Chapter 217: What Does a World on the Verge of Destruction Look Like? (3)
“E―hya!”
A hot shout rises from my throat. The Grand General, standing at the forefront and boosting the morale of his troops, must not tire. Must not lose. Must never be defeated, and must always advance.
I ride my horse. I trample everything that lingers below. I strike down the spearheads thrust towards me, block the incoming arrows, and swing my sword towards the enemy.
The Imperial Army had taken a triangular formation right in front of the north gate of the Imperial Capital, increasing the defensive density in the center. We, too, charged forward, forming a massive triangle to counter them.
The first charge, led by the Kingdom Army’s special heavy cavalry, the 2627th Division, successfully broke through the enemy lines. They are already famous even among the Imperial Army, but it seems no tactics have been developed to penetrate this breakthrough power and heavy defense.
I see the enemies swarming towards me like a black tide. My blood boils with the excitement of battle, but my head remains cold.
A hot heart, a cool head.
The heat that rises to my head is released as a shout as I strike down the enemy.
“으아―!”
I deflect the lance of a charging knight with all my might and swing my sword sideways, pushing him away, shield and all. The horse’s hooves trample over the knight’s body as it crashes down with a heavy thud.
I don’t expect to capture the Imperial Capital in a day or two. However, today’s attack is a combination of gaining the initiative and a greeting.
I slowed down slightly and let the heavy cavalry that had charged from the rear take the lead. Then I looked around for a moment.
The sight of people collapsing in the midst of fierce fighting increases with each blink of my eye. Even in this moment of catching my breath, someone’s severed limbs will be rolling on the ground, and someone’s life will be fading away.
The rage and fervor emanating from the combatants, the heat generated by the clash of bodies, the sparks erupting from the collision of weapons.
It’s hot. This place is unbearably hot.
“All forces, flanking maneuver!”
Seeing that the original plan was proceeding without a hitch, I ordered a flanking maneuver for the entire army. To be precise, the triangle that pierced the Imperial Army would slowly twist to the right.
With only half the troops compared to the Kingdom Army, the Imperial Army’s defensive density is low compared to our offensive density. Therefore, if we twist the tip of the triangle that pierced through, their formation will collapse like a piece of paper being torn.
Up ahead, the super-fast heavy cavalry of the 2627th Division was performing a flanking maneuver, drawing a massive arc. The backs of those who first penetrated the enemy lines would be exposed, but the triangle doesn’t have just one vertex.
The Imperial Army will approach with fierce expressions towards our troops, who are moving almost with their backs exposed, but they will realize that the Kingdom Army, charging with equally fierce expressions, will strike their backs or flanks.
As our formation slowly rotates and approaches the enemy’s left flank, the Imperial Army will realize that the Kingdom Army is determined to slap them across the face with a serious attitude.
In terms of fighting, it’s like charging in, landing a blow to the abdomen, turning around, and then slapping them across the face with the back of your hand. It’s a painful blow that forces them to take a second hit after receiving the first.
And we have someone to protect our exposed backs.
Kwaaarrrruung! Chwaaaak!
The sound of a massive wave crashing behind us. If waves are crashing in this dry place, it must be due to the intervention of another force. Lucy literally poured cold water over the heads of the Imperial Army trying to attack our backs.
I smiled briefly and spurred my horse.
“Run, Finder! The path you found is the path to victory!”
Eehihihing!
Finder neighed long, as if agreeing with my words, and increased his speed.
Thud! Thud!
The ground seems to tremble under the horse’s hooves. The Imperial Army in front of me hastily tries to reorganize their ranks at the sight of the Kingdom Army charging diagonally from the left flank, but it’s too late.
Kwaang! Taang!
When I swing my sword down, it mostly hits their shoulders or chests. Or there are those who bravely leap forward, but as a reward for their courage, they only get the rare experience of having their waists split in two.
Drops of blood scatter with the wind. The hot blood splashes on my face, as hot as the heat filling the battlefield.
Hoo― Haa―.
Sticky blood. Most of my vision is red. If those who glorify war were to see this, they would reach orgasm with pleasure. Personally, I really hate such perverts.
The cruelty of war. It’s pointless to tell those who don’t know, and I don’t want to spout pretentious nonsense about war and the destruction of humanity.
Those who are actually immersed in war only think about how to kill the enemy, survive, and see the sun tomorrow. You can add the commander’s concern of how to achieve victory to that.
I gave my troops an identity. I gave them the honor of being those who create history with their own hands. And in return, I demanded blood.
Honor for blood. Not a bad deal.
However, when I think about why this war started, even the hot air of the battlefield can’t warm the coldness in my chest.
Artshever himself said it. He said he was a clown. But he’s not a proper clown. He has no interest in entertaining the audience.
He’s just happy as long as he’s entertained.
He’s the kind of guy who will act, regardless of the consequences, as long as he can enjoy himself by making fun of others.
Actually, I have that kind of feeling too.
I, too, have a part of me that thinks it’s okay if others are affected as long as it benefits me. After all, I’m the main character in my life, so what’s wrong with being selfish?
It’s wrong. It’s terribly wrong.
It feels like guiding adolescents who think everything they think is right, but that’s a wrong way of thinking.
You’re not the only one living in this world, are you?
If you only know that in your head and not in your heart, and act accordingly, you’re just a piece of meat that’s a burden to others.
Artshever is that side of me.
I already know why it turned out that way.
That’s why I fight against him.
“Break through the Imperial Army! Don’t slow down!”
I swing my sword. People die.
“Block them! Kuhuk!”
“으아악!”
“Kuk!”
I run through the midst of their death throes.
Hoo― Haa―.
Roughly cut air enters my lungs and pierces my whole body. The scratchy air tickles my throat. I’m very thirsty.
At some point, I had escaped the hot air of the battlefield.
As I rushed out, having almost trampled the right flank of the Imperial Army, I could hear the sounds of fierce fighting behind me. It was the sound of our troops pounding on the left flank of the Imperial Army.
Flags fluttering and waving. Not from the wind blowing, but from the movement of people. When the raised spears are thrust forward, both man and horse become covered in blood.
The death throes, roaring with the last of their lives, are drowned out by meaningless shouts and cannot be heard. The sound of weapons clashing is a clang-clang.
5:30 PM.
Today’s battle ended with the retreat of the Imperial Army.
I roughly wiped off the sweat and blood with water drawn from the river and put my armor back on. We need to be prepared for a night attack, and there’s another night attack planned for dawn today.
Counting the dead and wounded weighs heavily on my heart just by looking at it, but as it is the Grand General’s role, I saw the results of today: 14,000 dead and 40,000 wounded.
It was a more intense battle than expected. We have to fight like this for several more days. Because the Imperial Army will not retreat until the very end. It’s surprisingly difficult to attack those who have nowhere to retreat.
The attack plan that will continue afterward, the siege warfare to break through the five layers of the Imperial Capital’s walls, and the inspection of the supply lines that need to be maintained in the meantime follow. I report the number of casualties to the homeland, confirm that there are no problems, and check if there are any issues in the occupied territories we have passed through.
Whether in battle or during a temporary ceasefire, the Grand General’s mind has no time to rest.
If there’s a place where I can find peace of mind amidst all this, it’s probably where they are.
“Risel, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Yahoo. The Grand General is busy as always.”
“So, is everyone alright?”
Even dinner was a sandwich, and with the cleanup of today, preparations for tomorrow, and preparations for the future ahead, my only break was drinking tea with my friends.
As you might expect, they are all still unharmed. It was the same for me, but if these people were to get hurt, it would truly be a crisis for our army.
“Lucy, your performance today was good. Was it you who sprayed water when the entire army’s back was temporarily exposed?”
“Ah, that was me. I thought about throwing a lightning bolt as well, but I held back. It just so happened that the other side was firing magic in concentrated bursts. Magic should be countered with magic, after all.”
“Al-ssi’s performance was also amazing. You should have seen it. He knocked down spearmen with his fists, picked up a spear to knock down swordsmen, then grabbed two swords and struck down archers, and finally picked up a bow and shot down cavalry. Both the enemy and our troops were mesmerized by his flowing movements.”
Al’s shoulders shrugged slightly. As expected of Al of the bare hands, he can use anything he holds as a weapon.
Joey chimed in, not to be outdone.
“Noona was also amazing. The Imperial Army lost their will to fight when they saw her running here and there like a nimble leopard, confusing the enemy and occasionally blowing them away with monstrous power.”
“Isn’t that your story, Joey? It was truly impressive how the Imperial soldiers tried to push even our allies away to avoid being within the radius of your swinging sword.”
“And unni was amazing, cutting down the clustered Imperial soldiers like reaping wheat. When she charged with the Black New Moon assassins, only corpses were left behind.”
Truly, they are all so powerful that the term “one man army” sounds like an insult. Shouldn’t they be called “one man worth a thousand” or “invincible”?
“Huh, that must have been amazing. But why didn’t I see it?”
“That’s because you were at the forefront. It was after you broke through the Imperial Army with the flanking maneuver. It’s thanks to us that the enemy’s left flank collapsed so easily. Ehem.”
I want to pat Aila on the head as she brags. It was a battle of tens of thousands against tens of thousands, but the tide of battle can be changed with the power of just a few people. They are making a great contribution to the morale of our troops.
“Anyway, why did you call me? You said you had something to talk about.”
While I was looking at documents while eating dinner, Levidian came and said that Aila wanted to have tea tonight. When I asked if there was something she wanted to talk about, she said it was an important matter.
Aila grinned and pointed to an empty seat.
“Come on in, everyone! Have you been waiting long?”
“Huh? Ah!”
Following Aila’s words, three people entered the tent, lifting the curtain. I had to decorate my face with a welcoming expression as I saw them for the first time in a long time.
“Jay! Old Man! Lucy! What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean ‘what are you doing here’? The boss has entered our home ground. Well, we’re still a bit away from entering the city, but we came to see your face anyway. Wow, you look like you’ve been eating well while we’ve been working our butts off. You’ve gained weight.”
“It’s been a while, Master. Jay means you look healthy.”
“Nice to see you. It feels like it’s been a long time. It must have been a long journey here.”
The three executives of my organization in the Imperial Capital, AJOR, expressed their greetings in their own ways. Especially Jay’s greeting made me want to hit him, it was so welcoming.
Aila smiled and pointed to the empty seats.
“Now, everyone, have a seat. Well, I don’t think introductions are necessary, are they? To put it simply, these are Risel’s forgotten subordinates, numbers 1 to 3.”
“Hey, temporary employer, who’s number 1?”
“That’s not important, you slacker.”
“Nice to meet you all. I am Old Man ‘The Gray’.”
At Old Man’s introduction, Jay and Lucy exclaimed as if they had just realized something.
“Old Man, was that your last name?!”
“Oh my, I’ve never heard that before!”
An old man in gray, it’s not a last name no matter who hears it. Anyway, I had nothing to say, so I just gave a light, empty laugh and turned to Aila.
She said,
“So, the reason I called these three here is to get an update on the situation in the Imperial Capital. I could just tell you myself, but it’s better to hear the vivid stories of the residents living in the Imperial Capital, right? For your information, the information provided and cooperation are sponsored by Sky Years.”
Looking at Aila, who added unnecessary details like a merchant introducing a product, with a bewildered expression, I turned to the person who could provide the most objective information among the three.
Old Man, who received my gaze, bowed his head slightly in greeting and said,
“First, after the war began, the atmosphere in the Imperial Capital became somewhat heavy. The sentiment that the Herduke family had admitted to rebellion was strong. Even among the commoners, such stories were circulating. However, since we diligently managed information control and spread rumors as you ordered, Master, we had some success. Until a year ago, the prevailing opinion was that there was a problem with the Imperial Family and that the Herduke family was full of ambition.”
“A year ago?”
“Yes. It was before the conquest of Narvilt. The rumor circulating among the nobles was that Orknesia would fall to Narvilt. It was quite a credible rumor, with the content being that the central, western, and southern parts of the Empire would simultaneously attack Orknesia. However, it did not come to pass.”
It was when the Southern Army was stuck in the Leotasia Mountain Range. And the troops that came up from the central part of the Empire succeeded in defending against Orknesia, and in the meantime, my grandfather’s Narvilt Conquest Force conquered Narvilt.
Old Man continued,
“Eventually, the situation changed, and when we conquered Narvilt and Restart ceased its movements, public opinion gradually turned towards an atmosphere of defeat. The pro-Emperor high-ranking nobles insisted that something had to be done, issued conscription orders, gathered troops, and tried to resist the Herduke Kingdom Army, which was formerly the Eastern Army, but they suffered heavy losses due to the defeat on the Pelasia Plain and the retreat from Pelasion. As you know best, Master, the central part of the Empire is practically accepting the rule of the Herduke Kingdom. The only remaining areas are the Imperial Capital and some remaining parts of the southwestern Empire.”
“What’s the Emperor doing? That former 3rd Prince.”
Old Man shrugged.
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