Chapter 452 - Episode 435: Gathering
The Grand Duchy of Arqvist army, having departed from the Earldom of Kivileft, was proceeding to merge with other Eastern Army units in a position slightly to the northwest.
The core consisted of the army of the Marquisate of Bittenfeld and conscripts from its populace. To this, forces from other noble territories, including the army of the Earldom of Kivileft, gathered, and by the time a week had passed since the day the landing of the enemy invasion force was confirmed, the numbers had swelled to approximately seven thousand. It was a speed that exceeded the original plan.
Most of the armies were composed of cavalry and infantry, archers and crossbowmen, and units equipped with ballistae and the like. Among them, there were several faces Noein recognized.
"Hello, hello, hello! If it isn't His Highness the Grand Duke of Arqvist! I am glad to see you looking so well!"
"Viscount Queul! My, I am happy to see such a nostalgic face!"
At the encampment serving as the gathering point, the one who called out with a half-smile upon seeing Noein was Viscount Queul, a famous noble of the southeastern region. In high society, people frowned at his sarcastic words and behavior; in his private life, people spoke ill of him for playing the part of a mask couple with his wife while indulging in affairs; yet, in mobile warfare, he boasted some of the finest skills in the kingdom—a man of extreme polarities in reputation.
Because he excelled in tactics that poked at the unpleasant parts of an opponent's heart, he was often spoken of alongside Noein in the noble society of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, but since both Noein and Viscount Queul believed "I am simply a superior tactician, unlike that person who employs loathsome tactics," they existed in a relationship where they each found the other hateful.
Without letting such inner thoughts show in the slightest, Noein and Viscount Queul exchanged pleasant smiles and a handshake before parting.
At another time, Noein was surprised while looking at a noble territory army that had newly joined. It was because among that force of about thirty people, there was an orc clad in metal armor.
"...It's impressive seeing it in person. So that's the rumored—"
It was a famous story that there was a head of a noble house belonging to the northeastern faction who used subjugation magic to lead an adult male orc. Noein had heard that the army of that noble, possessing abilities that seemed compatible with the Claymores of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist army, would join the Eastern Army to fight this time.
At the head of the force leading the orc, a female noble who seemed to be the subjugation mage in question noticed Noein and approached.
Then, she extended her hand with a smile.
"I believe this is the first time I have the honor of greeting you directly, Grand Duke Arqvist. I am Baroness Bianca Lamprecht, a noble of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg."
"...Nice to meet you, I am Noein Arqvist. I have heard of your achievements up until now."
Noein also formed a gentle smile and responded to the handshake.
"I am honored. As a noble of the kingdom, it is a great joy to be able to fight side-by-side with the renowned Grand Duke Arqvist... That is the monster I subjugate; his name is Dagul."
As Bianca said this and beckoned, Dagul walked over with heavy thumps.
"Now, this person is a very important person. Greet him."
Obediently following his master's words, Dagul bowed his head toward Noein.
"...Hahaha. Pleased to meet you."
At the unprecedented experience of being greeted by an orc, Noein's smile stiffened. It was the first time he had seen an orc from such a close distance. It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid.
"Bugoh, buuuu."
"Honestly, saying things like that is rude to His Highness. Really."
The orc let out a cry, and Bianca scolded him with a mixed smile. Noein knew as a matter of knowledge that subjugation mages could understand the language of the animals or monsters they led, but seeing a human communicate with an orc, he could not help but be shocked.
"Lady Lamprecht, what did he say?"
"My apologies, Your Highness. This child still cannot understand the structure of hierarchy in human society. He cannot shake the idea that the physically strongest individual is the most important."
"...I see."
Noein more or less guessed.
Looking at Noein, this orc probably asked his master why such a child-like man was a "very important person." He felt relieved to know he hadn't been told that Noein looked delicious and asked if he could eat him.
"I believe we shall be acting together with the Grand Duchy of Arqvist army this time. We cannot become a powerful force like the Grand Duchy army, but we shall do our utmost."
"I believe that by acting together, your friend and my army's golems will demonstrate their effectiveness. He is a reassuring ally who can do things our golems cannot. Let us cooperate and strive together."
The orc led by Bianca was only a single one, Dagul, but unlike golems who only move as the caster operates them while remaining near the caster, Dagul could think and move on his own. He could be expected to play a role that filled the gaps of the Claymores.
The Grand Duchy army and Baroness Lamprecht's army would likely be assigned to tactics such as ambushing in narrow paths, villages, or urban areas after another unit drew the enemy's attention. For Noein and the others, Bianca and her group could be called the optimal allies.
"Thank you, Your Highness... Well then, we must prepare the camp, so I shall see you later. I must also give this child his meal."
Saying so, Bianca took Dagul and returned to her own forces. Looking closely, Baroness Lamprecht's army was leading several live goats.
"Those are—"
"Likely food for that orc," Yuri answered Noein with an indescribable expression. It was a famous story that orcs preferred live prey.
"...Impressive."
While sensing the fate of the goats, Noein gave another wry smile.
.....
Another week later. The gathering of the Eastern Army was mostly complete.
By this time, it seemed all units of the Republic of Betumia army had completed their landing; units thought to be the main force were advancing north one after another, while units to the east and west were apparently being deployed to defend the invasion route.
The scale of the enemy army facing the Eastern Army was approximately ten thousand. From the perspective of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, this was sufficiently powerful, but the Eastern Army's strength exceeded thirteen thousand. For Noein, it was the long-awaited advantageous battle where the allied side held the numerical superiority.
"Currently, approximately five hundred cavalry led by Viscount Ringholm are out on a reconnaissance-in-force. They are scheduled to confirm the enemy's deployment and composition of troop types, and if possible, attack and destroy the frontline bases the enemy has created by occupying villages and the like, returning within a few days."
The headquarters of the Eastern Army, located in a fort at the foot of a certain mountain in the southeastern part of the kingdom. Before the major nobles gathered in one room, the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Army, Marquis Bronislav Bittenfeld, spoke.
"According to reports via the 'Far-Talk' communication network, it is thought that the Central Army, based in the royal capital Lichthagen, will encounter the enemy's main force within a week. Simultaneously with the Central Army's encounter, we will begin our westward advance and pin down the ten thousand enemy forces facing this direction. The Western Army will likely move similarly in the opposite direction... In parallel with that, small units will wound the enemy's supply lines. We will isolate the enemy's main force and neutralize the enemy's various units, as if strangling them with silk cotton."
The strategy on the Kingdom of Rhodeberg's side was to isolate and annihilate the fifty thousand enemies approaching the royal capital.
If the supply lines were tightened, an army of fifty thousand would starve and collapse in an instant. Even if the enemy tried to procure food locally, the evacuation of surrounding settlements and the transport of food had already been completed.
No matter how great the numbers, hungry soldiers are fragile. Rather, in this case, the enemy's large numbers would become a heavy shackle. If at least forty thousand gathered, and furthermore, if it were the Central Army with the strongest fortress and supply base—the royal capital—at their back, they could almost certainly win.
"Though our role is to pin the enemy down... it wouldn't be a problem to simply crush them, would it?"
At that moment, one of the high-ranking nobles of the southeastern region spoke. To this, Marquis Bittenfeld nodded.
"Of course. If our army defeats the enemy's eastern defense units, we can directly pressure Ostreich and the supply lines. The neutralization of the enemy's main force will be accelerated... Likely, the Western Army thinks the same. They have great numbers with reinforcements from the Kingdom of Lancel, but we have Grand Duke Arqvist, who performed the greatest achievements in the previous battle. Let us crush the enemy's defense units before the Western Army, advance further west—and in the name of God, deliver divine punishment upon the hateful Betumia."
Marquis Bittenfeld, who usually wore a cold expression, smiled defiantly for once, and among the nobles gathered there, those who held territories in the southeast also wore ferocious smiles. Their hatred toward the Republic of Betumia, whose territories had been directly trampled in the previous war, was even deeper than that of Noein and the others.
"That said, our current role is to stand by. After Viscount Ringholm's reconnaissance-in-force unit returns—"
"R-Report! An urgent report!"
At that moment, a soldier burst into the room where the military council was being held.
A courier on the battlefield could enter even the general's bedroom if they judged the report they were delivering to be urgent. No one blamed the soldier for his actions.
"What is it? What happened?"
"I shall report! From the enemy's eastern defense force, a unit that subjugates monsters has advanced, preceding the main body! ...T-The enemy is manipulating a giant land dragon and has encountered Viscount Ringholm's reconnaissance-in-force unit! The reconnaissance unit has been scattered!"
Upon receiving that shocking news, the nobles stirred. Noein was also stunned by the completely unexpected story.
"...The order to stand by is revoked. First, confirm the situation. Find the enemy's position and route. Also, I want to hear from those who survived the reconnaissance unit, especially those who saw the land dragon directly. And my lords, please prepare for combat... especially Grand Duke Arqvist. It seems we shall be borrowing your strength immediately."
"Yes, leave it to me... Regrettably, I am used to fighting large monsters."
Noein answered Marquis Bittenfeld with a wry smile.