Chapter 43

"Impossible! An enemy surprise attack!?"

In the midst of the chaos and uproar at the Imperial Army's camp, Dallas Safaris let out a pained cry.

The Imperial Army's camp, set up on a hill, was suddenly overrun by the Kingdom's forces. The soldiers who stormed the camp numbered only about five hundred. In terms of numbers, this was nothing to fear for the Imperial Army, which had tens of thousands of troops.

However, the unexpected timing of the surprise attack left the Imperial soldiers unable to mount a proper defense, and they were being attacked one-sidedly.

"Why! Why didn't anyone notice!? What were the sentries doing!?"

The words that escaped Safaris' lips were a cry from the soul, a question from the depths of his heart.

It wasn't strange for the Kingdom's army to launch a surprise attack on the Imperial camp. Attacking the enemy's main camp is a common strategy in war, and Safaris was well aware of this.

What he couldn't understand was how the surprise attack had succeeded.

"We set up the camp on a hill with a good view to avoid being caught off guard by the enemy! So why did no one notice!? Why are we being attacked one-sidedly!?"

"Stop it, Safaris."

"Ba, General Bazen..."

Placing his hand on the deputy's shoulder, who was raising his voice in disbelief, Grakos Bazen spoke in a stern tone.

"There's no point in asking why. All that matters is the result before our eyes. We must accept it and move on to the next action."

"..."

"I'm sorry!"

Bazen's words made Safaris' eyes widen in shock, and he immediately tried to gather the disorganized Imperial soldiers.

As he watched his subordinate run off to give orders, Bazen clenched his fist tightly and glared at the enemy's fort.

"You did well... Bazel Garst!"

From the hill far from the fort, it was impossible to see the figure of the enemy general who was surely there.

However, Bazen could vividly imagine Garst's rugged face, twisted in a satisfied smile, having successfully executed his plan.

Under normal circumstances, a camp set up on a hill with a good view would never be caught off guard by an enemy.

Even at night, it might be understandable, but the sun was still shining brightly in the sky. Any ally who failed to spot the enemy under such conditions would have been killed by Bazen before the enemy could.

What made this possible was the young man who was currently dueling with Sylia, Bazen's master.

"Who would have thought... to use the Holy Sword wielder as a diversion...!"

The Imperial Army was so thoroughly caught off guard by the surprise attack because every soldier in the camp was captivated by the battle between Raidol and Sylia below.

Raidol, who was spreading a curse-laden wind, and Sylia, who was unleashing the wrath of heaven with lightning. The battle between the two Holy Sword wielders was like a scene from a myth, and everyone present was holding their breath, watching the fight.

As a result, they were slow to notice the Kingdom's ambush coming from the opposite direction of the battlefield.

"A Holy Sword wielder is a trump card that can rival an entire army... to use it just to draw our attention...!"

Bazen's bearded face twisted in regret.

No, it wasn't just a diversion or a decoy. What was lured out was not only Bazen and his men but also Sylia.

As long as Sylia, the Holy Sword wielder, remained in the camp, the surprise attack would never have succeeded. Raidol's flamboyant display of creating a tornado was likely intended to lure Sylia out of the camp.

"Damn you, young whelp... No, there's no time for regrets now."

Bazen slapped his forehead, which was lined with veins, and refocused his mind.

The Imperial Army's camp, which had been attacked by the enemy, was still in chaos, and the Imperial soldiers had completely lost their cohesion.

Although Safaris was shouting to reorganize them, it was only a matter of time before the enemy reached Bazen.

The nominal commander of the Arslane Empire's Western Invasion Army was the royal family member, Sylia Arslane.

However, the actual command was in Bazen's hands, and if this old general were to be defeated, the Western Invasion Army would collapse.

"It seems we have no choice but to admit defeat here. Let's retreat and regroup, shall we?"

"I'm sorry, but that's a bit inconvenient for me."

"Who are you!?"

Startled by the voice from behind, Bazen quickly turned around.

How could he, who had survived many battles, be so easily caught off guard from behind? The figure that appeared before his eyes was a girl dressed in a maid's uniform, which seemed out of place on the battlefield.

"A maid...?"

"Yes, a maid. Fwip, fwip."

What kind of joke was this?

The girl standing behind Bazen was dressed in a maid's uniform. The silver-haired girl, who looked two or three years younger than Sylia, was holding the hem of her skirt with both hands and swinging it playfully.

"Why is a child like you on the battlefield...? Could you be a Kingdom soldier...?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, but I don't have time for that. I'll take care of my business... 'Shadow Bind.'"

"Ugh...!?"

Black shadows extended from the girl's feet, wrapping around Bazen's body like tentacles.

The old general, who had supported the Imperial Army for years, was instantly restrained and forced to crawl on the ground.

"Nngh... Who are you...!"

"Hmm, tying up an old man isn't very fun. But, if I capture you before the Kingdom soldiers, my master will give me a reward, so it's fine, I guess?"

"Your... master...? You're not a Kingdom soldier...?"

"Ah, let's not worry about that. The Imperial soldiers are coming, so let's get out of here quickly."

"Ga...!"

The maid girl clapped her hands. Instantly, Bazen's vision was enveloped in darkness.

(Princess... please run...!)

In his fading consciousness, Bazen cried out. His last concern was for the princess, whom he had treated like a granddaughter.

However, the words never left his lips, and his consciousness faded into the darkness.

"General Bazen, the preparations for the retreat are... Huh?"

When Deputy Safaris returned to Bazen's side, his respected superior was nowhere to be found.