Episode 43
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The river itself is an unquestionable natural fortress.
If you force a crossing to break through the enemy guarding the other side of the river, many units will be trapped in the narrow rapids, causing a bottleneck. In a situation where the water is pouring down under your feet, it is even more difficult to break through the enemy who is strengthening their defensive posture. Therefore, the main force of the Black Knights solidified their strategy by defending several rapids on the Saxon River.
The enemy had already fought a fierce war of attrition against the garrison of the mountain fortress before reaching here, and with supplies running out, they would have no choice but to force a breakthrough.
The orcs’ charge began with a thunderous roar that seemed to tear the heavens and earth apart.
The Orc Riders, comprised of the toughest elite under the command of the Orc Warboss, charge down the river.
“Never allow those monsters to come ashore!”
“Archers, take aim!”
The knights of the House of Saxony, who had been strengthening their defenses beyond the ford, raised their voices. Dismounting from their horses, they formed a defensive formation to block the impact of the orc riders.
Axes and shields clashed with wolf-riding orcs and heavily armed infantry loyal to House Saxony.
Steel clashed with steel, and the sound of iron tearing flesh and slaughtering flesh echoed.
In most of the fords, the orcs’ advance was successfully stopped without difficulty. However, in some crossing points where the quality of units and soldiers was relatively poor, some orc riders were able to successfully cross the river.
The most powerful orc elites land on land, and as they clear the way, the crossing of the follow-up forces gains momentum.
The situation changed in an instant. The morale of the soldiers quickly dropped, and before long, the rapidly growing horde of orcs began to overwhelm them.
It was at that time that the mobile strike force led by the ‘Black Prince’ of the House of Saxony appeared.
Not from behind the backs of the allied forces who were cornered, but from behind the backs of the enemies, the orc group on the other side of the river who were trying to cross the enemy line. As if he was accurately sniping the rear of the enemies who had their center of gravity shifted to the front in a desperate attempt to cross the river.
“Charge!”
“I will obey your command, Your Majesty!”
At Dale’s command, Lord Vale of Baskerville raised his voice.
“Charging!”
“For the House of Saxony!”
“For Prince Dale!”
Dale’s six squadrons of cavalry, the Saxon House’s proud ‘Black Cavalry’, galloped on their warhorses. The Duke of Saxony’s riders fell upon the rearguard of the Orc force, who had been left defenseless after their encircling maneuvers.
The slaughter has begun.
“It’s Prince Dale!”
“The Black Prince has appeared!”
“The ‘Black Cavalry’ of the House of Saxony are striking the enemy’s rear!”
I’m with the son of the Black Prince, the Black Prince!
While he is an object of endless fear to his enemies, his notoriety serves as a reliable guarantee to his allies.
This could truly be said to be a virtuous cycle of fear.
“Prince Dale is fighting for us!”
“The Black Prince’s cavalry is slaughtering the enemies!”
“The enemies here are isolated! Do not break the siege! Strengthen the encirclement together with the cavalry of the Duke!”
Just by existing, it boosts the morale of the soldiers and becomes a magic weapon that turns the situation around when things are unfavorable.
Six cavalry squadrons.
Although they numbered only three hundred men, the enemy force had its center of gravity focused on the river.
It took an unimaginable amount of effort for a large force to turn around, and Dale’s cavalry aimed precisely at that point and brought their shock power down on the enemy’s weak point.
Dale, who commanded the cavalry, was no exception. After Sir Bale’s cavalry withdrew from the first cavalry charge, Dale appeared in the second assault force that was being deployed in succession.
On horseback, the shadow cloak he was wearing fluttered, disguised as his own black surcoat.
“Shadow Bullet.”
As the charge continued, countless shadow bullets rained down on the orc horde.
A hail of bullets writhing with living malice. In the face of firepower that seemed to be pouring down from a heavy machine gun, the fleshy texture of the orcs, reminiscent of their leather armor, was meaningless.
For a top commander to be active at the forefront is an act that carries no small amount of risk.
But the price is certain.
“Prince Dale is with us!”
“Show them no mercy!”
Trust beyond doubt. An act that ignites the loyalty of the knights of the House of Saxony.
The Saxon knights, the Night Ravens, who stood in the ranks with Dale, thrust down their lances with a mad fighting spirit.
In addition, Charlotte also wielded the Saxon family’s long sword while riding a horse, assisting the ‘Black Prince’.
Black sword shadows scattered in all directions, and black blades swung toward the orcs’ bodies.
Choaack!
My arms, legs, neck, and shoulders fell off like Lego pieces.
“Leave it to me!”
Charlotte shouted, her face hidden by a black helmet.
“Dale, if we delay any longer, the orcish forces will turn their positions.”
As Sepia added calmly, Dale nodded quietly.
“We will escape before the enemy starts an encirclement maneuver.”
Beyond the land, the friendly forces, buoyed by the performance of this side, are driving back the enemy. Shouting the name of Dale, praising the black cavalry of the House of Saxony, they do not give up hope of victory.
In most other fords with relatively strong defensive positions, the enemy’s crossing is successfully blocked. There aren’t many places that Dale has to worry about. Just a few fords with relatively weak troops and lords stationed there.
“The Orc Riders are turning their riders!”
It was at that very moment that Dale nodded at his subordinate’s warning.
“Let us retreat.”
Hit and Run.
There is no need to win overwhelmingly in battle. There is no need to annihilate the enemy. That is why Dale’s mobile strike force achieved their objective and turned around without a moment’s hesitation.
Leaving behind the endless sea of orcs’ blood before them.
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A pursuit party of orc riders followed, and so far it was within the expected range.
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There was no reason for us to hesitate in scattering the enemy’s cavalry force, and even if we were allowed to pursue, we were confident that we could repel them without difficulty.
Dale kept his distance and watched the orc riders pursuing him.
To draw the enemy out to a point where the help of the follow-up troops cannot reach, and then immediately turn the cavalry riders around to wipe out the enemy.
But the ‘unexpected ambush’ appeared right there.
“word……?”
It wasn’t a giant wolf. After glancing at the pursuers, Dale doubted his eyes for a moment.
Orcs rarely ride horses. However, some of the demons who were among the ‘orc riders’ chasing him were riding horses. They were also wrapped in suspicious robes.
The term “Demon” is a general term for monsters with a certain level of intelligence, and it does not necessarily refer to an Orc. Even if the majority of their units are made up of Orcs, it would not be strange if there were a few other Demons mixed in.
But on top of the galloping horse, unidentifiable figures wearing robes stretched out their arms.
The ‘bloody magic’ rippling from their arms was by no means that of an alien.
It belongs to people.
“Dale! Watch out!”
“… … !”
Sepia, who had maintained her composure the whole time, finally broke her composure and raised her voice. Dale was also aware of the meaning behind it.
Blue magic swirled from the fingertips of Sepia, an elven wizard of the 6th circle. Magic is closely affected by the surrounding climate, and in that respect, the frozen soil of Saxony provided a great blessing to Sepia’s magic.
Kuung!
But even taking that fact into account, the ice wall Sepia had erected was beyond imagination.
A wall of ice rose up, separating Dale’s cavalry from their enemies.
But after that, the ‘result of bloody magic’ that was pouring down towards Sepia’s ice wall was even more shocking.
Flames raged. These were no ordinary flames. It was a joint chant, not of one, but of several wizards joining forces.
It was the fire of hell.
A firepower that melts the ice wall of a 6th circle magician like ice cream, leaving behind remnants of heat that pierce this way.
“Ahhhhh!”
In the remnants of the swirling flames, several of the Saxon House’s proud night-raven knights were burned to the ground. It was so cold that even the cold of Saxony’s frozen soil seemed insignificant. Before anyone could even do anything, not even a corpse or a bone fragment remained.
All that remains is a few handfuls of ashes scattered in vain.
Wipe out.
“no way…….”
Dale’s expression hardened coldly.
“Turn your riders around, disperse at once! Never stop moving, and never gather together!”
And without a moment’s hesitation, he gave precise instructions on what to do.
“──We are now dealing with Pyromancers!”
Just as the wizards of the Black Tower are called Necromancers. Just as the Clerics of the White Tower are called.
A name referring to the wizards of the Red Tower.
There was no time to think about why the Red Tower wizard was here. Or why he was with the demons.
However, if his prediction was correct, the only ones who could use fire magic so accurately on horseback were not the ‘ordinary magicians’ among the enemy magicians.
A wizard never performs his duties with the expectation of being active on the battlefield.
Even high-ranking magicians often give up their distance and are defeated by ordinary knights.
But the horsemanship they are demonstrating, even the precision of horseback shooting that Dale once demonstrated, is not the skill of a practitioner honing his horsemanship.
Beings who thoroughly hone their magic with the premise of standing on the battlefield from the beginning.
“Be careful. These are the ‘Purifiers’ of the enemy tower.”
As if reading Dale’s thoughts, Sepia answered. The title of Elf Wizard of the 6th Circle and Elder of the Blue Tower was by no means an empty title.
Purifier.
A battle wizard trained solely to burn the enemies of the Empire and the Red Tower, and to enforce their zeitgeist.
Those very Purifiers were blending in with the demons and were targeting Dale’s cavalry.
Dale’s cavalry? The main force commanded by the Duke of Saxony?
──No. After thinking about it that far, Dale was able to realize.
“What they’re after is Prince Dale!”
Lord Vale of Baskerville raised his voice in urgency.
“I won’t let it be.”
Charlotte sharpened the Black Sword’s Auror Blade and adjusted the handle.
“Don’t worry, Dale.”
Said Sepia, the elf wizard of the 6th circle of water attribute and the elder of the blue tower.
“Let me fulfill my duty as a teacher.”
It began to emit ‘blue magic’ while rotating six circles centered around the heart.
It’s not just Dale who’s fighting. That’s why the shadow cloak disguised as a black surcoat began to flutter madly. Following the shadows underfoot, countless shadow bullets were carved.
There was no change. There was an enemy, and the enemy was defeated. Even if the opponent was the Red Tower, it wouldn’t be any different. No, rather, what more could one wish for?
Now, Dale was truly facing his ‘enemy’.
An unforgettable enemy of his own, called the Empire.
