Chapter 266 - Episode 259: A Mistake
"Noein-dono, the damage report from the previous battle has been compiled. There are 107 dead and 121 wounded. Most of them are conscripts from lower noble territories... As for the people of the Arqvist territory, there are only a few wounded and no deaths."
"...I see. Considering they took those powerful bow attacks, the damage was kept relatively low."
Noein answered Frederick, who had lowered his voice for the latter half of the report, without letting personal relief show on his face. Since he was currently the General of the entire Western Army, he could not openly rejoice that the soldiers of his own territory had been saved.
"True. The range of the enemy's bows was certainly staggering, but we are still stronger since we have constructed a solid formation. Inflicting nearly five times our own losses on the enemy from the opening engagement was a significant blow."
The enemy bows, which vastly outperformed them in effective range, were certainly a threat, but in the end, they were simply bows with outstanding performance. They could be blocked with decent shields or cover, and even if hit, it wouldn't result in instant death unless it was a direct hit to the head or torso.
In contrast, their own arrows, coated in "Angel's Honey," could incapacitate an enemy as long as they pierced an arm or a leg. Assuming both sides fired the same number of arrows, their side would be able to inflict greater damage on the enemy.
"Well, the enemy should have understood their disadvantage in the exchange of fire during this battle, so they will likely change their tactics starting tomorrow... The commander over there seemed to be a sharp person."
"I heard the commander was a young woman. To be entrusted with the command of a large army in a military society where men find it easier to rise in rank, she must be an exceptionally talented general."
"Indeed. I suppose that's what they call a 'heroine'."
As they spoke, Noein and Frederick looked down the slope, watching the Betumia Republic Army recover their wounded.
Any bows held by the wounded that the enemy had failed to recover during their retreat were immediately collected by Noein's side after the battle. They could be used by their own archers in tomorrow's combat, and after the war, they could analyze the construction to mass-produce the same ones in the Kingdom of Loderberg.
"With this, we've managed to create nearly 1,000 people with aftereffects for a start. An excellent beginning."
"...Noein-dono, at what point do you think the enemy will decide to withdraw from the Kingdom of Loderberg based on the number of people with aftereffects?"
"Hmm, I wonder... If about 50,000 people develop aftereffects, perhaps the leaders of Betumia will start thinking about it. By then, the number of deaths in battle will have increased considerably, and I believe they will judge that continuing the fight and increasing the damage further would be a loss."
"I see... It looks like it will be a long war."
Hearing Noein's personal opinion, Frederick muttered this with a bitter expression.
In today's opening engagement, they were able to repel the enemy relatively easily because "Angel's Honey" worked as a complete surprise, but there was no doubt that some form of countermeasure would be implemented from tomorrow onward. A grueling war of attrition was inevitable.
"...Hm? What are those cavalrymen doing?"
"Eh... That's strange. I shouldn't have given any orders."
Noein and the others noticed five cavalrymen advancing forward, passing through the left end of the army's center. Baron Oggoren, who commanded the units on the left side of the center, also seemed to find it suspicious; he called out to the cavalrymen, and it developed into some kind of argument.
Then, the cavalrymen shook off the Baron's restraint and suddenly bolted. They broke through not only the center but also the flank of the vanguard, passing through the area where log shields were lined up, and the area where golems hidden by siege shields stood—charging straight into the battlefield where the rescue of the wounded was currently taking place.
"Stop them!"
"! Yuri!"
Realizing what the cavalrymen were trying to do, Noein shouted toward Yuri, who was on alert at the front line in case the Betumia rescue team attacked.
Noein's sudden shout successfully reached Yuri, who also noticed the cavalrymen's rampage and spurred his horse forward.
"Matilda! Pence! Let's go!"
"Yes."
"Understood!"
As Noein shouted while mounted, Matilda immediately mounted her own horse, and Pence and the Guard soldiers leaped onto nearby horses.
"Frederick-san, if anything happens, I leave the overall command to you!"
"Yeah, you be careful too!"
Noein temporarily entrusted the command to Frederick and dashed forward, followed by Matilda, Pence, and the escorting Guard.
"Bad, bad, bad!"
As Noein looked ahead while running through the center of the formation, which had been kept open as a path, he saw Yuri cutting in on horseback between the five charging cavalrymen and the Betumia soldiers who were bracing themselves upon noticing them.
Yuri was gesturing to both parties to stop them, but the volatile situation remained unchanged.
"! Damn it!"
Noein cursed while galloping his horse at full speed. One of the rampaging cavalrymen had fired the Crossbow in his hand toward the Betumia soldiers.
Unfortunately, the arrow hit a Betumia soldier directly in the chest, and he collapsed. The other soldiers simultaneously drew their swords, leveled their spears, or nocked arrows into their bows.
"Wait! Neither side move! Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Noein shouted as he pulled up alongside Yuri, demanding the Betumia soldiers stop. Matilda stayed diagonally behind Noein, maintaining a position where she could immediately shield Noein if the Betumia soldiers attacked.
As for the rampaging cavalrymen, the Guard led by Pence surrounded them, pointed their swords, and ordered them to dismount.
"This was a mistake! Please, calm down!"
"Don't screw with us! We're recovering our wounded because you said you wouldn't lay a hand on us!"
"It wasn't my order! It's a misunderstanding! I will explain to your commander—"
As Noein spoke and looked toward the Betumia Republic Army's formation, he saw Grand Army Commander Irene Foster galloping from the enemy camp with her subordinates, as if the commotion had reached her.
"Your Excellency, we have detained them all."
When Noein looked back, Pence and the Guard soldiers had forced the five rampaging men off their horses and made them stand after discarding their weapons.
Noein looked down at the five with cold eyes and spoke.
"What were you thinking? Who among you has the highest rank?"
"...It is I. Knight Eknum Akab."
The man wearing the finest armor among the five answered, glaring at Noein. He was a young noble, not much different in age from Noein.
"Knight Akab... A ward of Baron Oggoren's house. Of all people..."
Noein exhaled with a bitter expression.
The relationship between a noble patron and their ward is purely a matter of custom, so Baron Oggoren bore no clear responsibility for this matter. However, Knight Akab's rampage was not something that could be dismissed as the impulsiveness of youth. Noein would have to punish this ward in front of his friend.
"Now then, Knight Akab. Why did you launch an unauthorized attack? I believe I gave strict orders never to lay a hand on the Betumia Republic Army while they were recovering their wounded."
"...Tch."
Knight Akab did not answer Noein's words and averted his eyes.
"Viscount Arqvist! What is the meaning of this!? This is not what we agreed upon!"
Grand Army Commander Foster's sharp voice flew over. She must have ridden her horse in great haste, as she had already reached a distance where her voice reached them and they could make eye contact.
"Grand Army Commander Foster, I am truly sorry. Some soldiers acted on their own in defiance of orders. I swear this was not my instruction, but the sole decision of this individual... I believe you understand that there is no benefit for us to order a surprise attack in such a situation."
Grand Army Commander Foster glared at Noein and fell silent as if considering the meaning of those words, eventually opening her mouth.
"...Even so. One of my soldiers died because of that rampage. How do you intend to settle this?"
"...Matilda. Knight Akab."
"Yes."
At Noein's instruction, Matilda dismounted and approached Knight Akab. She reached for the knight's shoulder to lead him away—
"Don't touch me, you mere beastman slave! I can walk on my own!"
Knight Akab brushed Matilda's hand away and stepped forward in front of Noein and Grand Army Commander Foster. The knight failed to notice that Noein's gaze grew even colder because of those words and that attitude.
"I feel no shame in my actions, nor do I regret them! To not attack when invaders are exposing themselves defenselessly before my eyes goes against the proud spirit of the Kingdom's nobility!"
"Knight Akab, do not speak without permission. Be silent."
"I will not be silent! In the first place, your thinking is insane! The enemy—"
"Matilda!"
Almost simultaneously with Noein's voice, Matilda moved and drove a kick into Knight Akab's stomach.
No matter how much armor he wore, he had received a kick from Matilda—a rabbit-person who had undergone repeated combat training—using metal combat boots. Knight Akab coughed, his words cutting off. A dent had formed in the stomach area of the armor.
That was close, Noein thought. He had almost let the enemy general learn their strategy.
Around Grand Army Commander Foster, Betumia soldiers who had stopped their rescue work were gathering in droves, and some nobles, including Baron Oggoren, had also approached from the Western Army's camp to observe the situation.
Perhaps because he had failed to stop his ward's rampage, Baron Oggoren wore an expression of utmost apology.
Noein let out a small sigh. In a situation that had drawn this much attention and resulted in a death, it was necessary to settle things properly, considering the future.
"..."
When Noein turned toward Yuri and tilted his head slightly while gesturing with his eyes toward Knight Akab and his four subordinates, Yuri sensed his master's intent and nodded.
"Pence."
"Yes."
"Kill those four."
"Understood."
"What!? Wai—"
Before a single second had passed since Noein's order, Pence and the Guard soldiers slit the throats of Knight Akab's four subordinates. They gave the four no opening to offer excuses or beg for their lives.
Fresh blood sprayed from their necks as the four corpses tumbled to the ground. Because the execution order had been given without hesitation, tension ran through both the Betumia Republic Army and the Kingdom of Loderberg's Western Army. The only ones whose expressions did not change were Noein's subordinates, Grand Army Commander Foster, and the knight who seemed to be her adjutant.
In the middle of the battlefield where a stir was spreading, Noein raised his voice toward his own army's nobles.
"...I have been granted the position of General of this Kingdom of Loderberg Western Army by His Majesty Oscar Loderberg III. My orders are, in essence, the orders of His Majesty the King, who entrusted me with command. Anyone who opposes them will be regarded as a traitor acting against His Majesty and will be executed regardless of rank."
As he spoke, Noein dismounted and stood before Knight Akab. When Noein glanced at Matilda, Matilda kicked the back of both of Knight Akab's knees, forcing him to kneel.
"Knight Eknum Akab. Despite being a noble who should serve as an example to other soldiers, you acted in defiance of His Majesty the King's orders and defiled His Majesty's name and authority. You endangered the Western Army entrusted to me by His Majesty, and by extension, the entirety of the Kingdom of Loderberg. Your actions are synonymous with treason against the Kingdom. Therefore... I sentence you to be drawn and quartered here and now."
"Hah!?"
Knight Akab's expression became one of shock upon hearing Noein's words. The nobles watching from around them also widened their eyes. Grand Army Commander Foster let out a voice of admiration, saying, "Oh."
Drawing and quartering was, as the name implied, a cruel method of execution where the criminal's hands and feet were tied to horses with ropes, and those horses were made to run in four different directions simultaneously to tear the body apart.
It was a penalty imposed only on the most heinous criminals, and there were only a handful of examples in the Kingdom's history where it had been carried out on a member of a noble house. Considering the suffering and humiliation involved, it was a way of dying that a proud noble would want to avoid at all costs.
"W-Wait! Excellency Arqvist, I—"
"You said you feel no shame and no regret, right? Then you should accept the results of your actions with grace. Your name will be carved into the Kingdom's history as a traitor. I will ensure that this happens. Be grateful... Pence, I leave the rest to you."
At Noein's command, Matilda again kicked Knight Akab in the stomach to silence him just as he tried to say something else, and Pence dragged the groaning man away.
With Knight Akab behind him, his resistance futile as ropes were tied to his hands and feet, Noein turned back to Grand Army Commander Foster.
"This is the maximum apology I can show. By this execution, I have demonstrated the weight of orders to the nobles under my command, so I promise that a similar mistake will not happen a second time. If this is still insufficient... let's see. I cannot possibly offer my own head, but I shall cut off one of my arms as a settlement."
As he said this, Noein rolled up the left sleeve of his robe. A thin, pale, and frail left arm was revealed, and beside Noein, Yuri, who had dismounted, stood with his hand on his sword, poised to actually slice off Noein's arm if ordered.
Perhaps seeing the sincerity in Noein's expression, Grand Army Commander Foster laughed softly and spoke.
"No, that's enough. The quartering of a rampaging noble; that should be sufficient. I shall believe your words and your resolve."
"Thank you... To the soldiers of the Betumia Republic Army, I ask that you please feel secure in recovering your wounded from now on. During the rescue, I guarantee your personal safety."
At the strange situation of having their safety guaranteed by the enemy general, the Betumia officers and soldiers wore ambiguous expressions.
Then, Pence approached.
"Your Excellency, preparations are complete."
"Good, do it."
Immediately after, a somewhat pathetic death scream of "Igyaaaah!" and the sound of flesh bursting echoed hollowly across the battlefield.