Ch.143Don’t you dare move from there.

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

The spokes are firmly fitted into place, then securely fixed to the circular frame.

One of the four wheels, each capable of bearing several tons of weight, is connected to the axle, followed by the others, completing a single wagon.

Once the military deployment was decided, Amurtat’s military began moving supplies first.

Gunpowder, bullets, shells. Swords. Armor. Food. Medicine… There was too much to pack and too far to travel.

Due to practical limitations, they couldn’t bring everything needed, but at the very least, they had to make the route safe.

After all, no soldier would want to cross paths teeming with monsters and demons.

But how should they clear the way?

There was no one on the roads connecting Amurtat to the three kingdoms.

“…Then I’ll accept the contract under those conditions. Just make sure the roads are thoroughly cleared.”

“Understood. You can trust us. Despite appearances, we’ve been doing this for over ten years.”

The answer was money.

More precisely, using money to commission the Adventurers’ Guild. Hiring mercenary groups specializing in such work to clear the path first.

Since adventurers could move faster than soldiers, naturally, by the time the soldiers departed, the roads would be cleared.

Or, there might be even more trash to clean up…

Fortunately, Amurtat had many “companies” specializing in road clearing, and they gladly accepted commissions for Amurtat’s army.

“Has the troop selection been completed?”

“Yes. Only the unit formation remains.”

“Good. Finish it within three days.”

“Understood.”

Selecting 60,000 men from Amurtat’s standing army of 200,000 wasn’t particularly difficult.

There were many volunteers, and unlike a certain peninsula nation on Earth, those unsuitable for military service weren’t enlisted at all, ensuring combat effectiveness regardless of who was selected.

Thus, those with the highest combat capabilities were assigned to field units directly on the frontlines, while the rest were placed in support units.

Some might argue that 60,000 troops is too few to open three fronts in three different countries…

But sending 60,000 ‘well-trained’ and ‘well-armed’ soldiers with full supplies was something even most modern nations would find challenging, so it was hard to consider 60,000 troops insufficient.

Above all, there was little chance of troop shortage.

After all, Amurtat’s national army was going as ‘reinforcements,’ with the regular armies of the three kingdoms forming the main force.

Whether rebellion or invasion, it was ultimately their war on their land.

Eventually, a week passed, and from the Western Forest, the sound of 60,000 military boots and 7,600 five-ton cargo wagons following them began their long march.

*

Clatter! Clatter!

The wagon kept shaking due to the gravel and stones on the road, causing the loaded cargo to collide and make loud, noisy sounds.

About 8,000 wagons carrying supplies for 60,000 troops were heading endlessly southward, and they would pay their loyalty to Tiberius with their blood and taxes.

“How much longer until we arrive?”

“About five more days, assuming we don’t encounter any monsters.”

“Don’t worry about that. The adventurers did their job thoroughly.”

“Fortunately so.”

Though the road was clean, the subtle scent of blood with each breath and scattered monster corpse fragments indicated fierce battles had taken place here.

And among that blood, surely some was human.

“The south… You know, Adjutant? This is my first time leaving Amurtat.”

“How unfortunate. That your first journey south is for war… I believe everyone should leave their homeland at least once in their lifetime.”

“Don’t be like that. Amurtat is a large country. One could live their entire life without visiting another country.”

The adjutant and commander exchanged jokes inside the wagon to avoid growing weary of the tedious journey.

The same seemed true for the soldiers; what appeared to be a solid formation began to loosen after the long march, and the soldiers’ voices gradually grew louder.

While conversations among soldiers weren’t explicitly forbidden, as their voices grew loud enough to reach the commander’s wagon, he couldn’t help but frown.

“Should I stop them?”

“No, have them sing a marching song instead. It’ll help realign the formation too.”

“A marching song… Yes, Commander.”

The adjutant leaned halfway out of the wagon and ordered the formation leaders to have the soldiers sing, and the knights adjusted their horses’ pace to spread the command throughout the long column.

Soon the chatter disappeared, replaced by military songs praising Amurtat’s glory and victory in war, finally bringing satisfied smiles to the commander and adjutant’s faces.

“Yes. Marching songs are indeed for marching.”

The commander nodded in rhythm.

The sound of 60,000 military boots, the rhythmic hoofbeats of 7,600 wagons, and the melody of the marching song created a massive orchestra.

Their march exuded dignity—an army ready to deliver thorough punishment to anyone who defiled that dignity.

If such an army existed, Amurtat’s soldiers would be infinitely close to it.

*

Exactly four days later.

Thanks to the clear roads, Amurtat’s soldiers arrived early and made first contact with the local regular forces.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Jeremiah Shane, leading Herestin’s forces.”

“Thank you so much for coming to help. I am Arkadin Salva, Standard Bearer of Valkeginia.”

“I, Revelto Valen, Standard Bearer of Dvelushi, express my deepest gratitude.”

Herestin. Valkeginia. Dvelushi.

Amurtat’s soldiers arriving at each nation were welcomed and thanked by their respective Standard Bearers.

By the time they arrived, small and large battles were already underway. Due to consecutive economic collapses and export-focused policies to repay debts, each country’s situation was dire, and their armies couldn’t escape these negative effects.

The most optimistic forecast was that food in the markets would disappear within a few months. Without Amurtat’s intervention, these three countries might have fallen to the heretics, with their monarchs beheaded.

“Now that we’re here, don’t worry. As a gesture of goodwill, we’ll share the food we’ve brought.”

“Oh! Thank you so much! We lost our agricultural areas and were wondering what would become of us… Indeed, the angels have shown mercy.”

“This isn’t the mercy of angels, but the foresight of Lord Tiberius. His Majesty was concerned you might be too weakened by hunger to fight, resulting in these ample supplies.”

“Ah… I apologize. I will convey my gratitude to Lord Tiberius.”

“That will suffice.”

When Amurtat’s army announced they would share their food supplies, the Standard Bearers’ expressions immediately brightened.

As evident from the mention of landowners rebelling, the lands owned by these landowners had immediately fallen to the heretics, meaning this year’s harvest was lost.

Amurtat’s soldiers promptly unloaded supplies from the wagons and distributed them to each country’s storekeepers, who quickly stored these goods in spatial storage.

Though a stopgap measure, with this food as a foundation, the armies of the three countries could continue fighting for another year.

“The might of your country’s powerful army has long been an object of admiration. We are currently threatened by heretics and rebels from all directions. Please help us.”

“We came to annihilate them. Where is the battlefield we must fight?”

For three days after Amurtat’s army arrived, there were no battles.

The heretic rebels hadn’t heard about Amurtat’s army’s arrival and needed to formulate countermeasures.

However, the initiative on the battlefield always belongs to the stronger side, and Amurtat’s army began moving to attack the heretics’ strongholds that were consuming the three countries.