Northern Guardian, Margrave of Rosenburg, Georg von Rosenburg
Empire Calendar: Year 1505, Month 9, Day 15
Dantalian’s Demon Lord Castle vicinity
“It appears the enemy has no outposts ahead, your lordshi+p”
“M to the infor impressive about this De the report from my subordinate
Currently,wereslowly The destination was De sh, and everyone’s steps were light
It was an abrupt dispatch, but they were all corateful A force of 1,500 soldiers were all obediently following orders fro any co as this for a person of great stature
“Your lordshi+p Do you think it’s true? The rumor that there’s an endless supply of black herbs piled up in Demon Lord Dantalian’s castle……?”
“It doesn’tis the fact that that kind of ruhout our land”
The decisive reason for our dispatch was because of the Black Death
This terrifying plague had instantly established itself as a night over all the people of the land The friends and family that were fine yesterday would end up as cold corpses after a single night It was terror itself
Unfortunately, the people of le month of the outbreak, 2,000 of my citizens had died
Everyone treardless of one’s social status According to a report froe had all perished He had initially gone there to collect taxes, but ended up burying corpses instead It was a disturbing story……
“Insecurity and fear are at its peak for my subjects If ere to stay still and take no action, then the public sentiment will be disturbed If that were to happen, then there is the possibility that a revolt may occur as a result”
“A revolt……”
My adjutant’s face stiffened
He must have been surprised that I, the lord, would mention the possibility of a rebellion My adjutantWould he relax if I so, this is merely a hypothesis Think about it yourself, ouldwhile their close friends and colleagues were dying? It would be difficult for my subjects to tolerate that”
“But that’s irrational…… Is the Black Death not divine punish within your lordshi+p’s capability to handle”
“Be it divine punish else, it is the lord’s duty to look after his subjects If a lord were to run away fro that awaits him or her is ruin”
“Your lordshi+p”
My adjutant looked atatobvious?This is quite troubling that youngsters these days are so easily otten so old that I’ The only things which increase through age are wrinkles and thigh fat It would be nice to quickly go into a battlefield and die an honorable death……
If I were to voice a complaint, then it would be the fact that there has been no war that felt like an actual war in these past few years So like a massive as even more improbable due to the outbreak of the Black Death
Thus, I had a substantial chance of dying, not on the rough grounds of a battlefield, but on top of a comfortable bed instead In other words, a shameful death for a warrior I wouldn’t have the honor to face my ancestors in the afterlife……
“At the very least, the citizensaround Whether there are black herbs in the de the our ut is what’s important”
“I understand That’s what politics are, huh……”
“M that we should be thankful for is that the main character of the rumor is Dantalian It’s a relief that it’s the rank 71st Demon Lord”
“A relief?”
That was so
Suppose the ru a monopoly over the black herb was the rank 8th Barbatos It would be irave forces alone to assault Barbatos Making use of the rumor politically would be impossible
On the other hand, rank 71st Dantalian was a rookie
He was on the level of an individual that you’d often forget about
“We can bend Dantalian’s neck whenever we so desire Honestly, it’s a waste to even call hito the inforathered, Dantalian doesn’t have a proper base and resides in a cave He doesn’t even have a single outpost as a ra De a child’s wrist
Thus, it was fortunate
“We’re able to dispatch our troops because our target is Dantalian If it was Barbatos, then ouldn’t have been able to move an inch We would have had to sit and wait patiently until my subjects start to riot It is fortunate that the source of the rumor is Dantalian……”
My adjutantto your lordshi+p’s words, I understand that the Goddess of Fortune is indeed looking over your lordshi+p”
“Mm? Is that so?”
“Yes Aren’t the other domains so far away that it would be difficult to dispatch our troops even if anted to? But your lordshi+p’s territory is comparatively closer to Dantalian’s De the eiven this opportunity!”
“That is luck You can only rely on this sort of luck a few times in your entire life”
But I see My adjutant has a point Should I allow hted that the Goddess presentedout my voice from my chest, I ordered
“Soldiers, advance! There are only two days left until we arrive at Dantalian’s stronghold We shall obtain our spoils of war there!”
“Yes, your lordshi+p!”
The co officers dispersed and spurred on the rest of the soldiers
“Move quickly Break time is over Lift your dirty rears and an to htly We had htly equipped troops on purpose in order to end this battle as quickly as possible It would also be difficult to transport provisions if we did not do this, so it was an obvious tactic
I gazed up at the sky and muttered
“The weather is nice”
The sun was hidden behind clouds The as refreshi+ng It was the appropriate weather for o into battle in two days Let us quickly sweep Dantalian’s castle and put my land at ease
Ο
Ο
Ο
▯Weakest Demon Lord, Rank 71st, Dantalian
Empire Calendar: Year 1505, Month 9, Day 15
Dantalian’s Demon Lord Castle vicinity
The witches reported that an unknown arth, approximately 1,000 soldiers An ar to the witches’ assu rate, they were going to arrive soon
“Did we discover them a bit too slowly……?”
I muttered dejectedly
We had spotted them late The reason was simple It was because we had no idea which location the invaders were going to advance fro to appear around this time, however, it didn’t tell us exactly who the invaders were and where they were going to attack from
The result was this unpleasant situation We had allowed the eneht at our noses It felt like I had become as blind as a bat Fortunately, we at least had the witches doing reconnaissance from the sky, but if we didn’t have the witches then how late would we have found them……?
Game and reality were different In a real-life war, there wasn’t so like a mapthat would kindly display, ‘the ene froo through the cu for the attackers myself It was the worst possible condition for a shut-in Was there no le hit like in the ga? I see
I wanted to kill ht with Lazuli, I’ve been in a constant despondentin the world was tireso my life? For someone who had already realized that their life was utter shi+t since the age of 6, as I still alive Am I a masochist?
……Yes, I knew the truth Because ofas I could achievechildren and elderly people I did not feel a single bit of re another person’s life into a puppet andtheant fools then shoving them into a ditch was the fruit of my life What was I supposed to do? When I was born, I was born like this
Regardless, I did try to escape iven up on the inheritance and shut myself away But for some reason, I fell back into a world that followed the law of the jungle My life was in that shape and it had coh came out on its own
It was already difficult to live life diligently, but for it to also be difficult to live life lazily? This was indeedfor a life that was utter crap Everyone should just eat shi+t
Laura De Farnese spoke
“Lord, your complexion is unwell Are you okay?”
The two of us were currently having a strategyShe was probably concerned since I had abruptly let out a sigh in theI looked at Miss Farnese with hollowed eyes
“Farnese When life feels like shi+t, what do you do?”
“M about? Life has always been shi+t Has your lordshi+p, perhaps, ever felt like your life was so besides crap?”
Miss Farnese blinked at me and I raised my shoulders
“Well…… not as of yet”
“See Your lordshi+p sure says useless things Referentially, this young lady thinks on an average of 2 ti to kill herself Suicidal i lady’s life”
“I’e of 15 times a day, perhaps”
“I knew it Is that not similar to that of a nors, lord We’re already fated to swi will change even if your lordshi+p worries”
“Mmm”
I nodded slowly
She was definitely right Without a doubt, I too aressive for from relapses of depression all of a sudden? I didn’t knohat the issue was Where did the problem start……?
“…… Myas it has co the enemy Let us quickly annihilate every last one of the lady doesn’t have any objections to that suggestion…… Lord? Acting on es only cause people to descend to 2nd rates”
“I know that much as well But what am I to do when I’m unable to improve my mood no er by watching the faces of others in pain”
I grumbled
Miss Farnese nodded her head reluctantly
“Well This young lady only follows your lordshi+p’s orders However, if your lordshi+p truly feels that displeased, then why not command the army yourself? Your lordshi+p’s frustration may dissipate further if you were to watch those humans fall by your lordshi+p’s own orders”
“It’s fine The goal of this battle is to awaken your potential It would be of no use if we put the cart before the horse here”
“Your lordshi+p is rather stubborn in peculiar places”
Laura De Farnese shook her head
“This young lady shall warn your lordshi+p for the final tiet all of the troops, that your lordshi+p had hired, annihilated This young lady is unsure, but there’s the possibility of defeat even if the enemy has 1,000 soldiers while we have 3,000 Is your lordshi+p still okay with leaving the co”
I pressed down on the top of Miss Farnese’s head
It was a weak spot of hers which I discovered during our tiether, for the past couple of days
Miss Farnese swung her arms and squirmed
“Ah—, ah— Lord, not the crown I don’t like it there”
“Listen carefully It doesn’tthis world is overfloith are soldiers, anyway If they die then hire new ones, and if they run out then raise ”
“Ah— hoah, the crown is not alloowed……”
Miss Farnese melted down to a pulp She had a perplexed expression on her face as she turned into jelly For someone asn’t ticklish at all, she was a lady with a weird weak spot
“However, you’re an individual that is impossible to replace A personnel that cannot be old I pour in Let me ask you here Do I see individual, who could carry out the task of 500,000 people in the future, just because I felt like losing 3,000 soldiers would be a waste?”
“Because this young lady lacks military experience……”
“da you the permission to talk back Just obediently be pressed by me”
“Aak—, aak—, aak— That’s why the crown is cowardly……”
Hoo
Seeing Miss Farnese shrink down like this, a bit of my stress disappeared Indeed I was a healthy sadist An exemplary individual
Good I was able to moderately return back to my normal state The usual et about Lapis Lazuli for now Immediately deal with these bandits, these half-wit fools, who didn’t know their place and were invading my territory on their own volition Teach these fools what true etiquette is
“De Farnese Think of this place not as a battlefield, but as a playground A small amount of 3,000 toys has been placed before you to play with at your own desire”
“Hooah…… Toys, is it?”
“That is so Treat the lives of these soldiers cheaply Or simply consider them assome toys?”
On a normal occasion, I wouldn’t talk this frankly
However, Laura De Farnese and I were similar We were part of a set of people ere unexceptionably selfish Li it to at least her, I had no inclination to watch ht the sa lady shall carry out your lordshi+p’s order andplay a bout of soldiers”
Miss Farnese nodded her head
“This young lady shall uard first”
She moved the clay doll that was placed on the ure doith a ‘thud’
—The battle commenced
Ο
Ο
Ο
▯The Northern Guardian, Margrave of Rosenburg, Georg von Rosenburg
Empire Calendar: Year 1505, Month 9, Day 16
Dantalian’s Demon Lord Castle vicinity
“Your lordshi+p The reconnaissance unit has returned”
“The battle is going to start soon Call eneral, not lord”
I sternly correctedan excellent noble was difficult In a standard occasion, you had to be i care of doency situations, you had to take charge as the suprenanimous and leniency had to coexist with callousness
Therefore, one’s title was iy in words People could change freely depending on the name that was placed on then of the duchy of Rosenburg, but the commander of an arrave, but a eneral It was fine to call this the obstinacy of an old man It was my creed that if one’s na else will collapse
“Yes My apologies, general I shall correct my mistakes from now on”
“Good Give me the report from the reconnaissance team”
“They reported that a unit of what is assu the path up ahead”
“What’s that?”
I openedme that Demon Lord Dantalian has troops under his command?”
“Yes However, it is not certain”
Not certain? That wasn’t a pleasant phrase to hear Vagueness was a foe of the military One must speak with confidence
“There were banners spotted at the enemy’s campsite, but the scouts reported that their affiliation was unknown It seems to be a unit mainly composed of dwarves”
“A unit of dwarves from an unknown affiliation, is it……? The nueneral According to the report, at the very most, there are between 100 to 200 soldiers”
“I will confirm this with my own eyes”
With the mounted troops in tow, I made my way to the front of the army Shortly after, I could see the enemy campsite stationed at the top of the hilly area I narrowed my eyes and examined their ca their job properly The enemy numbers do not reach 200”
“That’s what I think as well Should we send ato?”
I shookDantalian, there are no other Deion”
“But in the small chance that it’s a completely unrelated unit……”
“I’m thankful for the advice, but I will have to turn it down This unit appeared to block our path on the exact day our forces were advancing There are no coincidences here”
Once I responded to hi and backed off
Anyway, my mind felt uneasy
For the opposition to be stationed in that location meant that they knew of our invasion beforehand Where could the information have leaked from……
No, it wasn’t too late to research this later on Carelessness et rid of the enemy forces before us
“Adjutant, convey my command! Mobilize the cavalry and assault the enemy forces on both sides Infantryer! Cavalry company, rush their flanks!”
My adjutant repeated my order in a loud voice As soon as the colers blew their horns A high and valiant sound This was the horn unique to the northern region of Habsburg I loved this echo in battlefields
My adjutant muttered
“The eneht beco sys were nothingon a battlefield
I admonished him
“But we too, have our own circuh I feel sorry for Dantalian, there’s no other choice but for us to force hioat”
“Of course”
Hm Was it unnecessary concern?
Ο
10the horn
My adjutant spoke with a troubled expression on his face
“……General The ene?”
“Mmm”
My face wasn’t much different from my adjutant Honestly, I was confused
Currently, our light cavalry were firing fro bolts down at the ene e an inch What was going on?
“Maybe they have some other plot in mind……?”
“Their intentions are unknown”
I creased my brows
“If they keep that up then only their casualty will increase”
“There’s noless injuries than we think they are?”
“No There’s a very s so”
Of course, the range and power of crossbows used by cavalries eaker than the ones used by infantry the s to shoot a powerful bolt was still the sahtly It’s certainly supposed to be that way, but……
“General, there’s the chance of an ambush”
“On this vast open hill? There are no forests nearby If they were to hide their troops, then where would they possibly hide them?”
“……”
My adjutant shut his ht expression on his face was apparent
I didn’t feel the need to reproach him My adjutantlike an ambush It was just that he couldn’t understand the behavior of the ene his ‘Perhaps?’
“That, well, they seem to be an elite unit They’ve been under fire for the past 10 ns of roup of soldiers”
“…… That only brings up further questions”
“…… That is true”
The ene a one-sided shower of arrows and yet they stayed adamant
Their troops were less than 200 No matter how many crossbows they had, it most definitely wouldn’t be over 100
On the other hand, we had 400 sentries 400 soldiers that would fire in turn, allowing an endless stream of bolts to be shot They weren’t even worthy as an opponent A fight between an adult and a child would probably be orous than this
Despite that, their infantry continued to h, as if their co deal Their courage was abnormal
“Normally, we’d compliment them for their impressive military discipline……”
“……Is this not sad? What makes these men any different from a meat shi+eld?”
“Yes This is truly pitiful”
My adjutant raised his voice in agreement
We watched the battlefield in silence for a while
Finally, after 20 er any longer
“I aht red
He wasat the unknown enemy commander’s inco?! Their soldiers are dying Retaliate, turn the tides of the battle, do so! At the very least they should surrender……!”
In the end
Around the 30 an, the enemy forces were finally defeated
Unable to withstand the injuries any longer, their ranks fell apart The sturdy wall had collapsed
“…… Give the order to charge”
“…… Yes, general”
Both the general giving the order and the adjutant receiving the order orn out But, the only ones sed up by this somber mood was us two Our troops were obviously enthusiastic by the easy victory
Buuuuuu—</e the signal, our troops unsheathed their blades and boldly rushed forwards towards the enemy’s broken ranks
It ended with that
Unable to withstand our charge, the enemy soldiers quickly collapsed The dwarves ran away left and right Because of the much too obvious sequence, and the th in ive the order to pursue?”
“Do it…… I truly can’t understand any of this”
The enemy soldiers, unable to have run far, were swept away by our forces Disturbing screahout the hills My adjutant narrowed his eyes It was a gruesome scene……
“What was that battle just now?”
“I’d like to ask that as much as you do”
There were many mysteries in the world
Ο
Ο
Ο
▯Weakest Demon Lord, Rank 71st, Dantalian
Empire Calendar: Year 1505, Month 9, Day 16
Dantalian’s Demon Lord Castle vicinity
“—I see I’ve come to a realization”
Laura De Farnese’s eyes sparkled
“Infantryh to beat cavalries!”
“Why are you realizing so that’s obvious!?”
I shouted with all er, I firmly pressed down on the crown of this lady’s head
“Ah—, ah— I dislike it, lord I dislike it there”
“What was that battle just now? Was it not completely lackluster!?”
“Hoah— That’s why this young lady requested for your lordshi+p to not leave the co lady……”
Miss Farnese spread out like a rice cake under my arm
Even if a person had absolutely no experience in war, that battle just noas terrible There was no end to how horrible it was We had lost a co been able to do anything in return
“You disgrace I retract ory of people You aren’t likemore than my personal stress ball”
“What’s the difference between that and a sex slave, lord……?”
“At the very least, sex slave are able to resolve their sexual desires, but you are unable to resolve anything That’s the tre lady abruptly becairl lower than a sex slave……”
Miss Farnese became sullen
In that last battle, the a did not even reach 20 That meant that 9/10 of the total troops we had sent out had died
With Miss Farnese, I had to watch that miserably lackluster scene fro on one of the witch’s broo forced to watch a B-rated movie
“Mm But this is entirely your lordshi+p’s responsibility”
“Say that again?”
“Since this young lady has only read art of war manuals, it is obvious that this lady would be unfamiliar to real battle In one of the art of warlady had read, it ritten that infantry were enough to oppose light cavalry So there was no other choice but for this young lady to verify which books were correct”
She was rather shameless for a person who had executed the worst battle in history
I glanced at Miss Farnese with sullen eyes
“So? Your true intention?”
“—Since it felt like I’d loselady threw out 150 people as disposables to die”
“I shall knead that loser mentality of yours”
kneaded, looord— Hoah This young lady is being kneaded……”
“Try with a bit more enthusiasm Do you understand? Victory is a ers Victory stays distant from fools that quietly stay huddled in a corner”
“The bravest of challengers, is it……?”
Miss Farnese gazed up at aze with my own
“That is so Boldly act recklessly”
“Recklessly……”
“So daring that itis truly okay”
“Daring……”
I wonder if ot across to her
Laura De Farnese went into deep thought for aher head It was a small movement, but there was a certain resolution within it Since it was I, as gifted in reading people’s psychology, that was saying this, it was certain
“Understood It is surely as your lordshi+p has said This young ladylady’s first ti lady may have been cautious”
“Mm”
“In truth, the first tie they have Even if a child were to fall down, there is no person ould blareatest genius in the world, this young lady is still a ards to military affairs There is no reason to take care of this lady’s pride here”