Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Power (3)
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Colonel Zendaya Kalishnikov thought for a moment.
Maybe the enemy would just pass them by.
There were two Thracia legions within three days' march. Dragging out time here would only get them caught by allied forces.
But it was a vain hope.
"...The enemy has completed their encirclement."
At his adjutant's report, Colonel Zendaya Kalishnikov squeezed his eyes shut.
It seemed the enemy was determined to attack this place after all.
"What about main headquarters?"
The colonel opened his eyes again and asked.
He had reported the possibility of Astoria forces escaping the fortress and passing through this area nearby, requesting reinforcements multiple times.
He had also sent his view that failing to induce a battle here and annihilate the enemy would severely hinder allied operations across the region.
That had been two days ago already. If there was a response, it should have come long before now.
"...No word at all."
Main headquarters seemed intent on abandoning the forces outside the fortress.
Perhaps they saw it as a cheap price for seizing the fortress.
Damn that bastard commander.
The colonel inwardly shredded his superior.
He had known for a while that his commander was a careerist obsessed with fame and glory, but he never imagined the man would lack such basic judgment.
This wasn't just about losing a detachment.
If things went wrong, the entire Thracia force deployed in the area could be in jeopardy.
A legion commander couldn't possibly be unaware of that.
Maybe he thought his own achievements would shine brighter if the other legions failed to take the fortress.
It was entirely possible.
"What about the Royal Cavalry?"
"We sent a messenger, but even if they reply, can the messenger break through the encirclement...?"
The adjutant hesitated for a moment before adding,
"...If main headquarters has abandoned us, why would they be any different?"
Major Yannick's royal cavalry had undoubted achievements and capabilities.
They had already claimed multiple victories against Astoria forces that seemed like magic.
They might have some stratagem to overcome this dire situation.
But just because they could didn't mean they would.
Even for those elites, engaging four times their number would mean heavy losses.
Expecting them to pay such a price for a fleeting connection was overly shameless.
"Right. They have greater deeds ahead for the kingdom. No need for them to shed unnecessary blood here."
It was better if they didn't come.
"Current combat-ready forces?"
"Including non-combatants, maximum three hundred."
The colonel let out a small sigh at the adjutant's report.
Three hundred against twelve hundred Astoria troops.
All they had to rely on was a flimsy fence that barely qualified as a stockade.
Half a day would be lucky.
"Gather the prisoners."
The colonel made up his mind.
"Even in the worst case, we can't let them join the Astoria forces."
"You mean..."
"Stay here. If the tide fully turns and there's no hope left, set fire to the prisoner tents."
Even as he said it, his heart grew heavy.
War or not, deciding to burn prisoners alive wasn't easy.
But it had to be done.
He had to prevent them from taking up arms and turning those blades on allies, no matter what.
If that meant becoming a devil, he was willing.
It was just regrettable to burden his promising adjutant with it.
"...Understood."
The adjutant's voice sounded like he was chewing gall.
Colonel Zendaya patted his shoulder a few times and headed out of the tent.
Murmurs hushed abruptly.
The soldiers, whispering with anxious faces, fell silent at the sight of him. They seemed expectant of what he might say.
But unfortunately, the colonel had no words for them.
He ignored them and headed toward the camp entrance.
Behind barricades hastily piled from wagons and debris stood the officers.
"Colonel."
"Situation report first."
At his words, a young lieutenant pointed toward the Astoria forces.
- .......!
An Astoria officer of some rank had approached near the camp and was yelling incessantly.
"Surrender demand?"
The words were unintelligible, but it wasn't hard to guess they were urging capitulation.
"Who do they take us for, fools?"
They were in crisis partly due to one blinded general, but this area was still allied territory.
That meant the enemy had no spare capacity to accept prisoners.
Blindly dropping arms on their word was a sure way to get massacred.
Only high-ranking officers with valuable intel or nobles worth ransom would be spared.
The problem was the rank-and-file soldiers.
In a life-or-death crisis, would they think that far?
Ping.
A faint noise came from somewhere, followed by sharp whooshes.
- ......!
An arrow thudded at the Astoria officer's feet. He fled in panic.
"Well now."
Colonel Zendaya turned in stunned dismay, searching for the archer who loosed it.
"Sorry. Hand slipped."
The excuse was lame, but the tone was calm and resolute.
That was the spark.
"Whew! Feels good. That yapping was grating!"
"Should've put an arrow through his yap instead of just scaring him off!"
Soldiers shouted from all around.
"Surrender to Astoria? I'd rather fight to the death!"
"Can't surrender even to apologize to the brothers those bastards killed last year!"
"After all the siblings they took last year? No way in hell!"
The colonel was left dumbfounded.
"If you were thinking of accepting, I'll go apologize for the mistake."
The archer who claimed his hand slipped grinned brazenly.
"...You idiot!"
"......"
"If we'd let him yap, we could've rested easy while he tired his mouth!"
The soldiers belatedly grasped the point and burst into laughter.
"Soldier. Your name?"
"Yamel. Yamel Koser."
"Good. Private Koser, I'll watch if your bow matches that mouth."
"Oops! Get nervous, and my hand might slip again!"
The soldiers roared with laughter at the archer's antics.
But the situation was grim.
"...Looks like they're taking coordinates."
An infantry officer whispered after glancing at the soldiers.
"Bold. Not afraid of detection by our mage corps?"
"Plan to bombard, charge, then withdraw fast."
It minimized their losses and ended the fight quick. Not a bad call.
"They sent one, so now we send ours."
Maybe revealing the prisoners would make them abandon the bombing.
"I'll go."
As he pondered who to send, the cheeky archer stepped up first.
"I may not speak Astoria, but my gestures are killer."
"Just in case, grab a prisoner helmet and uniform. Show it, they'll get the idea."
They handed him the uniform and helmet from the highest-ranking prisoner. The archer strode out of camp.
He yelled for a while, set the uniform and helmet on the ground, then returned.
"Even idiot Astorians can count."
He'd written the prisoner count large on the ground. The more he saw, the more impressive the guy seemed.
Soon, a few Astorians approached the camp.
They circled, peering into the stockade to verify the prisoners, it seemed.
After confirming the large prisoner tents, the Astorians withdrew immediately.
"Here's hoping their commander makes a humane call."
The soldiers laughed again at the offhand remark.
Even steeling for death, staying calm would be weirder.
This atmosphere was their way of easing tension.
"...Can't rule out bombing entirely, so have the men tighten helmet straps just in case. Widen intervals too."
Their heavy plate might not save Bluecoats from magic blasts, but helmets could prevent pointless fragment deaths.
"Yes, sir."
The officers quietly circulated the camp, relaying his orders.
No soldier missed the implication of tightening straps and spacing out.
Yet none acknowledged it.
They bantered and joked as if nothing was wrong, roaring at unfunny quips.
For a good while.
"Astoria's moving."
The previously still Astorians stirred.
"Heavy infantry up front. Looks like a straight push, no bombing."
"Makes sense. Battalion of prisoners too valuable to waste. Lucky for us."
Avoiding the worst-case was victory enough.
"Archers to stations! Nock arrows!"
"No shooting till orders!"
Officers bellowed as they roamed the camp.
"Ignore heavy infantry! Target rear, light infantry!"
"Shieldmen, protect our archers from their bowmen!"
"Pikemen! Spears over the stockade!"
Pikemen propped long spears over the chest-high stockade.
"All hands, battle prep!"
Colonel Zendaya pressed tight against the stockade.
Not bad. Bought decent time.
Surrender ploy, coordinate scouting, prisoner leverage.
Delayed the assault hours. Solid gain.
Which made it hurt more.
No allies coming crushed his shoulders anew.
"Incoming!"
An infantry officer screamed like a banshee.
Thud, thud, thud.
Heavy infantry advanced with heavy footfalls. Light infantry followed close behind, round wooden shields overhead.
"Archers! Ready...!"
Colonel Zendaya gauged distance beyond the stockade and raised his hand.
The Astorians entered archery range.
"Loose...!"
The colonel froze mid-order.
Wooooong.
An ominous pulse rose from the Astorians.
Magic bombardment prelude.
"Down!"
He shrieked in terror.
Whiiiiiine.
The pulse materialized, plummeting overhead.
Boom.
Monstrous impact engulfed the camp.
Consciousness flickered back amid ruins.
"M-Mom...!"
"Hurts. Hurts. Help..."
Limb-lost soldiers sobbed on the ground. Burning men shrieked horribly, fleeing wildly.
"C-Captain! Reform ranks...!"
Urging a downed infantry officer, the colonel stiffened.
Fragment tore the officer's face center open. Only now it registered.
He turned.
The archer unit, hit dead-on, was annihilated.
Private Koser among them.
No more cheeky jokes from a head alone.
Averting Koser's bulging eyes, the colonel staggered up.
Step, step, step.
Astoria footfalls through black smoke.
Just dozens of meters away.
"Astoria's coming!!"
The colonel bellowed, choking vomit.
"Archers drop bows, draw swords!"
"Shields up! Shields!"
"Pikemen back to posts!"
Survivors shouted everywhere.
More alive than expected.
Reason dawned.
"Ah..."
A vacant lot, traces erased.
Where prisoner tents stood.
Seeing it, he understood.
The scouting Astorians hadn't verified prisoners.
They'd pinpointed the tents.
To preempt any hostage play.
Their target from the start: not allies, but prisoners.
His adjutant's resolute face flashed.
"Raaaaagh!!"
Colonel Zendaya roared in fury, leaping up behind the stockade.
Drew his sword.
Intended to.
Couldn't.
Right arm socket empty.
Scorched stump, no blood.
Staring blankly, he realized: one-armed now.
Step, step, step.
Astoria closing through smoke, vivid in mind.
"Colonel!"
A shout snapped him alert. He drew sword with his remaining hand.
"Battle prep!!"
"Raaaaargh!"
Thracia soldiers bellowed near-screams at his frenzied order.
They readied to meet the foe emerging from black smoke, steeling to stake lives.
But.
"......"
No Astorians, however long they waited.
Step, step, step-step-step.
Enemy footfalls beyond smoke grew urgent.
Smoke wafted away.
Astoria appeared.
"Why backs...?"
Enemies faced away from camp, in disarray.
As if spooked.
"C-Colonel!"
Dazed by the turn, a magically spared officer yelled.
His tone worlds apart from before.
No rage, no fear.
Pure joy.
Toot.
Horns somewhere.
Toot, toot, tooooooot.
Lower, heavier than Astoria's.
The colonel whipped toward the sound.
"Th-there!"
A meager rise, barely a hillock.
"Bluecoats!"
Bluecoats lined in formation there.
Lances tucked under arms, poised to charge.
Utterly majestic.