Chapter 207: That is correct. You have won (1)
May 26th, 378th year of the Imperial Calendar.
“First, I thank you all for your significant contributions to the success of the operation. I’m proud of you.”
30 minutes after the battle ended, I summoned the officers.
The charge of the entire army, sharpened like a spear, towards the enemy’s large army in a dense formation. The supporting fire from our allies, poured immediately into the path of the relentless charge, could be called an unconventional tactic.
To be honest, I didn’t expect it to go this well. Firstly, the charge time was somewhat short, and thanks to my meeting and negotiation with Baius, the battle ended quickly.
The fact that the Imperial Army was in a dense formation, lacking suitable terrain to form a proper defensive line against the charge, also helped. The opponent’s weakness is our advantage.
The officers all smiled faintly with their fatigue still evident on their faces. I too, despite having gotten enough sleep during the day, couldn’t completely shake off the drowsiness.
I said,
“You must all be sleepy and tired. Since this battle achieved our operational objectives, I’d like to order everyone to rest, but let’s rest after the sun rises, inside Pelasion.”
Astonishment flickered across the officers’ faces. The surprised expressions, spreading like a contagious disease, amused me. I spoke before they could open their mouths.
“Let me explain. The enemy has been defeated in battle. In reality, I sought out the field commander and reached an agreement, which can be called a negotiation but was more like a threat, in the middle of the battle. However, we won, and the Imperial Army cannot deny their defeat. Their morale will be plummeting, and it won’t take long for this to transform into rage against the Kingdom Army. Before they become fueled by anger and become a bigger obstacle in the capture of Pelasion, we strike first.”
I unfolded the operation map. It depicted Pelasion and the plains where we currently stood. It wasn’t very detailed, but this was enough. Levidian and the Black New Moon assassins had created it.
“In 1 hour and 30 minutes, at 4 a.m., we will begin the attack on Pelasion. Considering the current stamina and condition of the soldiers, I predict we won’t be able to endure for long. So, we will end this with explosive force. I plan to finish this meeting in 15 minutes, so get some rest for about an hour after that. Now, I’ll explain the operation.”
The officers seemed reluctant to ask questions, as it would only steal their rest time along with my speaking time.
They remained silent and listened intently to the operation I was explaining. Some officers prepared writing utensils and quickly jotted down anything they deemed important. For a while, a scholarly atmosphere filled the tent where we held the meeting.
Indeed, this is a high-risk operation. While it can be given good marks for catching the enemy off guard, our troops’ fatigue will be considerable.
Moreover, they might be letting their guard down, caught up in the feeling of victory.
This is the most critical part, but they will likely regain their focus as soon as the battle begins. Since I said I would explain the intention of the operation, the soldiers will understand.
And once we occupy the walls and the Imperial Army’s defeat becomes imminent, the rest will depend on whether I can guess Artshever’s name.
It wouldn’t be beneficial for the Kingdom Army or the Imperial Army to realize that they are being played by their commanders’ wager.
We will secure a victory that the soldiers and the public will accept. It doesn’t matter if they don’t know the story behind it.
“That concludes the explanation of the operation. Go and rest.”
I’m not sure if they’ll be able to fall asleep, but it would be best to get some shut-eye. The officers left the tent with determined expressions, as if they were thinking the same thing.
I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.
My head, which had been dizzy at first, soon calmed down, and my body drifted off to sleep.
“The real reason people regret things isn’t because they can’t fix them.”
Brandiego said.
“It’s a truth everyone knows, but it’s because of regret that you become a better person than you were in the past. You’ll realize this as you live your life. However, regret doesn’t just refer to longing for the past, where you felt sorry or made a misjudgment.”
Was this a conversation I had with Brandiego before? But I couldn’t speak. Perhaps I did have this conversation with him, or perhaps I didn’t. No, listening to a one-sided story like this can’t be called a conversation.
“Regret is love. Strictly speaking, it’s self-love. You can’t leave it alone because you love yourself. But in the end, the past is a time you have to leave behind. You can’t fix the past. Ultimately, people express their love for themselves through regret. Because they have to leave behind what they can’t leave behind.”
Then what about people who say they have no regrets? Do they simply let go without any sorrow, regret, or longing because they don’t love themselves?
“However, there are those who, instead of interfering because they can’t leave it alone, choose to embrace it. They humbly acknowledge that they can’t change the past, but they don’t believe they can’t give themselves the love they can give to others. Once they embrace everything, their past selves don’t attack and hold back their present selves. They are free from their past. Even though they made mistakes and misjudgments, they don’t think their past selves were wrong.”
But if you look at yourself, changed after a certain event in the past, and believe that change is right, wouldn’t that be acknowledging that your past self was wrong? Wouldn’t anyone think that way?
“They don’t try to deny the past because they know. They know they will continue to change. And today will become yesterday’s past. They embrace their present and future selves with a broader love. Of course, I’m not saying that people who regret are fools. But any love, when taken to extremes, becomes obsession. Those who regret too much fall into self-deception. And these two types of people are called as follows:”
Brandiego said.
“Those who love themselves and those who love their lives. Even if they’ve lived a life full of mistakes, those who can love it have no regrets. Because all those moments were fulfilling, valuable, and beautiful. Those who love themselves can’t surpass those who love their lives. The size of their vessels is different. Even if it’s ‘your own life,’ you can still put the lives of others inside it.”
The dragon said.
“Don’t regret. Trust the decisions you’ve made. Believe in yourself. And love your life. Because there’s always light for those who look more towards the future than the past.”
He smiled gently. As he did, the surrounding space seemed to smile along, vibrating softly. I, too, seemed to sway pleasantly, entrusting myself to that space and air.
Slowly, slowly……
“Risel, wake up.”
“Hmm……? Ah, Aila, what time is it, whoa. What time is it?”
“3:30. It’s about time you woke up, right?”
I rubbed my eyes. I was sitting in a chair, asleep, wrapped in a blanket, though I didn’t know who had given it to me. No, I take back my previous statement. The corner of the blanket had the owner’s name on it.
“Where’s Levidian?”
“Over there.”
She had pushed two long meeting chairs together to make a bed and was lying on it, fast asleep. Oh dear. Sleeping without a blanket, she should be worrying about herself, not me.
Stretching, I said to Aila,
“Could you wake her up?”
“Why don’t you go and wake her up yourself? Men have a surefire way to wake up a sleeping woman.”
Aila’s eyes sparkled mischievously. It was the expression of a cat that had spotted a toy. I considered scratching her chin but shrugged instead.
“Levidian, wake up. I know you’re awake.”
“You’re no fun.”
Levidian sat up smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I’m well aware of her sharp senses. She probably woke up when Aila entered.
She pouted, looking slightly sleepy and a little dissatisfied.
“Even if you knew, wouldn’t it hurt to come and wake me up? You’re so cold.”
“I’ll do that next time. Yawn. Aila, where are the others?”
“They’re waking up. The Kingdom Army is currently being repositioned. The soldiers who were enjoying a sweet slumber must be opening their eyes one by one. Under the sky that’s still pondering whether to usher in dawn or twilight, the soldiers of the Kingdom Army are gazing at the walls of Pelasion with burning eyes.”
“Are you writing poetry?”
“Not bad, huh? Hehe.”
Right. That’s so like you. I chuckled and found a towel, soaked it in water, and washed my face.
Ugh, my body still feels stiff.
I didn’t move around that much, but staying up all night definitely takes a toll on the body. Humans are meant to live under the sun.
I must have fallen asleep for a short while, and about the dream I had during that time…… What should I say? It would be best to consider it a message from Brandiego.
Brandiego hasn’t spoken to me directly since we entered the Imperial territory. Perhaps it’s because we’ve passed the distance where his words can reach, but considering his boundless abilities, I’m speechless, so he probably doesn’t bother talking to me unnecessarily.
Just now…… it’s like leaving a note while I was asleep.
Let’s think about the dragon’s story later. For now, I need to focus on capturing Pelasion.
“Aila, I know you’re tired, but can I ask you a favor?”
“Just one? If I do it, can I go back to sleep?”
“Please do me this favor.”
“Hehe. Alright. What is it?”
“Gather the officers and arrange the siege formation.”
“Yes! Sir, General!”
Aila saluted playfully and left the tent with a cheerful gait.
I wonder if she knows.
That what I just said was the declaration of war for the siege of Pelasion.
The power of a catapult is proportional to the size and range of the stone it can launch. Any object can become a weapon when it gains speed, so anything launched by a catapult can become a weapon.
The signal for the siege of Pelasion was a single projectile striking the wall.
Kwaaaang―!
The impact could be heard even from afar. Since the sun hadn’t risen yet and there was no twilight, the billowing dust and debris weren’t visible, but the screams of the Imperial Army could be heard.
“Commence fire―!”
It was quite a purposeful sound for a scream. I clicked my tongue lightly.
“Tsk! They were prepared after all. All forces, prepare for siege! Catapults, target the catapults on the wall!”
Pelasion is a fortress city. The various defense facilities built throughout the city, although outdated due to the laziness of later generations, seem to have been repaired when our forces were across the Pelasia River.
From atop the walls of Pelasion, stones, like the embodiment of a sinister, destructive urge, were launched in succession.
“Prepare the ballistae! All forces, advance!”
My order, through Kun, became the words of the Guard and echoed across the battlefield. Then, a spectacular sight unfolded as tens of thousands of torches rushed towards Pelasion.
The flickering of the torches, ascending the gentle slope towards the walls, resembled waves climbing the slope in reverse, an impossible feat.
As this scene, capable of inspiring a writer’s imagination and stimulating a painter’s creativity, unfolded, the rough sound of wheels rolling across the ground could be heard. The sound of siege ballistae.
“Fire the ballistae as soon as they’re ready! Don’t fear the catapults!”
The darkness of night was also a disadvantage for us. The sound of projectiles flying through the air would be drowned out by the war cries, and anyone hit by a projectile the size of a human torso would literally die instantly.
The Imperial Army began to defend against the Kingdom Army by brightly illuminating the walls. The reason they didn’t use magic to create light and float it in the air was probably to conceal the catapult projectiles in the darkness.
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