Episode 161 Krafte War – Battle of Bahua (7)
Prince Heinrich, leading the Krafte army cavalry, was gritting his teeth.
His cavalry panicked when an ambush using light infantry was met with a counter-ambush, and when they were attacked by the enemy cuirassier cavalry, they were routed without being able to properly respond.
The prince, who had been expecting a successful outcome, heard the shocking news, rode out, somehow managed to gather up some of the scattered cavalry, and rushed straight ahead.
‘Damn it, if I had been out there in person, I wouldn’t have been treated so vainly!’
“Your Majesty, there is enemy cavalry ahead!”
Haanrich, who was gritting his teeth, immediately picked up his telescope after hearing the staff’s report.
The number is around 2000-2500. Most of them were light cavalry.
They may have been blessed by the Saint King, but they are holding swords that flash with light as if they belong to the Holy Knights, but even so, this side only has 5,000 heavy cavalry.
Since we have already disappointed the king’s expectations, we will be caught up in the decoy army here, and we will not know what we will hear after the battle.
“Let’s divide the troops. Even if it’s only half, you can easily suppress that much. We must prioritize striking the enemy’s main force-”
“This is the Marquis Lafayette, the frontline enemy commander!”
“What what?”
Prince Heinrich’s mind, which was quickly giving instructions, turned completely white.
The prince held his breath as he pointed the telescope in the direction his subordinate was pointing.
A man at the forefront of the vanguard, followed by a standard-bearer carrying the Lafayette family’s emblem.
The familiar military uniform and even the black rose brooch worn on his chest.
It is true that he is the man who came directly to the meeting with the Maharaja.
“…Have you gone crazy?”
Even though there are no reserves, what if the commander-in-chief leads a decoy unit and threatens to hinder the heavy cavalry?
Is it because they are that desperate, or is it because they cannot admit defeat that they have lost their senses?
Either way, this is an opportunity you can’t miss.
…an opportunity to kill the commander-in-chief who fought fiercely against the great king, which cannot be compared to adding a hand to the great king’s victory.
“…Prepare the entire army to charge.”
“Prepare the entire army to charge!”
“Destroy the enemy cavalry at the front! The Marquis de Lafayette must not be missed! It doesn’t matter if you kill or capture! “I will personally reward whoever catches the marquis!”
“ancient!”
A chance to make up for a pointless defeat and gain the honor of capturing the enemy’s commander-in-chief.
There is no cavalryman there that won’t turn a blind eye.
“Charge!”
“Start the assault! For Krafte!”
As soon as Prince Heinrich’s instructions were given, 5,000 heavy cavalry began charging at once.
The Chasseurs’ characteristic carbine gunfire went off one after another, but few among the cuirassier cavalry fell to such single-shot guns.
Even if a few fell off their horses and rolled on the floor, most of them blocked it with magic barriers and raised their swords high.
The cavalry on both sides approaches at high speed, and soon the sad screams of horses and the sound of weapons clashing fill the battlefield.
Although the enemies were outnumbered and consisted mostly of light cavalry, they were not pushed back as much as expected in the first clash.
“Tsk, that Saint Queen thing is more annoying than I thought.”
At the very least, it’s the saintly king’s protection.
However, that divine protection does not last long. Even in the midst of the battle, Heinrich had already received a report from the main army about how their protection had been destroyed.
In addition, since the Cuirassier cavalry basically has many people who can manipulate magic to some extent, even if the battle is a little long-term, this side will be absolutely superior.
The moment Heinrich thought so.
“Monster-”
“Stop it! Stop it!”
Voices full of agitation and astonishment began to rise from the front lines.
Heinrich reflexively lifted the telescope and witnessed.
The sword, swung at a speed that is difficult to follow with the eye, easily tears through the cuirassier’s magic barrier.
As if that wasn’t enough, the cavalry that was trying to block it was also torn in two, tearing the cavalry’s body apart.
The sight of the exposed sword body, even though it was half-covered in blood, flashing pure white with the blessing of the Saint Queen, somehow did not feel realistic.
Heinrich looked at the dancing sword, speechless.
Every time the sword dances, blood splatters and his men are cut in two.
Just when it looks like you’ll be able to catch the Marquis through a loophole, the other two knights fighting next to you will block him and cut him down.
As the three knights at the vanguard cut down everything that approached them with outrageous inaction, and the dozens of casualties quickly reached triple digits, even the brave cuirassiers began to shrink in astonishment.
When Heinrich, who had been staring at the scene in a daze, suddenly came to his senses, he realized that his men were being pushed back.
Are you being pushed back? With only half the army?
“Don’t back down! The enemies are mostly light cavalry at best! Stop them!”
Stop it? That one?
Even the person giving the instructions doesn’t think it’s possible.
No, is that possible?
-The war between Francia and the Empire was truly amazing.
It’s something that only our parents’ generation remembers.
-Among them, you cannot believe the fear of the Blue Knight unless you see it with your own eyes. However, there really does exist a person who can overwhelm an army with just one person.
I thought it was a sight that would never be seen on a battlefield that had already entered the era of gunpowder, mixed with the exaggerations of our ancestors.
Prince Heinrich slowly lowered the telescope.
Meanwhile, the distance between the blood and screams is getting closer.
Even without a telescope, the image of the marquis and knights charging in, destroying everything with overwhelming inaction, is drawn.
Prince Heinrich unconsciously clutched his chest.
The heart beats like crazy.
Is this fear?
He, the heir to the Kingdom of Krafte, is the general leading humanity’s strongest army?
“My Highness! “The vanguard is shaking!”
The staff’s words somehow sounded distant.
-I’m sorry, Heinrich.
-What are you saying, Your Majesty?
-There is a descendant who may be comparable to Jim, but it is a shame that he is not Jim’s successor.
Prince Heinrich bit his molars.
-It will take a lot of effort to stand up to him and continue the strongest kingdom he has built.
I saw it with my own eyes.
He realized that he could not keep up with the person who could bring the battle to this point against the great king.
But that’s why.
In order to continue the Kingdom of Krafte as the great king’s successor and to carry on the name of the strongest, the author must die here!
“Delivery to all fronts! The marquis and the vanguard knights should spread the distance defensively as much as possible and engage in a delayed battle! “The rest of the unit hunts down the enemy cavalry first!”
No matter how great they are, in the end, humans are merely beings who exert temporary power with the blessing of the Saint Queen.
Ultimately, a noble knight. I’m just showing off my prowess by sacrificing my subordinates.
After annihilating a mere light cavalry unit in an instant, you will be able to kill even those who do not look like humans.
Prince Heinrich ordered, clenching his fists.
“Don’t back down! “Show that relic of an old world that it is an army fight!”
If that reckless person wants to follow in the footsteps of the Blue Knight, he will do so!
* * *
I can’t even count how many enemies I’ve cut down.
What I feel is Gaston and Lord Beaumont on either side of my own heavy breathing, protecting me and keeping me in step.
And all I felt was the fear and astonishment of the enemy being overwhelmed by me right before my eyes.
The momentum of the enemies that were rushing towards us like a wave slowed down.
The enemy’s intention to retreat as they approach is already dim.
When I moved my stiff arm and brushed away the sword, blood covered the ground.
Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at the road I had passed.
A barren land full of blood and corpses remains behind me.
It’s been a long, long journey.
Why did I, a nobleman and a knight, join hands with commoners?
Many people had doubts.
There were times when even Christine didn’t understand why I made the judgments I did.
A simple lesser evil.
Since I know the obvious worst, I will survive by siding with those who are victorious.
Even though I had to convince myself that way, I took this path.
“Ugh!”
Just like before, he threw away the sword of the charging knight and stabbed the sword into his chin.
He kicked the person who was screaming and spouting blood, pulled out his sword, and swung it at the enemy who was running from behind.
The enemy panicked and raised his sword to block, but was met with the fate of being cut in half with the sword.
When combined with the blessing energy bestowed by Eris on a mithril sword that absorbs magical power without waste, it creates a power that can overwhelm ordinary heavy cavalry.
A strength that surprised even myself added to my confidence.
I don’t know if it’s the divine power that returned me that Gremory said was the effect, but I’m clearly getting stronger every time I receive divine power.
“Like a monster-”
Before the enemy could finish his sentence, his throat was cut and he collapsed, bleeding gushing out.
Hot blood spurted from my neck and soaked my body.
Why do they fight to the point of being soaked in blood like this?
Now I know the answer.
I was a nobleman, but not a nobleman.
From the beginning, the Blue Knights were not allowed to have the sense of privilege and pride that they should have as nobles.
Because of the Blue Knight, who saw me as a political enemy of the future and thoroughly oppressed me, I grew up feeling closer to the people who looked up to me rather than the nobles.
Because only the moment I showed mercy to them and was praised and respected by them could prove my worth.
That’s why I was so devastated when everything about me was denied to the revolutionary army and I was executed as no different from the corrupt nobles.
I felt so strongly that I had to join the republic, not to survive, but to prove that I was different from those corrupt nobles.
Even though Raphael Balian may be the biggest threat, the option of assassinating him was never even considered.
Because he defeated me with the support of the people in the name of freedom, equality and fraternity. Because he was the leader I longed for to be respected and loved by the people.
I feel burdened by the mistakes I made while fighting without even knowing it, piling up a lot of blood and sacrificing my own people.
There are still countless enemies in front of you.
The sword danced again and blood splattered.
“Your Excellency, it looks like the enemies are attacking the cavalry first!”
When I turned my head at Gaston’s call, I saw a cavalry unit that had entered the open road while we were breaking through and was attacked from the flank.
When I look ahead again, I see Prince Heinrich’s flag in the distance.
If we break further in the future, will we be able to target the author?
If you try to protect your men here, won’t you miss the opportunity and be crushed by the numerical superiority?
-Christine For you.
Fighting for a future with Christine and my people.
I said.
I will no longer fight for Franzia.
I will never force Christine and my people to make sacrifices again.
and.
“To General Gaston’s left wing. Lord Beaumont to the right. “Protect your unit.”
“But, Mr. Marquis, that could put you in danger.”
– Pierre For you.
Christine fights for me.
She said.
-You don’t have to feel sorry for me because you gave up on a path that is the same as death even if you survive. I trust you, so I will wait and hope that you will repay my trust.
Christine sent me such a letter as I was about to jump into enemy territory against the Storm Witch.
Even before I shamefully swore allegiance to Eris, who became queen, and even before I saw Isidor’s death, she was able to see through my true nature.
The reason I fought so hard was not just to survive.
I looked again at the road I had passed.
Only blood and corpses remained on the path where the Blue Knight ran. Those who followed him suffered devastating losses, and in the legends that sing of his death, only the Blue Knight’s inaction remains.
But now, on my battlefield, which is covered with corpses and blood, symbols of death, thousands of armies who have believed in me and followed me are fighting fiercely.
This is the difference between my blue knight father and me.
I commanded them to follow. I did not command this to go ahead alone and become a legend.
In order to lead this battlefield to victory, to make sure that the sacrifices of those who fell on this battlefield are rewarded by those who will struggle and survive on this battlefield!
“If they fall, I will eventually die too. Saving them is the way to save me. good!”
“I accept the orders of His Excellency the Marquis!”
I could see Gaston and Beaumont running quickly to both sides, and their men, covered in blood, giving an unwavering gaze even though they were exhausted and outnumbered.
All of these people are already mine.
What I dreamed and longed for before returning is already in my hands.
There are people on this battlefield that I must protect. For this, we have fought, shedding blood and piling up corpses.
So thank you.
Blue Knight Hubert de Lafayette.
Without you I would.
I could never have come this far.
When they see Gaston and Sir Beaumont walking away, the enemies begin to attack them.
I adjusted my sword.
A long, long journey that was fought and stained with blood along the way.
All for this very moment!
“Follow, revolutionary army! “I will be your shield, so do not be afraid of your enemies!”
* * *
On a hill overlooking the plain where hundreds of thousands of armies are engaged in a firefight.
Charles II was holding a telescope and looking not at the plain where his soldiers were fighting, but at the ridges on the flanks.
A battlefield where the Marquis de Lafayette is leading less than half of the cavalry to protect the flank of the main army, clashing with 5,000 heavy cavalry led by his successor.
And after a fierce battle with less than half of the cavalry, Charles II saw the 5,000 heavy cavalry being pushed back little by little but surely, and slowly closed his eyes.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Ammunition is exhausted….”
I prepared for war my whole life.
I pursued glory my whole life.
During that time, did you ever think it would turn out like this?
I was told to break myself, but I never thought that would actually come true.
The undefeated great king who knows no defeat.
The one who commands humanity’s strongest army.
“Haha hahaha….”
Laughter naturally flowed out.
This is the first blemish on his glorious legend.
Why is it so full of joy?
The great king raised his staff and struck it down with all his might and opened his mouth.
“This battle is my loss.”
“I am very sorry, Your Majesty.”
The king had no longer seen the staff members bowing their heads in apology.
His gaze turned to the Marquis de Lafayette, who was fighting desperately at this very moment, and to the Saint Queen Esiliste, who was in the enemy’s main force.
Clap- clap-
clap- three times slowly. After giving them inaudible applause, the Great King turned his back without any hesitation and ordered.
“To prepare for the next performance, we need to avoid any more losses than this. “I’m retreating. Order the entire army to retreat.”
