Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Madon Kingdom Strikes
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Caliper Kingdom might perish. At Juras's words, Master furrowed his brow.
"Why? It was Caliper that achieved the victory."
Anton and Master seemed to agree.
Juras scoffed in response.
"That's exactly why you lot are still green. In war, you always have to look at what's behind the surface."
"It'd be nice if you explained before saying stuff like that."
"I could explain it myself, but where's the fun in that? Als, if you would."
All eyes turned to me.
I decided to explain just the key points.
"Master, Albad had no need to rush in first."
Albad's total forces numbered 50,000. Caliper, excluding their rear guard, had 70,000.
"That's why, strategically speaking, Albad should have simply ceded a certain area and taken up positions in terrain favorable for defense."
"But they didn't?"
"Yes. Instead, Albad deliberately formed a small ambush force of 5,000 and struck at Caliper's 30,000-strong army. More precisely, the army of the Salleon faction positioned in the south."
The result was a Caliper victory. The ambush location had been too obvious, and they were discovered in advance.
"From Albad's perspective, even 5,000 troops are precious in their situation. Using them as a sacrificial pawn in such an obvious ambush tactic means only one thing."
"A lure stratagem."
"Exactly."
The 30,000 troops of the Salleon faction that crushed this ambush force charged forward into Albad territory with high morale.
They aimed to secure a position farther forward than the originally planned base. Having inflicted damage on the enemy forces, they believed it feasible.
"But Caliper's officers aren't fools. They would have thoroughly considered the possibility of a lure. They would have checked for additional ambush forces."
"They did. That's why they boldly pursued. In reality, Albad had no further ambush units prepared. They only had 50,000 to begin with. After sacrificing 5,000 as bait, they lacked the spare forces to form another main unit. Caliper's strategists knew this. That's why they followed with peace of mind."
"Then isn't there a problem?"
"Let me throw your own words back at you, Master. Albad's officers aren't fools either."
"..."
"Using 5,000 as sacrificial bait in a lure means they definitely have a main force ready to devour the lured enemy. A force that won't be detected by the enemy's scouts."
"But didn't you just say Caliper's officers would have checked?"
"Yes, they would have thoroughly searched inside Albad territory. And found nothing amiss. That's the problem."
"...!?"
"An ambush force that doesn't exist in Albad territory. That can only mean one thing: a new main force to devour the lured prey, coming from another nation's territory. Geographically, it would be from the south."
The nations to the south were the superpower Vyran Union and the mid-sized Madon Kingdom.
As if on cue, Juras took over.
"Considering everything, Vyran has no real gain from this. It has to be Madon."
"Madon..."
This was the reason Caliper might perish.
Albad had secretly brought in Madon.
They had set their sights on smashing Caliper from behind.
*
*
*
The Caliper army advancing from the south was brimming with high spirits.
While the Helian faction's northern army was pinned down by the 30,000 troops led by Kaien, the southern army had crushed the ambush force and sent word of victory.
'I can do it. I can do it too!'
Casper Milias, the nominal supreme commander of this force, was puffed up with pride.
He could achieve what Wade had. He could crush Albad.
It had been perfect. He was the one who discovered and destroyed the enemy ambush, and he was the one who ordered the Salleon faction's strategists to scout thoroughly due to concerns over a lure stratagem.
After confirming the surroundings, they pursued the fleeing enemy troops.
'If we drive a wedge in from the south, the northern front will tilt too. I'll be the one to lead this war to victory!'
Already, voices praising him echoed within the camp.
"Hah, not bad at all. Indeed worthy of being called a prodigy."
Gilbert Salleon, the de facto head of the Salleon ducal house traveling with the force, gave high marks to Casper, who was smoothly leading the army. At his side, Jozette Milias was flattering him.
"Even after shedding the name Wade, my son's reputation will endure. He will become a pillar of Caliper's military in the future."
"Hmm, he won't quite reach Wade's fame, but he's good. Very good."
To Gilbert, who craved influence over the military, Casper was the perfect pawn. He was little more than a figurehead now, but the potential was there. Groomed into a general, he could prove invaluable.
"He's currently enrolled at Julia Academy, correct?"
"Yes. The transfer procedures are complicated..."
"I'll handle that. Have him move to Gransel immediately. I'll ask Father to provide guidance as well."
"To Elder Altiore! That couldn't be better! Duke Altiore Salleon, Caliper's greatest general!"
"Haha! Enough with the forced flattery."
Gilbert laughed heartily, clearly pleased. Jozette seized the moment.
"Then how about advancing that matter as well?"
"That matter?"
"My son and Lady Erina's betrothal."
"Hmm..."
"There's no better way to solidify the bond between our houses."
"I'd love to, but I'm not sure about Father... Well, fine. If we successfully lead this war, I'll consider it positively."
"You've made the right decision."
Jozette clenched her fist tightly.
With this, she could rise to the forefront even within the Salleon faction.
"But Jozette..."
Gilbert narrowed his eyes as he asked.
"You truly know nothing about Wade's identity?"
"Yes? O-Of course. Didn't I say? Using Wade's name was mere coincidence. It was just the Helian faction nobles blathering on their own."
Surprisingly, Jozette hadn't spread word about Als. She feared the repercussions.
First, she didn't want to irk Duke Helian any further.
If the Salleon faction, now aware of Wade's identity, swarmed Als, Duke Helian would erupt in fury.
As the traitor, she would be the direct target of that rage.
'Besides, that Als Ilrain... he said he joined hands with Juras Pamilion.'
She didn't know if it was bravado or truth, but at the time, it hadn't felt like mere bluffing.
If Als truly had tight connections to Crossing, that power couldn't be ignored.
The Crossing Republic was one of the superpowers, called the East's Crossing alongside the south's Vyran and west's Svenner.
"Hmm. Very well."
Casper had overheard their conversation as well.
'Me and Lady Erina...!'
She was the betrothal partner he had longed for.
He harbored secret feelings for Erina. Though their factions and positions differed, preventing him from approaching her, he always watched her from afar.
When she spoke with that Helian faction reject named Ilrain, he even hoped he might get a chance to talk to her too.
That hope aligned perfectly when House Milias joined the Salleon faction.
"Alright, I'll definitely lead this war to victory...!"
Casper steeled his resolve.
A cold gaze looked down upon him mercilessly.
In the gentle hills behind the Caliper army camp.
There sat that man.
"What is this? They said Wade was commanding, but this is nothing. Handing over their rear so sloppily. Guess it was just Caliper bluster after all."
He was a beast of a man. Not mere description—he could truly be called a beast.
A pure-blooded beastman with no human blood mixed in. A wolf beastman covered head to toe in fur.
"Fools. Skipping rear scouts because the initial ones found nothing."
Caliper hadn't even considered intervention from another nation, deploying most of their scouting forces to the front after the first sweep.
That allowed them to slip in and seize the rear undetected.
He drew in a deep breath—"Hup!"—and staggered as if drunk.
"Haa. The scent of a night when blood will flow always excites me."
"Captain. Message from Albad side. All preparations complete."
"And Craig?"
"General Craig has arrived at the rear as well. He slipped through the scouting gap our unit created. The enemy shows no sign of noticing."
"Good. Let's do this, lads. Time to hunt!"
With a roar, the 3,000 Madon guerrillas charged down the mountain, striking the Caliper camp.
Ding-ding-ding-ding! Alarms rang through the Caliper camp. They hadn't dreamed their own path would be cut off from behind, and with the sun set, darkness compounded the chaos.
"D-Don't panic! Stay calm!"
The Caliper officers' cries rang hollow.
The confusion of night battle refused to subside easily.
In contrast, the Madon soldiers, thoroughly prepared for night combat, confirmed markers on each other and efficiently cut down Caliper troops.
"We must concentrate forces at the rear immediately to quell the chaos!"
At the Salleon faction strategist's urgent advice, the flustered Casper hurriedly redirected troops rearward to deal with the Madon forces.
But at that moment.
"Hraaah!"
Kwachang! 3,000 Albad troops charging from the front. Leading them was Gillas Melburn.
"Smash them thoroughly!"
Gillas tore through the Caliper lines, spearheading with the prowess of his right arm, Horn of Strong Strike.
The Caliper camp visibly wavered.
Finally, Gilbert Salleon couldn't hold back and stepped forward, shouting.
"Concentrate your strength! The enemy forces are small anyway! If we rally and counter—!"
But he was struck dumb by the approaching rear forces.
Madon's First General and Grand General, Julian Craig, had crashed into the panicking Caliper army with 20,000 troops.
"Wh-Where did an army like that come from?!"
Only then did Gilbert realize Madon's involvement.
'We've fallen into a trap...!'
It was suspicious that Madon had assembled such a force without detection. At least some preparation time was needed.
In other words, the Albad-Madon pact hadn't formed overnight.
'They knew this would happen! Strategist Kaien...!'
Albad's Grand General Kaien had foreseen Caliper's invasion with intact forces after the Three Lions War and prepared accordingly.
To turn the tables and devour the invading Caliper.
"Uraaa!"
Kwachang! Horn and Gillas reached even the command center.
With front and rear in total disarray, no escape route existed for the leadership. And in night battle, accidents during retreat were likely.
"Surrender! We surrender! We demand treatment as prisoners!"
Gilbert immediately placed his hands behind his head and knelt. Jozette did the same.
Casper at least drew his weapon with trembling hands, but ting! Gillas's halberd sent it flying.
Gillas stomped Casper's chest to the ground and ripped off his helmet.
"Hiiik—!"
Terror-stricken, Casper wet himself.
Confirming his face, Gillas ground his teeth.
"Tch, a fake after all."
No business left—thwack! He kicked Casper in the jaw.
Casper inwardly screamed that this must all be a dream as he lost consciousness.