Chapter 73 : Chapter 73
Chapter 73. Rear Disturbance (8)
The temporary encampment of the Allied Vanguard Battalion.
The meeting tent located there.
Inside, Tobias was deep in thought.
He had failed the siege once again.
"Ha..."
It wasn't just Tobias.
The other officers were also beginning to worry if it was truly alright to continue like this.
Eventually, one of the company commanders, after observing the mood, carefully spoke up.
"...Isn't it time to consider a retreat? It will be too late to retreat after the pursuit unit arrives here."
A disheartening statement.
Normally, someone would have stepped forward and strongly rebuked the person who brought this up.
But after a moment of silence.
What came back was, unexpectedly, words of agreement.
"I agree. It might be better to withdraw before our losses increase, preserve our strength, and plan for a later date."
"There's certainly a strong sense of overall fatigue. I also think it would be best to wrap this up at this point."
Once the floodgates opened, a stream of similar opinions poured out.
'Ah.'
Tobias could only sigh inwardly as he watched.
More people than he had thought were voicing similar opinions.
Even the officers who had not yet spoken had similar looks in their eyes.
With repeated defeats, public opinion had unknowingly shifted towards retreat.
In conclusion, among the people in this room, only two thought it would be good to attack the Imperial Vanguard Battalion one more time.
Tobias and Bent, just the two of them.
Bent, seeming to have realized this as well, let out a groan, "Ugh."
Tobias watched him and thought.
'Should I retreat?'
He pondered for a moment but soon shook his head.
No matter how he thought about it, he was reluctant to let this opportunity slip away.
One never knew.
The Imperial Vanguard Battalion, which seemed so strong now, might actually be on the verge of collapse.
'I can't be sure if they're on the verge of collapse, but it's clear that the damage is gradually accumulating.'
Above all, the people who had been sacrificed to get this far continued to weigh on his mind.
The Special Task Force Company was a given, and the number of people who had lost their lives in this battle was not small.
'If I return like this, how can I bury this sacrifice in my heart?'
Thinking this, Tobias spoke to the officers.
"I am also aware of your concerns and worries. But if we retreat like this, we don't know when we will be able to fight a battle like this again. However, that does not mean I can ignore the majority opinion with my own arbitrary decision. Tomorrow, for the last time, I will knock on the walls of the Imperial Vanguard Battalion. So, won't you all give it your all one last time?"
A desperate sincerity could be felt in Tobias's plea.
For that reason, even the officers who had held negative thoughts felt like trying one last time.
"Tomorrow, the Infantry Company will definitely get over the wall!"
"The Archery Company will shoot down all the enemy soldiers on the wall!"
"The Cavalry Company will also do its best to help!"
Certainly, if this was the last time, there was no reason not to try to conquer the wall with all their might.
Thus, the subdued atmosphere became heated again.
And the next day, the Allied Vanguard Battalion charged towards the wall once more.
***
"Ladders ready! Charge!"
"Put an arrow in the enemy's head!"
The Allied Vanguard Battalion launched a fierce siege from the very beginning.
Even the Cavalry Company dismounted and charged towards the wall with the Infantry Company.
It was a moment that showed their determination to get over the wall at all costs.
However, despite their charge, it was not enough.
The enemy's earthen fortress was more solid than they had thought.
On the other hand, the Allied Forces' siege equipment was inadequate.
This was because they had underestimated the earthen fortress and had only prepared ladders and battering rams as siege equipment.
'Even if not a catapult, should I have at least built a siege tower here?'
If he had built a siege tower as soon as he arrived here and confirmed the sturdiness of the earthen fortress, he might have been able to use it in today's battle.
Regret washed over him, but it was already too late.
Now, they had to bring victory with just ladders and battering rams.
After thinking for a moment, Tobias spoke.
"I will go."
At those words, the Deputy Battalion Commander, who was watching the battlefield with Tobias, was startled.
The Deputy Battalion Commander was usually so quiet that his presence was barely noticeable, but he couldn't remain silent at this moment.
That's how dangerous it was for Tobias to enter the battlefield.
"You can't, Battalion Commander. I will go instead."
"No. You stay here. We need someone to give orders in case of an emergency."
"But it's too dangerous. If something happens to you, Battalion Commander, our army's morale will be even more broken."
"Don't worry. I won't get hurt or die. We just need to get over the wall somehow. Then the enemy won't be able to hold out any longer and will collapse."
In the end, the strongest person in this unit was Tobias.
So, if Tobias stepped forward, it would inevitably be easier to break through the gate or get over the wall.
Tobias was aiming for this and was about to throw his last gamble.
"...Understood. I will guard this position."
The Deputy Battalion Commander also knew this, so he had no choice but to let Tobias go.
That's how resolute Tobias's expression was.
"I'm counting on you."
Thus, Tobias rode his horse and approached the wall.
The enemy soldiers on the wall spotted him and rained down arrows, but it was useless.
All the arrows broke in mid-air with a snap, like twigs.
It was because of the aura barrier that Tobias had spread in the air.
From the 6-star level, it was possible to spread an aura barrier like this.
"I am Tobias Weissmuller, the Vanguard Battalion Commander of the Allied Forces!"
Tobias deliberately shouted this from within the range of the arrows.
At that, the allied soldiers who had belatedly realized Tobias's appearance cheered.
"Waaaah! It's the Battalion Commander!"
"The Battalion Commander is fighting with us!"
On the battlefield, the presence of a 6-star knight was absolute.
It was reassuring enough just to have him commanding from behind, but now that he had joined the battlefield, that reassurance could not help but be doubled.
The enemy soldiers also seemed to tense up at Tobias's appearance, swallowing hard.
But they soon came to their senses and rained down even more arrows than before.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The arrows covered the sky and flew towards Tobias.
But that was all.
Once again, the arrows all hit the aura barrier and broke cleanly.
There was not a single exception among them.
"Our Battalion Commander is invincible!"
"Waaaah! Charge! Charge!"
While everyone's attention was focused on Tobias.
Some soldiers finally succeeded in climbing the ladders and stepping onto the wall.
If time continued to pass like this, it would not be impossible to capture the earthen fortress.
But,
"How dare you!"
Someone shouted and suddenly appeared.
Slice!
At the same time, the soldier who had barely managed to climb the wall lost his life.
Considering that the soldier was a 1-star expert, it was a rather surprising event.
However, once they realized who the person who had appeared was, everyone understood the situation.
"Latif Vayta, the Vanguard Battalion Commander of the Imperial Army, is here!"
Seeing Tobias appear, Latif had hurriedly revealed himself.
Because of that, the Allied Forces' morale, which had barely been raised, fell again.
The fact that the soldiers were having difficulty climbing the ladders, just as they had been a moment ago, was proof of that.
'Ah... In the end, I can't even get over the wall.'
It was when Tobias was in despair.
"Battalion Commander!"
The Deputy Battalion Commander, who should have been commanding the allied forces from behind, rushed towards Tobias.
"What is it?"
Feeling that the atmosphere was unusual, Tobias hurriedly asked.
The Deputy Battalion Commander answered his question.
"An unidentified unit is said to be arriving here soon!"
"An unidentified unit? Don't tell me... has the pursuit unit already returned?"
Tobias felt his mind go blank.
It was inevitable, because if the pursuit unit arrived now, it wouldn't just end with a failed siege.
On the contrary, they could be counterattacked and our army could suffer great damage.
Great damage that might require a long time to recover.
For that reason, Tobias quickly came to his senses and gave an order.
"All forces, re..."
But he couldn't finish his words.
The unidentified unit appeared a step faster than Tobias could shout.
The end of the Aequor Plains.
The appearance of a unit emerging from the horizon.
This appearance felt somehow familiar.
And as this unit got closer, not only Tobias, but all of the Allied Vanguard Battalion's eyes widened.
Surprisingly, the one leading this unit at the forefront was Roden.
"The Special Task Force Company... survived?"
And they hadn't just survived.
The Special Task Force Company had maintained its strength almost perfectly.
It was not difficult to guess this from the size of the unit.
"How..."
While Tobias and the rest of the Allied Vanguard Battalion were surprised.
The Imperial forces guarding the earthen fortress also spotted the Special Task Force Company.
From the perspective of the Imperial forces, who had been certain of victory, it was like having cold water poured on them.
"What is this..."
"Why can't we see our pursuit unit?"
"Why are those guys the only ones who are so unscathed?"
They muttered as if bewildered.
But in the meantime, the Special Task Force Company drew ever closer.
Then they suddenly started running towards the opposite wall that the Allied Vanguard Battalion was attacking.
Roden raised his voice.
"Aid the allied forces in their conquest of the earthen fortress! All forces, charge!"
It was the attack of just one company.
But at the sudden appearance of reinforcements, the Imperial Vanguard Battalion could not come to its senses.
"Block them over there!"
Perhaps for that reason, as soon as someone gave this order, a larger number of soldiers than expected ran to the opposite wall.
Tobias's eyes sparkled at the sight.
He instinctively realized that this was the golden opportunity to break down the walls of the Imperial forces.
"Attack! Over the wall!"
Just as Roden had, Tobias also raised his voice.