Volume 7 Chapter 2 The Rumblings Of War
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Nokin’s Perspective*
”Alonsa! They’re coming! What should we do?!”
”Run into the forest behind us on the left! We’ll intercept the Dragonewts there!”
”Got it. Alright, follow me, everyone! Run at full speed towards the forest. We’re dead if we stop!”
I urged my Warhorse forward, carrying Alonsa on its back, and charged towards the thicket I saw behind us.
About 20 Dragonewts were in pursuit from behind.
One of the Dragonewts drew closer.
Its breath, a prelude to a fire breath attack, escaped from its throat.
Oh no!
We’re done for!
A large, thick arrow, as big as an armful, protruded from the heart of the Dragonewt that was about to breathe fire at us.
The arrow had been fired from the forest we were heading towards.
One after another, arrows the size of iron-tipped stakes were released.
The Dragonewt, struck in the heart, ceased flapping its wings and fell to the ground, while the pursuing Dragonewts, caught off guard by the sudden barrage, were shot down one by one in the ensuing chaos.
”Alonsa… What’s over there…?”
I looked to Alonsa for an explanation of what had just happened.
She watched the one-sided annihilation taking place behind us with a look of nonchalance.
”That’s a ballista, a large crossbow-like weapon. Apparently, it was commonly used in the past, but it fell out of favor after the Great War. Its power is beyond what I expected. I’m getting all wet just thinking about it…”
Alonsa continued to watch the Dragonewts’ downfall with a dreamy expression.
As expected of my brilliant partner.
Restoring an ancient weapon and using it as a trap──that’s a stroke of genius.
”The pursuing unit, having lost their Dragonewt support, is in disarray. Nokin, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
”Alright! Leave it to me. Turn around! Our target is the Black Dragon Army’s infantry. They’re just conscripts, so their morale should be low! If we take out their officers and nobles, they’ll crumble! Let’s push them back!”
”Yeah!”
I quickly escorted Alonsa to safety and then charged back into the chaos of the Black Dragon vanguard.
”Damn you rebels! You won’t get away with underestimating us!”
A young man from the Majin Clan, presumably an officer in the Black Dragon army, clad in armor, lunged at me with his sword. But after a single exchange, I severed his body and head with my second strike.
”Is this all you’ve got? Is the Kingdom’s strongest army just a facade? Pathetic! Is there anyone here who’s worthy of being my opponent?!”
”So, you’re Nokin, the leader of the rebels! I’ll take your head!”
Another officer appeared, this time a young man from the Asura Clan, riding on horseback.
He thrust his rapier at me with precision, but my greatsword deflected his attack, and in the next instant, his head was separated from his body.
”They’re not even putting up a fight…”
Looking around, I saw that the vanguard of 5 hundred troops was in disarray, close to annihilation, and they were beginning to retreat.
Our allies, hidden nearby at Alonsa’s instruction, joined us, and we transitioned into a full-scale annihilation battle.
After finishing the mopping-up operation, I returned to the camp where Alonsa was waiting.
”Welcome back. You’re earlier than expected. What’s the report?”
”We took out 20 Dragonewts and about 3 hundred enemy infantry. In the last 5 days, we’ve eliminated a hundred Dragonewts and around 2 thousand soldiers… We’ve suffered losses of about a thousand soldiers, but given the results, I’d say this is a major victory.”
”Yes, I had calculated that we could minimize our losses even further…”
A chill ran down my spine at Alonsa’s words.
She was talking about reducing our casualties even though she had been orchestrating the defeat of the Dragonewts, the mightiest creatures in existence.
Wow, she’s incredible… I might never be able to outdo her…
”But that’s because we have Nokin’s valor on our side. Without your strength, my strategies would be nothing but theories. I can only shine under your leadership, Nokin.”
Alonsa gazed at me with dreamy eyes.
I’m weak when she looks at me like that.
Perhaps it’s because I’m smitten, but whenever Alonsa looks at me, I find myself agreeing to and executing even her most ruthless plans.
”Why is the Black Dragon Army content with localized battles? If they have more troops than us, why don’t they advance and overwhelm us?”
”I think they’re waiting for the outcome of the battle between Gwain and Sir Gertroud. If Gwain’s northern army collapses, Fabulanova will seize the opportunity to march north without hesitation and finish off the weakened Sir Gertroud. She aims to take control of the Kingdom as the savior of the nation.”
”Alonsa’s predictions are always accurate, so I agree.”
”I see… So the Kingdom is not as united as it seems. We’ve received reports of Gwain struggling against Gertroud, so it’s likely that we’ll have to hold our ground here and serve as a dam against the Black Dragon Army…”
Alonsa’s eyes narrowed slightly.
She then led me to the sleeping quarters of the camp.
”Oh, Alonsa, what’s this about?”
”It’s fine, but before that, I want to have a private conversation with you.”
Alonsa leaned in close and whispered in my ear.
”Listen, if Sir Gertroud loses, why don’t we take over the eastern region and declare independence? With your bravery and charisma, becoming a Demon Lord might be a stretch, but you can definitely become the Great Chief of the Garuda Clan. If you appoint me as your Chancellor, I’ll secure autonomy from the Kingdom. We’ll establish an autonomous nation in the east. There’s no future for the Garuda Clan under Gertroud’s rule.”
Alonsa’s whispered words ignited the flames of ambition within me.
Could I become the Great Chief of the Garuda Clan and gain autonomy from the Kingdom…?
Indeed, Sir Gertroud’s erratic behavior and actions had caused some unease among his followers, and it was understandable to feel a sense of uncertainty about him as a lord.
Alonsa had suggested that I seize the opportunity to break free.
”Hmm, Alonsa… Are you serious?”
”Yes, I am. If things continue as they are, either we become Living Dead, or we’ll be captured and crucified in the Capital City.”
”Well, do you have a plan? Declaring independence won’t be easy…”
Alonsa smiled like a child caught red-handed in a prank.
”Huff, history has taught me that a strategist must always look ahead and act accordingly. That’s why I have most of the resistance organizations within the Demon God Emperor’s domain under my control. If they rise up, Gertroud’s rule will be as good as nullified. And, Nokin, I’ll welcome you as the Great Chieftain of the Garuda and demand autonomy for the Kingdom. If the Kingdom is willing to fight Gertroud, they’ll gladly grant us that autonomy.”
As Alonsa blew a soft breath into my ear, a tingling sensation of pleasure coursed through my body.
”Can I really be the sovereign of an autonomous Garuda nation?”
”You can! I’ll make it happen. You can’t shine under Gertroud… It’s time to break free and make your mark in history.”
”Make my mark in history… Will my name be etched within you, Alonsa?”
”Yes, I’ll have your name engraved as the Hero who led the Garuda Clan to independence.”
Alonsa smiled seductively.
But I was thrilled at the thought of having my name etched within her.
I think any man would be fired up at the prospect of leaving his name in history…
”Alright, Alonsa! If that’s what you desire, I’ll go along with your ambition! Without you, I’m just a simple warrior. You’re the only one who can make full use of my martial prowess. Do with me as you please!”
”Nokin… I’ll put your martial skills to good use.”
Alonsa leaned against me and hugged me.
”For now, let’s just wait for the northern situation to settle, shall we? Maybe we should negotiate a ceasefire with the Black Dragon Army?”
”Yes, let’s send a secret envoy to propose a ceasefire. They’d also want to avoid unnecessary battles, and whether Gwain wins or loses against Gertroud, we’ll make sure he disappears from that land… As for Kent Blackdagger and Arbalest Haydon, the power players of the South District, we’ll have to arrange a secret non-aggression pact through the resistance organizations.”
It seemed Alonsa had already secured connections to key figures in the South District through the resistance organization she controlled.
The Moon Goddess, High Priestess Elkisa, was in exile there, and without her approval, my appointment as Great Chief of the Garuda Clan could be nullified.
”So, you plan to have High Priestess Elkisa authorize my ascension as Great Chief… through Kent Blackdagger?”
”Yes, it might become a detached territory, but the chances of getting her approval are high. After all, it was Gertroud who took her parents hostage.”
”I’m the ruler of the Eastern region…”
”Gertroud has been causing trouble and eliminating the troublesome noble houses. If you present yourself as a liberator from Gertroud, the people of the East will worship you.”
My thoughts were dominated by Alonsa’s scenario for Eastern independence.
Later, we secretly negotiated a ceasefire with King Fabulanova, and our battle became a mere show.
Fabulanova had no intention of conquering the East, instead, he sought to bring down Gwain and Gertroud. He quickly agreed to a ceasefire, acknowledging our leadership and the possession of the Western territory.
After the secret ceasefire, we continued our battle as a charade, gradually retreating to the eastern town of Vildestia, and further back to the east town.
This was a strategic retreat, as Alonsa had informed me, to avoid the path of Sir Gertroud’s advance, and to suddenly strike at the heart of the East, opening the way for the Black Dragon Army.
The northern front was also starting to move.
* * *
*Gwain’s perspective
”Damn it! Quarantine the soldiers bitten by the Living Dead! If you don’t want to die, show no mercy! The castle walls have not been breached yet! Defend! The Black Dragon Army is advancing north, close to our position. We just have to hold out a little longer!”
I stood atop the watchtower, surveying the battle scene below.
Despite being besieged by the Gertroud army for nearly 2 weeks, it seemed the Black Dragon forces were still unable to close in on Gertroud’s flank.
A messenger from Fabulanova had reported that a general named Nokin was guarding the rear, blocking our advance and progress was slow.
”Fabulanova… are they just waiting for me to weaken?.. Maybe I’ll have to handle this on my own…”
Two weeks into the siege, fatigue was starting to show among the soldiers and officers.
In the initial clash, our attack against the ten thousand-strong Gertroud army, which was composed of living soldiers, had been successful. We had defeated many nobles, including the eastern noble Def Gobelg, who had incited the rebellion, boosting our morale significantly. However, Gertroud’s creation of Living Dead meant their effective fighting force hadn’t diminished.
Moreover, it was discovered that any soldier bitten by a Gertroud Living Dead would, upon dying, rise again as one of them. This revelation nearly plunged the fortress into panic.
But I isolated the wounded in a fenced field hospital and decided to execute any soldier whose skin turned blue-black as a precursor to the infection.
There was some criticism within the ranks, but when a soldier who had turned attacked his comrades, the mood shifted dramatically, and no one objected to my measures anymore.
”Sir Gwain, a letter from Lord Rashid of the True Demon Dukedom.”
Sven appeared behind me as I was deep in thought.
”I see…”
I took the letter from Sven and scanned its contents.
It was a polite but firm refusal of our request for reinforcements.
However, it stated that if we retreated to the Dukedom, they would be prepared to assist us.
”…Rashid… are you abandoning me too?.. Is there no hope for the reinforcements we desperately need?”
Already, nearly ten thousand soldiers had been lost in the siege, and the enemy forces were continually being replenished. Facing this nightmare scenario, I felt despair for the first time in my life. The fortress was completely surrounded by the Gertroud army and 30 thousand Living Dead, with no escape route in sight.
”Sir Gwain… To make a comeback, you should consider escaping. The Imperial Guard and our spies will escort you, so get out of here and regroup your troops!”
”You fool! If I leave now, the morale will collapse instantly, and there won’t be a chance to escape!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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