Chapter 286 - Episode 279: A Turn for the Better
"Dammit! Viscount Noein Arqvist! That cursed, clever little brat!"
It was evening, and they had returned to the Western Invasion Force's camp after once again failing to seize the enemy position and being forced to issue a regrettable order to retreat.
Grand Army Commander Irene Foster kicked everyone—other generals and soldiers alike—out of the command tent and slammed her fist onto the conference table.
She continued to hurl curses, violently sweeping the maps, writing utensils, and the pieces used to represent friendly and enemy forces during the military council off the table.
"...My lady. Please, calm yourself. You are the Grand Army Commander. If you lose your composure, unrest will spread throughout the entire army."
"Haa, haa, haa... You're right. Forgive me for showing you such an unsightly side."
After her tantrum, Irene steadied her breathing upon being spoken to by her adjutant, the head of a branch family who served the martial house of Foster faithfully and who was her own uncle.
His competence as an officer was a given, but the fact that he was excellent as a caretaker capable of keeping Irene calm was the reason he had been appointed as adjutant.
Once Irene had calmed down enough to show her face to her subordinates, she allowed the army commanders into the tent and established a forum to discuss their future actions.
"Has the report on today's casualties been compiled?"
"Yes. There are approximately 900 dead, and 3,000 wounded, including those suffering from paralysis."
"...I see. It is a heavy toll, as it was the fiercest battle we've had so far," Irene muttered in a flat voice, though her expression remained distorted.
"However, we have also inflicted considerable damage on the enemy. Enemy deaths are estimated at 500, and there are likely an equal or greater number of wounded... The enemy's unit strength has fallen below half."
"We can call for further reinforcements from the rear. In the next offensive, the enemy will surely fall!"
"Next time, let us slaughter every last one of those clever barbarians from the Lordberg Kingdom!"
The army commanders shouted one after another in an excited manner.
This is a good trend, Irene thought.
The total deaths of the Western Invasion Force so far were fewer than 3,000, but due to the poison used by the enemy, the number of wounded forced to leave the front lines was several times the number of dead. Since the battle had become prolonged, it wouldn't have been strange for fatigue to spread among the generals.
However, the morale of the army commanders surrounding Irene remained high. As for the soldiers, as long as they were told the matter would be settled in the next offensive, they would likely maintain their morale until then.
And once the enemy unit before them was defeated, the western part of the Lordberg Kingdom would lose its organized resistance and fall into the hands of the Betumia Republic Army.
She was certain that she had won this war of attrition against Viscount Arqvist in this quagmire of a battle.
"Report! An urgent communication via 'Far-Talk' from the Western Invasion Army Headquarters in the County of Earl Ahatz!"
At that moment, the voice of a soldier bursting into the command tent threw a wet blanket over Irene's thoughts.
...
Noein was exhausted. He had exhausted every clever stratagem he could think of, and after that, he had relied on sheer spirit and brute force to repel the enemy's invasion.
The morning after fighting until he was on the verge of running out of magic. By the time his magic had finally recovered to some extent, Noein lay in bed, staring at the top of the tent.
He was thinking about the future. He probably wouldn't hold out if they faced another offensive. Yet, if he disbanded the Western Army and retreated in defeat, he would be abandoning the Viscountcy of Barassen located in the southwest, as well as the Barony of Rosbroke, which belonged to a friend.
After that, the enemy's invasion would spread, and the northwestern part of the kingdom itself would perish. If the northwest fell, the center of the kingdom would be next, and then the eastern part of the kingdom would suffer a rout from an undefended flank, and victory for the kingdom would vanish.
And the Arqvist territory would also be destroyed.
He understood that, but he couldn't think of a brilliant plan sufficient to break this situation.
"...For now, I have to head to headquarters."
Since he had dealt a painful blow to the enemy, there likely wouldn't be an offensive today, but even so, he couldn't just stay in bed without reporting to headquarters. He wasn't the only one who was tired. Thinking this, Noein forced himself up.
"But Noein-sama, your body is still—"
"The general can't exactly be sleeping in this situation... Sorry, Matilda, could you help me change?"
"Of course. Noein-sama, please make yourself as comfortable as possible. I will do everything."
Noein simply sat while Matilda wiped his hair and body, dressed him in his military uniform, and helped him stand up with her support.
When he stepped out of the tent on still slightly unsteady legs, the interior of the main camp was a bit hectic.
Had some emergency occurred? Thinking so, Noein hurried to the command tent.
"Frederick-san!"
"Hm? Ah, Noein-dono. Is your body alright now?"
"It's a bit tough, but there's no problem with moving... More importantly, did something happen?"
When Noein asked with a tense expression, Frederick nodded with a slightly bewildered look.
"Yes... It sounds like a joke, but the enemy has begun to retreat."
"...Huh?"
Noein also took on a puzzled expression and let out a slightly vacant sound.
"Since this morning, the enemy has suddenly been preparing to pull up their camp in a great panic. I was woken up early and saw the enemy camp myself; I couldn't believe my eyes. I intended to send scouts closer and gather more detailed information before delivering the report to you, but..."
"Is there no possibility that it's some kind of trap?"
As Noein asked while leaving the command tent and walking to a position where he could overlook the enemy camp, Frederick, walking beside him, shook his head.
"Probably not. They could likely beat us even without doing such a thing... Besides, I don't think they're acting that panicked just for a performance. Some units have already retreated to the rear in such a rush. Look, even now, units that have finished their preparations are retreating."
Noein turned his gaze toward the Betumia Republic Army's camp spreading beyond the downhill slope where Frederick pointed.
And indeed, infantry units were retreating south along the highway. Moreover, they were doing so in small units of about a hundred men, in a forced march at a trot. It was clear that the enemy wanted to return as many soldiers as possible to the rear as quickly as possible.
That sight was, of course, visible to the soldiers of the Lordberg Kingdom's Western Army. At the sight of the enemy suddenly retreating, the soldiers showed reactions mixed with joy and bewilderment.
The officers and soldiers in the main camp also seemed perplexed as they stared at the enemy camp. Yuri, Pence, and the Guard soldiers of the Arqvist territory were also among those confused.
"Yuri, Pence, good morning."
"Good morning, Your Excellency."
"Good morning... I wonder why the enemy is retreating?"
"Hmm, I don't know either. I'm having it looked into now."
While keeping his gaze on the enemy camp, Noein exchanged words with the two.
During this time, the Betumia Republic Army continued their preparations for retreat. Perhaps wary of a counter-offensive, some units were maintaining formations to prepare for battle, but that was only a truly minimal portion. It was glaringly obvious that the enemy had no intention of continuing the offensive.
"...Hehe, maybe the enemy has grown afraid of us."
"Hahaha, I'd like to say that too, but it's not a realistic analysis. No matter how happy an occurrence it is, it's eerie if we don't know the reason."
When Noein gave a strained smile, Frederick also gave a wry laugh.
Then, the sound of someone running toward them echoed, and Noein and the others looked back. Standing behind them was the dialogue mage, Konrad.
"Re-report... An urgent report via the 'Far-Talk' communication network from His Majesty the King in the center of the kingdom to Excellency Arqvist..."
"I see, thank you for your hard work. You don't need to rush, so calm down a bit."
Konrad, who was out of breath from running, nodded at Noein's words, steadied his breathing slightly, and spoke again.
"Via the Bezel Great Forest Road, a personal letter from Queen Anrietta Lancel of the Lancel Kingdom has arrived for His Majesty Oscar Lordberg III. According to that... the Lancel Kingdom will participate in this war as an allied force!"
Konrad's voice, spoken in an excited manner, echoed loudly, and everyone else in the main camp turned toward Konrad all at once.
"As fellow countrymen living in the southern part of the Adleon Continent, they said they will fight alongside us, and requested that this be conveyed to the officers and soldiers throughout the Lordberg Kingdom!"
As Konrad spoke with an expression between laughing and crying, the officers and soldiers present let out cheers.
"The Lancel Kingdom is mobilizing 15,000 troops as the first wave, and will invade the Betumia Republic Army's controlled territory from the southwestern border, aiming for the County of Earl Ahatz, which serves as the enemy's supply base in the west. It is said the advance will begin around the time the personal letter arrives."
"...Which means, the reason the enemy's Western Invasion Force is retreating is..."
"...Because a retreat order was issued to protect the rear bases in response to the Lancel Kingdom Army's offensive," Noein and Frederick muttered.
The Betumia Republic Army's strength in the west of the Lordberg Kingdom was estimated at 70,000. It was expected that they had already suffered a considerable number of casualties from the occupation of the southwest and the battle with the Lordberg Kingdom's Western Army. There should still be many wounded soldiers paralyzed by 'Angel's Honey' who couldn't be transported in time.
Furthermore, Betumia's controlled territory was vast, their forces were dispersed in various locations, and their supply lines were stretched thin. If they were hit by an unexpected advance of 15,000 troops in such a state... no matter how strong the Betumia Republic Army was, they wouldn't get off scot-free.
"...Matilda, the 'Voice Amplification' magic tool."
"Yes, Noein-sama."
Noein spoke to Matilda while tightening his expression, and upon receiving the 'Voice Amplification' magic tool from her, he immediately called out to the soldiers under his command.
"Everyone, rejoice! Our western neighbor, the Lancel Kingdom, has told us they will stand in the battle lines alongside us as fellow countrymen of the same continent! The Lancel Kingdom has already begun its advance! The Betumia soldiers before us are in the middle of tucking their tails and fleeing south!"
The soldiers of the Western Army, whose total number was under 3,000, let out a great cheer upon hearing Noein's words.
"Before yesterday's battle, I told you! I said that if we overcame this fight, reinforcements would come! Just as I said, a helping hand has been extended to the Lordberg Kingdom!"
The soldiers cheered again, but beside Noein, Frederick wore a startled expression. On the other side, Yuri and Pence let out small sighs with slightly exasperated faces, and only Matilda remained expressionless.
"The tide of battle has changed! God has brought us salvation! Victory is near!"
Noein raised his voice, and the soldiers became frenzied. Looking over the soldiers buzzing with bright expressions, Noein turned back with a satisfied look. That was when Frederick spoke to him.
"I'm fairly certain that before yesterday's battle, you said, 'There are no prospects for reinforcements,' didn't you?"
"Hm? Now, what could you be talking about...?"
To the teasing tone of Frederick, Noein replied with a playful expression.
Of course, he had not predicted that the Lancel Kingdom would enter the war at this timing. There was no way he could have made such a prediction. It was simply that the deadline for the lie Noein had spread to the soldiers and the timing of the unexpected good news had miraculously aligned.
And Noein, with a straight face, nonchalantly utilized that miracle to raise the morale of the soldiers and their trust in him as their general.
"Honestly, you... Still, for the Lancel Kingdom to enter the war at a time like this."
"They're quite shrewd. Queen Anrietta must have an excellent advisor."
"True. Even from the Lancel Kingdom's perspective, the Betumia Republic Army's rear must be in considerable chaos due to the handling of the wounded from 'Angel's Honey.' They likely came to jump on the winning horse at the exquisite moment when victory for the Lordberg Kingdom is visible with just one more push."
It was said that as soon as the Betumia Republic Army landed in the southern part of the Lordberg Kingdom, they blocked the eastern and western border regions and faced off against the Lancel Kingdom and the Pallas Empire. If the Lordberg Kingdom were to perish, the neighboring countries would be invaded next.
It was understandable that the Lancel Kingdom, which had been preparing its military in anticipation, would assist the Lordberg Kingdom now to repel the Betumia Republic Army without turning its own territory into a battlefield.
"A formal peace treaty with the Lancel Kingdom hadn't been reached yet, after all. They're probably aiming for at least a reduction in reparations using this assistance as a reason."
Setting aside Cadne Lancel, there was no way Queen Anrietta, surrounded by calm and moderate nobles, would join a war out of whim or fancy. Behind the participation, she was absolutely anticipating various benefits.
While Noein and Frederick gave wry laughs thinking of that, the soldiers were frolicking with pure hearts.