160 - The Siege of the Fort
Having invaded Selva, I had deployed my forces before the fort as the commander-in-chief of Zain.
Surrounding the fort, the units I had positioned began firing magic.
The successive heads of the family watched the scene from the jewel orb.
Wiping my mouth with my thumb, I gave an order to Clara.
"Clara, magic is coming. Enter defensive posture."
"Understood."
After confirming that the enemy had concentrated their mages within the fort to launch a focused attack on one unit, I gave an order to the unit on the opposite side.
The one stationed there was Novem.
"Novem, the enemy is concentrating on Clara. Continue your attack. Their archers are depleted, so they might attempt a charge."
Attacks from siege weapons were being shot down by the enemy mages. Both sides traded magic, continuing the offensive and defensive struggle for as long as their mana lasted.
When night fell, it was a common sight on the battlefield for both sides to exhaust themselves and rest.
I had considered infiltrating the fort under the cover of darkness. However, the successive heads of the family had forbidden me from doing so.
The fifth generation's voice spoke.
"...Soft. Certainly, continuing like this will lead to a slow decline, but they shouldn't have concentrated their forces on one side."
The fifth generation offered a harsh comment on the enemy commander's judgment. However, the fourth generation had a different opinion.
"If continuing as they are only leads to defeat, it's not a bad idea to search for the best possible move. In fact, Clara-chan's side is receiving fewer magic attacks. Perhaps they wanted to crush them first?"
I gave an order to a nearby soldier.
"I'm sending reinforcements. Can you deliver a message?"
"Y-yes!"
The nervous knight received the order and immediately set off to deliver it. I thought it was a tedious method, but this too was a request from the successive heads of the family.
The seventh generation spoke.
"Hmm, for a start, I suppose this will do."
The third generation added.
"A barely passing grade, perhaps? Liel is one thing, but both Zain and Selva are equally sluggish in their movements. Rather, Selva is desperate, so there are many things to learn from them regarding their movements."
In the fort surrounded on all four sides, the knights and soldiers of Selva fought bravely. However, our momentum was different.
In my head, with the fifth generation's Dimension and the sixth generation's Spec, I could see the enemy's movements as if they were in the palm of my hand.
With my skill, Connection, I was able to issue instructions quickly.
The surface of the enemy fort was gradually being worn away, and since our attacks were reaching them while theirs weren't reaching us, they seemed to be growing anxious.
When attacks concentrated on Clara's unit, Eva and the others rushed over and deployed magic shields to block them.
Conversely, the unit where Novem and the others were stationed intensified their offensive.
As the enemy failed to fully block Novem's magic and the fort walls were worn down without being defended, I saw another movement from the enemy.
The third generation spoke.
"Oh, are they coming out? It's already the third day, so perhaps they're gambling before morale drops further."
Cavalry were being gathered in the fort, and preparations for a charge were underway.
The numbers were different from the start, and since we were attacking and defending precisely, the opponent seemed unable to endure it any longer and decided to strike.
The seventh generation did not deny that judgment.
"In a situation where no reinforcements are coming, that's what happens if you search for a possibility of victory. The state of their stockpiles, and the low morale... I almost feel sympathy for the commander of Selva."
Even so, they didn't tell me to slack off, so the successive heads of the family likely act thoroughly once they decide to move.
I stood up and told the messenger.
"The enemy is coming out. Tell everyone to brace themselves."
As the soldier dashed off, Aria, who was beside me, also stood up. I had thought it better to save Aria rather than putting her out in a magic duel.
Monica and Shannon were in the rear, and Mei was also currently on standby in the rear. Miranda was in a unit deployed on the opposite side of me, waiting for my instructions there.
Then, Crate-san came to me on horseback.
"Liel-kun! If the enemy is coming, I shall be their opponent!"
Leading a group of knights, Crate-san raised his spear, showing his eagerness. Since the soldiers were waiting for the enemy with long spears, I hoped he wouldn't charge if possible.
I crossed my arms.
"Wait for my order to charge. Aria, go assist Crate-san."
When I said that, Aria looked slightly dissatisfied.
"Aren't you going out?"
The fourth generation spoke.
"No, there's no meaning in Liel going out since he already has a track record. Besides, the general shouldn't be at the front."
The premise that the general must not be at the front comes with a condition. That is, it applies to a general who can win. If they haven't built up a track record, the soldiers cannot feel secure.
In that regard, I had become far too famous during the recapture of Zain.
Without me even needing to go out, the knights and soldiers viewed me with awe.
"I'm here because I trust you. Also, the enemy is desperate, so don't let your guard down."
As I lightly patted Aria's back, Aria held her helmet in her left hand and ran toward where her horse was.
It probably wasn't my imagination that she looked a little happy.
Hearing that, the third generation spoke.
"Trust, huh. Well, she certainly has grown, Aria-chan. She has room for growth, so maybe we should let her aim to be a female general."
I thought it was a joke from the third generation, but when I actually imagined it, I felt it suited her.
(I'll think about it.)
Then, the fourth generation spoke.
"...Liel, you've drawn them in this far. Take responsibility."
Watching Aria's back as she mounted her horse and waited for the enemy, I gripped the jewel orb tightly.
――The fort's gates were lowered, the gates became a bridge, and from there, knights on horseback charged.
The soldiers followed, aiming for the main camp where Liel was.
Aria gripped the horse's reins with her left hand and held the spear in her right hand as if cradling it against her side.
Nearby, the knights who had switched sides from the Holy Order of Knights and the Divine Holy Knights looked nervous in the face of the enemy charge.
Wearing helmets, their rough breathing could be heard.
Amidst this, Crate, positioned at the front, looked at the battlefield from horseback and spoke a word.
"It's amazing. To see the opponent's movements as if they were in the palm of his hand..."
The soldiers waited for the charging cavalry, thrusting out their long spears. When the two sides collided, several knights were thrown from their horses and coughed blood as they were pierced by spears.
However, there were a few knights who cut through the spears and continued their charge.
As the soldiers began to fight fiercely, a signal came from Liel.
Crate shouted at the top of his lungs!
"Charge!!!"
In sync with that voice, the knights spurred their horses and headed toward the enemy.
Aria also kicked her horse's belly to make it run and saw a knight approaching her.
(Wounded? But!)
A broken spear was thrust into a gap in the armor. However, Aria leveled her spear from horseback and thrust it straight at the opponent.
Aria's spear, which pierced through the opponent's armor, had been hardened by a skill. However, the opponent, while coughing blood, let go of his weapon and grabbed Aria's spear with both hands.
"This guy!"
Perhaps to prevent the spear from being pulled out, the opponent put in so much strength that he began to collapse from his horse.
Confirming that Selva's infantry were approaching, Aria let go of the spear and drew the sword from her waist.
"I'm not used to this, though."
Dismounting, Aria cut down the approaching infantry with the sword in one hand. The red orb shining red at Aria's chest allowed her to use skills.
A captain-class soldier leading the infantry shouted.
"A skill user! Surround her and strike!"
He ordered his subordinates, but Aria smiled slightly inside her helmet.
"Too slow!"
Due to her own skill――Quick, Aria's movements seemed untraceable to the enemy's eyes; after cutting down the captain, she proceeded to cut down the surrounding infantry subordinates as well.
The cheap sword became unusable, slipping due to nicks in the blade and blood.
It might be usable as a blunt weapon, but Aria hadn't polished her handling of blunt weapons that much.
Picking up a sword that had fallen on the ground, she thrust the sword she had been holding into the earth and looked around. Selva's soldiers were looking at her with frightened eyes.
Then, a knight on horseback stepped out in front of Aria.
After piercing a knight of Zain with a single thrust, he discarded the spear and drew the sword from his waist, attempting to swing it down at Aria.
When Aria parried with her sword, the opponent jumped from the horse, landed on the ground, and aimed for Aria.
The ground, overgrown with weeds, had grass reaching up to the knees.
In such conditions, the opponent moved freely and clashed swords with Aria.
(This guy is strong!)
Aria took distance to separate herself, but the opponent knight held his sword in a waist-level guard.
(He's coming!)
Aria instinctively leaped to the side, and a slash flew past, sweeping up the surrounding grass. Aria could use a similar skill, but she became interested in this skill that was similar yet different.
Inside her helmet, Aria was smiling, seemingly enjoying herself.
"Not bad. I haven't fought many skill users."
Aria tried to dive into the opponent's space, but the opponent also closed the distance. The sword hardened by a skill sparked and developed nicks.
However, the opponent's sword had no nicks.
"That's cheating. Is it a masterwork?"
Then, the knight of Selva spoke.
"You degenerates... be cut down by this sword!"
After clashing several times with the sword she had picked up, Aria realized she was at a disadvantage given the opponent's skill.
The opponent's sword was a masterwork. It might even be a magic tool. She judged this seeing that her own sword, hardened by a skill, was battered and becoming unusable.
Aria discarded the sword and drew the dagger she had prepared at the small of her back. Then, she pulled out a rod with her left hand and connected it to the hilt of the dagger.
As the opponent closed the distance, Aria swung the dagger, now a short spear, to block the opponent and then kicked them away.
The opponent knight――though he seemed experienced, his swordsmanship was textbook. With his strength and skills, it had likely worked for him until now.
The knight glared at Aria through his helmet.
"You woman with the foul foot-habits!"
At the opponent's words, Aria laughed.
"You're far too well-behaved!"
Saying so, she stepped in and used a skill. Quick.
The opponent knight blocked Aria's attack, whose movement had changed, and then counterattacked. He possessed enough skill to keep up with Aria's movements, so Aria used a skill.
Physical Enhancement――.
Weapon Hardening――.
Then, stepping in deeply.
"Slash."
The first time she had seen it was when she went with Liel to subjugate bandits. Aria's red orb had been stolen by the bandit leader, and the opponent had shown her that skill.
However, the Slash that the current Aria used was not the one the bandit had used. Its sharpness and destructive power had been further elevated by Aria's physical abilities and talent.
The knight's eyes widened as Aria's short spear cut deeply into the knight's armor.
The opponent's sword had vainly sliced the air due to Aria's feint.
Blood sprayed from the opponent's helmet. When Aria pulled out the short spear, blood also sprayed from the chest. Aria was bathed in return blood.
The falling knight spoke to Aria.
"L-let me hear your name."
Being asked, Aria replied.
"I am Aria Lockwood."
When she said that, though the knight's face wasn't visible, he seemed to be smiling. And he seemed to be looking at the surroundings.
"...Are we defeated? Rather than have it stolen... you use this. And, Aria..."
Around them, those who had charged were being cut down, and the sight of them surrendering was spreading.
While remaining alert to her surroundings, Aria heard the knight's final words.
"Next time we meet... it'll be hell."
Aria offered a short prayer for the knight who had passed away. Then, she took the sword the knight had held. Removing the scabbard and taking it in her hand, it seemed the sword really was a magic tool.
"...I'll just have to use it as a masterwork. I've heard that if it's a skill from an orb, they interfere and can't be used."
Having obtained the spoils of war, Aria heard the cheers of victory.
Looking at the fort, a white flag indicating surrender had been raised. Looking at that, Aria gripped the sword and thought.
(Hell, huh... but this sight is also hell.)
Around her were the corpses of Selva's knights and soldiers. And, though fewer than Selva's, the corpses of Zain's knights and soldiers were also rolling around――.
――What Rolfis's camp heard was the fact that Zain had broken through the border fort in three days.
Alette also received the report, and upon obtaining detailed information, was astonished.
Night.
Inside a tent illuminated by the light of a lantern, Alette was gripping the documents with both hands. A few days was not the problem.
In fact, Rolfis had also broken through Selva's fort over a few days.
However, what was unbelievable about the report was the number.
"Not even ten thousand. Moreover, they took it with effectively four thousand... The enemy's numbers should have been at least two to three thousand, at a low estimate. They took it with that many troops?"
Normally, in a siege, the defender is considered to have the advantage.
Several conditions are necessary, but even then, it should be a situation where having just a few more numbers doesn't do anything.
In fact, Rolfis had pushed through with numbers.
Reading the report, the name of Crate, whom he had not recruited, was there.
It was written that he had slain the enemy general and achieved the greatest merit.
However, Alette knew.
"...He deliberately gave the credit to Crate. Certainly, if used this way, he is a guy who shines."
Alette knew Crate's strengths and weaknesses. Because he knew, he hadn't recruited him himself.
Crate was good at faithfully doing what he was told, but when it came to situations requiring his own judgment, he was ordinary. No, Alette thought he might even be below ordinary.
And he evaluated himself as not being a commander capable of handling Crate well.
"He's extraordinary. First-rate as a knight and as a general... I suppose he's what you call a genius."
Alette, who hadn't thought Liel was such a knight, suddenly had a question.
"Why did the Walt family kick him out? He doesn't seem to have any particular problems... Is it women? Did he lay a hand on a woman he shouldn't have? That's possible. I must tell the Princess to be careful."
Sighing, Alette neatly folded the report he had been gripping――and then an idea occurred to him.
"No, wait! If he has bad habits with women, and moreover, lays a hand on people he shouldn't... the Princess... Lady Anneliese... if he does that, then Rolfis will!"
Having thought of something, Alette decided to consult with his adjutant to investigate immediately. He leaped out of the tent, and in the now-empty tent, the report Alette had tossed slowly fell to the ground――.