Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Disobedience Punished
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"Our target isn't the Red Dragon Legion! Move out!"
Since most of the Kingdom Army had been ordered to avoid engaging the Red Dragon Legion, they attacked only the 5th Legion, bypassing the slowly approaching Red Dragon Legion—all except a small force of light cavalry meant to draw attention.
"To the side, to the side!"
"Gaaah!"
"Raise your shields! Don't get separated from our allies!"
The vanguard infantry, completely surrounded by mercenaries and regular troops, was on the verge of breaking formation.
"Huff... huff... Running away like cowards!"
"They're coming from the rear!"
"These bastards...!"
The 5th Legion's cavalry, caught in the Kingdom Army light cavalry's wheel tactics, had exhausted their stamina.
"Cavalry on the right flank!"
"The... 3rd Infantry Regiment, hold off their charge for now! Everyone else, keep moving!"
"There are too many enemy cavalry! It's dangerous!"
"...No! We have to save the cavalry at least!"
Axel's infantry was also slowed by cavalry repeatedly targeting their flanks.
"At this rate, we can annihilate them completely!"
"The Red Dragon Legion is marching to provide support, so they're vulnerable to ambushes right now. How about we press the attack and hit the Red Dragon Legion too?"
The Kingdom Army officers, excited by how smoothly things were going according to plan, even suggested targeting the Red Dragon Legion.
"...It's about time we prepared to withdraw."
"Pardon?"
Satisfied with their gains, Sancho advocated for retreat.
"Withdraw now? Why?"
"The enemy's other legions are fully committed to our feint, but not the Red Dragon Legion."
"Exactly. They're still advancing without pause and will soon link up with the enemy's rear forces."
"Mm. Our cavalry is tiring, and their speed is dropping. The Red Dragon Legion is a tough foe unless they're not at full strength."
"...Understood."
The foreign officers grumbled at pulling back first from a winning fight, but they nodded, considering the state of their highly mobile cavalry.
"Have the cavalry regroup and stand by. Pass the retreat order to the infantry."
"Yes, sir!"
The Kingdom Army prepared to withdraw.
"Form up and fall back slowly."
The regular troops that had been attacking Kai's infantry flanks were the first to reform ranks and prepare to retreat.
"Retreating?"
"Tch... It's not enough yet."
In response, the mercenaries—who had been fighting chaotically—gradually eased their assault.
The cavalry harassing the 5th Legion while avoiding the Red Dragon Legion gathered at the flanks of their allied infantry, lying in wait to ambush any pursuers.
"Reinforcements! The Red Dragon Legion is here!"
"...We made it."
The Red Dragon Legion swept away the remaining ambushers in the area and linked up with Axel's forces.
"The enemy's assault is weakening!"
"...It could be a trap. For now..."
Kai, who had already been burned once by a feigned retreat, refused to drop his guard despite the clearly slackening enemy pressure.
"Large enemy force from the rear! ...It looks like the deputy legion commander's troops!"
"Finally! What's the enemy's movement?"
"They're pulling back! The flank attacks have almost stopped!"
"...Prepare to counterattack! This is our chance for revenge!"
With the Kingdom Army clearly retreating and reinforcements arrived, they prepared a major counteroffensive.
"The troops are in poor shape. Counterattacking now would be difficult. We should leave the pursuit to our allies..."
"If we stop, who will grab the fleeing enemy by the ankle? We need to move now!"
"No! If they ambush us like before, we'll be annihilated for real!"
"We're not cowards who just take a beating and do nothing!"
Determined not to let the battle end with such heavy losses, Kai pressured the concerned officers and tried to resume the attack.
"Cavalry ahead!"
"What? The enemy?"
"No! It's ours! The Red Dragon Legion!"
"...Ha."
Blocking their path wasn't the enemy, but the Red Dragon Legion's cavalry.
"Let's go for now."
"...Yes."
Letting out a hollow laugh, Kai moved to the front with his officers.
"Ugh..."
"Get up!"
"My legs... my legs..."
Ignoring the demoralized troops whose morale had hit rock bottom, they strode forward confidently.
"Halt!"
"The enemy's cavalry is preparing a counterattack!"
Soon, they came face-to-face with the Red Dragon Legion cavalry shouting for the soldiers to stop.
Kai approached the one who seemed to be their commander.
"...Hey."
"Don't come closer!"
"Hah... Don't you know who I am?"
"No clue. And I don't care."
In response to Kai's call, Regiment Commander Heinrich Rauch replied curtly.
Despite Heinrich's warning, Kai tried to approach,
Click.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I warned you. Don't come closer."
"...This isn't the time to waste like this."
At Heinrich's gesture, soldiers dismounted and aimed rifles at Kai.
After glaring at them for a moment, Kai
"I'm Baron Kai Shuh. Why are you blocking our path?"
stepped back and asked him.
"Heinrich Rauch, Red Dragon Legion Cavalry Regiment Commander. I'm carrying out Legion Commander Victor's orders."
"Hoo... This isn't the time. Pull back your forces and relay this to Legion Commander Victor: now's the perfect chance to counterattack."
Kai tried to persuade the rigid Heinrich, but
"The enemy is regrouping their cavalry to strike our flanks, and their rear guard is elite Kingdom Army regulars. He said now's the time to regroup."
"Whose judgment is right—Legion Commander Victor's from the back there, or mine from the front lines? Even now..."
"Our cavalry follows only Legion Commander Victor's orders."
"..."
Kai gave up on convincing him amid the unyielding attitude.
"What are you doing? Everyone, prepare to advance!"
"Advance...?"
"No time! Form up quickly!"
Instead, he approached the soldiers relieved at the prospect of no more fighting and ordered them to prepare to march.
"Stop this! They're..."
"They're allies for now! If we push forward, how will they stop us?"
"..."
As the 5th Legion officers faltered under Kai's momentum,
"Ready to fire."
"...What?"
Click.
At Heinrich's word, the cavalry aimed their rifles over the heads of the 5th Legion soldiers.
"Are you insane?"
"You're the insane one. Consider this a warning. If you don't stop now, we'll have to respond forcefully."
"...Think I'm scared? Move! Advance!"
Despite Heinrich's warning, Kai pressed his troops,
"Fire."
Bang bang bang bang!
At Heinrich's command, the front line fired into the air.
Thud.
"Eek!"
"N-No, don't go!"
The soldiers, who had been forced to their feet by the officers' commands, collapsed at the deafening gunfire, ignoring Kai's voice entirely.
"...Insane."
"No bullets this time, but there won't be a next."
"..."
Not expecting Heinrich to go this far, Kai had no choice but to back down.
He returned to the rear, mulling over his predicament,
"Allied forces have arrived."
"...I see?"
Upon hearing that Axel and Victor's troops had arrived, he headed straight there.
"Where's Legion Commander Victor?"
"...Over there."
Weaving through the discontented soldiers, he arrived before Victor and Axel.
"Why did you stop? The enemy was fully focused on us, and they were even retreating with their backs exposed just now!"
"..."
"We could've held them while you annihilated them! Why block our path and send troops to interfere?"
He bellowed in rage, but Victor's gaze, watching it all, was ice cold.
Glancing briefly at Axel beside him, he
"Defiance of orders is a grave crime, especially in battle. Arrest them."
ordered the arrest of Kai and his officers.
Step. Step. Step.
"Wh-What..."
Red Dragon Legion soldiers emerged with ropes and bound the stunned officers.
"Are you in your right mind? We're with the 5th Legion! This is blatant overreach!"
"Deputy Legion Commander! What's going on?"
"Why aren't you doing anything?"
The officers, expecting Axel to handle any discipline, called out to him in shock, but he remained silent.
Their confusion grew as he averted his eyes, glancing at Victor.
"Legion Commander Victor, cut these ropes right now..."
"Quiet."
Victor approached the wriggling men and grabbed Kai by the collar.
"Gahk..."
"If you want to talk about overreach, follow the basics first."
"Kkh..."
"You ignored His Majesty's orders, my request, Deputy Legion Commander Axel Lübeck's instructions, and handed half the 5th Legion to the enemy. And now you rage about why we stopped? You have nothing to say."
"What the hell..."
"Blinded by greed, you crossed the line this far. Your life won't even cover the cost."
He released Kai's collar with a toss,
"Lock them up. Once we've cleaned up the battlefield, they'll face fitting punishment. And Deputy Legion Commander Axel."
"Yes."
"See to it this never happens again."
"...Yes."
With the legion already short on manpower and subordinates committing major errors, Victor had cleaned it up himself.
Axel could only acquiesce powerlessly to Victor's words, as if he were the superior officer.
"..."
Having warned Axel as well, Victor watched the officers being dragged away with a piercing glare.