Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: The Fledgling Who Left the Nest (5)
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“Ugh! My feet keep sinking!”
“My boots! Where are my boots!”
Falling.
“Gah! My hand! My hand!”
“Watch where you’re going!”
Stumbling.
“Stop dawdling and move forward!”
“The bastard in front isn’t moving, so what am I supposed to do!”
Screaming.
“What a mess.”
I frowned, watching the pandemonium unfold.
All this happened the moment just over a hundred demi-humans revealed themselves.
I saw the enemy far across the plain.
Swamp Reptilians, they were.
Insolent lizards that walked and ran on two legs like humans were there.
Clutching spears, swords, and even shields they’d scavenged from who knows where.
“They caught us completely off guard.”
Our ranks had naturally loosened while marching through the mire that clung to our ankles like quicksand.
The enemy appeared just as our exhausted soldiers were about to rest, which was more than enough to throw our forces into disarray.
“Centuries, form up!”
“Javelin line!”
The light infantry commanders screamed their lungs out, but to little effect.
With the ground in this state, how could they possibly get things under control?
“This is all kinds of fucked up.”
“They’re really making a mess of things.”
The third-rank infantry, who had been silently watching the unbearable sight, finally couldn’t hold back their comments.
“This is what happens when you take in so many replacements…”
Senior Soldier Quentin clicked his tongue.
Just as he said, this was a disaster waiting to happen.
The millennium had accepted a massive influx of replacements to fill the gaps left by the centuries annihilated on the plains.
New centuries, hastily formed by mixing a few veterans with those replacements.
That was the reality of the light infantry corps, now flailing in chaos before our eyes.
“The light infantry are just a sideshow anyway.”
“As long as they keep the enemy occupied, they’ve done their part.”
“The heavy infantry are the real deal.”
The third-rank infantry scoffed.
Every word of it was true.
But right now, it seemed they couldn’t even manage that much.
At this rate, it would be a problem even if the light infantry miraculously got into position.
The role of the light infantry was to inflict maximum damage by throwing projectiles like javelins just before the enemy closed in, then yield their position to the heavy infantry.
If they failed to withdraw in time, they could end up hindering their own allies.
In the worst-case scenario, you had to consider the terrified light infantry falling back and disrupting the heavy infantry’s formation.
“When you fall back, go to the sides!”
“Don’t even think about coming through here!”
The experienced heavy infantry, knowing this all too well, shouted warnings at the light infantry.
The problem was, the light infantry were in no state to hear what was being yelled from behind them.
Besides, the light infantry weren’t the only problem.
“Shield wall! Shield wall!”
“Why is the spacing so sloppy!”
With few exceptions, the heavy infantry hadn’t fully established their positions either.
It was a limitation of the heavy infantry; no matter how well-trained, they were inevitably more cumbersome than their lightly armored counterparts.
“This is not good at all.”
Senior Soldier Quentin expressed his concern.
“I just don’t understand. Forget everything else, why on earth did they decide to cross this particular plain?”
He couldn’t comprehend the high command’s decision to pass through this area, known for its soft ground.
The senior soldier grumbled.
It was a perfectly logical question.
In fact, unless you were a fool, you couldn’t fail to predict how a plain turned to mud would hinder our forces.
And the centurions were no fools.
They may have lacked experience in large-scale battles, but they were competent commanders.
The proof was that they had brought the replacements this far without any stragglers.
The problem wasn’t the centurions; it was someone else.
“Usually, he does what the centurions suggest. Why now, of all times, did he have to do something different…”
The third-rank infantry seemed to believe the Millenion was the cause.
*The knight from the mainland pushed for it. The Millenion tried to persuade him, but it was no use, I heard.*
The one responsible for this entire situation was the unidentified knight from the mainland.
*He claimed the muddy plain would bog down the agile demi-humans who excel at hit-and-run tactics.*
It was nonsense so absurd it made my head spin.
An idea so typical of a knight who knows nothing but swordplay.
And like most knightly ideas, it was an armchair theory that ignored reality.
The proof was right before my eyes.
The trusted heavy infantry had formed a clumsy shield wall on the soft ground, while the light infantry, who were supposed to be the first to engage the enemy, were still in a panic.
The hundred archers, conscripted from who knows where, couldn’t even string their bows because of the humidity and had drawn their short swords in preparation for close combat.
It was painfully obvious what would happen if the battle started like this.
We were perfectly set up to collapse in an instant, without any chance to leverage our vaunted organization and numerical superiority.
“At least the demi-humans are stupid, thankfully.”
“If they had charged now, we would’ve been shattered before we could even form up.”
“To miss an opportunity like this.”
The third-rank infantry tried to put a positive spin on things.
It seemed they thought the demi-humans were fools for just standing there and watching us.
My thoughts were completely different.
“They’re not missing an opportunity.”
“Huh?”
“They’re waiting for a better one.”
The third-rank infantry looked at me, their eyes asking.
What kind of moment could be so much better that they’d pass up this golden opportunity?
“When the light and heavy infantry are all mixed together. When the cohesion of the dense shield wall is gone. That’s the moment they’re waiting for.”
The perfect timing they were aiming for was the moment the terrified light infantry tried to pass through the shield wall of the heavy infantry who had just managed to get into position.
“Our heavy infantry aren’t weak. Even the new replacements have combat experience.”
“They’re different from the pathetic light infantry. No matter what the ground is like, the heavy infantry corps is filled with men who will do their part.”
“The centurions will never let the shield wall break.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the third-rank infantry’s rebuttal.
How was it that their words were identical to the centurion’s?
“That too is what the enemy wants.”
“...?”
“Once a shield wall is set, it’s hard to change its direction. If an attack comes from the flank or the rear, it’s bound to collapse.”
In short, if the enemy in front was bait, our forces were doomed to collapse.
The third-rank infantry all looked skeptical at my words.
They didn’t seem to think that demi-humans, whose tactics consisted of ambushes at best and night raids at worst, were capable of such deceptive maneuvers.
They were half right and half wrong.
The demi-humans they’d experienced until now had surely been like that.
“And is it normal for demi-humans to gather in legion-sized numbers, besiege a fortress, and wage a battle of annihilation on the plains?”
But the situation had changed.
Now that a Valkyrie had appeared on the battlefield, we had to be open to all possibilities.
“Hmm.”
The third-rank infantry fell silent.
They didn’t show it, but I could tell they weren’t pleased with my overly pessimistic predictions.
This was also similar to the reaction Centurion Bravos had shown me.
One who spouts one grim prophecy after another is bound to be disliked by his allies.
If you’re right, you’re branded as the guy who says unlucky things. If you’re wrong, you’re treated as a coward.
There was only one exception.
When you personally step up and overcome the grim predictions you’ve made.
Knights had a word for such cases.
*Feat of Arms.*
And what did the world call that?
*A Hero’s Tale.*
Yes. Something like that.
“I’m curious, too.”
A sudden curiosity sparked within me.
Will I be the greenhorn spouting pessimism out of fear today?
Or will I be the champion who saves his allies from crisis?
I wanted to find out which one I was.
“Well, we’ll see soon enough.”
For now, I was going to do everything I could.
I had already finished preparing for this, so all that was left was to face it and see for myself.
“Over-ten! The enemy has started to move!”
Just then, the enemy, who had been standing idle, began to act.
“Light infantry, formation complete!”
“Heavy infantry, positions secured!”
Almost simultaneously, our own chaotic forces also finished their battle preparations.
“Once the battle starts, do not retreat! If you fall back even one step further than the 21st Century, there will be hell to pay.”
“Anyone behind the 23rd Century when this is over will get special training from me personally!”
The centurions of the heavy infantry corps shouted, competing with each other.
“Javelins!”
The light infantry, having finally managed to form up after much struggle, stepped forward as one at their commander’s order.
And so, the battle began.
***
“These useless replacement bastards!”
The heavy infantry cursed.
An absurd farce was playing out before their very eyes.
“Ugh!”
“Hah!”
Light infantrymen, who were taking a running start with their javelins, tumbled one after another in the mud.
Falling, slipping, and sprawling.
“What the hell are you doing!”
Two hundred light infantrymen had stepped forward to throw their javelins, but very few spears were actually thrown properly.
Even those flew a short distance before unceremoniously burying their heads in the mud, nowhere near the enemy.
“Get up! Make way for the man behind you!”
“Throw from a standstill so you don’t lose your footing!”
The light infantry commanders, who had so confidently given their orders, now urged their men on with panicked faces.
Belatedly, the light infantry began to throw their javelins from a standstill.
But without a proper running start, the power of the javelins was pathetic.
“Agh! Damn light infantry grunts!”
“After all that fuss just to get into position!”
“They really are a complete disaster!”
For the heavy infantry watching from right behind them, there could be no greater farce.
“Just get back!”
“Get the hell out of the way!”
The heavy infantry shouted urgently.
Beyond their dazed allies, the Reptilians were closing in fast.
The ankle-deep mud was no obstacle to them.
Walking on two legs, running on four.
“Kyaaaak!”
“Shrieeeek!”
The ferocity of their charge, accompanied by monstrous cries, was terrifying.
It was enough to make one unconsciously tighten their grip on their shield.
If it was like that for the experienced heavy infantry, how much worse must it be for the light infantry, made up of replacements?
“Aaaah! They’re coming! They’re cooooming!”
“My foot… ugh. My boot!”
“Somebody help me!”
The light infantry shrieked.
“Fall back to the rear!”
“Retreat!”
A step too late, the commanders issued the order to retreat.
The light infantry who managed to pull themselves from the mud scrambled back in a panic.
But of all directions, they headed straight for the heavy infantry’s established shield wall.
“You bastards, why are you coming this way!”
“Go to the sides!”
The heavy infantry in the front rank gestured frantically and yelled.
“Move!”
“Clear a path!”
But the light infantry, already scared out of their wits, were beyond reason.
They clung to the shield wall, wailing, impervious to any words.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
“Aaargh!”
To make matters worse, the Reptilians reached the battlefield and began slaughtering the light infantry stuck in the mud, swinging their rusted spears and swords.
“Open up! Force it open if you have to!”
“Move, you sons of bitches!”
The desperate light infantry went so far as to grab the heavy infantry’s shields and start shaking them.
“21st Century! One step forward!”
“Shake them off!”
Unable to watch any longer, the centurions of the 21st and 23rd Centuries gave the order.
“Hah!”
The heavy infantry stomped their feet in unison and pushed their shields forward.
The light infantrymen clinging precariously to the shield wall were thrown off in droves.
But they immediately got back up and started grabbing and shaking the shield wall again.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Save me! Please, save me!”
Trapped between the Reptilians and the shield wall, the light infantry were slaughtered, unable to advance or retreat.
And so, the Imperial army lost its momentum the moment the battle began.
The real fight hadn’t even started yet.