Chapter 466 - Episode 449: Good News
The fighting retreat of the main force of the Betumia Republic Army's invasion force became a gruesome affair.
Although the hope of return had finally appeared, they had already been struggling with food shortages for over a week. While under pursuit by the main force of the Kingdom of Roadberg, it was impossible for forty thousand soldiers to retreat while maintaining order.
Desertions from the army. Abandonment of the wounded. Theft of the remaining meager food and supplies. Furthermore, situations even arose where different units within the army fought and killed each other to seize food. When the main force of the Kingdom of Roadberg launched coordinated attacks upon them, the Betumian forces vanished from the edges like snow melting under heat.
By the time they managed to reach Osterreich, the total number of the Betumian main force had fallen below twenty thousand.
And even after reaching Osterreich, they could not feel relief. The units guarding the eastern and western parts of this bridgehead were already in a state of collapse, and the transport columns connecting the central main force to Osterreich had all been neutralized by enemy guerrilla warfare, leaving the remaining military strength at under fifteen thousand.
With a force that somehow reached thirty thousand, the Betumian invasion force entered a posture of defending Osterreich to the death.
In contrast, the forces of the Kingdom of Roadberg overwhelmed Betumia in terms of numbers.
The central main force led by Oscar Roadberg III numbered over thirty-five thousand, even though they had suffered some attrition from continued pursuit and had reduced their numbers to maintain the supply line to the royal capital.
The Western Army, led by Marquis Lubomir Galdwin and Queen Henrietta Lancel, numbered over twenty thousand, having maintained almost their entire combat strength.
The Eastern Army, led by Marquis Brosnilav Bittenfeld and Grand Duke Noein Arqvist, also maintained almost their entire combat strength at fifteen thousand.
Furthermore, there were approximately five thousand total forces consisting of Princess Helga Revelant's unit—reinforcements from a foreign land—and forces that had been active as guerrilla units in various regions.
With a massive force reaching a full 2.5 times that of the Betumia Republic Army's invasion force, the Kingdom of Roadberg and its friendly nations completely surrounded Osterreich.
"My lords. I am glad that we have been able to reunite, all safe."
After the encirclement was complete, the commanders of each unit gathered in the tent of the main camp, which served as the general headquarters. Looking around at them, Oscar spoke.
Oscar, the King, and the leaders of all four factions of the kingdom. The heads or representatives of the Kingdom of Lancel, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, and the Kingdom of Revelant. High-ranking officials of the rank of minister or director held by each.
This distinguished assembly bowed to Oscar.
"How were the battles in each sector?"
"...I suppose we could call them trivial."
"Yes. As if the events of seven years ago were a lie, we were able to obtain victory with ease."
Although he had already received general reports, when Oscar intentionally asked, Marquis Bittenfeld and Noein answered.
"...Indeed, to be honest, it was anticlimactic."
"I had braced myself for how formidable a superpower from the far south would be, but they were fragile in the extreme."
Marquis Galdwin and Henrietta also spoke thus.
"What we fought were merely transport columns... but even if there were a hundred of them, with that kind of fighting, to put it bluntly, they were no match for us."
The one who gave this evaluation was Helga. In this battle, they proved that beastman units—which had not been created until now due to custom or emotion—were extremely effective under certain conditions.
"It seems every army fought flawlessly. Very good... Now, it seems our army's victory is already unwavering, but let us remain vigilant until the end."
Oscar said with a smile.
The Kingdom of Roadberg would no longer lose to Betumia's invasion force, but it was not yet known what had happened with Irene's coup in the Betumian home country. Whether Irene won or the Wealth-Building Faction won, the future response would change.
Most likely, the commander of the invasion force holed up in Osterreich was also holding out with the hope of relief from the home country as his only lifeline.
They would have to maintain a sense of tension for a while longer. That was something everyone understood.
.....
More than a week had passed since they returned to Osterreich through a hellish fighting retreat. Even after returning this far, the situation did not improve at all, and the Betumia Republic Army's invasion force was forced to simply endure while continuing to fight hunger.
The soldiers' morale had already hit rock bottom, and there was a succession of those who deserted and surrendered on their own. With every passing night, the number of soldiers decreased.
That limit-state situation finally moved on the tenth day after the retreat.
"Commander! It's a Betumian contact ship! A ship's silhouette has been spotted offshore!"
At the report of the officer who rushed into the headquarters, the generals present stirred. Donald, on the other hand, did not show a large reaction.
A contact ship from the home country. Whether it was from the Wealth-Building Faction or from the faction that succeeded in the coup, the story would change depending on that.
"...Good work on the report. Prepare to receive the contact ship."
While giving instructions, Donald left the headquarters himself and headed toward the port. The generals followed him.
When they walked through the streets of Osterreich and reached the port, many officers and soldiers were gathered there. Everyone wore expressions of joy. Many who did not know the inside story believed without doubt that the contact ship before them was a harbinger announcing relief from the home country.
Which contact ship was it, indeed? While Donald watched with a stiff expression—
"...Hey, what are those following ships?"
"Those aren't Betumian warships!"
"That flag... it's the flag of the Kingdom of Roadberg!"
"Why are they with the Betumian ship!"
Seeing the swarm of Kingdom of Roadberg warships appearing behind the Betumian contact ship, the officers and soldiers began to stir.
"...It seems it didn't work out."
Beside the muttering Donald, the expressions of the generals surrounding him were uniformly grim. The fact that the Betumian contact ship and the Kingdom of Roadberg warships were acting together meant exactly that.
While the Kingdom of Roadberg warships stopped offshore, the Betumian contact ship entered the port as it was. The person who stepped off the ship was one of the few high-ranking officers with connections to the Nationalist Faction, known to Donald and the others.
"General Donald Patterson, Commander of the Kingdom of Roadberg Invasion Force. I have come to deliver the words of Provisional Prime Minister Boran Woodmel from the Provisional Government of the Betumia Republic. I wish to speak with you after the others have been cleared away."
Provisional Government. Provisional Prime Minister Boran Woodmel. The officers and soldiers within earshot of those words caused an even greater stir.
"...I understand. For now, let us move to the headquarters."
Donald answered in a voice he strove to keep calm, while suppressing a sigh.
Hearing the words of this messenger, he understood. They had lost. The era of the Wealth-Building Faction, and of themselves as allies of the Wealth-Building Faction, had ended.
.....
The Kingdom of Roadberg Navy, which had been hunting enemy transport fleets on the Betumian Navy's transport routes, discovered a Betumian high-speed boat acting alone during their duties.
This boat, likely a contact ship, did not flee but instead approached the Kingdom of Roadberg Navy fleet. The officer aboard told them that they were messengers of the Provisional Government established by General Irene Foster and the Nationalist Faction, and that the coup in the home country had succeeded.
The Kingdom of Roadberg Navy escorted this contact ship to the kingdom's coast and let them land at Osterreich. At the same time, they landed a single boat from their own fleet on a coast slightly away from Osterreich, sending a messenger to report the situation to the Commander-in-Chief, Oscar Roadberg III.
The one who landed as the messenger was Count Julian Kivileft. Accompanied by guards and having joined the kingdom's army on the ground, he headed to the headquarters tent located on the north side of Osterreich.
"Lord Kivileft. I believe it was a demanding mission, but good work."
"No, I have merely fulfilled the natural duty of a kingdom noble."
There was a hint of tension in Julian's voice, but his demeanor was generally dignified. Noein, who welcomed Julian alongside the other generals by Oscar's side, was once again impressed by the grown appearance of his half-brother.
"I shall now report... First, the damages to the Kingdom Navy are minor. There were about thirty dead in total between infantry and sailors. Also, the number of sick has been kept low. The Kingdom of Bendam is maintaining a cooperative attitude toward the Kingdom of Roadberg Navy."
The Kingdom of Bendam, located to the east of the Pallas Empire, maintained friendly relations with the Kingdom of Roadberg. One of the islands possessed by that country was currently handling rear support, such as supplies, for the Kingdom of Roadberg Navy.
"And to the main point, it is said that the coup that occurred in the Betumia Republic ended in victory for General Irene Foster and the Nationalist members of parliament. They have generally seized control of the administrative organs and the military remaining within the country. With the help of the republic's citizens, they have succeeded in establishing a provisional government and maintaining their power."
"...I see. General Foster succeeded in the coup, did she."
Oscar smiled with satisfaction and muttered.
With this, the Betumia Republic Army's invasion force was completely isolated in enemy territory. Until now, the enemy had defended Osterreich to the death because there was hope that relief would come from the home country. Now that it had been crushed, the enemy would no longer fight.
"Good work on the report. You must be tired from the long military service. For now, take a little rest, and deliver my words of appreciation to the Navy Commander."
"As you wish. I am grateful, Your Majesty the King."
Julian bowed with refined movements, and before leaving the tent, he turned his gaze toward Noein. When Noein nodded silently, Julian let a smile play on his lips and exited the room.
"...Now, my lords. Our victory is decided."
Oscar looked around at the generals and spoke thus.
On the following day, a messenger was sent from the Betumia Republic Army's invasion force, requesting a discussion between the commanders.