Chapter 149: Checkmate, you bastard! (4)
“Hmm. Good! 1024, fire for 3 minutes then move to E7! 1144 charge to H4, escape through H5 and proceed to H7!”
“1104 movement complete.”
“1104 to F3! Attack from the rear!”
I raised my head and briefly observed the Western Army’s encampment. The mouth of the flask was shaking violently. It seemed to be tilting, or perhaps scattering.
There’s still no movement in the center. Is it because the communication hasn’t reached them yet? The round body of the flask remains silent.
Tsk…… Has First Sword Aranas not arrived yet? No, she won’t arrive in this move. Her unit can move on the third move. I’ve made the first move, so I’ll just observe the opponent’s reaction.
I licked my lips as I watched the fireballs scattering and moving noisily.
Now, how will they react?
Would it have been delivered to the command center by now?
The soldiers on standby would be cursing, or wondering, as they prepare for battle. The officers would be frantically checking their units, but the darkness will hinder them.
Even if their discipline is good, it’ll be difficult to regroup easily when they can’t see.
“They’re moving! D4 and C4 are moving east!”
“A division? Then, as expected, the largest part in the center must be a legion.”
“1144 arrived at H7. 1024 arrived at E7.”
“1024 move to E6, aim at E5. 1144 charge to E3 then turn back to F1.”
The mouth of the flask definitively collapsed. Just like a tightly sealed flask breaking and spilling its contents, the soldiers are moving in clumps in all directions.
First Sword Toledo’s 1144 Cheonbyeongdae cuts through them like a finger tracing a path.
It’s still the second move in progress. The second move will be complete only when they make their move.
Now, move!
“D3, 5 all advance at once!”
“1104 retreat! Through D2 to C3! 1099 from D2, contact 1104 then attack C3 together!”
The current situation is as follows:
We first struck the mouth of the flask with a long-range mobile attack. Those who were caught off guard are now flustered and searching for the source of the arrows, but by then, we’re already gone.
Then, the cavalry charges right in front of them, as if breaking through a door.
By the time they react to the visible enemy, the cavalry retreats. But if they try to chase the cavalry, their backs will be ravaged by the infantry.
In this situation, the order to sortie is issued to the entire army, including the command center. The division holding the line in front of the legion begins to move.
By then, the enemy has already left the front line, but the division continues to move steadily.
Two Cheonbyeongdae, approximately 1,800 men, are moving right behind the moving division, but they are unnoticed amidst the chaos.
And when the part that would be the shoulder of the flask rises all at once and rushes forward, the cavalry pierces through the Cheonbyeongdae right in front of them and retreats.
They naturally turn their heads towards the immediate enemy, but automatic heavy crossbows are aimed at their backs. They’ll only get hit in the back of the head as they turn.
“1024 commence fire! Fire for 1 minute then retreat to D7!”
Tak!
I placed the bishop on D7 and moved the knight to F1. One rook and a pawn are standing side by side, looking at C3. Another rook is currently standing still at H4, staring straight ahead.
It’s 1087 First Sword Doreneu Exofi’s unit.
“The unit that was in D4 is moving from E4 towards E3, and another one is heading towards E3. Estimated destination is F1.”
“1144 move to H3.”
“Oh dear! Engagement has begun at C3, support is moving from B3.”
“1099, 1104 lure the enemy. From D1 to E3, then from E3 to F1, H3, E3!”
I lure the enemy in by issuing complex movement commands.
I briefly glanced away, and the shape of the flask was completely distorted.
Right now…… it’s like a key.
It has a round head like a key, and a long body with a cluster of thorns at the end.
By now, the command center would be completely lost on what to do. The incoming reports would all be conflicting, and they wouldn’t even be able to guess where the enemy is attacking from.
To add to the confusion, I dispatched assassins. They must be taking down officers in key positions. Even the loss of the middle management in the chain of command would leave the army floundering.
But the main force is still not moving.
The division and the Cheonbyeongdae are moving busily, but the legion is sitting still like a mountain.
No, that’s not a mountain. I don’t challenge the impossible. I came here with the intention of moving the legion, so that’s not a mountain. Because a mountain cannot move.
They’re just a bunch of lazy bastards.
“1024 arrived at D7!”
“1024 move to E5. Fire at E4 for 3 minutes. Then move to E1 and fire at F1 for 3 minutes.”
7,200 arrows rain down for 3 minutes. The fear of arrows appearing out of nowhere in the darkness is amplified tenfold.
Above all, the enemy cannot shoot arrows. Because they can’t tell who’s the enemy and who’s an ally. Today, we removed our flags and only wear identification marks to recognize each other.
“The enemy vanguard has arrived at F2! They’re being hammered at E4!”
“1104, 1099 from E3 to E6.”
Lucy’s lively voice and Aila’s low voice were contrasting, but they provided a clear distinction in my mind as I pieced together the situation.
I gauged the movements by looking at the torches laid out on the ground. The waves of torches flickering and moving for 20 minutes were incredibly boring.
They’re moving. Five Cheonbyeongdae are driving the enemy into four zones near F2. And then they leave them behind and depart. I mobilized the unit that had been stationary until now.
“1087 advance from H4 to C4. Simultaneously, 1144 move from H3 to C3.”
First Sword Doreneu Exofi, who excels in urban warfare and close combat, and First Sword Hickson Toledo, who commands the cavalry, move simultaneously.
“Wow, this is amazing. Cheonbyeongdae and divisions are separated and wandering all over the battlefield. Is that a lumped-together division over there? They’re panicking, aren’t they? A group of enemies is moving to H2. They seem like they’ll break away soon. Wait, what if they find the raft?”
“It’s alright. They can’t improvise that much. How can they attack the enemy when their main force is in shambles? And normally, they should assume that we left behind a defensive force. They wouldn’t even dream that we would leave only the supply and non-combat units behind.”
Because the officers leading them are veterans. A veteran’s way of thinking often has a wise side, but they are also stuck in the past.
It’s rare to find veterans who constantly think of new tactics and drastically change the tide of battle. And from what I see, the Western Army doesn’t have such individuals.
If it were me, I would be worried about the state of my main force right now.
My thoughts were proven correct exactly 30 minutes later.
“Oh! The entire Western Army is flocking towards the center. Ugh! Magic detected at D4! A big one exploded! At the same time, movement detected in columns A and B! The legion is moving!”
“Got them! 1024 to D3! 1104, 1099 move to D5!”
With this, our forces have concentrated in the center of columns C and D. We’ve dug into the sides of the flowing water, causing it to spill out, and then we’ve infiltrated the weakened flow.
A shattered chain of command, the threat of an invisible enemy, attacks with unknown objectives.
If it were a unit led by an inexperienced commander, they would have fallen into chaos by now, but I must assume that they are moving based on the wisdom gained from the veterans’ experience.
If this continues, our forces will be surrounded and beaten by the enemy.
Of course, I don’t intend to end it here.
The first act has just ended.
“From the operations room, to the entire army! We’re commencing Operation Phase Two! Aila! Lucy!”
“Ooh!”
“Alright!”
Lucy raised his staff, and Aila and I stood on either side of him. The skilled mage cast the spell with a smooth pronunciation.
“Fly! Hold on tight, both of you!”
Aila and I grabbed his arms as if hugging him. Then, the strong mage embraced us both tightly and ran towards the edge of the cliff.
“Sorry! I actually hate cliffs―!”
With an incomprehensible cry, the three of us, clinging to each other, began to plummet rapidly down the cliff.
Whee! Whirrrrrr!
The wind whistling past our ears. The terrifying pull of gravity. The heart-stopping feeling of our internal organs being pulled downwards.
Kwaaaaa―!
Suddenly, gravity released its hold. We were flying horizontally at the same speed we were falling.
The ground and rocks below us blur as they pass by, getting further and further away. And then the battlefield comes into view.
Bonfires. Some fallen, some still standing. Beneath them, burning tents and fallen people. Are they corpses? I don’t know.
The wind pressure, strong enough to make it difficult to open our eyes, slapped our faces, and Lucy’s laughter, which I still couldn’t understand, rang in my ears.
“Uhahaha! I can’t help but feel a tickle in my chest when I fly―! Hahahaha―!”
Is he talking about the feeling of tension gnawing at his heart?
Flutter!
Lucy’s clothes flapped violently, and the blood that had been pooling in my toes rushed to my head. Ugh, I feel nauseous!
“Risel!”
“Sudo-nim!”
The voices that were coming from below were now coming from beside me. My feet seemed to have somehow landed on the ground, but I had to hold onto Lucy for a moment while I fought off the dizziness.
“Ugh. Good thing I didn’t practice.”
“I’m…… nauseous……”
“Ugh, why are the young people of the new nation so weak!”
That’s because you’re used to it, you bastard! I wanted to retort to Lucy, but the headache prevented me from doing so.
“Ah, is everyone gathered?”
“Yes. We’re ready.”
“Where are my words?”
I turned my head and looked around. It was too dark to see anything. Just then, a huge light appeared in the sky.
“Oh? Are the kids showing off?”
Lucy scoffed and raised his staff, and in the meantime, I took the reins of Finder. And when I took the reins of Lucy’s horse – which had a name I couldn’t bear to utter – he proved his professional worth.
“How ridiculous! Disappear! Dispell!”
The ball of light disappeared in an instant, and it became dark again. I closed my eyes and adjusted to the darkness, then spoke to Lucy.
“Lucy, take the reins.”
“Oh, right. Is this it?”
“Hyung-nim, the enemy is approaching from behind!”
“Got it!”
Joey, who was standing at a significantly higher vantage point, was acting as a temporary lookout.
While Aila, Lucy, and I were directing the battle from above, the rest of the group had gathered here with the Cheonbyeongdae.
After mounting my horse, I briefly looked back. I could clearly see many torches approaching. At this rate, we would be crushed like grapes in a press.
I called for an unbreakable grape that could withstand the press.
“Joey―!”
“Yes, Nuna!”
Namias, summoned by Joey’s call, constructed a holy spell with a resonant voice. The divine power, originating from the source, descended upon Joey’s body in the form of light.
Right now, Joey was like a giant lamp.
He raised his sword high and pointed forward.
“Let’s go, Robin!”
Robin, the giant horse Joey was riding, roared loudly, and the immense light charged forward.
“Charge―!”
And I, Levidian, Lucy, our friends, and the five Cheonbyeongdae followed behind.
The Paladin of Lynin, radiating a brilliant light befitting the name of God, began to cut through the heart of the battlefield, wielding a majestic greatsword that resembled a windmill’s blades.
“Retreat―!”
“Ugh!”
“Wh-what is that?!”
“It’s a monster of light―!”
No one could withstand the vanguard, Joey. The soldiers of the Western Army, regardless of gender, rank, or position, were all frantically trying to avoid the giant horse Robin.
I fiercely pursued him, with Levidian and Aila flanking me. Even while riding, Aila was calculating distances.
“Entering D4! 450 meters to C4!”
I focused my mind on the bracelet.
“Announcing to all forces! Scatter left and right, make a wide U-turn, and assemble at H3, H4! Repeat! Wide U-turn left and right! Assemble at H3, H4! Execute!”
「Come back alive!」
「We’ll be waiting!」
「If you don’t come back, we’ll come after you!」
「Good luck!」
「Please be safe, Sudo-nim!」
I could hear the fading voices of the five Cheonbyeongdae following us.
That’s right. The Cheonbyeongdae’s purpose from the beginning was to lay the groundwork for our group to infiltrate this deep.
The plan to lure and scatter the division and Cheonbyeongdae to draw out the legion was successful.
Now, all that’s left is to capture our final target, Pilledvan Salain!
“Escaping C4! Entering B4!”
“Namias―!”
Can she construct a holy spell while riding a horse? She can. A clear cry came from right behind me.
“As Lakarunian said! For all to see and hear the appearance and voice of the Knight of Light is God’s will to spread the light! Ru Ikellainin!”
The light that Joey was carrying disappeared, and it transferred to me. I became a shining white light source, overtaking Joey and pushing forward, forward.
Raising the sword in my hand high, I shouted.
“Pilledvan―!”
Redvan! Dvan……! Van……!
The holy spell that descended upon me used my body to create thunder. All the soldiers must have heard this booming voice.
I ran through the soldiers who didn’t even think of blocking my path.
“Where are you hiding―!”
Hiding! Hiding……! Ding……!
The soldiers scattered in all directions, terrified by the overwhelmingly loud voice.
After running for a while, Aila shouted.
“Reached the center of B4!”
“Arisein―! The fool is courting death!”
At the same time as Aila’s shout, I saw Pilledvan emerging from a large tent ahead. He looked quite different from before. He had gained some weight and his muscles had bulked up.
However, his despicable eyes, which had once doubted Levidian, remained the same.
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