Chapter 83 : Tarierre Kingdom (4)
Tarierre Kingdom (4)
The blazing sunlight poured down. The battlefield was as fierce as the sun's heat.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, sir!"
Walter checked the men for the last time and finished preparing to depart. Even if a single person fell out, it was as clear as open rebellion.
"Charge!"
He then shouted louder than anyone, fearing the knight order's morale might drop.
Heeeeigh—!
The knights lashed their reins and surged forward. All they left behind was a cloud of dust.
As Walter charged ahead, he first observed the enemy's movements. Then, he glanced back. As soon as they exited, the castle gates closed firmly behind them.
'Although I might die on this battlefield... I'm counting on you, Gregory.'
Walter felt his own situation was miserable. He had a sense of unease that many casualties could occur in this war, and that he himself might become one of them.
At the same time, a hope that perhaps a miracle might occur coexisted within him. Judging by the abilities shown so far, he began to expect that Gregory might become the protagonist of a story passed down as legend.
'So... even if I die, I hope you'll definitely win.'
Anxious, Walter steeled himself that even if he was to die, he'd take as many enemies as possible with him.
From the moment the war began, there was no time for sorrow or mourning over casualties. Avenging comrades, staying unhurt themselves, and defending the homeland steadfastly was the only way to honor their comrades.
"First, head to the right!"
Although Gregory entrusted command to Ernest, until the formation was perfected, Walter, who was accustomed to command, issued the minimum orders.
The knight order followed his instructions without a word. Their forward march, with not a single deserter, seemed to show the fruits of their training.
"Really... are those dots in the distance all enemies?"
Ernest was left speechless by the scale of the enemy. It was always hard sparring with knights, but that was only natural since they were training.
The enemies were also soldiers who hadn't neglected their training and were fully prepared.
He judged that facing them would be a challenge.
"That's right. Still, don't you trust Gregory? That guy would never drive us to our deaths. It's hard to explain, but he's surely come up with a way to win this war. All we have to do is follow his plan, and I think you know that too."
"You speak the truth...."
"Then there's nothing more to say. From this moment, I transfer all command authority to Ernest."
Walter looked at Ernest with a desolate gaze. In fact, when Walter was gravely ill, he intended to pass the dawn knight order to Ernest should he die.
After all, Ernest was of the same bloodline, exceptionally bright, and renowned for his martial prowess within the kingdom. Perhaps that's why this moment felt as if he was passing on the throne.
A flood of emotions came over him. He vowed anew, if Arme were to win the war with the Blandi Kingdom, to entrust the position of leader of the dawn knight order to Ernest.
And perhaps sensing that resolve, Ernest straightened with determination in his eyes. Radiating an overwhelming aura unlike his comrades, he spoke to them:
"Our objective is to neutralize the shieldbearers to prevent the enemy's close approach. Of course, as we fight, bullets may fly, arrows may rain down, and cannonballs may come our way."
Though this made the soldiers sink into gloom, Ernest knew the most effective way to lift his comrades' spirits.
So he pressed on, undaunted.
"But let us remember our families. Some have children and wives to protect, others have siblings or parents—no one is without a story. And sometimes, such love for family produces miracles."
Thanks to that, the soldiers, recalling their families, quickly regained their composure. As Ernest said, if they failed here, even their loved ones could be in danger.
They strengthened their resolve to somehow hold back the enemy. Ernest took the lead. He had not experienced war himself, but having trained hard, he felt he must set an example.
'Alright... let's go for it.'
As the enemy drew near, their roars echoed fiercely. Amid the crowds, Ernest felt fear, but keeping calm in such circumstances, too, was a knight's virtue.
Ernest's main role was to act as bait, drawing the enemies and shaking their lines.
He accelerated as much as possible to attract attention. Just as Gregory had foreseen, the bait by Ernest and his comrades was successful.
Then, the knights assigned to strike at the enemy's vital points grabbed their lances and charged like a cavalry assault.
"You're doomed anyway!"
Garneth swung na's sword powerfully, striking at a shieldbearer's weak point. It happened so quickly that the enemies, shocked, tried to block with their shields, but most, paralyzed by fear, failed to respond properly.
Next, knight order members with overwhelming strength followed up, smashing the shields in succession. The shieldbearers lost their formation and began to fall one after another.
"Everyone, be alert for supporting fire!"
Ernest judged this was no time for carelessness. Their goal was total enemy destruction; falling on the battlefield could not be tolerated.
Thus, he insisted they not only focus on the shieldbearers but also remain wary of enemy supporting fire.
As he expected, soon a barrage of arrows rained down from the sky. Thankfully, due to Ernest's foresight, everyone was ready and able to deflect the arrows with their swords or dodge them.
Alessandro grinned and said to Ernest,
"Ernest, thanks to you just now, everyone made it out safe. You have a real talent for command!"
"Huh? I wouldn't go that far. I just noticed the enemy's moves were odd. In any case, our first feint ends here. Let's head back."
***
The dawn knight order steadily reduced the enemy's numbers. However, their numbers were few, and regular soldiers could not help but die in these high-difficulty battles.
Ernest and his comrades had to devise a new plan.
As the one commanding all the troops, Ernest had no reason to refuse this meeting. Having completed their fourth maneuver, the dawn knight order returned within the walls.
Ernest spoke up first.
"At this rate, we're just wasting time and losing soldiers."
"We need an emergency meeting. By repeating the same tactics, the enemy has begun to adapt."
But as they tried to brainstorm a new operation, nothing came to mind. Everyone only looked at Ernest, and he watched for Walter's reaction.
"......"
Yet Walter kept his lips sealed, silent and giving no advice. Having entrusted all command to Ernest, he figured Gregory must have some hidden intent.
Ernest, too, vaguely sensed this intention. He shifted his gaze to Gregory, who stood atop the ramparts.
'What judgment would he make now?'
Ernest was not one to be discouraged by such a predicament. Gregory became the notorious young master in a previous life due to the deaths of comrades and family. The wounds deep within brought maturity, allowing him to calmly observe the flow of war.
But until now, Gregory had always analyzed the flow of battle, so Ernest found it difficult to make an accurate judgment.
He pondered what judgment Gregory would have made if he were in command.
"Was all of this your intention?"
Ernest decided to think as calmly as possible. Although enough time had been bought with their small force, he believed Gregory's lack of reaction meant he was unsatisfied.
He searched for the best way, under these circumstances, to bind the enemy.
"I've come up with a good way."