[ Jalpa]
It’s the worst. Just a while ago, I thought that the day I made a ridiculous mistake in front of His Majesty was the worst day of my life.
But that, apparently, wasn’t a big deal.
Right now, there’s no doubt in my mind that this is the worst moment of my life.
"Lord...! As expected, they were waiting for us!"
"Unexpectedly, you like the basics, don’t you, you insignificant pests...!"
A charge that slipped through attacks from both sides. Of course, I knew that the enemy was likely waiting for us ahead.
In the strategy meeting held just before, we predicted that they would either wait for us in a narrow section of the road or collapse the path and rain arrows from both sides. In either case, the use of cannons was expected.
From the perspective of the Shelvia forces, if we advance all the way to the citadel city, it would be hard to predict our movements. They must have wanted to trap us in a confined space where we couldn’t form a proper formation and blow us away with cannons.
In that case, we had to stop right before the place where the enemy was waiting and burn away both the front and sides. Both Targa and I could use magic from horseback, so if everything went well, we could attack unilaterally.
I thought so, but something unexpected happened.
"…! My Lord, what we’re facing ahead is not a wall of men or a fort! It’s a fully-grown dragon! Likely a type of earth dragon!"
"What nonsense…! A second dragon, after the one at Scudetto!? Are you telling me that they brought a dragon to Cenetta, even while the full-scale battle with the Yelinetta Kingdom is still happening on the border!?"
Is the enemy commander insane? Or do they have multiple dragons as trump cards, with a hand full of such weapons?
No, it doesn’t matter right now.
"…A dragon’s breath in such a confined space is no joke! We’ll have to retreat! Lure them here and surround them! Keep moving at all times! The enemy’s goal is to stop our advance! If we stop, the cannons will…!?"
Just as I was about to shout orders, I suddenly heard an unpleasant sound.
It was footsteps. Footsteps like the rumble of the earth, from a large number of people. The sound of a large-scale charge, not just a few thousand, but nearly ten thousand.
"We’ve been had…! So the cannons were a decoy…!"
Seeing the infantry-heavy army approaching from both sides, I realized that my strategy had been a fatal mistake.
Cannons are less of a threat than my own fire magic. A cannon would only pose a threat if caught off guard. I had believed that, but it turns out that was just me trying to hide my true feelings from myself.
The reason for this failure was clearly that I was too afraid of the threat of the cannon.
In my mind, I had convinced myself that the enemy would inevitably use the cannon to counter us.
To think they would use such a classical pincer attack…!
"My Lord! Our knights will retreat to Cenetta! Is that fine!?"
As the truth of my strategic blunder hit me, Targa appeared in front of me, shouting with a face full of frustration and anger. Seeing that, I was finally able to resume my thoughts.
"...I understand! We have no choice but to retreat! All magic users, fire at the enemy wall closing in from both sides! If we can take out the vanguard, the rest of them will be significantly slowed down!"
"Yes, sir!"
After giving that order, I began chanting magic while turning my horse around. In the meantime, Targa passed on the orders.
Arrows were fired to buy time for the retreat. A breath later, mid-level magic was launched at the approaching enemy forces. Soon, magic from me and Targa followed. These were high-level area-of-effect spells, often referred to as advanced or massive magic.
The number was fewer than the mid-level spells, but the area was incomparable.
"Flame Barrier!"
With those words, I invoked the magic.
The gauntlet on my right arm, made of fire dragon skin and mithril, was engulfed in flames, moving like a living creature.
The flames roared fiercely, growing stronger as they surged toward the approaching soldiers.
A blaze that seemed to consume everything in its path, creating human-shaped ashes as it surrounded the ground.
On the other side, a massive wave of water and spears made of earth magic followed suit, successfully halting the large army that had been rushing down the slope like an avalanche.
I unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, but the chill running down my spine told me that if this was truly part of Yelinetta’s strategy, this was far from the end.
No one would make the foolish decision to let the rats escape the nest.
"Don’t get comfortable...! Their movements have stopped! Move!"
I lifted my head and shouted.
Right after, the sky darkened.
I couldn’t hear anything. But I could feel a sharp pain in my body. Something was pressing against me, from my right shoulder to my waist and both legs, even though I was still on horseback.
Gradually, my vision cleared. I couldn’t understand what had happened, but I realized I was completely immobile. This was dangerous. Even without the cannons, that troublesome dragon would be coming.
The blurred vision slowly became clear.
I saw a horse running toward me. A ridiculously large horse. It was so large that I couldn’t even see the rider’s face.
It was strange. The horse had come close enough that dirt had splashed onto my face, yet I couldn’t hear anything. I saw someone on horseback reaching out and shouting, but I couldn’t hear a thing. In a daze, I reached out toward the rider. As I tried to lift myself, I felt a terrible dizziness. I realized then. I was lying on the ground.
Looking down, I noticed that my hand, which I should have been familiar with, was changing shape.
Two fingers were missing halfway down. I had the impression that there were other major injuries as well, but it felt like someone else’s problem.
"…My Lord!"
A knight who had dismounted rushed up to me, his face filled with desperation, shouting directly in front of me. It seemed like my hearing had come back.
"I... I understand… Please, wait…"
My mouth barely moved. My voice sounded like it was coming from a distance. As soon as I heard the sounds again, the numbness in my body and the headache intensified.
I was being pulled by my arm, forced to stand. With a strong pull, I had to lean my weight on the knight’s shoulder.
Then, I realized the full extent of the situation.
It was likely that the cannon attack had hit the rear of the cavalry. In front of me, there were the bodies of over a hundred knights and horses. They might still be alive, but in a battlefield, it was as good as death.
Maybe it was a good thing that the knight corps had been split into smaller groups. Looking into the distance, I could see many knights still in the process of retreating.
But just looking around, a significant number had fallen victim to the cannon fire.
War has changed. It has truly changed. That fact hit me harder than anything else.
A large, mounted knight approached from a distance. With his impressive build, there was no mistake—it was Targa.
"My Lord…! Are you all right!?"
What happened to the knight corps that Targa had led? Perhaps the vice-commander was leading them now.
"Why, why is the commander here...!"
I muttered with a hoarse voice. But they heard me just fine. Targa nodded gravely and turned his gaze to the knight.
"Can we get the Lord on a horse?"
"If we have Lord Targa’s assistance… we can tie him to the horse with rope."
I was getting frustrated as I heard their conversation.
"Don’t… Don’t bother with me!"
I tried to pull away from the knight, but immediately both of them stopped me.
"It’s not safe to force yourself!"
"My Lord’s leg is..."
At their words, I looked down. My neck ached, but I barely noticed it.
Indeed, my right leg, from the knee down, was gone. Somehow, I’d been tied tightly around my thigh, but the bleeding still hadn’t stopped.
"…Don’t, don’t take me… I… I’ve already failed… I… Let me go…"
I spoke the words I could barely form. If they dragged me back with them, everyone would likely die. If that happened, this defense would fall apart for sure.
I realized the truth, but it was too late to do anything about it.
Far off in the distance, an explosion and rumbling reached my ears. Targa and the others were holding back the panicked horse while preparing to retreat.
I exhaled deeply. There was no longer any time for personal pride. I am an aristocrat who must protect this land, Jalpa Blu Atte, Marquis of Fertio. I must do my best, or it will be the shame of the nobility.
"...Targa."
"Yes!"
When I called his name, Targa turned around. I looked him in the eye and spoke in a low voice.
"Call Van. Van Ney Fertio... he is our only hope."
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