Chapter 62

Sōma woke up sensing someone's presence.

The sun had already risen above the horizon, and the surroundings were filled with the sounds of people bustling about.

Suddenly, a delicious smell tickled his nose. Following the scent, he found a large leaf serving as a plate, on which freshly roasted dried meat and rice cakes were placed right next to his pillow.

Someone must have brought breakfast, Sōma thought, and he rubbed his sleepy eyes as he got up and ate the food quietly.

After finishing his meal, Sōma clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you for the meal." Despite the familiar menu, the breakfast felt somewhat tasteless without Shemul, who had always been by his side.

While straightening his disheveled clothes, the camp suddenly became noisy. Something must have happened, Sōma thought, and he hurriedly looked for Garam and the others. Garam was with Zugg, Dovarrin, Jahangir, and other key figures at the southern fence, from where they could see the distant army.

"Good morning."

Garam glanced at Sōma, who had rushed over to greet him.

"Finally awake, are you?"

Sōma had had trouble falling asleep last night due to excitement, but that was no excuse.

"We're about to risk our lives in battle, and you sleep in like that?"

"Indeed, a commander must be like that," Zugg said jokingly, and Jahangir, taking it seriously, crossed his arms and nodded in agreement, which only made Sōma feel more embarrassed.

"So, how are the enemy forces doing?"

Sōma asked, partly to change the subject, and quickly checked the current situation.

"Until a little while ago, smoke from cooking fires was rising, but now it's gone, and the humans are gathering in front of their camp."

Garam pointed, and Sōma saw that the enemy forces were beginning to gather into roughly six units.

First, a large unit was at the center, with one unit each in front, back, left, and right, and another unit a bit to the right.

Among them, the largest unit at the center was the most eye-catching. It likely contained the majority of the enemy forces.

"Those people are all holding long spears and large shields. They must be the heavy spear infantry that Malcronis mentioned."

If Garam was right, they would form a dense formation and charge.

In that case, the units to the left and right and behind the heavy spear infantry would protect the weaknesses of the dense formation, while the unit in front would initiate the battle before the dense formation.

"What about that unit?"

Dovarrin pointed with his halberd to a unit that was positioned separately from the others.

"Probably a precaution against our surprise attack, or they might be planning to attack here separately from the main force."

Sōma answered, but he was almost certain it was a unit that would circle around from the west to attack the camp.

The placement of the unit seemed too biased towards the west to be just a precaution against a surprise attack. They might have determined that a surprise attack would come from the plain, but given the commander's cautious approach, Sōma doubted that.

It seemed more reasonable to think that this unit would attack the camp from the west, where the terrain and obstacles made it difficult for the heavy spear infantry to move, to support the heavy spear infantry attacking from the south.

At that moment, Sōma noticed Garam making a small sound of frustration.

"Is something wrong?"

Garam, who hadn't expected to be heard, looked slightly uncomfortable.

"It's nothing. I just saw the black beast flag..."

Sōma had heard from Zoan and the others that the "black beast" flag was the one General Darius carried.

Squinting, he could just make out a dark flag waving behind the heavy spear infantry unit. If so, that must be where General Darius was.

"There, the enemy commander is..."

Sōma glared at the unit where the enemy commander, whom he had never seen, was likely to be.

◆◇◆◇◆

At the same time, Darius was also staring intently at the enemy camp where Sōma was.

In front of the encampment of the army about to face the final battle against the rebels, the loud commands of the unit commanders and the sound of soldiers' boots lining up filled the air.

However, Darius, as if in a different world, quietly pondered.

"...Still, it's strange."

Leaning his cheek on the armrest of the chair in his command chariot, Darius muttered to himself.

What Darius was concerned about was the number of the enemy.

As the scouts reported last night, the enemy camp seemed to have about 1,500 rebels. However, even if the enemy had hidden forces as Darius suspected, they could only allocate about 100 troops at most. That number was not enough to break through the heavy spear infantry regiment, let alone the main force where Darius himself was.

"Are they planning to launch a surprise attack—no, a desperate special attack to take my head?"

Darius knew that Zoan, who hunted on the plains, was skilled at hiding in the grass. While it would be impossible to hide a group of several hundred, a small number of people could sneak up quite close to the main force without being noticed. He suspected that they might launch a desperate special attack to take his head.

However, if they were willing to fight, relying on a one-in-ten-thousand chance, Darius thought he had overestimated the rebel leader.

"Increase the number of soldiers to guard the surroundings. Make sure not to miss even a single cat."

Calling a nearby messenger, Darius gave the order.

With this, he had taken measures against a small-scale special attack.

Despite having taken measures against all the strategies the rebels might employ, Darius still felt uneasy.

What am I afraid of?

Darius asked himself, but found no answer.

"Sir! The formation is complete! We are ready for your command!"

Marius, riding up to the chariot, reported, and Darius, who had been lost in thought, turned his attention outward.

All the units were already lined up neatly, waiting for Darius's command.

However, Darius's words were not what Marius had expected.

"Wait for a while." Then, he looked up at the sky over his shoulder. "Wait for an hour."

"Why can't we attack immediately, sir?"

Marius, seeing that the soldiers' morale was high, wanted to know why Darius, who should be well aware that waiting too long would lower their morale, was not attacking immediately.

"Look at that."

Darius pointed to the enemy camp.

"The enemy has fortified their position and taken the wind to their advantage. Then—"

He pointed to the sky.

"Let us take the sun to our advantage as well."

Marius looked up at the sky, surprised by Darius's words. In about an hour, the sun would be directly behind their position, attacking the enemy. With the sun at their backs, the enemy would have to fight in the glare.

"Indeed, sir..."

Taking every precaution.

This was the battle of Darius, the greatest general of Holmea.

◆◇◆◇◆

Why isn't the army moving yet?

A considerable amount of time had passed since the army formed its formation, but there was no sign of an attack. The tension of facing an enemy for the first time with battle intent made Sōma scratch his cheeks and neck and sigh repeatedly.

"Commanders should not show fear or anxiety. Try to calm down."

Garam, unable to bear it, advised Sōma, who was startled.

A commander should not show his inner feelings. Soldiers always watch their commander. If the commander is shaken, the soldiers will be shaken; if the commander is calm, the soldiers will be reassured.

Sōma remembered reading this in a military book he had read half-seriously while being obsessed with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Reflecting on his words and actions so far, Sōma broke out in a cold sweat. Perhaps he had made everyone anxious. Looking around fearfully, he was relieved to see no such signs. Instead, he felt a warm, understanding gaze.

However, he realized that this was thanks to Garam, Zugg, Dovarrin, and Jahangir, who had deliberately remained calm.

Blushing with shame, Sōma realized how little composure he had. Reflecting on his behavior, he took a deep breath to calm himself and looked around the camp again.

He felt he could see things he hadn't seen before.

Thinking this, Sōma suddenly doubted his eyes.

Among the Zoan warriors, he saw a figure that shouldn't have been there.

It was a female warrior standing among the strong Zoan warriors. While female warriors were not uncommon among the Zoan, who fought regardless of gender, this one had familiar light brown hair.

He squinted, wondering if it was a mistake, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was Shemul.

Noticing his gaze, the female warrior turned her face away conspicuously.

Sōma, who still couldn't distinguish Zoan faces, could at least tell the difference after living with them for months.

Approaching the female warrior with heavy steps, Sōma questioned her without giving her a chance to escape.

"Shemul... why are you here?"

The closer he looked, the more she looked like Shemul.

"It's a mistake. I'm not your subordinate."

Answering in a conspicuously suspicious falsetto, Sōma was at a loss for what to say.

Taking advantage of this, the female warrior turned and fled hastily. Sōma hurriedly chased after the woman, who was quickly leaving.

"Hey! It's Shemul, right? Shemul, isn't it?"

"It's a mistake. It's a mistake."

A black shadow suddenly appeared in front of the fleeing female warrior.

It was Garam.

The female warrior tried to escape, but Garam's extended arm grabbed the collar of her chest armor. Lifting her with one arm, Garam held her up.

"Sōma, this can't be the 'Noble Fang,' can it? —Right?"

The last question was directed at the lifted female warrior. The smile on Garam's face, which Sōma could now understand to some extent, was unmistakably malicious.

"Y-Yes... that's right..."

"The 'Noble Fang,' who was given that name for her pride, would never ignore the life of her 'Lord Below the Navel.' Moreover, she would never beg her comrades to keep quiet after sneaking back at night and being caught."

Sōma's expression became awkward as he recalled Shemul's suspicious behavior.

"Moreover, she wouldn't secretly place the breakfast she prepared on your pillow without being noticed."

Garam's face showed exasperation as he muttered.

"Really, what kind of lovesick girl is this? It's disgusting."

Sōma realized that the breakfast he had eaten this morning was prepared by Shemul.

Unable to bear the verbal abuse any longer, Shemul cried out.

"Please, I beg you. Forgive me, 'Fierce Fang'!"

Garam snorted and threw Shemul to the ground. As she groaned in pain, Sōma crouched down and asked.

"Um... what about the ambush?"

"They said, 'I'll be fine. Don't worry.' I'm not needed!"

Sōma thought that was probably just Shemul trying to convince them to let her stay.

"Besides, Sōma didn't tell me to go to the ambush until the end. So, I wasn't ordered to be an ambush."

It was a child's excuse. Sōma was exasperated; he hadn't been able to say it, not that he hadn't wanted to.

"So, you intended to stay together from the beginning..."

Garam sighed dramatically.

"Did you just realize that?"

Punching Shemul's head gently, Garam said reflectively.

"Listen, Sōma. She's called 'Noble' by everyone, but to me, she's just a stubborn, selfish fool."

Shemul, feeling guilty, let Garam punch her, but her fur stood on end, showing her suppressed anger.

"When the former chief and the old lady named her 'Noble Fang,' I seriously doubted their sanity. How could such a fool think of leaving her 'Lord Below the Navel' in danger while she went to a safe place?"

Thinking about it, Sōma realized she had been too obedient. Given Shemul's usual behavior, it would have been strange if she hadn't complained.

"That's why I said you're smart but a fool."

Sōma finally understood the meaning of Garam's words at the time. He wished Garam had said it sooner.

"Fierce Fang! How dare you call Sōma a fool, a fool!?"

"Be aware that your actions affect the dignity of your 'Lord Below the Navel,' fool!"

Unable to tolerate being called a fool, Shemul lashed out, but she was easily defeated by Garam's logic.

Zugg arrived at that moment.

"Hey, Chief. Save the sibling quarrel for later. The enemy is on the move!"

Spurred by his words, Garam and Sōma rushed back to the fence.

On the way, Sōma felt a presence behind him and turned to see Shemul following him as usual, pretending nothing had happened.

Noticing Sōma's gaze, Shemul snorted and made a pout.

Sōma sighed. He had entrusted the future of the plains to Shemul, but now he didn't understand why he had tried so hard to convince her. It felt like a futile effort. Thus, it was understandable that his tone became scolding.

"I wanted you to be in a safe place in case something happened..."

Shemul's answer was simple.

"Then, we just need to win. If we win, nothing bad will happen."

Sōma was speechless at Shemul's unwavering confidence.

If it were that easy, he wouldn't have been so troubled.

Sōma was about to complain but the words died in his throat.

"Sōma will definitely win! I believe in you!"

Hearing Shemul's usual words, Sōma felt a surge of confidence.

"...Yeah. Let's win."

"Yes! That's the spirit, my 'Lord Below the Navel'!"

They exchanged smiles.

◆◇◆◇◆

"Sir, it's time, isn't it?"

Marius, looking up at the sky to check the position of the sun, suggested, and Darius nodded and gave the order to advance.

"Advance the troops to the foot of the hill!"

First, Darius moved the army to a position far enough from the enemy camp. Once the entire army stopped, Darius stood up from his chair and, standing tall on the chariot, gave the command to the entire army.

"Beat the drums! Raise the war cry!"

A soldier struck the large drum carried on the chariot with all his might. The thunderous sound of the drum shook the air, followed by the blaring of horns and the loud clanging of gongs.

The soldiers raised their voices, striking the butts of their spears against the ground.

"Ooh! Ooh! Oohh!!"

It was a war cry raised by thousands of voices.

As the famous general Inkudias of the empire once said:

"The ancient ritual of raising a war cry and blowing horns is not meaningless. It is to instill fear in the enemy and boost the morale of one's own troops."

Sōma was overwhelmed by it.

If it were just a loud noise, he would have been surprised by its volume. However, the sound contained a clear hostility. The overwhelming sound of thousands of people declaring their intent to kill them made Sōma stagger backward.

Someone gently supported his back.

It was Shemul.

After conveying to Shemul that he was fine with a look, Sōma turned to Garam.

"Garam