Chapter 126
Chapter 126
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: The Betrayed General Betrays
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two days after the allied forces finalized their detailed plan.
A vanguard force of around 30,000 arrived at the outskirts of Adiche about a day earlier than expected.
"Those guys don't have any real strategy. They just bulldoze with brute force and numbers, so if we stick to the plan, we should be fine."
"That's been their pattern so far. Doesn't look like it's changed much now either."
"We've also confirmed they're reacting aggressively to the scouts' lures. This is our chance to blunt their edge."
Unlike Blake, who still harbored a sliver of doubt, Vittorio exuded strong confidence.
If their assessment was accurate, Kalligo himself wasn't personally commanding the troops.
"Alright, I'll trust you on this."
I extended my hand to Vittorio first.
"Yeah, let's make it work."
The word "chance" seemed to carry double meaning this time—he shook my hand without grimacing.
Most of the allied forces were positioned in the valley of Bertie Forest.
Blake's 12,000 troops held the valley's end like a cork in a bottle, while the Empire's 15,000 and Vittorio's 9,000 were split along both sides of the valley.
The dwarves would block the enemy's charge once, the Empire troops would seal the opposite entrance, and the elves in the center would strike.
It was an ambush set up using the valley.
The remaining 8,000 Empire troops stood ready on both flanks of the dwarves to support Blake's forces, while about 3,000 elf troops moved to the outskirts of Bertie Forest to prepare the enemy lure.
-Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The elves dispatched for observation and luring could hear the distinctive, rhythmic footsteps unique to the troops led by Kalligo.
Orcs were usually supposed to charge in savage, chaotic hordes, but Kalligo's orcs moved like machines executing simple orders.
They barreled through trees, trampling fallen allies without a care, all in pursuit of the elves.
"..."
"...Hoo."
Having witnessed such scenes multiple times, the elves fought to suppress the creeping fear.
"Don't freak out too much. It's just orcs up ahead."
"You think those bastards can climb trees or fly? No way they'll catch us."
"..."
The elves of the Lavria Republic, with their keen senses, confirmed they were positioned in the rear and cautiously reassured each other through hushed talk.
Once everyone was ready, they crept toward the advancing enemy.
"..."
The elves hid among the underbrush, nocked their arrows carefully,
-Whoosh!
and loosed them all at once at the orcs marching forward with eyes only ahead.
-Thud. Thump.
Apart from the lucky shots that hit eyes or vital spots, the shortbows of the scouts barely pierced the orcs' tough hides.
"...!"
But like a wave rippling through, starting from the front-runners struck by arrows, the orcs whipped their heads toward the direction of the attack,
"Run!"
-Crunch! Crash!
The elves deliberately made loud noises to draw full attention as they fled to the designated spot.
In response, the orcs—not under Kalligo's direct command—simply charged in the direction the elves had vanished, following their orders.
Such lures began in multiple spots throughout Bertie Forest, steadily drawing in dozens, or more, orcs at a time. This soon created a clear pattern in the orcs' movements.
-Crunch! Crack!
"Faster! We can't let them close the gap!"
"...This way overlaps with Sandra's path! Head that way!"
The elves occasionally fired arrows backward to keep the orcs' attention, adjusting their routes somewhat via mental communication, gradually herding them toward the allied ambush valley.
Eventually, small groups of orcs began entering the valley.
"He said you need to absorb the initial charge!"
"Got it!"
For a decisive annihilation, the elf messenger relayed that Blake must hold until more orcs entered the valley.
"...You seem to trust the elves a bit too much."
One elderly dwarf officer voiced concern to Blake, who appeared to fully trust the elves,
"They were the weird ones before. Think about it logically. This is elf territory—why wouldn't they give it their all?"
"Well..."
"The enemy's charging!"
"Prepare defenses! You know how critical our role is!"
"...Understood."
Blake, pleased with Vittorio's changed attitude, judged the elves by common sense.
-Thud!
"Urgh...!"
"Brace and push! Don't let them through!"
The dwarves hefted massive shields nearly as tall as themselves, enduring body slams from orcs twice their size.
"..."
"..."
Confirming the dwarves were fully immersed in battle, the main elf body pretended to prepare for combat while slowly retreating rearward, getaway at the ready.
Since the enemy vanguard was smaller than expected, the original plan to sacrifice humans and dwarves for a massive blow was postponed until the main force arrived.
But they would move their forces passively without drawing notice from the Empire troops and dwarves, pulling back first.
A relatively petty revenge—that was their goal.
"Now!"
"Go!"
"Waaaaah!"
Dozens of minutes later, when over 20,000 orcs had gathered in the valley.
The Empire troops overlooking from both sides charged down, cutting off the orcs' rear.
"Fire!"
The longbow units rained arrows from the high ground onto the orcs' center,
"Thrust!"
-Stab! Crunch!
while the infantry maintained strict formation, herding the orcs with spears as much as possible.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
The elves on the outer edges of the formation joined the attack on the orcs.
"Our allies have launched the assault!"
"Good! Everyone, push hard!"
The news reached the dwarves, who had been awaiting the elves' move with suspicion; they threw themselves fully into the fray,
-Thud!
"Raaagh!"
"Stick your spears in the ground and hold!"
and the Empire rear, facing pressure equal to the front, had no slack to look elsewhere.
"..."
Moreover, the valley's narrow width had meaningfully widened the gaps between the Empire troops and elf raiders encircling the orcs, and the dwarves.
"...!"
"..."
Seeing this as their chance, the elves tried to slowly withdraw the forces still hidden in the forest.
They conversed cautiously via mental link, aiming to slip past the battle-immersed dwarves,
"..."
"...!"
when Salvatore's scout team reported other forces positioned on the dwarves' flank.
"...Ah! There you are!"
The elves' efforts to avoid allies proved futile—they encountered a small force led by a human officer along the ridgeline.
Behind him, a group of Empire troops approached, spreading wide to block the path.
"What is this..."
Salvatore couldn't hide his fluster, exchanging glances with the other halted elves.
This encounter was nowhere in their plan, at least.
However,
"Deputy commander, Stefan here! We've been waiting!"
"...What?"
Stefan, a junior officer from the Andau garrison at the front, greeted the elves in an excited voice.
"You're moving for a flanking strike on the enemy, right? The commander said to wait here with the elves and prepare a second assault!"
"...?"
He explained his mission clearly.
Salvatore, who had moved based on prior scout reports, didn't fully grasp why he was meeting an Empire officer or how the situation had unfolded,
"I heard this was prearranged. Isn't it?"
"...Yes, it is. Are you ready?"
"Of course! Let's start! I've got about 3,000 Empire reserves waiting behind me!"
"Understood. Pass that along."
They realized they couldn't do anything about the Empire troops fully blocking their escape.
"How could this happen? How!"
"...Commander."
"Did they catch on... or was it leaked?"
Vittorio cursed Salvatore for being spotted by such a minor officer, while feeling uneasy about why forces meant to support the dwarves were blocking the ridgeline.
"...Follow them."
"Pardon?"
"Move!"
"Ah, yes!"
For now, he ordered cooperation with the Empire troops, who showed no suspicion.
"..."
"..."
The elves preparing to retreat had no choice but to ready for battle again,
"Charge!"
and rushed toward the orcs in the valley alongside the Empire reserves.
"Ha, haha..."
Vittorio slumped in the woods, letting out a hollow laugh at the situation veering off script,
"Commander Victor's messenger has arrived."
"...What?"
when a single Empire messenger—not even winded—approached him.
"He said some reserves will stay on the ridgeline to counter any sudden moves from remaining enemy elves or orcs!"
"...That's it?"
"Yes!"
"..."
Vittorio dazedly watched the messenger's retreating back after that pointed remark, as if to say not to overthink,
"Hey, Hugo."
"Yes, Commander!"
"Did we ever relay our position to the humans?"
A sudden oddity popped into his head, so he asked Hugo nearby.
"No, we didn't. ...Whoa."
Hugo's mouth fell open after his curt reply,
"...This is a bad feeling."
and Vittorio sensed an ominous chill creeping in.