— 1st Day, 10th Month, 1,546th Year, Continental Calendar.
The night came to an end, and the Army resumed their attack.
However, unlike the day before, there were only sporadic attacks on all sides.
While arrows and magic came flying, there were no units trying to press the attack hard. Halbert was a little perplexed at the complete change to such a passive mode of fighting after the day before.
“The enemy’s suddenly let up on the attack,” he said.
“I don’t see any Zemish mercenaries, either,” Kaede said, surveying the enemy. “The change in deployment may mean that the enemy has changed to fighting a war of attrition.”
Halbert spun his shoulders in circles. “In that case, it’ll make things a bit easier, maybe.”
“One must always remain vigilant on the battlefield, Hal,” she said. “You’ll get tripped up otherwise, you know.”
“…I know.”
And so, the sporadic attacks by the Army continued. Then, when the sun was at its zenith, it happened.
The soldier in the lookout post shouted loudly, “Multiple units of wyverns sighted in the sky to the east! It’s the Air Force!”
When Halbert and Kaede looked up to the eastern sky, alarmed by the lookout’s voice, they saw several thousand wyverns flying towards them in formation.
Halbert unconsciously pulled Kaede tight against him.
Kaede put her own hand on the hand Halbert had put around her shoulder, saying, “It’s okay, Hal,” with a gentle smile. “We’ve won our bet, you know.”
The wyverns passed by the fortress where Halbert and Kaede were, flying towards Randel.
Elfrieden Historical Idiom Lessons: Number 2
“Randel’s One Night Fortress”
Type: Stratagem
Meaning: To use everything at your disposal to achieve an objective.
Origin: When King Souma was subduing Georg’s rebellion, he made use of the Forbidden Army’s capabilities as combat engineers to revive an abandoned fortress.
Synonyms: Thirty-Six Stratagems’ 14th stratagem, “Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul.”
Chapter 6: The Scheming Battle for Red Dragon City
— 32nd Day, 9th Month, 1,546th Year, Continental Calendar — Red Dragon City.
Ever since Souma had issued his ultimatum, the lord of Red Dragon City, Castor Vargas, had been incredibly busy. Because he had chosen to support Georg Carmine using only his personal troops from Red Dragon City, there was the risk that Red Dragon City itself would become a battlefield.
Castor was aware that this had all come about as a result of his own pride. He couldn’t let the people of his domain suffer for his pride.
Because of that, he ended up having to do the work of evacuating the citizenry to other cities himself. Normally, Castor left these sort of tasks entirely to his steward Tolman, but this time he did the work by himself. He thought this might be the last time he had the chance, so he was trying to fulfill his duties as their lord.
Inside the governmental affairs office in Red Dragon Castle, his castle in Red Dragon City, Castor asked Tolman a question. “How is the evacuation of the citizens going?”
“It is already complete,” Tolman replied. “Now, the only people remaining in Red Dragon City are a unit from the Air Force and those connected to the House of Vargas.”
“I see… I’m glad to hear that,” Castor said, leaning back in his chair, a look of heartfelt relief on his face. “Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but it’s a load off my shoulders. Without that burden to carry, I can act as an individual warrior.”
“Truly, those were words a lord must never speak.”
“I was never cut out to be a lord anyway,” Castor said. “Though I inherited the Air Force and my subjects from my old man, I never had a gift for management. When I think about what it would have been like without you and Accela, the very thought of it frightens me.”
Castor looked up to the ceiling.
“When I think back now, I realize that King Albert was carrying so much more, and with that timid personality of his…And now, that new king, Souma, is carrying that burden. He’s pretty impressive, for a kid his age. I can see why the princess was willing to cut her hair to walk alongside him.”
Liscia had cut her hair as a show of determination towards Georg, but when Castor had seen it, his heart had been moved. Castor had always had a simple personality, so straightforward expressions of emotion like that really hit him hard.
Seeing Castor like this, Tolman asked him in astonishment, “You’ve changed your view of him now, after all this time?”
“Yeah. I have…You’re right, it took me far too long,” Castor said, recognizing his own fault.
It was too late to turn back now. He had no intention of trying, either. From here on out, he would face Souma bravely. Even if he was defeated, he would show the king the pride of a long-serving General of the Air Force.
“We have received requests from Air Force units around the country saying they wish to side with you, Master…” Tolman began.
The Air Force was home to a lot of ruffians who felt that might made right, so a brave and fierce commander like Castor got a lot of respect from his subordinates. However, Castor waved his hand at the idea.
“Tell ’em all to take a hike. I’m not letting them join me in my stubborn pride.”
“…I thought you would say that,” Tolman said, looking at his awkward master with resigned dismay. “Now then, master. What do you plan to do now?”
“I’m not gonna do anything,” Castor said. “I’ll just wait here for Souma.”
“You won’t go to join Duke Carmine?”
“I can’t leave Red Dragon City sitting empty. Besides, I wouldn’t mind fighting alongside Duke Carmine, but I’ll have to pass on riding alongside a bunch of corrupt nobles. I couldn’t stay true to my pride like that.”
For Castor, the outcome of this war was secondary. Win or lose, live or die, he thought only of fighting in a way for which no one would be able to laugh at him.
“I will wait in this land for Souma to come,” he said. “If he comes with a great army, I will fall gloriously in battle. If he underestimates me and only sends a small force, I will chew them to pieces. That is all.”
“Ah, but will things go as you’ve planned…?” Tolman said, looking down to the documents in his hands. “According to reports from our scouts, a force of 10,000 from the Forbidden Army has headed towards the Carmine Duchy. It is unclear whether King Souma is accompanying that army, but I do not believe they have any forces to send at us.”
“You’re saying he’s gonna ignore me?” Castor asked.
“We only have one hundred knights, so I believe ignoring you would be an option.”
“Ha, not a chance,” Castor dismissed Tolman’s concerns with a laugh. “The 40,000 strong Army led by Duke Carmine, or 100 knights from the Air Force? Which sounds like the more difficult opponent to you? On top of that, if he defeats me, we have a rule in place that says the entire Air Force will side with Souma. For Souma, the best course of action is to strike me down, then to lead the Air Force into a final battle with Duke Carmine.”
“However, the fact of the matter is that King Souma has no spare troops at his disposal…”
“I dunno about that. The new king’s a shrewd one, and I hear his right-hand-man, the Prime Minister, is sharp, too. They may come up with some method we would never have thought of,” Castor said, smiling in anticipation. His expression was like that of a mischievous boy excited to see whether his prank was going to work or not.