Chapter 347

The enemy, who had been relentlessly attacking until yesterday, had vanished without a trace overnight.

It was an unsettling and eerie experience for the defenders.

“This is a trap. It has to be a trap. We can’t go out. We have to keep the gates closed and wait for them to reappear.”

“I agree. Something feels off. It’s like they’re trying to lure us out.”

The other officers also looked uneasy.

It was understandable, considering the situation and their opponent.

For an army of eighty thousand, which had been attacking with such ferocity, to suddenly retreat?

It was as absurd as saying that the princess had suddenly died.

And their opponent was the undefeated Max, who was known for his cunning strategies.

They would have been suspicious even if they had seen the enemy retreat with their own eyes, but they hadn’t even seen them leave.

“Hmm.”

Duke Henatus frowned, deep in thought.

“What do you think?”

He asked Justino.

Justino replied cautiously, “It’s definitely suspicious. But I think we need to go out and investigate. We’ll just be isolated if we stay holed up in the castle.”

The Duke nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

“Yes, you’re right. It would be foolish to keep the gates closed just because we’re suspicious. Send out scouts immediately and have them search the surrounding area. Don’t miss a single detail.”

The southern army finally started moving.

But even though he had said that, they couldn’t send out a large-scale reconnaissance party.

They could only send out small groups of scouts, so that their losses would be minimal if they fell into a trap.

It took them a long time to search the surrounding area.

And while they were doing that, the Celtrine allied forces had already reached the perfect location to attack the Crown Prince’s forces from behind.

Everything was going according to Max’s plan.

* * *

“A field battle? You’re saying we should fight a field battle?”

Vinchel, the Sword Saint, was bewildered.

He wondered if the Crown Prince had gone mad.

It was understandable.

They were clearly outnumbered.

And yet, the Crown Prince was suggesting that they abandon the castle and fight a field battle?

There was no more reckless decision.

The commanders of the Golden Lion Knights and the Silver Lion Knights, the Crown Prince’s other trusted aides, also looked shaken.

“Yes, a field battle.”

The Crown Prince grinned.

He was smiling leisurely, as if he wasn’t cornered at all.

It made him seem even more insane.

“B-But wouldn’t it be wiser to defend than to attack…?”

“With all due respect, the enemy has more soldiers and higher morale. A direct confrontation in the open field would be disadvantageous…”

The commanders of the Golden Lion Knights and the Silver Lion Knights spoke up, unable to hold back their concerns any longer.

They felt that they had to stop him, even if it meant incurring his wrath.

“I also humbly request that you reconsider. Please think this through again.”

Vinchel added his opinion.

They looked at the Crown Prince cautiously,

Hoping for a positive response.

But,

“Hahahaha.”

He just laughed.

“I know. Of course I know. I know what you’re thinking. But,”

He tapped his head with his finger.

“I’ve come up with a perfect strategy this time. A strategy that will allow us to annihilate the enemy. Using Nertan Castle as bait was just a part of that strategy.”

They should have believed him, if he was so confident.

But they were anxious.

Because all his previous strategies had failed.

Because of that one man, Max.

They couldn’t defeat Max in a battle of wits.

That was the negative sentiment that had permeated the Crown Prince’s forces.

“B-But the rebel army has that cunning devil…”

The commander of the Golden Lion Knights said, his voice filled with dread.

But the Crown Prince just laughed again.

“Haha, you don’t have to worry about that. I received a report a few days ago. A report that the enemy has taken the bait.”

It was a report that had been sent before they were attacked.

Of course, there had been no reports since then.

They had been too busy defending against the enemy’s relentless attacks.

“Oh, is that so? Then how many…?”

“Eighty thousand. And they’re the Celtrine-Erenbert army. In other words, that bastard Max won’t be appearing on this battlefield.”

“That’s wonderful news, Your Highness. But he’s a cunning one. We should consider the possibility that it’s a trick…”

Vinchel said cautiously.

“Heh, that’s impossible. The report said that he was marching directly towards Nertan Castle. Why would he attack a castle if he was trying to trick us?”

“A-Attack the castle?”

“Nertan Castle is in danger!”

The commanders of the Golden Lion Knights and the Silver Lion Knights’ eyes widened in surprise.

Even though it was a strategic bait, it wasn’t a disposable piece.

It was an important asset.

But they hadn’t thought that it would be in danger.

Because the Crown Prince was here.

This war would be over if they could just defeat the Crown Prince.

So they had assumed that the enemy wouldn’t risk attacking Nertan Castle.

It would be enough for them to just keep the enemy trapped there.

But their prediction was wrong.

As expected of Max, he was unpredictable.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Duke Henatus is defending Nertan Castle. It won’t fall easily.”

Saying that it wouldn’t fall easily was the same as saying that it might eventually fall.

But it didn’t matter.

“In the meantime!”

The Crown Prince’s voice rose.

“We’ll crush the enemy here and then go to their rescue. And to do that,”

He raised his head arrogantly.

“Just follow me. Alright? Now prepare for battle!”

His words were filled with the authority of an emperor, even though he wasn’t one yet.

It was an overwhelming pressure.

There was only one answer they could give.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The ninety thousand soldiers began to move.

* * *

The Hoover Swamps.

No one paid any attention to them as they passed by.

It was a worthless land.

Both militarily and economically.

The princess’s army marched on, ignoring the Hoover Swamps.

But they had to stop.

“Urgent report!”

“What is it?”

“The Crown Prince’s forces have left Amar Castle and set up camp in the Red Desert!”

“They left the castle?”

The princess’s emerald eyes widened.

“Huh, they’re crazy. They’re choosing to fight a field battle here?”

“They’ve been losing so badly, and yet they’re so confident. It’s absurd.”

“What does it matter? The important thing is that this is good news for us.”

“That’s right! We can wipe out the treacherous prince’s forces in one fell swoop!”

The lords were excited.

It was understandable.

They all saw it as good news.

But the princess remained calm.

“Viscount Bizel,”

She looked at one of the southern lords who had defected.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Tell me about the Red Desert.”

“As its name suggests, it’s a land of nothing but red rocks and sand. There are no forests or hills.”

“So ambushes are impossible?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hehe, interesting.”

The princess chuckled.

“To choose a final showdown of brute force… It’s so like my brother.”

“Your Highness, I believe it would be wise to regroup and reorganize before engaging the enemy.”

Marquis Safia said.

They had set out expecting a siege.

They hadn’t anticipated that the enemy would come out and fight them in the open field.

So they needed to change their formation to one that was more suitable for a field battle.

“You’re right.”

The princess nodded.

“Then let’s deploy most of our soldiers on the flanks.”

“Huh? You mean…?”

“If we attack them from both sides, this battle will be over quickly, don’t you think?”

Deploying most of their soldiers on the flanks meant strengthening their flanks.

It was a pincer attack formation.

A formation that was suitable for a larger army attacking a smaller army.

It was a fitting choice for the princess’s army, which had a numerical advantage.

If they pressed the enemy from both sides with their superior numbers, the enemy would be surrounded and crushed.

It would be a decisive victory.

But,

The formation had a weakness.

Their center would inevitably be weakened, since most of their soldiers would be on the flanks.

If their center was breached, they would be in danger.

Especially if there was someone in the center who needed to be protected, like the princess.

Marquis Safia was worried about that.

“It’s a brilliant strategy, Your Highness. But this is a battle for the throne. The center, where the future emperor will be located, needs to be heavily guarded…”

“Hehe, it’s fine, it’s fine. It’s better to disperse our forces and end this war quickly than to waste our resources on guarding the center.”

“B-But…”

“Don’t worry. Who do you think I am? The center won’t fall as long as I’m here.”

The princess said confidently.

Those who knew her knew that she wasn’t being arrogant.

“…Alright.”

Marquis Safia had no choice but to agree.

The strategy itself was sound.

‘Yes, this might actually be a good thing. If we achieve a decisive victory with Her Highness’s strategy and finish off the treacherous prince, Max’s name will be overshadowed.’

His eyes gleamed.

“Then I’ll redeploy our forces immediately.”

“Hehe, yes, please do, Marquis Safia.”

The princess’s army reorganized their formation and prepared for the final battle.

* * *

The Red Desert.

It was probably the first time in history that such a large army had gathered in this land.

It was a massive army.

One hundred and ten thousand soldiers on the princess’s side, and ninety thousand on the Crown Prince’s side.

“It seems like they’ve scraped together every soldier they could find.”

The princess tilted her head, surprised by the enemy’s larger-than-expected numbers.

Marquis Safia’s face paled.

“I-I apologize, Your Highness. It seems like we fell for their trick.”

“Trick?”

“…Yes. They must have inflated the number of soldiers at Nertan Castle to make us split our forces. I’m so ashamed of myself.”

He realized that they had taken the enemy’s bait, and his face fell.

But the princess remained calm.

“Ah, it’s fine. It just means that Senior Max also fell for it. It can’t be helped.”

‘Ugh.’

Marquis Safia barely managed to hide his annoyance at the mention of Max’s name.

It was a blow to his pride to be compared to Max, especially in a negative light.

The princess, oblivious to his feelings, continued, “But we still have more soldiers. And our morale is incomparable. So who’s the one who fell for a trick?”

If Max had been there, he would have been impressed. She was a perfect emperor, except for one fatal flaw.

Even Marquis Safia was impressed.

Who else could remain so calm after realizing that they had fallen for the enemy’s trick?

The princess’s composure calmed the other lords.

“You can all feel it, right? The enemy can’t counter our strategy. It means victory is ours.”

*Shing!*

She drew her sword.

“Woooooo!”

“Long live the princess!”

“Victory for the princess! Death to the treacherous prince!”

The princess’s army roared.

* * *

“Heh, interesting formation.”

The Crown Prince also saw through his sister’s strategy.

She was planning to strengthen her flanks, crush their wings, and then surround and annihilate them.

And he also knew,

That they didn’t have the strength to counter it.

They were outnumbered, and their morale was low.

They didn’t have the fighting strength.

They wouldn’t be able to hold out, let alone push back the enemy’s attack.

But the Crown Prince smiled.

Because he had another trump card up his sleeve.

*Shing!*

He drew his sword, a large and heavy blade that he favored.

“I won’t waste my breath. Just kill them all.”

Unlike the princess’s army, his army didn’t roar.

Their morale was too low for that.

It didn’t matter.

Morale was built on hope.

And hope would soon sweep across the battlefield.

He grinned.

* * *

“It’s about time.”

Max muttered.

It had been a while since the Crown Prince’s forces had left the castle.

They must have already clashed with the princess’s army by now.

If they departed now, they would arrive at the battlefield at the perfect time.

“Let’s go!”

He shouted, and his army began to move.