Chapter 87 - 87 Military Conflict
Freddy Miss Cleiman, second son of Margrave Cleiman, was guarding the border. The camp was surrounded by a fence, and from the tower at the back of it, looking through a telescope, were the allied army of the Kingdom of Cryptomeria and the Yellow Empire. The allied army was in the middle of a joint military exercise.
To respond to that, the army of Margrave Cleiman also implemented a military exercise with 5000 soldiers across the border.
The rain had already stopped, and the land of the border where there was no impact from the river flooding had no problem for the army to move. Because of the clear sky, visibility was good, and they could see each other well. However, the wind was strong, and many soldiers had sand in their eyes and were crying tears from their eyes.
Freddy spoke to his aide, Faraday.
"Faraday, even if they say fancy things like Suit Knights, judging from the movement here, they are just slightly better soldiers. Nothing to fear."
"Indeed. Our army can surely win enough."
"Father also desires territorial expansion. If here, an accidental battle with the opponent, victory, and invading the enemy country, don't you think an eye opens for me becoming heir instead of Big Brother?"
Freddy wanted to succeed Margrave Cleiman instead of his brother Albert. He thought a chance was rolling before his eyes now. If he could defeat the Ace of Sword and King of Sword of the Yellow Empire and cut off the territory of the Kingdom of Cryptomeria, it would be merit equivalent to the Dragon Wing Medal. Then it would be sufficient record for becoming Margrave, so he naturally thought he would succeed Margrave Cleiman. So he expected an accidental battle.
It was the same for the Kingdom of Cryptomeria side. Suit Knights were dispatched from the Yellow Empire, an unparalleled situation for combat power. They were inferior in numbers to the Margrave Cleiman army, but calculated they could bounce back sufficiently with quality.
However, only Joe had no intention to fight at all.
Continuing the military exercise while staring at each other, Joe was thinking he should return home soon.
But Ethan had a different thought. At break time, Ethan spoke to Joe.
"Hey, Joe. If an accidental battle happens here and develops into a war, us being here will become a topic in the Kingdom of Cascade too. Then won't it enter Nancy's ears?"
"If she's hiding somewhere, she might think listen to that talk and join up."
"Likely. The enemy before our eyes looks 3000 to 6000. Not a number impossible to do. If the opponent underestimates us and attacks, it's a good deal."
"I have no intention to fight, but if it becomes a clue to find Nancy, the talk is different. I won't start it from our side though."
"I know that."
Joe was not keen on fighting, and supply would be difficult in a foreign country, so he couldn't decide until prioritizing finding Nancy. He just had a feeling if it happened by the flow.
But does fate exist? An opportunity came after the break.
The allied army implemented training using bow and arrows. They were shooting at targets set between their own camp and enemy camp, but at that time, one arrow reached the Margrave Cleiman army fence riding the wind. The defense captain at that time was told by Freddy to counterattack immediately if something happened, so he ordered an immediate counter shot.
The Margrave Cleiman army attacked with a large amount of arrows, and the Kingdom of Cryptomeria army countered. The Yellow Empire army was confused by the situation and asked Joe for instruction.
Joe also thought there was no choice now, and gave a combat order.
Originally it was a military exercise, a close-range staring contest, so the two armies clashing was early.
Freddy received the counter shot report, accompanied Faraday, and took command.
"Since we have a camp, let the opponent attack and wear them down."
Following Freddy's instruction, the Margrave Cleiman army cowered in the camp and shot arrows. The Kingdom of Cryptomeria army attacking to take the camp suffered damage, but the Yellow Empire army waited outside the range. It wasn't that they did nothing; Joe and Ethan, two people only, headed to the enemy camp. Dodging the falling arrows, they reached the fence, easily jumped over, and reached inside the camp. Since arrows couldn't attack now, some of the Margrave Cleiman army switched to swords and prepared interception.
However, dozens fell during the switching.
Then, other soldiers also needed to switch, so the attack by bow and arrow stopped. Receiving that, the Yellow Empire army started to advance. The Kingdom of Cryptomeria army also took the Margrave Cleiman army camp.
The Margrave Cleiman army attack stopped, and Ethan used magic.
"You bastards, kill each other."
Ethan's magic was forced. The magic effect compelled the user's command forcibly.
By this magic, the Margrave Cleiman army started killing each other. Joe saw Ethan and smiled bitterly.
"Still ruthless as ever."
"Yeah, but magic doesn't work unless close range, uses a large amount of mana, so stopping here is a difficulty."
"If you could spam it, you'd be Emperor."
"Not even close."
As Ethan said, this magic had a narrow effect range and large mana consumption. Therefore, it could only be used where it mattered.
Still, the Margrave Cleiman army started killing each other in a dense state, resulting in huge damage.
Freddy panicked and ordered the mage beside him.
"That first invading enemy soldier, with those killing each other, fire magic at them."
"Including allies?"
The mage was surprised by the command and looked at Freddy's face. The mage's attribute was Fire. They could use Fireball, but where enemy and ally were dense, it would literally be friendly fire.
"Don't care. If this continues, we collapse!"
The mage was not enthusiastic for the command, but if they didn't listen to the command, they would be punished, so reluctantly they used magic and fired a Fireball.
Upon landing, an explosion flame rose.
"Did it work!"
Freddy raised a voice of joy, but when the flame subsided, there were Joe and Ethan unburnt.
"Too bad. Magic doesn't work on me."
Joe said that. Joe's magic was magic cancellation. Around Joe, magic invalidated. The Fireball burned only outside the effect range. By this, only the Margrave Cleiman army bore the damage.
"Impossible! Fire again! Fire until they die however many times!"
Freddy ordered that. By this, the mage's attack concentrated on Joe who was ineffective, and the Allied army could fight without being exposed to the magic threat.
And, Joe and Ethan understood Freddy beside the mage was the commander, and rushed forward to take that head. No person in the Margrave Cleiman army could stop the two Suit Knights, and in no time Freddy's head flew in the air. Joe's sword cut Freddy.
Freddy died in battle, and the Margrave Cleiman army fell into great chaos. Soldiers ran out one after another, and the battle concluded.
The Kingdom of Cryptomeria army sent a messenger to the King to report.
And, they transported supplies from a nearby garrison and decided to invade the Kingdom of Cascade.
Looking at the battlefield ended, Joe spoke to Ethan.
"Really became combat."
"Well, since this happened, decide resolve. Hope it reaches Nancy well."
Ethan's words came true.
The allied army invaded Cleiman Land and easily scattered the Margrave Cleiman army whose morale was not raised by the disaster. However, roads were cut by the disaster, and the advance speed was slow.
Therefore, before the capital fell, information of the war start also reached Steve in the Eastern territory.
That day, Steve was at Viscount Griffith's castle, meeting with the Viscount and Evelyn. Restoration work of the Eastern territory except Cleiman Land was going smoothly, and urgent things to do were finished. Full-scale restoration would take time, so the content was whether Steve involved and ended here, or also did restoration work of Cleiman Land.
There, a soldier rushed in hurriedly.
"My Lord, an emergency situation occurred, came to report."
"What is it?"
"Margrave Cleiman and the Kingdom of Cryptomeria army, Yellow Empire army are in a combat state. Already the border is breached, and the enemy is approaching Cleiman Land."
"What!"
"Eh!?"
Evelyn was also surprised by the soldier's report. Recently, she had not returned to the castle of the territory and didn't hold information in the territory. Additionally, regarding restoration work in the territory, permission wouldn't come from Margrave Cleiman, so she only toured other Eastern territories. So she didn't know her home was in a war state.
Normally, war talk would flow quickly, but flood roads were cut, and also without going to Margrave Cleiman with a bad response, Steve and Evelyn helped restoration work, so the Eastern nobles' chance to get Margrave Cleiman information was extremely reduced.
"I thought it was a military exercise."
Steve said, and the soldier nodded.
"During the military exercise, an enemy army arrow reached our camp fence, we countered that, and combat started."
"Well, both staring, raising tension, such things happen."
Steve looked up to the sky. The enemy had two Suit Knights of the Yellow Empire. He couldn't think the Margrave Cleiman army could resist. If they could resist, originally the enemy wouldn't approach the capital.
"What do we do?"
Steve glanced at Evelyn. Evelyn was silent thinking. Then, she opened her mouth.
"My Lord, can you drive out the enemy?"
"Who knows. Well, we have someone knowledgeable about the Yellow Empire, will ask. But, will Margrave Cleiman accept my help?"
"He won't. But then the capital falls, and the East will also be trampled by the enemy. If Father opposes, kill him."
Steve smiled bitterly at Evelyn's offer.
"Really can't kill. Well, listen to complaints later, think about defeating the enemy method."
"If you kill stubborn Father, you won't be punished by His Majesty. Also, all Eastern nobles should support My Lord."
"I can silence him without killing, don't worry."
Steve was troubled by Evelyn's persuasion obsessed with killing. However, recent Eastern nobles who opened their hearts also showed disgust openly against Margrave Cleiman who was unable to do anything about this great disaster.
When everything settled, he worried what would happen.
"Then, I'll go ask His Majesty for permission to join battle once."
Steve said that and teleported to the Royal Castle.
It was a sudden visit, but the Dragon Head Medal authority, the gate guard also moved quickly, and it became a smooth meeting with the King.
The King saw Steve and showed a relieved expression.
"Looking for you, Lord Archibalt."
"What matter is it?"
"The Kingdom of Cryptomeria and Yellow Empire allied army attacked Margrave Cleiman's territory. About that matter, I want you to deploy."
"I came to get that permission too."
The King's information network was also unusable due to this large-scale disaster. Therefore, information acquisition about the enemy country invasion was delayed. Additionally, Margrave Cleiman's report was also late.
And, immediately after getting that information, the King looked for Steve, but he was not in Archibalt Territory, and Brian also couldn't contact, so he was worried.
Brian said he would tell Steve when he returned home, but when that would become known was unknown.
"Then talk quickly, helpful. Finally, direct war with the Empire. I must prepare the West too."
"Two fronts?"
"For now, there is no contact from Lord Sowell either, and no report on Empire movement from our spy network. Also, this war occurred from an accidental part, neither prepared. The Kingdom of Cryptomeria too, a unit doing a joint military exercise just attacked the unprepared Margrave Cleiman, and no attack is coming to other lands. However, the Kingdom of Cryptomeria shows signs of large mobilization. There is no enough power in the current East to intercept that. If we mobilize the national army, other defense will become neglected."
Rapidly expanded territory became a hindrance, and the national army was widely thinly arranged. Supplementing that was the rail network, but if attacked from East and West, hands couldn't reach.
"Decide a defense line, retreat there temporarily?"
"No choice. But, as said before, even if the Empire moves, still time takes."
Anyway, now the King's thought was to hit the Kingdom of Cryptomeria in the East first and avoid two fronts.
And, Steve remembered his request to the King.
"Regarding my activity in Margrave Cleiman Land, if Margrave Cleiman has a complaint, may I return to Your Majesty?"
"Naturally. Considering stripping title even. The Heiss River flood was unavoidable, but I thought I would give some punishment for the response afterwards. Thereupon, the enemy accidentally opened hostilities, demotion is inevitable. Don't worry whatever shouts."
"Understood. Then I await your order."
Thus, Steve fought the enemy in Margrave Cleiman Land.