The Last Night of the Cavalry

The night of the third day.

When dawn broke, an unavoidable fate would befall the cavalry.

One might expect silence in the face of such a deadly fate, but the atmosphere in the encampment remained largely unchanged.

They were simply accepting what was coming.

They hadn’t yet heard what choice their commander would make, but there were things one could know without being told.

After meeting with the Emperor, the Cavalry Commander returned to the encampment.

He had remained tight-lipped about future plans, but now he gathered everyone and spoke.

“At dawn, we will break through the Empire’s defenses.”

No one in the camp was surprised.

“I’ll take questions.”

The Cavalry Commander stood where the bonfire had been, and the troopers sat in a circle around him.

“I have a question.”

Amid the quiet silence, someone raised their hand.

The Commander gestured to the questioner. All eyes turned to him.

It was Yohan.

With a serious face, he looked back and forth between the Commander and the troopers before speaking.

“Are we eating breakfast?”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes. Preferably meat, if possible. Soup alone won’t fill me up enough to have any strength.”

Some troopers nodded in agreement. Anna and Agnes, however, looked at Yohan as if he were a bug.

“Deputy Commander, is there any meat left?”

At the Commander’s question, Anna straightened her back.

“There is some left, but not enough to share so everyone can have their fill.”

“Then, Yohan, the proposer, will have to procure the meat.”

“Pardon?”

Yohan’s eyes widened at the Commander’s words.

“Isn’t it natural for the proposer to procure it?”

A hint of playfulness flickered across the Cavalry Commander’s calm face.

“Ah, no. Commander…”

Yohan groaned, but the Commander dismissed him by turning away.

“Any other questions?”

“Should we not perform a separate diversionary tactic?”

It was Judah’s question. The troopers in the camp, who had been chatting idly, fell silent.

“A diversionary tactic… Do you think it’s necessary?”

The Commander answered Judah’s question with a question.

Judah paused, organizing his thoughts.

“I thought it might reduce casualties if we didn’t engage in a direct confrontation.”

“I don’t think there will be a problem. However, as Judah said, I do think we need personnel to carry out a separate mission.”

“I see.”

“Those personnel will not rejoin the main force and will operate separately, so think about it beforehand.”

“Ah, has the selection already been made?”

Judah asked again.

“It has been decided.”

The Commander replied curtly.

“Understood.”

With Judah’s words, the cavalry began to spend their last night in their own ways.

The cavalry didn’t need detailed tactics or morale-boosting rituals.

“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived.”

“Oh?”

The Emperor took the letter from the Knight Commander and quickly scanned its contents.

After reading the brief information to the end, the Emperor made a displeased noise.

“Is something bothering you?”

“He clearly said he would lead his forces to confront me head-on, yet he’s preparing a separate detachment… To lie to me.”

The Emperor was displeased that his favored one had lied to him.

“I believe that using any means necessary for victory is the mark of a great commander. While it is disappointing that the Cavalry Commander lied to Your Majesty, I humbly suggest that you consider it as him fulfilling his role.”

The Knight Commander, watching the Emperor’s mood, spoke carefully to appease him.

“Hmm, hmm… The Knight Commander makes a valid point. Although he will eventually be mine, he is currently serving in an enemy nation… I, in my benevolence, must understand the Cavalry Commander’s actions.”

“The Cavalry Commander will surely be grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

“Hehe, I hope so.”

“Your Majesty, I will also prepare for the separate detachment.”

The Emperor nodded at the Knight Commander’s words.

“I had no intention of letting anyone but the Cavalry Commander live anyway. The separate detachment doesn’t need to be captured.”

“Understood.”

“The Cavalry Commander and the Deputy Commander are the ones who must be captured alive.”

“The Deputy Commander as well?”

The Knight Commander asked, puzzled.

The Emperor ran a hand through his ebony hair and smirked.

“Death is too merciful for that insolent bitch. I will have her tendons severed and throw her into the Empire’s dirtiest brothel. She will live a life crushed under the sweaty flesh of beggars and drunks.”

“Understood.”

“Hehe, tomorrow is the day.”

Looking at the high-rising moon, the Emperor muttered with a satisfied expression.

“The day you become mine has finally arrived.”

The Emperor muttered with a rapturous face.

As the sun rose, the troopers in the encampment packed up their belongings.

Someone brought water and poured it on the bonfire. The flames that had warmed the camp for three days died, sending up a final plume of white smoke.

They gathered the worn blankets they had laid on the ground, erasing any trace of their presence.

They fed the horses their fill of hay and checked their weapons.

They sharpened their blades, checked their bowstrings, and temporarily patched the worn parts of their leather armor.

Agnes strummed her Lute, adding a melody to the busy morning.

The cook, Yohan, began to slice and cook the meat he had procured.

The breakfast, cooked directly over the fire instead of soup, smelled delicious enough to make one’s mouth water.

After the lively moment passed, the tent opened, and the Cavalry Commander emerged.

Anna followed behind him, fully armed.

The troopers gathered before the Commander.

“Is everyone here?”

The Commander asked, looking around at the troopers.

“Yes!” the troopers shouted.

“Did you eat well?”

He continued in a calm tone, as if reciting a routine.

“Yes!” the troopers replied.

“In one hour, we will depart. Prepare yourselves.”

“Understood,” the troopers replied.

The Empire’s army slowly began to advance.

“Has he not emerged yet?”

The Emperor kept his eyes fixed on the distant entrance to the forest.

“No, not yet.”

“What about the troops I deployed around the perimeter?”

“They have been positioned where the separate detachment is likely to move.”

“Good.”

The Emperor made a satisfied sound.

Boo-ooo-ooo—

The sound of a horn echoed from afar. The deep, resonant sound reverberated from the forest.

“It seems they are about to emerge.”

The Emperor rubbed his hands together and smiled.

She tapped her feet in anticipation.

The sound of the horn shook the forest, sending birds flying into the sky.

The birds began to leave the forest, making various cries.

“Isn’t it amusing that the only thing the insignificant Kingdom of Jernoa has to boast about is the 4th Cavalry?”

The Emperor said, looking at the Knight Commander.

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

The Knight Commander replied sincerely.

“To so easily discard what I consider a treasure, without even realizing its value… The King of Jernoa is not fit to rule.”

“You are correct.”

Boo-ooo-ooo—-

Cavalrymen began to emerge from the entrance to the forest.

Even from a distance, the Emperor could see the Cavalry Commander’s face clearly.

“Good. It seems he has recovered his strength.”

The Emperor clenched her fist.

“Come at me with all your might, my dear. Struggle with every method at your disposal.”

The Emperor licked her lower lip, her eyes gleaming ominously.

“Your valor will be meaningless before overwhelming power… You will be mine today.”

The cavalry swallowed hard at the sight of the Imperial army before them.

Their bodies began to heat up in anticipation of the battle. A sense of tension and fear was accompanied by the desire to strike a blow against the Empire, the ruler of the continent.

“Wow~ What a sight.”

Yohan whistled, looking at the densely packed Imperial wall.

“Indeed… It will be difficult to find an opening.”

Anna analyzed.

“Since our arrows have a longer range than theirs, how about we whittle them down?”

Agnes suggested.

“Their shields are too big; we’ll just be wasting arrows. A single-point breakthrough, like last time, seems right.”

Gilbert countered.

“That breakthrough was for escape. If we were following the textbook, attacking from both the front and rear would be best.”

Dorian clicked his tongue regretfully.

“Dividing our forces on this wide plain would lead to piecemeal destruction. A single-point breakthrough is the way to go. It will cause the most casualties, though.”

Yohan said.

“The wall itself is long, but its thickness seems thin. It would be good to move around and disrupt the enemy’s formation.”

Anna, having finished her analysis, offered her opinion.

“I will lead the charge. Follow behind me, and block the incoming arrows with your shields.”

The Commander said, after listening to the troopers’ opinions.

“Commander, what about the separate detachment?”

Judah asked, and the Commander turned to look at him.

“You are the separate detachment, Judah.”

“Pardon?”

“The separate detachment’s mission is simple: abandon this battle.”

“Commander? What’s going on?”

Judah’s face turned pale.

The Cavalry Commander spurred his horse to Judah’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Unlike me, this is what a Cavalry Commander would do.”

The Cavalry Commander said something incomprehensible, patted his shoulder, and turned his horse back toward the outside of the forest.

The troopers began to move forward one by one, following the Cavalry Commander.

Judah, with a pale face, could not bring himself to follow them.

“Hey, Judah. Take this.”

Yohan, who was ahead, threw a pouch.

Judah reflexively reached out to catch the object flying toward his face.

The pouch was heavy.

As he untied the string, silver coins came into view.

“The other guys’ debts can be repaid in heaven, but you’re going to live a long time and go to hell, so I’m repaying you now.”

Yohan, with a refreshing smile and a wink, spurred his horse forward.

The troopers passed by him, patting his shoulder and head once each.

There was no blame, no curse.

But Judah felt ashamed and humiliated.

The cavalry, having completely emerged from the forest, stood in a line.

Although it was a battlefield with thousands of people, no one dared to make a sound easily.

“The order we received from the kingdom was to stop the Imperial army from crossing the border.”

“Today, we will carry out that order.”

He closed his eyes. Many experiences and memories flashed through his mind.

He had crossed many worlds, experienced many failures, and faced many deaths.

But the number of satisfying deaths he could count on his fingers was small.

A faint smile appeared on the Cavalry Commander’s lips.

“Is everyone ready?”

“We are always ready.”

“The Cavalry Commander was honored to be with you all. You were the Cavalry Commander’s sanctuary.”

With a deep smile, he slightly tugged the reins, and his horse began to move forward.

“I will open the way.”

The Cavalry Commander’s horse darted out like lightning, followed by Yohan and Anna’s horses, racing as if in competition.

Anna Irwena.

Yohan Sievert.

Agnes Imil.

Gilbert Meldor.

Hissen Humila.

Dorian.

Cain.

Lina.

.

.

.

The valiant cavalrymen followed their Commander.

Feeling the wind rushing past his ears, the Cavalry Commander muttered.

“For the first time in a while… it seems like a satisfying ending.”

He assessed his ninety-ninth death in this way.