Chapter 97 - Episode 96: The Royal Command
Early December, Year 213 of the Kingdom Calendar. Marquis Siegfried Bechtolsheim, the figure who unified the noble factions of the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Roadberg, had been summoned to the royal castle.
"Siegfried Bechtolsheim, I have come by the command of His Majesty the King."
"Good work. I am grateful to you for responding to this sudden summons, Marquis Bechtolsheim."
"As I am His Majesty's loyal subject, I shall come gladly whenever His Majesty calls."
Since this was a summons for practical discussions rather than a ceremonial audience, Siegfried was shown into a room used for deliberations.
Upon entering, Siegfried immediately dropped to one knee to show the greeting of a subject, and exchanged words with the King, who was separated from him by a generation's worth of years. Siegfried was the age of a father, and the King was the age of a son.
The current King of the Kingdom of Roadberg, Oscar Roadberg III, was currently 31 years old. He was a young king who had ascended to the throne at the tender age of 24 after the previous king died prematurely of illness.
With a dignified demeanor that radiated certain confidence, and features full of intelligence and elegance, he emitted a charisma that more than compensated for the lack of experience due to his youth.
"Between you and me, let us put away the stiff greetings. Please, have a seat."
"Yes, then I shall."
Urged by Oscar, Siegfried stood up and sat in a chair before the conference table. Both the table and the chairs were luxurious items fitting for placement in the royal castle.
"You know Count Burkhard here, I presume. He currently serves as the general manager of the Kingdom's army as the Minister of Military Affairs."
"It has been a long time, Your Excellency Bechtolsheim."
"It has been a while, Lord Burkhard."
Siegfried also exchanged greetings with the middle-aged man sitting beside Oscar—Count Burkhard.
Count Burkhard was a self-made man with years of experience fighting on the front lines as a corps commander of the Kingdom's army. He was known as a heavyweight in the current center of the Kingdom, and was appraised within noble society as a talented man fitting to serve as the head of a prestigious military house.
"Since he is present, is this a military council?"
"That is the case... well, the moment you were summoned in such haste, you likely guessed most of it."
Responding to Siegfried's question, Oscar let out a slightly exhausted sigh.
"Information has come in that the brat of the Kingdom of Lancel is proceeding with preparations for war."
"...Is it finally time?"
Siegfried replied, his voice tinged with exasperation.
The one Oscar referred to as a "brat" was the current King of the Kingdom of Lancel, Cadne Lancel I.
Originally, the Kingdom of Lancel was an emerging nation born about 60 years ago in the form of unifying a region where small states stood in disorder. Because it brought stability to a region plagued by chaos, its birth was welcomed by surrounding nations, and it had built a relationship that could be called friendly with the Kingdom of Roadberg.
Following the founder and first king, the second king also strove for internal affairs for the sake of domestic prosperity, developed trade with surrounding nations including the Kingdom of Roadberg, and became famous as a moderate and wise ruler.
The problem was the next one. Cadne, who became the third king at a young age.
The third son of the previous king, Cadne—who originally was not meant to inherit the throne—had murdered his two older brothers to seize the seat of the king.
Furthermore, he seemed to be a person with an extreme lust for power; to increase his own influence, he began to direct territorial ambitions toward the Kingdom of Roadberg, located to the east of the Kingdom of Lancel.
That was about five years ago. For Oscar, Cadne—who had ascended to the throne of the neighboring country within a few years of himself and was not much different in age—was now an existence that could be called an arch-enemy.
"It would have been fine if he had quietly strove for internal affairs like the previous and the one before that, yet he shows unnecessary ambition... Precisely because the previous two were wise rulers, it is even more troublesome that the Kingdom of Lancel has acquired a national strength that cannot be underestimated."
The population of the Kingdom of Lancel was said to be approximately 1.5 million. In terms of national strength, the Kingdom of Roadberg, which surpassed them in both population and history, was still superior, but the Kingdom of Lancel, which had steadily achieved domestic development over these 60 years, was now a powerful nation that could by no means be ignored.
Additionally, since skirmishes continued with the Pallas Empire to the east, preparations for that side were also indispensable. The problem was that the Kingdom of Roadberg had to face the Kingdom of Lancel using only half of its national strength.
"Rather than the harassment-like conflicts until now, the fact that they are preparing for a full-scale war... does the enemy's foolish king believe he has sufficiently weakened our southwest?"
"That is likely so. Truly cowardly fellows."
The conflict, which began because the Kingdom of Lancel initiated it, had taken on the aspect of the other side harassing and this side simply dealing with it.
Small units of the Kingdom of Lancel's army would move around the border region, where plains and forests coexisted, passing through the forests to burn fields, attacking villages and small towns, and then fleeing back into the forests. The Kingdom of Roadberg's camp responded to each occurrence. It was exactly a game of cat and mouse.
However, this harassment was extremely effective.
Because public order and food supply became unstable, the economy of the southwest stagnated, refugees increased, and that in turn worsened public order. Prices also soared. Compared to before the conflict began, the southwest had been steadily weakening.
"By continuing the harassment for several years, it seems the enemy sees a chance for victory and is attempting to launch a full-scale war. However, this can also be called an opportunity for us. If we crush the enemy's main force, they will likely be quiet for a while."
"It is exactly as you say. With the national strength of the Kingdom of Lancel, if they suffer a major defeat once in a large-scale battle, it will become difficult for them to continue the war any further."
Siegfried nodded at the thoughts Oscar spoke of.
"Therefore. In this battle, which will likely determine the future power balance with the Kingdom of Lancel, I wish for the nobles of the northwestern faction to join as well. In order to certainly crush the forces of the Kingdom of Lancel with a great army, your strength is necessary."
"...If it is for His Majesty's sake, we shall all hasten to come with enthusiasm. To stand in the battle line for a great war to protect the country is the greatest joy of a Kingdom noble. I thank you for calling upon us."
"I am glad to hear you say that. I myself shall thank you for your loyalty."
Siegfried did not particularly want to participate in a war in another region for his own pleasure, but as a Kingdom noble who had been granted land by the royal family, there was no choice other than to respond immediately. Fighting for the country was the most important duty of a noble.
Oscar nodded with satisfaction at Siegfried, who responded with a face that looked happy, at least on the surface. The fact that he did not notice Siegfried's momentary hesitation was a sign of this king's youth.
On the other hand, Count Burkhard, sitting beside him, noticed Siegfried's thoughts, but because he understood the heavy responsibility of the man as the head of a regional noble faction, he deliberately ignored it and let it pass.
"Then, the concrete details will come from me."
Once Siegfried's ready consent was confirmed, Count Burkhard became the speaker in place of Oscar.
"According to information from spies we have slipped into the Kingdom of Lancel, the enemy forces are expected to eventually swell to about 15,000. Against that, on our side, we will have a total of 6,000 territorial troops from the southwestern faction led by the leader, Marquis Galdwin, 2,000 mercenaries, and 7,000 conscripts. And from the Kingdom's army, 3,000 from three corps, totaling 18,000."
Normally, every country slips spies disguised as merchants or travelers into neighboring countries to gather information. Since one can easily tell how large a force they are trying to assemble by watching the movement of soldiers and supplies, it is nearly impossible to prepare for war without being discovered by other countries.
"I see, so even at this point, we have the advantage in numbers."
"Yes. And here, the nobles of the northwestern faction will join. If so, we will greatly exceed the enemy in military strength and be able to make victory certain."
"No matter how much influence the continuing conflict has had, Roadberg is a great power. We will not fall behind the Kingdom of Lancel in troop numbers. The enemy who underestimated us will learn a painful lesson."
Following Count Burkhard's explanation, Oscar spoke thus.
"I understand. Then, from the northwestern faction, I shall dispatch 5,000 territorial troops. Lord Burkhard, will that be sufficient?"
The number of troops Siegfried proposed was not the maximum possible mobilization considering the population of the northwest. However, considering that all of them were regular troops consisting of professional soldiers, the combat power was considerable, and it was a reasonable amount considering the burden of moving an army from the northwest to the southwest.
"It is sufficient. I thank you."
"Also... from our side, I would like to bring one new weapon."
Toward Siegfried, who made that proposal, Oscar smiled fearlessly.
"Is that the new type of bow called a Crossbow?"
"You were aware of it?"
Even while saying so, Siegfried was not surprised that Oscar had already grasped information on the Crossbow. He was well aware that the royal family constantly investigated the movements of each regional noble faction.
"I have had it investigated that such a weapon exists. I can also predict its usefulness... rather, I was waiting with anticipation for the moment you would bring it up. If you were to hide a new weapon from the royal family at this stage, I would have to suspect treason."
"Heaven forbid, His Majesty must know that such a thing would never happen with me. For I have known His Majesty since you were a child."
"Ah, it is a joke... to me, you are like a noisy old relative."
"Hahaha! There is no difference indeed."
Siegfried also laughed at Oscar, who spoke teasingly.
Since the time when Oscar was still called His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Siegfried's cheerful personality had been liked by him. Since Siegfried's wife also carried the bloodline of the royal family, from Oscar's perspective, he was exactly an existence that should be called an "old relative."
"Since the Crossbow is a new weapon that has only recently come into the world, detailed operational methods had not yet been established. I was thinking of reporting to Your Majesty after accumulating sufficient operational results through training and monster hunting, but it happened that the war came first. I am truly sorry for the delay in informing you."
In truth, there was also the intention of "mass-producing the Crossbow ahead of other regional noble factions and increasing the presence of the northwestern faction by achieving results in the war," but Siegfried did not go out of his way to mention that.
"Well, very well. You also have a position to protect the interests and power of your faction. Either way, it is a joyful thing that a useful weapon for our country is born."
"And so, Your Excellency Bechtolsheim, how many of those Crossbows can you prepare?"
"For the amount to be equipped by the various territorial armies of the northwest... I believe about 3,000 can be gathered. With this, soldiers who originally lacked the skill to handle bows will be transformed into archers equipped with sufficient technique."
"An additional 3,000 archers. That is truly encouraging news."
The number of archers greatly influences the state of the battle. If they could increase that by 3,000, there was no doubt that the Kingdom of Roadberg's side would become advantageous.
"Even so, how did you create such a weapon?"
"The Crossbow was developed in the Arqvist Knight-Bachelor's territory, at the edge of the northwest. I hear it was born as a result of Knight-Bachelor Arqvist investing in the eccentric idea of a certain blacksmith."
"Knight-Bachelor Arqvist's territory... ah, a piece of the Bezel Great Forest that I heard came to be held by Count Kivileft's illegitimate child."
The one who gave the Arqvist territory to Count Kivileft as an exclave was Oscar's father, the previous king. The story that it was pushed onto Count Kivileft's illegitimate child had naturally reached Oscar's ears, also thanks to a post-facto report from the Count.
"The current Count Kivileft was hardly a capable territorial lord, but is that illegitimate child excellent?"
"He is quite an eccentric, but he is a man who is considerably sharp-witted. He could be called a talent who will bring great profit to the Kingdom in the future."
"I see... to the extent that you praise him so much. I wish to meet him once."
"Since the Crossbow will show a certain level of effect in this war, I believe we can meet him using the reason of granting a reward for that."
"I look forward to it."
Hearing Siegfried's story, Oscar's interest in the youth who ruled the Arqvist Knight-Bachelor's territory expanded.
"Then, it is decided that we shall mobilize 5,000 territorial troops from the northwestern faction, including 3,000 crossbowmen. The start of the war will likely be shortly after the end of winter."
"Ensure that you can assemble near the border with the Kingdom of Lancel in time for the end of winter. Siegfried, I expect a hard fight from you all."
"Yes. We shall demonstrate the loyalty of the northwestern nobles to Your Majesty through our conduct in battle."
While showing a salute by forming a fist with his right hand and placing it against his left chest, Siegfried spoke so with a voice full of confidence.