Chapter 385

Translator: Nat

Aegir POV

Arkland Outside the Gates .

I hold up my hand to shield my eyes from the morning sun .

The soldiers similarly curse under their breath while squinting from the brightness, then quickly widen their eyes .

They didnt have to come in the morning . Were not going to run away, so cant they at least let us enjoy breakfast?

My grumble was directed at the orderly ranks of the South Yuguria army in front, likely still accumulating more soldiers even at this moment .

They will probably continue attacking from morning until night . The persistent old-man type of attack with continue .

Sekrit says as she bites down on a steamed potato, losing interest in it half way and tossing it to Schwartz .

Schwartz swiftly catches it in his mouth .

The enemy is attacking with the entire army . With those numbers its like they never lost any of their troops .

Perhaps because of yesterdays contributions, Erich noticed our compatibility and decided to place the Starving Dog army under my direct command . The poor trio didnt seem to have any objections to that .

We fought hard yesterday, but the piles of corpses do not even amount to a thousand . In a battle between hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the total numbers wont decrease much unless a thorough pursuit is conducted .

Dont say something so obvious in such a serious manner, idiot .

Uuu please dont get mad at me . My heart will break before the battle begins .

Viscount Binbo slumps over disappointedly . Although he also seems happy in a way .

Yesterdays battle was, without exaggeration, a fierce one and both sides undoubtedly suffered considerable losses .

Nevertheless, the battle is far from being settled .

As I thought, my beloved spear, Hinsoumaru, is shining more brilliantly .

After completing the finishing touches of his maintenance, Gokhin speaks to himself .

Apparently, the sharpness of his beloved spear dropped when he was comfortably enjoying the money borrowed from me .

Since the battle of South Yuguria started, he experienced a shortage of funds again, and his spear returned to the way it was .

The enemy is moving!!

Binbo shouts .

The Royal army around us draw their swords and get into a ready stance in unison .

I also toss a half-eaten steamed potato in Schwartzs mouth .

He spit it out . Ill get him back for that .

Hey Sekrit .

If you want to fuck, save it for later .

If I was to have sex here, I would probably be remembered in the days to come as an extraordinary sex maniac .

Are you alright?

Sekrit answers without turning to look at me .

Huh? We havent even started yet, idiot .

Is that so? Then thats good .

I dont hound her anymore and ready my longsword .

South Yugurias offensive began with an attack on us, who are protecting the castle from outside .

Their intent must be to push our outside army into the city via a field battle so they can deploy their siege weapons .

Erich already anticipated that much and stationed a large force outside the walls who fought an unyielding battle .

Thinking the battle would develop into the same stalemate situation as yesterday where both sides could not finish the other despite a fierce fight, the sound of galloping hooves and a cloud of dust from within the enemy ranks splits apart the frontlines .

A new addition of cavalry!? Spearmen form a wall and archers support

The head of the ally commander about to give orders is blown off .

Commander-dono! Argh, do as instructed and uoh!

Spearmen trying to get into anti-cavalry formation are taken down one by one .

Are those-!?

The reported chariots!? But there are so many

It was a group of chariots that arrived on the enemy side, not cavalry .

There was more than just ten or twenty . From what can be seen, there are at least a few hundred .

Finally, the enemy seems to be getting serious .

The chariots are not hesitant to charge head-on .

Bolts were fired on the run, mowing down rows of soldiers and dismantling the spearmen formation . With heavy armor plating thicker than the armor of heavy cavalry, thrusts from spears are deflected and arrows dont have much effect .

In addition, with every charge, the blades attached to the turning wheels of the chariots would tear through the sides of anyone they passed by .

The anti-cavalry formation was instantly ripped to shreds, which allowed cavalry to flood through the hole .

Chariots, huh using them in such numbers is interesting . Now then, if we dont reinforce, the entire army will collapse .

I kick Schwartzs belly without needing Sekrit to tell me anymore .

Were going too!Cavalry, follow along!

Being military feudal lords, the poor trio doesnt dilly dally either .

We reach the heels of the group of chariots running toward the center of our allies .

Chariots may be highly mobile, but they are not faster than regular cavalry so it wasnt difficult for us to catch up .

The problem is go right!

Schwartz changes direction just in time for a slicing wind sound to whizz by his left ear .

So the ballistae can fire in all directions .

Sekrit comments as she grips her reins tighter and moves in a zig-zag pattern .

A few soldiers trailing behind start to be shot down .

Uwa! M-my spear is moving on its own

What handling of the spear!I didnt expect him to see through that!

The fuss behind me is from Gokhin deflecting a bolt with his spear .

Judging by his face, it is a product of coincidence, but luck is also part of skill on the battlefield .

Woah .

I position my longsword vertically in front of me and hold my left hand behind the blade for additional support .

A bolt accurately hits my blade, accompanied by a powerful impact and a loud crushing sound, then splinters of wood and metal fragments spray on my face .

Schwartz and I were swayed ever so slightly, although I dont fall off and Schwartz doesnt stumble .

It doesnt look like it was a coincidence for you .

I guess not .

Things are not looking good .

At this rate, the enemys aim will increase in precision the more we close the distance .

If we jump in line, they cant shoot the ballistae . Be careful of the blades .

I tell the soldiers that and dive into the group of chariots .

Sorah .

Passing behind one of the chariots, I decapitate the ballista operators .

Thats two .

No, its three .

As I crush the ballista along with the soldiers, Sekrit stabs a throwaway short sword into the back of another enemy soldier at the same time and runs past .

Even without the ballista, the charging chariots are deadly weapons .

The threat to our allies hasnt changed much .

They wont stop unless you kill the driver .

I know .

I know that, but its difficult to do .

The driver platform is protected by sturdy armor plating so I cant finish them off without a strong attack .

To do that, I have to approach from the front, which, if Im not careful, would risk the legs of my horse being cut by the blades attached to the wheels of the chariot . Supposing I jump and evade them, it would put me off balance when dealing with the next enemy .

Ill use brute force here .

Isnt that what you always do?

I go from behind a chariot, similar to before, and pierce through the operator with my longsword .

Im going to reuse you .

Give me half .

I throw the impaled soldier up in the air, slice his body in half, then bat the lower half at the chariot with the butt of my sword .

A loud bang resounded from the chariots armor denting from the impact, but the chariots course did not change .

Argh, that didnt work?

You suck . Do it like this .

Sekrit grabs the top half of the soldier by the collar and throws it at the wheel of the chariot .

Gyaaaaaa!!

The helmet-wearing corpse of the soldier gets stuck in the wheel, stopping its rotation suddenly, which causes the chariot to topple out of control onto its side .

I see, so thats how .

I stab the rider of an enemy cavalry attending another chariot and then hurl the body with all my might at the chariots wheel .

The enemy didnt get jammed in the wheel, instead the entire wheel breaks apart, lowering one side of the chariot to the ground, which is dragged by the momentum until being kicked up in the air by the uneven surface of the ground and crashing down in pieces .

whatever works, I guess .

Sekrit says with a sigh before her eyes sharpen .

Its not going so well . We tried and cant do anything about it .

The Starving Dog army attempts to stop the chariots, but the enemy is too much to handle .

Their swords and crossbows bounce off the armor of the chariots, unable to deal damage, meanwhile more ally soldiers are flipped over by the blades on the chariots wheels .

Were the ones attacking, yet were suffering more casualties .

This will be my fourth but

My words are spoken as I cut the horse pulling the chariot and take down another chariot . Still, the enemy doesnt react .

This is an order from His Excellency, Maestus . If you face the demon, ignore him . Find meaning solely from winning!

Focus all your attention in advancing forward! Believe in Her Majestys divine protection .

Similar things are being shouted all around me .

No matter if I flip over a chariot or cut down a cavalry, the enemy soldiers simply keep their eyes in front and accelerate past me .

When I attack from the front, the enemy soldiers close their eyes without slowing down and continue running .

I cut down their friend next to them and they dont stop to do anything about it or even seem to care .

I yell angrily and dismember the enemy soldiers, spraying their guts everywhere, and still no response .

Arrgh, how annoying . Look at me!

I shout as I slice another whoops, that was close . It was a female soldier .

Even you cant take out more than ten or twenty speeding chariots . So they determined it to be more detrimental to slow down and deal with you the soldiers following those orders are pretty disciplined .

Dammit Sekrit, this isnt the time to be impressed .

More than half of them passed us . This means we failed in stopping the enemy .

It cant be helped . Those things will devastate the outside . The gates wont hold either . We should prepare to enter the city .

Inside Arkland .

As Sekrit said, the chariots overran the field army, finally pushing them back behind the walls . Now, the enemy can bring forth their siege weapons and begin a full scale siege .

Arklands defense force fought hard, with no help from the outside army who allowed the enemy soldiers to rush to the gates . Eventually, battering rams knocked down the south gate and the enemy flooded into the city .

Letting the enemy invade the city didnt exactly guarantee a loss .

When the enemy took three steps forward, our allies took two steps back . Battles would continue in that fashion .

Even so, the soldiers of the Royal army could not hide their panic from the unmistakable predicament they were in .

The north gate hasnt been broken yet, right? Have the defending soldiers move to the south and pile dirt up to seal the north gate .

Dont be stupid, the field army is still outside! If we let them in, our force will incre

We dont have enough space! If more soldiers are allowed into the city, it will clog everything up! Have them go around the perimeter of the walls and circle to the enemys rear

The enemys chariots are rampaging! We cant maintain enough control to detour .

More importantly, the headquarters should move back! If, on the off chance, it is attacked by the enemy, everything will fall apart .

I listened to Sekrit and returned to the headquarters, but everything is a mess . I dont see Erich either .

Wheres Lord Radhalde?

If Im going to ask anyways, I might as well as the female staff officer .

Be quiet! Until the commander gives the order, focus on the enemy in front of o-oh, pardon me!

The busy-looking woman earnestly apologizes after yelling at me .

Of course, Im not angry because shes a woman .

No worries . So, where is Lord Radhalde?

To convince her that Im not mad, I rub her ass and ask again in a softer voice .

The Military Commissioner withdrew to the back . Its chaotic here after all

I see . How troublesome .

Well, what can I do if Erich isnt here?

I poke the female staff officers asshole with a finger above her skirt and tilt my neck .

I guess I can decide what to do on my own .

That should be fine . Making choices on your own authority is the beauty of battle . Although if I did it, my head would be chopped off .

Lets start by driving the enemy out of the city .

This time, they cant ignore me like before .

I actually felt pretty lonely when they did that .

I want to face them properly next time .

After one final squeeze of the female staff officers ass, I once again head out to the frontlines .

Auu! Uuu he was just like the rumors described maybe after the war is over, Ill give my body

I lead the Starving Dog army to the main road, the place where the fiercest battle is occurring .

There, allies and enemies alike were shouting, screaming and making all kinds of noise, literally like pandemonium .

Although the enemy is pushing with overwhelming force, our allies, while inferior in number, dont seem to be moving back too much .

Short spear unit, support the right . There is pressure from the left, Second Company go provide reinforcements!

The one yelling in an especially loud and clear voice is a man I know well .

Hey Agor .

Lord Hardlett! Reinforcements from headquarters!?

Agors sweaty and bloody face lights up when he sees me .

An arrow seems to have grazed his head as a thick patch of blood stains his face .

I look down and see the chainmail covering his side has been torn off and blood is trickling out .

I came here on my own accord, though youre not wrong that Im here to help . Is your injury serious?

This is nothing more than a scratch .

Agor is leading a group of roughly a thousand .

I think he told me before that hes steadily rising up in ranks and is now a battalion commander .

Schwartz, unamused, bites Agors head .

Thats his way of greeting him, I guess .

Right now, I can use all the help I can get, whether its ten or twenty .

During the time we were chatting, the enemy is pushing further .

Does it look like you can hold on?

Honestly, were walking on a tightrope . Anything could trigger the enemys breakthrough . We cant keep moving back when were in the city either . I requested urgently for headquarters to send reinforcements

Headquarters has moved back . Your message was likely not received .

Agors expression warps when Sekrit chimes in .

Hes a former subordinate of mine so I know this guy is a reliable commander who makes few mistakes .

However, when unexpected situations arise, like now when the message to headquarters did not get relayed, he struggles .

Leopolt likely saw that trait in him and said he was about as competent as a Company Commander .

Well, theres no need to worry . Im here after all .

Sekrit . Do something to help them recover .

Sekrits eyes narrow as she glares at me . What is she trying to say?

whatever . Your defence isnt bad, but itll only last 30 more minutes at this rate .

Agor looks at me with a troubled expression .

Oh yeah, he doesnt know about Sekrit .

To weaken the enemys pressure, not only is defense needed, an effective counterattack is also required .

Alright, then Ill give you command of the Starving Dog army . Use them well .

When I said that, Sekrit looks at me unhappily while Agor stares with a blank expression .

On the other hand, the poor trio dont voice any complaints and are literally waiting for orders like dogs .

Making me do all this annoying work I charge a high price .

Sure . Ill pay as much as you want .

After that, I dismount from Schwartz and let Sekrit get on in my place .

Its convenient for me that she can take command, plus Schwartz can do something if necessary .

hmph .

Sekrit hops on Schwartz, then flings her cloak up so she can draw her sword .

Hmm, she looks the part way more than I do .

Youre called Agor, right?

Yeah .

Sekrit quickly points the tip of her sword at the frontlines .

She has an air of ruthlessness and gallantry about her, which was more pronounced by her extremely polished movements . If I was a woman, I would have been charmed by that .

Continue the way you were fighting up until now while gradually retreating . Let the enemy think youre being pushed back .

What? Then theyll really break through .

Sekrit doesnt answer Agor and points with a whoosh at Binbo .

Thats where you guys come in . When the border of ally and enemy passes that red house, give the signal . Then push through the center of our allies and slam into the enemy .

She points at me before Binbo could answer .

You stand in the front, right in the middle of the enemy and engage them . Youre the one who told me to take command . Youll have to obey me .

Sure .

I was about to answer with a bark instinctively . This dangerous effect must come from the squad name being dog .

You guys get what you have to do, right? Alright, now go .

Woof!

The poor trio actually said it . Dont they have any pride?

I dont know about letting Lord Hardlett charge in like that, but that aside, a poor counterattack will only create a larger crisis .

Sekrit snorts at Agors objection .

Schwartzs height was not the only reason she seemed to be looking down on him .

They are pushing their attack back and forth on the left and right . If we deliberately retreat, the pressure on both sides will likely increase . If they receive a powerful blow to the center, the entire offensive will collapse . most idiots who operate by the textbook will lose from this .

I didnt catch the last part of what she mumbled, but it doesnt matter .

Being ordered by Sekrit turns me on in a way I cant describe . If it was Leopolt, I would get annoyed .

On foot, I ready my longsword and shield and wait patiently .

As Sekrit instructed, Agors unit, who had been holding their ground steadily, are now starting to move backward .

Look, the enemy is retreating! Nows our chance, push them all the way back!

Lets break through all at once! If we pass the main road, Arklands conquering will soon follow .

The enemys attack visibly strengthens .

Meanwhile, our allies are accelerating the speed of retreat as they fend off the enemies moving the frontlines closer to the distinctive red house .

The Schwartz-riding Sekrit swings her sword up, cutting the air with a whoosh sound .

Then, after briefly holding it in place vertically, she similarly swings it down sharply .

Starving Dog charge . Seriously, what a stupid name .

Oooooooooh!!

The Starving Dog unit erupts with a war cry and charges .

I cant lose to them .

I also let out my own roar and lead the charge with my shield in front .

Uwah! Whats that!?

Open a path! Some kind of beast is coming through!

What is an orc doing all the way out here!?

Hearing me, ally soldiers jump or roll out of the way to clear a path .

This is good . They probably would have been knocked aside by me if they stayed in front .

The formation parts in half and we rush out at the enemy .

I run in a posture with my shield over my shoulder . This is the best way to charge if Im on foot .

What

Before the enemy could say something, I feel a soft impact on my shield .

Of course, something of that level is not enough to stop me .

I shout to pump myself up and accelerate further .

Dull metal thuds accompany the continuous impacts on my shield .

I cant tell whether those are from enemies being sent flying or simply from blocking spears .

Right now, my top priority is not stopping my feet or looking around at what happened, its to charge forward .

After charging to a certain point, I lower my body and then build up momentum for a rising shield bash before finally coming to a standstill .

There was a remarkably loud sound as I feel the sensation of several soldiers being knocked away .

That was when I first laid eyes on what I did .

Aagh

Higyi

I created a path straight through the densely packed enemies from my charge .

Many soldiers, who probably got hit along the way, are writhing on the ground in pain on either side of me, their arms and legs bent in unnatural angles .

It appears that my final attack was right when I jumped into a line of heavy infantry .

Three soldiers wearing full plate armor are lying motionless on the ground .

While I expected the enemy to freeze in place, it was a little surprising to see the Starving Dog army also frozen, so I thought it would be best to let out a roar .

There he is! He finally came to where we are!

How unlucky can we be to meet up with the demon!?

The enemies are visibly shaken and my allies chase after them while letting out their own roars .

A melee ensues .

Now that I look, the enemys offense has completely halted and Agor is starting to push the warfront in the opposite direction .

Although the enemy sends more reinforcements, their attack cannot be so easily resumed once it has been broken down, allowing our side to push the enemy back much further than when I arrived, and forcing the enemy to bring out their large shield unit to fortify defenses .

Crossbows and spears behind large shields, or more commonly called, a slow turtle formation . Its a formation which completely abandons offense .

Sekrit belittles the enemy commander before returning her sword to its place .

The mission of defending the main road given to Agor was a success .

Lord Hardlett, look there!

Agor points his finger to the walls all of a sudden .

My eyes follow the end of his finger to see a Goldonian flag waving in the wind . Thats the mark of headquarters .

Headquarters on top of the walls? What a place to put it .

But they can see both the field battle and city battle at the same time . Its not a foolish plan .

Sekrit comments as she jumps off Schwartzs back .

Woah .

Because she looked away, she stumbled forward three steps before glaring at me briefly and then returning to a neutral expression .