Chapter 140 : Chapter 140
Chapter 140. Once Again (2)
Roden led the main battalion and moved towards the 2nd Corps' front.
And at Roden's side, Michael followed.
“I don’t know if you remember, but Paul is a real lunatic. He had a lot of blood on his hands even before the war started.”
“He left the family early to make a name for himself, didn't he?”
“That’s right. Normally, the direct bloodline of the Glockner family goes out of the family to make a name for themselves at the right time, but Paul’s speed was different.”
This act of going out and raising one's name was usually called 'night travel'.
It was the Glockner family's unique, arrogant naming sense, comparing life in the family to the day and life outside the family to the night.
And among the current generation's direct bloodline, only Leon, Malena, and Paul had experienced this kind of night travel.
Roden, as well as Laura and Michael, had not experienced it.
This was because the war with the Empire broke out before their turn came.
'Come to think of it, I'm just about the right age to go on a night travel now.'
While Roden was lost in thought.
Michael continued.
“Anyway, the reason I'm telling you this is to say that it won't be as easy to get information from Paul as it was from Laura.”
“Honestly, Laura shared information more readily than I thought.”
“Because her mind is filled with the thought of defeating Malena. But Paul is not naive. In fact, he's quite vicious. He's become even more so since he learned that strange polite speech after his night travel.”
“Polite speech? I use polite speech too. And shouldn't using polite speech be seen as being polite?”
“Paul disgustingly uses polite speech to everyone, whether they're older or younger than him. Even to the servants.”
Roden couldn't understand why this was disgusting.
He could only guess that, similar to how he used polite speech, Paul had also chosen this method to keep a distance from others.
“Anyway, it might really be impossible to get information.”
“The fortunate thing is that, unlike when we were tracking the Black Bell Corps, this time it doesn't matter even if we don't get information.”
“That's true. They say the Hellfire Brigade is pressuring the 2nd Corps by moving with the regular units.”
The 2nd Corps' front line was formed differently from the other corps.
It was not a straight line structure of 'front-middle-rear' but an inverted triangle structure of 'front-front-rear'.
That is to say, in the case of the 2nd Corps, both the vanguard and main battalions were fighting at the very front.
For reference, the 3rd Corps had also faced the Imperial Army in this formation on the Aequor Plains.
But the structure changed as they took the Aequor Plains and pushed the front line.
This was because the Imperial Army had holed up in a single castle for ease of defense.
On the other hand, the 2nd Corps was still fighting on a wide front even after taking the Yugum Mountains.
The Imperial Army had deliberately formed a wide front line to prevent the 2nd Corps from descending from the Yugum Mountains.
Because of that, local battles were taking place every day on the plains in front of the Yugum Mountains.
And the Hellfire Brigade, which was active in the 2nd Corps, was taking part in these local battles mixed in with the regular units.
For that reason, even if Roden didn't specifically chase the Hellfire Brigade, it was highly likely that he would eventually achieve his goal if he steadily engaged in local battles.
This was why Michael had said it didn't matter even if he couldn't get information from Paul.
“Still, it's better to get information than not, so let's meet with Paul.”
“If you want to waste time like that, I can't stop you. Do as you please.”
And so, Roden moved to Duren, where Paul's vanguard battalion was stationed.
***
However, in conclusion, Roden did not easily reach Duren.
This was because he had encountered the Imperial Army on his way to Duren.
'Hmm... If I'd known this would happen, I should have kept using detection magic.'
He had used detection magic in the Yugum Mountains.
If they were to be ambushed in a place with rough terrain, they could suffer great damage no matter how many troops they had.
However, after descending from the Yugum Mountains and entering the plains, he hadn't bothered to use detection magic.
He had judged that the possibility of encountering the Imperial Army was low because the field of vision was so open.
But to run into the Imperial Army.
He was reminded once again that complacency was forbidden on the battlefield.
“Numbers?”
“Quite a lot. Similar in scale to our forces.”
“Why is a battalion-sized force here? Were they aiming for Paul's vanguard battalion? I see. Prepare for battle.”
Fortunately, although they had encountered the Imperial Army, they had not been ambushed.
He had not activated the detection magic, but he had conducted reconnaissance with the cavalry company in accordance with military tactics.
Because of this, the main battalion was able to identify the Imperial Army's position in advance and begin preparing for battle.
And a short while later.
“Huh? What’s this? Wasn't that Paul's unit?”
The man who appeared to be the enemy commander muttered this.
Roden didn't hear this voice, but he noticed the strange atmosphere of the Imperial Army.
Michael, who seemed to have felt something similar, spoke from the side.
“They seem surprised to be fighting our unit unexpectedly. Now is our chance.”
Roden, who was thinking the same thing, nodded his head and gave an order to the main battalion.
“All forces, advance!”
And so, the infantry company and the Special Task Force Company led the way and moved towards the Imperial Army.
The Imperial Army also advanced towards the main battalion a step later.
Thump, thump, thump!
Bwooooo!
The thunderous sound of drums and trumpets heightened the tension of the war, but since the distance was still far, neither side gave the order to charge.
Roden thought to himself as he watched this scene.
'It's been a while since I've fought on the plains.'
Moreover, it was almost the first time they had clashed on a large scale head-on like this.
But just because it was the first time didn't mean the main battalion was not confident in the battle.
“Charge!”
The fact that this order came from Roden's mouth first was proof of that.
“Waaaaah!”
“Crush the Imperial Army!”
In fact, the distance was too far to give the order to charge.
Neither army had yet entered the range of arrow attacks.
For that reason, the enemy commander, who had been momentarily flustered, thought that Roden had made a mistake.
“You’re a greenhorn with little experience in plains battles! Don't panic! We just have to wait and turn them into hedgehogs with arrow attacks!”
Certainly, it was not a bad judgment for the enemy commander.
If the main battalion had been hit by the arrow attacks as they charged, the battle would have surely unfolded as the enemy commander had intended.
However,
“Archery Company! Fire arrows!”
“Archery Platoon! Fire arrows!”
The Archery Company and Archery Platoon, which were running a step ahead of the infantry company, suddenly gave the order to fire arrows.
It was a range at which they could never hit the enemy with a shortbow.
However,
Pshushushut!
Pshushushut!
The main battalion's arrow attack, contrary to expectations, reached the Imperial Army all too easily.
Moreover, it wasn't just one volley of arrows.
“Fire arrows!”
Arrows were fired several times in succession, striking the Imperial Army.
It was an unbelievable range and loading speed.
“Damn it! Were they longbowmen? But how are they getting this loading speed? Anyway, raise your shields and block the arrow attack! Block it somehow!”
The enemy commander shouted, startled.
However, as a huge number of arrows flew in succession from an unexpected distance, the main battalion was unable to come to its senses.
In fact, the number of infantrymen who were hit by arrows and fell to the ground was not small.
“Eeeek! This won’t do! Use the defensive-type crystal orbs!”
In the end, the enemy commander, unable to withstand the arrow attack, ordered the use of the defensive-type crystal orbs.
This was because the defensive-type crystal orbs were much sturdier than regular shields and could cover a wider area.
Of course, it was a waste to use the defensive-type crystal orbs, which were distributed one per squad, before the battle had even properly begun.
But if they suffered great damage from a mere arrow attack, the upcoming battle would be too difficult.
Wooooong!
Wooooong!
Thanks to the use of the defensive-type crystal orbs, the Imperial Army was no longer damaged by the arrow attacks.
However, in the meantime, the infantry company had gotten very close to the Imperial Army.
The enemy commander belatedly realized this situation and gave an order.
“We will respond with an arrow attack as well!”
And so, the Imperial Army fired arrows.
Since the distance was close enough, it wouldn't have been strange if the infantry company had suffered damage.
However, the infantry company suffered almost no damage from the arrow attack.
This was because, just as the Imperial Army had used the defensive-type crystal orbs, they had blocked the arrow attack using the defense magic enchanted on their shields.
“!”
The enemy commander was greatly shocked upon seeing that scene.
He couldn't help it.
This was because he had not thought for a moment that the Allied Forces would use magic artifacts.
“Mages, those crazy bastards! They sold magic artifacts to the Allied Forces too!”
The enemy commander misunderstood and became enraged.
But he couldn't stay that way for long.
Winning the ongoing battle was the priority.
“Throw the explosive-type crystal orbs! The Allied Forces bastards won’t have many defensive-type crystal orbs now!”
Even the Imperial Army, which had started a war because it couldn't handle its vast wealth, could only distribute one defensive-type crystal orb per squad.
So the enemy commander thought that the main battalion would not be able to use the defensive-type crystal orbs again.
For that reason, he decided to inflict a great blow with the explosive-type crystal orbs.
However,
Whoosh! Thud!
Whoosh! Thud!
The explosive-type crystal orbs that had been flying towards the main battalion made a strange sound as they were blocked by something.
What blocked the explosive-type crystal orbs.
It was, surprisingly, the defense magic used by the infantry company once again.
“!”
As the enemy commander was surprised for the second time by that scene.
The explosive-type crystal orbs, deflected by the defense magic, returned and fell at the feet of the Imperial Army.
“Get away!”
Someone shouted this, but it was useless.
KABOOOOOM!
The shock of the explosion hit the Imperial Army first.
“Kuaaaak!”
The shock caused a huge number of Imperial infantry troops to be damaged.
The infantry troops near the officers who had not used the defensive-type crystal orbs, such as the company commanders, deputy company commanders, platoon leaders, and deputy platoon leaders, survived, but it was an unchanging fact that they had received a huge blow without much of a clash.
“Clean them up!”
The infantry company did not miss the opportunity and charged in.
The enemy commander was speechless for a while, then belatedly came to his senses and gave the best order he could in the current situation.
“Cavalry, attack the Allied Forces' flank!”
Certainly, in a situation like this, it was right to operate the cavalry.
This was because they were the only unit that could create variables.
Moreover, the Imperial Army's cavalry was famous for being powerful.
They had become much stronger than before after being supplied with magic artifacts.
However,
“Let’s go too.”
Roden, who had been watching the scene, rushed out as if he had been waiting.
And the cavalry company and cavalry platoon followed behind him.