Chapter 64
Chapter 64
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: On the Road to Ramis
-----------------------------------------------------------------
< On the Road to Ramis. >
Right after the battle ended, I was swept up in a strange emotion. It was my first victory, counting both my past and present lives. I couldn't show it on the surface with so many casualties, but honestly, it felt good.
The losses from this battle were massive on both sides. Robros had 4,812 dead and 13,238 wounded. Kara had 518 dead and 3,671 wounded. The mercenaries took the heaviest hit, with nearly three thousand dead. It was only natural after I swept them away with the camel charge, but the damage was still enormous.
But we couldn't bask in the joy of victory yet, nor mourn the dead. The war was just beginning. If we got complacent after this brief win, Kara would end up isolated and doomed. It was time to push forward.
"Everyone, form up!"
It was early dawn. I'd assembled the special forces and the Fourth Army under Kasim at the southern gate for departure. Even though we were heading out right after yesterday's battle, they were all overflowing with energy. Their time in combat had been little more than a stroll.
Padila, who'd come to see us off, looked worried.
"Couldn't you rest one more day and leave tomorrow?"
"No. No time. Every day in this war decides Kara's fate. One day could leave us with eternal regret. Especially this next month—we need to hit them hard. Tell the other armies to hurry their preparations too. We have to take at least one castle within a week."
"Yes. Got it. I'll pass that along."
I continued.
"And treat the prisoners we took well. Heal them up and feed them properly."
"I know. They'll be workers for Kara from now on."
I gazed steadily at Padila.
Prisoners taken in war were usually enslaved, except for nobles and knights who could pay ransom—that was the unwritten rule.
But I had different plans.
"Don't think about using these prisoners as slaves."
"Pardon?"
"How many more prisoners do you think we'll take? Turn them all into slaves? We have to think about food production in the great desert too. Over three hundred thousand have already crossed from Robros into the desert. If we enslave them all, what do you think happens to the western great desert?"
The western great desert's population was two million in the western great plains, plus 1.1 million Sika tribes including Kara. That made 3.1 million total. Suddenly adding three hundred thousand more? What came next was obvious. With the whole land ravaged by war and Robros's supply lines cut, famine would hit immediately.
Padila's eyelids trembled.
"So what do we do?"
"Either kill them all or send them back to their own country."
"What do you plan to do, Your Grace?"
I shrugged.
"Who knows. It's not for me to decide, so I'm not sure. Anyway, just treat the prisoners well."
"Yes."
I pulled Padila aside to a quiet spot and whispered.
"Oh, and about those rumors on Lady Armida?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
Padila listened more seriously than ever.
Rumors were starting to spread in Kara that Lady Armida might be a Valkyrie. She'd taken out two of the continent's top experts with a single gesture—no one else fit the bill.
Thanks to that, Lady Armida hadn't slept a wink last night from worry. If it was confirmed, she'd be summoned to the sky city Chronos, banned from the surface for a while, and face severe punishment.
"Just say she was a hidden master. Mention she guarded you when the Robros delegation visited before."
"Will that work?"
"It will. Say she was always incredibly strong, but the bald grandpa and Uncle Zenbe were so focused on each other they didn't notice her, and she landed a lucky surprise blow. Even the strongest can fall to a sudden ambush when distracted, right?"
It was a reasonable explanation. Ignoring Lady Armida's appearance, that is.
"But her looks put her in her mid-to-late twenties at most? Even masters age slower, but isn't that a stretch? To take down two at once, she'd have to be at least a top-tier or high-rank master."
"Say she was an old lady before, but recently advanced to Mind Master and de-aged. That causes major physical changes."
"Hmm. Alright?"
"And make up a family tree for her. Armida Agenza sounds good."
Agenza was a female Mind Master from about four hundred years ago. She barely appeared in history books, few knew of her, and she had no descendants since she was single.
Perfect fit. We could just say she had kids.
"Ah~."
"Society here obsesses over bloodlines, so slotting her under this'll work. And put me as a distant cousin on her maternal side. I need a family tree anyway, so kill two birds."
"Yes. Got it."
"Then I'm counting on you. Heading out."
"Yes. Safe travels."
I set off on the long expedition under Padila's worried gaze. It'd be a tough journey, but the payoff was sweet. When it succeeded, this war would end.
Thick pillars of dust rose over the barren wasteland desert. Nearly ten thousand camel riders on the move was a rare sight in the sparsely populated great desert.
I rode and rode. From morning to evening, then a short rest, and rode again.
I'd lost track of time and place. This vast desert plain offered nothing but endless desolation.
Early evening. Kasim pointed south somewhere.
"Master. Murisella's coming up soon."
Murisella was a small city-state seven days south of Kara, population twenty-five thousand. Forces between five and seven hundred normally, but after sending three hundred to attack Kara Castle, now under four hundred at best.
They'd raise the white flag without much fight when we showed up.
"Ignore it. Small fry."
"Still, we could shake 'em down for something, right? Hahaha."
"Other armies'll handle it. We keep going."
"Tch."
Kasim looked a bit disappointed.
He'd been a desert bandit for years. Hard to shake that raiding instinct.
But it helped too.
He could pinpoint our location even in this endless wasteland. Only possible for bandit leaders who roamed the whole desert.
"Hey. Kasim?"
"Yes."
"Drop the thief habits already. After this war, you're an emir. Time to act with some dignity."
Even while scolded, Kasim's face lit up. A lifetime bandit, now soon an emir respected by all—it was hard to believe.
"You're really giving me an emir seat?"
"Asking the obvious? We won yesterday, didn't we? So you're an emir."
"Thank you."
"No raiding at all, got it? Mess up the lines for loot and get counterattacked, we're all dead. You're all emirs-to-be—don't die here over pocket change. Win this war perfect, and some leaders like you become emirs too. You'll get a big city. Focus on victory. Don't lose the big prize to small greed. Clear?"
Kasim grinned wider and yelled to everyone.
"Lads! No looting in battle from now on! Victory only! Win, and we get way bigger rewards!"
"Yes sir!"
Bandits, quick with the math.
Raiding was routine, but life-changing shots didn't come often. None here were dumb enough to trade a bright future for petty gains.
We sped past Murisella Castle. Torches lit up the walls like they were on alert, but we ignored it. Bigger battles awaited. No wasting stamina on a few hundred defenders.
About ten kilometers later, we halted.
Sun had set long ago. We'd pushed with magic lanterns, but no more. Risk of getting lost, and we needed full rest for tomorrow.
Deep night. In my tent, I checked the map.
'Past Murisella, so about 150km today.'
I'd force-marched today. First day with stamina spare, best to push. At this rate, six days total including today to target.
Day seven: another history-making battle deciding the desert's fate. Win, and Kara's territory grows again.
"Master. Pardon the intrusion."
Nazir and Bayan's voices from outside. I folded the map.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
Nazir and Bayan fidgeted as soon as they entered. Something awkward to say.
"What is it...?"
"One of our men overheard you and Kasim earlier."
I chuckled. Looked like they'd been pushed by comrades. With emir talk flying mid-chat, everyone was buzzing.
"So what do you want?"
Nazir and Bayan scratched their heads sheepishly.
"We've got ninth-rank nobility already... Don't really want more..."
"But settling for that'd be trouble for me."
"Pardon?"
I tucked the map away.
"Win the upcoming battles, and you're the top heroes, no question. Remember? The one who takes Duke Bastain's head is emir."
"Yes."
"These fights are like that. Each win skyrockets your status. And it's not just rank. Win this war, your names go in history books. Saviors of the desert, founders of Kara Kingdom, great Sika heroes of epic battles. Tell everyone: fight proud, so your names live on for generations. Got it?"
Nazir and Bayan beamed. Very satisfied.
Man, promises sell easy. Stuff that'll vanish in eight years, getting folks to risk lives.
"Thank you. We'll spread the word."
"Go rest. Hard march tomorrow."
"Yes."
As they turned to leave, commotion outside. I went out—six or seven camels racing toward our camp.
Too few for attack; probably wanted talk.
I stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The unknowns dismounted and approached boldly.
"We're emissaries from Emir of Murisella."
"And?"
"His Excellency wonders where you're from."
"Kara."
The Murisella emissaries paled. Kara and they were enemies now. Their defenses under a few hundred, us nearly ten thousand. Fear was natural.
But they steadied and threatened.
"We don't know why Kara's army's here, but remember one thing."
"What?"
"Marquis Fabius's Robros expeditionary force is behind us. Harm us, and he won't forgive you."
Laughter burst from me and all. They hadn't heard yesterday's news. Plenty of Murisella survivors escaped—wonder what these guys were doing.
We'd come too fast.
I patted the guy's shoulder.
"Got it. Just go. We're just passing through."
"Can we trust that?"
"Yeah. Hurry."
"Yes. We'll trust and go."
The Murisella emissaries strutted off proudly; we all roared with laughter. Facing doom like a candle in wind, yet so brazen—it was pitiful.
This spot was meant for Uncle Zenbe's mercenaries anyway.
'Eh, they'll die fine on their own.'
Next day dawned; we left at first light and rode. The day after, and after—kept riding.
Our target: Ramis, coastal village and Robros army's sea base. Take it, cut their sea supply, claim half the western desert.
Robros couldn't advance on Kara then. Cut sea lines, their expedition maxes at thirty-five thousand.
Marquis Fabius's sixty thousand already crushed—no way they take Kara with that.
Exactly six days later, we reached a beach heavy with sea air.
< On the Road to Ramis. > End