Vol 9 Chapter 154 (1/2)
Sevens: Sacred Knight
Sacred Knight
Inside the fort
In a place that looked to be a conference room, I moved pieces on a map in accordance to the recon I had done with May
The ia the map
Creit-san cried out
“T-three thousand!? N-no, we have sos Around three hundred capable of battle Then with that number…”
WeWhen as about to say that, he put his hand to his ht
I looked at the top of the map
(The three thousand soldiers are elites dispatched froh weapons to siege Isn’t that a bit of a treasure?)
I looked to Thel of three thousand, she had crossed her aresture that looked as if she were praying
“Thelma-san, would three thousand be a majority of Zayin’s forces? Ah, by forces, I mean the forces they keep in the capital”
Thelma-san spoke to me
“I can’t speak in precise nueneration, there was an extreme decline in war, so there was an increase in population If they recruited from the area, I believe they would be able to maintain four thousand”
Gastone-san
“If you include the squadrons from across the land, it would be ten and five thousand They can’t pull much of that from the border”
He seemed to think ouldn’t be able to accomplish our role, so I shook my head
“That’s enough Are the capital’s unit of higher quality than the provincial ones?”
The sensory input I got from May, and my Skill 【Real Spec】 showed numeric values that indicated our foe surpassed us in terms of equipment
Thelma-san to me
“They’re better trained, and the quality of their equiph In my time, I had maintained them at one thousand”
Military h Even if that number was recruited fro and equipment…
(Even if we’re to fight a defensive battle from the fort, it isn’t an unwinnable battle)
When I thought that, a sarcastic voice came from the Jewel It was the Third
『How could this be! The ene three thousand elites!』
The Fourth as well
『Thinking about it norht they would sent a thousand at most Does that make the enemy command a skilled one, or not?』
The Fifth was…
『We can win on the defense, but we’d lose in a war』
I won’t e can’t beat three thousand enemies But it wouldn’t reflect well on our next actions In that case, ouldn’t get the essential result ished for
The Seventh too
『If they’re evaluating us accurately, they have quite a commander on them In truth, with three thousand, even if we aet back at us』
Right, the land around Noinyl was open plains And in such fields, nu
But the Third and up…
『Then we don’t have to fight them at all! How bold of the like that!』
『Just abandon the fortress! And aim for…』
『… The capital Thinking of their re forces, that’s sounds best』
『We could increase our troops in the villages along the way It does seem the capital and provinces have a different set of values, after all』
… And the abandonment of the fortress was decided
When I touched the Jewel, the Third explained
『It’s not that you can’t win, but you’ll pile up casualties, and there’s a possibility you’ll be rendered iht? And as the other side has taken out siege weapons, their movement speed will be slow In contrast, we have small numbers… there are numerous paths that lead to the capital, while your enes are coether so well it’s actually scary』
The inforot from May was precisely displayed in s, their ht of us
The Fifth spoke
『Also If you have Zayin’s people fight thest themselves, it’ll become a pain later While I’m at it… if the enemy mainly consists of inhabitants of the capital, it’ll be advantageous if we go on the defense』
I thought
(Even when they have the terrain advantage? And even if we take down the capital, with everything really go as ant it? If the populace itself opposes up, isn’t that the end?)
And as I thought to myself, the members around looked anxious The Seventh let out his voice
『Lyle, don’t forget the Sixth’s words Have some confidence… don’t let yourquite favorably』
That opinion differed fro it, I chose to believe in thehed, and spoke to everyone
“We’re abandoning the fort And we’ll go into recruiting soldiers froes and towns as we make our wat for the capital Gastone-san, please indicate the villages that would be easiest to take in Ah, this is the enemy’s likely trajectory, so only ones away from that, please”
Shen I said that, everyone was dumbfounded
Aria looked at me as she acted as a representative to speak everyone’s opinion
“Eh? The capital… are you serious? I ot here, aren’t they?”
The one to ansas Aura-san While looking at me
“In these cases, wouldn’t the usual route be to take down nearby fortresses?”
There, the Third in the Jewel let out his voice
『That’s wrong No … no, in this case, the Holy Maiden If we take the Holy Maiden, then at that very urehead, that has nothing to do with the people Now then, our plans went a little off course, but let’s have some fun with this!』
I smiled
“It’s alright It’s only become easier than planned Also, the capital will likely use their et into the preparations”
I hit ether twice, and everyone’s faces were taken aback
I tried to soften the ht joke…
“Let’s have some fun with it”
When I said that, the surrounding expressions looked appalled I was trying to lighten the ht, it seems I’m not suited to jokes
–
–
–
… It was a town on the border of Zayin and Lorphys
Theforward to the orders to attack, as they waited
But according to the notice that had coht captain had headed for Fort Noinyl to subjugate the former Holy Maiden who’d taken a stand
So yet another postponement was made
A ades had contracted for cheap The reason being that pillaging Lorphys was permitted, and they could shatever they wanted
But if they weren’t attacking there wasn’t anything to steal The senerate any real profit, and the mercenaries’ dissatisfaction built up by the day
In a place like that, Albano struck up a conversation with one of the brigade chiefs
“bloody hell! If that’s the case, we should’ve tried our luck elsewhere!”
Hitting his cup a nuainst the small round table, the chief put his displeasure to words Albano was the same
“I know, right? Hired at a bargain, and put on standby In that case, it’d be much better to find work elsewhere”
The chief agreed But there was a reason he was out drinking with Albano
“Albano, is it really that Holy Knight brigade from Beim? The former Holy Maiden who forht?”
It was to gather information
“Yeah, no doubt about it That was the number in Beim But she’s quite a popular one A sharp one to top I off”
Hearing that, the chief didn’t show a reaction So Albano…
“Itto lose”
The chief laughed
“Now that sounds nice! If that high andto be a noble loses, it’ll finally be our turn”
There, Albano spoke tiredly
“You sure are stupid In all actuality, if the knight captain falls, it’ll be the end If the three thousand elites of the capital lose, how do you think they’re going to fight Lorphys?”
Hearing that, the chief put his hand to his chin This side still had the nue, but for Lorphys, their country itself was at stake
He could anticipate they would put up a harsh resistance
Albano…
“And it’s only a hundred, you see At most, four or five hundred, yet they’ll send three thousand? Zayin’s top dogs desperately want that foroes I’ on in the back rooms”
Hearing that, the chief slapped his hand on the table When he removed, it there were a few silver coins left behind
“Speak your mind Based on its contents, I may up your reward”
With his brigade’s members’ lives in his hand, the chief needed to know as s turned out, there was the possibility it would take a turn for the worst
Albano took the coins, and took a swig of ale
“You sure are generous Then I’ll sell you a special one I learned it in Beiely You kno their second prince was sent in as a grooht? What’s more, before the forht elites et rid of her”
“The proof?”
Albano took out the sword hung at his waist, and left it on the table It was a dagger without any engravings on it A dagger of the Divine Knights
But as a weapon held by the assassination squad, there was nothing on it to identify its source It was too weak to serve as evidence
“I got it from an acquaintance who defeated theot a hold on some considerably bad information”
“That doesn’t serve to prove anything”
(As I thought But I only need him to infer I have a connection with Lyle After that…)
“Don’t rush et attacked It’s also true they ran to Beiathered personnel That’s why the elites are being sent to Fort Noinyl… it’s possible the oneto play hero, and beat us down once we’ve daed Lorphys”
The Chief
“For what sake?”
“Who knows… but if they save a tattered Lorphys, won’t Selva’s influence in the area rise?”
Albano let him infer the implication that the mercenaries were there to act as sacrifices to that cause…