Chapter 272 - Near the Medioland-Morandine Border
At the end of July, the flags of both Gram and Northern Gram were fluttering over the Gram Royal Palace.
Although Eowyn had succeeded to the lineage of the Gram Royal Family, he had not yet been coronated. After the coronation, the flag of Northern Gram would be lowered, but that was not for now.
The populace, who had been prepared for the flag of Medioland to flutter over the Royal Palace, felt relieved to see the flag of Gram.
It had already been declared that there would be no looting or violence, and a notice had been issued in Eowyn's name that if such a thing occurred, the soldiers would be severely punished.
In the past, there was also a history of holding the throne of either country. Everyone was grateful to the former King of Gram and Eowyn for preventing the Royal Capital from being caught in the fires of war through negotiations.
Perhaps because of that, there was no particular confusion even when the forces of Medioland and Finis followed the Northern Gram army led by Eowyn.
Eowyn, who had succeeded to the lineage of the Gram Royal Family, was sitting on the throne without wearing a crown.
The rewards for this war would be handled by the King, but before that, the border lines of the three countries and the treatment of those who had submitted must be decided.
Beside him stood Crown Prince James of the Kingdom of Medioland and Crown Prince Gwyn of the Kingdom of Finis.
Before the three of them were the nobles of Old Gram who had sworn submission to their new masters, along with the vassals of the three countries.
"There are no issues with the territorial division between our country and both Finis and Medioland, then?"
There was no one to complain.
In this place, there were only the subordinates of the three Crown Princes, who were the victors, and the generals of the defeated side.
The Northern Gram army had been pointed out by church priests for looting as usual when they invaded the land of Septanaquila, but because Medioland and Finis ignored it, the matter ended up being hushed up. To begin with, it was the fault of those who lost, knowing that would happen.
Finis, which had reclaimed the ancestral lands once stolen by those who came from the continent and had obtained the Royal Capital of Former Septanaquila, was able to become a neighbor to its ally Medioland. Northern Gram, which had gained the lands stolen by Septanaquila three years ago plus the southeastern part of Former Septanaquila, the eastern half and the Royal Capital of the Old Gram Kingdom, and the lineage of the Gram Royal Family. Medioland, which had added the western half of the Old Gram Kingdom to its territory and continued to obtain the right to deploy and use garrison forces at the port near the Royal Capital. Each of the three parties produced results they were satisfied with.
Furthermore, the recovery of Eowyn, who had been afflicted by Karmic Disease and was thought would die just like that, surprised the nobles of Gram, which was called a brother nation.
Northern Gram rejoiced at the Crown Prince's recovery and formally returned the lands they had been disputing with Finis, while simultaneously forming a military alliance.
The medicine that triggered this had been developed in Sertoria and was brought through the cooperation of Medioland and Finis. Knowing that the portion for the Crown Prince's treatment had been covered by Finis's expenses before the negotiations through Gwyn's goodwill was sufficient material to predict that the cooperation between the three countries would become robust.
The three of them, having cleared the room of everyone including their own staff, retired to the waiting room and made a toast.
Old Gram had a small population, but agriculture flourished in the fertile plains spreading to the south of the Gram side, providing sufficient food production, and it had prospered mainly through trade with the continent.
Although it was a waiting room, the furnishings were luxurious.
The three of them buried themselves in luxurious sofas that made abundant use of gold and silver thread embroidery and were comfortable to sit on.
Eowyn, who was recovering day by day, still had a face with many scabs, but he was no longer wearing a mask. He was spending his days vibrantly.
He was originally a handsome man. After his recovery, one would surely be able to see a handsome face.
Gwyn looked upon that figure with pride, and James also had the corners of his mouth softened at the sight of the two of them getting along.
"Now then, James-dono. What will you do from here? I intend to go to the Finis Royal Capital with Gwyn-dono to thank His Majesty the King and Aira-dono for providing the medicine that cured my illness."
Of course, the fact that the medicine could be obtained for free was also largely due to the fact that the cargo of the Class of 175 in Sertoria, which handled the medicine, was being transported for free by Medioland. Eowyn's words, already knowing this, implicitly indicated that after the trip to Finis, he would also go to Medioland and Sertoria.
"It seems Engrio is advancing toward our ally, Regnentes. They might also meddle with Sertoria or Septanaquila. I must lead the army back to the Royal Capital for now and devise countermeasures."
If James went with them, there would be no greater influence on the peace of the northern lands, but there were circumstances that made it impossible.
It was unknown how the seven thousand regular troops of the eastern regional nobles of Engrio and the eleven thousand regular troops of their ally, Morandine, would move. If they remained in their current positions indefinitely, James would be isolated in the land he had just acquired if both armies moved north.
"Then, shall I go with you? It'll be an expedition, so I can't use the orbs, but I'll be an ambush unit."
Gwyn easily changed his plans and offered reinforcements. Since the name of Sertoria had been mentioned, there should be no one in Finis who would oppose it.
"No, I am grateful for the offer, but I have a bit of a plan. I want to draw the Engrio eastern army and the Morandine army so they do not go west by becoming a decoy myself."
"Are you going to be all right? If you want, my army will also support you."
Upon hearing the words that James himself would become a decoy, even Eowyn offered reinforcements.
"Those words are truly appreciated, but in truth, there is a strategy. It is more convenient for us if an announcement is made that the armies led by you two will stay in this land for a while and then go to Finis."
Gwyn smirked at James's words.
"James, what are you plotting? Tell us."
Even Eowyn, who had sensed something from Gwyn's words, leaned in.
"It cannot be helped. Then, I shall tell you two my thoughts."
James took a map from his bosom and began to speak of the strategy.
It was after August that the Medioland army, which had joined up with three thousand reinforcements, left the Old Gram Royal Capital.
Placing the reinforced military force as garrison troops in several newly acquired lands, he led ten thousand troops back to the Royal Capital.
Although they had obtained the western half of Old Gram, especially in the lands that became Medioland's territory, the greater nobles had their lands reduced. There were also greedy people who took that as an opportunity to hike up tax rates. To prevent rebellions, it was also necessary to make Medioland's methods known to the towns and villages. Although it was thought that there were no issues around the fortresses they had taken since departing Medioland, it was necessary to lead the army through the regions they had not passed through—especially the southern part near the Morandine border—to convey to the populace that their master had changed.
Regarding Medioland's invasion this time, Morandine quickly declared neutrality, but it was not prudent to march near the border with ten thousand troops. James sent an envoy to the Morandine side in advance, declaring that there was no intention of invading Morandine. At the same time, he also informed them of the return route to the Royal Capital. They would first head south, then advance northwest to the north of the border with Morandine territory, and then change direction to southwest midway. They would pass exactly to the west of the Former Cantas territory and enter the fortress near the border with Engrio just like that.
This route, depending on how one looked at it, appeared to be a preparation for Engrio, which was at war with Regnentes, and at the same time, a deterrent to Morandine, which was Engrio's allied army. Despite this, the Morandine side merely said they would send about three thousand troops near the border just in case to prepare for unforeseen accidents that tend to happen when another country's army passes near the border, and did not particularly complain.
The incident occurred in the middle of August. It was when they were camping in the region they had taken from the former Kingdom of Cantas four years ago.
On the night of a full moon, they were attacked by a swarm of Revenants.
Even though it was their own territory, there was no town other than the Royal Capital that could accommodate an army of ten thousand. The Medioland army was camping in the middle of a pasture, pitching tents.
Presumably, the Revenants began moving as soon as the sun went down. When the sentries discovered them, they were completely surrounded, except for the southern direction.
"James-sama! Our camp seems to be surrounded by a swarm of Revenants!"
"Umu. It is just as I heard from Roberts once before. They must have been buried under those stone monuments. Seldic, he must have joined hands with those from the Ruined Town and killed the soldiers and populace of Cantas to turn them into Revenants."
"What shall we do? We believe the Morandine army is to the south."
The south would be Morandine territory. It had been confirmed that about three thousand troops were near the border under the pretext of preparing for unforeseen accidents.
"After we repel the Revenants, Morandine will likely launch an attack on our army. If we could use Forbidden Magic, we would set them upon the Morandine army, but that is not possible. Attack the Revenants with magic and arrows, and do not let them into the camp. Ensure it never becomes a close-quarters battle."
"Hah!"
James did not know, but in the war when Engrio destroyed Cantas, a large number of soldiers who had surrendered were killed by hanging. Naturally, it was to obtain Revenants with all their limbs intact, and the number reached three thousand. Other than that, the number of civilians who were similarly disposed of for resisting exceeded five thousand. In addition, if the war dead of the invading Engrio and Morandine soldiers were added, nearly ten thousand humans had been turned into Revenants and were sleeping underground.
The Ruined Town had sent over ten Revenant-users into Morandine and was watching for an opportunity to annihilate the Medioland army.
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To the south of the Medioland army's camp, in the Morandine army's camp, the King himself was standing his horse on a hill, gazing at the Medioland army's camp.
"It is remarkably quiet."
The clamor of battle could not be heard. Perhaps because they were not using fire or lightning magic, the light from magic could not be seen either. Only the bonfires of the camp could be seen from afar.
"It seems the battle is continuing. They have not collapsed yet."
Beside the King's horse was a black-clad priest.
His night vision was effective, but he could not see through long distances.
"It seems they have patrolled earthen mounds around the camp, but such things have no effect on Revenants. They will soon climb over and suppress them. When the bonfires go out, that will be the time. When your side attacks, my brethren will stop the movements of the Revenants, so please be as active as you wish. We shall protect your side from James's magic."
Those words indicated that the black-clad priest was an ultra-high-level mage.
While they were watching from the top of the hill, the bonfires of the Medioland camp grew smaller.
"Oh! It is just as you said. The bonfires seem to have decreased."
The King on horseback softened his expression. Even if he did not take James's head, if he annihilated the Medioland army, Morandine could do a great favor for Engrio. Furthermore, it was even possible to carve out territory from that Medioland.
"It is proof that the Revenants have entered the enemy camp. Surely, it must be a chaotic battle. Once it becomes close-quarters combat, it is our game. Your Majesty only needs to hunt the Medioland soldiers who try to flee like rabbits."
"Umu," the King looked back at his staff.
"First, surround them so as not to be noticed. However, do not block them completely. Make them think they can escape."
Three thousand troops were positioned near the border.
Separately from that, he had brought the main army of eight thousand under the cover of night. It was to take James's head.
The eight thousand troops descended the hill and advanced to hunt down the Medioland army.
The Morandine army, dividing into several units, took up positions as if to create a path on the left and right sides of the southern part of the Medioland army's camp. The heavy cavalry dismounted and became the walls of the path along with the heavy infantry. They would attack the fleeing soldiers with archers and magic soldiers. The path stretching south curved to the east, shaving off the enemy soldiers' mobility and simultaneously allowing for attacks from the rear. In that way, they would drive the fleeing soldiers and guide them to the Old Gram border where the ambush was. Then, annihilation.
From the camp where the bonfires had gone out, shouting voices like commands could be heard.
It was a battle between humans and Revenants. No sounds like metal clashing could be heard.
"The clamor can be heard. It seems things are going as intended. When the Medioland army retreats, we shall light the bonfires all at once. Then, stop the movements of the Revenants."
"We understand. We have already made arrangements with our brethren. Do not worry."
While waiting in the darkness, along with groans, the sound of many footsteps like a marching army could be heard. The Medioland army illuminated by the full moon could be seen.
"They've come. Launch the fire arrows!"
Fire arrows were launched, and at that signal, bonfires were lit all at once.
To their surprise, what was illuminated by the bonfires was a swarm of Revenants.