Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Feint at Al Berdo Pass
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After advancing slowly for several days while keeping a close eye on things, the Kingdom Army's objective gradually came into sharp focus.
"Our scout team entering Al Berdo Pass has made contact with the enemy. Resistance was fierce, so they withdrew quickly as per the legion commander's orders."
"Hmm..."
They seemed to be deploying all their scouts, blanketing the entrance to Al Berdo Pass with red dots as they slowly shifted their main force forward. The Kingdom Army, which had been gathered together, split into three prongs near the entrance. The forces splitting to the left and right left a large contingent in the center and entered the forests on either side of the road, halting their movements deeper inside. At first glance, it looked like the Kingdom Army was setting up an ambush using the terrain, but the significant number of troops left in the rear holding position made it hard to conclude that definitively. Unable to reveal the source of my intelligence to others, I had to puzzle out the Kingdom Army's intentions on my own. While the central main force engaged, the flanks might strike our sides—or conversely, the flanks could hit first, and the main force could then annihilate us in the chaos. Or it might not be either of those; the apparent main force could be bait to lure us in, while the flanks blocked our rear for an encirclement.
"..."
With no clear read on troop quality or exact numbers, there wasn't much I could infer from the overall deployment alone. Still, "We'll continue the advance. The enemy is likely waiting at Al Berdo Pass, so stay sharp for any ambushes."
"Understood!"
Their intentions would reveal themselves quickly once battle was joined.
"Have the right flank handled by Regimental Commander Boris."
"Yes, General!"
In a battle like this, with limited visibility and divided forces, the minimap and tactical map proved their worth most dramatically. I simulated countermeasures against the Kingdom Army's various strategies as we pressed toward Al Berdo Pass.
"The enemy scouts are being too passive. Compared to how they moved in the Drونا forest..."
"Didn't they block most of our ambushes? Our investment is paying off."
"...Understood. We'll stick to the plan, then."
"Yes. Make it airtight—no leaks."
To Sancho, the scouts' movements following Victor's orders looked like signs of accumulated fatigue. It bolstered his confidence.
"The enemy is advancing along the central road. They appear to be at a standard alert level."
"Good. Launch Operation 'Dragon Slayer'!"
With the Red Dragon Legion seemingly unaware of the Kingdom Army's movements, he confidently declared the operation underway.
The mercenaries assigned as the frontal assault force—4,000 strong alongside regular troops—began their advance.
"Enemy forces inbound! Mercenaries with assorted banners at the front, Kingdom Army regulars behind. Numbers look close to 10,000!"
"What about the forests on both sides?"
"No notable activity. If we send scouts deeper..."
"...No. Press on for now."
Victor reviewed the messenger's report while intently watching the minimap.
By size and position, it certainly seemed like the enemy's main force—but putting a ragtag collection of minor mercenary bands, unreliable in actual combat, at the vanguard felt off to him.
"...Bullet sponges."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Prepare for engagement."
"Yes, sir!"
Though Victor suspected Sancho's intentions, he readied for combat against the approaching force.
The Red Dragon Legion formed ranks and advanced slowly, rifles at the ready.
"...Ready to fire!"
They met the Kingdom Army troops approaching in a somewhat disorderly fashion, waving dozens of different banners.
"Charge!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Let's go!"
The mercenaries, lacking any shared tactics against guns, charged toward the Red Dragon Legion in their individual company formations.
-Tat-tat-tat-tat-tang!
The Red Dragon Legion welcomed them with hundreds of rounds.
"Urk..."
"Argh!"
The mercenaries couldn't close with the Red Dragon Legion's volley fire.
"W-We have guns too..."
-Tat-tat-tang!
"Gah..."
"They're shooting! Fire back!"
"Firing here won't..."
"Hurry!"
The few mercenaries with firearms drew concentrated fire and had to pull their triggers before closing distance.
Their shots, fired under poor conditions—shoddy maintenance, uneven bullet sizes—mostly failed to even reach the Red Dragon Legion soldiers.
-Clang!
"Whoa, shit!"
"What the hell? Comin' at us... what?!"
"...Nearly got killed for real."
With shorter range than the Red Dragon Legion's improved rifles, even the lucky hits bounced off thick armor.
-Tat-tat-tat-tang!
"Keurk!"
"S-Stop..."
Meanwhile, the Red Dragon Legion—with superior rifles and massed firepower—outranged the road's width, leaving over half their force in reserve, yet shredded the Kingdom Army's charge in moments.
"The enemy is collapsing!"
"...Something's off."
Victor stroked his chin as he confirmed the situation on the minimap.
"Sergei. Move to this spot on the right and prepare for enemy attack."
"Yes, sir!"
"You head here..."
The central enemy force had already begun its assault, but only a fraction of the flanking Kingdom Army troops—far fewer than their size suggested—were moving toward the Red Dragon Legion's sides.
Victor dispatched nearby scouts to intercept them while keeping a wary eye on the minimap.
"Damn it... Retreat! Fall back!"
"What? Why are they...? Retreat for us too!"
"Retreat? They're abandoning us to save their own skins?!"
"Abandoning? You idiots rushed in!"
"What?"
With the mercenaries suffering heavy losses from futile charges and friction between front-liners and rearguard, the Kingdom Army's vanguard crumbled right on cue, as per Sancho's plan.
"Run away? Can you afford the fine?"
"You..."
"Continue the attack."
"..."
"I'll cut down anyone who turns tail! Charge the enemy!"
Baron Imanol Ray, leading the regulars, threatened or cajoled the mercenaries from the rear to keep up the pressure.
"Word from Count Gonzalez. They're ready."
"...We retreat too!"
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Only after Sancho's order did they declare withdrawal.
"F-Finally!"
"Outta the way! Move it!"
Imanol's troops mingled with the chaotically fleeing mercenaries, subtly herding them while feigning routed remnants en route to the designated fallback point.
"The enemy is retreating! What are your orders?!"
But even as Alexandrov pressed urgently, Victor—eyes glued to the minimap—confirmed the Kingdom Army's flanks withdrawing at high speed.
"..."
"Their lines are in total disarray, sir!"
He could see them reach the center of Al Berdo Pass and slip back into the forests on either side.
The report claimed "lines collapsing," yet on the minimap, they were neatly clustered, moving almost in a straight line. Victor watched intently, then—
"...A feint."
Based on the Kingdom Army deployment poised to encircle their expected retreat point, he concluded Sancho's plan: use the "main force" as bait to lure the Red Dragon Legion, then crush them with flanks and rearguard.
Victor knew pursuit was notoriously hard to control in most cases—but not for him.
"1st Infantry Regiment, pursue the enemy. 2nd Infantry and Cavalry will move to the right forest."
He had no intention of playing into their hands.
He had the 1st Infantry—already engaged upfront—feign falling for the lure by chasing the fleeing Kingdom Army, while shifting his rear forces, including the near-full cavalry, toward the forest.
"Scouts to the right forest as well. Aggressively neutralize enemy scouts."
"We've been waiting for that order!"
Victor reinforced by deploying even his hitherto defensive scouts.
"The enemy is pursuing."
"Success...!"
Unaware of this, the Kingdom Army took the 1st Infantry's pursuit as proof their lure had worked.
The reactivated Red Dragon Legion scouts neutralized Kingdom Army scouts, blinding them to the 2nd Infantry and cavalry's forest maneuver.
"...It's not over until the enemy reaches that point. Fallback confirmed?"
"Yes, sir. Retreating along the planned route so far."
"Baron Vanderas. Status?"
"Our scouts are actively patrolling the forest. No special reports."
"..."
With reports coming in positive,
"Who cares about Al Kante? We smash the Red Dragon Legion and take it back after!"
"Al Kante? Hell, let's reclaim up to Adense and smack the Empire's asses celebrating in empty Al Kante!"
The nobles, convinced by Sancho's strategy, saw inevitable victory as long as things went to plan.
They acted as if the battle were already won; other officers felt the same but hid it.
"The enemy is awfully quiet, though. They showed more in the Drونا forest."
"...True. No time to relax yet. Guns may falter in forests, but encircled or not, they're no pushover."
"Got it! No complacency here!"
"Just leave it to us!"
Alejo, who had struggled against Red Dragon Legion scouts, and the still-wary Sancho kept tensions high to prevent overconfidence.
But with their all-in strategy progressing smoothly, a smile crept onto Sancho's lips.
By all appearances, victory was near.