Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Second War of the Roses
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* * *
From the very beginning, the true nature of this confrontation was clear.
A conflict between shadow and gold. Furthermore, the black and blue representing the banner of shadow, and the red and white representing the banner of gold. It was a very simple dichotomy of colors.
There was no need to even state who the ‘Golden Lord’ referred to. The Empire of Fire and Light, and the one who stood at its apex.
Therefore, it was also self-evident for whom Dale, bearing the name ‘Shadow Lord’, must fight.
Although the First War of the Roses had ended in a Lancaster victory thanks to Dale's efforts, just as Mikhail had said, the war had only just begun.
A short time later, House York officially offered their surrender at Dale's request, and House Lancaster accepted it. The hero of the First War of the Roses, the ‘Black Prince’ who had fought as Lancaster's champion, also returned to his domain.
Not long after, House Lancaster declared a territorial war on House York, accusing them of brainwashing and bewitching their eldest son, Richard.
It was the beginning of the Second War of the Roses.
* * *
In this world, there are no permanent enemies, nor permanent allies.
That was why Dale now found himself within the castle of House York, the very enemy he had fought against just a short while ago. He was there under the name of ‘Phillip’, the scoundrel of a count's family, fighting for their cause.
Having already fought as Lancaster's champion, Dale couldn't very well switch sides to York like a turncoat under his own name. Thus, he had no choice but to lock the ‘real Phillip’ in the dungeons of York's castle and borrow his name.
“I can accept my presence being unofficially known to the enemy. No, at the very least, Lord Mikhail will be 100% certain that I will fight for House York.”
At Dale's words, Mistress Titania smiled silently.
“However, as long as I am officially acting as ‘Phillip, the eldest son of the count,’ it will be difficult for the enemy to restrain me.”
Above all, Dale's domain was at the northernmost edge of the empire, in the Demon Lord's territory. By the time Archduke Lancaster's house sent someone to verify the truth, the tide of the war would have already turned.
Officially, the ‘Grand Alliance Against the Demons’ signed between Sachsen and Lancaster would not be broken. This was an entirely separate matter.
“Lord Dale… no, to think Lord Phillip possessed such brilliant wisdom.”
“Ah, how gallant you are.”
Catherine of York, who was betrothed to Phillip, reached out her hand toward Dale's cheek, as if he were truly lovely. But Dale stopped her without so much as a flinch. At the same time, all emotion vanished from Catherine's face.
“I am lending my strength to House York solely of my own will.”
“Are you saying you have no intention of playing into Lord Mikhail's hands?”
“It's not in my nature to live indebted to others.”
Dale replied coldly.
“Furthermore, this debt is no exception for you, House York.”
“As long as the renowned ‘Black Prince’ has trusted and accepted us, we of House York will fulfill our duty as the ‘Banner of Shadow’.”
“That is not enough.”
Dale shook his head.
“Is there something else you desire?”
“As soon as I secure victory in this battle, convene the ‘Sorceress Council’ of the Blue Magic Tower.”
Dale said, recalling the image of his master, Sephia.
“And I will be in attendance as well.”
“Huhu, you are already more than qualified, my lord.”
Mistress Titania smiled knowingly. Dale did not reply and simply spread out a map.
A room in Marquis York's castle.
Present were Dale, Killing Sword Master Baro, and the enchantresses of York.
Aside from them, ‘Demon Sword Sephylia’, who had fought for a branch of House York, and the Iron Cross Knights loyal to her were no longer here. The Imperial Palace had directly summoned the Demon Sword and her knights.
‘They must have been aiming for this from the start.’
The timing was too perfect. And with things having come to this, the Red Magic Tower's participation was likely a foregone conclusion.
“Does the Imperial Palace know that the Blue Magic Tower is behind House York?”
“They only have suspicions. But the moment the ‘Black Prince’ joins this battle, their suspicion will turn to certainty. In any case, regardless of your involvement, my lord, the Red Magic Tower would have already decided to fight for House Lancaster.”
“The Blue Magic Tower's silence will end, then.”
“Oh my, of course not. The Blue Magic Tower always maintains its silence.”
At Dale's words, Titania of York laughed with amusement.
“Just as it has always been, so it will be in the future. Even before I was called by the name ‘York,’ and even when I cast this name aside for a new one, nothing will change.”
The form of a noble house was merely a camouflage for the ‘Mistress’ and her clan to blend into the empire.
“Now then, shall we all put our blue wisdom together?”
Mistress Titania spoke softly, spreading a large map over the wooden table.
* * *
The only powerhouse of extraordinary caliber fighting for House Lancaster was the Heavenly Sword. Likewise, the York side had Killing Sword Master Baro. Even considering the difference in class among the Seven Swords, the balance of asymmetrical power was not completely broken.
Furthermore, a battlefield involving masters on the level of the Seven Swords of the Continent would never be limited to the participation of just one.
There were the Rose Cross Knights, the pride of House Lancaster, and furthermore, Mikhail Lancaster, said to be the closest to joining the Seven Swords of the Continent.
The victory Dale had secured in the first round was merely a simple taste; the real ‘War of the Roses’ had only just begun.
And as if to prove that fact, the Lancaster forces, which had remained consistently on the defensive, began to move.
They now held the ‘justification’ of rescuing the eldest son, Richard.
In the area where the fertile lands of House York and House Lancaster met, an area lacking natural fortresses like rivers or mountain ranges, breakthrough attempts were being made simultaneously at multiple points along the long border between the two domains.
By simultaneously forming multiple fronts to create unrest, they aimed to identify the weakest point and execute a single-point breakthrough before the enemy had a chance to react.
It was a deep-penetration tactic based on the ‘mobile warfare doctrine’, which could be called the pinnacle of the Rose Cross Knights' strategy.
* * *
*Bang!*
Lying prone on the fortress watchtower, Dale pulled the trigger of the ‘Shadow Rifle’, and a bullet of darkness slammed into a Lancaster infantryman.
A combined arms unit composed of a small number of knights and infantry.
Stopping this single unit was not difficult. As they attempted to lay siege to the fortress in Marquis York's domain, their morale steadily broke with every silent pull of Dale's trigger.
“Retreat, retreat! Everyone fall back!”
The last time Dale had acted as a ‘shadow sniper’ was against the Order of Saint Magdalena. That had been a completely independent action on his part, and it was unlikely that the Lancaster side had even grasped the truth of what had happened.
And whenever a Lancaster unit encountered this ‘unknown terror of death,’ their directive was singular.
Unilateral retreat.
“We've defended the fortress! The Lancaster bastards are running away!”
“Serves them right, the dogs of Lancaster!”
“Lord Phillip has led us to victory!”
Praising none other than the name of ‘Phillip,’ the genius of defeat.
The York soldiers, ignorant of the circumstances, were simply drunk on the joy of having defended the fortress.
Nevertheless, the Lancaster unit's casualties were minimal, and they would surely withdraw, regroup, and attempt to ‘re-engage.’
Yet, trying to pursue the enemy unit would only result in tying up their own forces. Their numbers were significant enough to be a threat, but small enough that their complete annihilation wouldn't affect the overall war effort.
‘They've constructed their battle doctrine on the premise that I would be involved from the start.’
Watching the retreating enemies, Dale quietly bit his lip.
In this vast and fertile region where the domains of two great lords met, he had to find where the ‘core force’ of the simultaneously maneuvering enemy units was located.
To that end, high-ranking assassins from the ‘Shadow Court’ were carrying out reconnaissance missions across the various fronts, and for now, all Dale could do was wait.
At least, for the moment.
* * *
Even if they didn't officially possess any ‘extraordinary powerhouses,’ House York still had its own knightly order.
The Blue Rose Order.
Officially, the head of that order was Demon Sword Sephylia, a member of a branch family of House York and the vice-commander of the Iron Cross Knights. Thus, they had adopted the form of a ‘knightly order’ to invite Demon Sword Sephylia and receive her teachings.
A breastplate embroidered with the blue and white rose symbolizing House York.
*Shunk!*
A red and white aura blade plunged into the armor.
It was a strike from Mikhail, the Sword Fiend, the man closest to becoming one of the next Seven Swords of the Continent and the heir to the Archduchy of Lancaster.
Furthermore, the Rose Cross Knights following him were all swinging their swords at the knights of House York.
Battles were not fought with numbers. The composition of the Rose Cross Knights' cavalry units spread across the fronts was all identical. It was a deception to prevent the enemy from gauging their strength by the number of cavalry.
However, that did not mean the quality of the knights making up those cavalry units was also identical.
While they refrained from actions that would arouse the scouts' suspicion, such as rashly deploying avatars... amidst House Lancaster's wave of simultaneous attacks, the cavalry unit to which Mikhail belonged had already penetrated deep into House York's territory.
No one cried out ‘Lord Mikhail's’ name, and Mikhail himself thoroughly concealed his identity beneath his helmet.
* * *
“The Lancaster forces are using widespread, simultaneous contact to pin our defensive posture in place.”
At that moment, in a fortress within Marquis York's domain, not far from the front lines.
“To think they're doing this after pointing fingers at our ‘House York's despicable plundering’ just a short while ago. What a shameless act.”
Dale spoke, and Titania of York smiled as if she had expected it, along with the young ladies of House York who followed her.
“This is no time for jokes.”
“Oh, did my words sound like a joke to you?”
Titania of York asked in return.
“If I judge that there is no chance of victory in this fight, I will leave the York domain without a moment's hesitation.”
“Ah, how cold you are.”
After she spoke, Catherine, her second daughter, approached her side. She leaned in close and whispered something Dale could not hear.
“Oh my, well now.”
Upon hearing those words, Titania burst into amused laughter.
“You can laugh in a situation like this?”
“No. It seems an ‘unexpected guest’ has arrived amidst the heat of battle.”
Titania said.
“It appears the ‘Wise Elf,’ worried about you, my lord… has personally graced this domain with her presence.”
Invoking the name of ‘Sephia’—the puppet of the Blue Magic Tower and the Sorceress Council, and a master Dale could never forget.