Chapter 177: For a Definitive End (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 177: For a Definitive End (3)
At that very hour, just as the Noble Faction had predicted, Baron Winston arrived in the Northeast region.
After ordering the regular soldiers to rest, he summoned his commanders for a war council.
Shhhk.
He unfurled a map across the table.
His adjutant pointed to a specific spot. "If we march just a bit further from here, we will reach Count Adelian's territory. Adelian is a commercially developed city, so it isn't particularly specialized in siege defense. The problem is our lack of time. According to the latest message from the main force, we have ten days at most. We must settle the matter within that timeframe. If we engage every single enemy along the path to Dmitry, we will waste far too much time."
"Indeed. Ten days is a tight window even if we march straight for Dmitry."
The commanders murmured in agreement, their expressions clouded with concern.
With no one able to offer a clear solution, all eyes naturally turned to Baron Winston.
He was a commander who had distinguished himself on the Western Front. Once nothing more than a fringe noble, he had joined the Noble Faction after his contributions in repelling the Kronos Empire were recognized. Since then, he had taken sole charge of military matters, earning the deep trust of Marquis Benedict.
Winston studied the map in silence. Although he had reviewed these details before setting out, a true commander always re-evaluated plans according to the shifting tides of the battlefield.
"You are correct. Ten days. Considering the travel time, meaningless skirmishes will only worsen our situation. Therefore, we must minimize combat as we advance... and the fastest way to do that is to pass directly through these three territories."
Tap, tap, tap.
He placed pins on the map.
Adelian, Lolo, and Conrad.
A clear picture formed in his mind. Muttering the names of the three territories, Baron Winston looked up at his officers.
"There are pro-Dmitry factions in the Northeast region. Although they absorbed the Northeast Association and formed the Dmitry Alliance following the battle with the North, their loyalty cannot possibly match those who have been pro-Dmitry from the very beginning. Furthermore, these three territories—Adelian, Lolo, and Conrad—were not originally aligned with Dmitry."
Adelian was neutral.
Lolo and Conrad had belonged to the Northeast Association.
When Roman Dmitry held his tournament, hadn't Lolo and Conrad refused to send their families' swordsmen? If so, there was a way to exploit this.
"The Adelian Territory is the commercial hub of the Northeast. They wouldn't want their connection to the Central Government severed, so they will naturally avoid extreme choices. As for Baron Lolo and Viscount Conrad, there is a high probability they still harbor resentment toward the Dmitry family. Therefore, send word to these three lords immediately. We do not require them to actively cooperate with the Noble Faction. It is enough for them to simply look the other way for a moment. This gives them plausible deniability if any issues arise later."
Winston was cunning.
For the opposing lords, this decision required no grand resolve. While they turned a blind eye, the Noble Faction merely had to detour through the least conspicuous paths.
In a normal war, they would inevitably be spotted by enemy scouts and attacked from all sides. However, if they could secure the silent consent of the three nobles blocking the path to Dmitry, it would serve as the ultimate shortcut.
The order was given.
The adjutant immediately established a Magic Communication. The message was clear:
[We, the Noble Faction, bear no grudge against the nobles of the Northeast. We only desire Dmitry. If you turn a blind eye for just a moment, we will reward you handsomely once the war is over. Choose. If you decide to fight to the death, any territory that rejects this offer will be turned into a sea of fire.]
A perfect carrot and stick.
They were not given much time to deliberate. Barely an hour later, the three territories sent back replies accepting the Noble Faction's proposal.
* * *
Three days passed.
Baron Winston's forces moved swiftly under the cover of night. Before long, they bypassed Count Adelian's territory, accelerating their march even further as they entered Baron Lolo's lands.
During the march, the adjutant asked, "...Commander. Do you truly trust the nobles of the Northeast? If they have intentionally set a trap for us, we are highly likely to be attacked from all sides."
"I know."
It was a potential variable, but one well within his expectations. A battle-hardened commander from the Western Front could not possibly overlook such a risk.
Baron Winston replied, "First of all, we must move quickly, even if it means taking risks. And even if the enemy has set a trap, they fell into a dilemma the moment they accepted our proposal. According to the main force, Dmitry's elites have all joined the Siege of Benedict. If so, the only forces left defending their home are the ragtag soldiers of the fringes. Do you honestly think they can win against the elites of the Noble Faction?"
"It is impossible."
"Exactly. The soldiers of the Noble Faction have undergone rigorous training in preparation for this rebellion. They cannot be matched by fringe rabble who have only read about war in books. If the enemy attacks us on the open plains, thinking they have a tactical advantage, it will actually be a golden opportunity for us. Normally, we would have to siege their castle walls. No matter the difference in troop quality, walls always inflict significant casualties on the attacking side. But out here in the open? In a pure clash of strength against strength, we will crush them with sheer power, even if the entire Northeast region charges at us."
It was a judgment made with betrayal already in mind.
He did not trust his opponents. He merely used them as needed. Whatever choice they made, he had no intention of whining about betrayal.
That was the nature of the battlefield—a cruel world where naive fools who spoke of the romance of blindly trusting others died before lasting even a year.
"There aren't many territories in the Cairo Kingdom that possess a Warp Gate. Benedict and Adelian are among them. If Adelian leads their forces out, we can simply eliminate them and seize their Warp Gate. If that happens, Dmitry will find themselves in a truly desperate situation."
"...Brilliant," the adjutant marveled.
A veteran of the Western Front was indeed different. A commander who had survived a battlefield rife with blood and death always chose the most optimal method to crush his enemy. Every choice was meticulously calculated.
The Noble Faction brimmed with confidence. They intended to march forward and bring down Dmitry in a single, decisive blow.
However—
Whoosh!
Fwoosh!
In the pitch-black night, flames suddenly erupted from all directions.
Just as expected, the lords of the Northeast region had chosen betrayal.
* * *
Adelian, Lolo, and Conrad.
The three lords had not hesitated for a single moment.
What kind of person was Roman Dmitry? Looking at his past actions, he was a man absolutely clear with his rewards and punishments. He would undoubtedly annihilate any traitor regardless of their excuses. Conversely, as long as they maintained their loyalty to Dmitry, he would never be the first to betray them.
The choice was obvious.
As soon as Baron Winston sent his proposal, they contacted Dmitry to ask how they should handle it.
[Open the path. We only need to lure the enemies in and wipe them out all at once.]
And now, the Dmitry Alliance took action.
With countless troops surrounding the Noble Faction on all sides, the blazing torches lit up the area as if it were daytime.
Whoosh!
Fwoosh!
"Baron Winston! We received reports that you attempted to bribe the neighboring nobles with the intention of attacking Dmitry. Marquis Benedict's Noble Faction are traitors to the crown. If you surrender quietly, we may show leniency. But if you resist to the end, you will be charged with the exact same crime of rebellion as Marquis Benedict!"
It was Knight Commander Jonathan. Behind him, the grand flag of Dmitry fluttered fiercely in the wind.
At the sight of the enemies filling their vision, the officers following Baron Winston could not hide their panic. The enemy numbers were simply too great. They had expected some resistance, but they never imagined the entire Northeast would mobilize against them.
"...Commander."
All eyes focused on Winston.
He slowly drew his sword. There would be no compromise. Even if the enemy outnumbered them several times over, he firmly believed the elites of the Noble Faction would easily crush them.
"Nonsense! Marquis Benedict is no traitor. That is merely a slanderous rumor spread by Dmitry! Instead, let me make you an offer. Surrender quietly now, and Marquis Benedict will show great generosity and accept you. But if you show hostility to the end..."
Rumble!
He flared his Aura. There was no turning back. He had already crossed the point of no return.
"I will slaughter every last one of you right here!"
It was a menacing display of power. However, not a single person wavered.
Though Baron Winston was a battle-hardened commander who had seen it all, the people of the Northeast had experienced Roman Dmitry. Some standing here had even been his enemies. Having already faced the absolute pinnacle of terror, they didn't even blink at Baron Winston's petty threats.
In this touch-and-go situation, Knight Commander Jonathan finally made his move.
"Sir Nox, if you please."
"Understood."
Step.
A man stepped forward. Even then, Baron Winston did not comprehend the meaning behind Jonathan's words.
* * *
Just as the Noble Faction had feared, the ultimate variable became reality.
Dmitry had a mage.
And a 5th Circle Mage at that.
"Fire Cannon."
Fwoooooosh!
A massive torrent of flames erupted.
The moment Baron Winston's eyes widened, a heat intense enough to melt flesh swept over the Noble Faction's vanguard.
Boom! Crash!
Whoosh! Crackle!
"Aaargh!"
"Aaaaah!"
The heat was apocalyptic. Hundreds of soldiers were swept away in an instant, and those directly hit were charred black on the spot. Even those nearby were not safe. Soldiers whose bodies caught fire rolled frantically on the ground, shrieking in agony as their skin crackled and burned.
A single spell. The devastation was overwhelming.
Faced with the undeniable proof of a mage's presence, Baron Winston urgently shouted, "All forces, attack!"
The choice had already been made. To survive, victory was the only option. Although the spell had struck terror into the soldiers' hearts, they still firmly believed in their own superior strength.
However—
Thud!
Splat!
The outcome before their eyes utterly defied expectations. The moment the two forces clashed, the soldiers of the Noble Faction were unilaterally slaughtered.
Dmitry's soldiers butchered their enemies, easily handling two or three opponents at once. Each man fought with the might of a hundred. It was a reality Baron Winston could not accept. The fringe rabble were supposed to possess crude skills, yet Dmitry's forces were a formidable army unlike any he had ever encountered—even on the brutal Western Front.
What Winston did not know was that over the past year, Roman Dmitry had given his people time to prepare. This applied not only to his direct subordinates like Chris, but to every single person associated with Dmitry.
Dmitry's regular soldiers... They had learned External Martial Arts.
Although they had not learned how to manipulate mana like Roman's private troops, they had mastered the method of strengthening their bodies to the absolute limit through grueling physical training. It had been an incredibly intense period. As Roman Dmitry soared ever higher, the soldiers wished to become worthy to stand behind him, pushing themselves relentlessly without a single moment of rest.
As a result, they were completely transformed from the men they were a year ago. To kill a single Dmitry soldier, the Noble Faction had to sacrifice at least ten of their own.
Clang!
'Damn it, this is insane.'
Baron Winston's attack was effortlessly blocked by an unnamed knight.
Only then did reality set in. The Noble Faction had dismissed the Northeast region as a mere fringe, yet these people had forged a blade far sharper than their own.
Winston's strategy had been dancing in the palm of Roman's hand all along. The reason Roman had confidently led his elites to attack Benedict was because he knew the forces left behind would be more than enough to handle any trouble.
Baron Winston struggled desperately to meet Marquis Benedict's expectations. He roared for victory until his dying breath, but his head was ultimately severed by Knight Commander Jonathan's sword.
Slice.
Jonathan had also learned the Asura Mind Method. Having advanced to the next realm of mastery, Knight Commander Jonathan killed Baron Winston—the pride of the Noble Faction—in a single, flawless strike.
That was the end of it.
On the fourth day since Dmitry launched its attack on Benedict, Baron Winston's Noble Faction forces suffered an irrecoverable defeat.
* * *
The seventh day of the siege.
It was a day that violently swung between heaven and hell.
Only that morning, the Noble Faction had clenched their fists in triumph at the Imperial Faction's reply.
[We will also join the Noble Faction.]
Everything was going according to plan. If the Imperial Faction joined them, they could easily turn the tide of the battle.
But at that exact moment...
Crash!
Rumble!
"Emergency! Part of the castle wall has collapsed! We are trying to repair it as quickly as possible, but the Kingdom Army's relentless bombardment is making it impossible. Please give us orders! At this rate, we won't last much longer!"
A fire had been lit under their feet.
Marquis Benedict's face contorted grimly. Just one week. One week was all he needed. If he could just hold out until the Imperial Faction arrived to turn the tide, he couldn't allow everything to crumble so pointlessly now.
"What about Baron Winston? What happened to Baron Winston's forces?!"
"T-That is..." Viscount Owen trailed off, his face pale.
A few days ago, they had lost all contact with Baron Winston. If things had gone according to plan, they should have received news of his victory by now. But with no word returning, anxious murmurs had begun to spread through their ranks.
Benedict's insides burned with anxiety. In a situation where they couldn't foresee even a single step ahead, an even greater despair struck the Noble Faction.
"We have received word from Baron Winston's adjutant! The army that marched on Dmitry has been completely annihilated! Baron Winston was killed on the spot, and the remnants have scattered! We are entirely out of options!"
"...!"
Defeat.
Only then did Marquis Benedict realize that there was an abyss even deeper than hell.
Faced with this bleak, inescapable reality, his mind plunged into the absolute depths of despair.