Volume 6 Chapter 17 The Night Before The Northern Battle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Gertroud’s Perspective
”Sir Gertroud, the undead soldiers have completed their deployment. I have come to request orders for the fortress assault.”
The werewolf from the Garuda Clan bowing before me is named Nokin.
Originally, he was a decent warrior, but after I granted him a woman, he started achieving remarkable victories and became a valuable subordinate, serving as my right-hand man.
That woman he was granted is now looking at me, ready to speak her mind.
”Sir Gertroud, please deploy the 10,000 troops of Lord Noki to the west in preparation for the Black Dragon Duchy.”
The woman’s name is Alonsa Dory.
She’s a relative of a noble family we crushed on our way here.
However, since I didn’t fancy her looks or figure, I gave her to , who had shown his bravery in battle.
But this woman possessed a different kind of talent.
Alonsa’s exceptional command on the battlefield turned her into Nokin’s mistress, and she used him to devastating effect against countless enemy soldiers.
That’s why she earned the nickname ‘Killing Strategist’ and became feared among the eastern nobles.
In fact, I quite like the ruthless strategies and tactics she proposes, and they have been very helpful in creating undead soldiers.
”Hmph, the Black Dragon Duchy is advancing? I suppose Fabulanova is busy with the capital’s defense and its own territory’s security?”
”But, once the Demon Lord issues a decree for their extermination, if we end up fighting Gwain again, there’s a good chance another extermination order will be issued for Fabulanova… If that happens, it’s almost certain we’ll be hit in the side by the Black Dragon forces during the fortress assault.”
It’s going to be tough to maintain our offensive if we’re attacked from the side during a siege, no matter how many undead soldiers we have…
I decided to accept Alonsa’s proposal.
”Alright. Nokin, prepare for the possibility of the Black Dragon army coming from the west! I will lead the undead soldiers in the fortress siege.”
”Hah, I understand. I’ll make the troop changes right away.”
”Still, you have a good woman there.”
”Yes, thanks to her, I was able to become a commander. She’s a truly exceptional military strategist.”
Nokin blushed as he answered my question.
Nokin was popular with the soldiers because he was deeply infatuated with Alonsa, and was satisfied with keeping all the war rewards-the female slaves for himself, distributing any extra to his subordinates.
”No, it’s just that Nokin is effectively using his strength. Plus, he’s someone who understands my tastes, so I’m doing my best to support him.”
Alonsa also seemed to like Nokin, and they were getting along well.
But her terrifying military strategies were also impressive, and Nokin had the guts to execute them.
At that moment, a middle-aged man entered the tent.
It was Def-Gorberfu, the leader of the Garuda clan.
”Sir Gertroud, I’ve just arrived after bringing the lords of the northeast under our control. Twenty-5 houses have pledged their allegiance, each led by their eldest son or heir apparent, and their combined forces total 10,000. Please let me lead the vanguard to Gwain’s fortress.”
Def had been tasked with intimidating and subjugating the remaining lords of the northeast, but he had succeeded brilliantly, minimizing the fighting and bringing them under control.
Of course, the rumors of the victories we and Nokin had achieved on our northward march had spread throughout the east, which likely helped Def persuade them.
”You gathered 10,000… well, alright. Even if they die, I can use them as undead soldiers.Very well, Def-Gorberfu, take the lead. Defeat Gwain.”
”Hah, I accept the task. For Sir Gertroud and for the Garuda clan, I will bring Gwain’s head.”
Def declared this and immediately left the tent.
”Sir Gertroud…Def-Gorberfu has already fulfilled his role, hasn’t he? He’s my relative, but I fear his beliefs will hinder your plans…”
Alonsa, who had been watching Def, offered her opinion.
”Sir Def’s Garuda ideology seems identical to Gwain’s Asura preferential treatment, just with a different race. I support Alonsa’s concerns.”
Nokin seemed to feel uneasy about Def’s ideology as well.
My goal is to get Kent’s body back, conquer the continent, open the path to the heavenly realm where the Supreme God (Sazukrain) resides, and subjugate the deity clan that banished me to another dimension.
Def’s probably done for…
If I have the military strength to kill Kent for sure, Def would just be in the way.
All I want is troops and resources; I don’t need some ridiculous ideology like the Garuda Clanism in the new country I’m planning to build.
So I’ve decided to eliminate Def in this war.
”…Time’s up. Alright, we’re getting rid of Def. If we succeed in capturing the fortress, I’ll personally kill him. Alonsa, Nokin will be the next clan leader candidate. And, Alonsa, I’ll appoint you as the ‘Moon Goddess’.”
”Hah, as you wish.”
”How grateful I am.”
”Well, let’s start preparing for battle.”
I left the camp with Nokin and the others.
* * *
*Gwain’s perspective
”Enemy forces. Another 10,000 reinforcements have arrived.”
I look out at the enemy forces from the watchtower, as the scout reports.
As the report stated, reinforcements numbering nearly 10,000 were arriving one after another.
With this, Gertroud had successfully gathered an army of 40,000.
”Sir Gwain, I’m back.”
Sven approached me silently from behind.
”Hmph!”
I spun around and drew my sword.
The tip of my blade caught Sven’s neck, and his head rolled off his body.
However, Sven’s body was a phantom.
”Don’t stand behind me.”
”My apologies. Even I was flustered this time. I thought I was actually going to lose my head.”
”So, did you find out anything about Gertroud’s army?”
I waited for Sven to report without looking at him.
”Well, I have a pretty good grasp of the situation in the east. It seems Gertroud has gotten hold of Demon Lord Orphée Bleu’s treasure. The recent Ghost Clan rebellion and the undead army they’re leading, called ‘Living Dead,’ are also apparently artifacts wielded by Demon Lord Orphée Bleu.”
”A treasure belonging to Demon Lord Orphée Bleu…Why would Gertroud be able to take something like that? The treasures kept in the castle can only be handled by a Demon Lord──you know? There’s a curse on them that incinerates anyone who isn’t a Demon Lord’s bloodline.”
”But my sources tell me that Gertroud is using the Staff of the Dead to create the Living Dead.”
”So Gertroud’s a Demon Lord, is she…”
”The most likely explanation is that Gertroud has Demon Lord blood.”
Sven’s report raises a red flag.
Gertroud’s family was just a humble family of soldiers──the possibility of them being Demon Lord bloodline was never considered.
”That’s impossible. You investigated them, didn’t you? Your guess is wrong.”
”But I can’t think of anything else…Could it be that Gertroud has a Demon Lord’s soul inhabiting her?”
”A Demon Lord inhabiting someone…Could that even be possible?”
”The situation seems to be pointing to that…but it can’t be. When someone dies, their body returns to the earth, and their soul dissolves into magic elements in the atmosphere──it’s the natural order of things.”
Sven is right, I know that it’s impossible for a soul to possess another person, no matter what kind of magic is used.
However, the chills that have saved me repeatedly are warning me about this abnormal situation.
”Maybe Gertroud is possessed by something.”
At that moment, the sound of a trumpet announcing the enemy’s advance echoed from the front lines.
”Enemy army, advancing! They are coming toward us!”
The lookout reported, his voice ringing with alarm.
”Don’t panic. Our army has a fortified stronghold and 50 thousand soldiers. They won’t be able to take it. Send a messenger to His Majesty in the capital! We hope the Black Dragon Dukedom will join the battle. I’ll take care of Gertroud’s main force. I’ll give the Black Snake Woman a good opening.”
”How are Kent and Sir Arbalest doing?”
”It’s too far from the South District, but you can ask Kent if His Majesty would like him to take charge of the capital’s defense. It might be easier to sway him if he’s away from his own territory.”
”Do you think Kent will accept?”
”If we threaten to remove Arbalest from his position as Margrave of the South District, he’ll have to accept.”
Kent is Arbalest’s son-in-law, and I think he wouldn’t be able to ignore his father-in-law’s predicament.
So, we figured that by threatening Arbalest, Kent would act.
”Well then, I’ll send a messenger to the capital immediately.”
Sven’s presence disappeared.
”Don’t panic. The defense units, hold your positions! We have more troops here! Archers, to the front! Everyone, fire at will!”
From the watchtower, I gave my troops instructions using a loud voice.
* * *
*Fabulanova’s Perspective
”Lady Fabulanova… I’m truly sorry to ask this of you, but Lord Gwain has apparently started fighting Gertroud in the north. Lord Gwain has asked Lady Fabulanova to attack Gertroud from behind. What do you say?”
I was summoned by His Majesty and had come to the throne room.
On my way to the Gertroud expedition with the western lords, when I was meeting His Majesty in the capital, the Ghost Clan’s large-scale rebellion broke out.
Because of that, I am stuck in the capital, which is without Lord Gwain, to defend it.
The Black Dragon Duchy, of course, had its hands full, but even in the western territories, the Ghost Clan was rising up. However, using the Airborne Brigade, the large-scale uprising had been quelled.
Clayd was gleefully annihilating the Ghost Clan, and it was quite a nuisance how he was casting massive spells to concentrate the magic elements around him, but his combat prowess had thoroughly eradicated the Ghost Clan.
”Your Majesty, Lord Gwain has an army of 50 thousand. Gertroud has 40 thousand. I don’t believe they can break Lord Gwain, who is holed up in the fortress, can they? And it’s not like we can evacuate the capital while the Ghost Clan still runs amok…”
I was secretly getting tired of helping Gwain in battle.
After all, it was only to Gwain’s benefit if we won.
And if I left the capital, I couldn’t ignore the possibility of the Gwain faction nobles turning against us again.
”The defense of the capital will be handled by the South District army. I’ve already sent a personal letter to Lord Blackdagger. I want Lady Fabulanova to assist my father-in-law. If we owe him a favor, he might keep quiet about this plot to dismantle the Gwain faction.”
His Majesty was smiling slyly and looking at me.
His Majesty had caught on to the fact that I was dismantling the Gwain faction.
Most likely, it was the white-haired old noble who served as an informant who told him.
Still, I never thought Kent would march all the way to the capital in such a piecemeal fashion, but Your Majesty was assertive with a confident expression.
…I thought it was just a ceremonial chariot, but perhaps it has a surprisingly fierce side to it…
”…I shall deploy at Your Majesty’s command.”
”I apologize. I should lead the troops myself, but I want you to defeat Gertroud in my stead.”
”Hah, I accept your command.”
I left the throne room and made my way to the Black Dragon Duchy mansion in the capital.
”Hey, where are we gonna cause some chaos this time?”
As soon as we got back to the headquarters, Clayd (the battle junkie) started chatting me up.
It felt like his mind was solely filled with thoughts of fighting.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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