Chapter 80 : Elf Knights and the Power of the Pike Phalanx (2)
Chapter 80: Elf Knights and the Power of the Pike Phalanx (2)
“The Order of the Black Rain will likely stand at the vanguard. According to the scout's report, they have already moved their camp. They will probably attempt a frontal lance charge, which is their specialty.”
“Hmm....”
“So it is that way again?”
The faces of the nobles hardened into stone. It was because the massive losses incurred in past battles came to mind.
Befitting a nation of knights, the lance charges of the Imperial Army's knights were indeed spectacular. Had not every infantry unit they managed to gather been shattered like falling leaves? At that time, it might have been impossible to block them without the Black Raven Mercenary Company led by Captain Mordo.
However, the problem was that the Order of the Black Rain was composed of those even more adept at cavalry warfare. Are they not the ones who conduct cavalry battles against countless pagans and barbarians in the vast eastern plains of the Empire?
Surely, engaging them might result in immense losses.
And if that happened...
‘Even if we win, it wouldn’t be a victory.’
This was the common thought in the minds of the nobles.
“Ah, I also understand what you are worried about. I am concerned about that part as well. That is why... Sir Ragnarsson.”
“Yes, Your Excellency Count.”
“I have heard that the horsemanship and combat power of the Rostingia Elves are such that no one can dare follow them. Is that correct?”
“Ahahaha. Of course. Who would dare surpass us?”
Ragnarsson opened his mouth boisterously. Pride was evident on his face.
“Oho, then can you show the dignity of the Rostingia knights to those damnable Order of the Black Rain?”
“From the... front?”
Ragnarsson’s expression distorted awkwardly.
No matter how much of an alliance it was, and no matter how much Elves loved battle, it did not mean they lacked a sense of reality. This was strictly someone else's war. There was no need to fight without any practical benefit. Clashing head-on was certainly an honorable thing, but was it not actually the task those guys should perform?
Noticing that sign, Count Bellua slyly changed the subject.
“Haha. That is not what I meant. I meant for you to intercept the Order of the Black Rain from the flank. They were praising themselves as if they were the best knight order. Surely that is not true, is it?”
“Aaaah. Ahem. How could their words be true? We shall show them our strength, Your Excellency Count Bellua!”
Only then did Ragnarsson shout while thumping his chest.
“Those trivial bastards. The Order of the Black Rain cannot dare compare to us.”
“That is right. Indeed.”
“Trust us and leave it to us. The moment they expose their flank, we will crush them just like that.”
Starting with Ragnarsson, the Elf knights each reached out and pledged victory. Count Bellua smiled slyly while watching them. As expected, they were bastards quite easy to handle.
‘So the powerful hammer to intercept the Order of the Black Rain is prepared...’
The Imperial Army did not yet know that the knights of Rostingia had arrived. Therefore, it was certain they would fall into great confusion at the sudden appearance of these Elf knights. However, Count Bellua wanted to inflict even greater damage on the Imperial Army.
‘I must inflict damage from which they cannot recover.’
A method had roughly come to mind.
When the Order of the Black Rain was distracted by charging at the allied infantry, and the Rostingia knights, who had made a large detour through the flank forest, intercepted them from the side, the Imperial Army would collapse in an instant.
The only problem was that the allied infantry had to be strong enough to block the charge of the Order of the Black Rain.
Like an anvil.
The question was who could possibly perform this role of the anvil.
‘We need heavy infantry that will block them at the center of the ranks.’
‘The problem is that it is a suicide mission, and it is so important that if it collapses at once, the victory or defeat of the battlefield will be decided...!’
It was not something that could be entrusted to just anyone, nor was it a dangerous task they could personally step forward for. Consequently, all the nobles, led by Count Bellua, fell into deep thought.
They didn’t know when and how to speak.
“Hmm.”
Count Bellua scanned his direct vassals. The direct vassals were the only ones who were somewhat trustworthy. However, they too were slyly avoiding the Count's gaze.
Achieving merit was good, but losing soldiers was regrettable. Furthermore, they themselves could die, and was the responsibility not too heavy?
‘I guess I must step forward personally and create a bond like bait huh.’
It was around the time Count Bellua thought he might have to do so if necessary.
“Hm, Your Excellency Count. If that is the case, what is needed is heavy infantry, right?”
Captain Mordo, who had been watching silently, spoke up abruptly.
“That is correct, Captain Mordo.”
The eyes of the nobles focused on Captain Mordo's words. Since Captain Mordo had been listening quietly during every meeting until now, the weight of his words was different.
Especially because Captain Mordo had Sir Shatien under his command.
“Why, is there another way?”
“If you entrust the center to our mercenary company, we will endure so that the Rostingia cavalry can intercept.”
“What? You?”
Count Bellua asked back in surprise, unable to believe it. In truth, his relationship with Captain Mordo was not that good. Therefore, he had been intentionally pushing Shatien regardless of merit, but he did not expect Mordo to come out like this.
Captain Mordo, who was well aware of Count Bellua’s intentions, did not care.
At this very moment, he had caught a very important scent.
‘There is a high possibility of gaining fame across the continent in a single stroke during this battle.’
He had a feeling. That this tremendous turning point would come. And behind it were Shatien and the Centuria led by Shatien.
‘I heard they established a tremendous number of pikesmen, yes? If we position the heavy infantry of the mercenary company based on that and endure, we will surely be able to block them.’
Of course, Count Bellua, who had no way of knowing such inner details, was unlikely to say very positive things.
“It seems you have become blinded by merit. Do you not know well that if the center collapses by mistake, the direction of the battle will fall apart?”
He tried to speak gently, but the meaning was as follows. Your mercenary company is insufficient to block them.
At that, Captain Mordo smirked and turned up the corner of his mouth. Count Bellua seemed to keep thinking of old grudges, but Captain Mordo was not like that.
“Oh... Your Excellency Count Bellua I so respect. This is by no means because of such a vain desire for honor.”
“Then?”
“It is because I have the confidence to do so.”
“Huh....”
Listening to Count Bellua’s sigh, Captain Mordo pointed at someone with the tip of his chin.
“We have the method and the soldiers to block them. Is that not right, Shatien?”
Only then could Shatien understand why Captain Mordo was so confident.
* * *
After several days of marching, Carcassonne was visible in the distance. And also the thousands of troops camping before it.
Although the scale of both sides had gradually decreased due to successive battles and a prolonged war, the quality of those troops was in a state that was absurdly high.
Especially, a formidable knight force existed on both sides.
“Today, let us show that greedy Emperor who has justice!!”
-Waaaaaaa!
As soon as Count Bellua’s vigorous shout ended, a booming cheer erupted. Ahead of the final battle, the morale of the soldiers literally pierced the sky. Count Bellua had promised a massive reward if they led today's battle to victory.
“Unit!! Advance forward!”
“Advance forward!”
-Step, step, step, step.
Count Bellua’s soldiers advanced slowly while matching their footsteps.
Shatien stood at the very center of the ranks, leading the pikesmen. Unlike other mercenaries who moved to the left, the pikesmen unit led by Shatien and the Black Raven Mercenary Company were both taking charge of the center.
Since they had finished recruitment, they were in a state of having cultivated 200 pikesmen. Here, at Captain Mordo’s direction, the rest of the Centuria was also hurriedly gathering pikes to form a phalanx together, so the scale was decent in its own way.
-Swish.
The pikes held upright shook precariously with every step.
‘It is a shame to be on the attacking side.’
Shatien clicked his tongue inwardly. If they were on the defensive side, they could have hidden the pikes on the ground and then raised them when the enemy drew near to carry out an ambush.
It was merely regrettable. As they were going to attack toward the enemy they were waiting for, the pikes were too easily visible.
If things went wrong, those knights would not attack toward them.
Of course, Shatien had already thought of other means to some extent in case of such an eventuality.
-Neeeigh!
-Form up the ranks and prepare to charge!
The Order of the Black Rain could be seen preparing busily and boisterously in the Imperial Army's camp on the opposite side. Those bastards were out at the very front of the Imperial camp, having formed a dense wedge formation.
Lances as long and sharp as the pikes led by Shatien were piercing the sky.
“Unit, align!”
“Unit align!!! Stop and straighten your posture!!”
Once all the Count's units stopped, Shatien immediately looked at Captain Mordo. Captain Mordo nodded and shouted.
“Advance forward! We move further ahead!”
“...?!”
At that command, tension instantly settled over the Black Raven Mercenary Company. Was it not quite a... provocative act?
How could a mere mercenary company come to the very front and provoke the enemy to come?
However, as the Black Raven Mercenary Company was famous for high discipline, they began to go straight ahead as soon as the order was given.
“One-! Ha. One-! Ha. One-! Ha.”
And soon, they moved as one according to the shout that spread throughout the entire mercenary company. The trust built up during that time and the repeated training showed very excellent discipline, like the regular army of the Ancient Empire.
-Look at those guys! Those arrogant bastards?
-Infantry made of mere mercenaries is at the front, and even coming forward?!
The reaction came immediately.
The infantry that stepped forward provocatively in the plains area. For the Order of the Black Rain, it was at a level where they were appalled.
Furthermore, the area where they were located was the dead center. Was it not an important position where the battle could collapse just like that if it were broken through?
-How foolish! Calm down!
-Maintain the ranks!
-You must not rush out!!!
Baron Ludwig, who was commanding them, tried his best to calm the Order of the Black Rain somehow.
It was because, in his view, colliding directly with that dense pikesmen unit did not seem likely to bring a very good result.
However, they would not be knights if they listened to words in such a situation.
“Please give the order!”
“I shall deliver punishment to those rascals.”
“That is right! Quickly! The order! You human commander!”
“I shall offer their blood before the Holy God!!”
He did not know if these were converted knights or barbarians, but eventually, Baron Ludwig had no choice but to sigh and order the charge.
-Bwoooooo!
-Charge!!
-Kiyoooooo!
-Honorable death is with us! Let us crush those weak human bastards! Kiyooooo!
The ground they stood upon shook as if it would collapse. Even standing still, his stomach churned to the point he felt like vomiting.
‘Ugh. This is no joke.’
However, Shatien did not lower the pike he had raised.
His hands were drenched in cold sweat.
Even though a pressure that felt like it would burn his throat tightened every moment, he had to endure.
Until those bastards drew close enough. And when that time comes...
‘I shall show you hell!’