Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Battle of the Esllon Plains (5)
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The Esllon Plains, swept by the madness of war. Though the battle had ended less than ten minutes ago...
Suddenly, crows descended from the sky, pecking at the eyes of soldiers who had died only moments before.
One crow that had fully devoured the eyeballs of an unnamed soldier whose eyes were still wide open in death cawed loudly in satisfaction, calling to its fellows.
In response, countless crows swooped down, feasting on the corpses of the dead.
The crows devoured their banquet greedily, and the ground around them became stained with scraps of flesh and blood they spilled while eating.
If this had happened back when I lived in Korea, I would have vomited at the gruesome, horrific sight.
But the madness of the battlefield—especially the satisfaction of having led the war to victory—made me take this scene in stride. No, it even brought me boundless joy.
The soldiers beside me must have felt the same, as they embraced each other, shedding tears of joy.
"Sergeant, we survived!!"
"Yeah, Hans. We survived. You did well!! Now we just need to prepare to head home!"
"Sergeant, you promised that when the sutler comes, you'll buy us all a round of beer, right?"
"Sergeant Jackson!!! How can you only remember useless stuff like that? Would it kill you to forget?"
"Marie, Marie! I survived!!"
Yet, as if to remind us this was still a battlefield, some of the surviving soldiers wept bitterly, calling out the names of comrades who had fallen.
"Sand... We enlisted together and promised to get our sergeancies and discharge honorably! You idiot!! Why did you have to die! We just needed to serve five more years... then Baron Excellency would grant us land. And we promised to get married, find pretty wives, and live happily!! You bastard..."
"Squad leader! Why did you charge to the front to save a guy like that... Sergeant told you not to, so why did you go to the vanguard... Just for a noble's pride?"
Though we had won the war—undeniably an overwhelming victory—seeing the mourners and the dead filled me with regret.
I had done my absolute best, but if I'd done even a little better, I could have reduced their sacrifices...
As I stared blankly at the now-silent battlefield, Baldt came running from afar, waving at me with Helmut and Vice in tow.
Baldt and Helmut were unscathed, but Vice had a bandage wrapped around his right arm, lightly stained with blood.
Since it wasn't soaked in blood, it probably wasn't a serious injury...
Shaking off my worry, I approached the three and said,
"Baldt, Helmut, Vice—good work. Thanks to you, we won this war easily. Especially you, Baldt."
At my special mention of Baldt, he looked at me with a proud expression.
"You commanded the infantry brilliantly. You minimized their losses. They did so well under you that the veteran halberdiers barely had a chance to shine."
"Exactly. Even in the strategy meeting, I emphasized the halberdiers on purpose... It's a bit disappointing."
I patted Baldt's regretting shoulder and said,
"Wars are always planned for the worst case, right? This time things went too smoothly, so they didn't need to step up. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. I'm disappointed it didn't go exactly as planned, but it was still a great victory. We're still tallying the dead and wounded and securing prisoners... but I doubt we lost more than twenty men. The enemy? Well... not even close."
In Baldt's last words—hesitant, with a wry smile—I sensed his consideration.
It felt like he was giving me an excuse: even though they were the enemy, they were the ones who took countless lives, so protecting our men was unavoidable.
And as he said, I had punished trash who dared invade my territory.
"Yeah, thanks."
"My honor, Excellency."
"Send all troops except the halberdiers back to camp immediately. Aside from minimal sentries, give them rest today and tomorrow. Baldt, you take the halberdiers, seize the enemy's main camp, and capture their knights alive."
At first glance, it might sound like an evil boss piling work on a commander who just endured hell.
But in reality, it was a gracious act—ceding the glory and merits that I, the supreme commander, should claim to Baldt and his halberdiers.
This way, Baldt could become a knight granted his own fief, and the halberdiers would receive handsome rewards.
Realizing this, Baldt teared up as he looked at me.
"Then, Excellency, may I bring Helmut and Vice? Vice is a bit injured, but he can still wield a sword one-handed."
"Do that. Depart immediately. The enemy is completely spent."
At those words, Baldt dropped to one knee, bowed his head in utmost respect, and headed to the enemy camp.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Leaving the battlefield strewn with corpses behind, I returned to my tent with the soldiers.
Relief that the war was over mingled with the lingering unease of having killed countless people.
As I parted the tent flap to enter, a fragrant aroma tickled my nose.
Looking toward the source, I saw Ella brewing a thick stew inside my tent for me.
Smiling at Ella, who had prepared a warm meal just for me, I greeted her.
"I'm back, Ella."
"Yes, Master..."
Then Ella quietly moved behind me, helping me remove my armor.
Gently, more so than usual, careful not to touch any injuries.
Once the armor was off and I sat on my bed, Ella ladled stew for me.
It was just preserved meat in good condition, dried vegetables, and a bit of flour...
But to me, exhausted from the battlefield, it tasted better and warmer than any feast.
As I wolfed it down and spilled some on my face, Ella laughed, wiping it with a handkerchief.
"There's plenty of stew, so eat slowly, Master. Eating too fast when you're worn out might give you indigestion."
"Yeah, got it. But aren't you eating, Ella? You probably haven't eaten either..."
"Yes, Master. Then Ella will eat too."
And so, we ate the stew in comfortable silence.
After finishing and clearing the bowls, Ella looked at me worriedly.
"Master, are you hurt anywhere? A messenger came before you returned and said you were safe... but what if it's just a minor cut?"
"No, I'm fine. See? My armor's just dirty with soil and dust—no dents."
Hearing that, Ella closely inspected my discarded armor and said,
"Thank you for coming back safe, Master. If you'd been hurt, Ella would have been so worried."
I reached out, patted her shoulder, and boasted proudly.
"See? I came back without a scratch."
"Thank you for coming back, Master."
After those words, an intensely awkward silence settled between us.
To break it, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Well, the war's basically over now, so let's think about what to do when we get back. How about going to the market like before? Or eating cookies made by the head maid."
Ella seemed to catch my intent to dispel the awkwardness and replied a bit loudly.
"This time, I'll bake the cookies for you, Master. I bake better than the head maid now. When we return, I'll make lots with the wild berry jam you love from Windheim."
That night, Ella and I talked late into the evening about all we wanted to do back in Kroitel.
As we chatted, the lingering guilt over slaughtering the enemy faded away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lying in bed asleep, I was jolted awake by a loud voice calling from outside my tent.
"Excellency!! Excellency!! Messenger here! May I enter?"
I splashed water from the wooden bucket beside my bed on my face and said,
"Come in."
"Yes, excuse me."
The messenger knelt on one knee before my bed, head bowed.
"Sir Baldt, Sir Helmut, and Captain Vice have seized the enemy main camp with 400 halberdiers. The enemy offered little resistance due to their defeat, and we've captured Baron Santoburg, Baron Celt, and 40 knights under them!"
...
The war is finally over.
Capturing even one would have meant a 'perfect' victory, but both barons...
Hearing of achievements beyond my expectations, my heart raced with overwhelming excitement.
Unable to hide it, I grabbed the messenger's hand.
"Is that so? Where's Baldt now?"
"He'll arrive soon with the prisoners. Congratulations on the victory!"
"Good work. Wait a moment."
The messenger, thinking I'd reward him for the good news, grinned ear to ear.
It was amusing how he held back from laughing aloud in my presence.
I handed him a gold coin and signaled him to leave.
As soon as he exited, he let out a triumphant shout.
"Long live Excellency!! A whole gold coin!!! With this, I won't worry about wedding funds for Elis!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, Barons Santoburg and Celt entered the army camp tent.
Per the customs of war in this era, even as prisoners, they wore helmets, armor, and swords.
I knew it was tradition, but seeing these fools—who declared war for absurd reasons—strut arrogantly before me irked me.
Still, I set aside my emotions and ordered subordinates to provide them seats and the same food I ate.
Thus, the two defeated men sat at the same level as me.
After a brief silence, I broke it.
"A fine battle, Baron Santoburg. Baron Celt. But God deemed me more righteous, so He granted me victory."
They maintained silence, unwilling to admit it.
To them, I spoke with a hint—no, heavy—sarcasm.
"Now, we must discuss the price of your defeat. Insulting my honor won't come cheap. Look forward to it."
Daring to wage war over such nonsense, causing the deaths of my precious soldiers...
You'll pay with your wealth and shame.