Chapter 293 - Episode 286: A Foregone Conclusion
Ten days after merging with the Lancel Kingdom army. Noein and the Lordberg Kingdom Western Army had confronted the Betumia Republic's western invasion force, which they had cornered at the capital of the Ahatz Earldom, and had been clashing for several days.
That said, large-scale battles no longer occurred.
The total number of Betumia Republic troops entrenched in the capital of the Ahatz Earldom was approximately 35,000, excluding the wounded. Other soldiers were still scattered across various parts of the southwest, becoming stray forces wandering without the ability to return to the headquarters that had been surrounded.
In contrast, Noein's side consisted of the Lordberg Kingdom Western Army—which had absorbed Earl Marcel's cavalry units, small units that had been conducting guerrilla warfare, and the remaining forces of the southwestern nobles—totaling 5,500, and the first and second waves of the Lancel Kingdom army totaling 22,000. Combined, they possessed a force of 27,500.
The Betumia Republic army won in numbers, but the difference was not great enough for them to act aggressively.
Now, with the half-destroyed city walls of the Ahatz Earldom capital between them, only skirmishes consisting of sporadic exchanges of arrows were unfolding. Even so, the advantage lay with the Lordberg Kingdom and Lancel Kingdom allied forces, who possessed Ballistas with the greatest range among long-distance weapons.
"Prepare loading... complete!"
"Alright, Arqvist territory army Ballista squad, fire all rounds!"
At Dant's signal, twenty Ballistas operated by the Arqvist territory army soldiers fired their arrows simultaneously.
What was loaded were, of course, large scatter-shot arrows. The ultra-fine arrows, coated with 'Angel's Honey' at the tips and splitting into a total of 1,600 pieces, rained down sporadically like iron rain upon the port city where the Betumia soldiers were holed up.
Considering the overall size of the city, the area where the scatter-shot arrows fell was very small. The possibility of them hitting a person was also low.
However, if needles rained from the sky regardless of day or night, and hitting one left long-term aftereffects, the stress placed upon the Betumia soldiers became considerable.
Additionally, Noein occasionally had explosive flame arrows mixed in with the scatter-shot arrows. If hit by those, one would burn to death in agony, and if they fell on wooden houses, fires would break out. This also placed a psychological burden on the Betumia soldiers.
"Well then, the next volley will be for the Ballista squads other than the Arqvist territory army... here goes!"
As he spoke, Noein threw a die on the desk inside the command tent. The result was a four.
"Right, the next one is in four hours. Let's mix in about five explosive flame arrows this time."
"Understood. I'll inform the officers... still, the Betumia Republic army surely doesn't suspect that we're deciding the attack times with a die."
Frederick gave a faint smile while nodding at Noein's words.
The reason for deciding the Ballista attack times with a die was to prevent the enemy from predicting the intervals between attacks. Since there wasn't much leeway with the scatter-shot and explosive flame arrows before the next resupply, doing this saved arrows while increasing the psychological burden on the enemy.
"If we're going to decide the attack times irregularly anyway, leaving it to fate like this is best. After all, this is a holy war loved by God."
As Noein chuckled, Pence entered the tent.
"Excuse me. Viscount Chloe Tajinette-sama of the Lancel Kingdom army has arrived. Shall I let her in?"
"That's fine. Have her come in."
Once Noein gave permission, Pence, who had stepped out of the tent once, returned while guiding Viscount Tajinette.
"Good work, Lord Arqvist."
"Hello, Lord Tajinette. How are things on your end?"
"Yes, my army continues to maintain the siege of the city... although we are merely standing by while monitoring the gates."
Noein smiled at Viscount Tajinette, who answered in her usual emotionless voice.
"Right now, sealing the enemy's movements like this is what's important, so that is sufficient. Thank you... though, I'm sorry there haven't been many opportunities to fight flamboyantly despite you coming all this way."
"No, our mission is to drive the invaders back across the sea. If the best plan has been presented for that purpose, we simply follow it."
"I appreciate your understanding... then, I ask for your cooperation again tonight in pretending to launch a night attack. Until then, please continue to stand by while surrounding the enemy."
"Understood. I will also inform Marquis Paradir-sama."
Having confirmed today's movements, Viscount Tajinette left the main camp of the Lordberg Kingdom Western Army, guided once again by Pence.
"...Yuri. Is there any change around the Ballista squads?"
"Yes, the Lancel Kingdom army is also behaving themselves."
When Noein asked indirectly if there were any Lancel Kingdom soldiers trying to investigate or steal the Ballistas, explosive flame arrows, or 'Angel's Honey', Yuri informed him that there were no abnormalities.
"I see... well, they've probably been told very strictly by Queen Henrietta. Not to do anything that would crack the relationship between the two countries right now."
The Lancel Kingdom had only just emerged from internal strife and still had many unstable parts as a nation, and the Lordberg Kingdom also had a long road to recovery ahead. It was a situation where they had to recover their national strength by cooperating at times and avoiding discord. Otherwise, their status as leading powers in the southern Adleon continent would be shaken.
"We can't neglect the watch over the Ballista squad positions, but let's not worry too much about sabotage from the Lancel Kingdom. Right now, they are complete allies."
"Understood."
Yuri nodded at Noein's words, and the conversation ended.
...
"The results for these two days are forty-six people. We paralyzed them all without killing them. As expected, the enemy remnants seem desperate to merge with the main force, so we can hunt them easily by lying in wait by the roads."
"They're all weakened because their supplies are cut off. Since they might be brutally killed if they're found by peasants, some even start saying 'please let me surrender' the moment they see us. At this rate, I wonder if hunting goblins is actually harder?"
Reporting to Yuri behind the main camp were Radley and Rick, who were sweeping up Betumia Republic soldiers scattered in the southwest as a guerrilla unit.
"I see, good work. The enemy is already a disorganized mob."
"How are the results of the other guerrilla units?"
"Since we set up camp here, the allied forces as a whole have killed or paralyzed well over 2,000 Betumia soldiers. If we add your results, it should nearly reach 2,500... In terms of numbers taken down, your unit should be the highest."
"Haha, that's great. We'll keep hunting and leave everyone in the dust."
Yuri gave a wry smile and admonished Rick, who had spoken energetically.
"Hey, it's not a competition. At this point, it's only a matter of time before the enemy gives up. There's no need to do anything reckless... Rest comfortably at the camp today. Recover your strength before tomorrow's redeployment."
"Yes, sir."
"Understood."
After dismissing the two, Yuri returned to the command tent to deliver the report to Noein.
"Your Excellency, Radley's unit has just returned. The result is forty-six people."
"That's... quite a hunt. All captured alive?"
"Yes, it seems they were left with aftereffects via 'Angel's Honey'. The wounded will be added to today's shipment."
It had been nearly two weeks since the main force of the Betumia Republic's western invasion army was surrounded. During this time, the Lordberg Kingdom and Lancel Kingdom allied forces spent their days continuing harassment with Ballistas and night attacks, while small guerrilla units hunted Betumia soldiers attempting to merge with the main force from various parts of the southwest.
Among the hunted Betumia soldiers, those captured alive were given aftereffects via 'Angel's Honey' and were delivered to the enemy's main force every evening. That number reached over two hundred people per day.
Furthermore, besides those hunted by the guerrilla units, stories were heard of Betumia soldiers wandering without contact with other units being found by the kingdom's citizens and killed as revenge for the atrocities they had committed.
The Betumia western invasion army still secured the port, but they seemed fully occupied with the repatriation of the wounded and supplies for unit maintenance, and there were no signs of their combat power being replenished. Without receiving any organized counterattacks, Noein and the others had almost lost the feeling that they were even fighting.
"...Estimated enemy dead are 10,000, and the wounded have exceeded 50,000, right?"
"Yes, though those are figures from a little while ago."
Frederick nodded at Noein's question.
In the east as well, the Lordberg Kingdom's central main army and eastern army had cornered the Betumia Republic army, and furthermore, although not on the scale of the Lancel Kingdom, the Pallas Empire had also dispatched units as allied forces this time.
As a result, reports had arrived that the Betumia Republic army's domain in the southeast had been reduced to only the capital of the Kivileft Earldom, Laden, and a few surrounding cities.
The momentum of the Betumia Republic army from a few weeks ago was now a shadow of its former self.
"Soldiers with aftereffects are likely returning to the Betumia homeland one after another... it feels like we're just waiting for the enemy to decide on a cut-loss. No, maybe the cut-loss has already been decided."
"True. It takes time for the decisions of the Betumia Republic's leaders to reach the invasion army. The order to completely withdraw simply hasn't arrived from the homeland yet. That's likely all it is."
"...To think that after such fierce battles, it would end with such a lukewarm fight. It's a bit anticlimactic. Though for me, this is easier and better."
"Hahaha, the end of a war is always like this."
A few days after Noein and Frederick had this conversation.
A formal request for a ceasefire was made from the Betumia Republic side.