347. Blood Red (1)
347. Blood Red (1)
- 1 -
"As expected of the Holy Empire. Greenhorns who know nothing of true war."
Heinrich Sen Arillit lowered his telescope and muttered with a sneer.
At the corner of his lips, a smile of certain victory had appeared.
The Aririt army had crossed the border and planted their flag near the city of Everlamp, the southeasternmost city of Orbis.
The Orbis plain stretching before him was scorched and scarred in places from three days of battle. Heinrich pointed at the scene and spoke.
'To collapse so easily. As expected, their reputation was all they had going for them.'
He recalled the sight of the Orbis army, thrown into chaos, which he had viewed through his telescope.
Scattered troops, collapsed defensive lines, even the hastily executed retreat movements.
In a word, it was a complete mess.
Watching this situation, he was certain that his usual boast of military insight had not been wrong.
"Your Highness. The soldiers seem overly excited. Should we not rein them in?"
At the voice of his close aide, Heinrich furrowed his brow and turned his head.
But his eyes were still filled with the joy of victory.
An invasion of enemy territory was a first in his entire life.
Although the commander was his father, the Archduke, the mere fact that he was participating in this battlefield helped.
This victory would lift him onto the throne.
"It's fine to be excited! Are we not advancing victoriously? There is no need to deliberately dampen their spirits."
The aide hesitated, then cautiously spoke again.
"But it's strange. For the army of the Grakheisen Alliance, which is called undefeated, to be this easy... And look at their numbers. Even though we've pushed them back repeatedly, they don't seem to have decreased that much."
"You worry too much. That undefeated general called Evangeline, the Saintess Esther, and the White Witch are all absent from this place."
Heinrich waved his hand, dismissing his aide's concerns.
"Evangeline is checking Kakia and Ellieniesi to the north, Esther is with the garrison on the Hilsa side, and the White Witch has set sail, hasn't she? Then there is no one here to stop us!"
Nevertheless, anxiety still lingered on the aide's face.
"What about Elena of Leoper?"
"Is she not stopping Genota? Naturally, she cannot come! No matter how much of a peace agreement was made, there are naturally problems with that trust."
Heinrich felt slight discomfort when the name Elena was mentioned, but still smiled confidently.
The rumor of Elena, the 'Steel Wings' who recently won against Genota, had reached the soldiers of Aririt as well.
However, he firmly believed there was no possibility of such a threat befalling his own army.
Creak —
Strength unconsciously entered his hand as he gripped the telescope.
The aide's persistent anxiety was subtly seeping into Heinrich's heart as well.
His heart pounded wildly. The joy of victory and anxiety intersected, sending chills throughout his body.
As he adjusted the strap of his helmet and looked back, his father Grimbart the Archduke's unit had already advanced considerably deep into enemy territory.
'It does seem like they've gone in too deep...'
The momentary doubt was soon buried by the intoxication of victory.
He regained his confidence and issued an order.
"Reorganize the ranks and support the Prince Consort's rear! We will occupy Everlamp!"
If she had seen his face at that moment, Libertas would have judged him thusly:
A gambler dreaming of a bright future.
- 2 -
At Serica's fingertips, a crimson parasol twirled round and round.
Her crimson eyes looked down upon the battlefield, shining coldly.
Clack —
The sound of the spinning parasol stopping coincided with the breaking of the minor standoff that had continued since last night.
"They're coming."
A wave of cavalry poured forth from the main force of Aririt.
Between them, flags fluttered vigorously.
The corner of Serica's lips rose slightly.
'Like a flock of sheep walking into the wolf's mouth.'
Though she was not well-versed in the battlefield, she could at least see that the battle was changing just as Libertas and Bergrisa had said.
The sight of Grimbart's main Aririt army reaching the vicinity of their own cities, and the giant 'birds' circling overhead, signaling, clearly meant things were proceeding according to plan.
Two of them flew a bit farther, then hurriedly returned.
A signal that something was happening behind them. A smile spread across Serica's lips.
"Was it Axe? It seems the time has come to execute your rival."
Kung!
The undead warrior Axe, who had been standing solidly like a guard beside her, struck the ground with his axe and rose from his spot.
- ... Not a rival. I merely kept him alive by the Master's command.
Axe's heavy bass voice spread as if resonating from within a tomb.
His voice was calm, but Axe's tone seemed slightly wounded in pride.
Serica could not hold back her laughter.
"Heh. So you're a man with pride too? Good. I hope you prove it this time."
- You as well, Lady Serica.
At Axe's reply, the smile on her small lips twisted slightly.
"Insolent. But..."
The smile, suddenly vanished.
"Yes. That's how it should be."
The moment her crimson eyes deepened, a red aura settled upon the backs of the undead soldiers standing around her.
Magic had naturally reacted according to her will.
'For Rita. And for me, who will stand by her side.'
The desire to be acknowledged by Libertas.
The compulsion to solidify her position among the newly contacted nobles.
That feeling was gradually being resolved through the battles on this battlefield, yet it still gripped Serica's heart tightly.
Buuuuuu —— !!
The sound of a horn trumpet echoed across the battlefield.
In the sky, some of the harpies drew the prearranged signal, urging movement.
"Bergrisa. Are you ready?"
The beautiful troll shaman bowed her head, her mana-infused staff planted upright.
"You need only give the command, Lady Serica."
Serica's lips stretched sideways, carrying a vampire-like eeriness.
"Then, let us go end this battlefield."
The time to prove her worth had come.
- 3 -
Gazing at the steam rising above the elegant ceramic teacup, I stared at the small battlefield created on the table.
I secretly liked the bird's-eye view, as if a god were looking down upon the world.
"They've started entering now."
Yurena, who had moved to Clarent via the gate inside Hylash Royal Castle, was with me as well.
I nodded silently.
On the small battlefield manifested through mana, blue horse pieces were advancing deeper.
It was the sight of Grimbart's army falling deeper and deeper into the trap.
Ran quietly poured tea into the cups and whispered so only the two of them could hear.
"Your eyes really resemble each other. Between aunt and niece."
"... Oh dear. Even though you've come, I haven't been able to enjoy the tea. Even though my people winning is a matter of course."
"Ah..."
When I let out a small smile at her words, Yurena wore an awkward expression and fidgeted with her teacup.
"Ah... Me too, Sister."
Even as we nibbled the refreshments, Yurena's and my gazes remained fixed on the battlefield model.
In Yuran's eyes as she watched us, there was a subtle glint of enjoyment.
Clatter!
Even while drinking the tea, my eyes did not miss the changes occurring on the battlefield.
A group of troops slowly appearing near the Aririt side's rear, near the border.
Black horse pieces were aiming for the rear of the blue horse pieces.
"Eve has arrived."
The sound of the teacup being placed down on the table quietly rang out.
I lightly stroked my chin and murmured.
"I'll have to think about rewards for everyone."
Yurena laughed in response to my words.
"Officially, how about I give something to Sister Serica, and King Amelia gives something to Sister Evangeline? Sister."
Wisdom sparkled in Yurena's eyes.
"That's a good idea. Excellent."
"Hehe..."
The sight of Orbis and Hysen bestowing gifts or titles upon key figures of the other nation would become a good example for the other allied nations to deepen their bonds with each other.
Yuran, looking at us, wore a gentle expression and offered advice.
"There is also word of unrest at the border on the Hilsa side. As Ash is on the nearer side, it seems the Holy Kingdom is growing impatient."
I nodded.
The Holy Kingdom.
It was a difficult opponent, but one that absolutely had to be conquered.
Because no one knew when the Goddess might come to her senses and try to intervene on the surface.
I would have to seize an opportunity to attack them through the Saintess Esther.
But for now...
"Look. Serica is going."
I pointed a finger at the model battlefield.
While the horse piece symbolizing Grimbart trembled as it looked back, Serica's figurine was moving toward him.
"Her moment to shine will begin."
The number of gazes watching the table increased from two to three.
The battlefield was approaching its climax.
- 4 -
Kwang!!
A fiery clash of axe and greatsword erupted at the vanguard.
'It seems Kalart is not in good condition today. I should assess the situation, then launch a surprise attack on the enemy vanguard...'
Grimbart's brow had been slightly furrowed as he watched him.
Though he could not openly express his dissatisfaction, the situation did not please him.
"Your Highness!! An urgent message from Lord Heinrich! Behind us, behind us, the Hysen army is...!"
Just then, at the sudden news brought by the messenger, Grimbart the Archduke's face turned pale.
"What! What were the border lords and castellans doing! Until they circled around behind our backs!"
"Th-the Hysen army is said to have crossed the mountains!"
"What on earth...!"
The Archduke unconsciously looked toward the Eisenlight Mountains that stretched to the west.
This mountain range was relatively gentle on the Orbis side, but on the Aririt side, it was a rugged place mostly consisting of sheer cliffs.
It was not a place where a large number of troops could ever ascend or descend.
And yet an army had come down crossing those mountains?
There was no way he could know.
That the wings of harpies and the plant magic of Alraune had lightly ignored such mountain ranges and moved an army.
'To think this was a trap...!'
But to deny this unbelievable situation, the black flags of Hysen and Kiza appearing in the distance were too vividly clear.
"Kalart! Pull Kalart back!"
As soon as his order fell, the messenger urgently ran toward the chaotic vanguard.
But in Grimbart's heart, anxiety only grew larger.
Though Heinrich and the White Wing Order were in the rear, the White Wing Order was supporting the wings of the vanguard to further push the victoriously advancing battlefield.
Now that the vanguard had gone in too deep, if Heinrich were to be captured by the enemy...
"Th-the Orbis army is coming!!"
As he was about to step back busily to grasp the situation, the situation at the vanguard changed urgently.
The black army surged forward like a tidal wave.
At its vanguard, a girl in a crimson dress, who had become familiar over the past few days, stood out.
Swash — !!
A rose-colored parasol traced through the empty air.
A small, adorable movement as if the girl were playing.
But the result was by no means light.
Keuaaak!!
Powerful blade edges and waves of mana spread out in an instant.
Knights and mages alike were smashed to pieces or forced back.
"I wanted to face you directly. Archduke."
Amid the falling rain of blood, her eyes met Grimbart's.
"You won't be able to run away now. Quietly become a flower for her."
A low but clear voice that could be heard from afar.
That voice was as gentle as a mild spring breeze, but the killing intent permeating it was colder than ice.
"I hear your swordsmanship is quite good... and besides, you're even a king of humans."
A chill ran down Grimbart's spine.
The aura exuded by that girl, no, that monster, was clearly beyond the realm of humans.
He aimed the sword in his hand at the girl, but the tip of the blade trembled minutely.
"You are clearly..."
Serica's eyes did not miss that trembling.
"You seem like you'd make a fine flower."
Her crimson eyes gently curved.
With a beautiful figure unbefitting the battlefield.
Right after, sticky, blood-red power poured out from the sleeves of her crimson dress.