The nobles who retreated hurriedly were able to recapture six out of the eleven occupied estates. After all, they had thirty thousand troops made of the elite knights and magicians of the captured estates. Their absence had made Orta’s blitzkrieg strategy far more effective. There wasn’t that much disparity between the noble and royal faction
However, Duke Cornwall soon ran into a problem.
“No… Those bastards took all the supplies?” 𝚘𝚟𝚕．ｔ
It was textbook Meltor tactics, but it was a shocking surprise for the nobles. After all, they had forgotten about dimensional pockets!
War magicians kept their supplies in their dimensional pockets, so the battlefield commander could often use them for different purposes. As such, there were cases where plunder was far more useful as a battlefield tactic.
Orta had always kept in mind that he couldn’t keep possession of the estates, so he’d chosen to plunder everything rather than hunker down. He took everything his troops could lay hands on, including food from the warehouses, military supplies, and the secret safes in the mansions.
The lords of each estate screamed at the cruelty of their enemies not even leaving gold dust behind. Moreover, nobody was compensated for the damages due to the current situation. The nobles of the six estates would be quickly banished to the outer edge of political and social circles because of their lack of funds.
Duke Cornwall had to hastily make more promises. “Don’t worry. I will make sure you’re compensated once I rise to the throne.”
“I-Is that right? We will only believe in My Lord.”
“You really are our only angel!”
He’d finally reassured his idiotic followers, but the duke had another headache to deal with. He needed to calm Crusader Ruben, the madman of Lairon, who was furious after his duel with Baek Jongmyung was interrupted. Ruben was furious he had missed a chance to decapitate a heretic and often vented his displeasure publicly.
Ruben growled, “Duke, look. A fortnight has already passed since I missed the chance to kill him. Isn’t this an embarrassment to Lairon?”
The duke feigned a sigh. “Hah, I’m also sorry about this.”
However, how could the duke have predicted an earth giant appearing out of nowhere and transforming into a forest? The forest had eventually withered away after ten days, but he’d missed his chance to capture the Atron Estate. The paladin had denounced the whole phenomenon as a pagan ritual, but the duke wasn’t quite sure.
“But Crusader Ruben, think about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is a chance to elevate Lairon. Isn’t that estate a terrible stage to mete out justice?”
“Hrmm?” Ruben’s face screwed up in thought.
Duke Cornwall continued, “We’re going to have a massive battle pretty soon. If we make the center of the battlefield the stage for Lairon’s judgment, wouldn’t that be the best way to honor Lairon?”
“It doesn’t sound quite right.” Ruben’s eyes shone viciously. “Duke, this is the last time. I will stand by your side and exercise the power of Lairon. But if I miss the infidel once again, I will have to inform His Holiness.”
“… I will keep that in mind.”
“Then I’ll be going. Don’t disappoint me.” Ruben didn’t seek permission as he left.
The duke tried to look unconcerned. but he reached his limit when Ruben’s stomps faded away. His stylish mustache trembled as veins bulged on his flushed face. Unable to suppress his anger any longer, he kicked the table in front of him.
Crack!Kwatang!
A master’s senses were extremely keen. The duke knew this and barely swallowed the tirade he wanted to spew. He couldn’t stand it. He had always aimed to be a king. Even if the other person was a paladin, he was trampling over a future king’s pride!
Duke Cornwall kicked the table several times.
I hate fanatics! I wonder if I should even borrow their hands again!
He had agreed to cooperate with Lairon to ensure victory, but he might die of irritation before even getting his crown. They were the most rigid kingdom in the Central Continent, but perhaps he might be able to find a more palatable ally if he looked a little further.
Yes, the Andras Empire could become a shield for him that Lairon couldn’t deal with. Duke Cornwall was heaving in rage, but it was at that moment that…
Knock knock knock.?
The duke answered with a half-irritated, half-fatigued expression, “What? Didn’t I say not to let anyone in?”
However, he didn’t hear an answer. Instead, the doorknob turned. Had another insolent paladin appeared? Duke Cornwall was at a loss for words when the door finally opened. He had no energy left to be angry, and more importantly, he recognized the towering man.
“… Y-You?”
“Nice to meet you, Duke Cornwall.” The man with the flat eyes of a tiger, Pan Helliones, looked down at the duke with an expressionless face. “I am the Great Andras’ 4th Sword, Pan Helliones. I will be joining your army in accordance with the emperor’s orders.”
“Ah, indeed! You are the one known as the super heavy sword?”
“I have indeed been called by that name.”
It was the empire’s 4th Sword, Pan Helliones! He was well known in the north and central parts of the continent. He had shed enough blood to form a river, and his sword had once caused a cliff to collapse. The reputation of the 4th Sword was far superior to the 1st to 3rd Swords, mostly because their abilities were a mystery. The fact that the duke could recognize his identity just from his appearance alone was proof of his fame.
“I will speak bluntly. Our empire has confirmed that Meltor has added two masters to the royal faction.”
“T-Two of them? Is this true?”
“Yes. However, you don’t have to worry. We will handle Meltor’s masters.”
The duke involuntarily squinted at the word we. Indeed, he realized that a knight in full body armor was standing behind Pan Helliones. At any rate, this only solidified the dominance of the noble faction. They already had two masters, the paladin and Marquis Fergana, while the royal faction only had one master. The marquis hadn’t been present previously, but had promised to participate in the upcoming battle.
But if they made a deal with Andras on top of that, wouldn’t that insolent paladin also be a little more restricted?
“It seems like this conversation will go for a bit longer, Sir Helliones.”
Nevertheless, it was clear that the heavens were helping the nobles, and energy returned to Duke Cornwall’s face. Andras was a nation famous for war, but it was better than insane fanatics. The smile of Duke Leonardo Cornwall thickened.
***
While Duke Cornwall was meeting with two swordmasters, a strategic meeting was in full swing in the secret room of Marquis Reista’s estate, which was now in the hands of the royal faction.
Orta and his magic soldiers might’ve captured eleven estates, but only half of them were occupied by the royal faction. Duke Cornwall outnumbered them, and even if they included the five newly acquired estates, the power of the royal faction was still weak. The chances of victory had yet to tilt to one side. Theo had helped maintain the balance with the potion he gave to Baek Jongmyung, but the royal faction was still standing at the edge of the cliff…
Right now, the two factions were in the same situation. How should they move to win the war? The attendees were racking their brains while filled with anxiety.
“The odds are lower if we aim for a war of attrition.”
“I agree.”
Everyone nodded. A war of attrition only made sense when both sides were on an equal footing. There was no reason to drag it out when the duke could overwhelm them with military power. They had already been stung by the incredible mobility of Meltor’s troops. Guerrilla warfare seemed to be the ideal choice.
“Why don’t we try dispersing the troops for guerrilla warfare?”
“That won’t work. Meltor has a lot of experience, but magicians are best used on large battlefields. There is no way to maintain that strategy if the duke simply consolidates his forces.”
Everyone had their own idea and logic, but no one was convinced. The debate quickly grew heated as they tried to convince each other.
“The only way to break this situation is to act safely…”
“Even if it is possible to gamble…”
“We are chasing after two rabbits…”
A few hours passed by, but they still didn’t have a decision. Both sides had good arguments. It was good to take a risk in order to move forward, but neither was it wrong that they should move carefully. As long as they didn’t know the future, everyone wanted to take steps which they believed would be the best.
Unfortunately for them, Theo was there.
“-A decisive battle.”
The words popped out unintentionally. After Alfred’s experience had been engraved into his body, Theo’s intuition was several times sharper than normal. He was perplexed by his lips parting, but he could immediately see why he had spoken.
“Perhaps Duke Cornwall will try a decisive battle,” Theo said confidently as he met the eyes of the royal faction nobles.
However, the silence didn’t last long as someone objected, “But Sir Theo, why would he try a decisive battle while he knows we have Meltor’s reinforcements? I don’t think the sneaky duke will do something so disadvantageous.”
“That is certainly true.”
However, Theo shook his head. “Still, there is the master level magician, Marquis Fergana, on the other side. Moreover, considering the anti-teleport devices… there is a strong possibility that he will have defense artifacts.”
“Ummm…”
“That is certainly true, but…”
It wasn’t enough. They still weren’t convinced, so Theo racked his brain for more. Thankfully, he had another argument. “We shouldn’t forget the paladin either. The duke will push forward as long as Lairon is behind him.”
The White Tower Master had spread spies throughout the recaptured estates, who were supplying the royal faction with information. One of the benefits of the estates returning to the nobles was that the amount of information increased.
“I heard that the priests of the Sacred Order can wield magic. If they help the duke, we will no longer have an absolute advantage in magic.”
The other members belatedly had a fire lit under them.
“Will they smuggle the priests in? That power?”
“Cornwall, that traitor really is no good!”
“If Sir Theo’s words are true, a decisive battle can’t be avoided!”
The duke hadn’t made a big move so far because he lacked measures to deal with war magicians on an open battlefield. Clearly, he knew how war magicians could eradicate entire armies if given an opportunity.
However, what if the duke obtained a means to counteract this destructive power? There was no reason for the duke to hesitate since he had fifty thousand troops to Prince Elsid’s thirty thousand.
The leaders instantly agreed and laid out a map. There was only one place where Prince Elsid and the duke could have a decisive battle. One of the quicker nobles stabbed it with a finger. “Babarino Plains!”
It was the largest flat piece of ground in Soldun Kingdom, but it was usually untouched because of its arid soil. Since crops couldn’t be grown there, it had no lord or residents. There weren’t even any resources underground, so the barren land was basically worthless. But, it was the only place eighty thousand soldiers could collide.
“Attendant! Bring me a topographic map of the Babarino Plains!”
“Call the geographers—no, the meteorologists! Figure out the weather of this fickle land!”
Theo wasn’t interested in the rest of the conversation, so he took a few steps back. Alfred’s memories may have been inherited by a magician, but that didn’t mean Theo was good at developing strategies. He had used his intuition to find loopholes, and now he would leave the rest to experts.
Well, there is also the White Tower Master.
Orta had a long career as a commander and had plenty of practical battlefield experience, so he would be able to handle the rest of the meeting. Theo’s eyes flicked to meet Orta’s.
“……”
“……”
Orta spoke with magic so that no one else could hear.
[As mentioned earlier, I will leave the work related to Andras to you. But is Randolph reliable?]
[Yes, I guarantee it with my name.]
[If so, I will trust you. However, don’t forget to report back.]
[I understand.]
Theo replied concisely as he left the meeting to find an isolated room. He pulled out a small earring, the pair to the one he’d given Randolph. Theo infused it with magic, and the earring started to flash. It was proof that the communication magic on the earrings was working properly.
Randolph, do you hear me?
Once he heard an answer after several attempts, a grin spread across Theo’s face. It was finally time to hunt the bear.