Episode 127
* * *
The nature of this confrontation was clear from the beginning.
The contrast between shadow and gold. Furthermore, the colors of black and blue, which claim to be the riders of shadow, and red and white, which claim to be the riders of gold. It was a very easy-to-understand color theory.
There was no need to even say who the ‘Golden Monarch’ was referring to. The Empire of Fire and Light, the one standing at the top of that empire.
So there was no need to even say where Dale, who bore the name of ‘Shadow Lord’, had to fight for.
Although the First War of the Roses ended in a Lancastrian victory thanks to Dale’s efforts, as Michael said, the war was only just beginning.
After some time, York formally offered to surrender at Dale’s request, and the Lancasters accepted their surrender. The Black Prince, a hero of the First War of the Roses who had served as Lancaster’s standard-bearer, also returned to his lands.
Shortly thereafter, the Lancaster family declared war on the Yorkists, accusing them of bewitching and possessing their eldest son, Richard.
It was the beginning of the Second War of the Roses.
* * *
In this world, there are no lifelong enemies or lifelong allies.
That’s why Dale was in the castle of the Marquess of York, who had been fighting against him as an enemy until just recently. It was only under the name of ‘Philip’, the scoundrel of the Earl’s family who fought for them.
Dale, who had already been active as a standard-bearer for the Lancaster family, could not fight against the York family like a bat with that name. Therefore, he had no choice but to lock up the ‘real Philip’ in the basement of the York castle and use his name to act.
“I can accept that my existence will be unofficially known to the enemy. No, at least Prince Michael will think that I will fight 100% for the York family.”
At Dale’s words, Mistress Titania smiled silently.
“However, since I am officially acting as ‘Philip, the eldest son of the Count’s family,’ it will be difficult for the opponent to stop me.”
Above all, Dale’s territory is in the northernmost part of the empire, in the Demon King’s Territory. By the time the Lancaster Duke’s family comes to find out the truth, the war will have already ended.
Officially, there will be no breaking of the ‘Great Alliance’ between Saxony and Lancaster. This is a separate matter.
“I didn’t know that Prince Dale… … no, Prince Philip had such great wisdom and intelligence.”
“Ah, you are truly manly.”
Catherine of York, who was engaged to Philip, reached out her hand to Dale’s cheek. It seemed as if she was really loving him. But Dale simply stopped her without moving. At the same time, Catherine’s expression lost all emotion.
“I will only serve as a strength for the York family on my own terms.”
“Are you saying that you have no intention of playing along as Prince Mikhail wishes?”
“I’m not the type of person who lives in debt.”
Dale answered coldly.
“Moreover, this debt cannot be an exception even if you go to York.”
“Since the ‘Black Prince’ of the world has trusted and accepted us, we at York will fulfill our duty as the ‘Riders of the Shadow’.”
“That’s not enough.”
Dale shook his head.
“Is there anything else you would like to wish for?”
“As soon as I achieve victory in this battle, I will summon the ‘Sorceress Council’ of the Blue Tower.”
Dale said, recalling the image of his teacher, Sepia.
“And I will join you there too.”
“Haha, Your Majesty, you are already qualified to do so.”
Mistress Titania smiled meaningfully. Dale didn’t answer, but simply unfolded the map.
The Marquis of York’s office.
There were Dale and Master Salgam, and the maids of York.
In addition, the ‘Sword Sepilia’ who was active as a collateral branch of York and the Knights of the Iron Cross loyal to her are no longer here. The Imperial Family directly summoned the Sword and the knights under her command.
‘It must have been planned for this to happen from the beginning.’
The timing is just perfect. And given the circumstances, it’s probably a given that the Red Tower will join.
“Do you know that the Royal Family has a Blue Tower behind the House of York?”
“It’s just a suspicion. However, when the ‘Black Prince’ joins this battle, their suspicions will turn into certainty. However, regardless of the Prince’s joining, the Red Tower will have decided to fight for the Lancaster family.”
“The silence of the Blue Tower will also end.”
“Oh my, how could that be? The Blue Tower is always silent.”
At Dale’s words, Titania of York smiled as if she was enjoying herself.
“It has been so, and it will be so in the future. Even before I am called ‘York’, and even when I give up my present name and take up a new one, nothing will change.”
The family form is merely a pretense for the Mistress and her clan to blend into the Empire.
“Okay, then let’s all put our blue wisdom to the test together?”
Mistress Titania opened her mouth softly, unfolding a large map on the wooden table.
* * *
The only non-standard strongman active in the Lancaster family is Cheongeom (天劍). In addition, the York side also has the Salgeom Master Baro active. Even if we consider the difference in rank between the Seven Swords, the asymmetrical power is not completely broken.
In addition, the battlefield where the continent’s Seven Swords-level powerhouses participate is by no means limited to the participation of just one Seven Swordsman.
Michael Lancaster, the proud Knight of the Rosicrucian Cross of the Duke of Lancaster, and said to be closest to the Seven Swords of the Continent.
Dale’s victory in the first game was only a foretaste, and the real ‘War of the Roses’ was only just beginning.
And as if to prove that fact, the Lancaster forces, which had been consistently defensive, began to move.
Because they had the ‘justification’ of rescuing their eldest son, Richard, in their hands.
The fertile lands of York and Lancaster interlocked, where there were no natural fortresses such as rivers or mountain ranges. Simultaneous breakthrough attempts were made at several points along the border of the two long territories.
By forming multiple battle lines simultaneously, you create unrest, and through that unrest, you can identify the weakest point of the enemy and attack it without giving them time to respond.
It was a tactic of penetration based on the ‘mobile warfare doctrine’ that could be called the flower of the Knights of the Rosicrucian Cross.
* * *
Taang!
Dale, who was lying face down on the watchtower of the fortress, pulled the trigger of his ‘Shadow Rifle’, and the dark bullet struck one of the Lancaster family’s foot soldiers.
A combined arms force consisting of a small number of knights and infantry.
It is not difficult to stop one of these troops, for they have tried to lay siege to the fortifications of the Marquisate of York, and their morale has steadily declined with each silent pull of the trigger of Dale’s rifle.
“Retreat, retreat! Everyone, retreat!”
Dale’s first activity as a ‘shadow sniper’ was against the Knights of St. Magdalene. This was entirely Dale’s individual action, and even Lancaster may not have been aware of the true nature of it.
And whenever the Lancaster family’s men encountered the ‘unknown horror of death’, their instructions were limited to one thing.
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Unilateral retreat.
“The fort has been defended! The Lancastrians are fleeing!”
“Good job, Lancaster dogs!”
“Prince Philip led us to victory!”
No one but the genius of defeat, praising the name of ‘Philip’.
The soldiers of the House of York, unaware of the circumstances, were merely intoxicated with the joy of victory in defending the fortress.
However, the damage to the Lancaster forces is minimal, and they will withdraw, reorganize, and attempt to ‘re-engage’ again.
However, if we try to pursue the enemy forces, the only result will be that we will be tied down. The number of troops is not negligible, but at the same time, the number of troops is such that even if the entire force is annihilated, it will not affect the battle situation.
‘I’m building my combat doctrine from the beginning, assuming that I will be active.’
Dale bit his lip softly as he watched his enemies retreat.
In this area where the vast and fertile territories of the two great feudal lords intersect, it was necessary to find out where the ‘core force’ of the enemy forces that were simultaneously moving was located.
To that end, high-ranking assassins from the ‘Shadow Court’ were carrying out intelligence missions all over the front lines, and all Dale could do for now was wait.
At least for now.
* * *
Even though they don’t officially have an ‘out-of-the-box strongman’, the Yorks do have their own knightly organization.
The Order of the Blue Rose.
Officially, the head of that knightly organization is the York family’s collateral branch and the second-in-command of the Knights of the Iron Cross, the Swordsman Sepilia. That is why the form of the ‘Knightly Order’ is to invite Swordsman Sepilia and receive her teachings.
A breastplate embroidered with the blue and white rose, the symbol of the Marquess of York.
Phew!
A red and white aura blade slammed down onto the armor.
It was the sword of Michael, the sword demon who was closest to the next Continent’s Seven Swords and would also inherit the Lancaster Grand Duke’s family.
Furthermore, the Rosicrucian knights who were following him were swinging their swords at the knights of the House of York.
Battles are not fought by numbers. The cavalry formations of the Rosicrucian Knights spread out across the front lines were all organized in the same way. It was a disguise to prevent the enemy from judging their strength by the number of cavalry units.
However, this does not mean that the quality of the knights that make up the cavalry is the same.
Although he had been refraining from taking actions that would arouse the suspicion of the scouts, such as hastily deploying his avatar… … In the midst of the simultaneous attacks by the Lancaster family, the cavalry unit that Mikhail was a part of had already begun to dig deep into the York family’s innermost territory.
No one calls out the name of ‘Prince Michael’, and even Michael himself keeps his identity completely hidden behind his helmet.
* * *
“The Lancaster forces are solidifying our defensive posture through extensive simultaneous contact.”
At that time, in a fortress within the Marquisate of York, not far from the front lines.
“How shameless is this act, when only a short time ago you were pointing your finger at our ‘vile plunder of the House of York’?”
Dale opened his mouth, and Titania of York smiled as if she had known it. She was followed by the ladies of York.
“This is no time to joke around.”
“Oh, did that sound like a joke to you?”
Titania of York asked back.
“If I feel that this fight is unwinnable, I will leave the Marquess of York without the slightest hesitation.”
“Oh, you are so cold-hearted.”
After saying that, Catherine, the second daughter of Titania, approached her. She leaned close and whispered something in Dale’s ear that he couldn’t hear.
“Oh my, this is it.”
As soon as she heard that, Titania burst into laughter as if she was happy.
“Does this situation make you laugh?”
“No. It seems that an unexpected guest has arrived in the midst of a fierce battle.”
Titania said.
“It seems that the ‘wise fairy’ was so worried about Confucius that she personally visited this territory.”
The Blue Tower and the puppet of the Sorceress Council, and furthermore, the name of the teacher ‘Sepia’ whom Dale can never forget.
