Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Lure at Al Verdo Pass
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The Red Dragon Legion steadily seized control of Dronado Forest.
Thanks to Victor's ability that guaranteed first strikes without fail, the legion's scouts racked up overwhelming victories—sustaining only single-digit injuries—while toying with the Kingdom Army's scouts.
"It really is convenient."
"Even when we accidentally flip them over, no powder spills. It's great."
"And they fit so perfectly, it's almost weird."
Among the scouting parties, those equipped with flintlock rifles stood out the most.
Their superior convenience over matchlock muskets, combined with the rifling and Lorenz bullets for pinpoint accuracy and devastating power, shone even in the dense forest where ranged weapons were typically impractical.
"Um... General Victor."
"Hm?"
"Those flintlock rifles... do you have any more?"
"I hear they're still prototypes. Won't be easy to get more for a while."
"...Understood."
Their exploits spread not just among the scouts but to the main force as well, prompting some officers to seek out Victor and inquire about additional flintlock rifles.
They were deeply disappointed by his explanation that they were prototypes requiring advanced craftsmanship for precise springs and barrels, making mass production impossible.
"We've secured the central highway."
"...Good."
Afterward, the Red Dragon Legion's scouts aggressively hunted down the Kingdom Army's counterparts. Unable to hold out, most of the enemy scouts withdrew, bringing the preliminary skirmishes in Dronado Forest to a victorious close for the Red Dragon Legion.
The Kingdom Army ceded most of Dronado Forest to them and shifted entirely to intelligence gathering, leaving only a handful of scouts to monitor the Empire forces' movements.
The Red Dragon Legion's main body advanced into Dronado Forest.
"Enemy units approaching!"
"...Begin."
"Yes, sir!"
Confirming this, the Kingdom Army's raiding parties sprang into action.
Dozens of small mercenary bands and several larger ones exceeding a hundred men each scattered, heading toward the Red Dragon Legion traversing Dronado Forest.
Their objectives were disrupting the Empire scouts and striking supply lines.
-Tatata-tang!
"Argh!"
"Raid! It's a raid!"
"Where?!"
Most were hit by Red Dragon Legion ambushes the moment they entered the forest, suffering heavy losses. The other bands hesitated upon witnessing this, but...
"How long are we supposed to keep dying like dogs?! We..."
"We'll double the pay."
"Well..."
"Make it quadruple."
"...We humbly accept Your Excellency the Count's noble will!"
Aware of Brotan Kingdom's fate—having lost its sovereignty entirely—Sancho persuaded sympathetic nobles and poured out eye-watering sums of money that turned the mercenaries' eyes bloodshot.
-Whoosh!
"Over there! That's them!"
"Throw a knife or... Aaaagh!"
The mercenaries' relentless attacks, day and night from all directions, dragged on for days.
Sancho sent hundreds of mercenaries into Dronado Forest daily, ensuring even elite Empire scouts would suffer inevitable losses.
"Found them! There!"
"Tch..."
The Kingdom Army's preserved scouting parties supported these assaults.
-Bang! Tatang!
"...They're swarming like pests."
"These lunatics..."
The Empire forces, forced to occupy advantageous positions first and repel hundreds of enemies daily, gradually accumulated fatigue.
Initially, rotating scout parties handled the raids, but as exhaustion mounted, regular infantry had to patrol the woods too.
"...You're still awake."
"..."
Even Victor, commanding them all, began to look worn down.
"Didn't you say a major battle awaits? At least get some sleep."
"..."
"Our soldiers are battle-hardened from countless fights. Do you not trust them?"
"...It's not that I don't trust them. Some things just can't be helped."
"Still..."
"Hold on. ...Call Sergei."
"...Yes, General."
The Red Dragon Legion's morale soared from their string of one-sided victories, but...
"...Cockroaches."
"Get any sleep last night?"
"Don't ask."
With the legion's limited manpower, there was little even Victor could do to prevent the troops from tiring in this situation.
"...Mercenaries can't multiply infinitely just because there's money. There must be a limit."
"So you're not sleeping tonight either?"
"Yeah. If we hold out until the 5th Legion reaches Al Kante..."
"Erika. Help me out. I have no idea how many days it's been since the General last slept."
"Uh, what should I do?"
Anna stomped her feet in frustration at Victor's deepening dark circles with each passing day.
Of course, the Kingdom Army wasn't faring much better.
"...No results at all?"
"The enemy is a small elite force, so they must be fatigued..."
"Fatigue? Is that why we're burning through all this money—to tire them out a bit?"
The nobles, whose fortunes had been drained, couldn't show their faces without tangible achievements against the Empire's more thorough response than Sancho anticipated.
"We'll offer more money. How much do you want?"
"Disease is spreading among my men, making movement difficult."
"...Can't be helped, then."
As defeats piled up, mercenary captains made excuses to refuse raid missions.
"It's not about the money. What's the point if we lose our lives?"
"Exactly. If it were a pitched battle, maybe, but charging into Dronado Forest where the enemy has the high ground..."
They gathered among themselves to gripe, and Sancho—valuing every soldier—knew but didn't stop them.
"Your Excellency the Count! Report from Al Kante! An enemy force of about 15,000 attacked, and Frieze Fortress has fallen!"
"...Too fast."
To make matters worse, word arrived that the Empire's 5th Legion had captured Frieze Fortress, the forward outpost before Al Kante.
"Did they see through the feint? ...No, the timing's too quick. They might have read our response from the start."
Sancho had abandoned Al Kante and La Tredo only to inflict heavy damage on the Red Dragon Legion—not to hand them over for free.
"Gather the mercenary captains. Prepare for the decisive battle."
He readied the lure operation a bit ahead of schedule.
After sending private letters to leaders of major mercenary bands, he assembled all the remaining captains and said,
"We'll strike the enemy here, at the entrance to Al Verdo Pass where Dronado Forest ends. Captains, position your forces here and here, ready to attack alongside our flanks when they do."
"Understood."
"Succeed in this battle, and I'll double all payments. Capture or kill Victor, and I'll personally recommend you to His Majesty for medals and promotions. I'll do everything I can."
"..."
He directed roughly 5,000 troops from assorted mercenary bands to deploy at the mouth of Al Verdo Pass, then ended the meeting.
"You lot, position here. When the mercenaries lure the enemy, we'll hit them simultaneously and annihilate the pursuers."
"...Very well."
"You're the key to this battle. I trust you."
He secretly gathered the captains and regular officers who'd received his letters, revealing his true strategy.
Use unreliable mercenaries as bait to draw in the Red Dragon Legion, then crush them inside Al Verdo Pass—that was the plan.
"You, hold the rear and coordinate so they can retreat to this point."
"Understood."
Worried mercenaries alone might not entice pursuit, he assigned 4,000 regular troops to trusted officers to bolster the bait role.
The remaining regulars were to act as if following the bait plan but retreat to ambush points before engaging.
The captains felt chills at Sancho's ruthless deception—even fooling allies to make the bait irresistible—but relief that they weren't the sacrifices.
With main force preparations complete, he drafted final orders for Alejo.
To prevent Victor from detecting their precise movements, he ordered full control of Al Verdo Pass's entrance, handed the letter to a messenger, and leaned back in his stiff chair.
"..."
He believed this battle would decide Esperia Kingdom's fate.
Though he'd emptied his personal coffers without hesitation, nearly broke now.
Without a shred of regret, he stared at the wall map, pondering his strategy. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days later.
The raids plaguing us finally ceased.
"...Did you actually sleep?"
"Yeah."
"Your health is the top priority, General. Please, take care of yourself. Please."
"...Mm."
Anna seemed relieved, but I—continuously monitoring the Kingdom Army's movements via minimap—knew it wasn't time to relax yet.
The Kingdom scouts, once spread across Dronado Forest's edge, now clustered densely at Al Verdo Pass's entrance. The distant main force had divided into multiple groups, seemingly preparing for battle.
It was obvious they were up to something.
"To guard against raids, we'll shrink the scouts' patrol radius."
"Understood, Legion Commander."
I didn't hesitate, using the raids as an excuse to pull back the scouts.
It didn't matter much to me since I could check the minimap without them penetrating deep.
"...I see."
To the Kingdom Army preparing their strategy, it would look like we'd gone blind and deaf.
With the 5th Legion smoothly capturing empty Al Kante, they'd be anxious too.
Judging by the enemy general's actions so far, he was competent enough to spot this gap.
I advanced the Red Dragon Legion slowly, eyes glued to the minimap.
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