Chapter 28

The Bruges army's line infantry formed ranks and advanced in several layers.

This time, they didn't seem to be hiding the artillerymen, who were lined up behind the line infantry. This was probably because it made it easier to control the firing.

Captain Dambur was shouting.

"Aim the third and fourth cannons at the enemy! Hurry up!"

He intended to direct all five cannons at the enemy's main force. Indeed, that was the better strategy.

I whispered to Colonel Altsar.

"The artillery will be thinly spread, so the skirmishers will approach."

"I understand. The second squad, be on guard for the rear gun ports! First squad, prepare to fire!"

"First cannon, prepare to fire! Target, the center of the enemy line!"

The field guns fired before the muskets, firing at intervals and hitting the enemy line accordingly. Although they were small-caliber field guns, the enemy, being densely packed, was being blown away in groups.

"Start adjusting the shots! Take a cross-range ahead! Slow down the advance of the enemy's front line!"

If the front line's advance slows, the rear lines will also slow. The entire army will stagnate, giving us more time to fire.

But the enemy knows this too.

The distance infantry can run is short. They aren't trained like athletes and carry heavy guns and backpacks.

If they run at full speed and get out of breath, they won't be able to fight. Therefore, they can't run even when exposed to enemy fire.

So they only run at the very end, when they are in the decisive range.

Colonel Altsar asked me.

"Do you understand the enemy's intention?"

"The most likely scenario is that they will launch a general attack on the defense tower and climb over the debris of the city gate to enter the courtyard. They might intend to use the barracks adjacent to the defense tower as a bridgehead and break into the tower's interior through the passage."

The enemy doesn't have the firepower to destroy the defense tower, so the infantry must break in.

The entrance to the first floor of the defense tower is blocked, but the engineers can probably force it open. There are doors on the second floor that lead to the north and south walls. If the doors are broken down, we won't be able to hold out for long.

"Our advantage is only the cannons and the walls. If they get close to the tower and break through the doors, we won't be able to defend it."

"Then what should we do?"

"Just defend the doors so they can't break through. The space is narrow, so the attackers won't be able to overwhelm us with numbers. We can buy time."

It was unexpected that the enemy would launch such an early assault.

But if my guess is correct, this might not be bad for us.

"I can't tell the soldiers, but it might end sooner than expected, and of course, with our victory."

"Really?"

"If they have a reason to rush an infantry assault instead of taking the time to bring up the cannons, what could it be?"

Then the colonel seemed to realize something.

"Reinforcements from our allies?"

At that moment, Sergeant Hanna shouted.

"The enemy's attack has stopped! They're retreating!"

Looking around, the enemy was hastily moving away from the defense tower. Retreat orders were being repeatedly sounded by trumpets.

The colonel and I climbed to the observation deck of the defense tower and confirmed the approach from the road.

"Unidentified, but it looks like imperial cavalry is approaching. Infantry units are also visible in the rear."

"They'll run if the cavalry approaches from the side. Phew, we're saved."

Colonel Altsar sighed in relief and then listened carefully.

"I hear something."

Ah, I recognize this. I hid my face with my cap and smiled.

"It's the march of the Fifth Division."

"Really, lieutenant?"

"There's no mistake. The overbearing bravery, the chest-churning revivalism, it's very nostalgic."

In a siege, the defenders must be wary of reinforcements. Especially if the cavalry attacks from the side or rear, the line infantry and artillery can suffer fatal blows.

Of course, the Bruges army was also wary of this, so they quickly recognized the reinforcements and started preparing to retreat. Good work.

The enemy's retreat and the arrival of reinforcements brightened the atmosphere in the defense tower.

"Our allies are coming!"

"Great, we're saved!"

"I thought we were going to die!"

No, no, it's too early to let your guard down.

I wanted to say that, but the enemy started retreating so quickly that it seemed the battle was over. It's a bit anticlimactic.

Then the colonel said to me.

"You look like you wanted more of the fight."

"Of course not. I'm a junior officer who wishes to get paid without working hard."

"Hmm, I doubt that."

He chuckled. No, I really don't want anything to do with war.

The rear of the Bruges army disappeared into the mountain foliage, and from the road, several hundred cavalrymen approached in a line for a charge. The thought of them coming from the side made me shudder. I'm glad they're on our side.

"The flag has been confirmed. It's the Fifth Division."

The colonel sighed.

"Of course, it's the work of Duke Litreuil. He took the best part. Well, it's fine. From here on, it's my job."

He put his cap back on, straightened his appearance, and smiled.

"I'm going to greet the officers of the Fifth Division. I'll have you come along too."

I don't want to go back to my old unit.

* * *

The colonel, Captain Dambur, and I greeted the officers of the relief force as the besieged side.

We were met with astonishment.

"To put it mildly... you fought in a spectacular manner."

A lieutenant colonel, who was the battalion commander, was speechless at the sight of the gate and walls of Fort Zepher.

A major, who seemed to be a company commander, was also taken aback.

"The enemy's attack must have been extremely fierce. It's a miracle you survived."

That's not it. We were the ones who destroyed it. They wouldn't believe me if I told them.

I glanced at Captain Dambur, who signaled me to be quiet with his eyes.

This is the Third Division's ammunition depot, a secret that can't be shared with the Fifth Division. The Imperial Army often doesn't share secrets between divisions.

Well, it's fine. We are the Sixth Special Task Brigade, an independent unit not belonging to any division. We have no reason to interfere with the interactions between the Third and Fifth Divisions.

The officers of the Fifth Division were looking at the collapsed walls and gate, then saluted Captain Dambur.

One of the captains told him.

"Captain Dambur, well done. I've brought engineers to clean up. The repairs will be handled by the Third Division."

"Understood. I appreciate your cooperation."

The battalion commander saluted Colonel Altsar.

"The main force of the Fifth Division is already carrying out the recapture operation at Fort Godo. We have been ordered to conduct a mop-up operation against the remaining enemy forces."

"Ah, I see."

"Yes. The division commander has requested that the Sixth Special Task Brigade remain vigilant in the area until the reinforcements arrive."

"Of course. We can't abandon the brave defenders of Fort Zepher. Please tell them we will cooperate until the situation stabilizes."

"Hai!"

The battle isn't completely over, but from here on, the Fifth Division will take over.

That uniformed woman... no, Her Highness Litreuil, wanted to create this situation.

I walked with the colonel and chuckled.

"We were skillfully used, sir."

"Indeed. The Third Division, having shown such a disgraceful performance, will have to bow to the Fifth Division. This means the Mildor family will have to bow to the Litreuil family."

"The third-ranked house among the 'Five Royal Houses' will have to bow to the last-ranked house."

"Exactly. That woman had this in mind from the beginning."

She used a war for national defense to fuel domestic political strife. It's a terrible story.

But it's very Schwaidel-like. It's not uncommon in this country.

I thought about the existence of the Sixth Special Task Brigade.

"From the beginning, they probably wanted to move the Fifth Division, but the Third Division wouldn't accept reinforcements before Fort Godo fell. However, there was no reason to refuse an independent unit like our brigade."

"Moreover, helping after the situation worsened would allow the Fifth Division to sell themselves at a higher price. If the Fifth Division had been stationed from the beginning, Fort Godo wouldn't have fallen. But then the fruits would be small."

"Better to harvest when it's ripe, I suppose."

The colonel scratched his head with a sigh.

"Exactly. Phew, I lost by apologizing."

"Apologizing?"

"Never mind. I shouldn't have shown any sympathy to that woman."

The colonel chuckled and patted my back.

"Well, let's inspect Fort Godo before we leave. We have the right to do so, don't we?"

"Of course, sir."

I'll see what happened.

* * *

The flag of the Fifth Division was flying over Fort Godo by the evening of the relief force's arrival.

The Bruges army apparently retreated to the border at the sight of the Fifth Division. It's a bit strange, isn't it?

There is a proper reason, though.

The cannon ports on the east side of Fort Godo, facing Fort Zepher, were all blown away. An ammunition explosion must have occurred. The cause is unknown.

And Fort Zepher, the eastern outpost, is in ruins. It can't be used as a forward base anymore.

In this state, the Bruges army wouldn't be able to fight the Fifth Division even if they occupied Fort Godo.

So they fled.

Yes, the logic is sound.

It's sound, but it doesn't sit well with me.

But it's better to keep this suspicion to myself. I shouldn't tell anyone except Colonel Altsar. That's how I feel.

We weren't allowed into Fort Godo. We were politely turned away.

The officers of the Third Division were arguing at the gate, but the officers of the Fifth Division were sending them all away.

"Lieutenant, it seems the Fifth Division intends to take control of Fort Godo."

"Probably. I heard that the Third Division lost several senior officers and a lot of soldiers and artillery. They wouldn't be able to hold the fort even if it were returned to them."

We talked about this while riding our horses down the hill.

It's understandable that we can't enter Fort Godo, but since we came all this way, we decided to inspect the west side of the fort, which we couldn't see from Fort Zepher.

We rode our horses cautiously, looking at the aftermath of the intense battle, which was the bodies of friend and foe.

"Should we check the outpost?"

"It's still dangerous. I'm the only one guarding you."

"No, you should have a guard too."

"Then I'll be your guard, sir."

While having this trivial conversation, I noticed something strange.

"Sir, look at that."

"That black dot?"

We took out our binoculars and confirmed what we saw on the distant hill.

The colonel murmured.

"It looks like a cannon. It's pointing this way. It seems to be something the Bruges army abandoned, but our troops are already recovering it. What's the matter with it?"

I hesitated whether to say it, but as the colonel's aide, I had to tell the truth.

"I've seen something like that before. ...It's the same shape as the Fifth Division's siege cannon."

"What?"

Siege cannons are large and rare, so there's no way I could have mistaken it. I've even been assigned to guard one on the battlefield.

The colonel thought for a moment, then asked me.

"I want to go and confirm. What do you think?"

At that moment, a chill ran down my neck. The 'Scythe of Death.'

For some reason, if I go there, I will die.

So I shook my head.

"It's dangerous. We need to be cautious about things that shouldn't be there."

While I was saying this, something was approaching the Schwaidel soldiers who were in the process of recovery. It was a cavalry unit from the Third Division.

They were probably sent to check the situation. The trim on their caps was the color of the Third Division.

The Third Division's cavalry greeted the recovery team, dismounted, and approached the cannon. They seemed to be chatting with the recovery team. There was nothing particularly ominous about it.

But the next moment, a soldier from the recovery team stabbed the cavalryman from behind with a bayonet.

Before the cavalryman could turn around, the entire recovery team attacked the cavalry.

"Whoa..."

By the time the colonel murmured, the cavalryman was on the ground.

I urged my horse closer to the colonel and warned him.

"Let's hide."

We crouched down and hid our horses in the foliage. At this distance, we shouldn't be seen.

Sure enough, the recovery team was on alert. The cavalryman's body was dragged away and out of our sight.

The trim on their caps was the color of the Third Division, but they were clearly not from the Third Division.

"Is it the Fifth Division, or the Bruges army? Which do you think?"

"Probably the Fifth Division. It would be difficult to transport a large cannon from here to Bruges territory."

I'm curious about who they are, but it's enough to know they are the enemy.

We quietly left the area and looked at each other.

"This Bruges army's invasion seems to be deeper than expected."

"Yes. We should be even more cautious of Duke Litreuil. That woman is dangerous."