Ch.549549. Luck Eventually (2)

Even the sturdiest walls eventually crumble under fierce attacks.

The walls of Baron Karpel’s territory had clear limitations when facing the combined might of the allied forces, though they couldn’t compare to those of a margrave. As the relatively thick and tall walls began to show their limits after continuous daytime assaults.

“The enemy is retreating!”

“Don’t let your guard down just because the fighting has paused! The sun has set, and we don’t know when they might launch a surprise attack! Set up torches in every corner of the wall first!”

As the sun that had brightly illuminated the world set, pitch-black darkness finally descended upon the territory.

The cool, clear night air now evoked an unusually desolate feeling.

While the reinforcements with energy to spare kept watch at the base of the wall, monitoring enemy movements from afar, those who had commanded the situation atop the wall gathered to consolidate their plans.

The captain of the defense force, who had been overseeing the entire situation on the wall, spoke first.

“Can you tell me the extent of damage to the walls?”

Her staff officer, who had just finished speaking with commanders from each section, carefully described the current situation.

“The inner wall is still intact, but the outer wall is problematic. Most of it is severely damaged and will soon lose its function as a wall.”

“Urgent repairs tonight—”

“…appear impossible. We’ll have to be satisfied with placing obstacles on the rubble.”

At the staff officer’s words, the defense captain crossed her arms and fell into thought, as if dealing with a headache.

“From the next battle onward, the inner wall will have to withstand fierce attacks. Even with obstacles in place, I don’t think we can stop them.”

Piled rubble and additionally installed threatening obstacles.

Normally, this would be enough to block the advance of common soldiers.

But somehow these enemies had steeled their minds to an incredible degree. Even with swords piercing their bodies, they would push themselves deeper to swing their fists at allies. Even when riddled with arrows and thrown from the wall, they would try to cling to the wall again if they didn’t die instantly.

Mere obstacles and wall debris wouldn’t be enough to stop their madness.

“Even if the fall of the outer wall was unavoidable, we must prevent the inner wall from being breached.”

If the inner wall were breached, it would mean the enemy would have an opportunity to strike at the heart of the territory.

When the combined forces of numerous houses come crashing like a massive tidal wave, even the smallest gap would widen under the fierce waves, eventually creating a massive passage.

She turned to the long-eared foreigner—no, now a comrade defending the same land—who had most brilliantly repelled the enemy’s siege attempts during the day.

“I’d like to ask the sentinels from the great forest if they can perform as excellently in the next battle as they did today.”

“Our sentinels have already defeated over a hundred enemies who approached the walls. We’ve destroyed seven siege towers and more than twenty vanguard towers. However, we’ve consumed considerable mana, so strong resistance like today’s will be difficult until we’ve fully recovered.”

The sentinels had done much.

When the enemies first entered the territory’s forest, they showered them with magic and arrows.

Then, from atop the walls, they were the ones who most effectively and spectacularly repelled the siege engines and frenzied enemies.

It would be too harsh to expect such performance consistently.

“What about the mages then?”

“Thanks to the sentinels taking on the most difficult tasks, our situation is quite favorable. In the next battle, we mages will focus on destroying siege weapons.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Relieved by the mages’ positive response, she then called out.

“Staff officer.”

She called for her right-hand man.

“Send word to the defense unit waiting at the internal line. Ask them to send soldiers to take charge of the night watch. And let the soldiers who fought on the walls during the day switch with the reserve unit behind the wall so they can rest well tonight.”

“I will carry out your orders.”

“Ah, and lastly…”

The defense captain, with rising anger.

“…ensure that the cold bodies of today’s fallen heroes receive the highest honors when sent to the rear, regardless of their origin or character.”

“…”

“Proper respect for those who have fulfilled their military duty. Isn’t that what our lord values?”

“We will recover them perfectly and guide them to their relatives.”

“Good.”

Soon after seeing their comrades—who had died firmly gripping their weapons atop the wall during enemy attacks—being carried to the rear on stretchers, they rearmed themselves with boiling morale.

The urgent bell of the spire rang through the territory in the night.

“Night attack! Prepare for battle immediately!”

“Light the oil and start fires! Burn any who approach and secure visibility!”

The nighttime war resumed after a brief lull.

The pitch-black field was revealed again by the light of ignited torches, and as enemy attacks continued unabated even in the night.

The night assault had a distinct characteristic compared to the daytime.

“Knights! Don’t let them cross the inner wall at all costs!”

Unlike the daytime when mostly common soldiers charged, now knights who had reached mastery were actively dominating the battlefield.

The fierce attacks of knights who quickly closed the distance by climbing over the outer wall debris were undeniably challenging.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

A knight who had climbed the wall in one breath and cut down the longbowmen.

The defense captain, who had taken position behind him and stabbed him, beheaded the knight who was still struggling despite his pierced heart, then looked down from the wall.

‘…The elite unit arrives tomorrow morning.’

There was still half a day left until the barony’s maximum forces would arrive.

And the current situation was.

‘This is maddening.’

Whether the daytime attacks were merely to test their defenses or to buy time for preparation.

She could easily sense that the enemy’s morale was at its peak at this very moment.

So she could only shout.

“Hold out until morning! Just until morning!”

Hold out as much as possible until the lord returns in the morning.

And finally, Viscount Akion.

“Everyone has gathered their items, correct?”

“Yes, Viscount. All members have completed preparations.”

“These are items personally bestowed by Princess Amelie for our cause. I will not tolerate any failure or mistake.”

He was merely beginning the plan he had most meticulously drawn up.

“Now is our opportunity amid the chaos. Make sure to give them a proper lesson.”

With an exceptionally sinister smile.

* * *

I had been rushing toward the barony almost continuously, except for minimal rest.

‘I’ve made some basic preparations, but.’

With just mercenaries, the defense force, and sentinels, it would be difficult to hold off the elite soldiers of numerous houses for long.

Especially as the one who had been declared war upon, Viscountess Akion, who should have been defending her territory against us, clearly had a reason for abandoning her territory and heading to ours.

There was no benefit in delaying.

“The sun is already up. If we hadn’t encountered those soldiers planted along the way, we could have arrived much faster.”

As Teia, the assault team captain, said.

Thanks to the enemies positioned throughout the barony’s routes, clinging like leeches, we were only able to reach the territory after the sun had set and risen again.

“…These are traces of carriages carrying siege engines and supplies. The fact that such traces remain all the way here means the territory is already under attack.”

After clicking our tongues at those traces remaining on the outskirts of the territory, we continued forward and finally encountered the enemy.

A carriage full of provisions was heading toward the barony. Either they missed the sound of approaching horses because it was masked by the noise of the mana stone-powered carriage rolling forward, or they thought it was the sound of friendly forces approaching.

The leisurely chatter of soldiers following behind the carriage was caught by my mana-enhanced hearing.

“How’s the situation at the front line?”

“Everything that could spread has already spread, so what’s there to say?”

“Still, it’s more fun to hear it directly from someone who’s been to the front for supplies.”

How dare they be so relaxed after invading our barony, a place that should be certain death for them.

“The elixir given by Viscountess Akion works amazingly well. Once you take it, everyone goes crazy and can kill three enemies alone, but who knows how long they can last.”

From their conversation, I heard.

“When they should be dead but keep charging, those barony folks can’t help but be flustered. No matter how comfortable defending is, when we push with these numbers, they naturally get exhausted, and what happens next is obvious. Like how the gate was breached earlier.”

“The weakened ones will just keep getting pushed back?”

“What can they do when the main force has all left? We’re now the elite force with knights and mages from four houses gathered. Besides, I heard the elixir they receive is even more special.”

“Special… I’m curious.”

“They say you can use mana at extreme levels without straining your body or depleting your mana. People who were already strong become absolute monsters.”

“Hmm.”

Earlier, the gate was breached.

At these words, I felt irritation boiling up.

‘…They said elixir.’

A drug that makes people charge like zombies even when they should be dead.

‘I must secure some of these no matter what.’

Even the Demonkin who worshipped the demon of gluttony carried strange potions with fluctuating magia detection.

Since I had never heard of such elixirs in the kingdom, it was obvious that this elixir was either received through Amelie or created through some shady means.

‘This has gotten interesting.’

I don’t know why Viscountess Akion, who surely knows she won’t die peacefully if caught, came to our territory.

But having already found justification and pretext to execute the viscountess in her own territory, I had no intention whatsoever of forgiving her for irritating me to this extent.

‘Just wait until I catch you.’

As I vowed to behead her cleanly in front of everyone, I shouted in a fierce voice.

“We ride for the walls immediately!”

Bang—!

Simultaneously shooting an arrow imbued with magic that blew away the carriage and enemies at once, we charged forward.

“Assault team! Clear the path!”

Sweeping away the increasingly numerous enemies, we saw whether the gate had indeed just been breached.

Seeing the swarms of soldiers rubbing against the wall, desperately trying to squeeze through.

I simply nocked an arrow to my bowstring and ordered.

“Sound the horn!”

We had finally arrived at the barony.

Tell our allies that the hardest part is over.