Chapter 51
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51
“We have achieved our initial goal of a single victory. Now, we must retreat before it is too late.”
Lucian spoke with a finality that suggested he would brook no counterargument.
The Marquis and the other lords nodded silently, offering no particular objection. They knew all too well what might happen if they lingered any longer.
“I suppose so. We shall let the soldiers rest for a day and then withdraw immediately.”
“No, we must move right now.”
“What? Surely that is too hasty? Look at the state of the men...”
Marquis Bernhardt’s face clouded with bewilderment at Lucian’s words. A significant number of soldiers were still paralyzed, their bodies numbed and unable to move. To suggest they move immediately instead of resting until they recovered seemed absurd.
“Even if we set out now, we will only move at a snail’s pace. The healthy soldiers will be even more exhausted from having to support those who cannot walk. Would it not be better to give them at least a day of rest?”
“If there were no threat, I would have let them rest for three days, not just one. But time is of the essence. The enemy’s pursuit party will be upon us soon.”
“A pursuit party? The Allied Forces repelled the ambushers, and the rest of the enemy should be holed up in Bodium Castle. What threat could possibly remain? If anything, Krepelt should be celebrating their supposed victory over the Empire.”
“Krepelt has not gained independence just because the Empire suffered a single setback.”
Previously, Lucian had believed that if the Empire were defeated, its vassal states would rise up in unison, making re-suppression impossible. Conversely, the Marquis had believed the Empire still possessed the strength to attempt re-suppression multiple times.
Lucian’s opinion remained the same, but the problem lay in Krepelt’s perspective.
Judging by their violation of the Grand Accord, Krepelt likely leaned toward the former view, but there was always the chance of the unexpected.
“Krepelt will want to block any possibility of the Empire advancing again. Even if they cannot guarantee their independence, they will want to buy time until other chaos erupts. For instance, by taking a high-ranking successor to the throne as a prisoner to use as leverage.”
“...!”
The complexions of all the lords, including the Marquis, shifted instantly.
The thought that they would commit such a madness seemed far-fetched, but then they remembered the attacks they had just endured. These were people who had already scrapped the Grand Accord and hired unauthorized mages; they had nothing left to lose. Would such people truly care about the Emperor’s wrath or the ensuing fallout?
“Are you saying those Krepelt bastards will send a pursuit party specifically for me?”
“It is merely a deduction, but the possibility is high.”
“L-Lord Lucian! Is there no other way?!”
Claude, his face turning ashen, shouted in a voice he couldn't quite keep from trembling. Lucian pretended to deliberate for a moment before speaking.
“The most certain way would be for His Highness the First Prince to leave the battlefield first, taking only a small escort of his personal guard...”
“That is out of the question.”
“Marquis?”
Claude looked at Marquis Bernhardt, who had answered in his stead, with a startled expression. Ignoring Claude’s gaze, the Marquis glared at Lucian with cold eyes.
“No matter if it is for the safety of the First Prince, what would happen if the Commander-in-Chief were the first to desert the battlefield? The soldiers’ morale would hit rock bottom, and His Highness’s reputation would surely be tarnished!”
“There are times when one must endure humiliation.”
“I say this because it will not end with mere humiliation. If we are not careful, certain sycophants will question His Highness’s qualifications and attempt to interfere with the succession!”
“....”
Everyone held their breath at the Marquis’s blunt words. Claude, who had been momentarily tempted by Lucian’s suggestion, also began to tremble, his face turning white.
“The... the Marquis is right. I will not flee alone.”
Lucian clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of the shaking Claude. So he’s terrified of dying, but he hates the idea of giving up the throne even more.
Tsk. It would have been so much easier if he’d just run away.
It was a pity, but there was nothing to be done. Lucian cleanly abandoned the idea and proposed his second plan.
“Then there is only one way left. We must retreat as quickly as possible before the enemy arrives.”
“But the wounded who haven't recovered...”
“If they cannot walk, we must carry them on our backs. If this were a long march, rest would be appropriate, but the border is only three days away. It is better to push the soldiers harder and move quickly.”
In truth, it would be much faster to abandon the wounded, but the Allied Forces were composed of elites drawn from each noble house. There was no way the lords would abandon their own family’s soldiers. Unless Lucian wanted to earn their eternal enmity, suggesting they be left behind was impossible. Moreover, he risked being branded with the infamy of abandoning his allies before his very eyes.
“It seems the policy is set. If there are no other objections, I would like to move out immediately.”
Naturally, there were no objections. Following Lucian’s lead, the Allied Forces hurriedly began their retreat, carrying the wounded on their backs.
“What? You had the enemy cornered, only to be crushed by a force that ambushed you from the rear? And Count Dominic was killed in the process?”
“Yes. Those bastards hung the Count’s head on a pike and displayed it like a barbarian’s trophy...”
“Those sons of bitches!”
Thud!
Erich, the young king of Krepelt, slammed his fist onto the table. He had been prepared for retaliation from the moment he broke the Grand Accord. He knew that if he chose to use any means necessary, his enemies could do the same.
However, no matter how prepared he was, the news of the death of a cherished, loyal subject and the desecration of his corpse was enough to send him into a shock.
“The enemy’s losses... how great were they?”
Erich asked in a trembling voice, barely swallowing his rage. The knight’s eyes darted around as if recalling the moment of defeat before he answered.
“There were more incapacitated soldiers than there were dead. Nearly half their number collapsed from the aftereffects of the magic and could not move. The number of those who could move was also significantly reduced by Count Dominic’s assault, so their effective fighting strength must be considered cut by more than half.”
“Still, if they didn't die, they should have recovered somewhat by now.”
“According to the mage, their muscles will not function properly for about a fortnight. He said that while they might be able to walk at a brisk pace, actions like running or swinging something with force would be nearly impossible.”
Erich’s eyes snapped open at the knight’s report.
In other words, although they had lost the battle, they had halved the enemy’s strength, and the remaining soldiers were burdened with the wounded. If they also subtracted those killed by Dominic’s attack, a direct assault would be more than enough to crush the enemy.
If those fools would just come to Bodium on their own, I could annihilate them unilaterally, but they won't be that stupid.
Since the Grand Accord had been torn up and the First Prince’s life had been threatened, they would be trying to retreat as fast as possible. Now, he had to abandon the advantage of a siege and chase them down, even if it meant a field battle. If he could just capture the First Prince, the Emperor would have no choice but to accept Krepelt’s demands.
“Wait, now that I think of it, where is the mage who accompanied you? Did he die in battle?”
“I do not know. He was supposed to stay behind and wait before we deployed, but he never appeared after the defeat. He simply vanished.”
“He ran away.”
The wandering mage had been lukewarm even when Erich promised to hire him as a court mage if things went well. Erich hadn't liked his mercenary attitude of only caring for gold, but to think he would flee without even taking his pay the moment he saw a defeat.
Did Krepelt look so pathetic even to a mere mage? So much so that he was certain we would collapse after a single loss?
Erich ground his teeth, thinking of Colin. There was no use trying to catch someone who had already left. Once Krepelt stood tall in its independence, that man would return, regretting his choice. He would return this humiliation then.
“We march! We shall annihilate the Imperial army, capture the First Prince, and achieve Krepelt’s independence!”
“I expected it, but we really are crawling.”
Raymond grumbled as he watched the Allied Forces following sluggishly behind. More than half the soldiers were in a state where they couldn't move unless someone supported or carried them. With so many wounded, the march was naturally slow.
“I doubt we’ll arrive on time at this rate. No matter how I look at it, the enemy will catch up first.”
“Are you worried?”
“To be precise, I’m worried they’ll tell us to block the pursuit party. Are we going to be stuck doing the final cleanup again?”
Lucian chuckled at Raymond’s concern and shook his head.
“Don't worry, that won't happen.”
“Even if you say that, we’re the only ones with our strength intact. What if the other lords and the First Prince push it onto you, Young Master?”
“I’ll just say no.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m going to refuse.”
“C-Can you even do that?”
“Why wouldn't I be able to?”
Lucian shrugged at the bewildered Raymond.
“It is true that the Allied Forces’ losses would be minimized if House Valdek threw itself into the fray to stop the enemy. However, right now, there is no one who can even dare to make such a suggestion to me.”
Lucian had consistently offered the best strategies throughout this war. From the concerns about the breaking of the Grand Accord and the depletion of drinking water to the suggestion of retreat and the prediction of the ambush.
And in the end, it was the leadership of the Allied Forces who had ruined everything by not listening. Except for Cedric, who had his own schemes, not a single person had stood by Lucian’s side, meaning they were all guilty of the same folly.
“And yet, after ignoring all my advice and nearly dying, only to be saved by me, they want me to do the cleanup too? That’s a joke. Unless they want to make an enemy of House Valdek entirely, they won't even be able to open their mouths to say such a thing.”
“But if we are caught, someone will have to stay behind to buy time for the retreat. Do you think anyone will step forward?”
“Of course there is.”
And a very reliable and powerful lord at that.
Just before Lucian could answer with a smile, the shouts of the soldiers reached them.
“It’s the Horsen River!”
“It’s the border!”
The place where they had performed that pathetic masquerade when they first arrived came into everyone’s view. Once they crossed the river, the pursuit party wouldn't be able to follow them so easily. Everyone was breathing a sigh of relief, thinking they were finally safe.
“P-Pursuit! It’s a pursuit party!”
“The Krepelt bastards have caught up!”
Suddenly, a scream filled with despair erupted from the rear. The relieved soldiers turned back, their faces turning ashen. Though their numbers weren't great, a pursuit party composed entirely of cavalry was charging toward the Allied Forces at a breakneck speed.
“They’re still a ways off, but at that speed, they’ll catch us before we can cross the river.”
“L-Lord Lucian.”
“What is it?”
Lucian glared at a certain tactless viscount who called out to him. Flinching at the sharp gaze, the viscount turned his head away, unable to ask Lucian to stop the enemy. Since Lucian had made it clear he wouldn't do it, the viscount was in no position to force him.
Seeing Lucian’s attitude, the eyes of everyone looking for a scapegoat focused on a single person. The head of the most powerful house after Grand Duke Valdek, and the one with the most combat-capable troops remaining.
Damn it.
Marquis Bernhardt gritted his teeth under the unspoken pressure. To buy time for a retreat was a fancy way of saying it was a mission where one might very well die.
However, the Marquis could not refuse. Unlike Lucian, who had performed brilliantly in this war, he had made too many wrong decisions.
If I don't save at least a minimum of face here, I’ll be pressed under Valdek’s thumb for years to come. It might even affect my authority within the Noble Faction.
If he were willing to give up his former power, it wouldn't matter, but to the Marquis, such a life was no different from death. It was better to risk his life in battle to recover his damaged prestige.
Having made his decision, the Marquis knelt on the spot and shouted loudly.
“Your Highness the First Prince! I shall hold back the enemy, so in the meantime, please take your—”
“Wait a moment, Marquis. I do not think that will be necessary.”
It was the Second Prince, Cedric, who cut off the Marquis’s desperate voice. Stepping in suddenly, Cedric looked around at everyone and pointed across the Horsen River.
“Look over there. Our allies are coming.”
“Pardon? Allies? What on earth do you...!?”
The leadership of the Allied Forces froze in unison as they looked in the direction Cedric was pointing. Lucian’s reaction was the same as the other lords.
The unexpected reinforcements were warriors of a caliber beyond imagination.
The Red Wing Knights.
The Imperial Guard directly under the Emperor, famous for being the strongest in the Empire, were galloping toward the Allied Forces.