Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Bait Operation (5)
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I hurried back to my battalion.
Was it because of the news that the enemy's main attack was focused on the west?
I felt a slight easing of tension, if only just a little.
"The enemy will be coming this way soon. Everyone, get your heads in the game and load your muskets!"
At my shout, the battalion soldiers scrambled back into action.
Matching the momentum, discipline began to firm up in the surrounding units as well.
"Sir, what orders did Brigadier General Hausenburg give?"
"We just hold this position, Lieutenant Lina."
"Understood."
They say the more urgent the situation, the more you should take it slow.
But waiting in a crisis like this was no easy task.
Your insides burned, yet you had to endure to the end.
'Everyone must be going mad with frustration.'
From the rear came the sound of horses crashing into wagons, followed by the relentless crack of musket fire pounding our ears.
Even as our allies were taking hits, we had to stay put and hold our ground.
Just as impatience started gnawing at me, dust clouds began rising beyond the ridge.
Amid the dust, the shapes of cavalrymen emerged.
After all that waiting, the enemy had finally shown themselves.
If I hadn't caught on to their scheme, we would've been wiped out.
"Enemy cavalry!"
"Why the hell are those lunatics charging straight at us?"
"Are they suicidal?!"
We had stakes driven into the ground at the rear to counter a cavalry assault.
With preparations in place, we could hold them off adequately...
But cavalry shone in flanking attacks; charging head-on into infantry with loaded muskets was a declaration of insanity.
We were ready, but their mad charge had thrown everyone off.
"Aim!"
Led by me, everyone leveled their muskets at the enemy.
The light cavalry galloping toward us laughed wildly, as if they knew no fear.
"If we kill those guys, the Ortz Kingdom wins!"
"Long live the Ortz Kingdom!"
Their faces weren't clear.
But beneath those helmets, terror must have lurked.
If they were like infantry with muskets, they could at least counterattack properly.
But relying on a pistol with hit-or-miss accuracy at ten meters and a lance for the charge...
It took tremendous courage.
Enemy or not, I had to respect that bravery.
'Though they'll be dog meat soon enough.'
We held our aim and waited.
The distance closed: 200 meters, 150 meters, 100 meters...
Just as the faces of the front riders became visible.
'Too late to stop now, even if they wanted to?'
Stopping would mean colliding with their own surging ranks behind them.
"Now! Fall back! Take cover behind the stakes!"
The soldiers bolted rearward, still holding their aimed matchlocks.
As we retreated, the stakes—ready to impale the enemy—were revealed.
The cavalrymen's faces drained white.
"N-no, don't..."
"Damn it."
Stakes that could pierce both horse and rider in a musket volley.
The perfect combo could stop anything—even knights clad head to toe in plate.
Only then, certain they'd sprung the trap, did a smile creep across my face.
'Harvest time.'
I retreated behind the stakes myself and immediately gave the fire order.
"Turn them into beehives!"
At my command, our volley roared.
The deafening cracks threatened to burst our eardrums.
Horses and riders screamed in agony as one.
If the enemy commander heard this assault had failed, he'd weep.
They'd committed reserves expecting losses, all to win—only for me to shut it down completely.
"Hit them with another volley before they recover! Prepare for melee!"
Handling cavalry was simple.
Cavalry pinned down were just big human targets atop horses.
Kill one more while their mobility was shot.
Overthinking it only hurt us.
"Lieutenant Dorothea, can you hear me?"
Monica, at my side, responded instantly.
"Yes, sir."
"Have the cavalry company mount up right away. The colonel will signal total assault soon."
"Understood."
No one misses a chance when the tide comes in.
Our colonel wasn't incompetent enough to ignore the opening I'd created.
And Lina, unprompted...
Held the battalion colors aloft, just like last time.
"Battalion Commander."
For a split second, I nearly replied formally.
She carried such authority.
Lina glanced at where Monica had been beside me and spoke.
"The spot next to you is mine."
"With an outstanding officer like Lieutenant Lina sticking by my side, I am truly fortunate."
"Thank you."
A nearby company commander shot me a suspicious look.
Nothing to it, probably.
Just regret that I'd given the vanguard to a female officer—he must've wanted it.
"Captain Lintz."
"Yes, sir."
"You're free to take point. I understand."
"...Thank you."
Captain Lintz drew his sword and moved to the front upon hearing that.
As expected, the regimental colonel's charge order came moments later.
"Charge forward!"
Every soldier on the Imperial Army's eastern flank drew weapons and surged.
The immobilized cavalry died without resistance.
Horsebound swings were limited in reach...
They couldn't land effective hits on Imperial soldiers.
"Kill them all!"
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
Already battered head-on, now facing melee—the worst for them.
Ortz Kingdom cavalry were helpless.
In the rear, chaos erupted over retreat.
Disorder tangled their lines.
They say wars claim most lives during retreats, not head-on clashes...
'They can't even move organized.'
Even a college group project would run smoother.
"Die!"
A voice drew my eyes—an Ortz soldier charging me, sword drawn, having ditched his horse.
Smart move; horses blocked movement entirely.
Protecting the horse meant nothing if you died.
Of course, right action didn't guarantee survival.
"You're the one dying."
I parried his clumsy neck slash aside.
His balance crumbled in an instant.
I thrust into the gap, stabbing his throat.
He spewed blood and died pathetically.
"Brave souls, cowards, great commanders—all meet miserable ends in war."
Meanwhile, Lina shone at the vanguard, as before.
Parrying enemy strikes with her sword in one hand, flowing into counters.
She cleaved foes cleanly in openings.
Her movements were flashy and beautiful, like a dance.
"...I need to stay on the best terms with Lieutenant Lina."
Unlikely we'd ever fight, but I'd lose.
From behind us, Monica's cavalry burst forth.
They pursued fleeing enemy riders, turning it into a rout.
"We've won."
Victory was sealed.
The Imperial Army had triumphed.
The situation on the east reached Brigadier General Hausenburg.
"Everything went just as Major Schumacher predicted."
The Ortz Kingdom knights slammed into wagons packed with dirt.
Reserves fully committed, they'd held without major losses.
Further attacks shifted north and south, but...
They never breached the formation.
Meaning his Imperial Army had won a great victory.
'Not entirely over yet.'
"Where are the enemy knights now?"
"Attempting another attack on the west."
"Once east news spreads, they'll retreat. Letting them go doesn't change our win, but..."
Hausenburg ground his teeth.
Daring to assassinate an Imperial royal—these bastards.
Inciting unrest across the Empire, cowards. Let them slink away scot-free?
He couldn't stomach it on his honor as an Imperial officer.
He'd kill one more by any means.
"You worthless dogs won't survive a single one. Move the troops garrisoned south and north of the formation. Herd them into a semicircle, then blast the charging knights with volleys!"
A risky order.
If light cavalry remained intact, staff would've begged him to stop.
But routed cavalry were no threat now.
Surrounding knights on three sides was best.
Imperial soldiers swiftly reformed...
And poured fire from three flanks on the oncoming Ortz knights.
The Ortz Kingdom forces then retreated.
A crushing Imperial victory.