Chapter 33 - 33 Safe Return
Steve neutralized the Kingdom of Forest army stationed outside Solenoid Town. Along the way, he fought mages using fire and water attributes, creating Standard Operating Procedures for their magic as well.
After restraining nearly 4,000 soldiers with magic, he immediately Teleported to Aurora's side. Given the emergency, Aurora canceled all her appointments to meet with Steve.
"Your Excellency, I have recaptured Solenoid Town."
"That was fast. I suppose I should expect nothing less. So, what is the situation?"
"The enemy soldiers inside the town have been wiped out, and those outside are restrained. I would like to borrow your troops, Your Excellency. We cannot handle the prisoners on our own. I could simply let them starve to death, but then 4,000 corpses would rot and plague would surely spread through Solenoid Town."
"That would be a problem. I will lend you Leo's unit, which is currently preparing for sortie. It is a force of 8,000, so it should be sufficient."
Aurora said she would lend Leo, who was currently reorganizing in Sowell Land after suppressing the nobles of Viscount Karsh's faction. Originally, she had intended for Leo to go to Solenoid Town anyway. It was proceeding according to plan, so to speak.
"But even if they head out now, the enemies will likely have starved to death."
"Do not worry about that. I will take everyone there myself via Teleportation."
"Everyone? Did you not hear me say 8,000 men?"
Aurora could not believe Steve's words about Teleporting 8,000 people. Even for the mages employed by His Majesty the King, they would lack the magical power to Teleport such a number.
Furthermore, Steve had been fighting enemies until just moments ago, defeating 1,000 and restraining nearly 4,000 with magic.
"I believe it will be fine. It is impossible to do all at once, so it will be split into several trips."
"If you say so, I shall believe you. I will have them prepare immediately."
Aurora gave instructions to Harry to have Leo hurry his preparations. She sent word that as soon as units of 500 or 1,000 were ready, they would be Teleported starting with the prepared groups.
Once Harry left, Steve made a further request of Aurora.
"Also, I would like to borrow a map of the Kingdom of Forest if you have one."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Invade them, of course."
Hearing those words, Aurora pressed her hand to her forehead.
"We have not even recaptured the fortresses within our own borders yet. Wouldn't it be fine to wait until after that?"
"No, I crushed a significant number of enemy mages in Solenoid Town. Before the enemy can reorganize their mage placement, I will conquer all the way to their Royal Capital in one go. If we can eliminate Margrave Bradle, the greatest power in the east of the Kingdom of Forest, there shouldn't be any formidable enemies left until the Royal Capital, right?"
Steve's reading was correct. Margrave Bradle had been positioned to counter the Kingdom of Cascade, while other major powers were stationed in different directions. In particular, there was a massive Empire to the west of the Kingdom of Forest, and they could not neglect their defenses there, so military strength was relatively concentrated in the west.
Even if Margrave Bradle were defeated, the only units that could be mobilized immediately would be the national armies of the Royal Capital or the northern and southern regions. Of course, individual feudal lords possessed their own private armies, but if the combined forces of the Margrave Sowell army and the Kingdom of Cascade's national army invaded, there was no force capable of stopping them.
As far as Steve was concerned, he didn't care about expanding territory, but he thought it best to strike the Kingdom of Forest hard enough to weaken their national power so they would never invade the Kingdom of Cascade again.
However, Aurora's thinking was different; she believed that if the Kingdom of Forest were weakened too much, they might end up sharing a border with the Empire, and having to shoulder that defense would only increase her headaches. Therefore, she thought the best compromise was to defeat the Kingdom of Forest moderately and seize reparations and a small amount of territory.
While a counter-invasion might be possible with Steve, now that the border army was decimated, she would be in trouble if the Kingdom of Forest did not remain intact. Thus, she wanted to stop Steve somehow.
"If I cannot ask for Your Excellency's cooperation, I shall propose this plan to His Majesty. I will also include the report regarding the insurrection by Viscount Karsh and the others."
Steve threatened that if Aurora refused, he would take the matter to the King. If it became known that the national army had to settle the invasion of the Kingdom of Forest while Viscount Karsh and others were causing an insurrection in the west, it was obvious that Margrave Sowell's influence would decline.
Faced with Steve's words, Aurora had no choice but to lend the army. For Aurora, a counter-invasion based on meticulous calculation would be fine, but she didn't want to do something that felt like a gamble; however, since the other option was clearly worse, she decided to worry about the results of the counter-invasion when the time came.
"Honestly, to think it would come to this. I want to punch Margrave Bradle in the face as hard as I can."
"Shall I bring him to you?"
"Yes... well, whether I actually punch him or not, it would be easier if such a big shot were a prisoner. I have few cards to play on such short notice."
While Steve and Aurora were talking, the first unit finished its preparations. Steve took them and Teleported to Solenoid Town.
The people who had been waiting for Steve's return rejoiced at the sight of the Margrave Sowell army that came with him.
"You returned safely."
Brian firmly gripped Steve's shoulder.
"Yes. However, it has been decided that we will launch a counter-invasion into the Kingdom of Forest. Once we recapture the fortresses within our borders, we will advance in a straight line all the way to the enemy's Royal Capital."
"What!?"
Brian was floored by his son's words.
*
Around the time Steve returned to Solenoid Town, Margrave Bradle decided to withdraw from the Kingdom of Cascade. He informed his adjutant.
"We are retreating."
"Your Excellency, are you certain?"
"Yes. The fact that the mages have not returned means they were defeated by that boy. Likely the other mages are finished as well. In that case, while we have more men in this fortress, we are inferior in terms of combat power. Naturally, even if we try to hole up here and fight, defeat is inevitable."
The adjutant did not oppose Margrave Bradle's thinking. Since most of the mobilized mages had been slain, no further results could be expected from continuing the fight. He had intended to advise against it if Margrave Bradle had said he would keep fighting, so there was no reason to object.
"What shall we do with the soldiers remaining in Solenoid Town?"
"We shall have them serve as a distraction for us. No matter how strong the enemy mage is, his magical power won't last against that many people. It will take a little more time before Sowell's army arrives, so it is enough if they just act as a threat there. Now that the mages cannot be recovered, those men have only that much value."
Margrave Bradle intended to use the soldiers as disposable pawns to buy time, but he never imagined that at this very moment, they had all already been neutralized by Steve.
"With this, we won't be able to invade for a while. I wonder how much time reorganization will take."
"I will negotiate with His Majesty to have mages sent to the east. Well, Sowell's army must be in tatters as well, so they likely won't be invading us."
"It would have been dangerous if that mage had been deployed in the opening battle."
"Indeed. Whether it was because Sowell made a mistake in judgment, or if the King sent him because the war situation tilted unfavorably, I do not know, but I am glad we were able to inflict such great damage on the enemy until now."
As they were having such a conversation, they noticed many insects and rats moving through the fortress.
"What is with this fortress? It is unhygienic with so many insects and rats."
Margrave Bradle did not scream like a child, but he looked at them with a gaze of disgust, finding them unpleasant. The adjutant also raised his hand to shoo them away.
At that moment, the black-haired boy appeared before them once again.
It was, of course, Steve.
And along with Steve, ten knights appeared. They were members of the Sowell House Knights Order led by Leo.
Upon appearing, Steve immediately struck the adjutant's arm with the flat of his sword as hard as he could.
"Guaah!"
The adjutant screamed as the bone in his arm was broken.
"It seems there are no mages this time."
Steve smiled toward Margrave Bradle.
"You again?"
"I won't let you escape this time."
As Steve said this, he restrained Margrave Bradle from the waist down with iron created by magic.
"Just so you know, if you Teleport in this state, your restrained lower half will remain here, so you will die at your destination."
"Where is the proof that such a thing is true?"
"You are free to test it. I am willing to assist you."
Leo cut into the conversation between Steve and Margrave Bradle.
"I apologize for interrupting your pleasant chat, but I would like to ask Your Excellency to first call upon the soldiers in the fortress to surrender."
"Surrender? Don't say such foolish things. From what I see, you have charged in with only about ten people, but I have 10,000 soldiers here. You know what will happen if I order them to attack without regard for me. I don't mind dying here if it means not letting you return alive, so until I give that order—"
Margrave Bradle would not nod to Leo's instruction. He didn't know what the chances of his life being spared were even if he surrendered in this situation. Therefore, he thought it better to threaten them, saying they were also in danger.
"As expected, I used too much magical power today, so let's just take this person back. We can just attack again tomorrow."
"If the boy says so, then so be it."
Steve had used too much magical power, and it would be tough to deal with the soldiers in the fortress here. If he used the magic-efficient Standard Operating Procedures to cut everyone down, he could manage it, but he didn't want to do it because building such a mountain of corpses was depressing.
Therefore, he proposed to Leo that they only take Margrave Bradle back as a prisoner. And Leo accepted that.
"And so, Your Excellency, shall we check the answer to that previous question? Please bet on which side you think your lower half will be on."
"No, I shall pass on that bet. I do not quite understand what I would gain if I won."
"A very wise decision. If only you had demonstrated that wisdom before starting the war."
"The preparations were excellent. In fact, I have been winning ever since the start of the war until now. No one could have known such a trump card existed without a divine oracle."
Margrave Bradle sighed at his own lack of luck.
Steve showed his anger toward such a man.
"I would not have gone this far if it were just soldiers fighting each other. What meaning is there in massacring, looting, and raping even non-combatants?"
"If one is to go to the battlefield risking their life, it means a commensurate reward is necessary. Is it not the same in your country?"
Steve could not argue when told that. This was the first time he had seen a battlefield. However, he could easily imagine that such things were likely done in the Kingdom of Cascade as well.
"If I can say one thing, your way of thinking is dangerous for a noble. If you think of the commoners and pamper them, they will gradually expand their demands. Both Kings and nobles must perceive commoners as numbers and never think of treating them as humans. You must not think the commoners are pitiful; you must think of how much the number of taxpayers has decreased. That is, if you are a noble. Well, since you are such a mage anyway, I suppose you can have any peerage you desire?"
Even when told this by Margrave Bradle, Steve said nothing. His sensibilities as a 21st-century Japanese person were alien in a world with a rigid class system, and he knew from history that if such ideas spread, a civil revolution would occur.
Looking at it based on Earth's history, what Margrave Bradle said was not wrong.
If he spread his own ideas, a revolution would occur at the earliest during his father's era, and definitely by his own or his descendants' generation. Becoming a commoner was fine since he was originally one, but if radical arguments like 'send the nobles to the guillotine' were to pass, it would lead to the execution of his beloved family.
"Teleporting now."
In the end, Steve said only that and Teleported to Sowell Land, taking Leo and the others along with Margrave Bradle and the adjutant.
"I will come to pick you up again tomorrow."
"Understood. I'll be waiting."
After saying that to Leo, Steve Teleported to Solenoid Town and returned home with the members who had come from Archibalt Territory. To be precise, it was near the house.
If he went home, Abigail and Christina would surely welcome him, but Steve, wanting to discuss future plans before that, had shifted the coordinates slightly.
There, he spoke about capturing Leo and the others—no, about capturing Margrave Bradle with Leo and the others.
Brian was so surprised by his son's story that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"You captured the enemy commander, Margrave Bradle?"
"Yes, Father. I have moved him to Sowell Land for now, and His Excellency is currently guarding him."
"Then is this war over?"
"No."
Brian, who had rejoiced for a moment, was disheartened by his son's words.
"I only raided the fortress today and secured Margrave Bradle. There are still 10,000 soldiers in the fortress. The plan is to neutralize these soldiers tomorrow and further recapture the border fortresses."
"Then that means we can wipe out the enemy soldiers from within our borders by tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. And so, from the day after tomorrow, we are to launch a counter-invasion into the Kingdom of Forest."
"A counter-invasion?"
"Yes. We will strike in a straight line all the way to the enemy's Royal Capital. This is an operation approved by Her Excellency."
Although it was an operation he had forced her to accept by threatening her, Steve didn't breathe a word of that, speaking as if Aurora had ordered it.
Brian couldn't very well oppose it under those circumstances, so he asked for an explanation of the flow starting tomorrow.
"In the morning, I will go to Sowell Land to pick up Lord Leo and the others, then Teleport to the fortress where the enemy is holed up. I will restrain the enemies with magic just like in Solenoid Town and leave the disposal of the enemy soldiers to Her Excellency's army. Once that is done, we Teleport to the next fortress. The following day, we will do the same at enemy fortresses, lordly manors, and castles. Our movements will be faster than the enemy's communications. Then, leaving some soldiers behind, we will return home via Teleportation and Teleport again the next morning. This way, we don't have to worry about night raids or supplies."
It was a doctrine possible only because Steve was there.
Teleport to the enemy's headquarters, restrain the top noble, and force a surrender. Leave a small garrison in the occupied buildings, and then Teleport back to Sowell Land.
If one didn't have to worry about night raids, there was no need to think about supplies either. Such a strategy would never become commonplace.
And once this became widely known, every country would be forced to review their defense measures for royal castles in the future.
Specifically, the creation of spaces where magic cannot be used. While that technology had not been established, research itself was being conducted in every country. Even more budget would be allocated to it.
"To think we can have meals and sleep in a safe place. Is this the power of magic?"
"I believe any magic depends on how it is used. Even creating iron can be a fine means of attack if done above an enemy's head."
"So it depends on the inspiration for its use. Until now, fire, water, and earth attribute magic were considered effective in war, but tactics using other magics will likely be researched."
"For the time being, it will be Teleportation magic. One could aim directly for the main camp, or use it for rear-guard disruption. Having done it myself, it is a tactic I wouldn't want used against me. Oh, that's right. Since the chain of command is being unified starting tomorrow, it seems there is no need for you and the others to participate, Father."
Brian's face clouded at Steve's words.
"Sending only a child to the battlefield is..."
"Even so, the command of our territorial army belongs to you, Father. No matter the difference in status, even Lord Leo cannot give orders to them. It is unavoidable to avoid unnecessary confusion."
"I suppose so. Come back safely tomorrow as well."
"Yes."
Even though his son had defeated even the Captain of the Royal Guard Knights Order and used a vast variety of magic inexhaustibly, as a parent, there was still worry. While Brian wished Steve didn't have to go to the battlefield if possible, he faced a great conflict as he had to send him off due to his position.
To compromise with that, he made him promise to return safely.
He didn't know how much effect that promise would have, though.
And there was one more person who became terribly anxious upon hearing that Steve would be going to the battlefield alone starting tomorrow. It was Bella.
"Steve, take me with you tomorrow."
"Bella, I can't do that."
"Then I'll just follow you on my own."
"Abel~"
Steve, troubled by Bella who looked like she wouldn't listen no matter what, sought help from Abel.
"I don't not understand how Bella feels. Besides, with Steve's magical power, one more person shouldn't be a problem. You should take her. Yo, lady-killer."
Abel also thought persuading Bella was impossible. Therefore, he took Bella's side.
Troubled, Steve eventually decided to take Bella along.
"Fine. I'll take Bella along tomorrow, but you must listen to what I say at the destination. Also, absolutely do not try to become a scapegoat (T/N: literally 'substitute' or 'body shield')."
"Understood. I'll use my body as a shield, but I won't become a scapegoat."
"Ugh."
Steve was perplexed by Bella's response.
With that, the conversation among those who had gone to war ended, and Steve and Brian returned to the manor. There, Christina began to cry out of relief, and Steve had a hard time soothing her. It was an atmosphere where it was very difficult to bring up that he would be going to the battlefield again tomorrow; he ended up telling her the next morning and was severely scolded by Christina.