My Villains Episode 341
59. Plateau (1)
Three and a half days passed.
The battle was over in a couple of hours at the most, but it took a considerable amount of time to gather enough troops to continue the march.
The damage suffered by the dragon knights and bloody mane mercenaries was enormous.
Of the 1,600-strong army from Antrum, as many as 350 people were killed, and that number of soldiers received large and small injuries and needed treatment.
Besides, even the supply carts had been burned to as much as X, so it was only natural that it would take time to recover.
As for comfort, the damage to my men was minor. Except for two mercenaries who lost their lives from blind javelins and arrows during the first charge, there were only a few wounded.
Even Fritz, who broke into the enemy cavalry, returned without a single scratch. Following Utequai and striking the back of the enemy, he benefited greatly from wearing the ’emperor’s bestowal’, a precious magic tool and full body armor.
In addition, the horse-shaped golden statue that Utequai created with the unique effect ‘Hand of Greed’ attached to the ‘Hand of Mammon’ has disappeared.
Apparently, among the enemies who escaped, the shrewdest one took care of it, but I feel like I’m going to die. It must have been quite heavy, so how the hell did you take it with you?
In any case, none of the subordinates were seriously injured, so as soon as the brief treatment was completed, Priest Okan sent them to their headquarters. Shouldn’t the main unit’s damage be settled before the army can move or not?
Many of the elite soldiers of the Ariaga family, who made up the main unit, were also killed or injured. The dragon knights’ bombardment was well blocked by the wizards’ quick response, but the cavalrymen’s reckless charge and the troll gang that suddenly appeared took great damage.
It would have been better to move to a nearby village or castle to refine the military discipline, but unfortunately it was not possible. It was for completely unexpected reasons.
In front of a large tent with golden curtains embroidered in white. There were more than 20 people who could be called the main axis of the army gathered here, such as the lord, knight, wizard, and officer.
While they were talking to each other, a middle-aged man appeared as he opened the tent entrance.
“General McNeil.”
“How did it go?”
As the armed men gathered, General McNeil opened his mouth with a wry smile.
“It is the Count’s judgment that he needs time to gather up his troops.”
“is it.”
The Earl Macneil was referring to was, of course, Oth, the grandson of the Marquis of Avon and the commander of the army from Antrum.
Yes Count Os. That sixteen-year-old boy was the biggest reason we were still hanging out among the windswept hills.
Antrum’s minor lords and knights only nodded, but no one opened their mouths.
but. It would not have been wise to question the judgment of the one who would one day become their lord.
“By the way, General McNeil.”
However, this is the story of ordinary people, and the boy who came out of the boat casually expressed his doubts.
“…Tell me, Baron Luyan.”
“Why can’t the Count convey that simple meaning in person? Why should we be staring at the general’s mouth when we’re not baby birds?” Just like when we first met in the woods, the boy, Baron Ruyan, was dressed in leather with messy hair and dirt everywhere. Of course, even in the midst of that, her reddish-brown eyes were as bright as fireworks.
Even facing those eyes, General McNeil replied calmly.
“He said he needed some time alone to organize his thoughts.”
“Do you organize your thoughts?”
“yes. Since we lost a lot of troops, shouldn’t we revise our plan?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I want to say. Shouldn’t we come together to fix the plan?”
“If you’re talking about the military (military), it’s already been several times-”
“Earl Osu objected to the decision made through the military doctor. Then, can’t you ask what that means?”
Without realizing it, a bloody laugh came out. It’s just pretentious and so on.
It’s not something I can’t understand. In the last battle, I didn’t lose a single soldier, and I had a lot of credit.
Ruyan’s unit defended our right wing, but the front opponent, the enemy’s left wing, was captured by knights including me. Thanks to that, even in the midst of thousands of cavalry sweeping the battlefield, they did not receive a single cavalry charge.
Of course, that didn’t mean Ruyan was just sucking his fingers.
He quickly read the battle, moved his troops, climbed the hill on the other side, took up position, and opened fire. The allies drove the enemies with the relentless barrage of arrows on their backs.
When the bloody mane mercenaries rolled up, it was Baron Ruyan who most actively pursued them.
He tore up a scroll of magic he didn’t know where he got it and cast a ‘spider web’ spell. There have been well over one hundred and fifty cases of falling off a horse or falling down with a horse.
As a result, Lu Yan took over three hundred supplies without losing a single soldier. While Luyan’s 100 or so soldiers boasted the same level of precision as the soldiers of the marquess, most of the other minor lords’ units
collapsed
as soon as they were bombarded by the dragon knights, far from being active during the battle.
It was only natural for the young baron to expand his position.
General McNeil, who must have understood this situation better than anyone else, replied with a smile on his face.
“The commander of this army is Count Oth, not Baron Luyan.”
“what?”
“It means that it is not essential for the Count to ask everyone, including the Baron, for their opinions.”
‘If it’s black, black.’
Ruyan could have been offended by that simple yet powerful message, but Ruyan just shrugged.
“…okay. I’m worried that you’ll have to bear the heavy responsibility alone, but I can’t stop you.”
General McNeil’s mouth twitched slightly at the bony words. The young baron, reading the middle-aged general’s expression, continued his speech with a twirling expression.
“Fortunate for me. There was so much loot that we needed time to organize it.”
Lu Yan captured more than 100 horses and 10 carts of soldiers.
Guess I was stung by my conscience to gulp it alone, but I distributed some to Os, Ulkar, and myself, but more than half was still left.
I watched how he handled all of them, but he kept only one horse and scattered the rest to his subordinates. For a 13-year-old kid, Tong is a big guy.
As Luyan stepped back with a smile, General McNeill glanced at Prince Ulkar’s men.
Of course, Ulkar was not here. It’s not possible for a person the size of a prince to hang around in front of someone else’s tent.
Of course, Ulkar also asked to meet separately, but Oth kept avoiding the prince after saying hello for the first time.
Even if Ulkar was a prince with a mighty army, Os was also a great lord. He said he didn’t like it, but he couldn’t force himself to meet him.
So Ulkar sent some knights and officers here to replace him. Of course, me included.
“The prince wants to leave within today.”
It was Sir Filter, a knight in gray plate armor, who opened his mouth.
Sir Filter was a man with an intelligent impression and a calm atmosphere to match. We drank together once, but he said he was very gentleman when he never lost his posture and never raised his voice.
“Is it necessary to move so quickly?”
“If it was planned, you should have left two days ago. You don’t know what kind of harm the remnants of the Bloodmane Mercenary Corps will do to the territory.”
Ulkar’s first plan was to clean up the remnants of the bloody mane mercenaries and make a big round around the plateau.
He was planning to organize a cavalry force of 150 to 200 men by adding the knights of Antrum to the guardsmen he had led to clear the rear.
“The Highlands are a land full of monsters and frequent wars, Sir Filter. Even in a normal village, the defenses are formidable, so you won’t suffer much damage from the escaping remnants.” “They are the Bloodmane mercenaries. They are better at plundering than fighting. The serfs cannot be praying to stop them.”
Lord Hilter continued in a low, quiet voice.
“I’m not saying to move the entire unit right away. The infantrymen are going to move after recovering the damage, and now I’m asking you to give me at least the cavalry.”
There were not many casualties among Antrum’s knights and cavalry.
Except for six or seven who were injured when breaking through enemy lines and four or more who were injured while attacking troll warriors at the end of the battle, the rest were in a state where they could move immediately if they wanted to.
I’m not proud of it, but it’s thanks to my hard work. About half of the knights of Antrum gathered here right now owed their lives to me.
But whatever the circumstances, there was no way General Macneil would want to give up his cavalry. In a situation where the loss of troops was already large, it was because he was asking for the strong power of knights.
“When I saw it three days ago, not to mention the prince’s knights, his own soldiers were also very brave.”
“Sir Phoenix and the Red Bear, who have the skills to single-handedly defeat the enemy vanguard, have joined the already powerful silver prince’s guard troops. We can handle the remnants of the Bloodmane Mercenaries without difficulty.”
that’s not wrong
Even if the remnants of the Bloodmane Mercenary Corps suddenly banded together and launched a counterattack while fleeing, they would be able to destroy them in one blow with the power that Ulkar had now.
“If Antrum’s knights help, it’s not difficult, but it can be handled very easily.”
“That is correct. But the Count’s determination is so strong, what can I do? It’s not the best, but isn’t it fortunate that we were given the next best option?”
“It is not so.”
General McNeil’s clever words could have made his fever rise, but Sir Filter shook his head calmly.
“Our enemies are the Duke of Abillambus and his father Burcard, and their army is as many as 5,000.”
“That’s not a bunch of ragtags, but a powerful and ruthless army made up of destroyers sent by the dragon knight ‘Linhow on the Mountain’, pagan slave corps, and magic soldiers. To win against such opponents, you must choose the best move in every situation.”
“You are right, but…
General McNeil let out a short sigh before opening his mouth with a wry smile.
“But Sir Hilter. It is impossible to make the best of a war from start to finish. Humans make mistakes.”
“It is not so.”
Upright posture, clear voice, resolute tone, unwavering gaze.
Hilter said with sincerity.
“Nothing is impossible for my lord.”
“Uh”
“S3
“I can assure you that the prince has never chosen a less-than-optimal move in war. That’s why you haven’t lost a single game since you won in this land nine years ago at the age of 17.” No matter what the impression or mental atmosphere is.
A knight was a knight.
Sir Filter was also a man who devoted his childhood and adolescence to war. And he was a man who earned the nickname ‘painter’ by being recognized for his skills among countless knights in the kingdom.
There was an unusual momentum in the words of such a man with confidence.
“…well, even if that’s the case,”
General McNeil corrected his trembling voice with a cough. Then, he put his hand on the magic sword ‘Hogar’ given by Marquis Ea Bon and stood upright.
“An order is an order. The authority to command Antrum’s knights and cavalry rests with Count Oth, and no matter what the Lord says, I cannot go against it.”
The man who was born as a farmer’s son and became a general proudly spread his chest in front of the man who became a superman without the help of magical powers.
Sir Filter looked at General McNeil with a slightly cold gaze and nodded.
“Okay.”
After saying that, he closed his mouth.
A cold wind blew in and silence came. Those gathered in front of the tent looked at each other as they adjusted their cloaks or coats, but no one spoke.
Okay, it’s my turn again.
