Chapter 101: Battle of Scafendorf (2) Part2

“When we scouted a little further west, we faintly saw an unfamiliar flag.”

“A flag?”

“Yes. It seems to be the enemy’s forces.”

Baron Gottfried had responded to Lord Lothar’s letter a few days ago.

He probably started marching then, so it wasn’t surprising that he had reached this vicinity by now.

“When will they arrive?”

Another knight, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward and asked.

The soldier hesitated for a moment, as if calculating, and then finally opened his mouth with difficulty.

“They were about 2 leagues away, so they will probably arrive before sunset.”

“I see. You may go out and rest while drinking some boiled water.”

The soldiers bowed again and left the tent.

Now, with only the knights, Lord Lothar, and a few attendants remaining, the atmosphere inside the tent was heavier than before.

“Um… Lord Lothar?”

“Hmm?”

“Something, even a rough order…”

Lord Lothar was just sitting there blankly again.

It was a typical attitude of ‘I don’t know what to do, so I’ll just stay still.’

“…Just, aim to fight well and win.”

And there was a reason for staying still.

Keldric clicked his tongue at this point.

Until he came here, he had been singing about battle, battle, battle, so he thought he had something planned, but when he opened it up, there was nothing.

“Is there anything to order? We can just swarm and fight.”

“Lord Lothar. Can we command the soldiers?”

“Do as you wish.”

In the first place, the soldiers gathered here were not united as one.

They were all soldiers brought by Baron Yaven’s vassal knights. In other words, they were finely divided, and the detailed command was essentially the responsibility of the knights.

And this was normal. The knights themselves took charge of commanding the soldiers they brought.

In fact, once the fighting started in earnest, there was nothing to command.

Just endure, fight, shoot, don’t run away. With just those four, command was possible.

This time, there were no ambushes or flanking attacks, so they were just going to face each other honestly, so it was even more so.

However, Lord Lothar, the lord of the knights, could not do that.

Lord Lothar was in a position to lead the big picture, from attack orders, when to scout, requisitioning supplies, and even retreat.

If they didn’t know whether the soldiers should be aggressive or defensive right away, it was a crisis.

“Lord Lothar. Should we wait for them to charge?”

In the end, Lord Rutger, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and asked first.

Lord Lothar seemed to think for a moment, stroking the sparse beard growing on his chin, and then answered.

“Is there a need for that? Let’s also charge and confront them.”

“They have high morale. Wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of the higher hill, defend with the encampment, and shoot arrows?”

“We have forty elite soldiers brought by Lord Keldric.”

Suddenly, the spark flew to Keldric. Keldric blinked quietly.

“But, Lord Lothar. If they send out knights…”

“Then we will send them out too.”

“….”

Lord Rutger finally sank into silence, speechless.

Indeed, if you think about it simply, Lord Lothar’s words were not wrong.

Forty elite soldiers with spears, swords, and shields. They would never be pushed back by mercenaries. Moreover, their morale was high.

Even if the Baron Gottfried army sent out a knight, they could just counter with a knight on this side.

Originally, it was common sense to face a knight with another knight.

The number of knights was similar, with seven on that side and six on this side.

It was worth a try. But the problem was Lord Lothar’s attitude, which became irresponsible because he had no experience when he actually went into battle.

“If something unexpected happens, I worry about how we’re going to deal with it.”

“Then, let’s do it that way.”

The meeting broke up. The knights rose from their seats with slightly uneasy expressions.

As Lord Lothar waved his hand to dismiss them, Keldric left the war tent, reflecting on his own inability to step forward. ‘I don’t know anything, it’s driving me crazy.’

He knew next to nothing about strategy. It wasn’t that he hadn’t learned anything from Lord Volpen, but this was the kind of thing you were supposed to pick up by following a knight around and gaining practical experience.

Even then, you’d gain experience safely if you met a good lord, but facing such difficulties from the very first large-scale battle was a bit…

“…Can’t be helped.”

Keldric clenched his fist, which was as big as a pot lid.

If his head didn’t work, he could make up for it with his body; that solved most problems. In fact, that was how Keldric had continued his journey.

This time wouldn’t be much different.

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Baron Gottfried’s army arrived a day after Lord Lothar’s army had set up camp.

It was a very late march, considering they were only about two leagues away. Thanks to that, the camp of Baron Gottfried’s army, which was still being set up, was faintly visible.

They could see it, but it was too far to launch a surprise attack or shoot arrows.

“Those bastards have some nerve.”

“Damn it, I’m gonna freeze my balls off.”

Thanks to that, the soldiers and mercenaries who were enduring the cold became sensitive.

Facing the enemy camp being built in the distance made them feel pressured.

They could see it right in front of them, but even if they wanted to attack, they weren’t in a position to do so.

Baron Gottfried clearly knew that. That’s why he was setting up camp so openly.

Around lunchtime, a group of riders slowly approached from the direction of Baron Gottfried’s camp.

They were messengers delivering a message from their lord or knight, and the one in the lead was an unknown knight.

As Keldric and the knights gathered in Lord Lothar’s war tent, the messenger entered with an arrogant attitude.

“Ansen Schultheiss, Baron of Gottfried and rightful lord, sends word to Lothar Mikesh, Lord of Yaben and son of Duke Devanu Mikesh!”

Lord Lothar, unable to hide his displeasure, flicked his hand. It was a signal to keep talking.

“His Excellency says, Lord Lothar and the army below him must retreat immediately! If you do not, you will be gutted and thrown to the crows and dogs!”

It has long been tradition for messengers to deliver threats of a rude level.

Thanks to that, everyone in the war tent frowned, but didn’t immediately rush in and start punching…

“You insolent fool!”

Contrary to Keldric’s expectations, the impetuous Lord Lothar became agitated and jumped to his feet.

Thanks to that, the knights had to rush in and stop Lord Lothar. The knight acting as the messenger smirked and ridiculed the sight.

“Cut out the intestines of that bastard! I order you as my father’s representative! Right now!”

“Take him out! Now!”

Keldric, unable to watch any longer, gave the servants a look.

However, the messenger seemed intent on dawdling and sneering as much as possible before leaving.

‘This bastard…’

At this point, Keldric was also angry. Keldric, clenching his fist tightly, strode towards the messenger.

The smile gradually disappeared from the messenger knight’s face. Keldric, who was right in front of him, was overwhelmingly larger.

“Gottfried’s intentions are clear enough, so you may now return to your camp.❞

“I, I…”

“Or, will you fight me honorably?”

Keldric tapped the mace hanging from his waist.

Seeing that, the messenger knight’s face turned slightly pale, and he cursed as he left the war tent.

“Why let him go! Arrest that rude man!”

“Lord Lothar!”

Keldric stood at the entrance of the chaotic war tent and sighed.

The battle was coming. A battle where they would kill each other, where corpses would fall on this snowy field, and where screams and shouts would be rampant.

Both sides were on edge, so a bloody fight seemed unavoidable.