The LN is out today for some online store (Japanese), as for the other, it’ll be one 2/2.
5. Chapter 5
“Youth-sama, it seems that the Highserk Empire’s armies that have gathered in Sarria City, have started to move.”
“Oh, finally huh.”
The sovereign ruler Youth Myard, called by one of his retainers, nodded slowly. People moved hurriedly around the room. They lined up the pieces on the widely distributed map in front of him.
Youth had already requested assistance from the Ferrius Kingdom, the suzerain, for help through a magic tool. He had also sent postal riders to the surrounding villages and towns and had begun to assemble militias.
“In the Ferrius Kingdom, Winston-sama seems to lead the soldiers directly.”
“It looks like Ferrius is serious this time.”
Winston Ferrius was the younger brother of King Ferrius, and he gained a lot of trust from the king because he had experience in combat. The fact that Winston would be the commander meant that the Ferrius Kingdom wasn’t willing to let go of Myard. Moreover, Youth was convinced that he’d lead the decisive battle with the eyesore, Highserk’s army.
When Youth looked out of the window of the room, the post riders were just about to cross the gate.
“It’s been five years since the last battle, it’s been so long but unexpectedly short at the same time.”
Although there were deep-rooted dissenting opinions from the surroundings, Youth carried out scorched earth tactics and left the Kanoa Kingdom. People said that he sold his heart to a monster and lost his mind. He endured the intolerable, endured them, built border fortresses and trained his troops. Ferrius kingdom, which became the suzerain, suffered many humiliating treatments.
All of that was for this time, this moment. Nevertheless, Youth knew very well that people on the borders were doing their best to buy time.
The Highserk Empire that survived the crucible of war could be described as a nation specialized in war, and many peasants there were accustomed to battle.
Youth, was one of the people who made a terrible mistake in evaluating the Highserk Empire. After all, the majority disregarded it as just a country whose national power had fallen due to a series of battles.
In reality, it was a hungry wolf with a thin body, but its fangs and claws were sharpened. And he had tasted how sharp they were. That was the reason why Youth had been preparing for its attack for the whole five years.
“Should we move the troops at Lake Celta too?”
A vassal pointed to a piece on the map that had not yet been moved.
Besides the Highserk Empire and the Ferrius Kingdom, the other two countries were separated by Lake Celta, so the size of the fleet was not exactly small. The troop strength alone was almost 700 soldiers, but if he moved the navy to land, he would only lose capable soldiers, so Youth wasn’t willing to move them.
“Half of the navy can’t play an active part in the land battle. They don’t have to move.”
And then there was the fact that he had to be prepared for an attack that might come there. After all, there was a connection to the Craist Kingdom and the Liberitoa Trade Federation, and most importantly, there was ‘that.’ When Youth saw ‘that’ for the first time, he had no choice but to fall over, even though he was embarrassed. Then he remembered a report he hadn’t yet addressed.
“If I’m not mistaken… The Craist Kingdom asked the cooperation of our navy for dealing with ‘that’?”
“Yes, I heard they needed a harbor pilot ――really, they’re useless.”
Even a decent navy could not save itself from ‘that’. Youth understood why the Craist Kingdom offered to cooperate with Myard, which had the largest navy on the huge lake, so to speak.
At that moment, Youth thought that in this international situation, there would be no lose in gaining one’s favor.
“Cooperate with them to a reasonable degree”
Youth switched gears in his head and listened to the report that came in. But no matter how optimistic he was, the situation at the border could become hopeless.
Even if he sent troops now, there was a great danger that they would all be annihilated before troops from all over the country could gather, and it would be too late for reinforcements from the Ferrius Kingdom.
In this case, of course, the battlefield would be limited. Considering the logistics and the strain on the soldiers, Youth looked at the most suitable land on the map for defense. He pointed to the two highest hills and pointed to the Lilev plain, a plain in front of the capital, Aidenberg
“We will prepare a wedding hall and hold a grand ball for Gerard and his minions.”
◆
The gathered Highserk army couldn’t fit on the training ground in the fort and poured into the nearby vacant lots and boulevards.
The Liguria battalion, the one in command of Duwei’s squad, had arrived early. As a battalion with ample combat experience against the Liberitoa Trade Federation, they were given the honor of standing in the prestigious place, the training ground where it would be visible to see the commander of the entire army, who would be delivering a speech before the battle against Myard’s army.
From the side, it might have looked as if the battalion was wrapped in glory, but Walm didn’t think that way. He thought it looked as if he were in a ceremony to hear the principal’s speech.
The three idiots seemed to have enjoyed the free time, perhaps too much, for their faces were pale from lack of sleep and alcohol.
It was only a matter of time before the armor would be roasted from direct sunlight and the one wearing it would start to complain. If this was the battlefield, Walm had to spit curses here and there.
Even if it was plain, it was a ceremony before the war to annex Myard. Anyone here could easily imagine what was about to happen.
The fully equipped soldiers lined up and faced the podium on which the commander climbed without averting his eyes.
An idol would have a pale face given this much attention.
The decorations that decorated the stage were blood-soaked armor. A total of 9 battalions, 18,000 soldiers, in front of such a large number of soldiers, the man who was the main character of this war stood on the podium prepared in a higher place than others.
From a long distance, his gray hair especially stood out. Even though the man had a medium-sized body, an intimidating atmosphere could be felt from him. His unwavering confidence and mental built by experience could be seen in his eyes.
The sounds on the training ground completely disappeared with the appearance of the leading character. The man slowly opened his mouth…
“You did well to be here. I’m Gerard Berger, the leader of this army.”
He was the war god of the Highserk Empire, who had participated in all the wars for 30 years, since the Highserk Empire was just a small nation and won the wars. An old general who was known in the neighboring countries as the Devil of Highserk.
The Aleinard Forest Alliance, the Galmud archipelago, and the Republic of Maylis, these three immovable powers had dismissed the long-running war over the Highserk Empire as a minor skirmish, but still, no one had made a fool of Gerard Berger.
“Veteran soldiers who have won skirmishes with Myard, men of valor who have experienced how to fight those riches of Liberitoa, and strong men who have beaten monsters every day in the demon territory are gathering here in Sarria City. All of you are the symbol of our pride Empire.”
Although he used magic tools, his words echoed not only in the training ground, but also in the surrounding streets and vacant lots. Not only the Highserk army, but also the residents of Sarria City leaned out of the windows, and some stood on the main street listening to the speech.
“As you all know, it’s been five years since the Kanoa Kingdom fell for the sweet words of the Ferrius Kingdom and started a war with our country. Did the war end and life return to the way it was before?”
Gerard took a deep breath and continued,
“The answer is no. Because Duke Myard and the Ferrius Kingdom betrayed the Kanoa Kingdom. Even if I don’t tell you what they did, the Sarria’s citizens that joined our army know it more than enough. But today, let me say it, when they fell into inferiority, they abandoned more than half of their compatriots, burned down the fields that feed the people, and took away food and livestock.”
The typical scorched earth tactic that has been repeated throughout history was also used in the Kanoa Kingdom.
Not only military facilities, but also houses, fields, and forests were burned, and food was taken away. Then those Myard’s soldiers and the Ferrius army retreated to the designated defense line.
Although the Highserk Empire had won many victories, it was difficult for them to transport supplies into the inner part of the enemy country, so they had to rely on local procurement.
In the Highserk Empire, there was a so-called transportation line, which was a combination of rivers and warehouses, but the lack of magic bags and wagons, the important key of logistics, in the enemy territory made it impossible to advance further.
The Ferrius Kingdom and Myard also intended to push back the Highserk Empire from the areas that had failed to get supplies locally, but since the Highserk Empire had a good line of communication, they failed to prevent the Highserk army from transporting goods to the occupied areas of the East Kanoa Kingdom. The Highserk Empire somehow managed to provide food to the citizens to the point that they didn’t starve, but they couldn’t eat a filling meal either. And it took five years to rebuild the occupied territories.
During these five years, neither Ferrius nor Myard remained quiet on the sidelines. Although troops were sent several times to retake the land, they always failed. They tried to disrupt the movement of the soldiers by revolting in the city, but this failed because they didn’t understand the resentment of the citizens.
“With the elite of Sarria City, let’s put an end to the five-year war with them. Be Brave! Overrun your enemies! Everything you want is in Myard! Tell those people of Myard and Ferrius who they are waging war with. Death to them!!!”
” “DEATH TO THEM!!!!” “
When Gerard Berger the podium, the soldiers reacted as if the training ground had exploded. Some loudly stepped on the ground and raised their spears. Some slammed their shields and swords. Walm read the air and participated. Some were like him, just trying to fit in well. But more than half seemed really excited about it.
The speech maximized the morale of the soldiers. The veteran commander was really good at inciting people, and he was exactly the heroic figure of the military nation born after a protracted war.
The city itself seemed to shake with the heat of the people. Although there were many defensive wars, the militarism of the Highserk Empire could be called invasive.
Even though it couldn’t be said that what the Highserk Empire was doing was right, the endless hellish war could end after they get rid of Myard and the Ferrius Kingdom. Maybe then, the lives of the citizens of the Highserk Empire would be better.
Such expectations arose in Walm.
The movement began with the afterglow of speech that had lingered around the unit. A bloodthirsty soldier, an excited warhorse, began to move.
And so, the fire of the Myard annexation war was about to be lit.
TN: Here, an image of the character design of Willart, the only Magic User of Duwei’s Squad
Willart (Character Design 1)
TN: Join my discord channel if you want.
Thanks for the chap
DEATH TO THEM!!!!!