Ch.69Assault

“Report the losses.”

The Sword Master of Fahrenheit.

The leader of over 20,000 troops… no, now slightly fewer than 20,000 troops, wiped the blood from his sword and asked his gathered adjutants about the casualties the unit had suffered.

“About 300 dead, and 23 wounded.”

“Can they walk?”

“Yes.”

“Then that will do.”

The routes between nations that lacked the protection of a core were incredibly dangerous.

Though they had taken winding paths to avoid the hunting grounds of monsters, a large group of around 20,000 people inevitably appeared as good prey to monsters, magical beasts, and demons.

Just moments ago, Fahrenheit’s soldiers had engaged in fierce combat with thousands of wild beasts, and the 323 casualties were evidence of that.

Although they were regular troops equipped with quality gear and rigorous training, and crucially, their commander was a Sword Master which kept absolute casualties low, the loss of hundreds of men, few or many, was never a good sign.

“When can we reach Amurtat?”

“We should arrive at the Western Forest in about three days.”

“A forest… those damned pointy-eared bitches have surely laid all sorts of traps.”

The Sword Master frowned in irritation.

Honestly, for someone of his mastery, such traps posed no threat, but the same couldn’t be said for the ordinary soldiers and knights following him.

Even if there were no human casualties, supply wagons breaking down or knights’ horses dying from spear traps would each contribute to weakening the army.

“Damn it! I moved the army too hastily!”

“But His Majesty the Grand Duke…”

“I know! Hold your tongue! We depart as soon as the wounded are taken care of!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Reaching the level of Sword Master required not only effort but also time. In fact, the Master was over 50 years old, and while he might not match the strategic planning of a flag officer, the wisdom born from experience was a force that couldn’t be ignored.

However, no matter how strong one’s power, certain conditions must be met for that power to be effective. Moving the army without proper preparation had created a subtle uneasiness even among the trained soldiers that was disturbing his nerves, and the rattling noise of the supply wagons was adding to his irritation.

How many more ambushes would they face? One? Two?

Once they entered the Western Forest, elves would begin slaughtering Fahrenheit’s soldiers with arrows, poison, traps, and snares, while he would be busy cutting down beasts. By his calculation, it would be a miracle if they maintained 10,000 men before even seeing the walls.

While he didn’t know the exact number of Amurtat’s soldiers, he had managed to gather intelligence suggesting they numbered around 20,000.

It might seem incomprehensible that they brought only 20,000 men for a siege, even accounting for ambushes and raids, but that was because this army was the Sword Master’s escort force.

In other words, their role was to keep the rabble from interfering while the Sword Master destroyed everything, and for them, numbers were sufficient as long as there were enough to prevent enemies from hindering the Master.

*

Three days passed.

Whether by good fortune or by successfully avoiding danger, no ambushes occurred during those three days, and even the limping soldiers seemed to have mostly recovered from their wounds, maintaining a decent pace.

However, the real challenge was just beginning.

“Huff… All troops halt! We’ll camp here tonight!”

“General… there are still many hours until nightfall…?”

When the Master ordered rest, his knights questioned with puzzled expressions.

“You fools! Have we been lying down this whole time? Of course there’s fatigue from marching, and walking through forest paths will double that fatigue instantly. Besides, we still have soldiers whose wounds haven’t fully healed. If we rest well today and march when the sun rises tomorrow, we’ll be better prepared to handle ambushes even if we encounter them!”

“I… I understand!”

“Remember that not everyone can ride horses like you…”

“Yes…”

A month-long march. The fatigue accumulated from it couldn’t be ignored.

No matter how well-trained the men were, if they didn’t get proper rest after carrying heavy equipment for a month and fighting through one ambush, their remaining stamina would be depleted. The Master’s point was valid.

The knights might be less fatigued due to their monstrous capabilities and the fact that they rode horses, but the regular soldiers who had marched on foot without a day’s rest needed proper recuperation.

“Everyone prepare to camp! There will be no more marching today!”

“Haaah…!”

As the non-commissioned officers relayed the orders, the soldiers put down their burdensome equipment and hurriedly began setting up camp.

Setting up camp right at the forest entrance wasn’t the wisest choice by anyone’s standards, but with a Sword Master present, there was no need for sentries.

Even if bombs were thrown, the Sword Master could cut them down before they exploded.

By the time the campsite was fully established, the sun was setting and dusk was approaching.

The cooks began to emerge one by one to prepare ingredients, and the aroma of seasonings like salt and pepper started to fill the air.

It could have been a pleasant camping experience if not for the stones flying from within the forest.

Thwack! Thwack!

“!”

Clang! Clang!

The Sword Master was the first to draw his sword, followed by the knights who quickly deflected the stones aimed at the cooks.

“……”

It was such a sudden ambush, happening within just two or three seconds, that the cooks had to calm their startled hearts while the soldiers scrambled to grab their swords and shields.

“…..”

“General?”

“Everyone, sheathe your swords. They were just testing us. I can sense them retreating.”

“Testing… us?”

Now all the knights and soldiers could understand.

Only a few of them would be able to return to their homeland.

*

“We’ve spotted the enemy. They’re camping at the forest entrance.”

-Did you make contact?-

“We threw some stones as a test, and as expected, their training level is high. They deflected them instantly. No casualties, not even injuries.”

-Hmm… Rotten as they may be, they’re still a great nation. To handle a surprise attack so perfectly shows their high level of skill. Apart from the regular soldiers, we can’t expect to inflict losses on the knights.-

“Yes. We’ve laid traps and snares, but with a Sword Master present, most will likely be neutralized.”

-Still, they should be effective in delaying their advance. They’ll have to destroy or disarm the traps.-

Titania was speaking with Tiberius through a communication orb.

It had taken considerable time to set traps and snares on all roads and detours in the Western Forest, but somehow, perhaps with the angels’ help, they had managed to complete the killing zone in time.

“How are things on your end?”

-Preparations are complete here… Six ballistas, twelve catapults… and 30,000 soldiers hastily conscripted to bolster our numbers… This should give us a fighting chance. Don’t you think?-

“What will you do if we don’t win?”

-Then we’ll just have to lie flat. But I’ve already sent messages to other countries through the Pale Harbor and the Adventurers’ Guild, telling them that while we keep the Sword Master occupied, Fahrenheit is essentially an empty house.-

“I see…”

Of course, Fahrenheit wasn’t truly empty just because the Sword Master and 20,000 troops were absent, but with such tremendous military power tied up in Amurtat, if all thirty-four nations (with even more having issued sanctions) raised their armies simultaneously, they could at least blockade Fahrenheit, if not conquer it.

Moreover, if they actually managed to kill the Sword Master, they would start with a baseline of 50% of Amurtat’s shares without question. The conflict between Fahrenheit and Amurtat was thus an unavoidable fate.

-When they enter the forest, show them the power of the elves. If you achieve great merit, I’ll reward you generously enough to build another Elfium.-

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Eventually, the light in the communication orb faded, and the orb returned to its black color.

The sun had long since set, and in this hour when it was unclear whether it was still yesterday or already today, the elves waited silently.

Whoever entered first at dawn would be the first to die.

Except for the knights and the Sword Master.