𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 (9)
“Uh. . . no. . .”
Even though Johan was blowing away the enemy line like a crazy b*stard, the distance was still quite far. Looking at it objectively, the situation was not that bad yet.
However, saying that to those blinded by fear would not get through. Additionally, the wizards were no different, scared as well.
“Hurry!!!”
One of the mercenaries aimed a sword. His eyes filled with malice.
If it was Suetlg, Caenerna, or even Jyanina, they would have shown their abilities and done something.
But the wizards here were so lacking in skill that it was embarrassing to call them wizards. They could only mimic what Uterman had taught them, at the level of disciples or servants.
There was not much they could do even if one made a fuss and demanded something from them.
. . .However, people were naturally inclined to do something when a knife was at their throat. As a result, the wizards made the worst mistake.
“Alright, alright! Get out of the way. I’ll release the monster!”
The mercenaries guarding them could only guess what the wizards behind them were handling, not knowing exactly.
Not only handling monsters but even using them in combat was not a disgusting act.
“What? You brought a monster?”
“These f*cking crazy wizards. . .”
“Is that important now? Get out of the way!”
The mercenaries got out of the way in horror. More frightening than the monster was the knights coming at them.
𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤━
With noisy sounds, the cloth was pulled back and the lock on the iron cage was opened. Originally they should have moved to the forest next to them under the chaos of battle to release the monsters.
One might wonder why go through the hassle, but even if the results were the same, the process was different.
While the mercenaries had nothing to lose, the nobles stuck here had a lot to lose. Getting involved in the rumors of releasing monsters would not bode well.
However, the hurried wizards simply opened the cage. A troll and three swamp drakes growled as they walked out.
The mercenaries who at most expected goblins or ferocious monster pigs were horrified and stumbled back.
“What the f*ck. . . What, what are you carrying around? What the hell were you planning to do by releasing such bullsh*t monsters?!”
Even the mercenaries who were only afraid of the knights in front regained their sanity.
Unlike other dangerous monsters, trolls were a common dangerous monster that mercenaries often encountered. Having to suddenly face trolls while suppressing rogue monsters or bandit groups was a nightmare.
As a result, their reaction was intense.
“Did you not tell us to do it?!”
“When did I ever say to release a troll! You crazy wizard!”
While they were arguing, Johan killed three mercenaries next to him and knocked down the captain, breaking his flag.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴. . .’
Anyone who has set foot on a battlefield even once would know how difficult command is on the battlefield.
Dust rises from all over, soldiers entangled so complexly it’s hard to distinguish allegiances. Flags fall everywhere as the sounds of drums and war cries assault the ears. Most of all, spears and arrows fly at you as well.
Caught up in the desperate fight for survival, the overall situation soon fades far out of mind. It was common for fighting troops to charge or give chase on their own, forgetting orders.
So at every moment Johan had to devote all his effort to grasp the situation. This was perhaps even harder than the fighting itself, but Johan was blessed with an exceptional physique.
“What are they doing?!”
Thanks to that he was quickest to notice. Johan pointed his spear ahead in disbelief.
Some crazy b*stards back there were releasing monsters. They were so brazen it was unbelievable.
‘𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦?’
“How about we retreat for now?!”
Suetlg shouted, straining his throat. He didn’t know what the enemy was thinking doing that, but there was no benefit in facing them like this.
They had to retreat first. He didn’t know how they did it but they wouldn’t be able to control the monsters for long.
Even if they could hold out longer, giving them time would allow discovery of weaknesses. Fortunately, the enemy in this area was fleeing from Johan and the cavalry’s charge. The atmosphere made falling back acceptable.
However, Johan hesitated.
“Why do that?!”
“I think we should crush this side as quickly as possible and provide support elsewhere.”
Johan had little experience leading an army in alliance with other feudal lords, but now he had a feel for things.
Such wars were a structure where capable people took losses. No, since they received compensation accordingly, it was not a loss. . .
In any case, there was no doubt that capable people had to take on more roles. And the armies led by the feudal lords were more disorderly and weaker than expected.
As a result, Johan’s intuition was screaming. Don’t wish for others to win for you, you must win yourself, it said.
“It won’t collapse just because we retreat!”
Conscripted soldiers with low morale and training would sometimes panic and flee when given a retreat order, but Johan’s subordinates were not like that.
“But that would give the enemy a chance to regroup.”
“That’s true but. . .”
From the perspective of the enemies they were facing, Johan would look like a fearless knight who made a deal with the devil, but Johan himself was always on high alert.
After all, even Johan could be seriously injured by a stray spear or arrow.
‘𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.’
If hundreds of them surrounded him and charged at once, even Johan would inevitably get hurt. Not allowing that was key.
He couldn’t just take them down one by one. If several frenzied mercenaries came at him waving their weapons, he would be overwhelmed.
First, he had to break their formation and terrify them. Knocking down even a mercenary with a shield ruthlessly spread fear like a tidal wave.
In fights like these, terror was a bigger weapon than spears and swords.
But if you gave them time to regroup, that terror would disappear. They would find ways to prepare themselves.
If possible, he wanted to crush them now while charging.
“But even for you, to face those monsters as well as the enemies at the same time. . .”
“That’s when I’ll step in.”
Jyanina said grimly. Johan and Suetlg looked genuinely surprised as they stared at Jyanina. Their faces said they really hadn’t expected this at all.
That attitude irritated Jyanina even more.
Did they really forget completely??
“The magic to tame and cage trolls was something I offered to the Emperor, remember??”
“Ah. . . right.”
“I’ll. . . rely on you then.”
Johan and Suetlg spoke very awkwardly. It was a day they never imagined experiencing in their lives.
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“The right wing is pushing well as planned!”
“Good. Let’s order the troops at the center to advance as well!”
As Uterman urged him on, Adviko nodded with an irritated expression.
“I understand, don’t rush me. Order them to advance!”
The troops moved forward making intimidating noises. The enemies seemed visibly tense.
The report that they were winning on the right wing reassured Adviko. Things were going according to plan.
Now if they could push through the center and crush them. . .
“Adviko-nim!”
As a messenger came running from the left wing, Adviko turned his head. Strangely, the messenger’s expression was distorted.
The left wing couldn’t have collapsed yet. What was going on?
“Did the mercenary captain die or something? Why are you rushing here?”
“How. . . How did you know, sir?”
“?!?!”
Adviko was shocked. Though the left wing was weaker than the right, it was led by a veteran mercenary captain with several knights deployed.
Could he have been unlucky enough to be hit in a vital spot by an arrow?
“If Aligaro has fallen, his lieutenant would be taking command, no?”
“The lieutenant has fallen as well.”
“The wizards! What about the wizards!”
“S-Some seem to have been captured. . . and the rest fled.”
Both Adviko and Uterman’s mouths dropped wide open. Unless they were drunk and gave foolish orders, there’s no way they would lose that quickly.
While they were in disbelief and denial of reality, telltale signs began to reveal themselves.
Knights fleeing, throwing up dust, mercenaries abandoning weapons and escaping into the woods. . .
And amidst it all, enemy cavalry proudly revealing themselves!
“Order a retreat! Give the order to retreat!”
“Order a retreat!”
Adviko had no time to be annoyed at Uterman barking orders as if he was someone important. He hurriedly relayed the order.
The mercenaries at the center who were unaware of the situation were confused by the sudden order to rapidly retreat while the enemy was right before their eyes.
“Retreat now?”
“Are they crazy?”
“Captain, do we really need to retreat?”
It wasn’t easy for even the bravest mercenary to retreat with the enemy right in front of them. Some mercenary companies retreated, some ignored the order, some hesitated.
While the troops at the center wasted time, Johan broke through the enemy front and discovered a juicy target.
“Wait, isn’t that the enemy commander?”
“It seems so!”
A large tent and fluttering banners. And the well-dressed men around it were clearly visible to Johan’s eyes.
While Johan preferred wielding a sword himself and fighting amidst knights at the front, commanders were often positioned to the rear like this.
It was good for issuing orders, getting a view of the situation, and avoiding danger. . .
But it had one drawback when the enemy poured in like this – no troops nearby!
“Capture him! You must capture him!”
Even without Johan saying so, the mercenaries and warriors around him had their eyes wide open staring at Adviko. They could sense he was a big catch without explanation.
As over a hundred fierce cavalry began charging at them, Adviko realized things had gone disastrously wrong.
“Adviko-gong, you must retreat!”
If they didn’t flee now, they would definitely be captured. Resisting with a few dozen guards was impossible. They would be annihilated before the advancing mercenaries could turn back.
Adviko quickly mounted his horse, and the other nobles grabbed theirs as well. Ordering their guards to block the path, they madly spurred their horses to gallop off.
Of the mercenaries advancing from the center, the rearmost mercenary cocked his head and spoke to his captain.
“Captain. . . I know this sounds crazy but isn’t the commander retreating?”
“What nonsense are you spewing? Even an idiot born half-witted wouldn’t say something so stupid. . .”
As the captain absentmindedly glanced back, he was horrified. Unfamiliar enemies were raging through like a storm.
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“Let’s retreat!”
“It’s too dishonorable! We should have waited a little longer!”
Meanwhile, on the left flank of the order’s army, a conversation was unfolding that would have made Johan grab the back of his neck if he had heard it.
The battle here was very conventional compared to the other side.
Several dozen knights on horses tangled with each other, went back to their camps, switched horses, came back out and tangled again. In the meantime, the infantrymen without horses gradually closed the distance between them, colliding. . .
There were no knights who could break the enemy’s lines in one charge like others. It was a conventional battle.
Such a battle was relatively slow-paced and allowed room for the nobles to observe the situation and decide whether to surrender or not.
As knights fell and the mercenaries sensed this side was losing ground, the courage of the nobles who had joined the battle quickly faded.
They were eager to retreat as soon as possible to avoid paying ransoms.
The knights serving under Johan were furious and chased after them.
“How do you think His Excellency the Count would feel seeing your cowardice?!”
“Retreating when disadvantaged also takes courage, sir.”
“It’s still neck and neck! We can’t retreat!”
“Neck and neck? As someone who has faced countless pagans on the battlefield, I’m telling you it’s dangerous not to retreat now! It’s not like they’ll suddenly disperse like sand. . .”
Before he could finish, the sound of trumpets signaled the enemy’s hasty retreat.