Chapter 367 - Episode 359: Military Council
The day after and the day following their entry into the Kingdom of Revelant, Noein gave the soldiers a break. This was to allow them time to heal the mental fatigue caused by the long march and to let them recover their spirits for the upcoming battle.
The soldiers of the Grand Duchy's army were visitors who had come to aid this country. If they ventured into the city, they would surely receive a grand welcome.
On the other hand, Noein, Matilda, Yuri, Pence, Gustav, and Dant took only one day off, and the following day, they entered into a meeting with the key figures of the Kingdom of Revelant.
When Noein and the party from the Grand Duchy of Arqvist were welcomed into the royal castle's conference room, the party from the Kingdom of Revelant was already assembled.
At the end of the line, standing in the lowest seat alongside Marquis Hakkarainen and the knights, Noein saw Helga in military attire and raised an eyebrow slightly. However, since Gabriel and the nobles all looked as if this were perfectly natural, he made no particular mention of it and stood on one side of the oval conference table, the side closest to Gabriel.
"Now then, Grand Duke Arqvist, I leave things in your hands."
"Likewise, I look forward to working with you."
After exchanging a word with Noein, Gabriel turned toward Marquis Hakkarainen.
"Sulho, begin."
"Yes! Then, if I may be so bold, I, Sulho Hakkarainen, shall act as the moderator."
Having saluted his lord, Marquis Hakkarainen turned toward the conference table.
"First, I would like you to look at this map depicting the Kingdom of Revelant and the surrounding regions. As indicated, fifteen kilometers north of the trade route in the Lestio Mountains is here, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Revelant, Kurutaveski."
A line representing a river curved across the map, flowing from the top left to a lake at the bottom right. Marquis Hakkarainen's thick finger pointed to the word Kurutaveski written roughly halfway along it. Deviating from the river toward the bottom were fresh markings indicating post towns and trade routes.
"Proceeding northwest along the river from Kurutaveski for one day, you enter the Zebia mountain pass. Passing through this pass and crossing the mountainous region for another day northwest, you enter the territory of the March of Dale. We will merge with the army of the March of Dale at their central city, Luzure. Together with that nation, we will crush the forces of the Kingdom of Virgoa."
Marquis Hakkarainen moved his finger across the map, crossing over a small mountain range that surrounded more than half of the plain where Kurutaveski was located toward the top left.
Beyond a terrain that appeared to be a mountainous region depicted with several small peaks, and across the small mountain range and the canyon that formed its break, the March of Dale was written to the northwest.
"The forces departing from the Kingdom of Revelant for the March of Dale consist of two hundred and fifty from the regular army. Seven hundred are conscripts gathered from the people. The remaining fifty regular soldiers and two hundred conscripts will secure the border to prepare for any eventuality. Regarding the scale of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's unit—"
Noein, who was being looked at by Marquis Hakkarainen, shifted his gaze to Yuri. Yuri nodded and spoke.
"From the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's army, there are twelve members of an attack unit consisting of puppet mages. Twelve large-scale bow-cannons called Ballistas. Eleven magic tools for attack magic. Fifty soldiers to operate these. Additionally, the Guard directly under His Excellency Arqvist and dialogue mages in charge of communications. In terms of numbers, it is seventy-three people... but in terms of combat power, depending on the method of fighting, I believe it is equivalent to the strength of five hundred soldiers."
Upon hearing this explanation, the nobles of the Kingdom of Revelant stirred.
"You just said there are eleven magic tools for attack magic... those should be precious items, with fewer than fifty existing even in the Kingdom of Lordberg. Why do you possess such a number?"
To Gabriel's question, Noein gave a wry smile.
"Actually, this spring, we happened to discover ruins of an ancient great nation within our territory. Upon exploring the interior, we discovered these eleven magic tools. I intended to keep them hidden for the time being as secret weapons to protect my country, but the time to make them useful has come quickly."
"...I see. To think you would bring out such hidden trump cards for the sake of my country. I cannot express my gratitude enough."
"No, a crisis for your country is as good as a crisis for mine. I cannot afford to hold back my strength."
To Noein's words and smile, which carried political intent, Gabriel returned a slight, wry smile.
Confirming that the conversation between the two had ended, Marquis Hakkarainen continued speaking.
"Next, the forces of the March of Dale are said to be sixty cavalry and forty infantry. Four hundred soldiers gathered from the people. The total number, combining our forces, the reinforcements from the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, and the soldiers of the March, is approximately one thousand five hundred. Considering the power of the Grand Duchy's army, the actual combat strength could be said to rival two thousand people. Though the enemy is superior in numbers, if the three nations unite as one, we shall surely be able to crush the invaders!"
As Marquis Hakkarainen declared this with vigor, the kingdom's nobles agreed, saying that was right, exactly so. Seeing that the Kingdom of Revelant and the March of Dale had gathered more troops than expected, at least in terms of numbers, the expressions of the party from the Grand Duchy of Arqvist brightened slightly.
"...The regular army of the March of Dale has more cavalry, then?"
Noein asked, suddenly curious.
The March of Dale was, as the name suggested, a land of knights ruled by a noble house calling itself the Marquis of Dale. The population was approximately six thousand. Noein only knew that much of an overview. Even for a land of knights, he voiced a doubt regarding such an extreme composition, and Gabriel answered him.
"That country is a bit peculiar. They have no concept of a national army; dozens of knights swear loyalty to the Marquis of Dale, and the villages each of them possesses gather together to form the body of the state. By gathering all the military horses in the country and having the knights and their sons ride them, it comes to about sixty riders. The forty infantry are the knights' attendants. According to them, war is something conducted by knights and attendants. In truth, they likely find it reluctant to mobilize peasants as soldiers."
"...I see. Thank you for the instruction."
While feeling a flicker of concern internally that coordination might be somewhat difficult, Noein spoke.
"I shall continue. Regarding the details of strategy and tactics, we will hold another military council after merging with the March of Dale, but as for my country, we plan to propose a defensive battle by forming a fortified position. According to reports from spies, the attack by the Kingdom of Virgoa will be in approximately three weeks to a month. We shall now begin preparations for departure and leave Kurutaveski within five days."
As he spoke, Marquis Hakkarainen pointed to the canyon that served as the passage to the border.
"Furthermore, two hundred and fifty soldiers tasked with border defense have already been deployed to the Fioruviki Canyon, which connects to the March of Dale, and work is currently underway to strengthen the checkpoint here as a fortress. In the unlikely event that we are defeated in the battle coordinated with the March, we shall retreat to this fortress and face the decisive battle there."
The decisive battle. In other words, if that fortress were breached, the Kingdom of Revelant would do nothing but be trampled thereafter.
"Grand Duke Arqvist. I would like you to stay with us until the battle at the Fioruviki Canyon fortress. If there seems to be no chance of victory in the defensive battle here, I am sorry, but I will have to ask you to return to your country by your own means. We will conduct delaying actions to buy time until you return and as many citizens as possible escape to the surrounding countries."
That was, in essence, a request from Gabriel for them to fight together until the border defensive battle.
"I understand. I shall do my utmost so that I may contribute to a future where your country survives."
He could not fight together until death, but that level was within the acceptable range. Thinking this, Noein also nodded.
"Regarding preparations until the battle begins, I believe my army can also provide some modest assistance. My army's soldiers can handle things like the transport of provisions, and as for the reinforcement of the border fortress, golems will be useful as labor for civil engineering work."
"That is more than I could hope for... Sulho, I leave it to your discretion how to receive cooperation from the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's army. Do it well."
"As you wish!"
Marquis Hakkarainen, appointed by Gabriel, saluted.
"Yuri. I leave the operation of this unit to you. Cooperate well with Marquis Hakkarainen. I'm counting on you."
"Understood."
Told by Noein, Yuri nodded quietly.
"...And, Knight Revelant."
"Yes."
When Gabriel called, Helga in military attire turned toward her father, the King. Her dignified bearing gave her a presence that could be called a princess-knight. Noein couldn't help but think that she would be cute if she didn't have the habit of picking fights.
"Knight Beverstamm will enter the March of Dale with an advance party to convey our scheduled arrival and unit composition, and make adjustments to welcome the main force. You shall accompany her and serve as an assistant."
"As you wish."
Helga bowed her head just like a subordinate.
"Now then, begin preparations. I expect great things from your efforts. That is all."
As Gabriel concluded the military council, the nobles of the Kingdom of Revelant left the room. From the Grand Duchy's side, everyone except Noein and Matilda also left the conference room.
While seeing them off, Noein looked at Gabriel standing beside him and spoke.
"...I see. In military affairs, even a princess is treated the same as anyone else, is that it?"
"Yes, that is how it is."
Gabriel answered with a slight, wry smile.
"If she were pampered on the battlefield just because she is royalty, she would be useless when she inherits the throne. It is our country's tradition to treat her like that while she is young, as a form of training. 'Knight Revelant' is also a formal title for that purpose."
"That is a wonderful system. It will serve as a reference. I shall have my Grand Duchy of Arqvist's army imitate it once my son has grown."
"Hahaha, I am honored... though Helga has only been in the army for a few months. I hope this makes her a bit more mature. Regarding yesterday's matter, I scolded her again this morning and threatened her well, saying that even a princess would be executed if she broke military regulations, so she should be quiet during her military duties."
"Then, I shall do my utmost with peace of mind."
Noein showed a smile to Gabriel, who still looked apologetic.
"By the way, will you also have Knight Revelant-dono fight on the front lines?"
"No, I cannot let her die, after all. I don't intend to place her at the front of the battlefield; I plan to have her do work other than combat. If the reign of my royal house were to end, I must at least let her escape the country."
While answering Noein's question, Gabriel's expression became serious.
"Grand Duke Arqvist. While preparations for departure are being made, I wish to have several political discussions with you. Regarding the gratitude to be paid to your country after a victory. And... regarding the case where we are defeated and the survival of my country becomes hopeless."
At those words, Noein's expression also tightened.
"Of course, I intend to win, but it is the duty of a king to think about what happens when one loses. I must think about how to evacuate my country's people, the royal family's assets, and the royal bloodline from the country, and how to leave the possibility of restoration. I have already finished discussions with the surrounding nations... but I would like to make several agreements with your country as well."
"...I understand. I shall provide as much cooperation as possible."