Chapter 165: Let’s Be a Hero a Little More (4)
I nonchalantly nodded at Lucy’s words and looked towards the east, west, and south. Since we entered from the north, it was confirmed that the headquarters wasn’t located there.
While I don’t know where the fortress commander is, it’s customary for an occupying force to seize the fortress headquarters first. In that sense, we’re a truly rude occupying force.
“You don’t even know the location of the headquarters? And you call yourself a general?”
“Al, I’ve also come to think that this position doesn’t suit me.”
“Let’s settle the aptitude debate later with a court-martial. Right now, we don’t know where to attack, do we?”
“Hmph. If we completely occupy the fortress, wouldn’t the headquarters be included somewhere in there?”
Unfortunately, I couldn’t help but nod at Lucy’s idea.
Of the 12,000 troops that entered the fortress, all but 2,000 are spread out, occupying various parts of the fortress.
As I always say, Orknesia’s military power is fundamentally different in quality from that of other regions.
The forces of Narvilt, the central Empire, and Restart have the characteristics of local troops, deterring foreign powers while maintaining domestic order. However, Orknesia’s forces are a specialized combat group originally created for battles against monsters.
When those trained for combat clash with those trained for defense, the result is something even a child can calculate. (If it’s a child from Orknesia, they’d probably even calculate the profit and loss after the battle.)
From the looks of it, the 8th Legion that entered the fortress is surrounded by the fortress troops. However, in terms of combat power, a force more than double the defensive power has appeared right in the center of the fortress.
Moreover, outside the fortress, the Kingdom Army and the Empire’s Western Army are engaged in fierce combat. It’s difficult to divert rear troops as reinforcements for the fortress.
In the end, the fortress troops have to somehow deal with the termites collapsing their house from within, but they can’t find a way.
Perhaps the fortress commander is racking his brain right now, trying to overcome this absurd situation, but he must be feeling despair.
If he finds out where the 8th Legion came from, the last honorable option he can use will disappear.
I spoke to Levidian.
“The fortress commander only has three options. And all of them assume the fall of Narvis Fortress as a given. In reality, the fortress is already on the verge of collapse.”
Fight desperately and die a glorious death, surrender and save his and his soldiers’ lives, or escape to the rear forces through the Narvis Tunnel with a messenger.
The fortress commander will be agonizing over these three possibilities. And he won’t be able to easily make up his mind about fighting to the death.
Since I strictly limited arson and instructed them to refrain from excessive killing, the scene of impending world destruction, commonly seen in fortress sieges, didn’t occur.
Even a desperate struggle requires mental preparation. If a situation doesn’t arise where death is imminent, there’s no room for resistance, even out of spite.
The Herduke 8th Legion was proceeding with the siege swiftly, with a remarkably calm and composed attitude.
“Will you surrender?”
“Yes!”
“Disarm yourselves and lie down.”
Seeing the fortress troops throwing away their weapons as if they were excrement and expressing their boundless love for Mother Earth, the 8th Legion soldiers treated them like newly sprouted pebbles on the roadside and headed elsewhere.
I didn’t force my subordinates into chivalrous acts of war. However, there’s no reason for us to fight dishonorably in this war.
And when I told my subordinate officers that since the Legion Commander was the most dishonorable, they should at least be a bit chivalrous, they nodded with serious expressions.
My actions, deceiving my entire army and the enemy with a surprise attack, couldn’t be considered chivalrous, even by someone with a mouth full of honey.
Anyway, the fortress troops, whose morale was already significantly damaged, didn’t resist fiercely.
Levidian’s loyal subordinates, who infiltrated the enemy ranks, are calmly assassinating loyal enemy officers.
The fortress is on the verge of collapse, the commanding officer is unconscious, and the enemy is overflowing. I doubt they have the will to fight back.
It’s time to find the headquarters.
While I said we need to find it, I’m not the type to start a battle without a plan.
There’s a way to find out where the headquarters is.
“But amidst all this, the noisiest place is where the fortress commander is…… Isn’t that a bit of a leap in logic?”
“This is a matter of basic loyalty. No matter how much a soldier badmouths their superior before bed every night, they understand the importance of the chain of command. Moreover, knowing that the fortress commander is behind them, they will resist fiercely.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s how soldiers are trained.”
If you simply consider it as group living, there’s almost no difference between a criminal organization and the military. In a criminal organization with experienced combatants, combat training is a daily routine.
For example, my organization, AJOR, is like that.
However, the rate of insubordination is clearly higher in criminal organizations. While they also advocate for a strict hierarchy, it’s just one aspect of their lifestyle. And some consider switching lifestyles a common occurrence.
But the military is different. By the time the number of retired soldiers exceeds the number of active soldiers, the hierarchical order of command has already become ingrained in their daily lives.
Those who are trained to follow their superiors’ orders and protect them develop an obsession without even realizing it.
They must protect their superiors.
This is even more true for the supreme commander. They are obligated to protect someone they might only see once a week, let alone every day.
Therefore, that’s where the only real fighting will be taking place.
I’m currently standing in the center of the fortress, receiving reports on the overall battle situation.
The fortress commander is located where the enemy’s defenses are the thickest.
Lucy briefly touched his eyebrow and looked around. Then he nodded.
“Hmm. It seems like another messenger is coming.”
“Is that so? Then this will confirm it.”
My guess is either east or west. The west is where the Narvis Tunnel is located, and the east offers a direct view of the battle unfolding on the plains.
The east has a high density of defenses due to the large number of troops prepared for sorties outside the fortress. Therefore, the breakthrough speed is somewhat slow. And the west is where the terrain rises, making it advantageous for the defenders.
Since the Narvis Tunnel is dug into the mountainside, the left half of the fortress is slanted upwards, while the other half is connected to the plains.
The defensive lines formed on higher ground provide superior visibility and defensive effects, also slowing down the attacker’s breakthrough speed.
I deployed the same number of troops to both sides and ordered both commanders to report their breakthrough speed, advance distance, and surrender probability.
Two reports have arrived so far, and with the one coming in now, I can grasp the entire situation clearly.
“Operation deployment report for Sector 4! Advanced 100 meters from the previous report at Second Combat Speed! Surrender probability 50%! Currently on the rise!”
“Good work. Wait a moment.”
And soon, another messenger arrived.
“Operation deployment report for Sector 2! Advanced 120 meters from the previous report at Second Combat Speed! Surrender probability 40%! That’s all!”
One with a fast advance but low surrender probability, and another with a slow advance but high surrender probability. Contrasting reports came in, as different as their locations. I made my decision based on the reports I’ve received so far.
“To the commanders of Sector 2 and Sector 4. From now on……”
“Target the commanders! Don’t kill those who don’t resist!”
After knocking down one fortress soldier and repeating it for 30 minutes, I shouted the command that now comes out unconsciously.
Sector 2 opened up, and the 8th Legion troops that poured in pushed back the fortress troops with overwhelming force.
“Levidian! Al!”
I called the two who were fighting a bit further away. They ran towards me with their mouths shut tight, and I shouted as I ran forward.
“This is Arisein Uck Herduke, Commander of the Herduke Kingdom’s 8th Legion! Fortress troops of Narvis, surrender!”
Minimize casualties. Battles and wars should always be decided quickly. Only when you win somehow, with minimal casualties, can it be called a beautiful war.
“Everyone, fall in!”
Ahead of me, a force that looked to be about the size of a platoon was forming ranks with their spears raised.
It was a formation that blocked the main road in three layers, suitable for facing a large number of enemies in urban warfare. Moreover, since their position was higher than ours, they had all the advantages.
However, that’s only when normal standards apply.
“Lucy!”
“Damn it! Stop using me so much! Jumping Feather!”
With a voice more tired than the others, Lucy cast his magic. The target of the magic was already decided.
As soon as I felt my body become lighter, I kicked off the ground. Al and Levidian, without any signal, kicked off the ground simultaneously, relying only on their senses.
The sound of wind whistling past my ears. The ground quickly receded, and the sounds of battle faded along with it. My body, literally floating in the air like a feather, eventually landed on top of the triple defensive line.
“Block them!”
“Don’t even dream of it!”
I swung my sword and entangled the spears thrusting towards me. It’s quite difficult to accurately stab something falling directly from above with a spear. Especially when it’s moving like a feather.
Clang!
Several spear shafts became entangled, and I reached out and grabbed one of them. I pulled myself towards it and then pushed with all my might.
“Whoa!”
The soldiers below stumbled back in surprise. With Jumping Feather active, I could jump with just my arm strength. Looking down for a moment, I saw Levidian lightly stepping on a diagonally positioned spear shaft and smoothly rotating her body.
And Al, who had already plunged into the midst of the soldiers, treating his body as a weapon, was sending them flying like fallen leaves.
The triple formation was completely shaken by the attacks of these three people, who simply ignored the defenses.
Levidian and I immediately entered the clearing created by Al, creating the highly desirable situation of being within arm’s reach of the enemies wielding relatively long weapons.
“Cut!”
Lucy’s shout was heard, and the weight returned to my body. Levidian and I exchanged glances, grinning, and headed in opposite directions as if we had planned it.
“I am Arisein Uck Herduke, Commander of the 8th Legion!”
“It’s the Devil of Atzuma!”
“Th-then who’s that?!”
“Ugh! It’s the Bloodsoaked Knightess!”
Levidian and I had gained quite a reputation among the Western Army.
During the Atzuma defense, when we recklessly charged into the heart of the enemy forces, the soldiers who witnessed us cutting down countless soldiers and charging towards the Legion Commander, Pilledvan, gave us those nicknames.
From their perspective, the fact that just two people cut down countless soldiers and crossed the legion must have seemed like the work of demons.
Infamy is also a form of fame. Seeing the soldiers’ faces turn as pale as the autumn sky, their faces are clearly mirrors reflecting the heavens.
I stomped my foot and lunged forward, as if throwing my body. The soldiers backed away, as if trying to escape from the devil, or perhaps trying to create space to use their spears.
Either way, I’m grateful!
“Haaaah!”
I caught up with the retreating soldiers and knocked them down one by one, then grabbed the collar of the officer who had been giving orders until just a moment ago. He was trembling with a dark expression.
Hoping my expression looked as intimidating as possible, or even demonic if that wasn’t enough, I spoke to him.
“Where is the commander?!”
“Uh, ugh……!”
His face turned white. He had the expression of someone who couldn’t believe I knew.
It’s simple when you think about it.
During the three reports, the advance speed and surrender probability of the east and west were almost the same.
Difficult terrain naturally increases the density of defenses, slowing down the advance. However, the advance speed in Sector 2 was fast, perhaps due to the low number of soldiers.
Despite that, the surrender probability was only 40%.
Of course, 40% is a rare figure in modern warfare. It’s a rate that doesn’t appear unless victory is certain, but it’s commonly seen in the form of a ‘civil war.’
I sent assassins equally to both sides, targeting only the officers. Even in difficult terrain, it’s natural for the advance distance to increase if the number of soldiers is low.
I paid close attention to how much the surrender probability increased.
In Sector 4, it gradually rose from 20% to 50%, but in Sector 2, it only rose by about 10%, from 30% to 40%. This meant there was something equally important behind it.
Now, come on, spill it!
“Damn you! Spit it out before I fry you up!”
“It’s, it’s over there! At the headquarters!”
He pointed to a building at the end of the main road. It was a rather impressive building compared to the others. Looking closely, it seemed like fortress soldiers were flocking towards it.
They’re probably trying to regroup for a final counterattack…… but the tide has already turned in our favor!
“Girmina Asin, lead the way! The Legion banner!”
“Yes, General-nim!”
The Division Commander of the 2080th Division called for the standard-bearer who was a bit further away. I received the Legion banner from the standard-bearer and raised it high, waving it.
“Soldiers of Herduke! Gather!”
The gazes of the soldiers who were accepting surrenders, finishing off enemies, applying first aid, countless soldiers, focused on the fluttering Legion banner. I cleared my throat and shouted.
“Gather, Herduke’s Kingdom Army! Those who will raise this banner, gather!”
Flap! Flap!
The flag fluttering in the air flapped wildly, shouting in all directions. Take me, the symbol of complete conquest, to that place.
To the Narvis Fortress headquarters!
A fire ignited in the soldiers’ eyes.
Why did they come here? Why did they pass through the dark, ancient ruins, witness the earth-shattering collapse, and fight in the enemy’s backyard?
To raise this flag.
Leave a Reply