Chapter 153

–Third Person POV–

Port Randel Encirclement, Magrado Camp

Inside a tent set up on top of a slightly elevated hill overlooking Port Randel, the commanders of the Magrado army who took part in the encirclement are yelling at each other in a so-called war conference .

「The enemy took advantage of the fog and close to 10,000 have already landed . The encirclement has already collapsed, so we should disperse and build a line of defence . 」

Looking over the city of Port Randel with a sour expression, a ballista is mounted on top of a pile of stone made from the rubble of the crumbled city walls and archers are camped in the rooms of every house . It is clear that it is no longer possible to rely just on strength in numbers to win .

「What are you saying?! If we pull back, the enemy on the eastern coast will instantly advance! In a field battle against an enemy with the same number of forces…… . You think you can defeat an army led by that Lord Hardlett!? 」

「Doesn’t it mean our navy is being suppressed if they can land again?」

「How stupid . The reason they’re holed up in Port Randel is because we’re here . If we retreat now, they’ll quickly head to the navy base and burn it down . If that happens, they’ll be able to cross as many times as they want . 」

「They have successfully isolated and defeated our vanguard as planned with the landing strategy to the south . But with the weather clearing up, they are somehow prevented from landing any further . We shouldn’t be expecting any more reinforcements……」

「In the first place, rumors are spreading about our incompetence and how we’re struggling to fight against a weak opponent with 10,000 while we have 30,000 . 」

「There’s no helping it……even though it might be gradually falling apart now, Port Randel is a city with walls, so our supposed trump card in the heavy infantry are not able to bring out their full strength . 」

「If we continue our encirclement, won’t we run out of food supplies and ammunition?」

「We should have plenty of food left in the city . Besides, while our navy might be able to block any large transportations, we won’t be able to prevent the small movements under the cover of night . We can’t remain on the water forever after all . 」

The discussion halts and an unpleasant silence fills the area .

「……if we continue to maintain this deadlock situation, will we be able to make peace?」

The commander who brought up talks of peace instantly gets bombarded with a storm of insults .

「The increase of tax and conscription before the start of war stirred up the citizens, no? If we make peace so easily, we’ll be lynched . 」

「There’s no way the Goldonian side will accept . The King of that nation is cold-hearted and avaricious . He won’t stop even after annexing us . 」

「For now, we’ll just have to wait and see . Let’s just repeat some attacks on a smaller scale and search for the enemy’s weak point . We’ll conduct a night attack if an opportunity arises . 」

「I guess that’s our only option……」

「How annoying……」

In the end, the meeting ends, confirming there is nothing which can be done in their present condition and they should continue doing what they’ve been doing up until this point . The situation isn’t catastrophic, but by no means is it good either . Everyone understood that any little impetus could cause them to fall .

Malt Kingdom, Capital: Biado

A man of large build walks in the palace’s halls . But that muscular, well-sculpted body is supporting itself with a hand on the wall, wobbling slowly and unsteadily . The patrolling palace guards see the man and stand at attention in surprise .

「Your Excellency, Brutus! Have you returned!?」

「Yes, I can’t remain sleeping after all . 」

Brutus removes his hand from the wall and straightens his back . The soldiers who saw that were convinced of his recovery and relax their expressions .

「I have another business to attend to, so I’ll be on my way . Continue with your duties!」

「Yessir!」

When the soldiers took their leave, Brutus once again rests his hand on the wall, breathing heavily .

「Your Excellency! You mustn’t push yourself!」

The person who supported his shoulder is his secretary . He couldn’t hide his condition from the girl who even takes care of his daily needs .

「The injury reached your organs . Normally it would take one month of rest……」

「There’s no time for that . His Highness Pablo is gathering soldiers……what does that idiot plan to do?」

Pablo might have taken it upon himself to do something as the ringleader of the rebellion but he understands Pablo’s incompetencies as well . He is ultimately trying to use Pablo to lead the country in a better direction and has no real respect or affection for Pablo at all .

「I don’t know . There is no one harder to predict than a person who thinks like a natural-born idiot . 」

Eventually, the two of them reach Pablo’s private quarters .

「Your Highness! Please stop, it hurts!」

「Shut up! I’m going to inject you with my noble seed, so rejoice and accept it, you bitch!」

「Gya–!! Stoooooop!!」

「Pardon me, Your Highness . 」

Ignoring the screaming from the room, Brutus knocks firmly on the door . After some swearing can be heard behind the door, things go quiet and the maid leaves the room .

Her clothes have been torn and her face seems swollen from being hit . The thigh area of her dress is dyed red . It didn’t look like the blood from getting deflowered, but rather blood from someone taking a blade and injuring her . She runs away crying .

「Tch……it was just getting good……nu, Brutus, you’re finally up? How feeble . 」

「Please forgive me for my inexperience . 」

「So, what do you want? You must have a good reason for disturbing my fun, right?」

Brutus’s expression remains the same . He only gets angry when something betrays his expectations .

「Right, I heard the army is being gathered in the capital in Your Highness’s name and you have also requested for the conscription of peasants, so I just want Your Highness to tell me what is happening . 」

Pablo instantly lights up .

「Umu, you did well to find out! Actually, just the other day, Magrado sent a messenger over here . 」

「Magrado ……you say?」

Magrado is located to the north and isn’t connected to Malt by land, so there is barely a relationship between their nations . Their citizens don’t even know about their respective existences .

「That’s right! You must have known about the war between Goldonia and Magrado despite staying in bed all this time, right? Goldonia suffered a crushing defeat in the first battle and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before they get beaten . Thus it is a good opportunity for our country to expand our territory! I’ll take the northern territory belonging to that annoying Hardlett for myself!」

Brutus felt his head go blank for a second and he had to double-check whether he was really turning senile .

「Hahaha! You won’t be able to serve in the military looking like that! I will personally take command and crush that guy . If I can increase my own merits, then the others will acknowledge me as a more suitable King than Hilario!」

「Your Highness, that won’t happen! I can’t imagine something like Magrado handing Goldonia a crushing defeat like you said……」

He goes and believes what was said about the countries involved in the war without doubting any investigation . Brutus underestimated Pablo’s feeble mind . That’s why Pablo said something so rushed and so illogical .

「Shut up! Hardlett……I’m certain that he’s not home right now! If I attack now, I can swallow everything