Chapter 369 - Episode 361: Complications
The army of the Kingdom of Revelant and the army of the Archduchy of Arqvist, having finished their preparations and departed from Kurutaveski, merged with a portion of their troops who had established a fort at the northwestern border along the way, and entered the Marquisate of Dale.
Luzour, the central city of the Marquisate of Dale and said to be the direct territory of the Marquis of Dale, had a population of two thousand. Its level of development was low; from the perspective of someone from the southern part of the continent, it was a rural town with nothing particularly worth seeing.
"Your Majesty the King."
"Good work, Knight Beverstamm. And Knight Revelant. What are the arrangements for our reception here?"
Beverstamm, who had entered the Marquisate of Dale leading the vanguard, welcomed the party and showed his respects to Gabriel. Helga followed alongside Beverstamm like an afterthought. Gabriel asked while nodding to the two of them.
"There are no problems. The royalty and nobility will stay at the Marquis of Dale's manor, and as for the soldiers, some will stay in temporary barracks utilizing warehouses, while the rest will stay in a campsite established outside the city."
"I see, understood... First, I must greet the Marquis of Dale."
Saying so, Gabriel looked behind the two. There, Evelina Dale, the current Marquis of Dale, had come to welcome the allied forces herself.
"King Gabriel, is she the Marquis of Dale?"
When Noein, who had moved to the front of the column for the greetings, asked, Gabriel nodded.
"That is correct. As you can see, she is a female powerhouse who is a paragon of the warrior."
Evelina Dale possessed a height and sharp features that were unusual for an ordinary woman. As a proud warrior, it was said her name was known even in the surrounding countries.
Princess Helga also admired her as a strong female sovereign, and Noein had heard that this was precisely why Gabriel had sent Helga ahead with Beverstamm.
As Evelina dismounted her horse and approached, Noein and Gabriel also dismounted and walked toward her.
"It has been a long time, King Gabriel. I ask for your cooperation this time. Let us crush the enemy."
"I am glad to see you are well, Marquis of Dale. For the survival of our respective countries, let us do our utmost."
After exchanging handshakes with the Marquis of Dale, Gabriel next gestured toward Noein.
"I believe Knight Beverstamm has already informed you, but the army of the Archduchy of Arqvist has rushed here from the southern part of the continent. He is the sovereign, Archduke Arqvist."
"Nice to meet you, I am Noein Arqvist."
"...I have heard the stories. You have come a long way. I look forward to working with you."
Evelina responded in a somewhat businesslike tone while looking at the forces lined up at the rear of the column under the banner of the Arqvist house.
"An army without a cavalry unit, I see."
"...Is something the matter with my army?"
"No, it is nothing. Everyone must be tired. Please, to my castle. You are welcome."
Evelina turned on her heel and returned to her horse. Noein and Gabriel also mounted their horses again to move.
Evelina cast a meaningful glance at the sight of Noein, who, being small and frail, found it difficult to mount a horse on his own and received assistance from Matilda, before returning toward Luzour.
"Archduke Arqvist, do not let it bother you."
Gabriel whispered to Noein, who had instinctively returned a cold gaze to Evelina's back.
"The Marquisate of Dale is a country that considers proud knights to be the supreme. The Marquises of Dale have been that kind of person for generations, and she in particular is hard-core, but it is not out of malice."
"...Well, this is her country. It does not change what I and my army must do."
Noein answered with a softened expression and urged his horse forward.
.....
The day after the army of the Kingdom of Revelant and the army of the Archduchy of Arqvist arrived in the Marquisate of Dale, a military council was held where the sovereigns and close aides of the three nations gathered.
The military council, which began in the afternoon—became greatly complicated.
"How many times must I tell you that it is reckless! To launch a field battle while outnumbered is absurd!"
"I have been saying for a while now that such cowardice will invite defeat! Are you even a knight!?"
In the hall of the Marquis of Dale's manor, shouting at each other across a map spread on a large table were Marquis Sulho Hakkarainen and Marquis Evelina Dale.
Behind Marquis Hakkarainen, Gabriel wore a bitter expression, and the kingdom knights showed anger or exasperation on their faces. Princess Helga, who was attending as a single knight, also wore a bewildered expression at the claims of the Marquisate of Dale's side and showed fear at the tremendous shouting being exchanged.
On the other hand, behind Evelina, her aide knights occasionally shouted jeers to support their lord. They claimed that Evelina's opinion was the most appropriate and noble, and that it was only natural to accept it.
Noein watched that argument with a cold expression. Behind Noein stood the expressionless Matilda, while Yuri, Pence, and Gustav watched the situation while hiding their emotions.
The reason the atmosphere had become this rough was that the values regarding war in the Kingdom of Revelant and the Marquisate of Dale differed too greatly.
First, the Revelant Kingdom side proposed a plain but steady plan: a defensive war by establishing defensive positions.
It was said that to the north of the city of Luzour, there was a small-scale fortress for monitoring the plains that stretched to the border of the neighboring country. The outline of the plan was to use that fortress as a base to construct strong positions with moats and defensive walls, compensate for the numerical disadvantage to wear down the enemy's strength, and force them to retreat.
In contrast, the Marquisate of Dale insisted on striking out into a field battle.
Evelina's plan was to deploy in the plains beyond the northern border and clash head-on with the forces of the Kingdom of Virgoa. A unit combining the knights of the Marquisate of Dale and the cavalry of the Kingdom of Revelant would break through the enemy in one go to slay King Kaia and the strategist Cadne.
It was a gamble far too crude to be called a strategy. Noein thought so inwardly while remaining silent.
"Good grief, this is just going in circles."
"Whose fault do you think that is!"
"Naturally, it is your fault. What does King Gabriel himself think? I would like to receive your opinion."
When Evelina asked in a sharp tone, Gabriel thought for a moment and opened his mouth.
"Needless to say, I believe we should conduct a defensive war. What we should aim for is not a battle gambling on a one-in-eight chance of a great victory, but a battle with a high possibility of not losing. However, even if I insist on that, the situation will remain deadlocked... Perhaps we should seek the opinion of a third party?"
As he spoke, Gabriel turned his face toward Noein.
As if drawn by that, the gazes of everyone from both camps pierced Noein. The members of the Kingdom of Revelant expected assistance. The members of the Marquisate of Dale had suspicious looks on their faces.
"...Then."
Thinking that he had been passed the conversation in a troublesome manner, Noein began.
"There is not much I can say, but to put it in a conclusion, I also agree with the opinions of everyone from the Kingdom of Revelant."
At those words, a small click of the tongue sounded from the Marquisate of Dale's side. Evelina did not go that far, but she stared at Noein with a bitter face.
"If the goal is to slay Kaia Virgoa and Cadne, an offensive posture would be required as Marquis Evelina Dale stated. However, the primary goal this time is to deal a blow to the forces of the Kingdom of Virgoa, make them give up on the invasion, and thereby diminish the power of that country. If so, I believe conducting a steady defensive war is the most realistic option... Besides, in the first place,"
While glancing at his own vassals, Noein continued.
"My army specializes in defensive wars within positions and cannot exert much power in field battles. Golems, ballistas, and magic tools for attack magic. All of these are weapons that demonstrate their true value not in open spaces, but in places where the direction of the enemy's offensive is limited. If you insist on a field battle, my army will not be able to provide much assistance."
"Hmph, so you admit it is an army that cannot even conduct a fair and square field battle."
Noein looked at Evelina, who laughed through her nose, with a cold smile.
"In terms of suitability, that is correct. Is there a problem with that?"
"Archduke Arqvist, are you a knight?"
At the provocative question, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...Well, no. I personally am not a knight, but a mage."
"A mage... as I thought."
Evelina spat the words out with obvious ridicule, and her knights also showed expressions of contempt as if in agreement.
"Are there no mages in the Marquisate of Dale? Considering the population, it should not be strange for there to be a few."
"Of course, there are those who can be called magic users in my country. Two among the knights, and two among the attendants. However, they are knights and soldiers first and foremost. They use magic as a weapon, but they are not cowards who hide behind great shields or defensive walls and sneakily shoot the enemy relying only on magic. A commander who is a mage, and a main force that are mages—from our perspective, such a thing cannot be called a true army."
"!"
Hearing this, Gustav became agitated. Evelina's words just now were equivalent to a total denial of the Claymores.
Noein raised one hand to restrain him and let out a sigh.
He had heard from Gabriel beforehand about the origins of the Marquisate of Dale, which claimed to be a country of knights.
Originally, the Marquisate of Dale was part of the territory of a country to the north, and the Marquis of Dale was a noble of that country.
However, that country was merely vast and the authority of the royalty was weak, and the lords who gave up on the unreliable king became independent one after another. The Marquis of Dale at the time—Evelina's grandfather—also declared independence, and several surrounding countries, including the Kingdom of Revelant, recognized it, and it became a country.
Considering that history, it was understandable that Evelina and the others considered knights to be the supreme existence and insisted on being knightly. For them, being noble knights was likely the very identity of their country.
Considering that the previous suzerain, the northern neighboring country, had apparently shown submission to the Kingdom of Virgoa without resistance, the Marquisate of Dale, despite being a tiny country, could be called brave for showing a posture of thorough resistance. If one considers that the pride as knights supports the root of that determination, their pride is not something that can be dismissed entirely.
However, this time, he could not afford to care only for that pride. The victory or defeat of this war directly linked to the interests of the Archduchy of Arqvist, and Noein and his group, who had come all the way to the Marquisate of Dale, were already involved parties.
"The values of your country belong to you. It is not for us to interfere. No matter how stubborn and irrational they may seem to us."
This time, several of the Marquisate of Dale's knights became agitated, and Evelina restrained them.
"However, this battle is no longer yours alone. The Kingdom of Revelant also faces this battle with the fate of its country on the line. We of the Archduchy of Arqvist are not outsiders either. It is true that I am not a knight who fights by exposing my own body at the front, but I have come here prepared for the possibility that I might die depending on the flow of the battle. My vassals and soldiers are the same. I want you to understand that."
There was no rebuttal from Evelina to Noein's words.
"It is your freedom to consider field battles and charges as the essence of war, and I respect that. If so, our value, which considers not losing to be the most important, should also be respected by you. If you have agreed to face the Kingdom of Virgoa in cooperation with three nations, then easily belittling those allied forces would also be contrary to the way of the knight, would it not?"
Evelina remained silent. Her knights also had expressions as if they had chewed a bitter bug, but they did not make any move to complain.
Noein, looking around at them, then shifted his gaze to Gabriel and the other officers and soldiers.
"Based on that, let me say... as a basis, we will conduct a defensive war by constructing positions. Within that, if the lords of the Marquisate of Dale find an opportunity to strike out, we will not stop them. It is better than nothing to slay Kaia or Cadne, so we will actively support them so that such opportunities arise. I believe this is a realistic compromise, but what do you think?"
If Evelina and the others would have followed by being thoroughly beaten down in a war of words, he would have done so. However, doing such a thing now would only make them more stubborn and cause the cooperation with the Marquisate of Dale to collapse.
If so, making the next best proposal was the only option to maximize profit in the current situation. With that thought, Noein questioned them.
"Very well. The Kingdom of Revelant accepts Archduke Arqvist's proposal."
To this, Gabriel answered first.
"...Fine, I shall accept that compromise. However, we will decide when and how to strike out. We are knights. We know best about charge battles."
Though with a reluctant face, Evelina also nodded. Voices of dissatisfaction began to rise from the knights of the Marquisate of Dale, but Evelina herself stopped them.
"I do not mind. How about you, King Gabriel?"
"Yes, that is fine with me... It is decided then."
With the mutter of Gabriel, who was the highest in rank in this place ceremonially and was in the position of the nominal leader of the three-nation allied army, the tension in the room relaxed slightly.
Although Noein's expression did not move, he was relieved inwardly.
With this, setting aside Evelina and the knights and their attendants, the four hundred conscripted soldiers of the Marquisate of Dale could be relied upon as defensive war strength that would listen to orders. Even if they were peasant soldiers, a force of four hundred was a huge difference between having them and not. If they fought while holed up in positions, there were ways to use them.
Moreover, a charge taking advantage of the enemy's opening was not a bad move depending on the situation. They were a group of knights who had maintained independence for three generations, even if it was a small country. That confidence was likely not just lip service. Depending on how the battle situation moved, there was a possibility that Evelina and the others would actually slay Kaia and Cadne.
"Then, next we will talk about specific position construction and tactics... but before that, let us rest a bit. Everyone must be tired."
At this stage where the political discussion had ended, it was decided to take a short break by Gabriel's call to cool down everyone's heated heads.
Noein left the hall with his vassals and breathed the fresh outdoor air in the manor's courtyard.
"Archduke Arqvist, you helped me just now."
The one who called out to him was Gabriel, who seemed to have come to breathe the outdoor air as well.
"I am amazed that words come out of you so fluently. You are indeed clever."
"I am honored by your praise. Since I read nothing but books as a child, it may be the influence of having been exposed to words more than others. Also, perhaps it is because I was conscious that since I lack dignity, I had to at least become proficient with my mouth."
Saying so, Noein laughed self-deprecatingly.
"War begins before clashing with the enemy. When multiple armies move in cooperation, relationships can break down for ideological or political reasons, and one can lose even before fighting. In that regard, our situation has become much better. It is thanks to you."
"...I am happy you say so. It was worth training my mouth to move well."
At Noein's playful demeanor, Gabriel also let out a smile.
"By the way, is the Princess alright? She seemed quite confused."
"Ah, do not worry about that. Experiencing such a place is also a learning experience. Though her admiration for Evelina Dale may have been destroyed."
"Public evaluation is often either exaggerated or underestimated."
A proud warrior and a stubborn boar-warrior. Those two were a paper's breadth apart, and sometimes two sides of the same coin. Even if Marquis Evelina Dale was not the female hero heard of in rumors, being crushed by that fact would be a good medicine for Helga to learn about the real world.
"...The military council is finally getting to the real part."
"Yes. From here on, my lip service will not be of much use. I will have to rely on the wisdom of my vassals."
From here, they would refine the discussions on the tactical side, and after that, they would actually scramble to construct positions. They would let the soldiers get into condition and re-confirm the state of the weaponry.
With not much time to spare, there were still many things to be done.