[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 314: To Taste Another Defeat

“Fire the arrows!”

“Hold the line, don’t get pushed back!”

The First Prince’s and Third Prince’s factions were engaged in skirmishes throughout the castle.

“We must push the front line forward.”

“…Try not to overexert the troops.”

However, the officers commanding the battle adopted a very ambiguous attitude, focusing only on maintaining the current stalemate.

They knew all too well that the outcome would ultimately be decided by the battle raging outside the castle walls.

***

The early stages of the battle went according to plan.

Through our prepared traps and the cooperation of our units positioned in key locations, we succeeded in halting Duke Montera’s charge.

But.

“They’re charging again!”

“Damn it, again?!”

Duke Montera employed a tactic of dividing his cavalry into first, second, and third waves, striking in rotation to push back our defensive line.

Like a nail being driven deeper with each hammer strike, Allenvert’s defensive line was repeatedly forced back.

“Wow, I didn’t expect them to come at us like this.”

Allenvert was impressed.

“An army honed in real combat is truly different. To be able to charge, disperse, retreat, and re-charge so organically.”

He could feel their level of training, their combat experience, their fearless mentality, and their faith in their commander.

“And that Duke, too. I never thought he’d clash swords a few times and then withdraw without any lingering attachment.”

It was clear this was not a duel between warriors; he was treating even himself as a component of his strategy.

“He’s definitely not an easy opponent.”

The stamina and combat strength of our forces, hit by successive wave attacks, were visibly declining.

‘Facing Duke Montera’s Northern Army head-on is harder than I thought.’

Allenvert muttered to himself. He figured even holding out for a single day would be difficult.

‘But it’s not a problem.’

If the front line was on the verge of collapse, he just had to step in and perform a sword dance.

To a warrior capable of parting a landslide with his sword, even well-trained cavalry was not a significant threat.

‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’

With the commander’s will firm, it was up to his subordinates to pass that resolve down the chain of command through a good old-fashioned ass-kicking.

“Zizek, Jeffrey.”

Allenvert singled out the two subordinates he was most comfortable and casual with.

“Go and kick the boys’ asses for me.”

Their answers were identical.

“That’s my specialty.”

“I’ll pass the job down to Taris and Kaimak.”

“Excellent. With a proper chain of command like this, we have the makings of a strong army.”

Allenvert nodded in satisfaction.

.

.

.

The first day’s battle ended after a fierce and bloody struggle on both sides, with Allenvert’s defensive line having been pushed back significantly.

“Fools, trying to stop us on an open plain.”

“They seemed completely flustered by the wave assaults.”

“Of course, they would. They’ve likely never experienced cavalry tactics this sophisticated and powerful.”

“We should be able to break through tomorrow.”

Listening to the conversation of his now-confident retainers, Duke Montera looked toward the enemy camp on the opposite side.

‘…He’s more cautious than I expected, that Allenvert.’

The two had only kept each other in check, exchanging just a few light blows.

‘It was strange. How can a mere 7th-tier whelp who can’t even use Sword Aura meet my blade as an equal?’

Furthermore, when the Duke had suddenly employed a technique refined on the battlefield, Allenvert had countered his feint with the skill of a wizened old veteran.

“Tomorrow won’t be easy either.”

However, early the next morning, the Duke was forced to confront a situation that completely defied his expectations.

“…What is this?”

“They-they’re gone, sir. It seems they’ve all retreated.”

“Retreated? That can’t be.”

It was only natural that the memory of what Verdzig had done to him a few days prior would flash through Duke Montera’s mind.

“…Like brother, like brother.”

Was this an insult, a mockery, or a provocation?

Duke Montera suppressed the inner demon that threatened to rise again, slapped his own cheek, and regained his composure.

“Spread the scouts out as wide and as numerous as possible. We will advance with caution.”

He chose a compromise: he would first probe for ambushes and traps before proceeding as quickly as possible.

But it remained to be seen what consequences would arise from his choice not to advance at maximum speed.

***

Ivan was watching the movements of both armies from a high mountain peak.

‘…That little shit.’

Ivan clicked his tongue.

His original plan was to jump in after the situation had been resolved quickly, but things were not going as he had intended.

‘Of course, that strategy of his is rational in its own way.’

But the result was that his own plan had been thrown off, which was not a welcome development.

‘I can’t act any more suspiciously than this.’

Ivan knew.

His subordinates might obey his orders with absolute loyalty, but they were not men who could betray the Dark King.

If he did anything strange, they would immediately report it to the Dark King and Gulbark.

‘Is there no other choice?’

Just as he was about to give the order to attack Allenvert, a timely report caught his attention.

“Lord Ivan, we have a pursuit unit on our tail.”

“Pursuit? Who are you talking about.”

“Count Gamigin, and a knightly order from the First Prince’s faction.”

“…Are they an elite unit?”

Ivan smiled inwardly.

‘You fools. This is perfect.’

“We can’t advance with a threat at our back. We will eliminate them first.”

“Understood.”

Ivan had bought himself a little more time.

‘By now,’ Ivan thought. ‘Grunewald and Valkenhain must be engulfed in hellfire.’

***

The port of Grunewald was completely empty.

Instead of engaging the grand fleet of Flanders in a naval battle, they had decided on a strategy of turning the port into a coastal fortress to prevent a landing.

This was because forcing a landing battle at a fortified port was far more advantageous for the defender than fighting a naval battle head-on.

“To think I would stand on a battlefield once again with you two elders.”

Duke Georg said this as he stood atop the Grunewald castle walls, gazing at the enemy ships that filled the blue sea.

“I knew this day would come again, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.”

“…This will likely be the last war of my life.”

The Elder of the Sword, Leszek Grunewald.

Even with a war that would decide the fate of his clan and the continent before him, he spoke with a face as calm as still water.

“A final conclusion will only be reached when either we are destroyed here, or they are defeated and retreat.”

The Elder of Magic, Geninghen, grumbled.

“Tch. To think a backroom old geezer like me has to step out to fight.”

The sight of the three superhumans who symbolized Grunewald’s military might standing shoulder to shoulder on the castle wall was a spectacle that in itself fired up the morale of their allies.

“…Clan Head, you have worked hard these past years.”

Leszek praised Georg.

“I did not have the qualities of a leader. My cowardice in abandoning politics to focus only on the sword nearly destroyed our clan, but you protected it with your indomitable will.”

“…I only did what had to be done.”

“To do what must be done. It is easy to say, but an exceedingly difficult thing to do.”

Just then, someone interjected.

“What are you all just standing around watching for.”

The Elder of Military Strategy, Lorentius Grunewald, spoke with a displeased tone.

“The battle will begin shortly. You should be helping to maintain the front line by using that vaunted martial prowess of yours to its fullest.”

He, ironically, had been tasked with coordinating the battle in place of Georg, the supreme commander of this campaign.

“Thank you, Lorentius. I feel reassured with you here.”

He snorted at Leszek’s words.

“Hmph! Just look over there. They’ve finally arrived.”

It was too large to be called a mere fleet.

“They’re here!”

“Wh-what are there so many of them?”

“Are all of those ships?”

Ships with the crest of the Flanders royal family on their massive sails, and among them, black ships bearing the emblem of the Exilos on their sails and flags, covered the sea in a sheet of black.

“Did they tame monsters and magical beasts as well?”

Geninghen let out a smirk.

“Crazy bastards. Brainwashing people, brainwashing monsters, brainwashing magical beasts. They’re cowards who can’t get anyone to follow them sincerely otherwise.”

Not only the Nepherus that Allenvert had captured before, but several other marine magical beasts were approaching as if escorting the ships.

The sight of wyvern and griffin riders flying above the ships seemed to show their intent to block any aerial attacks.

“My, what a grand spectacle.”

Venion said with a chuckle.

“I see what they’re trying to do. This is a king’s procession.”

“Yes. They mean to break our morale with their majesty,” the Duke replied.

Geninghen sneered at the Duke’s words.

“Isn’t he a fucking madman? A guy who spent his entire life doing shady things in the shadows is now showing off like the world is his.”

Georg chimed in, as if enjoying the elder’s colorful denunciation.

“You are correct, sir. He seems to be a man with no social skills.”

“No son of a bitch with decent people skills would go around doing shit like this. A reclusive loner who should have died in hiding has found the wrong place to lie down.”

…Of course, their conversation was being magically broadcast for all allies and enemies to hear.

“So where is that rat? Let’s have a look at his face.”

“He is still nowhere to be seen.”

“Perhaps he’s not confident in his appearance? I stake my honor as spymaster that I have acquired top-secret intelligence that the Dark King’s visage is extraordinarily hideous.”

With just a few words, Geninghen, Georg, and Venion had completely degraded the Dark King’s prestige.

“…”

However, there was no reaction from the great black fleet.

It was as if they had been robbed of even the freedom to hear their master being slandered.

“Pathetic creatures. I should bury them in the sea and let them rest in peace.”

Geninghen raised his hand.

It was the hand of a commander giving an order, and the hand of an archmage who would summon a great catastrophe into the world. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel✶fire.net

“Coastal batteries, sink the intruders.”

Fire and meteors, transformations, waves and spheres, catapults and ballistae were all fired at once.

The fleet responded with a volley of magic, but there was something else.

“Huh?”

“What is that?!”

The monsters and magical beasts that had been escorting the ships moved to the front and took the brunt of the barrage.

Kiiiiiii!

Kieeeeeeeek!

It was as if they had been prepared as arrow-fodder from the very beginning.

“How absurd.”

“Aren’t those guys fucking crazy?”

Leszek and Geninghen clicked their tongues.

“Has the Dark King’s power grown stronger? It seems he’s placed a powerful binding on the monsters as well.”

“It means they haven't been idle all this time.”

But just then.

“Leviathan!”

At someone’s cry, something truly massive raised its head from beneath the water’s surface.

“Leviathan?”

“Isn’t that the legendary sea dragon? How could they…”

A 7th-tier? Or an 8th-tier? A mythical being whose rank was difficult to even fathom revealed a body taller than the castle walls, its red eyes glinting.

“Swallow them all.”

Kiiiiiiiiiiing!

A terrifying pulse of mana began to compress at the Leviathan’s mouth.

“That looks dangerous. If that hits us directly, the wall and everything else will vanish without a trace.”

Venion looked at the monsters next to him, silently pleading for them to do something.

“You two, do not move.”

Georg quietly drew his sword.

At the same instant, the sky was cut. The clouds were neatly sliced in two, and along that line…

SPLAT!

The Leviathan’s head was severed.

“!”

In the midst of the battlefield’s silence, a mix of shock and awe, Georg Grunewald spoke.

“Minions of the Dark King, did you cross the sea just to taste another defeat?”

The man who had defeated them once before spoke with haughty confidence.

“Let us begin, you specters of the Exilos.”

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]