Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

Chapter 80: (Interlude) St. Gallen, Maneuvering

To the east of the continent, the St. Gallen Federation.

As the snow melted and young grass sprouted, it was the season of burgeoning life, spring. The sky was clear and blue, yet the faces of the group advancing across the plains beneath were clouded, resembling a solemn occasion.

The reason was evident when you looked at their attire. Instead of hats, they wore iron helmets. Their bodies were clad in armor, and they carried flimsy spears in their hands. They were soldiers. Moreover, judging by the determined yet sorrowful expressions as they marched, it was easy to understand that their purpose was not mere training or a routine movement.

They were heading towards the battlefield.

"The king, the nobles, everyone is just a bunch of idiots."

“Ou-sama mo o-kizoku-sama mo, doitsu mo koitsu mo baka bakkari da.”

One of the soldiers muttered as he advanced, his voice filled with gloom.

"Just when I thought the monster uproar had settled, we have a war with Arquell. Once that's over, it's internal strife between kingdoms in the federation. I can't stand it."

“Youyaku mamono sawagi ga osamatta to omottara, Arukēru to sensou. Sore ga sundara kondo wa, renpou no kuni doushi de uchiwamome to kita. Tsukiatte rarenee.”

"Hey, cut it out."

“Oi, yose yo.”

A soldier in the neighboring column admonished him.

"We don't know who might be listening. It's better not to say careless things."

“Dare ga kiite iru ka wakaraneen da. Ukatsuna koto wa iwan hou ga ii.”

"There's no way I'd care."

“Kamau mono ka yo.”

Even the admonishment from his colleague didn't stop the soldier from venting his complaints. While moving his feet, he glanced around. The gloomy soldiers around him all continued to walk in silence with dark expressions. There was no sign of opposing will. Rather, it seemed like they were leaning towards the man who started speaking, listening intently and showing signs of encouraging him to continue.

"Just when we thought we could finally sow the wheat and settle down, they hit us with this conscription. Can't believe there's anyone here who's not furious about this."

“Youyaku ochitsuite mugi o makeru ka tte toki ni, kono chouhei da. Sore ga atama ni kite inai yatsu ga, kono naka ni iru mon ka yo.”

Voices of agreement rose from the surroundings as if baited by his strong tone.

"Yeah, absolutely."

“Aa, mattaku da.”

"The higher-ups only think of us as nothing more than living sacks that spew out wheat when squeezed."

“O-ue wa ore-ra no koto o, shiboreba mugi o hakidasu ikita hitai kurai ni shika omotte iyagara nee.”

"We have to till, sow, nurture, and yet they expect us to harvest without any effort..."

“Tagaya shite, maite, te o kakete sodatenakya, kareru mon mo karenee tte noni yo…”

The soldier, accustomed to rapidly hearing similar words, shrugged his shoulders as if surrendering to the onslaught of words. The soldiers here were not professional warriors. They were farmers wielding hoes, not spears, and facing the earth as their adversary, not enemy soldiers. They had been conscripted into the army under the lord's orders, but war was not their true intent.

"I'll say it as many times as necessary. Those nobles are all fools. They take away the people who cultivate wheat, and then come autumn, they whine about not having enough taxes."

“Nando datte itte yaru. Kizoku-domo wa minna baka da ze. Mugi o tsukuru hitode o ubatte oite, sore de aki ni nattara, zei ga tarinai nante nukashi yagaru ndakara na.”

"Yeah, yeah!"

“Nda, nda.”

"And then, they come up with excuses like 'we're short on resources' and sell them off as slaves. Damn, nobles have the easiest business, I tell ya."

“Demo tte, fusoku da nanda to riyuu o tsukete, dorei ni shite uritobasu ndakara na. Ttaku yoo, kizoku hodo o kiraku na shoubai wa nee mon da na, oi.”

"In our village too, we've been seeing slave traders quite often lately. I wonder if they're scouting for potential merchandise."

“Uchi no mura demo, saikin dorei shounin o yoku miru nda yo na. Ima kara meboshii urimono o busshoku shite yagaru ndarou ka.”

"Me too… If I don't receive some kind of reward for this battle, the village chief said we might have to sell off my youngest sister at home――"

“Boku mo… kono ikusa de onshou demo moraenakattara, ie no sue no imouto o uru koto ni naru kamo shirenai tte, sonchou ga――”

The young soldier blurted out, and the adults around him frowned sympathetically.

"Since the monster incident two years ago, the same situation has been occurring in every village…"

“Ototoshi no mamono sawagi irai, doko no mura mo nita you na koto ni natteru nda naa…”

"Hah, as long as they're still contemplating which family member to sell, it's not as bad. Lately, there are rumors of entire villages conspiring to escape, ya know?"

“He, dono ie no ko o uru ka sandan shite iru uchi wa, mada mashi yo. Chikagoro wa, mura-gurumi de nigedasu you na tokoro mo arurashii ze?”

"Right. I heard rumors about a neighboring village near Balden being emptied overnight."

“Tashika ni. Baruden no atari jaa rinson ga ichiya ni shite karappo ni, nante koto ga atta tte uwasa, kiita koto ga aru ze.”

"The entire village fleeing overnight, huh. But where would they even escape to?"

“Murabito zen'in, hitoban de yonige ka. Demo, nigeru tte, doko ni da yo?”

"Who knows? Perhaps beyond the Riney River?"

“Saa? Raini kawa no mukou ja nee no.”

Riney River. It was the name of the river that served as the border between St. Gallen and the neighboring country Arquell. Across the river lay the land known as Elpis-Roanne――formerly Elpus-Roatrelgen. It had been the territory ceded to the Kingdom of Arquell according to the peace treaty after the Volden Campaign the previous year.

Indeed, now it’s considered enemy territory, but originally, it had belonged to St. Gallen. Many of the people living there were of St. Gallen descent. Even if farmers had fled across the border, there was room to blend in.

However,

"Nonsense. That's already the land of those Arquell people. There's no way they'd be kind to us who fled with just the clothes on our backs."

“Baka ie. Asoko wa mou Arukēru-jin-domo no tochi da. Renchuu ga, mi hitotsu de nigekonde kita ore-tachi ni yasashiku shite kureru wake nee daro.”

A soldier declared with genuine disdain.

Elpis-Roanne was under the rule of the Kingdom of Arquell. St. Gallen had initiated the war through a surprise attack against their country and had been defeated. In that case, it had been hard to imagine that St. Gallen people seeking refuge there would find a fortunate new beginning. Former enemy countrymen without support――such fate of refugees was akin to throwing miners into the mines as slaves. Moreover, Elpis-Roanne was known for its rich mineral deposits. Over the years, it had become a disputed territory between the two major nations, and this had been one of the reasons.

Escaping and facing a future as a refugee or a slave. That's what had made them stay despite their aversion, leading to the present moment. Their role as soldiers, forced out due to the federal civil strife, had been a result of that decision.

And there had been another reason they couldn't flee.

"――What are you chattering about?"

“――Nani o o-shaberi o shite oru?”

At the booming voice that descended from above, the soldiers collectively straightened up. It was only natural for the source of the voice to be high. The man was mounted firmly on a sturdy warhorse, contrasting the foot soldiers. He was a knight. The armor adorning him looked splendid, enough to doubt if the handful of spears wielded by the soldiers could even leave a scratch. The man himself, even when wearing the armor, appeared massive.

"C-Captain…"

“Ta, taichou-dono…”

The soldier who had initially vented his complaints called him so in a trembling voice. The vigor with which he had criticized the nobles' incompetence was now nowhere to be found.

The commanding officer on horseback, with his face concealed by a closed helm, emitted a disdainful snort from his covered mouth, seemingly laughing at their plight.

"Don't slack off with idle chatter. If you fall behind, the soldiers in the rear will fall behind too. It's an advantage to the enemy… Do you intend to be advantageous to the Gallerin side in the upcoming battle?"

“Shigo de iki ashi o namaraseru na. Kisama-ra ga okurereba, sono kouretsu no hei mo mata okureru. Riteki koui dearu zo… Kore kara no gassen, yomoya garerin hou ni risuru harazumori dewa arumai na?”

"N-No, certainly not! No such thing!"

“I, ie, sonna! Messou mo nai!”

"I-In the first place, even if we ally with the Gallerin folks, there's absolutely nothing advantageous for us..."

“Da, daitai, garerin no renchuu ni mikata shite mo, ore-ra ni e nante nani hitotsu gozaimasen yo…”

The soldiers all shook their heads in unison.

Gallerin—the Grandenburg Kingdom, which fancied itself as the dominant league of the federation and wielded its member states with unreasonable demands, had been relentless in intimidating smaller countries to compensate for the loss of prestige due to last year's defeat. In essence, it was a tightening of the loosened reins, but it was not the side being tightened that could tolerate it. Those who meekly accepted the demands of the league were a minority among the member countries. Many nations took up arms, and the league resorted to the use of force as well—leading to confrontations like this.

This army, burdened with a lack of fighting spirit among its troops, was one of the member countries opposing the league.

The captain on horseback snorted condescendingly.

"Hmph. In that case, move quickly. The enemy won't wait, and they won't be as kind with their words as I am. If you make a mistake, you'll pay for it with your life. Keep that in mind."

“Fun. Dearu nara, hayaku susume. Teki wa machi nado senu shi, ore no you ni kuchi de yasashiku iikikase mo sen. Kago o okaseba, inochi de aganau koto ni naru. Kokoro shite oke.”

""Yes, sir!""

““He, hei!””

The soldiers resumed their march obediently in accordance with the orders.

St. Gallen was a nation with a strong survival-of-the-fittest ethos. The federation often fractured due to internal conflicts, and even when it didn't, the country constantly vied with formidable monsters, more threatening than those of other nations. Naturally, the knights who formed the backbone of the military in this environment were exceptional individuals.

In truth, there were numerous individuals at the level of this captain, but even then, freshly conscripted soldiers from rural areas couldn't match their strength even when united. If they ran or opposed, that blade might cut them down. The thought of even a fragment of that possibility was enough to extinguish any resistance. But as long as they followed silently, they wouldn't be treated with utter disregard. That was the reason these soldiers reluctantly marched towards the unwelcome battlefield.

"There's no need to look so gloomy. Even the Gallerin’s side won’t be so foolish as to waste soldiers in battle. This battle, too, is more like a show of intimidation to advance negotiations favorably within the federation. It's unlikely to result in losing lives."

“Sou kurai kao o suru hitsuyou mo arumai. Garerin no renchuu tote, ikusa de muyami ni hei o sokonau gu wa sakeyou. Kotabi no gassen mo, renpou doushi de no koushou o yuui ni susumeru tame no odokashi ai no you na mono da. Inochi o otosu you na koto ni wa, sou sou narumaite.”

The captain spoke consolingly, albeit belatedly, but the soldiers' response wasn't favorable. Being thrust into a battle resembling a show of intimidation disrupted their original livelihoods, which were centered around farming. They harbored resentment toward the ill-conceived provocation that led to a display of arms. Though they felt frustration towards the ineptitude that resorted to a display of arms, there was no reason to feel gratitude or relief.

The somber march, akin to a funeral procession, continued for a while, and it was when they crossed several hills.

"T-that’s…!"

“A, are wa…!”

Beyond the hill lay a wide plain. Coming from the eastern horizon, a continuous line of an army advancing towards them came into view. A mysterious legion advancing directly towards the marching troops. Undoubtedly, it was the Gallerin forces.

"But the scout's report mentioned they would take another half a day passing through the area leisurely, though…"

“Sekkou no houkoku dewa, mou han nichi wa kakaru atari o yuruyuru to tsuuka shiteita to no koto da ga…”

The captain rubbed his jaw thoughtfully from above his closed helm. Perhaps the enemy had realized their advance and decided to accelerate to surprise them. Or were they intending to make this plain the battlefield from the start, feigning sluggishness to lure them in? Either way, now that the two armies had encountered each other, there was only one thing to do.

He summoned a messenger on horseback and swiftly issued orders.

"Messenger, relay the report of enemy presence to the rear command post. Their estimated strength is… approximately twenty thousand. We hold the advantage."

“Denrei. Kouhou no honjin ni teki kage mi yu to no hou o tsutae yo. Souzei wa… ooyoso ni-man. Waga hou yuuri to na.”

The estimate of twenty thousand enemies was based on the information obtained beforehand from the scouts and the amount of dust visible below. Their own forces numbered around thirty-five thousand. They were the combined forces of the anti-league feudal lords. Not long after the painful losses in the Volden Campaign, they had gathered such a force. It spoke to how many were opposed to the high-handedness of the Grandenburg Kingdom.

In contrast, the expeditionary force from Grandenburg showed the thinness of their support. The twenty thousand soldiers posed a significant threat, but considering they had conserved their main force during the war the previous year, the number seemed too small. They had allocated a significant portion of their troops to fortify the rear due to the scarcity of trustworthy allies within the federation.

(The reign of those Gallerin folks won't last long.)

(Kore wa Garerin no renchuu no tenka mo, nagaku wa arumai.)

Beneath the helmet, the captain's face contorted in a disdainful sneer. If they could capitalize on their numerical advantage and secure victory in this battle, they might finally see a glimmer of hope to impede the tyranny of Grandenburg.

Despite the low morale of the soldiers, the commanding officers of the anti-league forces had no doubts about their victory and a shining future.

And then, it happened.

"T-that’s...!?"

“A, are wa…!?”

One of the soldiers let out a tense voice as they observed the troops on the league's side, focusing on a column of relatively lightly armored infantry among the enemy forces. More precisely, it was the weapons these troops carried.

The weapons were short for spears, with no sharp tips, resembling toys with a tubular appearance—musket guns. Confirming this, the captain snorted displeased.

"I see, it’s the so-called new weapon the Arquell side used in the Volden Campaign."

“Naruhodo, Vorudan sen'eki de Arukēru hou ga mochiita to iu shin heiki ka.”

"Y-yes. Thanks to those things, we had a rough time. My cousin Johann got shot by one of those bullets, and because of that wound――"

“He, hei. Are no sei de, ore-ra wa hidoi me ni aimashita. Itoko no yohan mo ano tama ni utarete, sono kizu ga moto de――”

Recalling the power they had experienced on the battlefield last year, a few soldiers shuddered visibly, their faces turning pale. Those sent to Volden in that war were primarily individuals from the neighboring states with a distinct separation from Gallerin, even within St. Gallen. Hence, it wouldn't be surprising if some of the few survivors from that incident were mixed within the current anti-league camp.

It was said that their weapon, used even by newly conscripted peasant soldiers—especially the Arquell people who were less accustomed to warfare compared to St. Gallen—caused significant damage among the expeditionary forces. It seemed that the Grandenburg Kingdom had already managed to utilize it as their own.

However, the captain showed no signs of panic.

"Soldiers, do not be dismayed."

“Hei-tachi yo, ojikezuku na.”

While arrogantly puffing out his chest, he spoke with conviction.

"I have also heard reports about that peculiar weapon. However, there is no need to fear. After all, this is St. Gallen's plain. It's different from the basin beyond the mountains."

“Watashi mo ano myou na buki ni tsuite wa houkoku o kiite oru. Ga, osoreru hitsuyou wa nai. Nanishiro, koko wa Zankutogaren no heiya da. Yama mukou no bonchi nado to wa chigau.”

The final stage of the Volden Campaign, the Battle of Clavicure Basin—the battlefield where musket guns first appeared in the history of the Itucera Continent and were wreaking havoc. However, that was also where the enemy had pre-constructed fortifications in the narrow basin and lay in ambush, ready to strike. One could say there were walls to protect the light and feeble projectile users, making it a defendable position.

Looking at the current situation, the battlefield was a plain where both cavalry and infantry could roam freely. Moreover, according to the scout reports, there were no fortifications like those seen in the battle last year. In other words, there were no obstacles to hunting down the exposed gunners without defenses.

"After all, that musket thing needs to be reloaded with bullets after each shot, doesn't it? Plus, cleaning the barrel and all that. Such a thing requiring so much effort is not suitable for open battlefields."

“Nanishiro, ano masuketto to yara wa, ippatsu utsu goto ni tama o kome naosu hitsuyou ga aru no darou? Sara ni wa tsutsu no souji mo, da. Sayou na tema o yousuru shiromono nado, aketa senjou de mochiiru ni wa mukanu.”

"W-well, that's true…"

“Ta, tashika ni…”

"Additionally, the main cause of that defeat was the intrusion of monsters. And what's more, it was a bizarre one, like vampires. …In a spacious battlefield with good visibility, it's unlikely to allow those monsters to run rampant, right?"

“Kuwaete, ano haisen no shutaru gen'in wa mamono no ran'nyuu yo. Sore mo vanpaia nado to iu kikaku-gai no, na… Hakuchuu doudou, miharashi no yoi senjou de, bakemono-domo no yokonaguri o yurusu hazu mo arumai?”

And this was the biggest factor. In reality, despite using distance and walls as shields, many of Arquell's gunners were killed with their barrage penetrated. If they had continued to press forcefully, St. Gallen would likely have won, and the same would have happened if they had regrouped and started again. If not for unexpected events like being attacked from the rear by a swarm of monsters.

The Gallerin people misanalyzed the lessons of the battle—that was the captain's impression.

"The enemy is becoming arrogant with their newfangled toys… We've won this battle."

“Teki wa mono mezurashii shinpin no omocha ni ogotte oru… Kono gassen, katta na.”

The captain, exuding an air of seasoned experience, confidently pronounced these words in his imposing armor. In response, the surrounding soldiers began to show expressions of relief. Even if it wasn't a situation they were enthusiastic about and couldn't avoid, winning the battle was always better. After all, the sacrifices would be fewer when compared to losing.

~~~

Explosive blasts continuously reverberated across the battlefield, each bang accompanied by a shower of sparks, marking the scattering of lives and flesh.

"T-this isn't what we were told…"

“Ha, hanashi ga chigau ja nee ka…”

One soldier gasped and stammered, drenched in sweat, tears, and fear.

"W-weren't muskets supposed to be unable to fire in rapid succession!?"

“Ma, masuketto tte no wa, rensha dekinee njanakatta no ka yoo!?”

The soldier was staring, frozen, at the forces of the Grandenburg Kingdom, the dominant league of the federation. From the muskets with aligned barrels, bullets were propelled amidst explosive smoke. In their firing, there was no regard for the attack intervals due to reloading that the commander had discussed beforehand—no such thing. Foot soldiers marching and cavalry charging were indiscriminately mowed down by the sudden hail of lead pellets.

The league had developed magic guns capable of firing multiple rounds—of course, it wasn't like that.

Once the trick was understood, it seemed as delusive as a magic show that left you feeling deceived.

"The musketeers in the first row have completed their volley."

“Juushitai dai ichi-retsu, seisha kanryou shimashita.”

"Very well. Second row, advance!"

“Umu. Tsuzuite dai ni-retsu, mae e!”

""Yes, sir!""

““Haha!””

The disciplined calls echoed in response, and the relentless barrage continued.

Following the commander's signal, the front and rear of the deployed line formation exchanged places in multiple layers. The layers that had exhausted their shots remained in their positions. Meanwhile, the layers held in reserve at the rear moved forward to engage in the next round of firing. As the anti-league forces marched forward, trampling over the fallen, the layers that had already fired completed cleaning their gun barrels and reloading in preparation for the next volley.

This alternating firing was the true nature of the seemingly endless rapid shots.

The effectiveness was apparent. The anti-alliance forces were unable to make any headway, and instead, the musketeers of the Grandonburg army continued to advance, steadily like a creeping centipede. The ground was littered with countless corpses of both humans and horses, over which the musketeers marched, literally trampling over them. It was a true, brutal onslaught.

Witnessing such a scene, there were hardly any soldiers who could fight on properly.

"N-no… I don't want to die!!"

“I, iya da… shinitakunee!!”

Someone among the soldiers shouted. This triggered the collapse.

"There's no way I could stand this kind of battle! I-I quit!"

“Ko, konna ikusa, yatte rareru ka! O, ore wa mou tome da!”

"I-I'm going back! Everyone, let's go back to our country!"

“Ka, kaeruu! Oraa, kuni sa kaeruu!!” (TL Note: I believe this is a typo in the raw. It should be ‘kuni e kaeru’, perhaps?)

"W-Wait, you lot! You can't leave your posts! Hey, listen――"

“Ma, mate, kisama-ra!? Mochiba o hanareru denai! Kora, kiite――”

Despite the commanding officers yelling to regain control amid the chaos, their voices were drowned out and swallowed by the continuous sounds of gunfire echoing rapidly. The soldiers of the anti-league forces trembled with each round of those deafening gunshots.

Gunshots. The sound of lead pellets being shot out amidst explosions. The sound that injured and killed someone with each occurrence. Understanding the true nature of that deafening sound on the battlefield made them realize the terror. Guns were terrifying; the sound of guns firing was terrifying.

Fear. It was one of the elements that overwhelmed the soldiers, alongside bullets that actually caused harm. At the moment a gun was pointed at them, at the moment the gunshots rang out, with every occurrence, the soldiers' determination waned. No matter how they covered their ears, the booming sounds that echoed through remained. It was truly the roar of the Grim Reaper. Being exposed to such a thing continuously, the soldiers of St. Gallen were not inhuman. Moreover, a significant portion of them were experiencing the fear of guns for the first time today.

"Tsk, the grunts are losing their nerve…!"

“Chi, zouhyou bara ga ojikezukiotte…!”

The captain gritted his teeth at the state of his crumbling forces. At this point, it was difficult to halt the collapse with words alone. Punishing a few cowards as an example to rally the rest was also not a viable option. The soldiers were consumed by the fear of the guns. Even if he tried to spur them on with disciplinary measures, their resolve would shatter before they even ran towards the enemy.

In that case, there was only one way to turn around this losing situation――

"Alright, those who are far can listen to the sound! Those who are close, see with your own eyes! The soul of a knight resides here!"

“Eei, toukaran mono wa oto ni kikei! Chikakuba yotte me ni mo miyo! Kishi no tamashi, koko ni ari!”

With a roar, the captain kicked his horse's belly, frothing with determination, and launched an assault.josei

――To kill the enemy. If the soldiers knew they could achieve a victory in battle, and that the opponents were also human who would die when struck, they would regain their composure.

Cutting through the wind, he rapidly closed the distance to the lines of the league's forces. Naturally, gunfire erupted from the enemy, but the incoming bullets merely sparked off the surface of his armor.

"As if that would work, in the end it's just mere lead pellets!"

“Kiku ka yo, shosen wa namari no tsubute ka!”

A fierce mocking smile played across his face. Clad in knightly armor prepared for battles against fierce monsters, its defensive capabilities were incomparable to the light armor worn by ordinary soldiers. Of course, the horse armor carrying it had an appropriate thickness as well. While coordinated firing with aligned gun muzzles was effective in trampling over regular soldiers, it was futile against powerful individual combatants. With this conviction, he charged towards the enemy lines.

"≪Fireball≫," "≪Fireball≫," "≪Fireball≫."

…But along the way, he was knocked off his horse by incoming magical attacks.

"Ugh...!?"

“Gu, ha…!?”

He rolled on the ground, experiencing intense pain in his shoulder and chest. The ground, still damp from recent snowmelt, hissed as it came into contact with the heated armor. Struggling to get up, he noticed that his horse, which he was riding a moment ago, was now lying on the ground, unmoving.

"Ugh, ngh…"

“Gunu, nu…”

"Hmm. Mowing down the small fry with a volley and finishing off enemies resilient to bullets with magic. Quite an efficient tactic."

“Fumu. Zouhyou o seisha de nagiharai, juudan ni taeuru teki wa mahou de shitomeru. Nakanaka ni kouritsu-teki na senjutsu da.”

As the pained captain gasped, someone appeared before him. He was wearing an elaborate coat with a high collar, his white cravat untouched by the dirt of the battlefield, and a golden double-headed eagle embroidered on his left chest. He had an ostentatious appearance that was unsuitable for a battlefield. The only thing indicating that this man was a warrior was the sword hanging from his waist. However, this man exuded an aura that instantly showed he was worlds apart from other soldiers and knights.

"Th-that emblem――Grand King's Royal Knight!?"

“So, sono monshou wa――Daiou shin'ei kishou!?”

The captain, realizing the identity of the person before him, stared in awe.

The Grand King's Royal Knights were the most elite warriors in the St. Gallen Federation. They were renowned as the greatest fighting force in the eastern part of the continent, who can only be controlled by the Grand King of the Heiderlecht Dynasty of the Great Kingdom of Grandenburg. There were only six of them in total, but each was an exceptional warrior, possessing the strength of a thousand men and wielding authority equivalent to that of a general.

(TL Note: I chose ‘Great’ cuz ‘Grand Kingdom of Grandenburg’ sounds weird even tho I use ‘Grand King’ cuz ‘Great King’ also doesn't sound good. But in the raw they use the same kanji: 大王/Dai Ou/Grand King and 大王国/Dai Oukoku/Great Kingdom. Sorry if I’m inconsistent.)

Using such monsters in this conflict clearly showed the league's stance regarding the internal strife within the federation. They were dead serious.

The man gracefully bowed towards the horrified captain.

"Oops, my apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Oscar Reinald von Hagendorf. As you've correctly guessed, I serve as the Grand King's Royal Knights of the Grandenburg Kingdom. as the lowest seat. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

“Otto, nanori ga okurete shitsurei. Watashi wa Osukā rainaruto fon hāgendorufu. O-sasshi no toori, Gurandonburuku Daiou kokugun de daiou shin'ei kishou, sono basseki o tsutome sasete itadaite iru. Igo, o-mishiri oki o.”

(W-What an insolent man…!)

(Fu, fuzaketa otoko-me…!)

The captain's teeth ground together. It was infuriating how polite and yet rude the man was. He offered such courtesy to an opponent who was currently lying on the ground, and it was an excellent example of how one could be polite and disrespectful at the same time. It was beyond infuriating.

"You seem, to be quite… at ease, don't you?"

“Zuibun to, yoyuu, da na?”

"Hmm?"

“Fumu?”

The man who introduced himself as Hagendorf blinked at the expletives mixed with pain.

"What do you mean by 'at ease'? Is it inconvenient for me to have a casual conversation with you here?"

“Yoyuu to wa, nani ka ne? Watashi ga koko de kimi to yokenbanashi o shiteite, kochira ni futsugou na koto demo aru no ka na?”

Is this man stupid? The captain thought. He stood in the middle of the battlefield, still dressed in a pretentious manner without wearing armor. He was an easy target for archers and magicians. Magic power was not an exclusive privilege of Grandenburg. Although they were inferior to the other side, they still had a considerable number of magicians.

(You'll regret it when that smug face gets scorched by magic!)

(Sono sumashita kao o mahou de yakarete, koukai suru ga yoi wa!)

Given the major blow they suffered in the initial battle, it was evident they would lose this battle. However, if he could kill the henchman of the Grand King in front of him, he would feel some satisfaction. When their allies' magic approached, he would muster all his strength to strike…

While making these calculations, Hagendorf smiled at him with a cold, cruel smile.

"I forgot to mention… there are no more mages on your side."

“Ii wasureteita ga… kimi-tachi no soba no madou-shi wa, mou inai yo.”

"…Huh?"

“…Ha?”

"Nothing particularly strange about it. After all, if our musketeer corps, who we've worked so hard to prepare, were to suffer losses from magical attacks, it would be a great loss for our army, wouldn't it? So, while you're in chaos from the gunfire, the most prominent mages have already been hunted down. By yours truly, that is."

“Betsuni fushigi na koto wa arumai. Sekkaku koko made shiageta juushitai ga mahou o kuratte sonmou nado shitara, waga gun to shite wa ouzon darou? Dakara, sochira ga juugeki de konran shite iru suki ni, meboshii madou-shi-tachi wa sudeni katte oita. Kono watashi ga ne.”

He wanted to believe that it was just a bluff. However exceptional the Royal Knights may be, it's been only a short period. There was no way such a thing was possible.

However, no matter how long he waited, all that reached his ears were the sounds of gunfire, gunfire, gunfire. Also, the cheers of the Grandenburg side and the cries of his own troops. Occasionally, the sound of magical explosions was heard, but most of them were from the front lines of the Grandenburg formation, where knights from the anti-alliance attempted to charge the musketeers, much like this captain did. His face lost its color. As for Hagendorf, the joyful smile on his face grew even more intense.

"Have you understood? Then, choose. Surrender, or continue to resist."

“Go-rikai itadaketa ka ne? Dewa, erabi tamae. Koufuku ka, sore tomo teikou ka.”

At this point, the losing side had only one of two options. Hagendorf didn't mind which. If the person in front of him chose to surrender, it would save him the trouble of killing them. And if they chose to resist――

"Don't mock me! As a knight, I would never surrender without even crossing swords!"

“Fuzakeru na! Kishi to shite, ichi-gou mo ken o majienu uchi kara koufuku nado!”

"Hm? I see."

“Fumu? Sou ka ne.”

The captain leaped to his feet and rushed at the man, but his body was sliced in a flash.

"But if we're talking about ‘as a knight’... I think someone who doesn't even grasp the difference in strength between us isn't quite fitting for a knight."

“Da ga, kishi to shite, to iu no nara… mazu higa no senryoku-sa sura wakimaenai hippu nado, kishi ni fusawashikunai ki ga suru ga ne.”

The sword, drawn at a speed too swift for the eye to catch, was sheathed slowly this time, deliberately flicking off the blood. With a dull thud, the body fell to the ground. The gaze that looked down at it was sharper and colder than the blade itself.

――Even if the wounded knight chose to resist, for the Grand King's Royal Knight, there was hardly any effort needed to deal with him. In other words, that's how it was.

"But, well, how should I put it? An overwhelming difference in power is rather uninteresting."

“Shikashi, maa, nanda. Attou-teki na chikara no sa to iu no wa, tsumaranai mono da na.”

While glancing briefly at the surrounding battle situation, Hagendorf spoke.

The tide of the battle had clearly shifted towards the side of the league's forces. The anti-league army, which initially had the numerical advantage, was now in a state of disarray in the face of musketeers' gunfire. Despite having gathered in numbers, they were ultimately a motley crew, easily scattered like a flock of crows. If they had organized a separate unit and ambushed the musketeer squad, bringing the battle into a chaotic melee, it might have been a different story. However, to prevent such maneuvers, last year in the war, the non-mainstream factions of the federation were deployed in Volden to wear them down.

His surprise at the unexpectedly easy victory overwhelmed him as he watched his advancing allies. In the midst of it all,

"Impressive, isn't it? General."

“Migoto na mono da ne, shougun.”

He called out to the mounted general between the passing main troops.

"Hagendorf-dono."

“Hāgendorufu-dono.”

"Well, I must say, I'm truly amazed. I was confident we would win this battle, but to defeat the enemy so effortlessly is beyond my imagination."

“Iya haya, mattaku motte kyoutan shita yo. Kono-sen, katsu tsumori de ita no wa tashika da ga, kou mo tayasuku teki o yaburu koto ga dekiru to wa, souzou ijou da.”

"...Thank you for your kind words, I am honored. However, this is also due to your assistance and the brave fight of the soldiers."

“...O-home no o kotoba, kyouetsu shigoku. Desu ga, kore mo kiden no go-joryoku to, hei-tachi no yuusen atte no koto ka to.”

The general replied with a courteous response. However, his expression was somewhat rigid, melancholic, and filled with awkwardness and stubbornness. Naturally so. This general was a military officer who wasn't born-and-raised in the Grandenburg Kingdom like one of the Grand King's Royal Knight, Hagendorf. He came from the coalition of states forming the federation, and this time, joined the league's side. In other words, he was an outsider. Hence, he still seemed out of place within the Great Kingdom's army, struggling to grasp the sense of distance.

Facing this man, Hagendorf put on a friendly smile on the surface and raised his voice.

"Oh no! There's no need for such humility, General! This record-breaking victory is also thanks to your suggestions and command, General! Stand tall and take pride. It's also a gesture of gratitude to the soldiers who fought under your command, after all."

“Iya iya! Sou kenson suru koto wa arumai, shougun! Kono kiroku-teki na senka wa, kimi no kensaku to shiki ga atte koso no mono da tomo, shougun! Motto mune o hatte hokori tamae yo. Sore ga kimi no kika de tatakatta hei e no reigi de mo aru no dakara na.”

"Yes…"

“Ha…”

The general's response was, as expected, half-hearted.

And rightfully so. He had sided with the main faction in this federal unrest due to it aligning with the interests of his home, a constituent state. It wasn't as if he was deeply invested in the Grandenburg Kingdom from the core.

But things wouldn't stay that way moving forward. Grandenburg, and the Grand King, aimed to restructure St. Gallen from this ambiguous framework of the federation into a distinct nation through this battle. It was different from the power struggles within the federation until now. Even looking towards the post-war era, they wanted to incorporate as many competent military leaders as possible.

So he needed to be asserted vehemently. 'You contributed the most to the alliance in this battle, and spilled the most enemy blood.' To push his position towards Grandenburg's side.

Perhaps catching a whiff of the odorous scent of politics, the mounted general cleared his throat and redirected his gaze forward.

"Your words are appreciated. However, we still have to pursue the remaining enemies."

“O-kotoba, katajikenaku. Desu ga, kore yori zanteki e no tsuigeki ga arimasu no de.”

"Hmm. A pursuit…"

“Fumu. Tsuigeki ka…”

Being brought into the intricacies of the battle, Hagendorf had no choice but to step back. After all, he was essentially a warrior. He didn't intend to let the enemies in front of him slip away while engaging in verbal sparring, something fundamentally against his nature.

"From what I've seen, it appears that due to causing too much impact in the initial skirmish, although they scatter in retreat, many enemies manage to escape and flee."

“Mita tokoro, shosen de shougeki o atae sugita sei ka, kaisou wa suredo sono mama nige ooseru teki mo ooi you da ne.”

They succeeded in crushing the vanguard in the gunfire, but those who were behind quickly sensed the disadvantageous situation and the confusion at the front, and swiftly transitioned to a retreat. Their retreat was not very orderly, but the enemy steadily distanced themselves from the league's forces. It appeared that many soldiers fell behind, and while the league's forces were likely not able to completely annihilate them, a considerable number of them were expected to escape successfully.

"Musketeers are infantry, after all. Also, because the sound of gunfire can startle the horses, we didn't bring too many cavalry."

“Masuketto-hei wa hohei dearimasu no de. Mata, juusei de uma ga douyou suru tame, kihei mo amari ooku wa tsurete kite orimasen.”

Horses were timid and sensitive to sound. Even if brought into a battlefield where gunshots, as loud as they were, resounded, they became frightened and unusable. It was different for cavalry horses that had undergone special training for facing magical creatures or mages, or spirit beasts. However, such horses were only a handful even among the cavalry and weren't typically deployed in large numbers.

(TL Note: Spirit beasts, like Elisha’s unicorn.)

"Efforts were made, such as acclimating horses to the sounds and covering their ears, but it would take time for these measures to be practical."

“Uma o oto ni narashitari, mimi ooi o kabuseru nado no kufuu mo hakatte orimasu ga, jitsuyou-ka ni wa toki ga kakaru ka to.”

"I see. You're saying that precautions have already been taken."

“Naruhodo. Taisaku wa sudeni koujite wa iru to.”

"Yes… Furthermore, there is room for improvement in coordination with existing military units like the spearmen, for instance――"

“Ee… Mata, souhei nado no kizon no heika to no renkei ni mo, koujou no yochi wa arimashou. Tatoeba――”

As he spoke, he drew a rough outline on the ground with his finger.

――For instance, deliberately delaying the musketeers' gunfire to lure the enemy. This would delay their retreat, making it easier for us to eliminate them. Of course, it's evident that if we don't shoot at all, we'll be closed in upon, leading to damage on our side. This is where spearmen come into play. By literally inserting a 'sideways spear' into the enemy formation, we can protect the musketeers' formation and restrain the enemy. This is another tactic to achieve elimination through the firepower of guns.

At this point, adding a cavalry charge to the mix would further disarray the enemy, disrupting their formation and exposing them to a hail of bullets.

"――For now, it's just a theory, though."

“――Ima wa mada, kijou no kuuron desu ga.”

The general's gaze, shining intensely, was more eloquent than words could express.

He would show them without fail. He was expressing that determination through his expression.

Since ancient times, those who wielded exceptional military strategies were likened to sorcerers for their prowess. While it remained unknown if the tactics he spoke of would truly manifest the desired effects, the precision and sophistication he applied to the art of shedding enemy blood and wishing for their demise were beyond doubt. Indeed, it could be likened to magic or a curse.

"Then, shall we assume the preparations will be in order by the time we unify the country?"

“Dewa, kokunai o touitsu suru koro ni wa, junbi mo totonotte iru to mite mo?”

"...There should be no issues."

“...Mondai wa, nai deshou na.”

Upon hearing those words, Hagendorf contorted his face into a delighted expression.

"Excellent! Truly excellent, General! Thanks to your dedication, our country will be even more capable of soaring to greater heights! I look forward to working closely with you in the future!"

“Kekkou! Taihen kekkou da tomo shougun! Kimi no kenshin no okage de, waga kuni wa issou no yuuhi ga kanou ni naru to iu wake da! Kimi to wa kore kara mo, zehi tomo yoroshiku yatte ikitai mono da yo, naa?”

Displaying an abnormal passion for war? Almost as if he were cursing the enemy? What was the problem with that? If the focus of their war fervor was directed at the enemy of their own army, it was all the better. There was no doubt that this general was a valuable asset in this regard, as per Hagendorf's judgment.

"...Yes."

“...Ee.”

While replying, the general's eyes harbored a dark flame. Darker than before, even when discussing the efficient ways to kill enemy soldiers, an even deeper shade of darkness. Those who met his gaze would shudder involuntarily, feeling an intense emotion emanating from him.

"By the time this civil war concludes, we will have a system in place capable of seeking revenge against Arquell."

“Kono naifun ga owaru koro ni wa, Arukēru e no setsujoku mo kanau dake no taisei ga totonou koto deshou.”

"Yes. It's very reassuring to hear those words, General Bauer."

“Umu. Jitsu ni tanomoshii o-kotoba da, Bauā shōgun.”

With these words, Hagendorf, seemingly about to join the pursuit, suddenly vanished.

Jurgen Bauer. A general from the Kingdom of Baharia. He was the defeated general from last year's Volden campaign. Why did such a defeated outsider like him manage to reclaim a position of command so quickly?

The reason was…

(...Since last year, the sound of the musket shots never left my ears, even in my sleep. Thanks to that, I ended up making a well-thought-out decision. About how to overcome this, and how to use this.)

(...Sen-nen irai, nete mo samete mo koitsu no juusei ga mimi kara hanarenakatta. Okage de kangae toushi ni naru hame ni natta zo. Kore o dou kouryaku suru ka, dou tsukau ka o.)

Because he had the most experience with this weapon in the entire St. Gallen army and had struggled with its countermeasures and usage.

Bauer advanced on horseback while surveying the battlefield below. Now, it was under his command that the musketeers, crushing the enemy and dispersing them, operated. And the enemy troops, being swept away helplessly like birds. Among those anti-league soldiers, there might be those who had crawled around the battlefield in Clavicure with him last autumn. To trample on them with his own hands stirred a sense of guilt, something undeniable.

However, he could not afford to hesitate.

(New weapons, new techniques, these things created a new era. The tides are changing. We cannot afford to fall behind.)

(Arata na heiki ga, arata na gijutsu ga, arata na jidai o tsukuru. Shiome ga kawatta no da. Wareware mo noriokureru wake ni wa ikanai.)

The defeat in the Volden campaign had clearly shown the decline of St. Gallen's federal provinces. No matter how much one regretted, it was a fact that could not be regained. In the future, the political situation within the Federation would be one where the dominant league, Grandenburg, would strengthen its power while conserving its strength and approaching the post-war era.

Then, the path for the Kingdom of Baharia, having lost many troops and power in the great defeat, could be narrowed down. Endure the unendurable, bear the unbearable, and dare to lower your head to Grandenburg, entering under its umbrella. With this choice and achievement, Baharia could gain a favorable position in the new order that the Federation would form from now on.

Of course, within Baharia, there were still many voices that opposed approaching the league and even more in favor of the anti-league. One could say that those who made pro-anti-league remarks were the majority. But there was no future in just venting the smoldering resentment.

Perhaps it was unfortunate luck, but after the war, Bauer, who had suffered defeat and humiliation as a prisoner of war, was left floating without a place in the domestic scene. He had plenty of time to spare while being relegated to an idle position—more like a punishment. And in that time, he wrote a dissertation, not passionately but with some warmth, on the threat and weaknesses of the musket he experienced in combat, as well as how to use it. Somehow, this essay caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Grandenburg army. He was granted experimental command of the army, including the Musketeer Corps, in this expedition.

Having lost over half of the expeditionary force of 40,000 troops in a great defeat, he lamented how everything was lost. However, it was an odd coincidence. Bauer, the representative of the pro-league faction in Baharia, was now in the Grandenburg army. He was one of the few experts who had hands-on experience with the new weapon. Of course, his position was weak, having been defeated just a year ago. If push came to shove, he could be cut off by both his motherland and the league. But positions could be strengthened with future achievements. It was merely necessary to enhance his standing with the coming accomplishments, enduring the internal turmoil of the Federation.

(First, consolidate the federation internally and reinforce our country's position that has been shaken by defeat. And then, once the lingering concerns are eliminated――)

(Mazu wa renpou naibu o katame, haisen de yuraida waga kuni no tachiba o hokyou suru. Soushite kouko no urei o tatta nochi wa――)

Bauer cast a sharp gaze toward the western sky. In that direction lay the fiefs of the lords who raised troops this time. No, it was the fateful land of Elpis-Roanne. And beyond that was Volden.

(――Just you wait, Arquell Kingdom. And you, the deranged noble called Oubeniel. You'll regret not cutting my head off in Volden!)

(――Matte iro, Arukēru ōkoku. Soshite Ōbuniru toka iu ikare kizoku-me. Vorudan de watashi no kubi o otosanakatta koto o, ima ni koukai sasete kureru…!)

Under the clear sky, under the gentle spring sunshine, yet the light in his eyes was darker than the night and colder than even winter. Jurgen Bauer awaited the day of impending revenge with a sense of eternity.

~~~

To be continued...

TL Note:

Another formidable enemyyyyyy aaaaaAAAAaaaaaaaAAAAaaaaaa~~~

I have to inform you all that I'm going to face the end of term exam for two weeks starting from November 27th. And that means I'm going to switch to nocturnal mode and won't sleep at night to studyyyyy all night for the next two weeks. Naturally, I won't be able to translate for a while, so please forgive me~~ Hope I'll do well in the exams and be able to maintain my continuous 1st rank in this semester too. I will continue once the holiday starts!

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