Chapter 30

At almost the same time that Alms and King Verm's army clashed, another battle was taking place near the border between King Verm's country and King Rosais' country.

"Hmm, the enemy's morale seems high... Probably they've been spurred on by the threat of starvation if they don't seize the grain. It's troublesome," Bartolo sighed.

Bartolo took a swig of his drink.

"How many are they?"

"Three hundred. About fifty are light infantry. No sign of cavalry."

Listening to the mage's explanation, Bartolo nodded in satisfaction.

Our side has a hundred more, giving us the upper hand.

We should win if we fight normally.

We lost the last battle despite having twice the numbers... but that was only because the previous commander was incompetent.

Bartolo is not incompetent.

"Cavalry can be troublesome. What about the formation?"

"A standard phalanx. The elite troops, including the enemy commander, are on the right flank."

■

■■■■■■ ← King Verm's formation

"Ah, the same as the last battle. It's brave of the commander to fight on the most dangerous right flank. No wonder we lost last time."

Bartolo took another swig of his drink.

The phalanx holds shields in their left hands, protecting themselves and the soldier to their left.

Thus, the right flank, which is not shielded, becomes vulnerable.

That's why placing the elite troops on the right flank is a basic tactic.

King Verm's commander is a very brave and daring man, leading from the front with a spear.

In the last battle, our left flank was overwhelmed by the enemy's right flank, which was energized by the commander's presence, leading to our defeat.

Bartolo, however, has no intention of fighting in such a dangerous place.

He plans to command from the safest spot while drinking.

That way, he can see the whole battlefield.

"Alright, follow the plan. Advance the entire army to the left. We outnumber them. If the plan succeeds, we will surely win."

Bartolo smiled slyly.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"What's the enemy's formation?"

"It's... strangely concentrated on the left side."

■■

■■

■■■■■■ ← King Rosais' formation

The mage, who had just landed from a hawk, explained to King Verm's commander.

"Probably they learned from the last battle. We defeated them by breaking their left flank. They are being cautious. What fools. If they neglect their right flank, which is their biggest weakness, it's meaningless," the commander said, sounding exasperated.

"Where is the enemy commander? On the left?"

"He's in the rear. I confirmed he's drinking."

The mage's explanation made the commander laugh heartily.

"Drinking before a battle? How carefree. And in the rear? What a coward. The soldiers of King Rosais are truly pitiful. Alright, let's abandon the plan to gradually lure them into our territory. Let's crush them now."

King Verm has told him to pursue victory if it seems possible.

It won't be a violation of orders.

"Alright, let's go. Victory for King Verm!"

The commander took up his spear and took his position.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

The battle began with the light infantry—archers and javelin throwers—attacking.

After that, the heavy infantry engaged in the main battle.

Once the battle starts, the heavy infantry can't move freely.

They just kill the enemy in front of them. They fight until they die. That's all.

"Alright, advance the entire army!"

"Follow me, everyone!"

Bartolo and the commander gave their orders simultaneously.

The first to clash were the left flank of King Rosais' army and the right flank of King Verm's army.

The two armies collided fiercely.

"Die!!"

The commander wielded his spear.

He is the most powerful general in King Verm's country. The troops under his direct command are the strongest elite force in King Verm's country.

He killed one after another of King Rosais' soldiers.

But...

"Damn, how many are there!!"

The commander began to show signs of anxiety.

No matter how many he killed, the rear ranks filled the gaps.

It was endless.

But still, as expected of the elite force, they gradually pushed back King Rosais' army.

Until this point.

"Alright, it's about time. Guards, go!"

Bartolo gave the order while drinking.

From the rear ranks, the elite force of King Rosais—troops who are said to be weak against Alms but are not actually weak—moved to the front.

They are undoubtedly elite.

The commander's direct troops are strong.

But they are fatigued from continuous battles.

Attacking them with fresh elite troops was devastating.

Gradually, King Rosais' side began to push back.

The commander found himself at a disadvantage.

But he still had a trick up his sleeve.

The enemy's right flank.

The enemy foolishly concentrated their troops on the left flank instead of the right.

This meant the right flank was weak.

King Verm's left flank would soon break through King Rosais' right flank and flank them.

The commander smiled smugly.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"Not so fast," Bartolo said, taking a drink.

He looked at his own right flank.

The right flank was still intact. In fact, no battle had even started there.

Bartolo had ordered the entire army to concentrate their attack on the left.

As a result, the left flank was prominent, while the right flank was significantly delayed and had not yet engaged the enemy.

"If the right flank is weak, then they don't need to fight," Bartolo smiled slyly and threw away the empty bottle.

"Alright, it's almost over."

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"Damn!! What is the left flank doing!!"

The commander shouted.

But his words were cut short by the spears of King Rosais' guards.

He desperately parried them.

But there is a limit to human endurance.

He had been fighting continuously since the battle began.

It's hard to maintain focus for a long time.

An enemy spear grazed the commander's cheek.

From that point on, his movements became increasingly sluggish, and the cuts on his body multiplied.

"Ughh!!"

A spear sprouted from the commander's abdomen.

Several spears concentrated on him.

"Enemy commander!! We've taken him down!!"

One of the guards shouted.

This marked the collapse of King Verm's right flank.

King Rosais' left flank immediately flanked and attacked from the right, exploiting the weakness.

King Verm's side collapsed completely.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"Yesss!! This means more territory! We did it!!"

Bartolo jumped with joy.

Now, he looked as innocent and joyful as someone who had no idea he had just won a god-like battle.

This is one of the battles not recorded in the history books of the man known as the "Great Serpent of Romano."

He was drinking while commanding.