Chapter 170

Chapter 170 - The Daughter of Autumn, Valda (5)

"It seems you have no more subordinates to fight, so the commander should come out now! With such lack of courage, can you protect your retainers from Count Kruger?!"

The two armies maintained a standoff situation, but Viscount Winchester was receiving damage in real-time.

A commander who sequentially cut down enemy champions in duels and even came right up to the front of their camp to bellow. On the other hand, this side is in a pathetic state, hiding tightly.

If it's like this, it won't end with just the soldiers' morale dropping. The respect the knights and vassals offer to their lord also cracks.

'I think this is about enough.'

Eugene too had no thoughts of being greedy beyond this. On the outside, he was radiating the majesty of matching a thousand in front of the enemy camp, but on the inside, he maintained tension. There is no way one hand can match ten hands.

His eyes unceasingly assessed the archers. Britannia is the country possessing the most excellent archer military power, excluding Samur.

"What are you all doing! That invader army boss is loitering right in front of our noses, and you're just thinking of watching?!"

Viscount Winchester's close aide shouldered the yoke of dishonor and ordered an attack.

The moment the archers raised their longbows, Might immediately opened the distance.

"Shoot!"

Arrows aimed at the retreating Eugene. Since multiple skilled archers fired a volley, it was impossible to completely dodge them all.

Eugene lifted Blackout in his right hand like an umbrella to cover Might and himself, and protected his right hand with the shield in his left hand.

Tick!

Tititick!

The arrowheads bounced off powerlessly, and the sound of roasting beans could be heard. Even the ones that managed to hit Might were blocked by the Hydra horse armor and dropped in droves.

"Cowards who don't even know honor! You were the ones who demanded a match of noble versus noble, and you are also the ones who sullied it! As you wish, I will show you the terror of a real army!"

Eugene mocked the Winchester nobles who were looking at him with dumbfounded faces and then distanced himself.

"What are you listening attentively to? Shoot! I said shoot more!"

The close aide ordered again, but it was already too late. Might, cleaving the earth like the wind, was already out of range. As a pre-battle performance, it was the best.

"Castellan. It was incredibly fun to watch, but when the arrows came flying, my liver turned cold. Please do not make us worry too much."

"There probably won't be anyone who was more nervous than me, right? I won't do it from now on."

Eugene nodded at the tribe knight euphemistically scolding him and returned.

Since it was an act no one had ever done, he thought it would work, and it actually yielded results. However, it's not something to do twice.

* * *

Befitting a battle between the Meyer family and a Britannia high noble, the start was a direct confrontation between the archer units.

"Archers forward!"

The knights relayed and repeated Viscount Winchester's order, sending out the archers of each rank.

Undergoing mandatory training every year, they are different from conscripts dragged in forcibly. Even without separate orders, they quickly adjusted the intervals between themselves and completed the formation.

After taking out 6 arrows from their quivers and sticking them in the ground, they waited for orders.

"They are out of range, Excellency."

"I know. But our side cannot possibly strike and enter first, can we?"

Viscount Winchester is not an idiot. Even if they have more numbers, the quality and morale of the troops are at an incomparable level. There is a chance of winning only if they let the opponent come in and then envelop them.

However, there was a problem. The position where Eugene's army stopped was something calculated from the beginning.

"Designated marksmen forward!"

When Eugene, mounted on Might, raised his hand, specially selected Dark Elves ran out and formed ranks.

Even at a glance, the difference in armament status between the two is huge. Unlike the Winchester archer unit which only wore helmets and was in bare hands and cloth clothes, this side all draped armors and also wore tactical gloves designed by Eugene.

"Prepare to fire."

The designated marksmen knocked arrows and aimed at the sky.

"What?"

"They're going to shoot from there?"

The Winchester nobles watching that panicked. Because everyone knows where the universal firing range extends to.

What they don't know is the part that Eugene's designated marksmen received new composite bows made from Hydra sinews and muscles.

Only 40 of the crafted Hydra Bows were made in total, but that was enough. They don't have to face the entire enemy army, just destroying the archer unit that came forward is enough.

"Shoot!"

Pipipiping!

As the massive axe dropped as if declaring execution, arrows soared vigorously into the sky.

"Uh-uh?"

"Fuck, will it reach?"

The Winchester archer unit intuitively realized just from the momentum of the soaring arrows. That they were within firing range.

However, even while looking on anxiously, there was no one who deserted their position. To do that, everyone's training level was too excellent.

"Keuak!"

"Kyak!"

Archers shedding blood from all directions collapsed.

"It's not area fire! They aimed and shot!"

A fifty-something-year-old archer shouted while clutching his pierced arm. That is the result of lifting his forearm to cover his chest to live while keeping his position.

"They aim and shoot from that distance?"

"Look at the fallen bastards, milord. Does that look like they shot leaving it to chance?"

An archer conscripted as a gamekeeper spoke confidently to a young noble. Since they had been close since childhood, this level of rudeness is overlooked.

"I don't particularly see anyone hit only in the vitals, though."

"No, I'm saying look at the quantities, not the locations. Isn't there no bastard who got hit by 2 or more arrows?"

"Ah!"

The enemy marksmen were accurately aiming at allied forces, exactly one arrow per person.

"They're coming again!"

The 2nd rain of arrows soared from the enemy camp.

"You bastards! Deserting during wartime is summary execution!"

The archers trying to run away backward stopped at the knights' threats.

"Keugh!"

"Keuk!"

Amidst that, sounds of flesh being gouged spread, and the archers shed blood.

"We shoot too!"

Since they couldn't just get hit with their eyes open, the nobles ordered return fire, but what was shot from this side stuck into bare ground due to a lack of range.

Meanwhile, as the 3rd volley flew in, the archer unit that had been deployed fell in droves once again.

When the 4th volley of arrows soared, the ranks ultimately collapsed and they began to flee.

"Do not cut them down! Just leave them be!"

At Viscount Winchester's yell, the knights lowered their swords. The trembling archers passed by next to them.

"Cease fire!"

At Eugene's order, the Dark Elves who were knocking the 5th arrows stopped. With identical drill movements, they recovered them into their quivers.

Rex, intoxicated by an overwhelming sense of victory, lifted the Hydra Bow and showed it to Eugene.

"The knight was right. With this, it's possible to aim and shoot even at maximum range."

Attached to the bottom of his strong bow is a rod about the length of a forearm.

- Sir Knight, what is this?

- It's a tool made through multiple trials and errors. Call it a Stabilizer.

- A stabilizer? What is it used for?

- It's an auxiliary device that increases accuracy by absorbing vibration when shooting the bow.

- Ey, we hit a hundred times out of a hundred even without such a thing.

- I suppose so if it was an ordinary bow. But if it's a composite bow utilizing Hydra parts, you will need this. Because it will be an incredible strong bow.

- Hmm.

- I understand the pride of an archer, but pretend you're being fooled and try using it.

And as Eugene said, the actual combat performance was incredible.

"I always feel this, but where on earth do you learn things like this?"

What Eugene teaches his subordinates is not only military skills like map reading, first aid, and martial arts.

Unique dishes, weight training, massages, and even folktales he frequently drops during marches or encampments were expansive.

"It's a long story. Just think that I saw it in a book."

Eugene gave the excuse that he saw it in a book every time, but as that repeated, no one came to believe it. Because he possessed too vast a knowledge to say he learned it from monastery books.

"You should rather state that you received an oracle from Goddess Vanas, shouldn't you?"

"...It's a not bad excuse? I will keep it in mind and use it well."

Cassandra licked her lips while looking at the enemies sprawled on the other side. She could not bear the joy of the experience of unilaterally smashing them in a drill confrontation between archer units.

A pleasure different from hunting monsters or beasts. As it is a restorative food served only on large-scale battlefields that cannot be easily tasted, she ruminated on the sensation and enjoyed it again and again.

"The remaining archers merge as well. The enemy's archer unit has been neutralized, so advance and pour down arrows to your heart's content."

The numerous archers waiting in the rear also joined and advanced into firing range. Soon after, hundreds of arrows cleaved the sky.

"Do not move!"

"Everyone hold your shields and keep your positions!"

The Winchester side knights shouted diligently, but the ranks were already collapsing. Because those exposed to arrows right now were conscripts with low training levels and rookie mercenaries.

On top of that, they are folks whose will to fight dropped after seeing the disastrous defeat in duels and even their archer unit getting smashed.

"Excellency. This will not do as is."

"I know."

Viscount Winchester made a decision.

"Commence attack! Drive out the invaders!"

Rather than being whittled away by arrows like this, he bet on clashing properly once, believing in their numerical superiority.

However, hand-to-hand combat had even less chance of winning than ranged combat. In front of the Dark Elf archer unit that pulled back in perfect order, the Dwarves stepped forward.

Bang! Bang!

Every time the hammers were swung, the Winchester mercenaries' shields crumpled and broke. In the case of conscripts, some truly brought wooden lids used to cover pots.

Crack!

Such flimsy shields were completely shattered in one blow.

"Hiiik!"

"Get the fuck out if you don't wanna die!"

The conscripts scrambled back at the Dwarf warriors' threats. The enemies' confusion grew, and the consciousness that they must run away spread like a plague.

"Return to the ranks! I will kill you if you retreat!"

As retreating in the face of the enemy is grounds for summary execution, some were executed by the swords of mercenary captains and knights, but the folks escaping were far more numerous.

Because the situation was that the left wing, center army, and right wing were overwhelmed everywhere, there was no time to manage them all.

The Brotherhood of the Hammer, who got a chance to perform actively after a long time, ran wild like lunatics.

"My fooooot!"

"My leg!"

Mercenaries with their insteps crushed by hammers, and mercenaries with their shins broken along with flimsy greaves tumbled all over the place.

The low attacks of the Dwarves, whose striking points are low befitting their short stature, are terribly tricky for infantry to deal with.

"Wahahaha! Let me properly teach you the importance of boots and greaves today!"

Rampage, shouting like that, heavily struck the chest of a mercenary paying attention downwards.

"Excellency. You must retreat now."

"You want me to abandon all of them? The whole world will ridicule me."

Unable to endure it, Viscount Winchester committed his reserves. The Britannia knights gathered in the center led the reserves composed of elites and aimed for a single-point breakthrough.

"He is throwing his winning move."

In response, as Eugene stepped forward holding a lance, the knights and heavy cavalry followed behind.

"Ignore the places where conscripts are gathered. Because they are bastards who will collapse and run away even if left alone anyway. Sweep away the mercenaries first."

With Eugene at the lead, the knights and retainers lined up on both sides simultaneously aimed their lances forward.

As the enemy heavy infantry skewered by the tremendous impact force collapsed, the area whose defense had been solid crumbled down.

Eugene discarded the broken lance and lifted the massive axe high. Immediately, screams burst out from all directions.

Chwaaak!

Every time a diagonal slash was applied, crimson rain poured in that direction.

Only one person was chopped after being hit by the axe blade, but the blood spewed by the corpse splashed on multiple people next to and behind them.

"Captain! Screw the village promise and whatever, let's run right now! We have to live first!"

As this repeated a few times, even enemies at a distance lost their will to fight.

Because the thick smell of blood and the blood droplets splashing on their faces felt just like a death god's calling card.

Blackout, despite being a melee weapon, was an intriguing weapon equipped not only with a lethal radius but also an effective radius.

* * *

"Retreat! Retreat!"

At the sight of the central army becoming a slaughterhouse, Viscount Winchester quickly fled taking only his close aides. Then, the rest of the soldiers also collapsed in succession like dominoes.

Horse archers enthusiastically drove their horses, aiming at the backs of the army routing in all directions.

"Kill only the mercenaries!"

"Just let the conscripts go!"

They set their prey according to the rules of engagement notified in advance.

Just looking at their armament levels or appearances, a guy dragged in while farming and a guy whose nature is a swordsman are immediately distinguished.

"Keuhak!"

Mercenaries pierced through their backs and thighs tumbled all over the place.

"Drop your weapons if you do not want to die!"

Because the conscripts only brought things like farming tools or butcher knives in the first place, they abandoned them all without lingering attachments.

However, the mercenaries couldn't let go of their expensive swords, shields, crossbows, etc., perhaps because they felt it was a waste to throw them away.

The horse archers swept away such individuals without hesitation.

"I will surrender."

"Please give an honorable treatment!"

Only then did the nobles and knights also drop their weapons and lay down everything.

"Sort the surrendered mercenaries and nobles, and release the conscripts."

Eugene took off his helmet. The first pitched battle in Britannia was very successful.

"It is a splendid judgment. Viscount Winchester is finished now. Since he also has no remaining power to rally the disbanded soldiers, there will be no trouble later even if we let them go."

Valda, who always maintained a neutral gaze, looked at the young men scurrying away.

That was closer to eyes seeing potential subjects, beyond looking at pitiful weaklings. It was the reason Eugene paid attention to refraining from killing conscripts.

Eugene handed Blackout over to the accompanying Dwarf artisan.

'The southern army certainly falls short qualitatively.'

In this battlefield, there were no souls worthy of being caught in the Hell Spirit's teeth. Like small fish slipping through a net, only the cut down folks were piling up.

Covered in blood, Eugene approached a young Dark Elf retainer catching his breath. He had a tall stature of 180cm and a thick body, but his face was youthful, making it extremely unbalanced.

"I greet the Castellan."

"Was your name Phael?"

"It is an honor that you remembered!"

The retainer gave a mounted military salute with a deeply moved face. Seeing his long ears flapping, he seems quite happy.

Life in the Moving Castle is like an infinitely continuing family gathering. If it's a high-level personnel of a retainer's level, Eugene also naturally comes to remember them.

"It's probably your first time charging in a large-scale pitched battle today, how are your impressions?"

"The Castellan's axe whooshing around next to me was scarier than the enemies in front of me."

"It's a relief you have the energy to joke."

He was befitting a born combat race. There is no such thing as blankness after a battle. It is a face even feeling a sense of accomplishment at having stirred up a large-scale battle side by side with great warriors.

"Unfasten your armor if you're out of breath. Because there are no enemies around."

Eugene spoke warmly to Phael, who was breathing through his mouth.

"I am not out of breath. It's that, the smell of shit is bad, so..."

"Ah."

Eugene, who was breathing through his nose, properly realized that he had gotten used to the battlefield. Even down to the small sense of homogeneity toward the young friend in front of his eyes.

"Gather the flags here."

Under Hind's command, soldiers collected the flags fallen here and there. In the long term, they are spoils of war more valuable than gold and silver treasures.

Medics with red cross insignias attached to their arms went around the place where high-ranking prisoners were gathered and engaged in treatment.

Sizzle!

Red-hot iron seared the wounds, giving off a smell of burning meat. The Britannia knight who was biting tightly on a cloth spat it out with a strange face.

"It doesn't hurt, you know..."

"Because we used a secret anesthetic."

A beautiful Dark Elf witch answered matter-of-factly.

On the other side, a witch holding scissors and a surgical retractor examined a certain noble's flank.

"You bite tightly on anything. Because this will hurt like hell even with anesthesia."

"Heeeeup!"

Pouring disinfectant after removing the dirt and sand that burrowed into the split stab wound was essential to prevent infection.

Due to the brutal appearance Eugene showed during the battle, the surrendered nobles were heavily terrified. However, far from execution, they were bewildered by the sight of being treated politely.

However, to Eugene, it's an extremely natural thing. As long as he emerged victorious, the battlefield turns into a venue for harvest and politics.

'It's difficult to swallow up and rule all of Britannia.'

Britannia is an island high in the north and low in the south. The northern part occupying one-third was mountainous terrain, and moreover, the indigenous people were tough, so it wasn't a covetable land.

The central part is a region where the influx of foreign tribes including Vikings is active, and is also a strategic military point.

The southern part is a region of agriculture and merchants. It is disadvantageous for defense and military power is weak, but productivity and accessibility to the outside are the most excellent.

'The thing I must occupy is the south.'

In that sense, the vassals of Viscount Winchester captured right now are people who must be won over.

"Everyone worked hard! We will commemorate today's victory with alcohol and meat!"

At Eugene's declaration, his subordinates lifted their weapons and shouted cheers.

The nobles of this era enjoyed banquets and engaged in luxury even on the battlefield. Eugene despised such undisciplined appearances, but this time the circumstances are different.

Guuuuuuuung.

Because home was right in front of them. The massive gates of the Moving Castle opened, welcoming the master's return.

Gulp.

The nobles taken prisoner looked around and entered the castle. Even though not much time had passed since suffering an overwhelming defeat, the fear on their faces disappeared.

There is the fact that Eugene treated them honorably, but welling curiosity pushing away other emotions was also a big part.

"Guide these people to the bathhouse. There are many injured, so pay attention, and unclothesly wipe down those with severe wounds by laying them on massage beds."

"Please leave it to us, Master."

The slaves from the Eastern Empire who followed Immortal obeyed the new master's command. They guided the prisoners who were covered in blood, sweat, and mud.

Swaaaaaa.

"Rain is falling indoors."

"Isn't it hot water?"

"???"

The Britannia nobles were dumbfounded at the facilities they were seeing for the first time in their lives.

"Erai, whatever."

Among the hesitating nobles, a few quick to adapt covered their whole bodies with soap lather.

"..."

"Let's do as we're told for now. Nothing good will come out of going against Viscount Meyer's mood."

When someone made a start, the ones joining rapidly increased. Naturally, there are those who were dissatisfied as well.

"Already Viscount Meyer?"

"Then you call him Viscount."

A few nobles sharply glared while refusing to wash, but the general trend was already decided.

"Please change into these."

"The Castellan has invited you to a meal."

The nobles whose bodies became refreshed changed into clean clothes handed over by the eastern slaves.

It was to the point of disbelief that they were rolling around the battlefield feeling life threats just a few hours ago.

* * *

Eugene's army, having swept up spoils of war and prisoners, had their morale piercing the sky.

"Baron Foster. Take these flags and gather the nobles of Cornwall."

"I will obey your command with all my heart and strength."

Eugene handed over dozens of flags of the southern nobles captured in this victory to Baron Foster.

"Would this be enough to give them certainty?"

"Of course. Everyone owes a great debt just by the fact that you defeated Viscount Winchester's army. Let alone accompanying the campaign, they will not dare refuse even a summons."

A favor is a favor, but if things go wrong, Eugene's army could head to Cornwall.

'Punish the ungrateful bastard who even refused his savior's invitation!'

The justification was also certain, and if other nobles raised voices of support, the territory would fly away in an instant.

Eugene, waving his hand at Baron Foster leaving the strategy room, looked down at the map.

All the subordinates present were looking appetizingly at Haven located in the southeastern part of Britannia.

"Will you advance immediately? The troops remaining in the city will be a handful."

"No. There is a place to stop by before that."

Eugene shook his head at Hind's question and pointed at one place on the map.

The hilly area to the left of Haven is a sacred place. The place where the Half-Fairy family, combining the Luiamor royalty and human high nobles in the distant past, took root.

Currently, it's a withered historic site whose natural scenery is only beautiful. The place of promise deeply asleep in the waiting for its true master.

"War is merely an extension of politics, the most important thing is the message. Victory is the admission ticket, and prisoners are the audience to fill the seats."

Eugene reached out his hand toward one place in the strategy room.

Grip.

A slender and delicate woman's hand clasped Eugene's solid hand.

Everyone's gazes gathered at the two interlocked hands.

Friendship and affection.

Honor and legitimacy.

Private feelings and public values. The noble two, incomparable in any aspect, were connected as one.

"Valda. Let us go together."

"As you will."

Valda responded back.

Thump thump.

She suppressed her wildly fluctuating heart with her other hand.

- Like that, the two people became one in a foreign land.

The beautiful story Grace used to tell when she was young.

- Are you not tired of it even after listening to it that much?

- Not at all. Tell it again!

A beautiful story so old and sweet that it's closer to a fairy tale rather than history. The beautiful story she begged for over and over like that.

She never even imagined that she would become that heroine herself.

Valda is not an actress, but she was confident she could digest her role well. Because it was plausible...

"What is the matter?"

"No, it is nothing."

Because she loved her male lead that much. It was a role where she only needed to be faithful to her own feelings.