Chapter 308

“…”

Vinchel looked dumbfounded.

“…”

Marius also looked dumbfounded.

“…”

And so did Justino.

The sight before them was horrifying and devastating.

The catapults, which they had painstakingly prepared as their trump card for the siege,

They were now reduced to splinters, beyond recognition.

And it wasn’t just one.

It was all of them.

Their plan had been completely foiled.

And their casualties weren’t insignificant either.

Mangled bodies, beyond recovery, scattered across the battlefield.

The gruesome traces of blood painted a horrifying picture of their defeat.

The third battle was also a complete victory for the Celtrine forces.

* * *

“Ahem.”

Ran’s chin was held high, her nose practically touching the sky.

She was the one who had led them to two consecutive victories, after the initial probing attack.

People expressed their sincere gratitude and admiration.

And every time,

“Oh, it was nothing.”

Ran basked in the praise, her confidence unwavering.

It wasn’t intentional, but her attitude actually reassured the people trapped in the castle.

“Have we finally gained the upper hand, Young Master?”

Hank, the knight captain, asked, his face much brighter than before, as if he had been infected by the optimistic atmosphere.

The two victories had had that much of an impact.

And,

“The large ballistae and the monstrous catapult. We have complete control over the range. The enemy can’t counter them.”

Duncan said confidently, pointing out their most important advantage.

That was it.

The reason why they were so confident.

They had been slightly worried when the enemy’s catapults appeared, but their worries had vanished when they saw our monstrous catapult, which had a longer range.

And the large ballistae were also aimed at the approaching enemy, ready to strike.

“No, red-haired man. It’s not a monstrous catapult. It’s an angry turtle catapult that’s been flipped upside down.”

Ran immediately protested.

“That… flipped… what? A-Ahem, that’s too long. I prefer something shorter…”

Duncan trailed off, not wanting to argue with her, and stepped back.

Max raised his hand, trying to lighten the mood.

“It’s good that you’re all confident. But let’s be clear about one thing.”

He continued in a serious tone, “They won’t retreat.”

“That’s obvious…”

“They’ll launch an all-out attack.”

An all-out attack.

It meant they would throw everything they had at us.

Until now, the Crown Prince’s army had tried to minimize their casualties by bombarding us from afar.

It was the standard tactic in a siege battle.

But they had lost two crucial weapons: their mages and their catapults.

They couldn’t continue with the same strategy.

“An all-out attack…”

“They’ll try to capture this castle, even if it means sacrificing their soldiers.”

Those who knew war understood the implications.

“Hmm… If they’re willing to suffer that many casualties, wouldn’t it be more likely for them to choose a war of attrition?”

Duncan said, after pondering for a moment.

A war of attrition was the most basic tactic in a siege battle.

It was even more effective when the castle was completely surrounded, as it was now.

Unless food magically fell from the sky, the defenders would eventually run out of supplies and be forced to surrender.

“It would be beneficial for us if they did that. But they won’t.”

Normally, they would be at a severe disadvantage in a war of attrition, but Max had anticipated this and had stockpiled a massive amount of food with his overflowing wealth.

That’s why they could remain calm, even though they were surrounded.

“Are you saying they know that we have a lot of food?”

“No, I don’t think they know that. But if the patricide’s grand army is struggling against a single Celtrine Castle, what would people think? They would think that the patricide is weaker than they thought.”

“Hmm, y-you’re right.”

Duncan nodded, unable to refute his logic.

Everyone seemed to agree that Max’s reasoning was sound.

“Young Master, even if they launch an all-out attack, we should be fine, right? We have the large ballistae and the mons… the Turtle Catapult.”

Hank said, his eyes still shining with confidence.

Ran raised her hand.

“Yes, yes, we’ll be fine. If we have an unlimited supply, that is.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? Do you think orichalcum arrows and house-sized boulders grow on trees? To be honest, we only have enough for one more shot.”

“Gasp! O-One more shot?”

Hank was shocked by the ridiculously small number.

“Enough for one battle.”

“Phew, I thought…”

It was a relief, but they couldn’t relax yet.

Everyone now knew that their supply of special weapons was limited.

Max stepped forward.

“You all heard her. We can’t rely on Ran’s special weapons forever. We’ll have to win with our own strength. Of course, we’ll create a situation that’s as advantageous as possible.”

His words made everyone’s expressions turn serious.

Their eyes were filled with determination.

“So, I’m going to throw a curveball, a surprise attack to catch them off guard.”

Max smiled, a glint in his eyes.

* * *

“…Their morale is low.”

Marius said, his voice heavy.

“Yes, it’s only natural.”

Vinchel replied, his gaze cold.

Consecutive defeats.

Crushing defeats, where they had been completely outmatched.

Even the most disciplined and well-trained soldiers would be affected.

“Give them a day or two to recover and regroup.”

Vinchel ordered.

It was the right decision.

It wasn’t always about pushing them to fight.

“As you command, Captain.”

Marius was about to reply when,

The entrance to the tent was flung open.

Justino rushed in.

He didn’t even wait to be asked and shouted, “The enemy is launching a surprise attack!”

“What?!”

Vinchel’s expression wavered.

“A-A surprise attack? What nonsense! They won two major victories, why would they take such a risk?”

Marius couldn’t believe it.

A surprise attack from a besieged castle was a desperate measure, a last resort when there was no other option. It wasn’t something an army that had won two major victories would do.

It was a gamble, a tactic with high risks and low rewards.

He was shocked that the Celtrines would resort to such a tactic.

“It’s happening right now, Vice-Captain! Captain, please give us orders…”

“Those bastards!”

*Crash!*

Vinchel slammed his fist on the table, shattering it.

It was rare to see him lose his composure like this.

He had been completely outmaneuvered, not once, but three times in a row.

As if they were playing with him.

It was a humiliating experience for a proud swordsman like him.

“They dare to counterattack? Those arrogant brats! They’ve won a few battles and now they think they’re invincible! I’ll go myself! I’ll crush that brat’s head!”

Vinchel stormed out of the tent, his rage boiling over.

* * *

“Hahaha! Look at those panicked fools!”

Duncan roared with laughter.

The Crown Prince’s army, their morale crushed by two devastating defeats,

They hadn’t expected the enemy to suddenly emerge from the castle.

Even their commanders hadn’t anticipated that the enemy, who had been on a winning streak, would suddenly take such a risky gamble.

So the Celtrine’s surprise attack was very effective.

It was the reward for catching them off guard.

“We have to inflict as much damage as possible while we have the chance!”

Gwen shouted.

He knew that opportunities like this were rare in war.

They couldn’t miss this chance, created by Max’s bold tactic.

“Of course.”

Norman slaughtered the confused and disorganized enemy soldiers.

“For the Savior.”

Milia also joined the fray, her chain sword painting the ground red with blood.

Max was also at the forefront, cutting down enemy soldiers with his turtle sword.

“Well done, everyone.”

They were only five hundred strong.

But that’s why they were able to move swiftly and catch the enemy off guard.

And those five hundred weren’t ordinary soldiers.

Three hundred of them were monsters who had survived hell.

So even the soldiers of the Imperial Capital were no match for them.

“Aaaargh!”

“Ugh!”

“M-Monsters…!”

“S-Spare me!”

“Damn it, don’t retreat! You’ll die by my hand if you retreat!”

*Slash!*

A centurion tried to rally his panicked troops, cutting down a fleeing soldier.

But,

*Whoosh!*

*Thud!*

A chain sword flew through the air, wrapping around the centurion’s neck and decapitating him.

“G-Gasp!”

The formation crumbled.

They were about to completely overwhelm the enemy when,

Max’s hero trait activated.

Hero’s Intuition.

A powerful surge of energy.

An ominous premonition.

Max made a decision.

“Everyone, turn around!”

They could have inflicted more damage on the enemy.

But they didn’t hesitate.

The Celtrine’s elite forces immediately turned their horses around.

It was a sign of their absolute trust in Max’s judgment.

*Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!*

They executed a hit-and-run tactic, the most frustrating tactic for the enemy.

* * *

“T-They’re retreating!”

Justino shouted.

“That brat is running away?”

Vinchel frowned, bewildered.

The enemy had started retreating the moment he arrived, ready to counterattack.

What a coincidence.

Had they sensed him?

No, it was impossible.

He had been hiding among his soldiers.

So he could launch a surprise attack.

But how…

“Damn it. Pursue them.”

Vinchel ordered.

“Huh?”

“Pursue them!”

He couldn’t let them escape.

It would be a humiliation to let them disrupt his army and then leave unscathed.

“Hya!”

Vinchel spurred his horse forward.

Justino and the other pursuers hurriedly followed him.

They chased after the enemy relentlessly.

But the distance between them didn’t close.

The pursuers’ horses were also of good breed, but the Celtrine’s horses were expensive, high-quality horses.

“Captain, we can’t go any further…”

Justino tried to stop him, thinking it would be dangerous to go any deeper.

But Vinchel’s eyes flashed.

He raised his hand.

*Swoosh!*

Ten swords rose into the air.

Just as he was about to unleash his Sword Control Technique, the formidable technique that had made him the Sword Saint,

Max, who was in the distance, made a hand gesture.

And then,

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

Orichalcum arrows shot out from the large ballistae.

They were already within range.

“Ugh?!”

Vinchel hurriedly abandoned his attack and defended himself.

“Damn it!”

Justino also drew his sword and blocked the arrows with his fiery Sword Aura.

*Clang!*

*Clang!*

The arrows struck their defenses with a deafening clang.

But only the two of them were able to block the arrows.

*Thud!*

*Thud!*

The other pursuers had already been pierced through the chest.

*Thud!*

*Thump!*

*Crash!*

Their bodies collapsed, their blood staining the ground.

*Neigh!*

A riderless horse whinnied mournfully.

“Captain, we have to retreat!”

Justino shouted urgently.

“Ugh…”

Vinchel’s hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white.

His face was contorted with rage.

“…We retreat.”

He finally said, his voice trembling.

It was another bitter defeat.

* * *

A fearsome enemy who won every battle.

Max Celtrine’s name was starting to instill fear in the hearts of the Crown Prince’s army.

It was an outcome that neither the Crown Prince nor the princess had desired.