Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: 24. His Majesty the Emperor Takes the Field (1)
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"You're referring to the Kingdom of Edriger, right?"
The Mountain Duke asked. Baron Sedington grinned and nodded.
"If I put in a good word with the 'Dark Nobility Society,' the Kingdom of Edriger will provide us with Hashashin support."
"With the Black Mountains in the way, can a large number of Hashashin really cross over?"
"It's a state secret, so I can't go into details, but I'll just say it's not impossible."
The state secret in question was Elpis, a member of the Free Isiria Kingdom's ghost unit and the Doomsday Association. With her limited but effective monster control abilities, the Tripartite Alliance could send elite special forces through the Black Mountains into the Philius Empire.
"How much support can we expect?"
"Even if our mages lend their power, moving large numbers of troops past the Philius Empire's border guards will be difficult. You need to keep that in mind."
"We'll take that into account."
"I can't promise a huge number, but I won't be sending just a handful either. Don't worry—I'm a prominent member of the Kingdom's renowned 'Dark Nobility Society.' Assassin support is one thing you can count on."
Baron Sedington spoke with overflowing confidence. And he had every reason to be proud. The 'Dark Nobility Society' wasn't just a group of elite noble assassins who favored quality over quantity like the Hashashin—it was a force with real influence at the heart of the Kingdom of Edriger.
His boastful assurance was far from exaggerated.
"How's the full mobilization order coming along?"
A calm voice spread softly through the study. Baron Sedington realized it wasn't his place to answer and glanced around, as another man stepped forward from the shadows and spoke up.
"Full arming of the troops secured by the mobilization order will be complete within two days. It's no small force, so even without swaying the northwestern border guards, it'll pose a major threat to the Philius Empire's army."
He was a baron and a high-ranking commander in the Belfiang territory forces.
"Baron Farrell."
The Mountain Duke's steady gaze turned to him.
"Your command, my lord."
"We can't give the Northern Central Army time to rearm."
"I agree completely."
"I'm granting you command of two thousand elite vanguard troops. Hunt down every last Northern Central Army soldier trying to leave my domain."
"They won't make it out of the dukedom alive."
The Mountain Duke nodded in satisfaction at Baron Farrell's confident reply. He immediately sent a magical communication ordering the territory forces' command to assemble two thousand vanguard troops.
"By order of the lord! Form up the First Vanguard and prepare to march!"
Two thousand troops—a substantial number by any measure. Yet the Belfiang territory forces had enough soldiers and supplies to deploy them not as the main force, but as mere vanguards.
With all preparations complete, the Belfiang territory forces' First Vanguard set out. Baron Farrell and the Io Knight Order led the way.
The vanguard marched relentlessly without rest, catching up to the two thousand Northern Central Army troops just before they could cross the Belfiang dukedom's border.
"The enemy has caught up."
"I didn't expect them to close in this fast."
The high-ranking commander scowled at his adjutant's report.
"What are your orders? Their cavalry is already in sight."
"We can't turn tail and run. All units, about face! Engage the Belfiang territory forces!"
The Northern Central Army detachment wheeled around in unison. Moments later, the First Vanguard's cavalry appeared before them.
Baron Farrell's Io Knight Order—renowned even among Belfiang's elites—charged fiercely at the front.
"Shields forward! Spearmen, second rank! Form the phalanx!"
The commander bellowed in a voice laced with mana. The soldiers moved with disciplined precision. Shield bearers stepped up front, while spearmen in the second rank aimed their sharp spear tips forward.
"Archers! Nock arrows!"
The archers drew arrows and fitted them to their bowstrings.
"Loose!"
A hail of arrows rained down on the approaching knights. But the damage was minimal. The Io Knight Order's armor had been crafted by the finest artisans in the Belfiang dukedom, hailed as the best around.
At most, two knights fell from their horses, unable to withstand the volley's impact. No further casualties.
"They're coming! Stay sharp!"
A non-commissioned officer shouted encouragement, but his voice was soon drowned out by the brutal clash. BOOM! With a thunderous roar, the blood of knights impaled on spears sprayed through the air. But they were only a fraction.
The infantry phalanx crumbled like mashed potatoes. The shield wall couldn't hold against the Io Knight Order's charge, and the spearmen in the second rank lacked the stopping power.
The Belfiang dukedom routinely subjugated monsters on its own, so the detachment stationed there had inferior equipment and combat experience compared to other Northern Central Army units.
"The phalanx is broken!"
An Io knight roared hoarsely. His armor was soaked in blood, but he'd been the first to shatter their formation.
Rear troops rushed forward to reform it, but the Io knights didn't give them the chance.
Each swing of their swords sent crimson arcs through the air. The soldiers were no match for the knight order. Before these heavily armored elites, they were utterly helpless.
The heavy wave of iron crashed in, collapsing the phalanx like a sandcastle, and morale plummeted. Over a hundred troops became corpses in an instant.
"D-Damn it all!"
The Northern Central Army's high commander spat a curse. There was no hope in sight. The Io Knight Order was too strong. Their commander hadn't placed them at the front for nothing.
The enemy cavalry broke through the ruined phalanx, sowing chaos. Melee erupted amid the confusion. The Northern Central Army held for a moment, but as enemy magic barrages began, they started crumbling in earnest.
KABOOOM!
A bolt of blue lightning crashed from the sky, shaking the earth.
"What the hell are our mages doing?!"
Someone's shout cut across the battlefield. But the Northern Central Army's mages were just as frustrated, unable to support the infantry. The Belfiang territory forces' mages were far more experienced and skilled, leaving no room for their counterparts to act.
Once more, black clouds gathered in the sky.
"High-grade magic!"
"The Terror of the Battlefield has appeared!"
The mages panicked at the massive mana aura blotting out the heavens. Despair reared its head. The highest-ranking mage in their detachment was only advanced-level; even combined, they couldn't block high-grade magic.
But at the moment the lightning gathered—
"Fear not! I shall protect you all!"
A mana-infused voice boomed out. As the bolt struck, a blue shield blocked its path.
"It blocked high-grade magic?"
"Wh-Who...?"
Even the Northern Central Army command was stunned. And in the next instant—
BWOOOOO!
A piercing horn blast tore through the sky, and from beyond the hill, two massive banners came into view.
"Th-The Dantihi territory forces...! And the Imperial Army banner...!"
Reinforcements. Cheers erupted from all around. Soon, the Imperial Army and Dantihi territory forces' cavalry crested the hill.
"For His Majesty the Emperor! We will prevail!"
At the fore, Cassias led the Imperial 6th Knight Order. Armed with fanatical loyalty to the Emperor, they plunged through the magic barrages to clash with the enemy knights.
"For His Majesty the Emperor!"
"We must offer His Majesty a glorious victory!"
"Imperial Army! Charge! We must win!"
Fear was a luxury they couldn't afford. Only their devotion to the Emperor drove them.
"Sir Cassias seems thrilled."
"Indeed. He was all fired up about offering His Majesty a glorious victory."
The Crimson Tower Lord spoke in a serene voice utterly out of place on the battlefield. Beside him, the Azure Tower Lord—who had been gathering mana—nodded in agreement.
"Crimson Tower Lord, isn't it your turn now?"
"The enemy has a high-grade mage too, so I'll need covering fire."
The Crimson Tower Lord, Berenus, swung his staff through the air, and a red magic circle materialized in an instant.
"Upon my foes shall descend the crimson judgment."
As he murmured quietly, flames poured from the heavens. The Belfiang territory forces' high-grade mage had just cast and couldn't deploy a defense in time.
"Gaaahhh!"
"S-Save...!"
Over three hundred Belfiang troops were engulfed in fire in one strike. All rear archers. With their ranged support nearly wiped out, the infantry advance slowed.
"R-Restore!"
Even Belfiang's elites couldn't hold against the original two thousand Northern Central Army detachment plus a thousand reinforcements from the Dantihi territory forces and Imperial Army. And among those reinforcements were the Crimson and Azure Tower Lords.
Retreat was the wise choice.
"So... we won for now?"
Cassias sheathed his sword quietly, watching the Belfiang forces withdraw. They'd claimed victory in the first clash, but knowing it was just a vanguard tempered his joy.
"Sir Cassias and Count Dantihi's reinforcements rescued the engaged Northern Central Army detachment and withdrew from the Belfiang dukedom together."
Count Potas reported. Though just a vanguard, securing a win in the opening battle was a strong start. Raymond nodded with satisfaction.
"How's the Northern Central Army's rearming going?"
"It should wrap up by tonight. Defensive lines are already under construction."
"Your Majesty! Urgent dispatch!"
As Count Potas continued his report, urgent knocking sounded, and the door opened. A golden-masked Royal Guard entered and bowed.
"Report."
"From the northeastern border guards. Free Isiria Kingdom forces have appeared in the Black Mountains."
"The Free Isiria Kingdom?"
He'd anticipated it to some degree, but not such a sudden move from the Tripartite Alliance. Raymond frowned.
"Numbers?"
"Around three thousand. Estimated as a vanguard."
The Black Mountains were monster territory, making large troop movements difficult. Yet three thousand at once? Raymond recalled the supreme mage he'd seen dominating monsters there before.
'Is Elpis involved?'
Narrowing his eyes, Raymond sorted the situation and spoke calmly.
"Can the northeastern border guards hold with their current forces?"
He directed the question to Count Potas, as Count Denitz had gone north. The Northern Central Army couldn't spare troops while facing the Belfiang forces.
"A vanguard, yes. But if their main force marches south, I can't guarantee it."
Raymond closed his eyes tightly at Count Potas's report. Without Northern Central Army support, the northeastern border guards couldn't handle the Free Isiria main army alone.
If Elpis—the supreme mage with limited monster control—was involved again, the Free Isiria forces would descend unhindered, burdening the northeastern guards.
"Desia."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your command?"
"Connect me to Marquis Crayer immediately."
Desia swiftly set up the communication orb and infused it with mana. Soon, a top-grade mage from Marquis Crayer's domain appeared in the orb.
-I'll fetch the marquis.
Moments later, Marquis Crayer appeared. Raymond spoke evenly.
"You've heard the news?"
No explanation needed. Marquis Crayer would understand. Sure enough, he nodded gravely.
"You know the northeastern border guards can't hold the line alone?"
-My domain forces are ready. Command me.
Raymond felt both moved and apologetic at Marquis Crayer's response.
"Can you hold them?"
-If you order it, I will.
"We'll wrap up the Belfiang dukedom as quickly as possible."
-May fortune follow Your Majesty's path.
"And yours as well."
The communication ended. Raymond's eyes gleamed coldly as he spoke.
"Prepare the Royal Guard."
"Pardon?"
"I'm heading to the battlefield."
To settle the Belfiang dukedom swiftly, the Emperor had no choice but to lead personally.