Chapter 107 - Episode 106: Dire News
Lezad Fort is a fort located at the front line of the fortress zone, the second one counting from the north.
There is some distance between it and Barrel Fort, which is the fourth one counting from the north, but this wind mage is said to be running from there without rest to deliver reports to each fort.
"But why did Lezad Fort fall so quickly? The scale of that fort is larger than this Barrel one, and nearly double the number of soldiers should have been stationed there. It shouldn't have fallen so easily."
When Frederick asked, the wind mage hesitated for a moment, then spoke awkwardly.
"That is... Baronet Momelt, who served as the commander of Lezad Fort, led the main force and fought bravely, nearly reaching the enemy general's throat, but he was swallowed by the enemy's attack, which far outnumbered his own, and met a magnificent death in battle."
Upon hearing those words, Frederick, his adjutant, Yuri, and Pence all sighed with exasperated looks on their faces.
Noein tilted their head and looked at Yuri, who lowered his voice in Noein's ear and explained, "In other words, he went out of his way to leave the fort to try and earn military merit, got surrounded by the enemy, and died." Hearing that, Noein also made an exasperated face like the others.
If they had stayed holed up in the fort, they should have been able to fight while compensating for the slight numerical disadvantage. Despite that, the commander of Lezad Fort, impatient for achievement, launched a field battle, was overwhelmed by numbers, and died. It was a story that would make anyone sigh.
"Baronet Momelt was a nobleman from the northwestern region, if I recall... Was he dissatisfied with being assigned to the fort and tried to force a merit? How foolish."
No matter how much this wind mage tried to gloss over his commander's failure with abstract expressions, the result did not change. Perhaps realizing the futility, he continued his report with a strained expression.
"The remaining soldiers fought valiantly, but without the general and the main force, defending the fort became difficult, and the fort fell shortly thereafter. By the order of the officer who had become the field commander by succession, I took advantage of a gap to escape the fort to deliver this report... which brings me here."
"I see, good work. Take some water and food, and rest a bit before heading to the next fort."
"Yes. I am grateful... also, one more thing."
"What is it?"
"Considering the battle at Lezad Fort and the stories from the other forts I reported to first, the number of enemies attacking the fortress zone seems to be higher than expected. In total, I suspect there are perhaps 5,000 or more."
"I see, understood. I'll keep that in mind."
Having said that and dismissed the wind mage, Frederick looked around the command room. He, as well as Noein and the officers surrounding him, had dark expressions.
"This is bad. At this rate, the defense plan for the fortress zone itself will collapse."
The fortress zone functioned because each fort remained intact. Once a hole opened up, the enemies who had attacked that fort would merge with the invasion forces heading for other forts, and the defending Lordberg Kingdom side would become even more disadvantaged in terms of numbers.
"The fact that the enemy numbers are high is also concerning. Weren't we allocating the forts' combat power based on an estimate of 3,000 enemies in the fortress zone?"
When Yuri asked, Frederick grimaced with frustration. Since the Kingdom's army and the intelligence organization directly under the royal family were the ones gathering enemy information, he likely had some thoughts on the matter.
"Yes. Since we arranged the deployment with that intention, it will be tough with the current combat power of each fort... and on top of that, one fort has fallen. The battle from here on will become even more severe."
"However, the fact that the enemy numbers surged at the last minute suggests they either forcibly conscripted nearby peasants or scraped them together with money. Their quality should be predictable."
To Frederick, who viewed the current situation harshly, his adjutant presented a slightly more optimistic view.
"That is certainly a possibility... but carelessness is forbidden. Now that it's come to this, one cannot be too vigilant."
"Can't we call for reinforcements from the rear?"
"The forts in the rear cannot afford to pull soldiers away either. If we call for reinforcements, it would have to be from the main army's reserve... but if we send a messenger to the rear from here, have them contact the main army, and then wait for reinforcements to arrive... they won't make it in time for the next enemy invasion."
When Noein asked, Frederick replied with a stern expression. Then, Yuri spoke up.
"Still, it's better than doing nothing."
"Yes, I'll send one of my subordinates as a messenger to the rear immediately... The battle from here will likely become even harsher. Everyone, let us tighten our resolve even further."
When Frederick concluded, everyone nodded.
.....
"Messengers are busily coming and going in the enemy camp today as well."
"Since they took Lezad Fort, they're probably discussing how to attack next."
The day after the wind mage came to report. Frederick spoke while gazing at the enemy from atop the castle wall, and Pence answered beside him.
Noein was also standing there looking at the enemy, but since Noein had spent their childhood reading nothing but books, their eyesight wasn't very good, so they couldn't tell that enemy messengers were moving.
"The earliest the allies' reinforcements will arrive is in two days, right? Will the enemy attack by then...?"
"Probably. They likely won't let us rest any further... The enemy must expect us to try and call for reinforcements, so they'll want to attack before that."
According to Frederick's subordinate, who had gone to the rear forts as a messenger and returned, the ally main army would likely respond to the request for aid. However, they would certainly not make it in time for the next battle.
Just then, a sentry's voice rang out again.
"A single cavalryman, believed to be an ally, is galloping from the south! It appears to be a messenger!"
Hearing this, Frederick's face grew grim. Noein and Pence also felt an intuitive sense of anxiety, and their expressions darkened.
"Another messenger... I have a bad feeling about this."
Despite saying this, Frederick gave instructions to the sentry and welcomed the messenger into the fort through the east gate.
The cavalryman practically tumbled off his horse and reached Frederick and the others, then knelt on one knee and spoke with a tense expression.
"Reporting! I am told that Halzea Fort at the southern end has fallen!"
"Kuh... the reason it fell?"
"I—I am a soldier of Tuze Fort, the second from the south, so I do not know the details, but I have heard that they launched a field battle against the enemy but lacked the strength, the main force was routed, and the remaining defense force collapsed entirely!"
Hearing this, Frederick flashed a momentary expression of irritation, but since venting his anger on this messenger would achieve nothing, he strove to remain calm.
"It is said that the enemy broke through the defense line of Halzea Fort and entered the fortress zone. It was suggested that we should consider the retreat path to the rear already severed!"
At the messenger's continuing words, the faces of Frederick, Noein, and the others stiffened. Since a hole had opened in the front line of the fortress zone, it was only natural, but this was truly too much dire news.
Frederick told the messenger, "Good work on the report. You should rest a bit before returning," and dismissed him, then looked around at the executives gathered around him.
"Well... thanks to an ally who was impatient for merit again, we've become one step more disadvantaged."
"Since the retreat path is severed, it would be wise to consider that it will be difficult for ally reinforcements to reach us as well."
"Moreover, with the number of forts decreased, the number of enemies each fort must handle has increased again."
Yuri and Pence spoke while nodding to Frederick. Just as the two said, the outlook was that while allies would not increase, the enemy would further increase.
"As far as I can think, this is a situation close to the worst."
Because Frederick, his adjutant, Yuri, and Pence were all experienced warriors, they understood the severity of the current situation all too well. Consequently, their spirits sank.
"...Well, but we still have moves to make on our side."
Noein spoke up, attempting to dispel the dark atmosphere.
"The enemy doesn't know that we have dozens of explosive flame arrows. They don't know the strength of my golems. There are several strategies we can take."
"...It is as Noein-dono says. We can still do this. If we officers become pessimistic, we will lose battles that we could have won."
Frederick spoke in agreement with Noein, and the atmosphere of the place recovered slightly.
"Above all, I don't want to die here. I have no intention of making my wife a widow less than a year after getting married."
"That is true; if I don't bring Noein-dono back alive, my younger sister will resent me."
"I'll also be in trouble if I don't bring my subordinates back alive. This Yuri still has a small child, and as for Pence, he's planning to marry my maid when he returns."
"Wait! Why are you talking about that now!"
Pence was flustered by Noein's revelation, and the scene was enveloped in laughter.
"I see, it would indeed be terrible if we died... Everyone has someone waiting for their return. We cannot afford to give up."
"Yes. Let's return alive."