Chapter 73 - The Retnark New Revolutionary Army
The pleasant spring had given way to the harsh early summer. Just then, a request for assistance from the Exembra Garrison arrived. We convened an emergency meeting of the Kikyo Society’s leadership to discuss the matter.
"Of course it came," said one of the leaders.
"They’re here, and it looks like they’re asking for help from other families and guilds too," another added.
"Yes, the Garrison’s strength hasn’t changed, so this was inevitable," a third agreed.
Back in Retnark, civil war had broken out once again. Given the current situation, it seemed unlikely that the conflict would de-escalate. Meanwhile, a conscription force from the Retnark New Revolutionary Army was advancing toward Exembra. Though they called it a conscription, it was on a much larger scale than that.
We were well aware that the Exembra Garrison’s forces were weak. Perhaps they even intended to take the city. Naturally, the New Revolutionary Army was an enemy to the residents of Exembra, including us. Ideally, the Exembra Garrison should handle external threats, but they remained woefully underpowered. As a result, the underground organizations and guilds within the city were being asked to contribute to the defense, including the Kikyo Society.
"It’s a hassle, but we can’t ignore this. We can’t afford to overlook the trouble caused by the new arrivals in the city, and we have no intention of scaling down our regular operations," one of the leaders stated.
"Compared to the Five Great Families and the guilds, we’re a small organization. We don’t need to send a large force," another noted.
"True. We’ll have to cancel our vacation, but even a small force should be enough," a third agreed.
"Agreed. If Yukari joins and we send one Combat Unit, we should be fine."
"But this isn’t just a skirmish; it’s a real war against soldiers. We need to think carefully about who we send."
Indeed, this wasn’t a fight where we could just beat them up and send them away. We needed experienced warriors. Siegrune, a former knight, and Angelina, a former mercenary, were essential. They could handle the situation more effectively than I could and take command if necessary.
"In that case, Siegrune and Angelina, you’ll be in charge of the field operations."
"Leave it to us. With Angelina by my side, we won’t lose a single comrade."
"Got it. You can count on us."
"Perhaps we should form a temporary unit of volunteers rather than a formal Combat Unit."
That’s a good idea. In a battlefield, killing is a necessity, and there’s no room for restraint. We could gather enough volunteers, and it would be better to have a dedicated team.
"What about the rest of us? If we have healing potions, we might not be needed, but we can stay in the rear and provide support," someone suggested.
"True. While it’s unlikely we’ll be needed, Rosabel-san will stay in reserve."
"Should we form the unit around the Combat Unit’s leadership? If we call for volunteers, we might get too many impulsive members, but this could be a good opportunity to gain experience," Gradena pointed out.
She had a point. This was my first time on a large-scale battlefield as well. We couldn’t send all the Combat Unit’s leaders, but we could leave a few behind to manage things.
In the end, we decided that I, the Vice-Commander, the Acting Vice-Commander, and ten other leaders would go to the front lines. Another ten young members would stay in reserve with Rosabel-san. Even in reserve, they would get a feel for the battlefield.
First, we needed Angelina and Siegrune to lead the charge. Then we would send the former adventurers: Ophelia, Albert, Verone, Mia, and Liliane. Paula and Bonnie, along with Valeria, and the former Blue Knight, Ortlinde, would also join. Ortlinde would also gather intelligence on the ground.
The leaders staying behind included Shelby from the Combat Support Unit, Mary and Brittany from the Second Combat Unit, Charlotte from the Fifth Combat Unit, Josephine from the Intelligence Unit, and Advisor Colette-san. They would maintain vigilance within Exembra and be ready for any unexpected events. In a way, this might be more challenging than the front lines, but we hoped it would be smooth.
With the force composition settled, we now awaited the arrival of the enemy. The Retnark New Revolutionary Army was reportedly in the thousands, while the Exembra Defense Force numbered around three thousand, mostly a ragtag group. The Garrison, adventurers, mercenaries, volunteers, and underworld soldiers made up the total force. The Five Great Families seemed reluctant to commit their full strength, but they could increase their numbers if necessary.
Exembra was protected by a long outer wall, which could only be breached by specialized siege weapons or large-scale magic. The walls themselves were too sturdy to be easily destroyed. The main targets would likely be the eight gates.
However, Exembra had no intention of fortifying itself. Most gates would remain open, and business would continue as usual. This was a consensus among the residents. Exembra’s low food self-sufficiency and large population made a prolonged siege impractical.
The strategy was straightforward. The Retnark New Revolutionary Army would come from a specific direction, and Exembra had a gate on that road. This gate would be left open as a trap. The other gates would be closed, and the Construction Guild would build trenches and walls to prevent flanking.
The main gate would be the focus of the defense, with the Anastasia Union taking the lead. We were confident they could handle it.
I had no interest in strategy or tactics. As long as everything went smoothly, it didn’t matter. My main concern was the Kikyo Society’s role. We didn’t want a prolonged conflict and aimed to end things quickly. The Kikyo Society, known for its high individual combat power, would join a surprise attack unit. Our goal was to raid the enemy’s main camp at night and finish the fight swiftly. The exact date of the raid would be determined based on the situation, and it was being kept secret to prevent leaks.
The conscription force, essentially a raiding army, had already ravaged several villages along the way. The influx of refugees into Exembra had been steady, and the Garrison was busy gathering information. Most people had fled, limiting human casualties, but the villages had been looted and burned.
As this information spread, the morale of the Exembra Defense Force grew. Even those who were usually law-abiding, like us, became less hesitant to show mercy as the enemy’s atrocities increased.
On the day of the battle, the Retnark New Revolutionary Army appeared in the afternoon. This was likely a vanguard. The Kikyo Society and other defenders were positioned on the outer wall to provide magical support. We waited for the battle to begin.
The vanguard halted at a distance and sent a messenger with unrealistic demands, likely thinking we would surrender. When the messenger was killed, a barrage of magic rained down from the New Revolutionary Army.
However, the magic was deflected by a barrier spell. The large-scale magical devices were effective, and the attack would continue until the mana ran out.
But the defenders weren’t passive.
"First Magic Attack Team, commence attack!"
Though fewer in number, some of the spells were powerful. The enemy deployed defensive magic, but the large-scale spells still inflicted damage.
"Second Magic Attack Team, commence attack!"
I was part of this team, waiting for the raid to begin. I reluctantly cast my usual thorn spell, launching iron thorns at the enemy’s feet. About a hundred were put out of commission.
I could continue casting this spell at this range, but overuse was unwise. I pretended to rest and withdrew, considering my contribution sufficient. The barrier spell would hold for the day.
The defenders had a significant advantage with the barrier spell and the outer wall. By the third day, the barrier was nearing its limit, but the New Revolutionary Army had suffered significant losses and was exhausted from the field. The main force had arrived but was also fatigued from the march.
In contrast, the defenders, especially the Kikyo Society, were in high spirits. We heard that an energetic unit would launch a surprise attack before the barrier collapsed, and the Kikyo Society volunteered.
"Finally, our turn. I was about to die of boredom," one member said.
"It’s been a long time since we’ve been on a battlefield. My blood is boiling," another added.
"The enemy is tired and mostly conscripts. Just have some fun and come back when you’re satisfied."
There was no specific strategy. The plan was to exploit the enemy’s complacency after the prolonged siege and launch a quick, harassing attack. We would be the vanguard.
We weren’t eager to take on a dangerous role, but the three days of waiting had made us restless. Watching the battle from above was frustrating. We needed to be in the action.
"I can’t wait any longer. I’m going to do my own thing, but don’t die, okay?" I said.
"Heh, if I die here, I’ll laugh my head off!"
"Angeline and I will cover you. Go wild, Yukari-dono and everyone else."
"Onee-sama, I’ll protect you!"
"Let’s do this with the former adventurers again?"
"Stay alive, got it? Injuries can be treated, but death is permanent."
"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."
The details didn’t matter. I was ready. I thought back to my first battle in the Camp, using Physical Enhancement Magic to fight a monster. The adrenaline or some magical substance was making me feel incredibly excited, almost to the point of exploding.
I had no intention of dying here, and I trusted my comrades. We were well-prepared with Physical Enhancement potions. There was nothing to worry about. My focus was on defeating the enemy.
Let the battle begin!