Chapter 427 - Episode 410: After the Opening Battle
"Forty-six dead, thirty-five seriously injured... Damn it, what a disaster."
"Considering we were ambushed by a horde of orcs while completely unprepared for combat, these numbers are low. I would say you did quite well."
In the headquarters tent, Count Marcel spoke dispassionately to Edelgard, whose expression was distorted with frustration as she received the status report.
"This is also thanks to Grand Duke Arqvist-kakka for moving the Claymore so swiftly. As a noble of the Lordberg Kingdom, I am grateful."
"...No. As a participant in the subjugation, I have merely done what was expected."
More than anyone else, being called "Kakka" by Count Marcel felt the most embarrassing. While thinking such rude thoughts inwardly, Noein answered.
A heavy atmosphere still lingered within the headquarters. Due to the unexpected battle on the first day, they had suffered damages that, while not catastrophic, could by no means be called small, and the expressions of the commanders and other officers remained stiff.
"I never imagined that an Orc Kaiser was leading the horde... Arqvist-kakka, I am sorry for putting your country's army in danger due to our lack of reconnaissance."
"It was also my family's fault for taking the survivors' information at face value and hastily concluding that an Orc Koenig was leading the horde. I offer my apologies as well."
"Please, not at all. As long as one stands on a battlefield, one must be prepared for unforeseen circumstances and dangerous fights. Apologies are unnecessary. Please, raise your heads."
Noein hurriedly shook his head at Edelgard and Viscount Ludo, who had bowed.
Since they had decided to join the war of their own volition, it would only make them a laughingstock if they started saying things like, "I didn't hear we'd encounter such danger, what are you going to do about it?" Now that his status had become high, it was inevitable that people would be considerate, but he couldn't stand being apologized to for every little thing.
"Besides, Orc Koenigs and Kaisers are only roughly distinguished by old eyewitness accounts; there is no strict classification. The survivors who first reported the horde's appearance were likely in the middle of a confused evacuation, making it difficult to accurately grasp the size of the orcs. Since there have been no sightings of an Orc Kaiser in the last hundred years, it is only natural that they misidentified it."
"...I am grateful for your kindness."
Seeing Viscount Ludo raise his head after saying so, Noein felt a momentary sense of relief.
"No matter how capable the leader of a horde is, I was surprised they had the wit to leave the forest and launch a surprise attack before our combat posture was ready... but if an Orc Kaiser is the leader, it makes sense."
"Normally, orcs are reluctant to leave the forest. And yet, those things left the forest as a group to carry out a surprise attack, and their retreat was coordinated. Even as an enemy, it was impressive... though it's strange to say, it really was a good movement."
When Baron Oggoren spoke in a deliberately slightly brighter tone, Edelgard answered. Perhaps she had consciously shifted her mindset, as she had returned to a calm expression befitting a commander-in-chief.
Orcs are said to grow larger as they age, and the more they survive the harsh natural world, the more wisdom they acquire. In old history books, there are descriptions of individuals more than twice the height of a normal orc who led hordes of hundreds to attack cities.
The current Orc Kaiser was not quite at that level, but it was clear it possessed enough intelligence to think, "I will ambush the prey while they are off guard" and "The tide has turned, so I shall retreat."
"What shall we do? Shall we change our way of fighting?"
"Requesting reinforcements from each territory to bolster our strength is also an option."
"No, rather, an offensive. We have managed to deal a blow to the orc horde. There are likely many wounded individuals now. We should strike in one continuous surge—"
"Foolish. Unless it is for a lure-and-ambush, stepping into a forest teeming with orcs for the sake of an offensive—"
"What do you mean, foolish! Then you suggest a better plan—"
Opinions flew, and eventually, the discussion developed to the brink of a shouting match.
"Silence! You are unsightly."
Count Marcel barked a reprimand. At the roar of the veteran general, the inside of the tent fell silent in an instant.
"Edelgard-dono. You are the commander-in-chief. Decide what to do. I will speak if my opinion is sought."
Perhaps to impress upon everyone present Edelgard's position as the daughter of the leader and the next leader, Count Marcel continued thus.
"...First, we will hasten the transport of the dead and wounded. After that, if there are territories among the neighboring nobles that can send reinforcements immediately, we will accept them. However, only until the establishment of the camp is complete. I will not wait longer than that. Now that we have increased the number of wounded individuals in the orc horde, it is certainly better to fight without delay. Waiting for a substantial number of reinforcements would take several weeks... Since orcs are monsters, their wounds heal quickly. It would be troublesome if the wounded individuals recovered while we waited for reinforcements."
With everyone's gaze concentrated on her, Edelgard spoke.
"In the first place, today's battle was unplanned. We have not even tried the original strategy yet. Even if it is an Orc Kaiser, the number it leads is likely only a hundred or so. Times are different from the old days. We have ballistas and crossbows. We have the puppet mages of the Arqvist Grand Duchy army and the mages of each territory. We even have magic items for attack magic. If we solidify our formation and meet them in battle, there is no change in the fact that we can sufficiently defeat a horde led by a Kaiser... Let us make those monsters realize the terror of humans and make them pay for the insolence of attempting a surprise attack."
The fearless smile on Edelgard's face as she spoke infected the others. Her words were enough to restore everyone's will to fight.
.....
Having finished the military council, Noein returned to the Arqvist Grand Duchy army's camp, bringing along Matilda, who had accompanied him as a guard, and Yuri, who had been present as a staff officer.
Pence, who had remained at the camp to look after the puppet mages and soldiers, greeted them.
"Thank you for your hard work, Noein-sama."
"Thanks. How are the wounded?"
"No particular changes. I had them seen by the military doctors, and they say that if they receive appropriate treatment and are kept quiet, they are expected to recover without aftereffects."
There were no dead in the Arqvist Grand Duchy army, and two soldiers were seriously injured after being blown away by the orcs' attack. One of them had been blown away after taking a hit directly to the chest, but thanks to the jet-black armor, the orc's claws did not penetrate to the body, and it ended with only a broken arm when he hit the ground.
The other had been bitten on the arm, but because of the jet-black steel gauntlet, it didn't reach the point of being torn off, and this also ended with a broken arm.
"I see. Then, let's send those two back to the Grand Duchy first. It seems the Koenitz County army is transporting their own dead and wounded back to their territory, so they said they'd let two or three people ride in the carriages."
"Understood. I will discuss the specifics with the officers of the Koenitz County army... So, what happened to the future strategy?"
"It's as originally planned. Today's battle was strictly unplanned, and we haven't even tried the original strategy yet. If we prepare properly and face them, we should be able to win... that was Edelgard-dono's opinion. Yuri and I generally agree."
"...Well, I suppose that's how it'll be."
Pence nodded without expressing any particular dissatisfaction or doubt.
It would not be wise to shrink back after a sudden encounter battle and attempt a sudden change in strategy. This had been discussed among Noein and the others before the military council.
"However, the horde is led by an Orc Kaiser. It'll probably be a tougher fight than we initially assumed."
"That's quite the bad draw for us."
"Ahaha, true. It would be a lie to say I don't think, 'I didn't hear it would be this difficult.'"
He had told Edelgard and Viscount Ludo not to apologize, but he couldn't change the inner feeling that what was intended as a bit of assistance had turned into a fierce battle. Though it was nothing more than a mere complaint.
"But even if we can lure the orcs out of the forest with a lure-and-ambush, that Orc Kaiser is a tricky one... If it can't be stopped by two ordinary golems working together..."
"Will you use that after all?"
Asked by Yuri, Noein looked back at him with a bitter smile.
.....
"""Ooooh..."""
When Noein, the master, activated the Arqvist Grand Duke's exclusive golem and made it stand up, a stir arose among the soldiers of the Northwest Faction.
"This is... I'd heard stories, but seeing it in person..."
"The giant golem that kills wyverns, huh? It certainly takes one's breath away. But with this, it seems we can go toe-to-toe with that Orc Kaiser."
Edelgard muttered while stunned, and Count Marcel responded with a slightly overwhelmed expression.
Having seen a terrifying orc over three meters tall the day before, and now witnessing a giant golem that didn't lose out to that orc standing up, it was a natural reaction.
"...Even though it was supposed to be made just for ceremonial use."
Because it was made with an emphasis on visual impact and was originally unsuitable for practical use due to its short operating time, he was forced to deploy it in actual combat because that monstrous strength was necessary. Noein felt complicated inwardly that such a situation had arrived again.
Bringing it just in case, with the feeling that it might be useful for raising morale if the situation called for it, showcasing it in this manner was completely unplanned.
Facing the golem so tall they had to look up, the reactions of the Northwest Faction soldiers varied. Some gazed at it enjoyably as if they were seeing a giant from a fairy tale, while others felt a slight sense of fear.
"Amazing. It's like a bad joke."
"This is the one that tore a wyvern of the Lestio Mountains in half, right?"
While some spoke in hushed tones with awe in their voices, others held emotions close to disgust, perhaps due to some of the bad reputations surrounding Noein.
"Heh, as expected of the leader of the demon army."
"It's fine since he's an ally this time, but the thought of this being turned on us makes me shudder."
"Hah?"
Turning toward the direction of the slightly malicious mutterings, Alain glared openly. Then, several soldiers awkwardly averted their eyes.
"Stop it, Alain."
"But still..."
"It's fine, let them talk. No matter who says what, it doesn't change the fact that Noein-sama is great and that we are proud members of the Grand Duchy army."
Admonished by Gustav, Alain turned back forward with a face that still looked slightly unsatisfied.
"If Noein-sama and we of the Grand Duchy army provide assistance, the subjugation force can triumph over the orc horde. Even that Orc Kaiser is no match. To prove that, we simply fight."
Looking up at the abnormally large golem manipulated by his lord, Gustav spoke proudly.