Chapter 185

Chapter 185 - War of Wrath (2)

Eugene's army rested and conserved their physical strength. The autumn weather was warm, and since they were situated by the upper reaches of the Severn River, water was also plentiful.

Those who train.

Those who take walks.

Nobles shooting arrows in open hunting grounds.

Mercenary captains trading with sutlers.

Servants cheering surrounding clowns or fighters.

Mercenaries rolling dice or hitting on prostitutes.

Everyone could empty their heads for a moment. The only one busy was Eugene, who possessed a large-scale cavalry corps.

"Horse archer unit team 1 has returned from the pasture, and team 2 says they will stay for two more days."

Eugene was looking at the Britannia map together with the Dark Elf staff officers.

"Team 3 moved north because the land was more barren than expected. If their future movement paths are not to overlap with team 1..."

The soldiers' meals could be handled with the food brought, livestock, and sutlers. However, warhorses eat a tremendous amount every day.

To maintain optimal condition, 2~3kg of hay had to be provided separately in addition to grain equivalent to 10~20 soldiers' portions.

Therefore, while operating the southern supply route to the maximum, they also had to scatter cavalry units all over the mid-west to utilize pastures.

- I'm counting on you. Homi.

- I'll shave you when I return.

Homi was also drafted into the operation. She is someone who commands hundreds of beasts with a whistle imbued with mystery. She became a shepherd girl leading sheep, goats, and camels.

However, the Center is an environment where there is little grass for livestock to eat. Because lands belonging to the North, which declared neutrality, were also partially included, it was even more difficult to set the movement path.

"Hay has arrived from the Moving Castle."

"Ooh! Finally!"

Thanks to that, when the messenger's report came, both Eugene and the staff officers rejoiced.

The grass growing in the magic feed trough is the best horse feed. If they didn't have this, Eugene would have reduced the cavalry operation to a quarter of what it is now.

"A flag was discovered in the southeast. It is of Earl Harvester's family."

"Did they send the promised food? Good news is overlapping."

Hay might be one thing, but Eugene doesn't particularly need food desperately. There was still a lot of livestock brought along, and grains and dried fish were being supplied amply through the southern supply route.

Earl Harvester's food held a great symbolic meaning. Being recognized for authority as great lord to great lord of Britannia. Since they cannot act for free, things like making a cause.

The problem was that the one who arrived bearing the Harvester family's flag was not a transport unit but a messenger.

"They lost?"

"S-Sorry. I don't know much either."

The messenger with hollow eyes was flustered at the gazes of the nobles pouring from all directions. He had come riding a horse without even being able to sleep, having received only the minimum news.

"The Eastern army must have been clearly superior in numbers, so how..."

The vassals also whispered to each other looking at each other.

"They didn't perhaps launch an attack out of desire for merit, did they?"

"Earl Harvester is not such a stupid person. It's a situation where they would win just by holding out, so why."

The East, which is a granary region, has the largest population in Britannia. When a mobilization order is issued, the total military strength easily exceeds 10,000.

Although the Central army might be ahead in individual combat power, if that many numbers are encamped, it's hard to break through.

Most importantly, the Eastern army has food to hold out for 2 years, but the Central army's limit was until winter. The Earl Harvester side could lead it advantageously.

"Is it perhaps the enemies pulling some tricks?"

"Is that guy even a messenger from the Harvester family?"

The vassals looked at the messenger with suspicious eyes. As the general commander, Eugene also couldn't move trusting the words of just one person.

However, the merchants and spies sprinkled around also brought the exact same stories one after another.

"They were doing exactly what we were doing."

A large number of plunderers landed on the eastern coast and engaged in unrestricted plundering. That was the cause of the Eastern army's defeat.

"While the Eastern nobles fell into confusion at the news of their territories being trampled, it is said Earl Harvester failed to manage the situation."

Disrupting the rear territories is a commonly used tactic. Because a pitched battle between large armies is a burdensome thing for both sides.

Except, unlike Eugene who occupied territories with restraint and tolerance, the East was being completely scorched.

Villages burned and the families of vassals were dragged out by their hair. Unwritten rules like not touching noble ladies or children were thoroughly ignored.

- Excellency Harvester! Please allow us to return!

- You cannot. Are you saying you would leave at this important moment in your right mind?!

- Look at this box! Those bastards who wouldn't be relieving even if torn to death did to my two daughters... my daughters...

The vassal trembled, unable to even continue speaking.

In the well-packaged box, there were two pieces of lower underwear dotted with blood. And curls of pubic hair, even the necklaces the vassal had gifted his daughters for their birthdays.

Packages of such mockery arrived simultaneously to the mobilized Eastern vassals.

- W-Wait a minute! I'm a delivery man! I didn't even know what was inside...

- Shut up! Kruger bastards' sons of bitches!

Only the adventurers who delivered them, enticed by a large sum of money without knowing the contents, died in droves.

Earl Harvester struggled to maintain control somehow.

As a desperate measure, he administered flogging to a lord who deserted without permission, but that was a mistake. As the vassals' complaints burst out all at once, the command system ended up collapsing.

- It's an ambush!

- Look here! The enemy has invaded! Now is not the time for us to argue amongst ourselves...

Being attacked taking advantage of the internal strife, they were smashed without even being able to resist properly.

* * *

Eugene, having confirmed the circumstances, was still doubtful.

"To ravage the rear simultaneously, a large number of detached forces would have been necessary. Did the Central army have such capacity?"

The chief of staff answered immediately to Eugene's question.

"It is not the Kruger family's army. It is the Vikings from across the sea. It seems they have been preparing it in coordination since a long time ago."

The Gords had suffered from Vikings until at some point they mixed blood and assimilated. However, Britannia is a country that resisted to the end and maintained its national identity.

With exactly one exception, the central region. The nobles here actively formed marriage alliances and interacted with Vikings.

They practically monopolized the blood and military might of the powerful sea plunderers. It was the reason they possessed the strongest military might in this island nation.

Across the sea to the northeast of Britannia, there are small Viking kingdoms, and there were several relative families including the Kruger family's maternal family.

"Since they even declared themselves king, it seems they drew them into the civil war using titles and territories as bait."

The chief of staff, who hesitated for a moment, continued speaking while gauging Eugene's reaction.

"Among the lands Count Kruger promised to the Vikings, His Excellency Meyer's fief are also included."

"Look at this hooligan-like bastard!"

"Calling himself a king, he has truly gone crazy!"

Eugene's vassals jumped up and down in anger.

The Vikings were only friends to the central nobles; to the rest of the Britannians, they were nothing but barbarian invaders.

"Everyone calm down. Promising the land of a clear hostile faction as a reward is a common occurrence, isn't it."

Although Eugene took it in stride.

"What's fortunate at least is that the Eastern army burned all their food while fleeing."

"It was almost a big disaster. If by any chance that food fell into the hands of the Kruger bastards..."

The vassals made an expression showing they didn't even want to imagine it. At that time, new envoys from the Harvester family arrived.

"His Excellency the Count. Please accept our sincerity."

The boxes placed in front of Eugene were full of gold and rare ornaments.

"Wasn't what you originally supposed to give food?"

"Under the current situation, we absolutely cannot send transport units to Your Excellency. They would all be plundered by the Kruger bastards."

"As an apology for not being able to keep the promise, the amount seems a bit much."

It was an amount of money with plenty remaining even after buying all the 1 year's worth of food Eugene was supposed to receive. The envoy didn't dare meet the calm eyes of the southern ruler.

"You want us to participate in the war right now?"

"If you bestow grace, our master will never forget it for the rest of his life."

While everyone's attention was focused, Eugene stroked his chin. Thanks to Homi's absence, the prickly feeling of his beard helped him concentrate on his thoughts.

'Right now is autumn. Though they said they burned the stockpiled food, grains harvested all over the East must be scattered around.'

If time drags on like this, the Vikings who landed from the sea and the Central army will combine into one. The food obtained through plundering would also go into their storehouses.

"What are the Viking bastards who landed doing?"

"They are still blinded by plundering. Having lived in such barren places, they can't come to their senses after tasting defenseless fertile lands."

The chief of staff placed longship-shaped pieces on the areas being plundered. They were spreading in completely absurd directions from where the Central army was gathered.

As King Kruger, he would want them to join his army quickly, but there's no way. If they were people who would listen to such words, they wouldn't be plunderers in the first place.

Even if they are relatives connected by blood, they are foreign warlords who haven't sworn loyalty. Naturally, he cannot give orders as a king either.

De facto, rather than an allied army, it was closer to an uncontrollable forest fire. It was just burning the enemy camp.

"Nothing will get better even if we wait further. Good. We will also advance."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"It is unpleasant that external forces with not a single point of affection for this land keep shoving their dirty shoes in. Tell the Kruger bastard that I will clearly teach him what patriotism is!"

The vassals saluted the military all at once and their fighting spirit burned.

"We will make them taste the sword of the South they looked down on so much!"

"Although meager, I will take everything flying at Your Excellency with this body. Whether it is an arrow or a single drop of dirty Kruger bastards' blood!"

Not a trace of fear could be found in the vassals' appearances. The armies Eugene had brought down, his abilities leading the organization in non-combat situations. They had been watching that closely.

Everyone was certain that their lord was a truly terrifying conqueror.

* * *

In the busily turning civil war, there is a region just spectating, and that is precisely the North.

Befitting a barren mountainous region, it's the land with the strongest regional characteristics, and it's also a location as difficult to advance from as it is good for defense.

- From now on, call me Constantine the 1st!

Count Constantine, the great lord of the North, was sufficiently satisfied with declaring himself king.

Since this was an attitude King Kruger would also welcome, he even sent gifts and congratulated him. However, it's a situation where he cannot be satisfied with just that anymore.

- You know the importance of this mission, right?"

- Yes! Great King!

- You must accomplish this alliance no matter what. If the Northern army comes down and disrupts Count Meyer's flank, everything will be solved.

The Eastern army was greatly defeated, but it wasn't annihilated. A large number of nobles including the commander, Earl Harvester, escaped and entered defensive sieges in their respective territories.

Unable to even capture food, it was a situation where Eugene's army began its advance. The Central army couldn't rejoice even after achieving a great victory.

- I will risk my life to accomplish the royal command!

- You may even wager my daughters and sons, or anything else. Just succeed and I will grant you title and territory.

The envoy who arrived in the North with resolute determination became blank-faced.

"King Constantine died?"

"Yes, Sir. It is said a rebellion occurred in the meantime."

King Constantine, who was putting on airs wearing a crown just when the envoy departed. He became a corpse at the hands of the rebel army led by his younger brother and entered a coffin.

The Constantine family's main castle was emitting the smell of blood and smoke from all directions.

"Bring more water buckets!"

People are running around spraying water on houses burnt black. There were many surrendered and tied mercenaries, and corpses that hadn't been cleared yet rolling around everywhere. It seems it was a very fierce rebellion.

"W-What should we do about this? Should we just go back?"

"You mean empty-handed? Say something that makes sense. We will meet the new Constantine family head and talk."

The envoy felt dizzy, but he had to complete his mission. Regardless of who the leader is, as long as the alliance is signed, nothing changes.

Thus, the place the envoy was guided to was the audience chamber, broken in places and stained with blood.

On what was once the king's throne, a man with a tired complexion sat. He was leaning on his sword in armor. Without a doubt, the new master of the Constantine family.

"Honorable Your Highness! Thank you for allowing this audience. Today..."

"Wait."

The man raised his hand and cut off the envoy's words.

"I am no longer Your Highness. The one who declared himself king was my older brother, and you already saw that guy's funeral on your way here, didn't you?"

Count Constantine held up the family head's ring worn on his finger. A blood-soaked ring appearing to be the previous king's.

"No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed leaving my brother alone would ruin the family. I have no interest in burdensome titles like Constantine II. Being an Earl like before is enough."

"...Today I came to speak of an honorable marriage alliance. Here is a letter personally written by His Highness Kruger."

The Earl glanced over the letter handed to him by a page. Sweeping down through it so quickly, it was doubtful whether he was even reading it properly.

The envoy prostrated himself flat and earnestly pleaded.

"The might of the Highlanders is well-regarded. Even the ancient kingdom couldn't conquer the North by force and attempted negotiations."

"It's not that we were strong, but these mountains were strong. Why don't you talk about how half the Highlanders were wiped out in one blow when we fought below the mountains?"

"Ahem! His Highness Kruger promised to distribute the fertile lands of the East in return for your participation in the war."

"It means you want us to fight Count Meyer's army."

The eyes of the Earl smiling calmly were cold as ice. He wiped his face wet with blood and sweat with King Kruger's letter.

"..."

A rustling sound echoed in the hall, and the envoy's expression also stiffened hard.

"We are Constantine. Do you know the etymology of that name?"

"It is unchanging."

As thoroughly prepared, he could answer immediately for most things.

"Yes. We revere immutability. Even if we lose land, we can reclaim it, and even if beliefs shatter, we can piece them back together through reflection."

The Earl's finger, having walked closer, poked at the envoy's heart.

"Except for blood. Blood dirtied by coupling with those barbaric Viking bastards. That is absolutely irreversible."

"Are you speaking truthfully?"

This was an insult directed not only at the Kruger family but a significant portion of the central nobles.

"I wonder why all these foreigners are swarming so much in just a little over half a year's time. Those guys running amok in the East right now have crossed the line."

"This is also the way of turbulent times! And come to think of it, isn't Count Meyer also a foreigner who usurped the South?"

"The way of turbulent times, you say? If someone is going to enter anyway, Roman's knight is better. Since they are guys who live with that damned honor in their mouths."

Count Constantine shrugged his shoulders.

"And seeing him refreshingly thrashing those Barcia bastards pleased me too."

The eviction order waving his hand away. The envoy realized negotiation was impossible. Because the new Earl's mind was already decided.

"I will acknowledge that it will be a painful journey without the North's help. However, the ultimate victor will remain unchanged. His Highness Kruger's army is powerful."

After threatening as inconspicuously as possible, the envoy bowed his head to express a farewell greeting.

Grab!

But Count Constantine grabbed the neck of the envoy as he was about to stand up.

"Keuk."

"Stay just like that."

A rough hand fixed him in a bowed state. Then he bent his waist and brought his mouth to the envoy's ear.

"You guys can't win this war."

A growling-like whisper. It mixed the ferocity of a beast and the wisdom of a scholar.

"Because the opponent you are trying to fight is not just a strong army. That is living history. You could say it is a union of the most fatal legacies of the 1st and 2nd Eras. He's not an existence you can cut down just by using swords or axes a little well."

As the Earl released him, the envoy with clenched teeth stepped back breathing heavily.

"I didn't know someone fierce enough to stain his hands with a brother's blood would be this academic."

"That's right. When my brother was alive, I was planning to make a living as a historian. Go back safely on your way. I'll wish you luck in the upcoming war."

Count Constantine, waving his hand playfully with a smile, exuded a thick killing intent. It was an attitude that if he babbled one more word, envoy or whatever, he would kill him.

* * *

"Currently, the Central army is moving to the East."

Presently the harvest season, there was an abundance of things to plunder in every plain. The intent was to sweep through the East where the main army disappeared and secure food and supplies.

"It is said the Kruger family dispatched many envoys to the plundering Vikings."

"They are trying to buy time against us. They probably intend to land Vikings on the southern coastal areas to burn them down too."

A simple but effective method. Slight agitation arose on the faces of the vassals who knew the miserable state of the East.

An army thinking about the future, and an army living only for today. Naturally, the former is beautiful, but during wartime, the latter was advantageous.

In particular, unlike King Kruger who permitted unrestricted plundering, Eugene was imposing control on his vassals' actions while thinking of the people.

Right now, since morale is so high, they are following well, but as time passes, creaking will occur in maintaining solidarity.

Eugene sent messengers to the cavalry commanders who had scattered to feed horses, telling them to join, and then deployed troops eastward.

"Lightning arrow!"

"It's the Count's army!"

The small-scale forces remaining in the rear fled in all directions without even daring to think of confronting them.

"We have nowhere left to return to either. If you just arm us with weapons, we will fight to the death."

Exploited prisoners each found their own way to live and left, or joined burning with a desire for revenge after their hometowns were destroyed.

Eugene's army advancing like that faced proper resistance for the first time.

"That fortress is Sludge Hold, milord."

"You worked hard guiding us."

A farmer who lost his family to the Central army bowed his head with bloodshot eyes. Homi slipped silver coins into his hand as a reward for his trouble.

"Got quite a well-made name, alright."

Eugene clicked his tongue looking at the fortress standing aloofly amidst the swamps covering the surroundings.

Although the Central army was trying to avoid a head-on clash, running away abandoning everything meant doing something stupid. Someone needed to stay behind to hold Eugene's ankles and handle reconnaissance.

Sludge Hold is the optimal place to undertake such a role.

This place, which once blocked the Kruger family's ambition as the shield of the East, was eventually occupied, and now it has become the greatest obstacle blocking Eugene's relief army.

The farmer holding the silver coins bowed his waist deeply.

"Milord. An infectious disease is circulating in that castle. I beseech you, please bring an iron mace down upon those wicked bastards."

What was fortunate at least was that the defenders within the castle were not fully well either.