Unaffected by the abnormal zeal, they followed the chain of command’s orders. This was the fruit of rigorous training, befitting the mighty Empire’s reputation.
However, in terms of troop quality, Diode was not inferior either. While the Empire’s soldiers might surpass Diode’s on average, Diode had specialized in certain military branches.
Captain Nidel of the cavalry, Captain Zonan of the heavy infantry, Captain Konahawan of the archers, Captain Noyudara of the infantry – each had trained their specialized troops to the utmost.
“……”
Yet the battle situation was still unfavorable. Their morale was indeed high.
“Shall we deploy the captains?”
“…No, it’s still too early.”
A mage duel could certainly turn the tide of morale on the battlefield. But there were unknown factors among the Imperial officers.
“If I recall correctly, that Pizza…said something about lieutenant called Hazen Heim.”
Though just a junior officer, he had managed to conclude a ceasefire agreement with the warrior tribe of Kumin. Such a feat was nigh impossible, given the bloody history between the Empire and Kumin.
Moreover, the opponent was Vashia, known as the “Blue Queen”. Rumored to be of general-level individual might, even among the commoners of Diode.
The Kumin also strongly respected strength. It was easy to imagine that they had provoked combat to test Hazen’s capabilities, and he had nevertheless survived.
“Are there any prominent mages on the battlefield?”
“While not a mage, the warrior standing next to Captain Lorenzo seems rather unusual.”
“Unusual?”
As Gizal turned in that direction, he saw a female warrior firing a massive bow, shooting down one soldier after another.
“Certainly, her formidable strength is a threat. I wonder where Captain Lorenzo acquired such a skilled individual.”
His excellence was already known in the Duchy of Diode. He was a capable commander with the respect of his men. It was common for skilled officers to have capable subordinates.
As the day drew to a close and each unit began to withdraw their troops, a breathless and distraught soldier came running.
“What happened?”
“Haa…haa…Captain Konahawan of the Bow Brigade has…been killed in battle.”
“What!?”
Gizal was stunned. Of course, death was inevitable in war, and the more valiant the warrior, the sooner they would meet their end. But Konahawan was a seasoned veteran who had fought on the battlefield for over 30 years. He was not the kind of reckless warrior to let his guard down.
“How did this happen?”
“According to those nearby, [Konahawan’s head suddenly fell to the ground].”
“…An assassination.”
He gritted his teeth with a frustrated expression.
“Inform all the brigade commanders. Caution them not to let their guard down.”
“Yes, sir!”
But it had happened. Konahawan was a master archer, indispensable in siege battles. He had been targeted with pinpoint accuracy.
“As a non-mage, Konahawan would have had low resistance to magic. That’s likely where they struck.”
“But how? There were only allies around him.”
“…He was probably hiding out there alone.”
“Are you saying no one among his own men noticed? That’s absurd.”
“It’s hard to believe, but that’s the only explanation I can come up with.”
Gizal suspected that Hazen-Heim must be a mage specializing in assassination, possibly using magic to silently approach from behind.
“…However, this is also good news.”
“Huh?”
“The fact that he is an excellent assassin means he is not much of a soldier.”
In other words, he was not suited for large-scale combat. Moreover, with his specialized assassination abilities, he would be unable to defeat the other brigade commanders.
“I see. [We’ve uncovered Hazen-Heim’s weakness].”
“From tomorrow, have the brigade commanders go on the offensive. But we should withdraw and regroup before that.”
“I’ll convey the message to the commanders.”
“Please do.”
That night, the commanders of the Duchy of Diode’s forces gathered. They all seemed to be somewhat shocked by Konahawan’s death.
“I’ve heard the report, but I still can’t believe it. That skilled warrior was so easily…”
“an excellent assassin. You all must be cautious as well.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Nidel, the Cavalry Brigade Commander, you’ll get to rampage to your heart’s content tomorrow.”
“Leave it to me. I’ve been itching for this.”
“The objective is to break through the western gate. Eliminate the soldiers at the gate, and Noyudara’s magic will open it in one go.”
“But if we concentrate two brigades, won’t the enemy also fortify their defenses?”
“Don’t worry about that. From tomorrow, I’ll be taking the field as well.”
“Ah, so we’ll finally get to see the Thunder General himself charging into battle!”
Zonan, the Armored Brigade Commander, murmured excitedly.
“With me there, the enemy will be drawn to this side. But the main force will be in the center. Landoble, the Royal Guard Brigade Commander, you’ll remain in the rear and take overall command.”
“But I must guard you, General.”
“Don’t try to slack off. Guarding me is one of the easiest tasks on this continent.”
He joked, and everyone burst into laughter.
“Indeed. Guarding the mighty General is as easy as a child’s play.”
“In that case, maybe we should have a child do it.”
Jokes were exchanged, and Landoble had a displeased expression.
“Very well. But, General Gizal, do not let your guard down, especially regarding this Hazen-Heim. His full capabilities are not yet clear.”
“Landoble, you worry too much. But I, and the commanders here, will not lose.”
Gizal said firmly. Konahawan’s death must have been a bitter one.
Despite his humble origins, he had been an excellent soldier, achieving victories at crucial moments and leading his men well.
“Alright, enough of this solemn talk. Let’s have a drink. A toast to Konahawan’s memory.”
General Gizal had wine and cups prepared, pouring for everyone and raising his glass to the heavens.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Hazen returned to Captain Lorenzo as the sun was setting.
“You did well. You were the one who assassinated the Bow Brigade Commander, weren’t you?”
“I didn’t want to kill in a way that wouldn’t contribute to the victory, but it was necessary. I had no choice.”
Hazen answered calmly. Having their numbers whittled down by archers was extremely painful. Konahawan had to be eliminated first.
“But how did you manage to infiltrate so easily?”
“On the battlefield, the only way to distinguish friend from foe is by flags and uniforms. And since archers need to focus on their target, I was able to strike successfully.”
“However, despite the fact that Commander Konahawan of the Bow Corps could not use magic, he was quite an experienced and skilled warrior.”
“Since our morale was high, they had no choice but to desperately fire arrows at us in order to regain the momentum. The rest lies in having the courage to not be intimidated and maintaining composure.”
“…Being able to do that while surrounded by the enemy is abnormal. It’s all part of a calculated plan.”
Captain Lorenzo let out a wry smile.
“That said, they will launch a full-scale offensive against us tomorrow. General Gizal will also make a move.”
“…Then, should we confront them there?”
“No. We will not go there tomorrow.”
“Why?”
This fortress does not have the forces to withstand General Gizal’s fierce attack. And Hazen himself should be well aware of this.
However, Hazen calmly explains the reason.
“Because it is merely a feint. Even if the General moves alone, opening the gates is out of the question. I need to disrupt their main strategy.”
“B-But then, who will confront General Gizal?”
“Captain Shimanto, Captain Makazaru, and Captain Buvize. The three of them will somehow manage to hold out.”
“…And if that’s not enough?”
If all the commanders are defeated, the morale of the soldiers at the gate will be devastated. It is true that Gizal’s army does not have a special force to storm the gate. However, it is possible for them to climb over the walls and enter. If the soldiers flee, it would not be impossible.
“Captain Lorenzo, I would like you to deploy Leifa based on the situation.”
“Does that mean she can defeat General Gizal?”
“No. She won’t be able to win.”
“Then, is it a meaningless sacrifice?”
“No, it’s okay. She won’t win, but she also won’t lose. Moreover, Leifa’s opponent is the entire army.”
“The entire army…?”
“It’s difficult to explain in words, so you’ll see it on the battlefield.”
Hazen left the scene, leaving those words, to check the status of each unit. The casualties were about 20% less than expected. This was a pleasant miscalculation.
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