Episode 612. War and War (4)
“At least it would be difficult to regard it as a normal state. It seems to have done something special.”
“Is it possible to do this only through training?”
“It can’t be.”
The Marquis of Feltane denied it.
In the past, to reduce the fear of the soldiers and overwhelm possible enemies, the means to lose their rational judgment were sometimes used.
When it was a tough battle, it was necessary to raise morale even by force.
According to the records, there are enough anecdotes that he gave his allies fear and made them fight desperately by giving them medicine made from a decoction of herbs with strange effects.
“No matter how much drugs I use… … It won’t be this ferocious.”
“Come to think of it, isn’t there a rumor that the Merman Empire conducted such research about 40 years ago? Breaking down the reason of the soldiers and using them for tactics.”
It’s not even an open rumor.
It is said that there was once such a study.
It was an idea that an empire that had a needlessly large territory and a large number of people at the time would do.
Now, they say they don’t even study it because it’s a useless tactic.
“Maybe something like that. However, they say that the research will eventually become uncontrollable even for allies, so they won’t be able to use it… …
“Maybe they have completed it.”
“Um… … Anyway, that’s pretty good. The problem is how to deal with their crazy spirit.”
Just guessing doesn’t give you an answer.
“Can’t I and the nimble knights go out and cut them down?”
Kania quietly proposed, but no one agreed.
Kania moderately noticed the atmosphere and pretended to click Chii’s tongue.
Even in this situation, the reason she is here right now is that everyone is trying to stop her from saying that she will run away right away.
“As far as defense is concerned, we are still doing our best. Sending people out for no reason will cause chaos.”
“Above all, the sword master of the Principality of Elben has not yet gone to the front. Now that the siege has become full-scale, it would still be a rash decision for Kania-nim to step forward.”
“ah… … That’s what he said. Was it Sir Swen?
The reason why he didn’t dare to let Kania come forward was because he had received a message from Elben Principality through intelligence a while ago that the Sword Master had been sent out.
However, he is not yet seen on the battlefield.
This side can’t blindly send out a person who has reached the same level.
“Even if you want to send a detached unit to attack from the side, if you have guys like that against you, only the allies will be confused.”
“Hmm… … So, do you plan on holding out? What do you think of Lord Feltane?”
Margrave Feltain was silent.
Either way, opinions are appreciated.
There is also an opinion that the sit-in is safer as it is.
There is also an opinion that they should somehow cut off their momentum.
But you can’t predict what will happen if you choose either one.
What should I do?
“… … It might be better to act.”
The Margrave of Feltain eventually gave his opinion.
“Lord Feltain… … Even though. Even the soldiers are tired.”
“I’m saying this because I’m tired… … Even if we hold a sit-in like this, we cannot be sure whether their momentum will be exhausted first or our allies will be devastated first.”
“… … Wouldn’t they usually leave first?”
Right now, the soldiers of the Principality of Elben are rampaging without even taking a break.
No, to be precise, it would be ‘I am fighting because my body can’t even take a break’.
“The question is, where did they keep it? Has anyone seen them collapse from exhaustion after running amok like that?”
No one answered.
“It might be better to fight back. First of all, I don’t know what they’re up to.”
“then?… ”
Kania tried to say it as if he had been waiting.
However, Marshal Feltain nodded as if to wait a moment.
It means the opposite.
“Why?”
“There is no need for Kania-nim to step out in this situation. Please wait first. And there are things I would like you to do differently.”
“… … What are you going to do?”
“… … You have to watch it first.”
A basis for judgment is needed.
“First, we will respond in the usual way.”
Sword Master of the Principality of Elben.
Swen, who is famous as the strongest knight in the duchy.
Swen Kell Nepal.
He was a bit late as ordered by his lord, but he participated.
No matter how much it was a war for self-interest, it was a law that required procedures to send out the strongest knight of the principality.
So, Swen had just joined.
However, he was not thinking of jumping into the current battlefield.
To be precise, it wasn’t the time for that.
“What is this!”
He was ready to grab and throw the man in front of him by the collar.
I was thinking of finding the commander-in-chief and arguing with him, but for some reason he wasn’t there, and this man, his lieutenant, was acting in his place.
Stunned
, at Swen’s spirit, the man shrugged his shoulders and took two steps back.
“I want you to calm down for a moment.”
“Are you serious now?”
If he had been calm in the first place, he would not have been so furious.
“Is this a war! Where is the honor in that shit! Where is the fighting spirit!”
He doesn’t shout anything positive about the war either.
I know it’s better not to fight.
However, since the lord ordered it, he had no intention of questioning it.
However, his resolution was shaken to the root as soon as he arrived here.
If the enemy had been stronger, he would not have been shaken to this extent.
Even when he was defeated by the leader of the Dark Church, he was not shaken this far.
“What the hell is that horrible sight!”
When I arrived, the soldiers of the Principality of Elben were clinging to the enemy’s fortress like beasts.
It’s a long way from saying that you bravely run into it without looking back at your own life.
Knowing the reason, Swen was stunned.
All of this is due to the new equipment given to the soldiers a while ago.
armor on them.
They called it the ‘Armor of Valor’, but bravery is nothing.
In reality, it clouded the wearer’s mind and prevented them from thinking about anything other than given commands.
It is a cursed armor made to be inferior to a single beast by lowering the accident rate to the extreme.
The curse of berserk is hanging.
It also has the ability to tenaciously maintain vitality, so it doesn’t die easily.
In short, it is a walking meat shield.
As soon as he found out the truth, it was natural to be angry.
“for a moment! Please wait!”
The man who was tearing Swen off had to hold on to his pants crotch and stretch.
In the end, it was because he could not see this situation and protested against the collaborator who brought it.
Even pull out the window.
“Could it be that you’re in the same company?”
Did you agree and contribute to this madness?
If so, I will not forgive you.
Swen growled in anger.
“That’s not it! If you protest against him, Lord Swen’s safety is at risk.”
All responsibility now rests with him.
It’s not that there aren’t people who find this situation strange.
The knights as well as the soldiers had questions and put them in their mouths.
The problem is that he executed all of them just because the collaborator was against his will, and that’s not his arbitrariness.
All of that was done with the posthumous permission of the lord of the Principality of Elben.
In fact, Maltenel had an order with the lord’s seal on it.
His words were no different from the lord’s intentions.
“Even if you don’t like it, Lord Sween needs to step back first.”
“What nonsense… … Are you saying I’m pretending not to see this to check my safety?”
“hmm… … I hear something disturbing.”
It was the disapproving collaborator who intervened in their quarrel.
“… … For you.”
How old is Swen? I barely held my breath and looked back.
It just went well.
Since the culprit came directly, I was able to argue and move on.
Even in front of Swen’s angry gaze, Maltenel lightly raises the corners of his mouth as if he is rather funny.
“haha. That’s scary.”
Then let’s lift our fingers A nearby chair, untouched, was pulled by itself.
I just sat on the chair on my own.
“This chair is cheap. Not spending money on the military is the same everywhere.”
Then I crossed my legs and waited for the other person to talk first.
Swen barely suppressed his anger and asked.
“It’s just fine. Even if you don’t, I wanted to ask you something about the current situation.”
“Anyway, there are many people like Sir Swen who are really naive. I thought you’d come to pick me up soon.”
“… … That means you know very well what you’ve done.”
Swen suppressed her anger as much as possible.
Even so, the intention to kill that I can’t hide feels like a sharp blade.
Only those who watch are trembling and paying attention.
“What are you doing… … Well, this side was just moving according to the contract that was decided with the lord of that side.”
“Even so, there is a line that humans must not cross.”
Swen did not hesitate and rebuked Maltenel.
“Even if a war is won, if not even an ally remains, whose victory is it?”
“It must belong to those who remained in that territory.”
“What?”
“Well, considering the size of your territory, annihilation might be a bit painful.”
“What are you talking about!”
Swen was once again taken aback.
I can’t understand what this man is talking about.
Now the two men have different points of view.
It is the exact opposite of what is considered important.
I felt faint goosebumps at that fact.
“All right. After today, it doesn’t matter that much anyway. Even if we destroy it as it is, there will never be any damage to that territory.”
“I can’t speak… …
Swen made up her mind.
Maltenel’s gaze also sinks, as if he had recognized his intentions with just his eyes.
However, on the other hand, it made breathing sounds as if it was interesting and expected.
“Are you going to go against the will of your lord?”
“I don’t think it goes against me.”
Swen answered without hesitation.
“It is also a duty to give advice to bad decisions. After stopping this madness, I will speak directly to the lord.”
If I blame myself, I will fully fulfill my responsibility.
“What if you don’t like it?”
Swen’s mood sank.
There is no need to speak.
It means you’ve made up your mind enough.
If you don’t listen to the end, you will be cut down.
He was already pulling out the window.
This is why knights don’t really care.
Maltenel thought so and yawned.
“I’m not kidding, are you?”
“If you want to kill me that much, go for it. The challenge is to accept it.
step.”
Maltenel just smiled badly, not moving a step.
“If you don’t mind killing the soldiers.”
Meanwhile, Swen’s outstretched spear came to a close stop, almost touching Maltenel’s neck.
“Yes, yes. You have to stop like that.”
Saying that, Maltenel slowly raised his arm.
In his right hand, a small cylindrical device is gripped.
“Did you know there would be no countermeasures?
That armor has enough controls. It’s when you lose control and grit your teeth.”
Maltenel held the device in front of Swen’s face.
“Orders can be given very simply. If you don’t believe me, should I try it? If you kill only 50 people, you will believe it. Do you want to see how vain people can die?”
“… … This cheating bastard.”
