War Is a Deception (6)
Monica and the rest of our regimental cavalry charged toward the enemy like knights of the Middle Ages.
The rhythmic clatter-clatter of hooves echoed, and I could feel the very earth trembling beneath us. It was a good thing they were on our side; if they had been the enemy, the mere thought of facing them would have made my skin crawl with terror.
"Trample them all into the dirt!"
Monica took the lead of her cavalry unit immediately. She leveled her lance and plowed through the enemy soldiers like a runaway truck smashing into pedestrians. With hundreds of riders simultaneously ravaging the enemy lines, the Republic soldiers were shredded like raw, blood-soaked meat.
"This is absolute hell. Pure, unadulterated hell."
Monica had skewered enemy corpses on her lance like pieces of pork on a skewer. There were four bodies impaled on that single pole. I had heard that a Winged Hussar could theoretically pierce up to six lightly armored infantrymen in a single charge, but seeing it happen in real life was something else entirely.
What the hell? That’s terrifying.
Monica discarded the lance, which had become too heavy to lift, and drew her sword instead.
"Glory to the Empire!"
At her cry, the other cavalrymen drew their blades in unison, echoing her fervor.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Kill them all, leave no one behind!"
"Long live Fortuna!"
Invoking the names of the Emperor and the gods, the cavalry began to tear through the enemy lines like nomadic raiders. Since they had been struck in the flank while their formation was in complete disarray, the outcome of the battle was already decided. No, it had been decided long ago. This was a total victory for the Imperial Army.
"We won."
"That would be thanks to the operation you proposed, Colonel. Congratulations."
The operation I had proposed was, in truth, a textbook maneuver. Since there were forests on both sides of the plain, we used them to launch a surprise attack. It was a standard tactic that both the enemy and I were well aware of. However, the reason they had been so thoroughly crushed was that they never expected me to pull off the insane feat of marching dozens of kilometers through forest paths as rugged as mountain trails, nor did they anticipate that I would abandon all our cannons and supply wagons to do it.
This is why they say common sense doesn't apply in war. Because there’s always someone crazy enough to do the impossible.
"Even if we’ve won the battle, the real work starts now. Lieutenant Lina, steel yourself."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"You can’t let Lieutenant Monica outshine you, can you?"
At those words, Lina’s entire demeanor shifted. Her gaze, fixed on the enemy, sharpened until it looked like a hawk eyeing a rabbit or a chicken.
"That’s true. There’s no telling what Lieutenant Monica might do..."
But to say there’s no telling what Monica might do—I didn’t even have a clue what she was worried about. I didn’t know what the future held, but now wasn’t the time to obsess over such trivial matters.
"Prepare for melee combat!"
I slung my rifle over my shoulder and drew my sword. If the most important thing in winning a battle is pouring bullets into the enemy while maintaining formation, then once the battle is won, the most important thing is how many more of them you can kill. And for that, melee combat was necessary.
"Kill them all, leave not a single soul alive!"
From here on out, we just had to ride the momentum and slaughter the enemy. Because their formation had completely disintegrated, they couldn’t even perform an 'orderly retreat'—the only way to minimize losses in such a situation. They were just sitting ducks.
"Colonel."
"Do you have a suggestion, Lieutenant Lina?"
"...For your sake, Colonel, I will personally capture the enemy commander."
Lina’s eyes looked a bit too intense. Her pupils seemed almost... clouded. Yes, that was the look of a yandere I’d often seen in cartoons. Perhaps she was just drained from the forest march, which had been every bit as grueling as the mountain march. Once this battle was over, I’d have to make sure she got some health supplements. Maybe eel, oysters, or some nuts known for their vitality-boosting properties. When things start feeling off, taking care of your health is the best policy.
"Don't get hurt, and don't die. I’d be very lonely without you, Lieutenant Lina."
"Please, do not worry."
In truth, I wasn't overly concerned. Lina had fought at the vanguard, flag in hand, in her very first battle after being commissioned. During the siege of Como City, she had personally led the charge and captured the mayor. Unless bullets were flying from every direction, the idea of Lina getting hurt while fighting enemies who were only interested in turning their backs and running away? I’m just worrying over nothing.
Lina, too, raised her sword and dove directly into the enemy lines.
"For the Empire!"
The soldiers following her also wielded a variety of weapons—swords, maces, and axes—continuing to ravage the enemy.
"Die, die!"
"Drop dead and become fertilizer!"
Our regimental soldiers swarmed like a plague of locusts, with Lina at the vanguard. They say that where a swarm of locusts passes, only human skulls, barren fields, and animal bones remain. Where our soldiers passed, only stragglers and corpses were left behind.
It wouldn't have been strange if only corpses remained, but our soldiers—true to their nature as a human locust swarm—knew exactly how to distinguish between what was edible and what wasn't. In other words, they didn't kill the officers who needed to be taken alive as prisoners.
"I surrender! I surrender! Please, just spare my life!"
"What is your name and rank?"
"Andrea More! I am Lieutenant Andrea More!"
"Bind him!"
After this defeat, the Dolce Republic bastards would probably grind their teeth just hearing the letter 'I' for Imperial. Our soldiers continued to sweep through the enemy, and before long, the regimental flag appeared before our eyes. The presence of a regimental flag meant the regimental commander was nearby. If it had been a divisional flag, that would be one thing, but a regimental flag...
It’s not a trap, is it?
Not long after, the vanguard of our unit, including Lina, came to a halt. Then, Lina’s voice rang out loudly.
"I have captured the regimental commander of the Dolce Republic!"
For a Colonel, that was a feat worth boasting about. In terms of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it was a position equivalent to some mid-level general, and a significantly higher-ranking official than the mayor of Como City. They were a named character, officially classified as a general.
"Lina Zeppelin, commander of the 1st Regiment Headquarters Company, has captured Colonel Dario Tolches of the Dolce Republic! Long live the Empire! Long live the Emperor!"
At her words, all the soldiers cheered as they rushed forward. Capturing a single regimental commander was, after all, no small feat.
After cheering for a moment, we continued to push forward to crush the remaining enemies. Just as it was becoming difficult to keep track of how many units we had annihilated and how many officers we had captured, the sound of trumpets echoed across the entire battlefield. It was a grand trumpet call, accompanied by the slow, steady beat of drums—the signal to cease pursuit.
"I could have kept going a bit longer."
My heart wanted to annihilate them all. But if you get too excited in the heat of battle and push too deep? You’re liable to be wiped out by the enemy. There were countless cases of wars that were thought to be won, only to be lost because of a reckless pursuit.
"It’s a shame, but we’re pulling back here. Others can handle the cleanup; let’s head back and get some rest."
"Yes, Colonel!"
Even if it left a bit of regret, it was a massive victory for our side. I’d say we’d effectively cut off one of the Dolce Republic’s arms or legs. Then, Lina, who had served as the vanguard of our regiment, approached me with a smile full of pride.
"I personally captured that regimental commander who was scurrying away like a rat."
"Capturing the mayor of Como City and now a regimental commander... You truly are a daughter of the Zeppelin family."
"It’s not so much that my father taught me well, but that I learned well from you, Colonel."
"I’m grateful you say so."
All I had done was offer her occasional military advice, analyzing past wars when I had the time, and teaching her how to treat her soldiers. I was far worse at using a sword than Lina. What was my grade in swordsmanship at the academy again...
"I will continue to do my best for you, Colonel..."
Just then, Monica interjected. Lina looked at Monica and smirked, boasting.
"In this battle, I captured a Colonel of the Dolce Republic. How about you, Monica?"
Honestly speaking, capturing a military officer of a rank higher than a Colonel was virtually impossible. Those with stars on their shoulders retreated with express-delivery speed even when fleeing a battlefield. So, this time, Lina would win, or at best, it would be a draw... right?
"As expected of Lina. That’s the skill of a daughter of the Count Zeppelin family."
Lina’s brow furrowed.
"I captured a general-grade officer of the Dolce Republic."
...How on earth did she catch someone with a star? As Monica gestured, an elderly soldier of the Dolce Republic, supported by cavalrymen, approached me. Looking at his insignia, it wasn't a colonel's eagle, but a single star. He was a bona fide general-grade officer, a very high-ranking individual.
"I am Brigadier General Alberto Gusto, commander of the 23rd Brigade of the Dolce Republic. I was unlucky and lost this time, but I will certainly pay you back in the future."
"We will treat you with the utmost courtesy."
"If you are captured next time, I shall treat you with the same courtesy."
I’m never afraid of someone who says "we'll see." Those kinds of people just keep repeating those words while continuing to lose. And this time, the competition was Monica’s victory. Monica crossed her arms, looked at Lina, and curled one corner of her mouth into a smirk.