episode_0042

Meanwhile, Walter was conversing with his agent in a dark room with a candle lit.

“Vincent. Leona refused to submit to her allies. Wouldn’t it be better to surrender unconditionally even now?”

Then Vincent Gray, the bookkeeper, laughed softly.

“Master, it was calculated up to this point.”

“It was calculated?”

“Why do you think the enemy only brought 40,000 people?”

“That’s right… ”

There may be several reasons. But there is probably only one biggest reason.

“Because the military supply is not enough. By having fewer soldiers, you will have fewer people to feed.”

“Yes. Perhaps the enemy’s military reserves are not sufficient. Otherwise, there would be no need to reduce the number of troops. So what should we do?”

“War of attrition.”

“Yes. All you have to do is hold out until the enemy’s soldiers run out.”

“What does that have to do with surrender negotiations?”

“Master. If you surrender unconditionally, Leona will install her subordinates as the lords of this place and our vassals will be disbanded.”

“I guess so.”

“In that case, some people will be scattered throughout the world, and some will remain here and become indigenous forces, seeking opportunities to reclaim their territory.”

“That will happen.”

“If that happens, it will be the beginning of a long tragedy for us. You will have to go through many days of hardship. So our fate depends on the present.”

Walter knew that much too. Even without having to explain it again.

“Unconditional surrender is the beginning of a long tragedy. So, rather than begging to be seen, we must achieve it ourselves. Autonomy.”

“… ”

Only then did Walter understand Vincent’s thoughts. If they surrender unconditionally, the vassals will either go to a distant land with no connection, or become an indigenous force and continue a long and lonely fight.

In order to prevent such a situation, they will have no choice but to consume all of their troops here and now. The story was that the only way was to get them to accept subjugation.

“The price of victory is submission… ”

“Lord, the price of defeat is losing your hometown. Subjugation is a hundred times better than losing your hometown.”

Walter nodded. Whether you win or lose, a not-so-good ending awaits you, but that is the fate of turbulent times. I just tried to somehow achieve a better ending.

—–

The next morning, Leona immediately gathered the generals.

“They had the audacity to demand autonomy. Does everyone know what the reason is?”

“That’s right… It must have been discovered that our soldiers were short.”

“Yes. Our supply is for the next 3 months. They are arrogantly thinking that they will hold out for three months.”

“… ”

“Isn’t it fun? The central families also surrendered in an instant, and even the Ambrosia family, the losers of the central region, are saying that they will hold out for three months against us, who were terrified.”

“I won’t let that happen!”

Clemens shouted loudly. The enemy soldier on top of the castle gate looked around in surprise, wondering if it was an attack, and I covered my ears.

“Excellent Clemens. You can break through it quickly.”

“Yes!”

“Yes. Our army has many capable generals. Starting with Clemens, Haakon, Garcia, and recently joined Franz Mayer and Adelheit von Ignati. You are all capable people.”

I nodded. This lineup is an excellent lineup created because it is the main character faction, and it is not easy to create.

“So I believe. You will bring me victory. Before 3 months have passed.”

“Just leave it to me!”

“In that case, I will leave each person with a role. Clemens, lead 8,000 soldiers and attack the north of the castle.”

“Yes!”

“Hakon. Lead 8,000 soldiers and attack the west side of the castle.”

“Yes!”

“Garcia. Lead 8,000 soldiers and attack the east side of the castle, but consult with Adelheit before moving.”

“Yes.”

“And Franz Mayer.”

“Yes.”

“You attack the main gate with 16,000 troops.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“This battle is an important battle to solidify our army’s southern border! Never underestimate the enemy just because they are small in number. Do your best to crush them! Disband!”

Each commander began to head to their respective positions. That’s how the battle began.

—–

The attack methods for each castle were different. While Clemens would build ladders and siege towers and charge from the front himself, the main army would lead the advance but preferred to enter while the enemy on the walls had been sufficiently reduced through a firefight, while Garcia would dig tunnels or weaken the walls and blow them up. Therefore, the method of making a hole was favored. Either way could be said to be correct.

It was the same this time too. Our troops were engaged in a firefight using a large number of muskets. In a firefight between muskets and archers across a castle wall, muskets basically have the advantage. This is because the effective range is lower, but the accuracy rate is higher.

It was even more advantageous if there were a lot of them. Our troops attacked the enemy on the castle wall by placing a shield soldier with a large shield in front, loading the musket behind him, and then shooting with only his head out. In that way, we gradually reduced the number of enemies. however…

-Whisk!

A large arrow passed by Leona’s head. Leona’s helmet came off in shock.

“Lord, lord! Are you okay?”

“Ah, it’s okay. When I saw the arrow coming, I barely turned my head and didn’t hit it directly.”

As Leona said that, her head was bleeding. I took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood from her forehead, and helped her up.

The next arrow flew, but thanks to the action of the shield soldiers who gathered in an instant, the arrow was stuck in the shield and lost its power. Leona was impressed.

“ I was thinking that the arrow wouldn’t fly at this distance. Is there an archer as good as Harper in the enemy army?”

“Yes. It seems like that.”

I looked at one place. There was a large man there who looked to be over 190 cm tall. At 190, he was considered large even in modern times, but in this era, he was truly considered a giant.

The man was aiming at us with a longbow that was much larger than the others. Not only was his aim accurate, but his destructive power was also enormous.

“It’s incredible. What is that commander’s name?”

“This is Bernardis Gray.”

I didn’t really find out. However, I knew it originally. Because that man was the only one in this world who possessed 100 weapons. In a word, the owner of the world’s most powerful force. Of course, his intellect and political power were not very high, so he was not ranked among the strongest geniuses, but his tremendous strength alone was enough to prove his usefulness.

“Can you put it under me?”

“It’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because the author’s loyalty is only to the Letlis family.”

“Ah… ”

Only then did the fact come to mind. Have you said that the unity of Letless’s vassals is amazing? Bernardis Gray is also a person of extraordinary loyalty… Leona became even more greedy for Letless’s vassals.

“Okay, I decided.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I succeed in this expedition, I will definitely place the Letless vassals under me.”

well. Would it be that easy? They are true loyalists. I wouldn’t betray him for anything.

But Leona doesn’t know that fact yet. Until I bumped into him, he wouldn’t listen no matter how much I tried to persuade him.

Even at the moment of such conversation, the fire battle between our musketeers and our enemy’s archers was continuing. In general, our side had the advantage, but the problem was Bernardis Gray. Every time Bernardis Gray fired an arrow at a friendly shield soldier approaching the enemy castle, the shield soldier and the musketeer hidden behind him flew towards the set. This happened because Bernardis’ bow itself had tremendous tension and was shot with mana.

At this point, morale was likely to be low, but our troops were not intimidated and steadily approached the enemy’s walls.

As our troops approached and a full-scale firefight broke out, it became difficult for Bernardis to turn the situation around with his own shooting. Our army quickly reduced the enemy’s archers, and whenever the enemy’s archers decreased, a gap was created in the enemy’s wall.

The speed at which the gap was created was faster than the speed at which the enemy was filling it. Leona did not miss the gap that continued to form and gave the order to charge. It was at the perfect timing.

“All troops! Charge!”

Soldiers carrying ladders ran. The siege tower ran. The battering ram ran. All troops and heavy siege weapons ran towards Letlis Castle at full speed.

The enemy sprayed oil and fired fiery arrows at the siege weapons. However, thanks to the padded leather, it did not burn easily.

And soon, when our siege tower reached the enemy’s wall.

Bernardis handed the bow to his subordinate and took out the Halbert he was carrying on his back.

‘■■■■’

Bernardis was seen muttering something. But I couldn’t hear the content of what was being said.

Bernardis, holding a halbert, crossed between the soldiers. Every time the soldiers saw Bernardis, they cleared the way and made a noise.

Soon Bernardis stood on the wall connected to the siege tower. As our siege tower was attached to the castle wall, a group of knights wearing silver plate armor inside the siege tower waited in great tension for the siege tower’s door to open.

Soon the door of the siege tower opened. The knights in silver armor made eye contact with Bernardis.

At that moment, the knights froze for a moment. Bernardis’ red eyes literally shined like the eyes of a wild beast. However, our knights soon came to their senses and slowly approached the castle wall by climbing the bridge of the siege tower. If they could just break through here, victory was guaranteed.

But the next moment. Bernardis rushes in quickly, as if teleporting, and swings Halbert wide.

-Kwaang!!!

With a sound as if something exploded.

Dozens of knights who were entering the enemy’s walls through siege towers were hit by Bernardis’s Halbert and flew into the sky in an instant.

It was only after seeing that that I realized something.

The point was that anyone who reached 100 in any ability level was not at the level of a human being.