Chapter 157 : Chapter 157
Chapter 157. Unexpected (2)
Deniz was closely watching the movements of the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit, which had escaped Velia Castle and entered the earthen castle.
It was natural since he had tasted humiliation from Roden several times.
For that reason, he was able to receive a report as soon as the two units left the earthen castle, and he could also figure out their destination.
However, the reported destination was a bit strange.
Why on earth was Roden heading to Velia Castle instead of saving Kroxen Castle?
“Are you certain? Is the Allied Forces’ main battalion really heading to Velia Castle?”
“Yes! It is certain!”
The knight who received Deniz’s question answered with a voice full of spirit.
However, even after hearing the knight’s confident answer, Deniz’s expression did not clear up.
Because Deniz naturally thought Roden would save Kroxen Castle.
If they lost Alexis’s direct unit and the Vanguard Battalion, the 3rd Corps would suffer a blow hard enough to make it difficult to recover, so there was no other choice.
‘But why are they going to Velia Castle instead of Kroxen Castle? Did they eat something wrong?’
Deniz stroked the tip of his chin for a long time.
Then, soon, he smirked and smiled.
“I get it. What those bastards are thinking.”
“Pardon?”
“Those bastards are hoping we lift the siege of Kroxen Castle and come out to Velia Castle. Only then would the Kroxen Castle defense force attempt a breakthrough at one point somehow.”
“But…….”
“Right. The Corps’ direct unit couldn’t attempt a breakthrough at one point even when we weren’t there. Furthermore, the probability of those bastards knocking on Velia Castle and taking it is significantly low. As a result of checking before leaving, Velia Castle was still strong enough that one company could easily defend against a corps for several weeks if there was enough food.”
That meant he just had to ignore Roden and occupy Kroxen Castle as planned.
Anyway, since Deniz joined the siege, the pressure on Kroxen Castle had increased.
So it seemed like a riot would occur inside Kroxen Castle soon.
Deniz, who thought he had succeeded in seeing through Roden’s operation, gave a firm order.
“Velia Castle will never fall until we get our hands on Kroxen Castle, so do not mind it. Focus solely on Kroxen Castle.”
***
Meanwhile.
On the road from the earthen castle to Velia Castle.
Screams of the Imperial Army soldiers rang out continuously there.
“Argh!”
“Kueegh!”
These were the screams of scouts Roden eliminated using detection magic.
“With this, it seems we have dealt with all the scouts who were persistently around us.”
At Günter’s words, Roden, who was closing the eyes of a scout, nodded his head.
It was for no other reason that Günter and the Archery Company set out to deal with the scouts together with Roden.
Because there was no unit as efficient in dealing with scouts as the Archery Company, which could load aura onto their arrows.
Of course, the Archery Platoon could have stepped up, but the Archery Company had larger numbers, so it was much more convenient to draw personnel.
When Roden was organizing his thoughts like this, Günter continued speaking.
“Deniz must have realized it by now, right? That we are heading to Velia Castle?”
“He must have. And he won’t pay much attention to it yet. Rather, he will be letting his guard down. Because he will think we won’t be able to do anything even if we go to Velia Castle.”
In the first place, Roden was predicting Deniz’s reaction.
And this was the calculated move.
Because only if Deniz let his guard down would he fail to grasp the movements of the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit.
Since they even finished dealing with the scouts just now, Deniz’s eyes and ears would become even darker.
“Then let’s go back.”
Roden returned with the Archery Company to the place where the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit were waiting and taking a brief rest.
Then he immediately sought out the New Recruit Infantry Commander, Antonio.
“Did you call for me?”
The ordinary soldier who had taught Roden how to carve in the past had now been reborn as a respectable military officer.
Roden answered while feeling the change of times from this fact.
“Right. Since we have dealt with the scouts, the New Recruit Infantry Commander and the Archery Company Commander should lead the troops and advance to Velia Castle as we discussed beforehand. We will head to Kroxen Castle.”
It was so.
Roden’s real destination was not Velia Castle.
From the beginning, it was decided that he would pretend to go to Velia Castle but go to Kroxen Castle.
The reason was that he judged sending the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company alone was enough to conquer Velia Castle.
Deniz judged that one company could easily block a corps for several weeks, yet aiming for conquest with just two companies.
Someone might find this part strange.
However, not only Roden, but Antonio and Günter also did not doubt this fact.
“Then we will quickly conquer Velia Castle and guard it well.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
The fact that the two people answered like this was the very proof.
“Right. Let’s meet again soon.”
Like that, Roden left words of encouragement and left for Kroxen Castle with the remaining troops, while Antonio and Günter headed to Velia Castle.
***
“We will arrive at Velia Castle soon. Wouldn’t it be better to take a short break around here and then attack Velia Castle?”
“That would be good. Everyone rest!”
Günter accepted Antonio’s suggestion and raised his voice.
Like that, the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company sat down and took a rest.
And about three hours had passed.
Günter spoke to Antonio.
“It seems fine to attack Velia Castle now, what do you think?”
“I agree. If we rest any longer than this, our location might be discovered. It will be easier to cross the castle gate if we fluster the enemy even a little, so let’s attack now.”
“As expected, your thoughts are the same as mine. Then let’s proceed with the attack. Now, everyone moves again! Be prepared as we will proceed with battle as soon as we arrive at Velia Castle!”
“Yes!”
Antonio and Günter led the troops and moved toward Velia Castle.
A short while later, Velia Castle confirmed this movement and shouted.
“It’s the Allied Forces! The Allied Forces bastards have finally appeared!”
“Everyone calm down! Those bastards will only knock on the castle walls after building an encampment!”
Since they knew in advance through the scouts that the Main Battalion and the New Recruit Unit would arrive, the Imperial Army commander’s response was certainly calm.
However,
“All forces charge!”
Antonio and Günter had no intention of building an encampment.
They intended to conquer Velia Castle like this and rest inside.
“Wha, what?”
The Imperial Army commander was flustered by the charge of the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company.
It was natural since he didn’t know they would attack suddenly like this.
However, realizing that the number of troops was not large, the Imperial Army commander raised his voice.
“The number of the Allied Forces’ vanguard unit is not large! Do not back down and prepare!”
Certainly, this was a not-bad response for being flustered.
The Imperial Army defending Velia Castle also followed the commander’s orders well.
The very proof was that they were standing on the castle walls waiting for the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company who would climb up the ladders.
However,
“Huh?”
The Imperial Army commander discovered something strange belatedly.
The New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company running toward Velia Castle were not carrying ladders.
“Oh no! It’s the castle gate! The Allied Forces bastards are trying to attack the castle gate! Everyone move!”
Like that, the Imperial Army commander led the troops and moved toward the castle gate.
And the Archery Company fired arrows to snipe these Imperial Army troops.
Arrows loaded with aura were enough to disrupt the movements of the urgently moving Imperial Army.
The Imperial Army commander, who found it difficult to move toward the castle gate due to this, complained inwardly.
‘Damn it. Just what are they thinking? What are they thinking to attack this side while knowing full well that the castle gate of Velia Castle is incredibly sturdy.’
The Imperial Army commander had doubts about the attack direction of the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company.
But that didn’t mean he thought the castle gate would be breached.
The castle gate was that sturdy, and he thought that if they eventually moved little by little and arrived at the murder hole, they would block the attack without difficulty.
In the meantime, the New Recruit Infantry entered the murder hole with the cover of the Archery Company on their backs.
Since the Imperial Army hadn’t arrived yet, the entry was smooth.
And simultaneously with the entry, something outside of common sense occurred.
“Open gate.”
When Antonio fiddled with the Steel Brooch attached to his surcoat and shouted like this, the castle gate began to open with a rumbling sound.
Seeing the castle gate opening, the Imperial Army commander turned pale with fright and shouted.
“Who is it! Who opened the castle gate!”
The Imperial Army commander naturally thought a traitor inside had opened the castle gate, but it wasn’t the truth.
The one who opened the castle gate was Antonio.
He used the Open Gate magic that was enchanted in the Steel Brooch.
Open Gate magic.
This was something Roden had enchanted in advance, predicting a situation like the present, before casting Eternal Shadow to secretly escape Velia Castle.
Because although they had to escape Velia Castle right then, they had to take it back someday.
“The castle gate is open! Clean up the Imperial Army like this!”
Thanks to that, the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company were able to easily enter inside Velia Castle.
And since it had come to this, there was no way for the Imperial Army to handle this.
It was natural since the numbers of the New Recruit Infantry and the Archery Company were double.
“Damn it! Just what is happening! Imperial Army, gather in one place! If we resist in the narrow path, we can win!”
The Imperial Army commander gave the best order until the end, but he had to declare surrender not long after.
Eventually, the Imperial Army lost Velia Castle just one hour after the siege warfare began.
***
“What? We lost Velia Castle? Just how?”
“It seems they used a trick on the castle gate! They said the castle gate opened on its own when the Allied Forces stood in front!”
“Damn it! Is it a magic artifact again? Just which mage tower is providing magic artifacts to the Allied Forces! And what is the Penitudo mage tower doing!”
Deniz went on a rampage after receiving the news of the fall of Velia Castle.
He couldn’t hold back his anger at all hearing that they lost Velia Castle, which they had occupied with difficulty, so futilely and easily.
He was too angry.
“Summon the troops! We are going to conquer Velia Castle again!”
Eventually, Deniz lost his reason and made the worst judgment.
Without knowing that this too was Roden’s calculated move.