Chapter 123 : Chapter 123
Chapter 123. March of the Other Shore (4)
Having established a siege camp, Roden began to draw up a plan to formally capture Elmorim.
In fact, there was no need to draw up a new plan.
This was because he had already found the fastest and most effective plan when capturing Beihan.
"Alright. Then let's carry out the operation like that tomorrow."
Just as he had done in Beihan.
Roden planned to pound the walls of Elmorim with catapults for a week, and then lead the charge with the Special Task Force Company at the forefront.
Even this was being extra cautious.
If he had his way, he would have led the troops and crossed the walls immediately.
Even if he did, no one would have objected.
That's how great the performance shown by the Special Task Force Company when they crossed Beihan was.
However, just in case, he decided to use catapults to wear down the city defense force for a week.
This was because this would make the success rate of the operation close to 100%.
For that reason, none of the officers of the main battalion gathered in the meeting tent opposed Roden's plan.
It was a sufficiently cautious and highly likely to succeed plan.
However, there was one person.
One person in this meeting tent who had not seen the performance of the Special Task Force Company.
And that person threw a wrench into the meeting that seemed like it would end in an instant.
It was Michael.
"The plan is too straightforward. How about digging a tunnel or looking for a secret passage into Elmorim?"
"If you don't like that, it would be good to utilize the Special Task Force Company's specialty, camouflage."
"Not attacking at all is also a method. If we keep attacking with catapults, they will get tired and show some movement."
"Or, it might be a good idea to induce a riot inside the city. Are you not confident? Just say the word. I'll step in."
Michael constantly proposed new plans to Roden.
And each time, Roden explained to Michael why that plan was not effective.
As a result, the strategy meeting time was unnecessarily prolonged, and eventually, a sigh escaped Roden's lips.
"Aren't you busy?"
"Of course I'm busy."
"Then why are you here?"
"I told you. The March of the Other Shore will come here."
"I told you I'd take care of it."
"I believe I told you that you wouldn't be able to."
As could be inferred from the two's conversation, Roden had already heard everything about the March of the Other Shore from Michael.
How strong they were, and even what kind of plan they were planning.
However, Roden didn't care much about the March of the Other Shore.
This was because, contrary to Michael's concerns, he had succeeded in uniting the main battalion as one.
However, even in this situation, Michael did not leave and remained with the main battalion.
The reason was as follows:
"You, who have neglected your history studies from the past, may not know much about what happened 500 years ago, but magic is not something to be taken lightly. In terms of utility, a secret technique can never catch up to magic."
"..."
"Moreover, it is judged that the March of the Other Shore is not using magic directly, but magic artifacts, so it is even more dangerous. This is because a magic artifact can make even a person with low skills use a secret technique of a 5-star knight level."
"..."
"Even if you hear this explanation, you won't realize it until you experience it yourself. So you have to approach it cautiously. Assuming the worst-case scenario."
"..."
It was a perfectly valid story.
However, the more Roden listened to Michael's story, the more indifferent his expression became.
This was because Roden, who had once been a magician of the Penitudo Mage Tower, knew all of this better.
However, Michael, who had no way of knowing this fact, continued his explanation, and eventually, Roden, who could not stand it any longer, declared.
"That's enough. No matter what you say, the operation will proceed as discussed here today."
"...Even if the corps staff officer orders you not to?"
"I am the Battalion Commander. In case of difficulty in judging the situation, I have the authority to act first and report later."
Roden's operational discretion was granted by the corps commander.
For that reason, no matter how much higher the corps staff officer's rank was than the battalion commander's, if he wanted to push forward with the operation, he could.
Of course, if the operation failed, the weight of the reprimand would also be heavier.
"I understand. If that's what you want, I can't help it."
Michael answered with a reluctant expression.
Only then, thinking that they were on the same page, did Roden speak.
"Yes. So please go back. There is nothing for you to do here, Staff Officer."
But that was Roden's delusion.
"No. I will not go back. Just as you have the right to refuse my order, I also have that right. I will watch you fail in your operation."
"Ha. You're waiting for me to fail so you can take away the command. I understand. Then do as you please."
Thus, Roden and Michael ended the meeting with a war of nerves until the end.
For the officers who were watching this, they couldn't help but feel anxious.
***
And so, for a week.
The main battalion, according to the plan, tried its best to wear down the city defense force using catapults.
Michael thought as he watched the progress of the operation.
'The use of catapults is quite systematic and efficient. But I don't understand. Why are they insisting on a frontal attack?'
Michael considered Roden a very competent commander.
Certainly, Roden was a commander with many strengths.
Not only was his individual combat power outstanding, but he was also excellent at raising the combat power of his unit.
Also, no matter how dangerous an operation was entrusted to him, there was no one who could follow Roden in terms of the ability to carry it out.
But above all, among Roden's many strengths, the one Michael valued the most was his flexibility.
Roden knew how to change his tactics according to the situation, without being trapped in a mold.
If necessary, he even showed the decisiveness to overturn existing common sense.
In fact, it was thanks to this flexibility that Roden was able to overcome numerous adversities, turn crises into opportunities, and rise to his current position.
'But now, he's strangely insisting on a frontal attack. Even after hearing about the March of the Other Shore. Why on earth?'
Michael could not understand Roden's actions at all.
He carefully observed the Special Task Force Company to see if they would show any different behavior, but they were just ordinary.
They were just busy looking for boulders so that the Archery Company could operate the catapults without a break.
'Is he just thinking of clashing once and then setting up a new plan?'
In fact, at present, from Michael's perspective, this was the most likely possibility.
Otherwise, the current course of action would not make sense.
However, Michael felt a little disappointed that Roden was carrying out the operation so ordinarily.
He had thought that Roden, who had surprised him several times so far, would show something different.
At the same time, he thought that if Roden showed something unimaginable this time as well, he would hold out hope.
What the future of the Glockner family that Roden was envisioning would look like.
However, the progress so far was too predictable, and for that reason, his expectations for the future of the Glockner family that Roden was envisioning naturally decreased.
'Yes. In the end, you can't escape from our father's Glockner way either.'
It was when Michael was thinking about this.
Finally, the main battalion filled the promised week with catapult attacks and entered into preparations for a charge.
"Prepare to charge! When the signal is given, the Special Task Force Company will lead the charge, and the rest of the units will follow!"
At the same time as Roden's order fell, Michael led his direct command unit and stood behind the Special Task Force Company.
This was so that he could appropriately intervene if the main battalion fell into danger.
But,
'Huh? Why are the key officers here?'
The positions of the key officers, including Roden, Chevalier, Olinto, Liviano, Heinrich, Günter, and Otto, were unusual.
This was because they were standing right next to the Special Task Force Company, similar to Michael.
It was as if they were ready to rush out at any moment.
'Is it to help if the March of the Other Shore appears and the main battalion falls into danger, like me?'
Certainly, if that was the case, they could minimize the damage to the main battalion even if an emergency occurred.
However, this was within Michael's range of expectations.
'He's used his head quite a bit, but it would have been better not to carry out a frontal attack from the beginning.'
On the contrary, he thought this.
It was then.
"Charge!"
Finally, Roden's order fell, and starting with the Special Task Force Company, the soldiers of the main battalion ran towards the walls of Elmorim, holding ladders.
For reference, the walls of Elmorim were about 10 meters, similar to Beihan, which was quite high for a city.
'Thanks to the fact that they have covered their bodies tightly with shields, they are not suffering much damage from the city defense force's arrow attacks. Their movements are good.'
In particular, the movements of the Special Task Force Company were amazing.
With movements like a textbook of siege warfare, they did not allow a single arrow from the city defense force's attack to hit them.
'But in the end, if they can't cross the walls, it's all useless.'
In the meantime, the six ladders of the Special Task Force Company had almost reached the walls of Elmorim.
And,
"Now! Let's go!"
Roden shouted this and started running towards the walls of Elmorim.
At the sight of this, a curse naturally burst out of Michael's mouth.
"Crazy!"
It was a movement that could only be called crazy.
It was an action that clearly seemed like it would lead to something dangerous.
And sure enough.
As soon as the first six ladders were placed in Elmorim, Roden, Chevalier, Olinto, and Liviano began to climb them themselves.
"What on earth are they trying to do!"
In the end, Michael, without even realizing it, instinctively ran towards Elmorim and shouted.
And the truly amazing scene unfolded at that moment.
Clang!
The city defense force swung their swords with all their might to cut the ladders, but they failed with the sound of steel clashing against steel.
It was the same even when they generated the aura of a 1-star.
And the amazing scene did not end there.
Swish! Swish!
Not only did they easily block the enormous number of arrows shot by the city defense force on the ladder with their shields, but,
Swoosh! Sizzle!
They also flawlessly blocked the hot oil that was poured on their heads with their shields.
At this point, Michael could see that the ladders and shields prepared by the main battalion were no ordinary objects.
At the same time, this thought came to Michael's mind.
'Don't tell me... magic artifacts?'