Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Bloodstained Streve Fortress Battle (1)
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The Valkan Empire's Theseito expeditionary force had barely crossed the border when it was immediately spotted by Theseito scouts. The news spread rapidly via magical communication to the capital Kamaden and key defensive strongholds, including Streve.
"Your Excellency! The Valkan Crown Prince is leading the 1st, 4th, and 5th Legions straight toward Streve. Meanwhile, two legions under the Third Prince are maneuvering to encircle us!"
"Heh heh heh. They've been sitting there assembled for ages without a declaration of war or any movement. I was wondering when they'd cross, and now they finally show up."
"Our preparations are flawless. Just give the order, and we'll show those Valkan bastards exactly what Streve is made of."
"Good... Let them come. I'll prove to them that Redelmo Count hasn't kicked the bucket yet!"
Count Redelmo and his adjutant Cordelia smiled as they awaited the Valkan Empire's forces charging into Streve.
Meanwhile, in Theseito's capital Kamaden, Duke Tiruen and King Anton II were discussing the Valkan offensive.
"Hmmm. I wondered when they'd move... and now they're finally marching."
"That mad emperor bastard... Is he really willing to start a war with a staged play involving his own third son?"
"Well... it might not be staged."
"Hm? What do you mean? Not staged? Don't tell me you actually did something, Tiruen?"
"Hahaha. Do I look like a war-crazed lunatic to you?"
"...Tiruen. You're my closest friend and most favored vassal, but sometimes you don't seem entirely right in the head... Not a war maniac, though... Heh heh heh."
Theseito's King Anton II set down his wine glass and asked seriously.
"So, Duke Tiruen. Do you think the Empire has any chance of breaching Streve?"
"No, Your Majesty. The enemy will never cross Streve. I absolutely won't allow it. Even if they do, they won't claim a single inch of Theseito soil. Have no fear."
Satisfied with Duke Tiruen's response, Anton II picked up his glass again. Tiruen clinked his own against his friend's and drained it.
"Then I'll leave it all to you... Wrap up this war properly. I know squat about military matters, so you have to handle it. And when this war ends, bring some good news about my little sister too, yeah? I wanna hear 'uncle' soon."
Tiruen gave a wry smile at the king's words, rolled up the map, and headed to his office.
"Too damn busy... It's been over a year since I last shared a drink with our princess... If you wanna hear 'uncle,' quit working me to the bone, you rotten king!"
As Tiruen grumbled, dawn began to break.
After a forced march that reached Streve in a single day, the Empire's 1st Legion set up camp to recover from the fatigue.
The next morning, as the sun rose, Crown Prince Franz gazed up at the towering walls of Streve Fortress in awe.
"Wow~ I've heard it's tall plenty of times, but seeing it for real is something else. You really can't beat firsthand experience, even after reading about it or hearing it a hundred times in stories. Streve's reputation feels understated now."
"Indeed, Your Highness. I was terrified the first time I saw it. But... Streve will ultimately fall to our legionaries."
Crown Prince Franz nodded at Baron Hasau, commander of the 1st Legion.
"What about the ultimatum?"
"They chopped off the envoy's head and tossed it back. Cowardly barbarians..."
Franz frowned at Baron Zigvald's report, commander of the 4th Legion. He'd half-hoped for surrender, but it had only cost a valuable envoy's life.
"5th Legion commander? Is the siege engine assembly complete?"
"Yes, Your Highness. All preparations are ready. Why not boost the troops' morale with a personal speech?"
Franz liked Derian's suggestion from the 5th Legion commander, so he stepped to the forefront and activated an amplification magic tool.
"Legionaries of the Valkan Empire, hear me! Sixty years ago, our ancestors shed rivers of blood on this Xenon Plain to forge our empire. Our empire now faces grave peril!! Because one nation on this continent threatens our peace. You all know which one. Who is it?"
"Theseito!!"
"That's right! Theseito repeatedly invades our rightful Xenon Plain, endangering our safety. They steal our food! They threaten our families!! We must repel this vile foe, Theseito!! For this, I, Franz, as Supreme Commander of the Theseito Expeditionary Force and Crown Prince of the Empire, pledge my full support!!"
"Waaaaah!!"
As the soldiers cheered, Franz waved back until the noise died down, then continued.
"Today!! The enemy will kneel before our feet!! Today!! We will capture Streve!! And today!! We will end the Xenon Plain battle from sixty years ago once and for all!! Today!! Who will lead us to victory in this battle?!"
"It's Your Highness!!"
"It's the Supreme Commander!!"
The soldiers chanted for the Crown Prince and shouted hurrahs, but Franz shook his head.
"No!! The ones who will capture Streve today and lead us to victory are you! You, the elite legionaries of Valkan, are the true heroes of this battle!!"
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
"Long live the Empire!! Long live Valkan!!"
"Eternal glory to the legions!!"
"Legionaries, advance!! Bring down Streve! Show them there's no fortress an Empire legionary can't conquer. The legend of Streve's impregnable walls ends with us today!"
Bwooooooo~~~
The horns signaling advance blared just as Franz's speech ended.
Thud thud thud thud
The legionaries formed up in phalanxes and began marching, with siege towers and battering rams emerging between the formations.
"11th and 12th Heavy Infantry, shields up!! Escort the siege engines to the walls!!"
"Archers, nock arrows!! Get under the shieldbearers!!"
"13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Light Infantry, grab sandbags!! We need to fill the moat so the siege engines can reach the walls!!"
"51st Engineers!! Soak the siege towers with water!! Cover the rams with hides soaked through!!"
The 1st Legion took the lead in the siege. Once they closed to a certain distance, arrows darkened the sky and rained down on the legionaries.
But the Empire's heavy infantry held firm. Their square shields interlocked seamlessly, blocking every arrow without a single casualty as they advanced in sync with the siege engines. Meanwhile, the four light infantry units dashed forward, hurling sandbags into the moat.
With four thousand sandbags dumped at once, the moat filled noticeably, so 1st Legion commander Baron Hasau ordered the unscathed light infantry to grab more and charge again.
"Repeating that about three times should secure space for two siege towers."
"Then wouldn't it have been better to fill the moat first before advancing the siege engines? Aren't the 11th and 12th Infantry and 51st Engineers advancing pointlessly now?"
Even with the Empire's solid defenses, casualties mounted as they neared the walls, prompting Franz's question.
"Not at all, Your Highness. The advancing siege tower is bait. With such a high-value target, the enemy's arrows and catapults will focus there. That minimizes losses for the sandbag teams."
"Hmmm... Understood. I'll leave the details to the legion commanders. Just bring me victory."
"As you command, Your Highness."
Barons Hasau and Zigvald of the 1st and 4th Legions were lower nobility and life peers, but earning merit in the Crown Prince's eyes could elevate them to high nobility as imperial favorites.
That drive made them more zealous than anyone in assaulting Streve.
Yet they weren't incompetent enough to waste lives needlessly for glory. When the 13th-16th Infantry showed fatigue, the 4th Legion rotated in with the 43rd-46th Light Infantry, ready to throw.
"Run!! Dodge their arrows as fast as you can!!"
"Shields over heads!! Wrap shoulders in sandbags and charge while blocking!!!"
As the four light infantry units reached a hundred meters from the moat, the ground suddenly collapsed.
"Aaaagh!! What the hell?!"
"W-wait, the ground... aaaagh!!"
Not too deep—the soldiers could climb out with outstretched arms—but this was the battlefield's heart, and arrows followed relentlessly.
"Aaaagh!! Arrows!!"
"Shields up!! You idiots!! Climb later—block first!!"
Officers screamed to rally the men and restore formation, but by then, nearly five hundred light infantry lay dead or gravely wounded. As they tried climbing again, another volley poured down.
"Volley fire!! Drop and block!! Better angle down here—heads covered is enough!!"
"C-centurion!! O-over there!!!"
"What?"
The centurions, corralling troops for retreat, spotted water flooding along the collapsed earth.
"Water attack!!"
"Stay calm!! This depth won't drown us!! Just pull out steadily and... Gahk!!"
Arrows came with the water. Ultimately, the four thousand light infantry retreated to base with fifteen hundred casualties.
Without light infantry, the moat stayed unfilled, halting the siege engines.
Stationary siege engines made perfect targets. As fire arrows ignited the towers and rams, the heavy infantry abandoned them and fell back.
The Empire fought all morning but couldn't touch Streve. With the 1st and 4th Legions too fatigued for afternoon fighting, commanders advised rest, so the Crown Prince ordered tomorrow's assault and gave troops respite.
Even with special rations and rest, the legionaries' faces were grim. They'd tasted Streve's defenses firsthand and realized this battle wouldn't be easy.
Streve Fortress, naturally, was in festive mood.
"Hahaha!! You fools!! Did you think we'd let you fill our moat in peace?"
"Charging straight by the textbook felt like they were begging to die. Hohoho."
"Now that they've tasted our heat, they'll come more cautiously tomorrow."
"Doesn't matter—they're green kids with no experience. They'll learn what happens when you siege under Count Redelmo."
"Lady Cordelia, prepare the next move. They're not idiots; they won't charge blindly again."
"Yes, Your Excellency. We've got something that'll make them piss themselves. Time to shove bitter defeat down those invaders' throats. Hohoho."
Thus, the first day of the Streve Fortress battle ended in utter defeat for the Empire.