Chapter 373 - Episode 365: The Pride of the Archduchy's Soldiers
"According to the scouts' reports, the forces of the Kingdom of Virgo that have entered the March of Dale comfortably exceed five thousand in total. It seems they are currently occupied with the occupation and looting of Luzure and the surrounding villages, so it is estimated that we have a grace period of about one week before they arrive at this fortress."
Within the checkpoint, in a room designated as the meeting hall, Marquis Hakkarainen spoke.
A table was placed in the center of the room, and a simple map depicting the surroundings of the fortress was spread across it. Gathering around it, Gabriel, Noein, and their respective aides wore grim expressions.
"A little time remains, then. But... there is little we can do in that interval."
"That is true. Well, let us consider that we at least have the luxury of thinking about how to fight," Noein replied with a bitter smile to Gabriel, who had spoken as if groaning.
The total military strength, combining the regular army and conscripts of the Kingdom of Reveland and the expeditionary force of the Archduchy of Arqvist, was about thirteen hundred. The enemy army was approximately four times that size. While some combat power would likely be diverted to occupy the March of Dale, it was still impossible to be optimistic.
If they simply clashed, the outcome was visible: a slow decline leading to defeat. They had no choice but to devise a way of fighting and use strategy to overturn the numerical disadvantage.
"First, we must consider the enemy's movements, but since they are a coalition army gathered from multiple nations, they likely cannot perform complex maneuvers."
"Most likely. We can assume they will basically come with a frontal push of force. Even so, it is a sufficient threat," Marquis Hakkarainen and Yuri spoke while staring at the map.
The left and right sides of the fortress were steep cliffs, so there was no worry about being attacked from the flanks. However, if they faced a fierce assault from a great army of five thousand from the front, it was obvious that their side, overwhelmingly inferior in number, would exhaust their strength first.
"In that case, if we can strike the enemy's vital point from somewhere other than the front, we might have a chance of victory... Your Majesty Gabriel, if the enemy were to place their main camp, would it be around the top of this hill?"
What Noein pointed to on the map was the side of the highway leading from the March of Dale toward the canyon. It was a small hill visible slightly to the right of the fortress's front.
"Yes. I recall that about ten years ago, when a battle broke out with a large-scale band of brigands attempting to invade our country, the enemy also placed their main camp on this hill. Was that not the case, Sulho?"
"It is as you say. Since the top of this hill is the highest point on the enemy's side, I believe there is no doubt that the generals of the Kingdom of Virgo will place their main camp here to overlook the battlefield."
Listening to this, Noein looked at the map. Then, from the window of the meeting room on the second floor of the checkpoint, they looked out at the area outside the fortress.
Beyond the fortress walls, the hill where Cadne and Kaia were expected to place their main camp. The only things surrounding it were the forests on the northwest and east sides of the hill.
If Cadne and the others stationed themselves on that hill and faced the fortress, the forests would be positioned to their right-rear and left-flank.
"If we could directly surprise and crush the enemy's main camp from a different direction, we could pin the enemy, who would have lost their command, between the fortress and our forces to wipe them out in one fell swoop... but it would be difficult to hide ambushers in the forests around here, wouldn't it?"
"Yes. There is no way the enemy wouldn't send scouts before the battle to a place where ambushers could be placed so obviously. If there were soldiers, they would certainly be found. There are several other forests and groves a bit further away, but the enemy has plenty of numbers. It is better to assume that every place where soldiers could be hidden in the surrounding area will be checked."
To Noein, who spoke while frowning, Gabriel nodded with a grim face.
"After the battle begins, would it be difficult to send soldiers out of the fortress at night, loop them around to the rear of the enemy camp, and launch a surprise attack during the next day's combat?"
"It depends on the enemy's deployment, but sending soldiers out from the front of the fortress would likely be impossible. Even for a surprise attack during combat, I would want a hundred men to attack the enemy's main camp. If we sent that many soldiers out through the gate, they would almost certainly be noticed. It would be fine if we could send soldiers out from somewhere other than the front, but..."
As Yuri answered Pence's proposal, he turned toward Marquis Hakkarainen. Being looked at, Marquis Hakkarainen shook his head regretfully.
"...It is impossible. Crossing the cliffs on the flanks is not realistic. If we made such a move during the day, we would be in plain sight of the enemy. Conversely, at night, it is too dangerous for even beastmen with night vision to climb the cliffs. Most would simply fall to their deaths."
"What about exiting the canyon toward the Kingdom of Reveland once, then crossing the mountains north again via another path to loop around to the enemy's rear?"
"That would also be difficult. Dividing the units and making that much of a movement now would take too much time. We would be further dividing the fortress's strength, which is already insufficient. I do not believe the fortress could hold out until the surprise attack force made the long detour to the enemy's rear."
It was difficult to hide soldiers outside the fortress before the battle began, and once the battle started, there was no way to send a sufficient number of surprise attack forces outside the fortress. The military council reached a deadlock early on, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
"...!"
Suddenly, Noein thought of a plan.
They almost looked up with a startled expression, but suppressed it. That plan likely held the potential to be a winning move, but they hesitated to speak it immediately in this setting.
Instead of recounting the plan, Noein asked Gabriel.
"Your Majesty, the number of mages in the Kingdom of Reveland was approximately twenty-some people, correct?"
"Yes. Since the proportion of demi-humans is relatively high in our country, the number of mages is slightly high relative to the population. However, not all of them are skilled in combat. The gap in military power with the enemy will be difficult to bridge."
Gabriel had explained this to them before.
The most numerous mages in the Kingdom of Reveland were five wind mages, centered around elves. Besides them, there were about twenty others with enough talent to be called mages, but they had heard that only half of them were suited for combat.
"...That was right."
When Noein said only that and closed their mouth again, no one else spoke. Silence continued for several minutes.
"...My head has hit a wall. May I go get some fresh air?"
"Yes, of course. Everyone must be tired. No brilliant ideas will come to mind even if we keep staring at each other and worrying here. Let us take a break until the afternoon."
With Noein bringing it up and Gabriel responding thus, the military council was temporarily suspended.
Noein left the room, exited the checkpoint, and returned to their own tent.
Taking a breath now that they were away from prying eyes, they turned toward Matilda, who had entered the tent with them.
"...Matilda."
Then, calling her name in a voice that sounded lost, they rested their head on her shoulder.
Matilda said nothing, stroking Noein's head and embracing their body. Without asking anything, she gently and quietly rubbed Noein's back.
Just a moment ago, Noein had not spoken the plan they thought of during the military council.
That was because it was a strategy that would expose their beloved vassals and soldiers to danger. Noein was weighing the lives of their own citizens against the fate of the Kingdom of Reveland and could not immediately arrive at an answer.
"Your Excellency Arqvist, is it alright?"
At that moment, Yuri's calling voice was heard from outside the tent.
"...It's fine. Come in."
Noein lifted their face from Matilda's shoulder and answered Yuri.
Yuri, who opened the entrance of the tent, checked the surroundings of the tent once, then entered and firmly closed the entrance curtain.
Then, he turned toward Noein and spoke.
"Noein-sama, what did you think of earlier? Was it a strategy that you could not say in that place?"
"...How did you know?"
"Please do not underestimate me. I have been an aide for over ten years. There is no way I would not notice."
Being answered thus, Noein let out a wry laugh.
"Ahaha, I'm no match for you... I did indeed think of a strategy. Probably a strategy far better than simply clashing with the enemy from the front. However, the losses if this fails are also great."
Noein told Yuri the strategy they had conceived during the military council. Yuri raised an eyebrow as if impressed, and then admitted that it was indeed a strategy where effects could be expected.
"If it goes well, that will be enough. Surely the separate detachment can directly crush the enemy's main camp and then strike the rear of the enemy army. If we push out from the fortress in coordination with that, we can pincer the enemy army... but if it fails, we will lose a non-negligible number of puppet mages and several precious offensive magic magic tools. It would be a blow to the Archduchy. Whether we should risk that much for the sake of the Kingdom of Reveland... it is agonizing."
"...Noein-sama, there is no need to speak formalities now."
Yuri bluntly cut through Noein's attitude of pretending to be somewhat agonized.
"That is not what you are truly agonizing over. What Noein-sama regrets is not mere military power. It is the lives of the vassals and soldiers. Whether the Kingdom of Reveland, in this situation, has the value to fight even while exposing vassals and soldiers to great danger. Noein-sama must be thinking that. There is no way I would not notice... I will say it once more. Do not underestimate us."
Yuri spoke quietly, yet with a spirit that slightly overwhelmed Noein.
"Why do you think we became soldiers of the Archduchy? It is to protect the country. Our enemies are not only the direct threats approaching the country. The enormous loss resulting from losing the Kingdom of Reveland, the honor lost by failing to save a friendly nation while providing assistance. The unrest caused by a hostile force settling right next door. We can fight to repel those things as well."
There, Yuri smiled very slightly, just a tiny bit.
"If Noein-sama presents that strategy, it is true that several puppet mages and soldiers will expose themselves to danger. But what happens if that strategy is not presented? They survive for now, and in exchange, they lose the Kingdom of Reveland, and return to the country carrying enormous losses, the humiliation of failing to save a friendly nation, and future dangers. Do you think they would permit such a thing, or be happy with it?"
To Yuri's question, Noein silently shook their head.
"A long time ago, during the war with the Kingdom of Lancel, we spoke. That what Noein-sama should protect is the hope of the people. That should not have changed even now that Noein-sama is a country-holder."
That felt like a very nostalgic story, and Noein let out a small smile, thinking it might be out of place.
"The Archduchy, our new home, has become prosperous. We have hope that it will continue to be prosperous, and that by the time our children and grandchildren become adults, it will be an even better country. No one wants to see that hope damaged and the country regress. To prevent that from happening, we can stake our lives. Because that leads to protecting the hope of our families and descendants."
Facing Yuri, who spoke with such resolve, Noein felt ashamed of their thoughts until a moment ago.
"Therefore, even if the danger is great, Noein-sama should tell the subordinates to face the assigned mission. At the very least, Noein-sama should ask the subordinates if there are those who wish to face this mission. Not doing so is an act of underestimating the resolve and loyalty of us soldiers of the Archduchy."
"...I understand, I was wrong. I apologize."
Noein answered with a faint, wry smile. They had no choice but to admit that what Yuri said was correct.
As the sovereign of the Archduchy of Arqvist, they held the lives of everyone in the Archduchy's army in their hands. For what purpose did they entrust their lives to them? It was to protect the hope of the Archduchy of Arqvist and all the subjects living there. It was because they believed that Noein Arqvist would make the correct judgment to protect everyone's hope.
If that were the case, they should live up to their trust. Even if that meant ordering engagement in a mission accompanied by great danger.
"I want you to gather Gustav, Alain, Dant, and all the platoon leaders of the infantry units. I will explain this strategy to them and recruit volunteers."
"Understood... as Your Excellency wishes."
Yuri gave a magnificent salute and left the tent.