Chapter 204: Acquiescing to the Imperial Army’s Retreat (4)
The fatigue clearly etched on his face made me doubt his condition, but while I questioned his health, I never doubted his abilities.
As if to prove all doubts wrong, he confidently cast the spell with his weary voice.
“Ra Aris Orn. Pu Rent Cadenil……”
A voice as gentle as a breeze quietly spread around. Even those worried about the landing ships began to watch what Lucy was doing. Lucy waved his hand, slammed his staff down, and chanted the spell. After a while, he pulled out several pieces from his bosom.
Those pieces looked like bridges.
They appeared to be precisely scaled-down models of structures that would allow crossing the river, placed perpendicular to the flow. The others around him chatted, careful not to disturb Lucy’s chanting.
“What’s that?”
“Looks like a bridge?”
“It’s too small. What’s he going to do with that?”
I can answer what it was made for. It was made by a few dexterous soldiers mobilized at my command.
Lucy placed it at his feet. It was as if a child was placing a bridge woven with grass over a stream. Both that and the steel model bridge have one thing in common: they can’t cross the river.
At least, not yet.
“Enlarge, On Strength!”
The steel model bridge instantly grew in size.
Like stretching out kneaded dough, the model bridge in front of Lucy stretched out its height and bulk, quickly reaching across the river.
Lucy and the military mages have been working tirelessly for the past 20 days to develop a magic that enlarges objects and strengthens them. And they created a spell that a mage of Lucy’s caliber could use.
I calmly raised my sword and shouted.
“Katros Enka Nahama!”
“Huh? Ah, yes! Cavalry, prepare for charge!”
The cavalry was ready in an instant. What I just shouted was in the Guard language.
Even though the officers were sufficiently trained, they had to hesitate for about three seconds. They must have been quite surprised by the magic, so I have to acknowledge this much.
The order reached the cavalry lined up behind the infantry, and the infantry split left and right. And when the cavalry hurriedly reached the front of the bridge, Lucy’s shout was heard.
“Enlarge, On Strength!”
Another bridge appeared.
A steel bridge, 30 meters wide and 300 meters long, was erected. Even though it can only be used for a mere 3 hours, if five such bridges are laid, the troop movement will be completed in an instant.
However, Lucy will have to rest for 3 days afterward. This is because he consumes too much energy. If a mage of Lucy’s caliber has to push himself this hard, it must be a pretty amazing spell.
I shouted towards the cavalry.
“Lae Katros!”
“Yes! Charge commenced!”
I didn’t specifically designate a unit. All cavalry will charge for now.
Kwagagagang! Kwagagagang!
Horseshoes struck sparks as they pounded the surface of the steel bridge. The surface was made rough enough, but it didn’t seem so rough when it was enlarged. But as if they had promised, they crossed the steel bridge at a gallop.
It’s like running across a meadow of flames.
Kkagagagagang!
A loud noise resounded. Would it be appropriate to describe it as a kitchen invaded by a storm?
Meanwhile, Lucy finished setting up the remaining bridges. Five steel bridges stood side by side, allowing passage across the river. The soldiers were now confused about whether to charge or cheer.
Just because there was a high-ranking mage, a groundbreaking tactic was born.
Question: What if you need to cross a river but there’s no bridge?
Answer: Build a bridge, instantly.
Thinking like this makes me itch.
After the cavalry had moved a suitable distance and the clattering sound had faded, I raised my sword high.
“Herduke Kingdom Army―!”
The murmuring noise stopped. They were looking at me with shining eyes.
They were saying this.
Please give the order. I want to cross the river on that miraculous structure. I want to laugh my heart out while looking at the river flowing beneath my feet!
I decided to give them what they wanted.
“Charge―!”
Uwoooooooo―!
A roar erupted that would make even the night sky pale in surprise, and the soldiers began to run madly towards the five bridges. A dizzying number of 280,000 total combat troops rushed towards the bridges.
Lower-ranking soldiers running madly, middle-ranking soldiers encouraging them, and higher-ranking soldiers running even more madly in front.
Senior First Lieutenants chase after the higher-ranking soldiers, frantically giving orders to coordinate them, and First Lieutenants hit the Senior First Lieutenants on the back of their heads, relaying missed orders.
Chiefs sigh as they watch them, but the moment they step on the steel bridge, a smile forms on their faces.
The sight of the thousand-strong units, divisions, and legions running with such vigor was truly spectacular.
Disorderly and chaotic, yet they did not forget where they should be. By battalion, by company, by platoon, they gathered and gathered, each running towards their own goal.
“Orderly, take Lucy away! Aila! Levidian! Al! Joey! This way!”
The orderly helped Lucy, who was on the verge of collapse, and the four people I called gathered around me. And Lucy, leaning on his staff, raised his head with difficulty.
On his face was a smile full of accomplishment, one that a mage who had achieved a great feat would wear.
He gave me a thumbs-up and said,
“See you in 3 days. Hehe!”
And then he fainted. I briefly lowered my head at the sight of my friend who had finally collapsed.
A moment of silence for my friend who couldn’t rest and was struggling to create magic even when I occasionally visited the research lab set up at the encampment.
And I headed to the battlefield.
The Guard language is different from the Common Tongue of the continent. Even the numbers are hard to understand. It’s safe to say that it’s a completely different world from the eastern Orknesia defense line onwards.
It might be possible to understand if using language translation magic, but the military mages gathered for the battle would be busy deciphering codes, not interpreting languages.
I draw a map of the battlefield in my head. I recall the enemy and ally deployments as precisely as possible on the already inputted map, and then begin the operation.
“3174, 200 meters east. 1024, maximum range volley fire south. 2001, commence charge.”
“Chi-chit-ka Nodo-don Yabu! Irannoka De Sebi Okun Chireka! Noranlani Lae Katros!”
Kun’s voice shook the sky of the battlefield like thunder.
His magically amplified voice literally swept like a storm, reaching all corners of the front line. And upon hearing these words, the commanders move their troops, and the 1,500 Guards among the soldiers will supplement the relayed orders.
We couldn’t use the magic system used in the previous Atzuma City defense operation. Even Lucy said it would take him years to systematize it.
This meant that with the current magical technology, it was impossible to move such a large-scale unit in real time.
But what if humans did it?
The flawless language system of those who lived in a place that could be considered another world is in itself an excellent code. What if we used a system of relaying commands using Guards who have learned the Common Tongue instead of creating and teaching new codes that could cause confusion?
A completely different language is nothing but a code if you can’t understand it. You wouldn’t even know if someone cursed you to your face. You need to understand the curse to get angry.
Kun’s voice, shaking the heavens, is nothing but meaningless noise to those who listen in the Common Tongue. However, for those who understand its meaning, it becomes a clear and unmistakable operational command.
However, this is not the best method.
While I can roughly predict the movements of the Imperial army from the situation I have in mind, I can’t know for sure.
The surprise attack worked well, but the disadvantage of being unable to distinguish friend from foe in the middle of the night remains, and a fatal weakness of not knowing the enemy’s movements arises.
To address this weakness?
I already have the answer prepared.
“Risel, 3,000 enemy soldiers are heading south, and about 1,500 are moving towards us from the west.”
“Are they thinking of flanking us? 2006, stick to the riverside and defend the west.”
“Noranlahav Ekna Büre Terra Karamu!”
In the Atzuma defense battle, I commanded the attack units of five thousand-strong units alone.
Someone smarter than me might be able to handle more, but that was my limit. And if my abilities are no different from those of an ordinary person, then Kun can handle about a third of that.
The Kingdom Army and the 1,500 Guards are separated. They have different communication systems, but they have a system in place to move organically.
The bracelet shining on Kun’s wrist is connected to five people who could be called squad leaders among the Guard warriors. And those five have subordinates under them and manage the other Guards scattered across the battlefield.
In the end, I’m only handling 1,500 Guards. They act as the nerves of the Kingdom Army, spreading orders and informing me, the brain, of the situation.
Dramatic repositioning and battles are taking place simultaneously in my mind. I can tell even if I can’t see it. The scene I’m picturing isn’t a detailed view of the battlefield, but the relationship between the terrain and the troops.
Real-time command system spreading immediately after information comes in to Kun. Units acting without much delay after the order is given.
This means that ultra-high-speed operation deployment is possible no matter how many enemies there are.
“Yahoo! Yes! That’s how you do it! Good! Well done! My disciples! Yes! That’s it! Why didn’t you study like that before?!”
Aila was enthusiastically cheering for the officers about 15 meters above my head.
She was the owner of a bright mind, and after only a day of studying, she became fluent in basic Guard words to the point of surprising even native Guards.
The reason I taught Aila the Guard language was because she had the qualities of a good teacher. She taught what she learned to the officers and lamented their blockheadedness every evening.
She taught the language to the point where even older officers had nightmares. After six days of such training, the Herduke Kingdom Army officers were able to understand basic words and even respond reflexively.
I don’t want to know the details of the intermediate training process, but the results are clear. The sight of the units moving as soon as they hear the order now proves the effectiveness of the training.
“The enemies are in disarray.”
“They must be bewildered after being caught off guard while focusing on the landing ships. The troops guarding the river wouldn’t have enough time to regroup against the troops attacking from the side.”
“But if they attack while relying on their fortifications, wouldn’t their command system recover quickly? If they realized that the landing was a bait, they would quickly change their system.”
“Of course they will. But…… when they think the landing ships were a bait, they will realize they were truly deceived. Kun, La Jiyuta?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. I’m here.”
Kun nodded at my question.
Personally, I think I have a very frugal personality, and I believe in pragmatism, which dictates that things made for use should be used.
If it was just for show, I wouldn’t have made so many sturdy rafts.
Poo―!
A charge horn blew from the east, downstream from here. The remaining troops on the other side of the river had crossed on rafts after a time delay.
“It’s a shame that the direction is limited, but how will they react to the 30,000 troops flanking them when they turn their heads?”
“They’ll be disoriented.”
“Right, Al. Just wait a little longer. You’ll be able to achieve a feat even more impressive than what Lucy built.”
“My appetite is whetted.”
I could see Al’s eyes gleaming in the darkness.
He’s currently equipped with all the weaponry that the Iperfect Workshop gave him today. He’s bored standing in the middle of the battlefield where the fighting has settled down, but soon he won’t have time for that.
Levidian listened to the commotion coming from a distance and turned to me.
“Are you planning to occupy Pelasion within today?”
“I wish we could…… but things won’t go that smoothly. If things go well, we might be able to start the siege by morning. But by then, the soldiers will be quite tired.”
“The time for a choice is coming. Because their morale will be high. Whether to wage a siege while riding the momentum, or to recover their stamina even if it means losing momentum.”
“If the siege fails, their morale will be broken, and even if they recover their stamina, their bodies won’t move.”
Midnight is not a good time to be active, except for those with specific professions.
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