Episode 131 Iberica – Battle of Ciudad (1)
As it was a port city built for trade with France, the road from Bilbao to Dilus was fairly well laid.
Thanks to this, we, who left Bilbao Port and headed south, were able to arrive at Dilus within a few days.
The second capital city founded by the brothers Crocs and Iberica.
“Oh-”
The sight of a big city built around a fortress built by a chieftain to rule like a king is quite realistic even for us from Frangia.
In particular, there were many people who were amazed by the fortress, which was larger than the French fortress of Verdun.
Perhaps because it is the capital of a unified nation that has never existed in Iberica, it seems to have grown noticeably larger than the last time I visited, even though not much time has passed.
I was quite moved by it –
“The fortress is so wonderful that it would be a waste for a barbarian city – I apologize for this sin, Your Excellency the Marquis!!”
Damien de Mirbeau, who had shattered my feelings, immediately apologized after receiving my glare.
“You know that if you say something like that one more time, you’ll be retrained along with the soldiers.”
When we got close to the city, Hassan and Shandra went first to tell Crocs.
“I’m so sorry…”
Damien kept lowering his head and groveling, but I suddenly felt like I had been poured cold water on him.
There are still idiots who think and say things like this, and he is one of only two commanders in the revolutionary army. her.
I thought my perception had improved a lot thanks to the help I received from Shandra in the last war, but there’s still a long way to go.
I may have thought too easily about human prejudice.
“…just in case, crack down on it properly so that no one makes mistakes like you. “I don’t believe there’s someone so stupid sitting in the commander’s chair that he doesn’t even know why we’re here.”
I came here to pay off my debt and make them a firm ally and get help in the war against Krafte, but if you ruin that with petty prejudice, that’s just fine.
“Oh, I understand. “Your Excellency the Marquis.”
“If, by any chance, someone comes along who belittles or despises these people and causes trouble, then it’s really…”
Instead of saying anything, I glared at Damien, who nodded eagerly in response.
“Whether it is true or not….”
“Okay, I believe it.”
Regardless of Damien de Mirbeau’s personality, he is a man who makes sure to take steps to protect himself, so he will make sure something like this doesn’t happen, even if it means overturning the unit.
by the way.
I narrowed my eyes and examined Dilus’ mood.
When I first came with a delegation, not only were there troops guarding the road to welcome us, but there was also a huge crowd of people welcoming us, and Crocs even mobilized his guards to welcome us with courtesy, although it was a bit overbearing.
There are a few people coming out to welcome us as we pass by, but there are no troops and it’s hard to hide the chaotic atmosphere.
Did something happen?
Something feels cheap.
Come to think of it, didn’t you say that Crocs don’t feel good?
Just as I was thinking that, I saw Hassan and Shandra galloping on horseback from the opposite direction.
“Tsk.”
I don’t know what happened, but it’s definitely not normal.
Why aren’t ominous premonitions wrong?
* * *
Until the day before, Crocs was preparing to welcome us in the capital Dilus.
However, an urgent report came in that morning, and the situation was so unusual that they immediately went out with their troops.
After reassuring Hassan and Shandra, who kept apologizing, that we were okay, and resting in Dilus for just one day, we headed south following Crocs.
Fortunately, thanks to Damien being teased in advance, there were no people who expressed their dissatisfaction or said unnecessary things such as how Iberica’s brothers were rude.
As expected, Damien de Mirbeau may not know anything else, but he makes sure to do one thing that puts his own safety on the line.
In any case, we didn’t have to go very far, and after just two days of heading south, we were able to join Crocs’s troops in Ciudad.
However, the news I heard from Crocs, who joined, was not very pleasant.
“Three front-line garrisons were annihilated in two days?”
“Yes brother. So I came down in a hurry without being able to greet you. “I’m sorry.”
The cheerful orc Crocs said in a very distraught tone, and I waved my hand.
“No, there is nothing we can do in that situation. Rather, I think it is a good decision. “Can you tell me exactly?”
Even though they are allies, they have suffered a fatal defeat in vain.
They might try to hide it rather than tell it, but Crocs wouldn’t make such a mistake here.
As expected, Crocs pointed at the map with his thick fingers and opened his mouth.
“The areas that were attacked are here, here, and here.”
I was surprised that Crocs said it was annihilated, but it really wasn’t a joke.
“They are all close to the front line towards Porto Port.”
After hearing what I said, Crocs nodded and answered.
“Yes, if you listen to the reports from the messengers, it appears that they moved in chronological order and attacked sequentially.”
“…Sequentially? “Not simultaneously?”
This is something strange.
There is a considerable distance between the three garrisons.
To attack those things sequentially within two days, the army would have had to march almost non-stop.
Moreover, if you fight a battle, whether you win or lose, it takes time to clean things up.
“…Did they attack by dividing their units?”
That doesn’t mean the troop deployment-
“If that were the case, the troops going to attack the rear posts should have been discovered.”
“…What is the extent of the damage?”
“The losses were my 10th confidant, many commanders, and about 5,000 troops.”
5000. This is more than the troops I brought with me.
Although it was a long-term standoff, it was understandable that many troops were deployed as it was a front line facing the enemy’s main force, Porto Port.
Meanwhile, Crocs expressed it as annihilation.
This means that, rather than being ambushed by a small number of troops, the enemy’s main force was wiped out in a confrontation with the enemy’s main force, which was capable of inflicting crushing damage on a large number of troops.
Then, of course, there was no way he could have missed an army of that size from the garrison jutting out in front…
“They really sequentially wiped out the three garrisons positioned at this distance. … in two days.”
It doesn’t make sense based on tactical common sense, but if the conclusion is already known, common sense is wrong, so there is no choice but to piece it together somehow.
“What on earth happened? What do the survivors say?”
Crocs furrowed his brows, brushed his fangs with his hand, and then spoke with a gloomy expression.
“…There is no accurate information.”
“I lost 5000, but there is no information?”
At least there will be some remnants.
Isn’t this more shocking than the fact that three garrisons and 5,000 people were wiped out in two days?
“In all three places, other than the messenger sent when the attack first started, no troops have retreated.”
“No…”
A routed army is bound to run away for its life, and the pursuing army eventually gets tired and has no choice but to stop pursuing.
But other than the messenger sent when the attack first started, not even the remnants of the defeated soldiers remained?
I don’t know what happened, but it seems highly likely that the demons who have been quiet for a while have done something big.
“…What is the messenger’s report?”
“It is said that a huge number of armies arrived, moving as one body in a strangely orderly manner unlike anything I had ever seen before. All three places are the same. “I don’t know what happened to those who saw more than that.”
It’s an army that is strangely orderly and moves as one body. It reminds me of the goddamn great king’s army…
“You say the enemy was an army made up of cavalry?”
Originally, horses were rarely spoken on the Iberica Peninsula.
Horses themselves are quite sensitive to heat and are creatures that consume enormous amounts of hay and water.
It costs too much to raise horses to be used as war horses in Iberica, which has few plains, many mountains, and is even hot.
However, this is the local situation in Iberica, and we have immediately brought the cavalry with the intention of receiving supplies and operating it from our home country.
There is nothing that Abyss Corporation cannot do. If the enemy had brought a large cavalry force, this could be explained to some extent by the fact that they were chased and destroyed.
“No, I heard there were no cavalry in sight.”
“….”
what?
So, in two days, the army wiped out three garrisons located at a distance that could have been reached in two days by marching, and the enemy without cavalry completely annihilated the fleeing troops? Is that also 5000?
Crocs said that he was clearly the 10th henchman. The people Crocs calls henchmen are all highly talented people, so it’s not like the person who got hurt was an incompetent fool.
I feel like everything I know about war is being denied.
I slowly turned my head and looked at Damien de Mirbeau, who was making a stupid face.
…I should expect from the person I expect from.
I’m sorry about the gas tank, but it doesn’t help much in this regard.
ah.
With low expectations, I looked back at Giselle Davy, who was standing behind us watching our meeting, but she also lowered her head with an apologetic look on her face.
“It looks like you don’t know either brother.”
Crocs looked a little disappointed. Aside from this bravery, I wondered why the corpse orc was sitting here, and the damage was great, but I couldn’t understand the situation, so I guess I was expecting it too.” ”
…Okay. Honestly, this is my first time seeing something like this. … But I do understand one thing.”
I ran my hand over the map.
“If you look at the locations of the garrisons attacked by the enemy, it seems likely that the enemy’s target is Dilus. Looking at the maneuvering distance between each base, if they had advanced at the same speed, they should have arrived here a long time ago. Tactically, there is no reason to miss such an opportunity.”
However, in the early stages, three garrisons were annihilated in a surprise attack, and three days were wasted without taking advantage of the surprise attack.
“But I couldn’t do that. It is reasonable to think that their army cannot continue the offensive with such momentum. “Whether it was because of rest due to an unreasonable forced march, or because of supply.”
Crocs brushed his fangs and nodded.
“That’s the only clue we have for now. “You’ll know when you fight.”
Then, the tent of the barracks was lifted and a leopard beast with a familiar face appeared.
“Your Majesty, the enemy’s army is approaching here.”
Crocs, who heard the words of his fifth henchman, Ostel, jumped up from his seat and shouted.
“You’re finally here. “Let’s make them pay!”
“Oooooh! “Avenge your brothers!”
The Crocs commanders who cried out in unison looked very brave…
…but it means that those who were attacked probably ran away like this and were also attacked.
Crocs’s army is 20,000 and his army is 3,000. Considering Crocs and their bravery, something like that shouldn’t happen… but there’s
something about the fact that these guys, who have a history of wiping out armies that can’t even retreat, are attacking this way. It must be there.
An unknown enemy that the Crocs army, who fought throughout Iberica, is seeing for the first time.
If so, it is possible that Abyss Corporation took action directly.
If you recklessly take a turn without knowing anything and end up in vain defeat here, their capital, Dilus, will be in danger.
“…Crocs.”
“Say it brother.”
“The infantry will take your orders. “Is it okay for my cavalry to move separately as a reserve during this battle?”
Crocs answered without hesitation for a moment.
“Do as your brother wishes!”
Anyway, it’s exciting.
“Ah, please leave it to me.”
Cavalry is the most appropriate class to cover the retreat of the main army in case of emergency. I am confident enough to jump into a dangerous place and cover it.
With that thought in mind, I stood up and made eye contact with Damien de Mirbeau.
“Your Excellency the Marquis, I also-”
“No.”
Damien, who was cut off before he could finish, looked aggrieved.
“You came to support the alliance. If we’re all going to go to reserve, what are we here for? Who commands the infantry? Are you going to send it without a commander?”
“But…”
Why? Are you jealous that I, the commander-in-chief, am the only one missing from the reserves?
“I’m joining the reserve unit to help out in times of dire need, but you want to join because you don’t want to be in danger.”
“That…”
Damien’s face was wrinkled, but he couldn’t deny it, so I tapped him on the shoulder and said.
“A ‘master of defense’ who is effective only in times of danger.”
This person can only exercise his or her abilities when he or she feels that his or her life is in danger, so this level is just right.
“Okay then.”
I said, looking around at the commanders, including Damien and Gaston.
“This is not Francia’s war, but it is also our war. “Do not forget what caused the revolution. It would be nothing but hypocrisy if we, who rose up against the king who sold his people to the devil, allow our compatriots to be sold to the devil.”
Is this your first battle with the Abyss Corporation?
“Let’s go show those devils our worth!”
