kscans

t/n: ooof the last 2 weeks had been very hectic. my assignments was due, office was preparing for year end account closing, and i had a badminton tournament too. i had a planned holiday next week. hopefully i can push some chapter(s) duirng the last week of 2023.

CHAPTER 5 WARS OF NATIONS – Episode 9 Mountain Battle (Part 3)

7

Sharin.
Charan.

The miko (shrine maiden) walks. She holds three golden rings in her right hand . In her left hand, she holds three silver plates. She rubs them together, making a sound with each step.

Sharin.
Charan.

With each sound, she takes a step. Lift the right foot and bring it up to the left foot. Raise it up to the height of the left knee and then lower it. Then thrust it forward as if rubbing the ground. Next, do the same with the left foot to move forward.

The shrine maiden is barefoot, wearing a loose-fitting pale pink jyoe* (ceremonial robe). The long sleeves flutter in the wind. (じようえ -> Ji Yoo E or jōe. usually seen in onmyouji-themed manga)

After taking eight steps, she takes a jar tied to her waist and sprinkles it on the ground. Then, she takes eight steps back and proceeds towards the east. To the north, there is water. To the east, there is soil. To the south, there is salt. To the west, there is wine.

In the center, a knight wearing a suit of Manadite* (Holy Hard Silver) armor is kneeling. The thousands of people witnessing the ritual know that he is the king. Only the king can receive the blessing of the “四Four 謝Thanks 舞いDance.*” The previous king preferred to perform this ritual before his expeditions. Performing this ritual before a war signifies a prayer for victory, declaring that the blessings of this land are ours. And it has come true. (t/n1: was previously translated as Mana Deet hahaha so n00b. t/n2: used the literal name because not creative enough to give a name like ritual of quadraple gratitude or something like that)

As the ritual concludes and the king raises both hands, cheers erupt from the crowd. It is already well known that the Shinkai’s large army is approaching. Amidst the spreading anxiety and rumors, this ritual brought relief to the people. The king’s army, nobles, aristocrats, and officials standing in line all have bright expressions.

The shrine maiden, who has completed her duty, steps aside to wipe off her sweat. She is Doriatessa. Originally, it was supposed to be the temple’s shrine maiden performing the dance, but just before the ritual, the shrine maiden fell into a panic. The one performing this dance must be a maiden, and violating this rule means death. She was wailing that she didn’t want to die, so there must have been some awareness of this point. In such a state, she couldn’t be made to dance, and it was not possible to use someone who was found unqualified. Since there was no replacement prepared, it became a matter of what to do. Upon hearing this, Queen Shernelia recommended Doriatessa. The two of them had received education at the temple once every five days in their early days. At that time, they had also learned the steps of the dedication dance, and Doriatessa was reputed to be very skillful. Doriatessa’s beauty in the “Four Thanks Dance” became renowned, and she was honored with the title of “Shrine Maiden Knight.”

8

On June 1st, the Shinkai army left Casse. The news of this reached the capital just five days later. Furthermore, three days later, it was reported that the General of Greed remained in Casse. Since the instructions to simply delay the enemy army had not yet reached the first major city on their route, Toboshi, the knight order was sent out to try to reduce the enemy forces as much as possible. This resulted in significant casualties, but it bought more time than expected. The king will surely reward them generously later. Additionally, in the cities and forts that could be surrendered, they were able to fight with great vigor, thus achieving a good effect as a delaying tactic. Each day gained in this way increased their chances of victory. Bard devoted himself to training the soldiers.

The expected arrival date of the Shinkai army was gradually revised, and the final estimated arrival date in the western plains of the capital was set for July 28th. This calculation gained them 27 days more than the initial fastest estimated arrival date. Thanks to this, they were able to increase the number of improved crossbows and modified spears, as well as advance their training. They had also thoroughly memorized the terrain of the mountains and fields.

Jog Ward came. With his deputy, Colin Kruizer, and the foreign affairs minister. They came as reinforcements and to negotiate a deal with Goriora. Although they were only two reinforcements, Jog Ward would be a valuable addition to their forces. The diplomatic significance of arriving before Goriora was significant. Also, the scope of negotiations is completely different when participating after the trade system is established compared to before. The senior officials of Parzam were amazed. They wondered when Gaineria had become so adept at diplomacy.

However, the reality was different. Following the results of the recent council meeting, a special envoy was sent from Parzam to Gaineria. They sought permission for the safe and prompt passage of Goriora’s reinforcements through their territory. Upon hearing this, Jog rushed out on his own, so the foreign affairs minister hurriedly followed him. Although the facts were different, the result was the same.

Jog barged into Bard’s residence, the Toad house, uninvited. He greatly praised Kamler’s cooking. When he mentioned that he liked beef, Kamler prepared various beef dishes. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Jog declared that he would not leave. Kamler, feeling proud of his cooking, continued to showcase his skills every day. Although his behavior made it seem like he had come for something else, it was not annoying when considering that they had gained a valuable piece for mountain warfare.

One day, after finishing the training of the Transformed Spear Unit, Bard returned home to find Cedermont Expengler waiting for him. (t/n: so many bad naming stuck from the earlier days. a better alternative would be shiiderumonto->siedelmont)

“Lord Bard, I apologize for the late greeting.”

“Oh, Cedermont! You must be busy. Thank you for coming.”

Bard was happy about this visit as he wanted to hear about the situation in Pakula after he had left. When Julelan made an offer to borrow the chief knight Cedermont, the current head of the Tercia family, Galliera, had initially refused. However, after a second request, they agreed to lend Cedermont for a period of three years, along with two capable knights in exchange. Refusing the offer twice would bring shame to Julelan, a king of a great nation. Moreover, Julelan was like a beloved younger brother to Galliera, and she couldn’t help but support him. Fortunately, there was no need to worry about the Gwendell family’s machinations at the moment, which had provided significant flexibility in the deployment of knights. Galliera intended to use this opportunity to train several mid-level knights as commanders.

Cedermont had left his wife and children behind, accompanied only by one attendant. He had been suddenly appointed as the highest-ranking commander and had to quickly learn the unique fighting style of the Parzam royal army while facing the unknown tactics of the Shinkai army. The hardships and pressures were immense, but his demeanor remained calm. Bard was genuinely pleased to see how much of a great knight he had become. Upon reflection, the three knights of Pakula had become the backbone of the current Parzam. It was a delightful realization.

The dinner table that night was lively. In addition to Bard and Cedermont, Jog Ward, Colin Kruizer, Chantillion, and Doriatessa had also visited. The main dish was steamed and baked meat from the ribs of a two-year-old bull. The meat was brought to the dining hall in a large piece and cut into slices by Kamler. The hot, steaming meat was thinly sliced and served on plates, with the sauce added on top. Watching the sauce being poured over the freshly cut slices made one’s mouth water. The cut surface was so vividly red that it seemed almost raw. However, when eaten, it was perfectly cooked, tender yet with a firm texture, providing a satisfying meal.

“Kamler, this time, cut three slices at once and pour the sauce generously.”

“Oh, I’d like another slice, please.”

Moreover, this dish allowed for as many servings as one desired. Jog and Colin eagerly requested additional servings. Chantillion and Doriatessa were extracting tales of Bard’s heroic exploits from Cedermont’s Pakula days.

On July 5th, reinforcements from Goriora arrived. It consisted of 80 knights, 80 squires, and 120 foot soldiers, totaling 280 individuals. The overall commander was General Batta Gottal. It was a joyous occasion to see the faces of Arflaburne and Kirie Halifalth. Since the Fafarlen family had suffered significant losses in the previous TriNation coalition forces, they were excluded from this round of reinforcements. Arflaburne had personally joined the reinforcements. Perhaps part of his motivation was to see his beloved sister. Kirie had been living a life of intense training after resigning from the position of chief martial arts instructor following the Frontier Martial Arts Competition, but he joined at the invitation of Arflaburne. Bard negotiated with General Batta to have these two individuals directly under his command. Additionally, they borrowed foot soldiers, that is, archers, for the ambush unit. As a result, Arflaburne and Kirie ended up staying at Bard’s residence, along with their attendants. The Toad residence became even livelier.

On July 24th, after completing their preparations, the coalition forces finished the “Four Thanks Dance” at the western edge of the capital and traveled one day’s journey westward to set up their camp. And on the 28th day, in the plains to the west of the royal capital, the Shinkai army clashed with the allied forces.

9

The Shinkai army was a formidable force of a thousand cavalry, with around 800 infantry behind them.

In response, the allied forces positioned the royal army in the vanguard, the vassal armies in the rear, and stationed the Goriora army as a reserve on a hill slightly apart. The king was protected by the vanguard and the rear guard. The wings of the rear guard extended forward, ready to act as shields for the king if necessary. The royal army positioned 400 heavy infantry with shields and 400 spearmen in the center front, followed by 400 archers, 200 knights on the right wing, and 200 knights on the left wing. Chantillion commanded the vanguard, while Bard and Cedermont were by the king’s side.

In terms of cavalry strength, the allied forces consisted of around 870 knights and squires, including 400 from the royal army, 160 from the Goriora army, 80 from the royal guard, and around 230 from the vassal armies. This number included both knights and their squires, with a considerable range in training and equipment quality.

Shortly before reaching the range of the archers, 400 of Shinkai’s cavalry began to charge. Chantillion gave the command, and the archers began their attack. The archers of the Parzam royal army were trained to unleash a barrage of arrows in a concentrated area, with an exceptional rate of fire. However, the armor of the Shinkai knights was made from demonic beast skin. The knights at the forefront of the formation had arrow guards on their horses’ heads and necks, likely also made from demonic beast skin. Unfazed by the rain of arrows, the Shinkai cavalry advanced. Swiftly, relentlessly. Their lead horses dodged any falling steeds with agility, charging forward without hesitation. Just as they were about to break into the defensive formation of heavy infantry and spearmen, the cavalry split into two groups, veering to the left and right, aiming further outwards beyond the wing. They intended to encircle and attack the king in the center. It was a dangerous advance, exposing the flanks of the allied vanguard’s cavalry, which were still unscathed.

The cavalry of the royal army’s on both wings engaged the enemy without hesitation. However, the enemy cavalry’s skill and speed were extraordinary, especially the strength of the few knights at the forefront. They used their long weapons to push back the royal knights from a distance beyond the reach of the royal army’s weapons, aiming directly for the royal flag. As the cavalry of the royal army’s wings entered into combat with the enemy vanguard, the remaining 600 Shinkai cavalry began their assault. Chantillion managed to respond calmly, but the enemy’s speed of invasion outpaced the infantry’s deployment. The 600 cavalry split into two groups of 300 each, with the initial 400 breaking through the flanks, while the remaining 200 circled around the outside, approaching the center. Such a reckless attack would have been crushed by the extended vassal armies. However, the speed of the Shinkai cavalry’s assault far exceeded the expectations of the vassal armies. The vanguard of the vassal armies consisted of heavily armored knights with shields, and it was natural that the speed of horses carrying the weight of full-body armor and shielded knights would differ. Moreover, the horses of Shinkai were akin to wild horses, known as “Kanba,” and only those who could understand and ride them could become knights in Shinkai. The horses were not cumbersome, but rather agile, and their attacking speed was unbelievably swift. The Shinkai cavalry rapidly approached the main formation, but the king was surrounded by skilled royal guard knights who had established a solid defensive formation. If the Shinkai cavalry could not break through this, they would be crushed from the front and rear. As Bard was observing the situation, the leading knights of the enemy force throw something. It was a throwing axe. Despite the small size, the axe carried considerable weight, capable of deflecting or even destroying the shields of the royal knights, causing harm to them. Bard was impressed by this unexpected tactic. General Buntai did not mention anything about the throwing axe.

At the opportune moment, Bard urged the king to retreat. The king, Bard, Cedermont, and Karz turned their horses and fled, followed by a knight carrying the royal flag. The Shinkai cavalry pursued them fiercely, but the royal guard knights bought time. The Shinkai cavalry, regardless of the casualties, relentlessly pursued only the king. The vassal armies, who were right behind the king, advanced further to buy more time. Without attempting to engage directly, the Shinkai army single-mindedly pursued the king.

Of course, they knew that this was a feigned retreat. They were aware that it was a trap, deliberately luring the king to flee and drawing them out. Bard was convinced that there was a Shinkai spy within the royal palace. Otherwise, they would not have been able to attempt an assassination at the Toad family using Count Zenburji as a puppet. It was King Wendelland who designated the Toad family as Bard’s residence and appointed Barry Toad, his acquaintance, as the host. This was a consideration made because, at that time, there were no concerns about King Wendelland’s health, and the situation did not warrant much anxiety about Julelan’s visit. The spy would have been in a position to hear the king’s words at that time. The spy would have informed the Shinkai side of Bard’s plan to lure the king, and they would have thought to make use of it. Even if it was a trap, they could break through it, and in any case, the king himself would be within reach, presenting an unparalleled opportunity. They would think in this manner. After speaking with General Buntai, Bard was convinced of this.

However, there was another trap that only a handful of people knew about. The person riding the king’s horse, clad in the holy armor and wearing the golden helmet, fleeing was not the king but Cedermont. The two of them had the same hair and eye color, and their stature and features were quite similar. In fact, despite their faces and hair being exposed, both the royal soldiers and the vassals believed it was the king. By having Cedermont act as the king’s decoy, they could execute the escape at a more critical moment. It was a slight difference, but that slight difference was significant. The Shinkai soldiers were pursuing the false king, altering their pursuit based on the eye color. Even after entering the mountains, Cedermont would continue to lead the enemy into a trap. However, the pursuit by the Shinkai army was relentless, and if they let their guard down, they would be captured in no time.

The king’s horse was an exceptional steed, and the holy armor was light, allowing for great speed. Bard had a shield, but his armor was made from Riverbear demonic beast skin. He had learned his lesson from the battle at Lordvan Castle. Yueitan’s speed was unquestionable. As usual, Karz was lightly dressed, not even carrying a shield. His beloved horse, Satra, was also incredibly swift. The knight carrying the flag was the most skilled in horsemanship among the royal guard, and his gallop was a sight to behold. The four of them fled, leaving behind the decoy of Cedermont, clad in full-body armor and a helmet covering his face.

They avoided the plains and headed towards the mountainous region. It was a gentle mountain range extending from the west to the north of the royal capital. It was natural to aim for the mountains to escape the fast-approaching Shinkai cavalry, rather than being caught on the flat ground. The Shinkai commanders would likely know that there were soldiers with spears hidden in the mountains. These soldiers were gathered from the vassals and had little combat experience. Nevertheless, with absolute confidence in their horsemanship, they never imagined falling behind the Parzam knights even in the mountains.

In this way, Bard successfully lured the Shinkai cavalry into a mountain battle. Since they had forced their way through the midst of the large army to pursue, the royal and vassal armies would surely be able to inflict significant damage.

9

“Move aside.”

“It’s not that simple. I’ve got to work off the meat I’ve eaten. What’s your name?”

“I’m General Radou of Shinkai. And you?”

“Radou, huh. I’ll remember that. I’m Jog Ward.”

Radou was a formidable general, and his one-on-one combat with Jog was impressive. However, Jog’s black sword exceeded Radou’s expectations in length, weight, and speed, and soon, his weapon was deflected, and he was knocked off his horse. At that moment, the specialized spear unit rushed in and restrained him. Although it had been explained in the council that old spears were being repaired and used, they were not exactly spears. They were modified with claw-like hooks attached to the spear handles, designed to catch and capture enemies by penetrating the gaps in armor. Crafted under the supervision of the renowned artisan Zendatta, they were modeled after the Shinkai armor and were proving to be effective as intended. Overpowered and restrained by the robust attendants, General Radou was unable to move.

“Ah, help General Radou!”

Radou’s subordinates attempted to rush in, but the terrain made it difficult for a large group to advance at once. At that moment, the Goriora Empire’s archers unleashed a barrage of arrows. Trained through hunting, their archery skills allowed for precise shooting at medium to close range, accurately targeting moving enemies. With their vulnerable armor, the Shinkai soldiers were struck down. They retreated in disarray.

“Good, that makes two down. Hey old man. Somehow, I’ve defeated a named general. When we get back to the mansion, make sure to have some good food ready for me.”

Didn’t he said he’d work for the meat he ate before? And didn’t he forget the name again? He’s a hopeless man. But he’s reliable. Bard headed to the next base with Karz.

10

Having had enough time to prepare, Bard was able to hire knowledgeable lower-class people from the mountains to run around and familiarize each unit with the terrain. Bard himself wasn’t familiar with large-scale battles on the plains, but he excelled in small-scale encounters in the mountains, and he could quickly grasp the geography of any unfamiliar mountain after a short run. With Jurchaga’s advice, they decided on an ambush base.

In the Shinkai cavalry corps, the higher the rank, the more likely they were to be at the forefront. In fact, those who rushed to the front and defeated the enemy before anyone else would rise to a higher position. It was an extremely meritocratic army. Their tactics were also centered around individual valor. Conversely, if they could capture the commanding officers, their mobility would greatly decrease. In mountainous terrain, large armies couldn’t advance, so they had to split into small units. The speed of horse legs was also ineffective on rough roads. They found spots where they can easily be lured, hid soldiers in the shade of trees and grass, and devised a strategy to capture the commanding officers at the front. If the enemy didn’t approach the base well, Jurchaga would contact Cedermont and the flag-bearer to lure them in. It was a method that deviated from the manners of war among knights in the Central Plains. But since the enemy was ignoring the usual way, there was no need for them to adhere to it. Bard had no intention of holding back in this battle.

On this day of battle, they successfully captured nine generals, including Ryukai, Radou, and Sonki. Jog, Arflaburne, and Kirie had greatly contributed. And the enemy soldiers who lost their commanders became prey to the feudal lords’ army waiting on the plains. The Goriora army led by General Batta also slew many enemies. The number of fleeing soldiers and officers probably didn’t exceed one-third. It was an unprecedented great victory.

“Brilliant, old man.”

A luxurious carriage for women entered the gathering place. It was the Parzam royal family’s carriage, with the small emblem of the Soliespi flower engraved on the door. It was the carriage of the queen consort Shernelia. King Julelan was also on board with the queen consort. When the queen consort and three concubines came to offer their condolences this morning, Julelan spent some time on the queen consort’s carriage. It was a well-known fact that the king and queen consort had a close relationship, so no one found it suspicious. At that time, Cedermont had switched with him, and he had been on this carriage ever since. What had he been doing inside the carriage all day? (t/n: he’s probably resting, isn’t he?)

“Well then, I leave it to you.”

Bard placed his hand on his chest and replied, “Yes.” They began to move early the next morning. Momentum was crucial in war, and they couldn’t afford to lose the momentum from this significant victory. There was also a certain form to wars between nations. Shinkai had invaded Parzam and claimed the city of Casse in the northwest. Furthermore, they had advanced their army close to the capital. It might be easier to lure the General of Greed to battle near the royal palace, but such tactics were not an option. At the very least, they had to maintain the dignity of the nation by advancing the army to the midpoint between the capital and Casse, and ideally, even to Casse itself. Leaving the king in the capital, Bard, as the supreme commander, would lead the army to defeat the General of Greed. Only then would the battle be on equal terms. Since important cities had suffered minimal damage, there were no issues with securing provisions such as food.

It was finally time for the decisive battle.