Chapter 61

In the center of the encampment, a particularly large tent stood, where Darius, along with the officers in charge of each unit and the messengers, had gathered.

Once everyone was present, Darius lightly flicked his wrist, as if to say, "Begin." The soldier who had been sent as a scout to the enemy camp stepped forward and reported.

"I report! The camp is set up with the mountain as its back, and numerous Zoan and dwarves have been spotted there."

Darius nodded once before asking, "What kind of defenses does the camp have?"

"From what I could see, they have dug trenches around the perimeter, built earthworks with the excavated soil, and set up fences."

Darius was somewhat disappointed by this answer.

"That doesn't seem very formidable for something built by dwarves."

In the past, when he attacked a dwarven settlement in the mountains, the fortifications built into the mountain slopes had given him a hard time. Compared to that, the current camp seemed almost defenseless.

However, it was still a strong fortification for something built in a short time. The dwarves were indeed skilled. Moreover, it might be a trap designed to make them think it was easy to attack, with hidden traps cleverly concealed.

"How many enemies were there?"

"Sir! The total number of enemies was approximately 1,500."

Darius found this odd. Based on the information he had, he had estimated the number of rebels to be between 1,000 and 1,500. The scout's report indicated that the number in the camp was close to the upper limit of his estimate. However, this left almost no troops for an ambush.

"…Are there no ambushers?"

He thought it was ridiculous. Did they really think they could face 7,000 troops with such a camp?

Was there some unknown reinforcement? Or perhaps some Zoan forces that had been waiting in the plains had finally decided to join?

No, if such forces existed, it would be unlikely for them to move now, just as the suppression army was approaching. They would wait to see how the battle would unfold before making a decision.

What, then, was the leader of the rebels thinking?

Darius stroked his beard, deep in thought. Just then, a report came that the soldier sent to Bornis had returned. The soldier was quickly brought into the tent and urged to report to Darius.

"The gates of Bornis are open. As far as I can see, there are no Zoan or slaves."

The officers in the tent exchanged glances.

"What does this mean?"

"It's as if they're asking us to take the city back."

"Perhaps they looted the city and abandoned it?"

"But I see no signs of that."

According to their expectations, the slaves who had rebelled should have barricaded themselves in Bornis. The fact that the city, which they were supposed to liberate, was left unguarded was an unexpected situation. If the city had been looted and burned, it would have been more understandable. However, there were no signs of major destruction, which left them puzzled.

"Since there are no enemies, did you not enter the city?"

If the soldier had only reported that there were no enemies in the city, the reconnaissance would have been pointless. Darius's tone was accusatory, and the soldier straightened his back to respond.

"Sir! I also thought so and tried to approach the city, but I noticed something suspicious on the city walls and decided it was dangerous to approach without caution, so I returned."

"Suspicious? Be more precise."

"Yes. From a distance, I couldn't be sure, but… it appeared to be a pile of brushwood."

A murmur ran through the tent.

"Brushwood? A pile of brushwood?"

"Why would there be such a thing…?"

One of the officers muttered, "Perhaps it's preparation for a fire attack…?"

At this, the other officers exclaimed, "Ah!"

"Right! They must be planning to burn us alive with fire!"

"Indeed. They must be planning to burn us out of the city with the same tactic!"

"We won't be fooled by the same trick twice!"

"But if that's the case, we can't attack even if the city is empty."

"Indeed, indeed."

The officers, excited by the prospect of outsmarting the enemy, began to mock and express their frustration. Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed through the tent.

"Darius, sir?"

"Sir, what's the matter…?"

It was Darius who had started laughing. He was shaking with laughter, his back pressed against the chair, leaning back.

The officers, taken aback by Darius's unexpected behavior, were speechless. Darius, still chuckling, said to them.

"Well done, the leader of the rebels."

The officers exchanged glances, confused. They had just uncovered the enemy's plan, so why was Darius praising the enemy?

One of the officers, determined, asked Darius, "Sir, what do you mean…?"

Darius scanned the officers in the tent, creating a tense atmosphere.

"It's not preparation for a fire attack."

Darius stated this with a heavy voice.

"The pile of brushwood is probably the only one placed on the city walls."

"What…!?"

Darius explained to the surprised officers.

"If they intended to burn us out of the city, they would need a significant amount of fuel. They would have to place oil and firewood at key points throughout the city, not just on the walls.

The people of the city already know that the Zoan burned the suppression army in the mountains. Yet, there are no signs of slaves, the city gates are open, and very few residents are fleeing.

This means they haven't prepared for a fire attack."

Darius's reasoning was sound.

However, this left the meaning of the brushwood on the city walls unclear.

"But, sir, what about the brushwood on the city walls…?"

Darius smiled wryly.

"You've already answered your own question."

The officers, confused, responded with a deflated "Huh?"

Darius continued, his nose twitching slightly.

"They want us to fear a fire attack and hesitate to attack the city."

The officers were taken aback.

"What a clever fellow. He wants to protect the city from our army with just a pile of brushwood!"

Darius laughed again, his beard trembling.

On the contrary, the officers, who had just realized they had fallen for the enemy's trick, turned red with anger.

"You scoundrel! Is that what this is about!"

"You're mocking us! We must take the city first and show them what we're made of!"

Agreement spread among the officers.

However, Darius did not respond immediately.

He had stated that there was no fire attack, but that was for the sake of the officers. He was almost certain, but there was still a small chance.

For example, they might have deliberately shown a single pile of brushwood to make them think it was a ruse, or they might have planned to burn the city if the suppression army entered.

Earlier, he had considered forming a separate unit to capture Bornis while the main force kept the rebels at bay.

However, if there was a fire attack, that unit would be annihilated. It was also possible that the rebels planned to burn the city and the unit, causing panic among the main force, and then exploit the situation.

In that case, it might be better to defeat the main enemy force before taking the city. Even if there were traps in the city, it would be meaningless if the main enemy force was crushed.

Moreover, with 7,000 troops against fewer than 2,000 enemies, they had no reason to lose in a straightforward battle.

However, this was precisely why Darius was hesitant. Based on the rebels' actions so far, their leader must have realized this. They were challenging him, knowing this.

He suspected there was something, but he couldn't figure out what.

If he attacked as the enemy intended, he might suffer a severe counterattack.

He considered waiting to see what would happen, but looking at the officers, he knew that was not an option.

The camp was not a strong fortress but a weak one that could be easily crushed by the entire army. Hesitating to attack such a weak position would affect the morale of the entire army.

Moreover, maintaining the suppression army was not free. The food for 7,000 troops, the horses and dragons pulling the supply wagons, all consumed a significant amount of resources. He wanted to end this as quickly as possible.

Furthermore, there was the fat-bellied, self-important military chaplain of the Holy Church standing next to him.

"What are you hesitating about, sir! We must immediately punish those abominable subhumans and their leader!"

This chaplain, named Miltas, claimed to have been in Bornis when the Zoan rebellion occurred. He had escaped to the church in Luoma, but during that time, he had been burning with righteous indignation over the city occupied by the "unclean subhumans." When he heard that a suppression army was coming to liberate Bornis, he sought an audience with Darius, believing his faith could be of use.

"With their sharp, animal-like eyes, they watch the people and kill anyone who resists. The fact that I escaped from the terrifying city of Bornis without a scratch is nothing but the divine protection of the human god! To share this divine protection with the brave warriors of the suppression army, I humbly request to join the campaign!"

As if he expected Darius to grant his request, Miltas spoke without even a greeting. At that moment, Marius, enraged by Miltas's rudeness, had his hand on his sword. If Darius had not subtly raised his hand to stop Marius, Miltas's head would have rolled.

"Sir, with me, there is no need to fear subhumans! Oh, great human god! Grant your divine protection to the loyal warriors of Holmea!"

Darius felt only contempt for Miltas, who was praying in a disgusting voice, oblivious to the danger he had just escaped.

Miltas claimed that his escape from Bornis was due to divine protection, but Darius knew from merchants who had also fled that the rebels were allowing residents to leave the city. Miltas, like the others, had probably discarded his priestly robes and slipped out of the city disguised as a civilian. The idea of divine protection was laughable.

Darius, a realist, did not rely on divine protection in battle. However, the authority of the Holy Church could not be ignored.

If the country intended to develop the Solbiant Plain, neighboring countries like Romanya would surely interfere. Having a Holy Church chaplain with the suppression army would provide a basis for claiming that the development was sanctioned by the human god.

Darius found this absurd, but it was a matter of politics and diplomacy.

With this in mind, Darius had allowed Miltas to join the campaign, but Miltas had his own agenda.

Miltas's agenda was revenge.

He had obtained the head of a heretic leader and planned to take it to the Holy Capital. He had arranged passage with a Jevan merchant to the imperial territory and had collected money from his followers. Just as he was about to leave the city, the Zoan rebellion broke out.

Miltas knew what would happen if he were captured by the subhumans. He immediately discarded his priestly robes, insignia, and images, kept only his expensive jewelry, and put on a dirty cloak. He then hid in a back alley with the jar containing the heretic leader's head.

When the city calmed down, he heard that the subhumans were allowing residents to leave. He observed the situation at the gate and saw no signs of them searching for priests. It seemed he could leave the city by pretending to be a commoner.

However, the problem was the jar.

Residents were allowed to take their belongings when leaving, but there was a simple customs check at the gate. He couldn't just walk through with a human head.

He considered sneaking out at night with the jar, but the journey to the next city on foot was too dangerous.

However, he had to escape quickly.