Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Worsening War Situation
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The war situation was growing increasingly dire.
Yuno steadily seized control of the western region of Streb County. Most of the minor lords surrendered without much resistance, but there were territories like Creis Barony that fought to the bitter end, so things weren't entirely smooth sailing.
While reviewing the tactical map in a meeting with his officers, Yuno was considering a centurion's suggestion: since the western part of Streb territory had been pacified, they should scatter just a couple of thousand-man scout units as per orders, then join up with the First Army, which was struggling at Srrlev Fortress.
Just then, a report came in that a magical communication had arrived at legion headquarters, and Yuno's face lit up.
"Is it from Brother Franz?"
"N-no... It's from Eleventh Legion Commander, Young Lord Kent Windrage."
A bit disappointed that it wasn't the communication from his brother he'd been hoping for, Yuno still connected the call. Maintaining close contact with the Eleventh Legion and coordinating schedules was important business, after all.
"Uncle? Did you wrap up Connet Barony yesterday like you said you would?"
"Hahaha, Your Highness! Who do you think I am? The enemy before our Eleventh Legion has been completely annihilated. I've collected the heads of those vile Theseito lords, so make sure to check them out later! Hahaha!"
Whether it was because the Windrage troops numbering five thousand were so elite or not, Kent seemed to be commanding the Eleventh Legion competently, contrary to Yuno's worries. Unlike Yuno, he permitted a day of plundering in every territory they captured, which slowed their advance compared to Yuno's, but since it was standard practice, there was no faulting him for it.
"Hahaha... That's fine. I'll take your word for it. So, no issues on your end today? In that case, we're planning to form scout units, set up guards on the western front, prepare signal fires, and then join the First Army. How about the Eleventh Legion do the same?"
"Understood, Your Highness. However, we still have one territory left to clean up, so we'll finish that and then move as per your orders."
"Got it, Uncle. Just one more thing—make sure to report to me or Crown Prince Franz if enemy reinforcements show up or any variables arise."
"Of course, no worries. Oh, and is it true that some insolent fools in the Tenth Legion dared to plot harm against Your Highness?"
Yuno gave a wry smile at Kent's words.
"Yes, that's right. But I executed all the rebels personally, and I tore the ringleader limb from limb, so please don't worry too much."
"Those insolent bastards!! Who do they think they are, targeting His Highness and the Windrage House?! Once the war's over, I'll lead the Eleventh Legion straight to their families and make them pay!!"
"No need for that. Luckily, they weren't colluding with the enemy nation or plotting outright treason—it was just personal greed that sparked it, so let's wrap it up there."
"Come on, Your Highness, you're too lenient! Aiming for royal blood is treason itself—we need to exterminate their entire clans!! Your Highness? Your Highness?"
"Huh? What's wrong with this magic?"
Whether it was affection for his nephew or outrage at the Windrage House being slighted, Kent vented tremendous fury over the incident. Yuno didn't exactly mind his uncle's attitude, but it was a hassle, so he pretended it was a communication glitch and removed his hand from the crystal orb.
The connection cut off immediately, and Yuno rose from his seat. In any case, his uncle's old days as a reckless thug seemed to have faded somewhat, so Yuno figured there wouldn't be any issues and returned to the command tent where the meeting had been underway.
Drip.
"Ugh... Hey, comms officer! What's wrong with this thing? I was in the middle of giving His Highness some profound advice, and it just cuts out? You gonna do your job or not?"
"I-it wasn't me who cut it; it was from their end..."
"Shut it. You incompetents always have excuses."
'Then use the damn crystal yourself... It's right there, just put your hand on it, but no, he says it doesn't look cool enough and always calls me over to connect it...'
Leaving the aggrieved mage behind, Kent returned to his tent, licking his lips as he recalled the taste of the baron's wife he'd kidnapped from the territory they'd just conquered.
"Adjutant! Go to the POW camp and fetch that bitch!"
"...Which one do you mean, sir...?"
"Who else but Connet Baron's wife? Duh. I have some deep interrogation to do, so hurry up and bring her."
"Yes, sir."
Kent's adjutant inwardly cursed up a storm as he headed to the POW camp and hauled the sobbing Connet Baron's wife, her face streaked with tears, toward Kent's tent.
"Does the Valkan Empire have no honor? Don't humiliate me like this—just kill me like you did my husband!!"
"...I'm sorry, ma'am. As a mere adjutant, I can't defy the legion commander's orders."
"Sob... h-hic..."
In the end, Connet Baron's wife was dragged into Kent's tent, from which cries of anguish and moans soon echoed.
"Whew~ Once we get back home, I gotta discharge or something... This is filthy, just filthy..."
The adjutant, emerging from the legion commander's tent and heading to his own nearby, was met by a messenger sprinting up at breakneck speed with a report.
"Urgent dispatch!! Scouts report an enemy fleet appearing off Theseito's southern coast. Cavalry has disembarked and is advancing north at high speed! Estimated at six thousand!! Banners suggest the Royal Guard Cavalry! Current position: Zalle Viscountcy!!"
The moment he heard the report, the adjutant bolted back to Kent's tent. Ignoring any knocking pleasantries, he rushed in and reported to Kent.
"Legion Commander!! Enemy sighted!! Six thousand Theseito Royal Cavalry landed on the southern coast and are heading north— they've reached Zalle Viscountcy! They're less than 150 km from our legion!!"
"Have you no manners?! The legion commander is interrogating a POW—what the hell is this?!"
Kent, mounted atop Connet Baron's wife and thrusting away, yelled in embarrassment. But his adjutant ignored the reaction entirely and stuck to protocol.
"This isn't the time! At 150 km, cavalry could cover it in less than a day! Report to high command immediately and request reinforcements or link up the armies!!"
"Hey now~ Didn't you say just six thousand? We can handle that with the Eleventh Legion alone! Actually, perfect timing. Finally, a chance to prove my abilities. I was getting bored with these pathetic territory grabs... Heh heh heh."
Kent's eyes gleamed as he roughly grabbed Connet Baron's wife's breasts and sucked on her nipples. She screamed in pain, but he paid no heed, resuming his thrusts while issuing orders to his adjutant.
"Adjutant! No reports to high command. Go rally the troops for an anti-cavalry formation! I'll finish interrogating this one and join you shortly. Heh heh heh."
Unable to defy the legion commander's orders despite his doubts, the adjutant left the tent to carry them out.
"Your pussy's not even clenching!! You insolent wench!! Who do you think I am, heir to the great Windrage House?! Squeeze tighter, damn it! Hahaha!!"
Shaking his head at his superior's voice echoing from the tent as he left, the adjutant pondered how to survive the coming battle.
Boom!!
The next morning, Yuno had barely risen from bed when he received a report that nearly made him faint.
"What... what did you say? Eleventh Legion annihilated? No report of enemies appearing? What about the Eleventh Legion commander? What happened to my uncle?"
"W-well... The Eleventh Legion commander fled the moment the enemy cavalry broke through the formation..."
"This lunatic!! Fled in the face of the enemy? The legion commander? Does that even make sense?"
"I-it's true, though. Multiple witnesses say the Eleventh Legion, led by the Windrage troops, formed an anti-cavalry phalanx and desperately held off the first charge, but when enemy cavalry broke through from the flank and approached command headquarters, he fled."
"So where did this fleeing Eleventh Legion commander go?"
"No further updates on the Eleventh Legion commander. Our forces are gathering the routed survivors for now—please issue further orders."
Yuno's head throbbed; he'd never dreamed his uncle, whom he'd felt somewhat at ease about just yesterday, would stab him in the back like this.
"Damn it all!! Have the Tenth Legion head south to the southern front—"
"Urgent dispatch!! Three marquisates in central Theseito are assembling reinforcements and marching toward us!! Estimated contact in about a fortnight."
With enemies now swarming from the west as well, Yuno's headache intensified. He'd racked his brain, but his limited strategic acumen yielded no solutions, so he decided to go with his gut.
"Screw it—damned if we do, damned if we don't!! The Tenth Legion joins the First Army to capture Streb before enemy reinforcements arrive!!"
"Pardon? How are we supposed to take Streb, which His Highness the Crown Prince has been sieging for nearly a month...?"
"We'll figure it out once we're there! Tell Brother the Tenth Legion is heading to Streb too!"
The thousand-man commanders were stunned by Yuno's reckless decision, but since they had no better ideas themselves, they resolved to follow their legion commander and expeditionary force vice-commander.
*Current Battle Progress Situation