Episode 129
* * *
Two horses, their black and white manes fluttering, were crossing the Marquessland of York.
‘Give your heart to the Black Successor, and respond to his heart.’
‘Please, Sepia, lend me your strength.’
When Dale said that, Sepia nodded with her usual affectionate and gentle smile. As a teacher who cared for her students, and as an elf wizard who understood Dale’s world.
It was a kindness that seemed to show the goddess’s benevolence itself.
But now I could understand. The crystal necklace that was dangling in Dale’s pocket, the truth that Mistress Titania had told me. The absolute love she was showing me was not strictly her will. Nothing from the beginning.
Dale bit his lip softly.
“Why are you doing that?”
Just then, Sepia, who was riding beside Dale, asked worriedly.
“Your expression doesn’t look good. Is there something else that is disadvantageous about the situation?”
“No, that’s not true.”
Dale smiled, trying not to show it. Sepia continued, smiling as usual.
“Don’t worry. I will be by your side.”
‘I will protect you.’
Charlotte’s voice came to mind involuntarily. A girl who didn’t even know that the person in front of her was the murderer of her father whom she hated so much, and who didn’t hesitate to become a sword to be swung for Dale.
That day, Dale’s will reached out to Charlotte from his childhood and made her what she is today. How is that act any different from the ‘plot and lies’ of the Blue Tower? In a sense, it was more malicious than the suggestion that moved Sepia.
Nothing is different. Earlier, Titania called Dale ‘the most powerful successor to the Blue Tower’. I couldn’t understand her true intentions, but at least Dale pointing a finger at the Blue Tower was truly ironic and hypocritical.
Just like his father, the Black Duke, once did.
“Thank you always, Sepia.”
That’s why Dale couldn’t say anything.
For now, all Dale can do is secure victory in this war. After that, he will convene the ‘Sorceress Council’ of the Blue Tower as promised, and the rest will come later.
* * *
Dale did not head straight for York’s leadership, that is, to the fortress where the York maids were.
When Dale was approached by a high-ranking assassin from the ‘Shadow Court’, with whom he had regular contact above the Marquisate, Dale’s orders were rather unexpected.
“Recall the entire intelligence unit and gather the Shadow Court’s top assassins to Fort Felix.”
Dale’s new destination. Named after one of the countless forts built by the Marquis of York against the Lancasters.
That day, the information obtained through the Purifier was not decisive enough to determine the course of the battle itself. However, it was possible to obtain at least a minimum clue to counter Mikhail’s strategy of ‘hiding trees in the forest’ through simultaneous advances.
‘It was information I was going to get my hands on anyway.’
But the real reward I got that day after encountering the Purifier unit was something else.
In the castle on a dark, white winter night, a brazier with a faint glow.
Dale accelerated four circles, testing his ability to generate horsepower.
Between the black magic, blood-red magic burned like static electricity, then died down in an instant.
‘… … I think I have a general idea.’
Standing on the watchtower of the fortress, I looked out over the vast horizon.
Fort Felix was the rear fortress furthest from the Lancaster army, which was advancing while forming a simultaneous battle line. In other words, Dale intentionally set up a base in the rear without joining the front line.
Unfortunately, since he can’t act as the ‘Black Prince’, he can’t officially use the Night Raven Knight and the Elder of the Black Tower as his long-term pieces. The one Dale is currently acting as is officially the ‘Genius of Defeat’ Philip.
People don’t change overnight. If a genius of defeat were to change into a ‘genius of victory’ overnight, it would not be difficult for anyone other than a fool to figure out the identity of the Lancaster side.
However, at least the first battlefield where Philip would first be active, and the enemies where he would first encounter the ‘genius of defeat’ were an exception.
When you see the banner of the Counts of Brandenburg fluttering over Fort Felix, you will be jubilant and say that you have won before you even fight.
Just as Dale had earlier achieved a one-time great victory against the Holy Sword’s cavalry through the ‘Shadow Court’… … This was a one-time opportunity that only Philip, who had the title of genius of defeat, could obtain.
Because this opportunity will be a brilliant move that will turn the unfavorable situation around.
* * *
It was late at night. Except for the presence of scouts and other troops active in the dark, the Lancaster army had officially stopped advancing.
It is not necessarily the case that forming and breaking through multiple front lines at the same time has only advantages. It is helpless against unexpected individual defeats, and the advance speed is bound to be slow in order for the entire front line, which is spread out widely, to move organically.
Above all, because it is a mobile war, you cannot use armored weapons such as tanks or armored vehicles.
So, since the defensive posture of the countless fortresses built within the Marquisate of York is solidifying, they will surely come up with a clever plan to break through it.
Up to that point, it was within Dale’s expectations, and finding out the specifics was purely a matter of luck.
The ‘Purifiers’ of the red tower are infiltrating the rear of the Marquisate of York and are active in secret.
Among the wizards called the ‘God of War’, he is the Red Tower’s Red Magician who calls himself the God of Siege.
They are trying to take advantage of the rearguard action by having Lancaster’s forces join them at the same time.
However, the Red Mage is not specialized in nighttime actions. In this world, large fireworks and loud noises scattered in the middle of the night mean only one thing.
In a situation like the present, where both sides have drawn up wide front lines, it would be suicidal to attempt a conspicuous night attack.
So it wasn’t difficult to predict the enemy’s movements during the night.
In order to surround the Marquis of York’s front from the front and rear, they will try to take the relatively lightly guarded rear fortresses first. And only a small number of elite strongmen will be able to do so.
Of these, the rear fortress Felix was the most tempting fort on the Lancaster side.
First, it is a strategic point where you can overlook the entire front line of York when you occupy it.
Second, the one guarding that fortress, which was of considerable importance despite being a rear fortress, was none other than Philip, the ‘genius of defeat’ who was renowned throughout the continent.
The tyrant who had once surrendered the impregnable fortress on the island of Bratinaa would have no chance of successfully defending it in this medieval battlefield.
The Lancaster mobile strike force had already completed a detour to the rear of York’s territory, and their commander was secretly delighted.
This is a battle that has already been won before it is even fought. By capturing the rear fortress and isolating York’s front lines from the front and rear, victory is secured.
There was no hesitation in front of the armor of the ‘Knights of St. Magdalene’ and the standard symbolizing the Count’s house, visible above the castle.
* * *
At that moment, in the workroom inside the fortress, Dale was looking out the window.
By his side, Sepia is there, as always, lovingly guarding Dale. Just as she did to Dale when he was reborn as the ruler of the Demon King’s Territory and the ‘Viscount of Saxony’.
“Sepia.”
“What’s wrong, Dale?”
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After a silence, Dale opened his mouth.
“… …Why do you do that for me?”
“Why, didn’t you promise?”
Sepia tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand.
“I will stay by your side and protect your happiness.”
“is it so.”
Dale smiled softly at Sepia’s words. After smiling, he didn’t hesitate.
“… … !”
He closed the distance and kissed Sepia. Dale, who grew up every day, had no trace of the boyishness of his peers. He didn’t even lift a toe. Instead, he slightly lowered his head and kissed Sepia.
Sepia was taken aback by the sudden kiss. But the embarrassment only lasted for a moment.
“Uh, umm… … .”
He just smiles in an incomprehensible manner and wraps both arms around Dale’s shoulders.
I loved Agape’s love, the endless positivity, kindness, and affection she showed towards Dale. Through her, I wanted to forget the cold loneliness that was embedded in his world.
But this was never her will. I liked Sepia for accepting Dale even though she knew that.
Charlotte and Sepia, what’s the difference?
As a warrior from another world, he hated those who manipulated and manipulated Dale in the past. But now, what was different about Dale’s actions? Nothing was different.
Before he knew it, Dale had become a monster just like them.
“You’ve grown so much already.”
At the end of the kiss, Sepia smiled with her cheeks blushing.
“Because I promised I would become a man worthy of you, Sepia.”
After speaking, Dale smiled bitterly. Realizing that she couldn’t resist, he unilaterally yearned for her affection. Could he really be a good match for Sepia?
No it wasn’t.
Dale put his hand into his pocket. The feel of the crystal necklace Titania had once given him was etched into his mind.
After some hesitation, Dale was about to take out the necklace.
“Haha, I feel so f*cking ashamed to interrupt your cozy moment.”
“… … !”
Suddenly, I felt a presence.
“As expected, the elite Lancaster troops have completed their detour maneuver and are on the verge of taking the fortress.”
“We will respond immediately.”
Dale nodded toward the swordsman and his shadow assassins who had reported, trying to ignore the feel of the crystal necklace in his pocket.
Sepia’s face turned bright red and she turned her head away in embarrassment.
* * *
There are three main columns.
First column, the enemy’s column into which the Duchy of Lancaster’s forces were advancing simultaneously.
The second column, that of the Marquisate of York, was holding out against them from the countless forts they had built.
Third row, a rear column slightly away from York’s defensive line.
Assuming that a normal war is one in which the first and second columns clash, it is usually the third column’s job to break this deadlock.
The plan was to sneak a large-scale maneuver behind the enemy’s back and capture their fortress, allowing the first and third lines to surround the second line. That’s why Dale volunteered to join the third line instead of the second line, which was forming a defensive line.
And the elite Lancaster force, which had attempted a bypass maneuver targeting the third column, began the siege.
Towards Felix, a fortress in the rear, far from the defensive line.
Even though they cannot make cavalry charges, and even though they must take the risk of a siege to capture the fortress.
The ‘weight of the name’ that the genius of defeat, Philip, had was by no means light, to the point that it was considered a risk worth bearing.
