Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Reconnaissance Mission
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Meanwhile, as the promised time arrived, the elves began their invasion of the empire's northern territories, surging across their plains in unison. Cavalry units numbering in the hundreds rampaged through villages, plundering them before regrouping into armies of thousands, then tens of thousands.
In the face of this apocalyptic elven advance, the northern lords didn't even dare to consider mounting a defense. They simply barricaded their gates and hunkered down for a siege.
"Fire!"
"Aaaagh!"
"Oil! Bring the oil!"
The elves had already captured several northern fortresses. Commanders shared their experiences, quickly adapting to siege warfare.
These weren't grand fortresses like Habun Castle—just minor strongholds in the north with scant garrisons. A few hundred soldiers couldn't hope to hold off elven armies numbering over ten thousand.
"When the hell are reinforcements coming?!"
On the brink of falling, the lords who had fought to defend their walls to the last cursed the emperor's forces. Weeks had passed since they dispatched messengers, yet no word had come.
"Two hundred dead, one hundred fifty seriously wounded, one thousand injured."
"We've taken quite a hit."
General Tegai, leading thirty thousand elves, frowned at the casualty report. It was a vast improvement over their humiliating siege of Habun Castle at the war's outset, but the empire's forts still exacted a toll. Weaklings who wouldn't last an hour on open ground.
"What's the word from the others?"
"Similar across the board. We ordered imperial prisoners to build siege engines, but our crews are still green..."
"Tch."
Tegai clicked his tongue. Were all imperials moles? Holed up in their walls, refusing to come out, they were racking up needless casualties. He yearned for a straight fight on open plains, but the northern lords kept their gates locked tight, forcing losses on his forces.
As Tegai buried the siege's dead and reorganized his army, the scouts he'd dispatched returned in haste.
"General! Imperial army sighted!"
Color returned to Tegai's grim face. Finally, the imperials were on the move. Per the Khan's orders, elven forces had been smashing northern forts one by one—if they hadn't stirred, he'd have grown suspicious.
"At last! How many?"
"Roughly three thousand, mostly infantry!"
"Prepare the army! We hit them now!"
What was the strength of a nomadic army? Endless battle experience honing their instincts. A conventional force might take half a day to mobilize after orders, but Tegai's elves sprang into action at his word.
He split his thirty thousand all-cavalry force into three, his lieutenants each taking ten thousand and subdividing into thousand-man units. In moments, thirty detachments fanned out to encircle Count Sterling's army.
Meanwhile, Count Sterling hadn't been marching blindly. He'd sent scouts steadily to track elven movements. But never having faced elves himself, he treated them like any agrarian army.
"No sign of the cavalry."
"How far has Count Sterling advanced? Why no contact?"
Two days into the march, and not only had Sterling's force—which left a day ahead—vanished, but so had the riders sent to link up. Nobles at the council devolved into chaotic chatter.
The duke drummed his fingers on the table, face rigid. Long silence followed before he spoke.
"We need more scouts."
He assumed the first riders lost. It was the most likely scenario—deserters among semi-noble cavalry? Unthinkable. The other nobles nodded agreement.
"We'll muster cavalry."
The duke shook his head.
"Cavalry won't do. Send more of the same, and they'll just get wiped out again."
"Then...?"
"Knights this time. Any volunteers among you?"
Nobles and knights alike fell silent. Pride was at stake. No scouting experience meant bungling the job—or returning empty-handed, advertising incompetence.
"No one?"
As the duke's face soured, a hulking man stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
"You are...?"
"Viscount Lucas Kyle, Your Grace."
The duke's eyes lit with interest. Amid universal silence, this man stepped up. And he'd caught the duke's eye before. Martial prowess plus guts—the duke smiled approvingly.
"Ah... You're reliable. I watched your duel last time."
"You honor me."
"Anything you need, just say. I'll grant it all."
Kyle smirked inwardly. Unlimited support from the commander. He wouldn't push too far, but he'd prepared his ask.
"I need barding and horses."
Horses he had Merlin for, but barding aside, he needed spares. Ride Merlin everywhere, and the temperamental beast might flop down in refusal. Time for backups.
"Hmm... One horse enough?"
"More the better, but at least two."
One for Rahil too. Mercenary or not, a young lord knew how to ride. Worst case, learn on the fly.
Two sets of barding, two horses. The duke accepted readily. Not trivial, but hardly burdensome. Gaining talent for spares? Worth it.
"More men?"
Kyle pondered, then requested ten cavalry. Fewer for stealth. But as the duke approved, a woman stepped forward.
"I'll go with Sir Lucas."
Lenia. Duke Northmund grinned, well aware of her skill.
"Ha! True nobles! Worth more than ten of my lot!"
"Models of nobility!"
"Cligrove's nobles live up to their fame..."
Formerly hesitant nobles now praised Cligrove, grateful for taking the dirty, dangerous grunt work.
"Sir Lucas... Kyle... Why take this mission?"
After the council, Lenia cornered Kyle, face etched with worry. Sterling's thousands and a hundred cavalry—gone. Risk losing him? She jumped in desperately.
"Stealthy, it won't be that bad. But why join, my lady...?"
Lenia flushed. Impulse from panic, but a countess on recon? Beneath her station.
"Couldn't sit idle worrying about you. You planned small team anyway—I'll help."
"But..."
Her volunteering dragged Cligrove knights into it, tearful or not. Fine by Kyle, but a botch could devastate Cligrove. He fretted.
Wished she'd stayed out—but he needed those spare horse and barding. Warhorses wear without protection. As the stablemaster said, Merlin was too premium for that.
Like hauling bricks in a Bugatti on a worksite—insane.
"Shire breed."
True to word, the duke sent soldiers post-council with barding and horses—battle-trained warhorses, not ordinary mounts.
*Whinny.*
Shires excelled as packhorses: huge, enduring. Slow, sure, but...
Soldiers gone, Kyle summoned Rahil, handing over a new horse's reins.
"You ride?"
"A little... yes..."
"Perfect. Duke tasked me with recon—needed reliable folk."
They fitted barding to Merlin and the new horse. Not full plate—heavy chain, cloth, plate mix. Plenty protective for Kyle's needs.
Full heavy armor? Disaster—horse exhausted before long.
"Sir!"
As Kyle test-fitted Merlin's barding, companions arrived: Edward, Karon, Edington, a dozen Cligrove knights. Add the ten cavalry, near thirty riders formed up instantly.
Luxurious recon force. Over half knights, cavalry semi-nobles. Kyle gathered them for stern warnings.
"Follow my command to the letter."
"Naturally."
"Ha! Just say the word!"
Not mere flattery—they laughed heartily, accepting. To them, Kyle embodied honor, nobility. His deeds erased origins as a non-issue for Cligrove knights.