「Fire-, fire-! Don’t let them get any closer! Prince Mercurio is in the camp! We cannot let it fall!」
At their commander’s orders, archers loosed a great number of arrows.
While they were in their own camp, they were still fighting within enemy territory, so their stock of arrows was limited.
However, if they held back now, Mercurio, the leader of the rebel army, could potentially lose his life.
With the possible consequences, it would be foolish to hold back on shooting arrows now.
In addition, the bulk of the rebel army was currently away, eliminating the blockading troops, to they were vastly understrength.
They couldn’t afford to fight while saving arrows.
The same couldn’t be said of the punitive force.
The main rebel force, including Vihera, was currently not present, but there was no telling when they would return.
That was why the punitive force used their superior numbers to their advantage, pushing through with brute force, disregarding the casualties.
「Honestly, I don’t like this way of fighting.」
Pelfiel muttered as she watched the soldiers of the punitive force charge into the rebel camp.
The only thing she could say about the attack was the sense of duty.
As Pelfiel said, she didn’t like this method of battle.
Her preferred form of combat was fighting fair and square, forcing submission through superior strength.
But while that was what Pelfiel preferred, Kabajid still trusted her to suppress her own desires and follow orders.
Fighting the way she wanted or fighting the way she was ordered. Given a choice between the two, Pelfiel would still choose the latter without hesitation.
She didn’t slack either, putting all her effort into the battle, showing just how strict Pelfiel was to others……and even more so to herself.
The rebel camp had less than 3,000 soldiers and adventurers who had stayed behind.
With Vihera and the others leading the majority of the rebel camp outside, that was all that remained against the punitive force’s 20,000 strong army, putting the punitive force at an overwhelming advantage.
But still, they were unable to defeat the rebel army immediately……
「They’re here, they’re here again! It’s that small force! They’re on our right flank!」
「Damn it-! They’re so troublesome!」
「Send out the cavalry! Don’t let them get away this time! Where is the other bothersome group!?」
「They’re not here yet……no, they’re here! They’re on the other flank, highly mobile Demon Soldiers, including those with the lower bodies of horses!」
「Damn them, coming out at the same time! Pelfiel-sama!」
「I know. Retract the cavalry’s order. Send the first and second units towards the small force, send the cavalry to the Demon Soldiers, they are more mobile and can use hit and run attacks. Don’t forget to provide support with archers and mages.」
That was right, the reason was the two forces currently troubling them.
At the start of their attack, a small force……the guerrilla force that Rei led, had gone on the attack, toying with the punitive force.
The punitive force had lost a lot of their strength in the previous battles with the rebels and they also had to divert some of their forces to blockade the roads as well as hinder Frizione’s advance, so they weren’t exactly at full strength either.
Even so, they would have been able to deal with the guerrilla force alone.
However……Mercurio and Theorem judged that if things continued as they were, the guerrilla force would end up suffering heavy losses and eventually be suppressed by sheer numbers, so they decided to deploy their trump card as well, the Demon Soldiers.
At first, the rebel army had been confused by the barely human appearance of the Demon Soldiers and almost attacked them.
However, Mercurio, the leader of the rebel army, and Theorem, the commander of the rebel army, issued orders to tell the soldiers that the Demon Soldiers were allies and that attacking them was forbidden, avoiding the risk of friendly fire for now.
The fact that the Demon Soldiers only attacked the punitive force also served to relieve the rebel army.
In contrast, the punitive force was in a much more confused state.
Some of those who had participated in the Spring War had seen Demon Soldiers before.
Unfortunately, not many here had participated in the Spring War, so the soldiers quickly fell into disarray at the sight of the inhuman attackers.
No matter how hard their commanders tried to calm the confusion, it wasn’t that easy. On the contrary, the it was the Demon Soldiers who, despite their chimerical appearances, were able to keep a human level of judgment……although that did depend on the specific Demon Soldier.
In any case, with that level of judgment, the commanders shouting as they tried to calm their soldiers made ideal targets for the Demon Soldiers.
Those they saw as commanders were killed in a variety of ways, extending tentacles to pierce them, decapitating them with pincers, gouging out throats with claws, strangling them with vines, and using poisonous spores that would cause people to vomit blood.
……If it wasn’t for the fact that the poison would fade after a short time, even the rebels would have suffered the aftereffects.
After being hit by numerous attacks from both the guerrilla force and Demon Soldiers, the punitive force had suffered losses that couldn’t be called minor.
But still……
「Damn it, this is bad! If the enemy numbers get any larger, we don’t be able to handle them! We need reinforcements!」
「Don’t be stupid! We need forces in other places as well. We don’t have the strength to spare!」
「Argh, come on! Why are there so many of them? We don’t have enough soldiers! Bring more arrows!」
「It can’t be helped, most of our army went out to attack the blockades! Our only consolation is that we still have supplies for now!」
「Even so, we don’t have a lot left either!」
Screams of despair could be held all over the rebel camp.
Although the losses the rebel army had suffered weren’t all that great at this stage, it was impossible for them to fight against an enemy more than six times their number, regardless of what the Demon Soldiers and guerrilla force could do.
「Damn it, where has Crimson gone? Please come back soon!」
A scream like cry was heard, but no one answered.
In many places around the camp, long range attacks with magic and arrows had already ceased as the rebel army engaged in close quarters combat with the punitive force.
Other places were not far off from that position either.
……At the same time, it was undeniable that they eagerly awaited the return of Rei, who would have the strength to reverse this situation in one fell swoop.
The battle raged on, one side advanced one step while the other retreated one step……or rather, as one side advanced one step, the other retreated two steps.
Still, they were able to fight back even with the difference in strength due to the support of the guerrilla force and Demon Soldiers.
Of course, many among the rebel army had also been trained by Rei.
The soldiers put up a brave fight and were somehow able to maintain a tenuous state of balance in the battle.
「They have overwhelming military strength and we can’t use smoke signals to contact our allies. Even if we try to send out messengers, they are on high alert. Is this a lost cause?」
Mercurio muttered from within the magic tent at the center of the rebel camp.
Even though his life was in danger, he didn’t feel any sense of despair.
(But, that doesn’t mean he isn’t scared.)
Theorem thought to himself as he saw Mercurio grip his hand tightly.
Mercurio knew that he was the leader of the rebel army. If he were to panic, those around him would follow suit, which would quickly spread to the rest of the army, leading to the annihilation of the rebel army.
Because Mercurio understood this, even though he felt the danger of his current situation, he didn’t show it as he pretended that things were the same as usual.
(You need to remain calm in times of crisis. It’s easy to say, but how many people can actually do that? Of course, Prince Shurus and Prince Kabajid can probably do the same as well.)
With a bitter smile, Theorem shook his head at Mercurio.
「It’s true that we are at a great disadvantage in the current situation. I never thought that they would resort to such a tactic. I certainly didn’t think that they were really trying to starve us out by blockading the roads……but we still have a chance at victory. The battle is still going smoothly and while we are at a disadvantage, it doesn’t mean were being completely overrun.」
Theorem’s words were true.
However, it was only because the guerrilla forces and Demon Soldiers were supporting them.
It may sound good to have small elite forces holding things together, but it inevitably came with problems with regards to stamina.
After all, not everyone had endless stamina like Rei and Set.
「For now, we have no choice but to endure and wait for the right opportunity. The troops led by Vihera-sama may notice that this place has been shrouded by an illusion and send a messenger. Quantum Breath……did you say it was called? It’s supposed to be a royal treasure, so Vihera-sama should naturally know about it. And, above all, Princess Frizione’s army should reach us very soon.」
Whispers sounded around. The nobles who were listening to Theorem, with the exception of Mercurio, were filled with hope.
To strengthen that hope further, Theorem continued speaking.
「As soon as the punitive force launched their attack, I sent my men to Princess Frizione. Considering when Rei left for the Imperial Capital, it’s likely that the messengers will have come in contact with the army. Since Princess Frizione’s army is traveling on foot, they won’t be the fastest, but Rei is there. And Rei had Set.」
The hope brought by Rei and Set’s names were undoubtedly the greatest factor in this situation.
Seeing their faces shine with hope, Mercurio gave a wry smile.
He realised that Rei, who was just someone they had hired for the war, was needed here much more than himself, the leader of the rebel army.
(Although it would be pointless to try and be competitive with Rei in regards to this. He is a free soul in many ways.)
As he thought of that, Mercurio didn’t harbour any bad feelings towards Rei. ……The matter of Vihera was a different story though.
More than anything, with Rei’s overwhelming individual power meant that he had no reason to fawn over Mercurio as a member of the royal family.
It was different after he formed the rebel army, but while Mercurio had been in the castle, many people had approached him, hoping to use him.
It was inevitable as most of those people were nobles who hadn’t been able to join any other faction, but dealing with such people was quite painful for Mercurio.
Rei, on the other hand, did most things on his own and had no intention of using Mercurio’s position as a member of the royal family.
(He still hasn’t accepted my sister though.)
The figure of his beloved sister flashed through Mercurio’s mind.
She was currently out there taking out the troops blocking the roads, but would notice something strange and return soon.
At least, Mercurio was convinced of that.
「Well, at any rate, there is at least a ray of hope. If we can hold out until Rei returns, we will win.」
Mercurio asserted that.
Reality wasn’t that simple, but the morale rose among all who heard his words.
「That’s right, as long as Rei returns, we can handle the punitive force!」
「With the success he has achieved, there will be no need to worry.」
「……Personally, I would like Set to do his best to avoid getting injured.」
「Hey, I knew the soldiers were crazy about the Griffon, but to think some of here were as well.」
『Eh?』
At the noble’s murmurs, several others, not just the one who had been worried about Set, made a sound at the same time.
The noble who had been teasing other about their like of Set was silently for a moment before exclaiming in surprise.
「……Hey.」
「Well, come on. Anyway, all we need to do is to hold out until Rei and Set return!」
「That’s right. We shouldn’t be thinking of anything else right now.」
「Yeah, we need to reposition our troops to a position where we can spare forces to more dangerous locations.」
「No, even if we can spare forces now, their next attack might be concentrated here, so we can’t be careless……」
The nobles spoke, ignoring the suspicious look from their peer as the rest of the nobles spoke up in agreement.
The first noble sighed in exasperation, but judged that it was still more important to deal with the current situation first as they also joined the conversation.
For the sake of their own survival……and in the hope of being able to deal a fatal blow back against the punitive force.