Chapter 289 - Episode 282: Pathetic
"Damn it... I want to go home already... Why the hell am I in a place like this... I want to go back to my country..."
The one spilling complaints unbecoming of a general inside the tent where he woke up was General Steve Barrel, the commander of the Royal Capital Siege Force. Through the combat of the past month and a half, both Steve and the Royal Capital Siege Force were utterly exhausted.
In the first place, the name of the unit was no longer accurate. Because Steve and his men had not managed to besiege the royal capital at all.
The coordination between the thirty thousand troops believed to be the main force of the Lordberg Kingdom and the defense force still within the royal capital was abnormal. Even if they were communicating via dialogue mages, it was far too skillful.
Toyed with by that coordination, Steve had not achieved any decent results. Rather, failures had continued to mount.
If he tried to attack the main force, he was caught off guard by the enemy in the royal capital; if he decided to just attack the royal capital, the main force would approach, forcing him to hurriedly solidify his defenses.
Even if he wanted to divide his forces to conquer simultaneously, there was no one other than Steve capable of commanding an army in the tens of thousands. Steve possessed passing abilities as a general, in a manner of speaking, but he had surrounded himself with officers who only gave suggestions convenient for Steve—in other words, incompetents who could do nothing but flatter their superior. That had come back to haunt him here.
Taking advantage of the fact that the other side could not move effectively, the enemy had rebuilt a temporary bridge at the west gate of the royal capital and even begun supplies into the city. Even if he tried to attack that supply train, it was impossible because the enemy main force was stationed in an exquisite position to strike his rear if he launched an offensive.
Repeating skirmish-like battles in this shackled situation, the casualties of the Royal Capital Siege Force were steadily increasing.
Because the enemy made frequent use of a strange poison that left paralysis in the human body, they were burdened with many troublesome wounded, and the supply lines became chaotic in order to transport them to the rear. Furthermore, because the guerrilla warfare units the enemy had slipped into the south attacked the rear units as they pleased, situations occurred where replacement soldiers sent in exchange for the wounded were paralyzed on the way there and sent straight back.
If supplies were delayed, the Royal Capital Siege Force, whose numbers had ballooned, would have to worry about starving. They were in a state where they attacked surrounding villages and cities to secure food, and if that wasn't enough, they hunted in the forests. Secondary damage also occurred, such as units sent to gather food being attacked by the enemy's guerrilla warfare units.
Because the number of the enemy's main force was limited, they did not face a counter-offensive, but since they could not deliver a decisive blow either, the front line stagnated and dragged on. For the past few weeks, they had been almost unable to move, merely staying in the camp and consuming their physical and mental strength.
Interrupted from every direction, with nothing working out no matter what he did, Steve was mentally pushed to the brink.
"General Barrel-kakka! An urgent message!"
"Damn it! What is it this time!?"
Called by a messenger, Steve left the tent in irritation.
"Speak! What is the message!"
"A retreat order has been issued from the invasion army headquarters in the rear! Retreat orders have been issued not only to the Royal Capital Siege Force, but also to the Eastern Invasion Force! The invasion is slower than expected and damages are expanding, and furthermore, because the Pallas Empire is showing unsettling movements at the border, it is said that they are to gather once at the Kivileft Earldom to reorganize their posture!"
"I-I see... Thank goodness."
"? Kakka?"
"N-no, it's nothing! Is that all for the report?"
"...As instructions from the commander, the priority is to retreat while minimizing casualties as much as possible. That is all."
"I see, good work! Dismissed!"
Steve, who had inadvertently let words of joy slip from his mouth, hurriedly glossed over his remark and dismissed the messenger.
"If it is an order from the Commander-in-Chief-kakka, it cannot be helped! It is a great pity, but we must prepare for retreat! Summon the legion commanders!"
Shouting instructions to the surrounding soldiers in a brave tone to hide his relief, Steve moved toward the headquarters tent. The one who rushed over to him was his adjutant.
"Barrel-kakka..."
"Yeah, you heard. We can finally retreat. I don't know what will happen from here on, but once we return to the headquarters in the rear, we'll manage somehow... Why do you have such a dark look on your face?"
Seeing the desperate expression of the young officer who was the smartest among his hangers-on—and therefore the one he had appointed as adjutant—Steve felt a sense of anxiety.
"Please look at the current situation... How difficult it will be to retreat while taking this many exhausted soldiers and wounded with aftereffects, all while being pursued by thirty thousand enemies. I am terrified just imagining it."
"!!"
Hearing the adjutant's words, Steve froze. Because he had only experienced offensive battles as a general of a great power until now, he hadn't noticed until he was told.
"I-it's true. Indeed, such a fighting retreat is reckless... Damn it! How did the higher-ups intend to move the invasion forces when they retreated!"
"I think the higher-ups didn't consider the possibility that the invasion forces would struggle... Win every battle, continue advancing, occupy the entire Lordberg Kingdom, and return home after the enemy is gone. They probably didn't plan for any other kind of retreat from the start."
"If you knew that, why didn't you advise me!"
"E-even if you say that... from the position of a single officer, I could never say such timid things before the start of the war... I might have been demoted. I also thought that such a thing wouldn't happen."
"Kuuuuuh!"
Steve held his head and clawed at it. Knowing that continuing to take his frustration out on the adjutant now would achieve nothing, he thought of a way to get through the current situation.
"I've got it!"
A sudden brilliant idea occurred to him, and he stood up with a shining expression.
"We just have to conclude a ceasefire with the enemy! From the enemy's perspective, our troop numbers should still be a threat. We will not take any further offensive actions. In exchange, those barbarians will not attack us while we retreat. It shouldn't be a bad deal for them either!"
"But Kakka, is it alright to make such a promise with the enemy on your own? If it's decided that we retreat, reorganize the unit, and attack again..."
"That's why this is strictly for now. Even the enemy should be happy if the offensive stops, even if only temporarily! Come, you get on your horse too! I'm going to negotiate with the enemy general!"
Steve headed toward the enemy main force, taking his adjutant, several legion commanders of the close aide class, and about thirty elite soldiers as guards.
When he approached to a position where his voice could reach the enemy soldiers, he called out loudly.
"I am the commander of the Royal Capital Siege Force, General Steve Barrel of the Betumia Republic Army! I wish to speak with your commander! We are prepared to negotiate!"
After shouting this several times, Steve's business reached them, and the commander—Oscar Lordberg III—appeared from among the enemy.
Accompanied by several nobles who seemed to be close aides, and surrounded by warriors and mages who looked like experts, he approached to a position where he could converse with Steve without shouting.
"I am the Generalissimo of the Lordberg Kingdom Army, Oscar Lordberg III. I have come to hear this negotiation of yours, Sir."
"Oh! I am grateful that the King himself has come!"
In a place for discussion, without even dismounting before the king of a country, even if he was the enemy, Steve answered without noticing his own rudeness. Several people surrounding Oscar frowned at that attitude, but Steve did not notice that either.
"As the commander of the Royal Capital Siege Force, I propose a ceasefire with your army! We shall hereafter lift the siege of the royal capital and retreat to the rear. We will not launch any further attacks on the capital, which is your residence. Therefore, I wish for your army to also cease attacks on us. How about it? It is not a bad deal for both parties—"
"Does that mean a ceasefire exchanged between the commanders of both units? Not a formal ceasefire between the Lordberg Kingdom and the Betumia Republic?"
"...T-that is how it would be."
Though the tone was not harsh, Steve flinched, interrupted by Oscar's voice which possessed a definite pressure.
Oscar stared into Steve's eyes for a moment, looked at the surrounding close aides, and—clearly mocking Steve—laughed.
"Out of the question. I am the king of this country. And this is a war between two nations. I will conclude a ceasefire only with your country itself. Do you, Sir, possess the authority to make a political decision for your country?"
"..."
As Steve could not return a word, Oscar snorted again as if making fun of him.
"Of course you don't. No matter how large a force you lead, you are merely a front-line commander. You likely don't even possess the authority to decide the intentions of the entire army, let alone the country. To attempt ceasefire negotiations with a king... In short, you're just saying 'please let me off' because you don't want your backside kicked while you tuck your tail and run!"
In response to those words, the close aides surrounding Oscar, and even the guards, let out loud laughter.
"Kuh... I made the proposal thinking of the benefit of both sides! Our military strength is still superior! Is it alright to make me angry!?"
When Steve countered, his face red with shame and anger, a man waiting beside Oscar whispered something in his ear. Upon receiving this, Oscar directed a fearless smile toward Steve.
"Then why, instead of utilizing that military strength, did you come to me talking about negotiations? You must have had a convenience where you wanted to retreat without fighting as much as possible, right? Most likely... 'Return to the Kivileft Earldom in the rear while preserving military strength and without increasing casualties any further.' You must have received such an order. I suppose it would be a stain on your record if you suffered noticeable losses."
"!!"
Steve's eyes widened overtly in shock. Immediately after, he thought his reaction was bad, but it was too late. It was the same as saying he hit the mark.
"Hahaha, what an easy-to-read face. Talking any further is a waste of time. Sir, return to your camp."
"N-no, King-dono! No, Your Majesty! Surely there is room for negotiation—"
"Enough!"
For the first time, Oscar showed anger. Steve let out a pathetic "Hie!" sound.
"I am telling you there is no room for negotiation! Why should we simply watch and let you retreat, not to withdraw from our country, but to reorganize your posture in the rear! Stop taking us for fools! If you keep blathering on, I will kill you right here and now!"
At those words, the guard knights drew their swords, and the mages readied their hands to launch attack magic at any moment.
Steve also brought dozens of guards, but if a melee broke out here, it would not end well.
"Damn it! You barbarian chief! Just you remember this!"
"Hahaha! Did everyone hear that!? 'Just you remember this,' he says! He wants us to remember his pathetic figure today! Let us burn the sight of him fleeing into our eyes!"
While receiving the ridicule of Oscar and his close aides, Steve returned to his camp as if fleeing.