Chapter 19

The military organization of the country of Holmea is almost the same as that of other nations.

Specifically, six soldiers form one squad, and twenty-five soldiers, including a squad leader and four squads, form one platoon. Four platoons form one company, four to eight companies form one battalion, and two battalions form one regiment. Two or more regiments are called a corps.

This time, the battalion dispatched is the 1st Battalion led by Battalion Commander Lugnitos.

The composition of the battalion is five companies of infantry totaling 500 men, two companies of archers totaling 200 men, and one company of supply troops totaling 100 men, making a total of about 800 men.

The equipment of the infantry includes a helmet with metal cheek guards, a cuirass made of thick cloth with metal scales sewn on, and sandals with leather straps wrapped around the shins. Their weapons are a spear about two and a half meters long with a metal tip and a double-edged sword hanging from the waist. They also carry a large round shield reinforced with metal on the surface and lined with leather.

At this time, this would be considered standard infantry equipment.

The equipment of the archers is not much different from that of the infantry, but they wear a bowl-shaped helmet for a wider field of vision, carry a bow instead of a spear, and a quiver instead of a shield.

The infantry at the rear without spears are the supply troops. They carry water and rations in baskets on their backs. Among the supply troops, the ones pulling carts piled high with rations are called cargo dragons, a subspecies of the riding dragons, with bodies larger than those of the riding dragons. Unlike the riding dragons, which stand on two legs, the cargo dragons walk on four thick legs like logs, and while their movements are slow, they are strong, making them suitable for pulling such carts and other heavy work.

Leading the battalion is Battalion Commander Lugnitos and his elite unit composed of his direct subordinates. Their armor is more expensive than that of the regular soldiers, with metal plates riveted onto hardened leather armor, and they wear boots similar to those with rivets.

Among them, the only one riding a horse and wearing a helmet with a blue plume is Battalion Commander Lugnitos. Slightly behind him are the three company commanders, riding riding dragons and wearing helmets with red plumes.

"Damn beasts. Hiding in the mountains, they only cause more trouble."

Frowning at the cold north wind blowing down from the mountain, this was said by Battalion Commander Lugnitos.

The mission given to him by the king of Holmea was to suppress the <Tooth Clan>, a group of Zoans who still strongly resist humans in the Sorbiant Plain, and to ensure the safety of the settlers before the spring planting.

The company commanders followed up on Battalion Commander Lugnitos' complaint.

"That's right, sir."

"I wish we could dispose of the beasts quickly and return to the capital."

"Indeed, indeed. Thanks to that priest Mildas, we've wasted a lot of time."

According to the plan, they were supposed to leave the fort and head for the mountains much earlier.

However, a priest named Mildas, who was in the fort, caused a commotion demanding a search for a human child who had escaped during the Zoan prison break, delaying their departure by three days. In the end, the child was not found, and they were told that the child had probably died somewhere, but it was a complete waste of time.

"If you think so, hurry the soldiers along. We'll enter the camp by noon."

Perhaps in a bad mood, the battalion commander, who had become even more irritable due to the flattery, made the company commanders exchange glances. The one with the smoothest tongue among the company commanders quickly tried to flatter him.

"Please forgive me, Battalion Commander Lugnitos. After all, we are riding these riding dragons."

As he said this, he slapped the neck of the riding dragon he was riding.

"In this cold, the riding dragons are slow and can't move well. In comparison, the magnificent horse you are riding, Battalion Commander Lugnitos, is truly enviable."

As the company commander said, it was difficult to get the riding dragons moving in the morning due to the cold. They had to warm the dragons with stones heated by the fire and wrapped in cloth, and make them drink strong alcohol to get them moving.

In contrast, horses are more resistant to the cold. Not only that, but when comparing strength and endurance, horses are clearly superior. While riding dragons are more practical in terms of price and maintenance, owning a horse was the dream of the soldiers and officers of this era.

The horse that Battalion Commander Lugnitos was riding was one he had recently bought for a large sum of money, and the company commanders knew that this was his first battle on horseback.

Praising the horse, Battalion Commander Lugnitos' mood improved.

"Well, it can't be helped. If you perform well on the battlefield, you'll get one soon enough."

Though he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, the company commanders exchanged wry smiles at the joy in his voice.

After a while, the camp surrounded by wooden fences came into view on the mountain path.

"Someone! Announce the arrival of the battalion commander!"

One infantryman, receiving the order, headed for the camp ahead. After a while, a small soldier came out and opened the gate wide.

One of the company commanders wondered why there were young soldiers among the experienced troops that were supposed to have been dispatched as the vanguard.

However, he quickly dismissed it as unimportant.

"What? No one to welcome us!"

Battalion Commander Lugnitos was in a bad mood when none of the camp soldiers came out to welcome the vanguard of the battalion. The company commanders, while resenting the absent soldiers, tried to calm the battalion commander.

"Battalion Commander, there's no point in getting upset with these country bumpkins."

However, when the vanguard reached the middle of the camp and not a single soldier appeared, even they felt something was wrong.

"What's going on? Why is no one here?"

"According to the reports, there should be about one company here..."

"The scout we sent and the soldier who opened the gate are also missing."

As the company commanders spoke, Battalion Commander Lugnitos looked around the camp and noticed something odd. Bundles of brushwood and dry grass were piled up all over the camp.

"What is this...?"

"Probably preparations for the winter? It will get colder, and they will need fires."

"Then why aren't they gathered in one place?!"

At Battalion Commander Lugnitos' question, the company commanders looked around in a panic.

The bundles of brushwood and dry grass were not only piled up next to the buildings but also on their roofs and blocking the gate on the mountain side.

"Wait, do you smell something strange?"

"Now that you mention it..."

"What is this smell...?"

As everyone sniffed the air, a soldier suddenly screamed.

One of the company commanders quickly rode his riding dragon to the screaming soldier.

"What's wrong?!"

"J-Just now, the scout we sent... there!"

Looking in the direction the soldier pointed, they saw the body of a dead soldier lying in the shadows of the piled brushwood and dry grass, his throat cut and bleeding.

"B-Battalion Commander! The scout we sent has been killed!"

At the company commander's cry, sparks flew in Battalion Commander Lugnitos' mind.

"This smell. Could it be oil?!"

Battalion Commander Lugnitos turned his horse and shouted.

"Retreat! It's a trap! Retreat quickly!!"

But it was already too late.

"Zoans! Zoans are up there!"

Looking up at the cliff behind the camp, Battalion Commander Lugnitos let out a cry of despair.

On the cliff, a group of Zoans, including the elderly and children, appeared. In front of them, a few Zoans held torches burning brightly.

A black-furred Zoan, who exuded an unusual aura even from a distance, stepped forward, threw back his head, and let out a howl that made the air vibrate.

Without clear instructions, the soldiers, ordered to retreat, were at a loss, not knowing what to do. The mountain path was already crowded with the soldiers of the following units.

"Move! If you don't, I'll trample you!"

Battalion Commander Lugnitos shouted at the soldiers blocking his way, trying to get out of the camp.

On the cliff, a Zoan stepped forward next to the black-furred Zoan and drew a bow with a creak.

The arrow nocked on the bow was a flaming arrow.

As the black-furred Zoan's howl ended, the torches were dropped down the cliff, and the flaming arrows were released.

In the next instant, with a roar, the camp was engulfed in a sea of red flames.

2013/1/21 Typo correction