Chapter 264 - Episode 257: The Opening Battle ②
"Crossbowmen, hide behind the log shields! Ballista teams, use the ballistas as cover!"
As the ballista positions in the vanguard and the crossbowmen lined up around them grew restless, Dant, who commanded the Arqvist territorial army's ballista and crossbow units, shouted while holding his own shield.
Of the total 250 men of the Arqvist territorial army led by Dant, he commanded 40 regular soldiers operating 20 ballistas, and 100 crossbowmen from the Reserve Corps deployed around them. The soldiers moved nimbly upon receiving instructions, and most succeeded in hiding themselves from the enemy's arrows.
However, the crossbowmen from other territories, who were conscripts from the peasantry and had received no proper training, were thrown into confusion when the enemy launched arrows from a distance greater than expected, and were slow to follow their unit commanders' instructions. Unable to hide behind the log shields in time, a significant number of soldiers fell.
"Shields! Raise your shields!"
"Do not panic! Calm yourselves and protect your bodies with your shields!"
Baron Tobias Oggoren and Baron Noah Wikander, commanding the left and right of the center respectively, issued orders, and the infantry raised their shields.
Yet, despite being atop a slope which should have reduced the power of the enemy's arrows, the shields of some soldiers were pierced.
"Gwah!"
"Gyaaaah!"
The Western Army, a patchwork of forces from various noble territories, had considerable differences in equipment quality depending on the economic and technical capabilities of their respective lands. Furthermore, there was a large gap in equipment between regular territorial soldiers and conscripts from the populace.
Among some soldiers who possessed only crude shields that were little more than pieces of wood, there were those whose shields were shattered by the raining arrows, leaving their bodies pierced.
"Damn it! What power!"
"What the hell is wrong with the enemy's bows!"
No matter how poor their equipment was, the soldiers were horrified to see shields shattered by arrows fired from a long distance, and from the bottom of a slope at that.
Watching this scene from the main camp in the rear, Noein and the others were also shocked.
"...I recall a report from the south stating that the enemy's bows were of better quality than ours. But this is far beyond just being 'better quality.'"
"They can modify carriages to extend their marching distance. It would not be strange if they modified their bows to extend the effective range..."
Frederick nodded as Noein muttered with a grim expression.
"Yuri, can the crossbows and ballistas reach the enemy archers from this distance?"
"Even if the crossbows reach, the power will be too attenuated to achieve results. However, the ballistas should be able to reach them sufficiently."
"Very well. Then, let the ballista teams fire all rounds. We cannot afford to wait for the enemy to approach."
"Yes... Ballista teams! Be ready to fire!"
Yuri's voice echoed through the clamor of the battlefield, spreading to the entire vanguard via several officer messengers. Dant, one of them, called out to the Arqvist territorial army's ballista teams around him.
"Do not flinch! All ballistas, prepare to fire! ...Fire!"
In synchronization with Dant's voice, the 20 ballistas of the Arqvist territorial army released their arrows simultaneously. Furthermore, the ballistas of other noble territories fired their arrows one after another according to the instructions of their respective officers.
The new weapon introduced for the ballistas this time was the "Large Scatter-Shot Arrow," an application of the crossbow's "Scatter-Shot Arrow." Extremely thin arrows, 80 of which were bundled per shot and longer than those for crossbows, were launched into the air. Their tips were thoroughly soaked in the undiluted essence of "Angel's Honey," cloaked in an amber-colored poison.
The large scatter-shot arrows, bundled with strings of exquisite strength, saw those strings snap in mid-air, scattering and falling toward the Betumia Republic Army's archery unit with the help of gravity. From 40 ballistas, a total of 3,200 extremely thin arrows rained down.
Each scatter-shot arrow was only about the thickness of a heavy needle, so the likelihood of them causing a fatal wound upon impact was low. Those that hit the heads of the Betumia archers were deflected by helmets, those that hit the torso were deflected by breastplates, and they only pierced limbs not covered by armor, or faces and necks not protected by helmets.
"Ow!"
"What is this!"
"Tch, is this some kind of harassment!?"
The Betumia archers who were showered with arrows were surprised, but realizing they had not suffered significant injuries, they cursed aloud.
"Don't be intimidated by such petty tricks! Keep firing your arrows without pause!"
One of the archery unit's centurions encouraged the surrounding soldiers while nocking the next arrow into his own bow. Despite receiving the enemy's thin arrows in his right arm and left leg, he ignored them and fired, then attempted to take the next arrow and nock it.
"Oh?"
The centurion let out a vacant sound. He felt the strength in his hand slacken, and immediately afterward, he dropped his arrow.
This was unlike him, a skilled archer. While thinking this, the centurion tried to take the next arrow—
"Wha... what is this?"
His left leg, which had been hit by an arrow earlier, gave way, and he fell to his knees on the ground. His right arm also would not move properly, and he could not reach the quiver on his back.
"C-Centurion! My body feels strange!"
"My arm... my arm won't move..."
"It's my legs, both legs are weird. I can't stand!"
"Hey! Are you guys alright!?"
"K-kuhi... kuhi au okana... ago ashi irehe..."
"Damn it! What happened to everyone!"
Looking around, his subordinates were also experiencing physical malfunctions one after another. Some dropped their bows, some collapsed, and some began to drool from wide-open mouths, their speech becoming slurred. The symptoms varied.
Looking at those who were still fine, it seemed they had not been hit by the previous arrows anywhere on their bodies.
"Damn, this is... some kind of poison."
After muttering that, the centurion felt numbness throughout his entire body and collapsed face-down.
...
"What is happening! Why has the momentum of our archers weakened this much after receiving only one volley from the enemy!"
Irene shouted, not hiding her irritation. The elderly adjutant beside her stared at the archery unit ahead and pondered for a moment before speaking.
"After receiving the enemy's arrows, a short interval passed, and then some of the archers suddenly began to collapse. It was not simply that they were wounded; it seems something was coated on the arrows, and that is what got them."
At that moment, the same arrows as before were launched from the enemy lines. Dozens of thick arrows scattered in the air, raining down on the archery unit as thin arrows. Even more archers collapsed, and the density of the arrows from their own archery unit returning fire thinned once more.
"...Retreat."
"Is that acceptable?"
"Yes. It would be a foolish move to blindly continue an exchange of fire in the face of an unknown attack. We retreat once, and next time we change our method of attack... Poison, is it. I do not like it, but in this situation, it is certainly an effective move. The enemy general seems to possess a fair amount of wit."
Irene ordered this in a perfectly calm voice, as if her previous irritation had been a lie.
...
"...They're pulling their troops back here. Even for an enemy, that is a splendid retreat."
Watching the Betumia Republic Army's retreat, Frederick appraised the enemy general's decisiveness in that way.
"Indeed. It seems they noticed the abnormal effect of 'Angel's Honey' immediately after we fired the second volley, but it was a good decision not to try and force an attack there... However, leaving the wounded on the battlefield is not quite acceptable, is it?"
At Noein's words, which were slightly playful toward the end, Frederick laughed softly.
Perhaps fearing further expansion of the damage, the Betumia Republic Army's archery unit had retreated, leaving behind those who had collapsed from paralysis. Nearly 1,000 soldiers lay scattered across the battlefield.
"Upon first sight, it wouldn't be strange to misunderstand it as a deadly poison where a mere scratch means death. They likely retreated before the damage spread, but considering our strategy, it's not ideal."
"Since the collapsed archers are all still alive, it would be a problem if they aren't properly brought back... Yuri."
"Yes."
When Noein called out while looking back, Yuri responded immediately.
"Let's head toward the enemy side, taking a few of the Betumia soldiers who were left behind paralyzed. We must tell them that the people lying on the battlefield are not in mortal danger, and ask them to come collect them."
"...Understood."
"Wait, Noein-dono intends to go himself? That is simply too dangerous."
While Yuri nodded to Noein's instructions, Frederick showed reluctance.
"It's fine. The enemy commander seems intelligent, so if they harm me, they will understand that the lives of the nearly 1,000 soldiers lying in front of our lines are also forfeit. By having me, the general, personally carry the enemy's wounded, I will make them believe that we will not make a move while they recover their wounded... Besides, I have excellent and loyal subordinates to serve as my guards."
When Noein stated this without a shred of hesitation or fear, Frederick thought for a moment and then nodded.
"...I understand. But absolutely do not die. If I let you die in such a manner, Clara will surely never speak to me again."
"Yes, I won't do anything to trouble my brother-in-law."
To Frederick, who spoke jokingly at the end, Noein replied with a smile.