Chapter 175 - Splendid as a Flame (3)

Just as Malcoy de Marseille had expected, the Imperial Army suffered a bitter ordeal.

It was unclear just how long the kingdom had been preparing for war, but there was not a single spot within two hundred paces of the citadel that lacked a trap.

The heavy infantry, weighed down by their armor, fell into pits and were crushed to death, while the swift light infantry stepped on caltrops that caught their toes and rolled on the ground.

When they managed to push through the traps with great difficulty, flaming arrows flew at them as if waiting.

The oil jars that must have been buried in advance ignited all at once, swallowing the area in flames.

Despite this, the Legion Commanders did not loosen the reins of their attack.

Taking the brunt of all kinds of traps with their own bodies, the Imperial Army continued to pour fierce attacks toward the citadel.

However, the citadel showed no signs of collapsing whatsoever.

Once the sun set and the soldiers were pulled back, the positions reversed.

The knights of the Leonberk Kingdom, who had been firmly defending the castle, frequently raided the Imperial Army's encampment under the cover of darkness, and the Imperial Army had to stay up all night keeping watch against the kingdom's forces that could strike from anywhere at any time.

"Goodness. I can't even tell who is attacking and who is defending."

Malcoy sighed at the pathetic state of his allies and marveled at the fortitude of the enemy.

"Rumor certainly had it that the Imperial Knights were far superior in skill compared to knights of other nations, but seeing it in person tells a completely different story."

At his adjutant's words, Malcoy couldn't help but nod.

Just as he said, despite their numerical advantage, the Imperial Knights were powerless against the kingdom's knights.

Of course, the Paladins of the Leonberk Kingdom were leading the knights with veteran skill, but even taking that into account, the gap in prowess was excessively large.

The Imperial Knights were being slaughtered every time they clashed with the kingdom's knights.

Whether this was a gap stemming from the mindset of those fighting to protect and survive versus those merely blinded by achievements, or simply a difference in skill between elite knights serving the King and the chaff knights of the frontier, Malcoy could not tell.

The only certain thing was the fact that as long as the Imperial Knights could not properly match the kingdom's knights, the fall of the citadel remained a distant prospect.

"If only there were Mages, the situation would be much better."

Unfortunately, the casualties among the Mages during the previous war with Dotrin had been significant, and on top of that, the Wyvern Riders had been tearing through the East and North, prioritizing the elimination of Mages, leaving their numbers completely depleted.

It would take time for a legion equipped with proper magical forces to reach the citadel.

But no matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like the foolish Legion Commanders would be able to keep their troops intact until then.

"The 44th Legion Commander has been hit by an arrow!"

Malcoy frowned.

It seemed another foolish Legion Commander had wandered out of the rear and was loitering at the front. He probably thought he was boosting morale by encouraging the soldiers, but the result only tanked the morale of his own forces.

"What incredible vigor for an old man."

Lacking the energy to curse his foolish allies any longer, Malcoy praised the enemy instead.

"Nothing is as we heard. I was definitely told the King of Leonberk was an incompetent coward."

At his adjutant's words, Malcoy looked up at the citadel walls.

The King of the enemy nation was always on the walls. He fired arrows without rest from there, and occasionally sniped at the allied knights or high-ranking commanders in the midst of the chaotic melee.

The Legion Commander who was just hit by an arrow was undoubtedly the work of the King of Leonberk.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

"Oh. It's the retreat signal."

At the sound of the retreat drums sounding earlier than usual, the Imperial soldiers, who had been clinging to the walls like ants, pulled back all at once.

The kingdom's army never just stood by and watched the retreating allied forces.

THUD, THUD, THUD!

Arrows lodged into the backs of the retreating soldiers. Even at a glance, the damage was just as massive as the casualties they had suffered rushing the walls all day.

The plains were filled with corpses. All of them were bodies of the Imperial Army.

"I don't see an answer. No answer at all."

Amidst Malcoy's lamentation, the battle came to an end.

* * *

At the meeting that day, the other Legion Commanders strongly denounced Malcoy and the 84th Legion.

Their grievance was that while the other legions spared no effort in attacking the walls, he and his legion alone were taking a passive stance in the battle.

They had previously treated him like non-existent troops because they didn't want to share the glory, but it seemed they had changed their minds now that the situation wasn't going their way.

Malcoy placated the Legion Commanders, promising to do his best starting tomorrow.

But the next day, and the day after that, Malcoy and the 84th Legion continued to passively shoot arrows from the rear, loiter around the walls, and then pull back.

The Legion Commanders denounced him even more strongly, but each time, Malcoy brushed off the situation by claiming he was doing his best.

The sluggish siege warfare continued.

Then, late one night, the Imperial Army's encampment was attacked. Unlike previous times, it was a large-scale raid the size of a legion.

Although they had prepared their defenses to some extent, the Imperial Army had never imagined that the kingdom's forces would boldly send so many troops outside the castle gates, and thus they suffered tremendous casualties.

When they first arrived at the citadel, their numbers had approached 13,000, but now, excluding the dead and wounded, there were fewer than 7,000 men capable of fighting.

Aside from the 84th Legion, whose total casualties amounted to only about 100 wounded, every other legion had lost more than half of its troops.

In just a few weeks, their forces had been cut in half.

It was an impossible task to conquer a citadel with half the forces when they hadn't been able to do anything even with double the numbers.

In reality, the battle at the Silver Lion Citadel was a defeat for the Imperial Army.

The Legion Commanders did not acknowledge that fact. No, they could not acknowledge it.

They were still hallucinating about capturing the King and proudly entering the enemy's capital, unable to abandon that impossible dream.

And so, they drove even the wounded onto the battlefield to attack the citadel.

"Anyone who retreats will die by my sword!"

"I promise immense rewards to those who achieve merit!"

The Legion Commanders and knights plunged their swords into the backs of hesitating soldiers. Then, promising hollow rewards, they drove the soldiers to their deaths.

Filled with spite, the Imperial Army scaled the walls.

The kingdom's forces on the citadel mercilessly slaughtered the Imperial soldiers the moment they climbed up.

"It's over."

Seeing the citadel stand firm even against that blind assault, Malcoy quietly pulled the 84th Legion back.

The Legion Commanders sought him out and hurled insults at him.

Coward, weakling, a useless dog who couldn't even protect his master.

At the insults from those who had lost their minds, Malcoy simply picked his ear.

"If you have the energy for this, go grab your swords, climb the walls, and at least help your soldiers."

Infuriated by his insincere reply, the Legion Commanders yelled and pointed fingers, only to belatedly notice their surroundings.

The troops of the 84th Legion, who had preserved their strength all this time, were glaring at them. Only after feeling that unusual momentum did they realize that the 84th Legion was now the actual power on the battlefield.

"Don't."

While they stood there in a daze, Malcoy suddenly called out.

"If we let them live, they will certainly testify against you, Malcoy."

"Even so, don't."

"It seems you've already forgotten why you ended up being sent to such a frontier, Malcoy."

"I won't say it again. Sheathe your sword."

Hearing the conversation between Malcoy and his adjutant, the Legion Commanders' faces turned deathly pale.

They had belatedly realized that the commanders of the 84th Legion were planning to silence them by killing them.

"Well, do as you please. I'm just following orders, and I don't care if we get demoted and sent to the boondocks again."

The adjutant sheathed his sword, which he had drawn at some point, and gestured with his hand. Only then did the 84th Legion soldiers surrounding the Legion Commanders step back.

The Legion Commanders hurriedly fled the scene as if running for their lives.

"Doesn't it disgust you that those greedy bastards threw thousands of lives into the fire pit, yet they themselves get to live?"

The adjutant spoke coldly, glaring after them until the end.

"You are entirely too inflexible, Malcoy. That's why I follow you, but today it makes me a little angry. The pigs who deserve to be roasted alive survived, while innocent soldiers are the ones burning."

"Once they step onto the battlefield, there is no such thing as an innocent person."

"Even if they were just following orders?"

"Fighting, winning, plundering, and violating women. Soldiers are also a part of war. Taking the good parts for themselves and rationalizing the bad by saying they only followed orders because they had no power... That kind of shit is disgusting."

At Malcoy's words, the adjutant spoke as if he had forgotten something.

"I had forgotten. Just how much you hate war, Malcoy. You still remember that day..."

"That's enough. If you run your mouth any further, I won't hold back, even if it's you."

"Yes, yes. Whatever you say."

The adjutant gave an exaggerated bow and took a step back.

With clear eyes, Malcoy watched the Imperial forces clinging to the citadel and the kingdom's soldiers killing and dying against each other.

"Fucking hell."

He expressed his disgust.

The night grew deep. The Legion Commanders stubbornly refused to withdraw their troops.

In the darkness, the sound of clashing spears and swords, along with endless screams and shouts, flowed out continuously.

Day broke.

The Imperial soldiers who had scaled the walls were surrounded by the kingdom's knights and fell, one by one.

It was the moment the vain dreams harbored by the Legion Commanders faded away.

Just then, a group of horses and men came galloping from the rear.

Dressed in typical Imperial cavalry attire, the Legion Commanders rejoiced.

"It seems another legion has finally arrived in the vicinity!"

The greedy men who had previously wanted to capture the King before anyone else arrived and monopolize the credit were no longer there.

Only the defeated soldiers waiting for salvation remained.

The cavalry approached quickly.

However, their condition was far from normal.

As if they had just come from a battle, their armor was covered in scratches everywhere, and their eyes were filled with nothing but anxiety.

As the Legion Commanders watched with stiff faces, the cavalry brought their horses to a halt.

Then they shouted.

"The 34th Legion! The 48th Legion! The 102nd Legion! While marching, we suffered a combined attack by Dotrin's Wyvern Riders and the Leonberk Kingdom's army and were routed!"

"What did you say!"

Looking at the utterly dumbfounded Legion Commanders, the cavalryman conveyed the situation in the rear with a highly exhausted face.

"The enemy forces are estimated to be about the size of two legions, and we confirmed at least ten knighthoods among them!"

"Where in the hell did those forces pop out from!"

"We do not know the exact details, but among the flags they raised, the banner of the crouching golden lion was confirmed."

The cavalryman paused for a moment before continuing his report.

"The commander is believed to be one of the direct descendants of the Leonberk Royal Family."

While the Legion Commanders were still failing to grasp the situation and only rolling their eyes, Malcoy abruptly interjected.

"Our conquest of the citadel has gone down the drain."

"Are you a friend or a foe!"

One of the half-mad Legion Commanders lost his temper, forgetting what had happened just moments ago.

But before he could spew all of his boiling anger, the sound of a horn echoed from the direction of the citadel.

It was a signal unique to the Leonberk Kingdom's army.

At the same time, the citadel's gates opened. And from within, the kingdom's knights and cavalry poured out.

"Do they still have energy left after fighting all night?"

Malcoy blew a whistle and voiced his admiration.

"E-Everyone, fall back to the fortress of the 41st Legion!"

"We will reorganize our forces there and plan another battle!"

Watching the Legion Commanders who refused to say the word 'retreat' even if it killed them, Malcoy snorted.

"You won't even make it to the fortress."

Saying so, Malcoy pointed toward the citadel.

An old knight holding up a sword blazing in pure white flames and knights clad in golden armor were charging toward them at a terrifying speed.

THUD.

As they were staring blankly at the incoming charge, a dull noise rang out. Startled, the Legion Commanders turned their heads.

Malcoy was standing there, having unfastened his scabbard and laid it on the ground.

"W-What are you doing!"

One of the Legion Commanders asked, but instead of answering them, Malcoy instructed his adjutant.

"Drop your swords and stand by."

"84th Legion! Disarm!"

The adjutant shouted robustly. The soldiers and knights of the 84th Legion simultaneously unfastened their scabbards and placed them on the ground.

"I asked what you think you're do..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a sickening noise rang out.

CRACK.

The Legion Commander, who had been spitting out his fury just moments ago, collapsed with his neck snapped.

That was the beginning.

The knights and soldiers of the 84th Legion snapped the necks of the Legion Commanders and their subordinates.

NEIGH!

The knights, who had stealthily approached behind the cavalrymen, dragged them off their horses and twisted their necks.

"I figured if we're going to surrender anyway, we might as well bring some gifts. Did I do something wrong?"

When Malcoy looked at him, the adjutant, who had just snapped a cavalryman's neck, shrugged and replied.

At that shameless demeanor, Malcoy slowly shook his head.

At that moment, the kingdom's knights and cavalry burst onto the scene.

"Surrender! We unconditionally surrender!"

Malcoy raised both hands high in the air.

* * *

The King was extremely exhausted. His entire body was covered in small wounds, and the fingers that had gripped the bow were all torn and bleeding.

Having suffered a sword wound during the fierce battle overnight, he had stepped down from the walls and was receiving treatment deep inside the citadel.

But even in that state, the King's eyes were shining more fiercely than ever before.

"Are you saying they all surrendered without a fight?"

"That is correct, Your Majesty."

At the Royal Knight's report, the King tilted his head.

"I was under the impression that the remaining enemy legion had preserved its forces quite well. Was I mistaken?"

"What Your Majesty knows is not incorrect."

"Then why?"

To the King's question, the Royal Knight suggested he hear a detailed explanation from the returning troops.

"Your Majesty. I, Sturmhilde Stuttgart, have fulfilled your orders and returned."

"I hear the enemies all surrendered."

"If they had fought back, at least half of them would have survived and returned to their fortress, but for some reason, they all surrendered as if they had been waiting for it, so I am completely baffled as well."

At the old knight's report, the King frowned.

"Could it be that they are trying to infiltrate the castle under the guise of surrender?"

"They declared their intent to surrender and handed over dozens of corpses, all of which belonged to the Empire's Legion Commanders and high-ranking commanders."

"So you are saying it is not a false surrender."

"That is how it appeared to me."

The King rose from his seat.

"I should go meet this man."

The old knight stopped the King again.

"Your Majesty. A Wyvern Rider has come and delivered news from the front."

The King halted his steps and looked back at the old knight.

"He reported that the allied legion of the North and the Central region, led by His Highness the Crown Prince, has won consecutive victories and completely destroyed three enemy legions so far. With the cooperation of the Wyvern Riders, they are marching south while avoiding the enemy's surveillance network, and they plan to launch a surprise attack on the isolated Imperial 92nd Legion."

The old knight added as he looked at the King.

"The allied casualties are light, and it is said that His Highness the Crown Prince is safe without any significant injuries."

The corners of the King's mouth twitched.

"Has the Wyvern Rider not left yet?"

"I held him back for a moment in case Your Majesty had any further instructions."

"Tell him to convey that rather than being overly greedy, he should be satisfied with achieving his intended objective."

When the old knight stared at him pointedly, the King quickly averted his gaze.

Though he turned his head like that, he could not hide the twitching of his cheeks and ears from the old knight.

The old knight merely smiled silently.

* * *

"The Silver Lion Citadel should be fine, right?"

When I muttered to myself while suddenly looking toward the north, Arwen, who had somehow managed to hear me, replied.

"His Excellency Count Stuttgart, the Royal Knights, and the kingdom's greatest knights are guarding His Majesty's side. Backing them up are the heavy infantry of the Southern Legion and the Central Army, who are no less capable than the Ballorhard Rangers. Even if ten legions swarm them, they will not be easily broken through."

Seeing my face, Arwen let out a sigh and added another word.

"Half of the Royal House's military power is guarding the Silver Lion Citadel. So please, put your worries to rest."

"Who said anything? I was just talking to myself."

"I say this because you have muttered that same 'talking to myself' more than thirty times."

As I was mumbling in response to Arwen's words, a sharp cry suddenly rang out.

Looking up at the sky, a single wyvern was circling above our heads.

Its rider was desperately gesturing with his hands and feet. But it was so far away that I couldn't see well.

I strained my eyes and glared up at the sky. Even then, I couldn't see it clearly.

Just then, someone tapped my shoulder.

It was Gunne.

[Enemy spotted, half a day's distance away.]

With her sharp eyes, she confirmed the sign language of the Wyvern Rider gesturing desperately on top of the wyvern and informed me.

[One legion. Matches the target.]

After confirming Gunne's hand gestures, I looked behind me.

"Entire army, advance at a rapid pace."

At my words, the army gathered from the Central region and the North began to move in unison.

SCREECH!

The wyvern let out a sharp cry and disappeared far off toward the south.

Gunne belatedly relayed the message the Wyvern Rider had left.

[They will start first.]

"What?"

[The King is participating in the battle.]

At those words, my face violently crumpled into a frown.

"This old man is trying to cut in line again!"