Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Sancho's Resolve
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Sancho still hadn't shaken off the defeat at Al Berdo Pass.
He had lost battles before, but never so completely—outmatched in every aspect of strategy and tactics.
For the first few days, he racked his brain for ways to defeat the Red Dragon Legion, but no plan seemed capable of overcoming them.
In the end, he crumpled up the papers with his ideas and shoved them into the trash, consciously trying to put the battle out of his mind.
"A letter from His Majesty."
"Yes."
The king's letter arrived much sooner than he expected.
He was tempted to ignore it—its contents were all too predictable—but then...
"Duke Casas says the count absolutely must read it."
"...I see."
Despite having told the maid he couldn't pay her anymore, she stayed by his side. With her added words, Sancho had no choice but to open the envelope.
"...Carlos... fell in battle."
The letter opened with news of Carlos's defeat and death while defending Ceres Pass on the king's orders.
Having read it all—the collapse of Ceres Pass, the kingdom army's successful retreat, his own decision to return, and reinforcements from neighboring kingdoms—Sancho felt a pang of guilt over Carlos's death, tormenting him even as he sensed something off.
"Ha..."
The kingdom forces at the pass had retreated with minimal losses despite the walls crumbling, and their release from captivity had been unusually swift.
Sancho stared piercingly at the letter, deep in thought.
Especially the part about Carlos staying atop the walls until the very end, even after sending all his troops away...
"...Was this... all part of the plan?"
It made Carlos's death feel deliberate.
It wasn't a thoroughly verified conclusion, but Sancho couldn't imagine Carlos dying so recklessly.
The Carlos he knew would have made even his death meaningful.
"..."
And if he'd sacrificed his life for this very situation, Sancho knew he could no longer avoid it.
After agonizing over it, Sancho calmly folded the letter back into its envelope, stood up,
Clink. Clink.
"Count?"
and silently opened the trash bin, rummaging through to retrieve the crumpled operation plans he'd discarded.
"...Count?"
"Bring me some pen and ink."
"Understood."
The maid fetched them without a word, noting his reddened eyes, and Sancho took up the pen to start planning anew.
A few days later.
At the king's summons, Sancho headed to the palace.
"I hereby appoint Count Sancho Gonzalez as supreme commander of the volunteer forces and kingdom army."
"..."
In the presence of figures from the Paris Kingdom and San Bastian Kingdom, the appointment proceeded without issue.
Once the ceremony—handover of the command baton and all—was complete,
"A question for Gonzalez Count. What are your plans against the imperial army?"
Julio cut straight to the point.
"...Do you want my honest opinion? Or the answer I must give as supreme commander?"
"Hm?"
Sancho asked gravely, and Julio, eyes widening slightly, gave a faint smile.
"It's clear the imperial army is strong. I want your honest thoughts, Count."
Julio said he wanted sincerity, so
"I believe that now, with our forces somewhat balanced, we should use it to negotiate with the empire."
Sancho stated plainly the conviction he'd held since battling the Red Dragon Legion.
"Negotiate? Is that your answer?!"
"Was the defeat that devastating? What's the matter with you?!"
"Quiet. Does Gonzalez Count believe victory is unlikely for us?"
Julio silenced the murmuring nobles and questioned Sancho again.
"Yes. The Red Dragon Legion has already crossed Ceres Pass and linked up with the army from Al Kante. Reinforcements have arrived, but our numerical disadvantage isn't that vast."
"Hm..."
"To defeat the imperial army, we'd need at least three times the troops or technology to counter their guns and siege cannons. Both are unrealistic."
Francisco, who had heard Sancho's thoughts beforehand, nodded silently, but the kingdom nobles—expecting his usual confident demeanor—frowned.
"Can't we reinforce the walls starting now?"
"Count Carlos Lopez consulted the artisans. His records remain: to build walls that withstand siege cannon fire would require demolishing the current ones and starting over—a massive undertaking."
"...Still, don't we have plenty of troops? Negotiating now would make all our neighbors mock us."
"One more defeat, and we might not even have the option to negotiate!"
Francisco rebutted the other nobles several times, but those insisting it was too early to negotiate wouldn't budge.
"...I understand your intent, Count, but surely you know why I can't decide on a truce."
"..."
Even Julio glanced at the foreign dignitaries, leaving Sancho with nowhere left to retreat.
"...If battle is inevitable, we must fight where victory is most likely. I believe the Vitabeya Plains offer our best chance."
"A field battle?"
"We must prevent Ordoba Castle from falling at all costs."
"..."
Sancho reiterated his call for open battle.
"The Vitabeya Plains are a must-pass en route to Ordoba, dotted with small woods and hills ideal for defense."
"..."
"I can't guarantee victory. But I'll do my utmost."
Resigned to battle and driven to avenge Carlos, Sancho fixed the nobles with an intense gaze.
The Esparia Kingdom delegates, who wanted resistance to the end, were pleased.
"...Fight as if it's your last."
"I've always fought that way."
"...Do as you see fit, Count."
Julio, hoping the reinforcements wouldn't turn to bandits or enemies, accepted his proposal.
In the end, Sancho led 32,000 troops—including reinforcements and the remaining kingdom army—out of Ordoba.
Ceres Pass had fallen with laughable ease, yet the kingdom army's suspicious maneuvers kept stirring unease.
"Hm..."
"Still brooding? They just underestimated the siege cannons and paid the price!"
"I wish it were that simple..."
The dirt-and-timber reinforced walls hadn't held under concentrated fire, but they'd outperformed typical fortresses.
They'd sent mercenaries to slow us, yet far more troops than expected escaped pursuit.
"The enemy's movements are suspicious."
"Hm... Impressive how they used some mercenaries as bait for the rest to retreat."
"..."
I couldn't say it to others, but the minimap had shown their deployments looking premeditated from the start.
Harboring doubts, I marched on Ordoba, linking up en route with the 5th Legion that had wrapped up at Al Kante.
Unlike us—who marched with garrisons stripped bare—the 5th Legion had left forces to hold gains, leaving them with about 12,000.
"You collapsed Ceres Pass..."
"We'll surround and take Ordoba Castle."
"...Understood."
To minimize the 5th Legion's contributions, I'd planned to end the war with a pure siege in Red Dragon Legion territory,
"...Damn."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
but the minimap showed the kingdom army marching out of Ordoba toward us.
"The enemy has encamped at Vitabeya Plains. Estimated 30,000 strong, high cavalry ratio. Reports also detect small mercenary groups moving about, as before."
"..."
A few days later came reports of small-unit raids beginning.
Those sporadic, persistent strikes felt familiar.
"Who's the enemy commander?"
"Count Sancho Gonzalez, who led at Al Berdo Pass!"
"...Just as I thought."
As expected, the enemy commander was Sancho Gonzalez.
Like last time, he was clearly gearing up for field battle.
I didn't know what strategy the defeated Sancho would bring this time,
"...What about the 5th Legion?"
"Prepare for battle. But the Red Dragon Legion's tactics differ greatly from other armies, so I'd like the 5th to adapt accordingly."
"Different tactics..."
"Here are Red Dragon Legion dossiers."
With the enemy fielding such numbers, sidelining the 5th Legion's substantial 12,000 was no longer feasible.
I handed over prepared materials to coordinate with the 5th,
"...Sergei. I'll need you to work hard."
"Yes."
and deployed scouts for full countermeasures.
"We'll send out scouts too..."
"No need."
"...Yes."
Beyond standard scouting, these were preemptive strikes—troops ignoring orders would just hinder us.
Axel offered scouts too, but with high odds they'd balk at my commands, I refused first.
Axel backed off silently, but the other 5th Legion officers nearby looked displeased.
...The main battle hadn't even started, but this fight already felt more exhausting than the last. My gut told me so.