Chapter 282

Chapter 282 - Shadow Legion (5)

Twilight fell. Since the first large-scale offensive and the knights' duels, there had been no battles, so the battlefield was quiet.

"Ignite!"

Fwoosh.

"Release!"

Clang!

Whooooosh!

The sound of counterweights falling and trebuchets throwing burning jars.

"Release!"

"..."

"What is it? Why aren't you firing?"

"The rope got caught. Right now..."

"Stop, you retard! You want your wrist ripped off? Hey! Bring the crane! And fill a new barrel of oil!"

Occasionally, only the shouts exchanged among the trebuchet gunners continued.

Mercenaries spend their time in their own ways. Gambling, listening to a bard's performance, or having a prostitute sit on their lap while joking around. The most numerous are, as expected, those watching the flying jars.

"Keep pouring it on without rest. So those bastards can't sleep a wink and their eyes turn red."

"Damn it. It would have been better if it was a wooden castle."

Even an earthen fortress is a fortress. True to Roman, the master of fortification, it was built sturdily, and because it was dirt holding moisture, the fire didn't spread. However, getting a proper sleep in such a situation was an impossible task.

Every time a fire projectile flies, it is no different from saving the lives of several allied mercenaries.

Clang!

Whoosh!

"That's it, friends. Keep hitting them."

A mercenary captain muttered at the fireball flying while drawing a long tail. His subordinates called him.

"Captain, hurry and come eat."

"Hey! Horse meat tastes bad if it's overcooked. Right about this much is perfect."

"This isn't a horse, but a mule?"

"Oh, really? No wonder it looked a bit stupid."

The subordinates are carving meat off a dead mule and roasting it. It's a carcass bought cheaply from a sutler supplying the allied fOrces.

Because they were supplying such massive amounts, there were transport livestock that died for various reasons during the process.

-Damn it. It's not sprained, it's broken. Let's sell it off cheaply.

Livestock that sustained irrecoverable injuries also became products immediately.

-How about we trick them and sell it as just a sprain...

-You'll get us all killed! You're going to pull a scam in a place with this many nobles? If you get caught doing that, it won't end with just your neck.

Naturally, the right to purchase these event items is limited to mercenary groups with scale or some connections. Because in the society of this era, owners and hierarchies are established even for the most trivial concessions.

Mercenary groups that couldn't join those ranks usually couldn't even catch a glimpse of meat, but this time was different. Thanks to the abundant and cheap food supplied from the Moving Castle. A merchant company that slashed distribution costs massively was a monster.

"What's this? Smells okay."

The captain leading a small mercenary group asked while looking at the pot. Fish boiling with water is emitting a milky broth.

"It's a dried fish called pollack, Captain. They say if you put it in a stew and boil it, it's salty and hearty, so it's good. All the mercenaries who stayed at the Moving Castle recommended it."

"If you're going to put it in a stew, isn't cod better? The fish is too small."

"That's expensive because there are many guys looking for it."

"Damn it. I'm sorry."

"Not at all. Still, we got some eggs cheaply. If we beat this in too, it'll be amazing."

By percentage, there are many small-scale mercenary groups lacking in size, connections, and funds. The merchants dispatched from the Moving Castle are selling low-cost products aimed at them with great success.

No matter how warm the south is, winter is winter. Even more so during a war, instead of eating porridge made from rock-hard hardtack, one had to eat something steeped in meat at least.

"Hey rookie. Why aren't you eating? Upset stomach?"

"During the day, a p-pig ate a per..."

"Ah, that?"

There was an incident where one of the pigs brought by the sutlers escaped its pen. The bastard entered the barracks housing the wounded from the 1st offensive.

-Oink, oink!

-Kuaaaak! Sa, save me!

The pig buried its face in the belly of a poor mercenary who couldn't move while lying down due to a severe abdominal injury.

-What? Hanson?!

-Fuck, kill that pig!

The pig was hacked to death by the comrades who discovered it late, but the mercenary named Hanson also passed away in pain. Since his intestines were eaten while he was alive.

"Dogs or pigs eating people is a common sight. You have to get used to it. Although it's my first time seeing one shove its snout into a living person like this time..."

"Y-Yes, sir."

The merchant company owning the pig packed this and that as compensation to Hanson's mercenary group under the pretext of apology. Of course, not a single penny would go to Hanson's family back home.

"God watches over you all."

In front of a makeshift chapel set up on a wagon pulled by a donkey. A priest blessed the conscripts, mercenaries, and knights.

Next to them, children and youths between 10 and 15 years old returned. The A-frames on their backs were full of twigs for firewood, and the sacks tied to their waists were filled with gathered food.

When an army of tens of thousands gathers, it's easy to see children in the camp. Because orphans following merchant groups or priests help with chores.

"Look closely. This is a mushroom pigs eat, and this is moss we can put in stew."

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Hyung. Can we eat this too?"

"Idiot! I told you not to pick just anything?! Hurry and go wash your hands. If that touches your skin for a long time, you'll break out in hives!"

"S-Sorry!"

Twilight turned into night. Dark shadows also cast over the faces of the conscripts surrounding the campfires. Country folks dragged here from farming gather around the hunters who could be called their leaders.

"Mister. Do you think we might be able to go back without fighting like this?"

"If we're lucky."

The old hunter poured potato soup into the dirty wooden bowl of the young man. Dried cod, which even the mercenaries couldn't eat, was contained in their soup.

The food for conscripts is the responsibility of their respective lord, so normally they would have eaten something much worse. However, Eugene requested cooperation from the lords and released food for them for free.

-Count Your Excellency. Wouldn't it be better to take care of the mercenaries more than mere conscripts?

-They were dragged to a battlefield they didn't want, so we should at least provide something more for them.

-What are you saying? You should treat the warriors who came to fight voluntarily better.

-...

It was puzzling for the lords, but Eugene was stubborn. Since he was a knight with such tremendous prestige, everyone just let it slide, though.

For the youths seeing the world for the first time after living over 20 years, everything was fascinating. They particularly had sparkling eyes for the trebuchet attacks, the pinnacle of mechanical engineering in this era.

"Did you see just now?"

"What?"

Boom!

"That! You hear the sound a little while after the fireball hits the castle, right?"

"You must have misheard."

"I'm telling you, it's true!"

Thwump!

"It really is!"

"Right?"

"...Usually, when the distance is far, the sound arrives a bit late."

The words of the old hunter with several combat experiences. It shattered everyone's common sense. Even though the common sense of country folks was trivial at best.

Anyway, relief colored the faces of the conscripts.

Clang!

Whooooosh!

Because at least while this sound continued, they wouldn't have to fight risking their lives.

* * *

"What did you say the name of that merchant company was?"

"They say it's Warmart."

The sutlers whispered about the unexpected competitor.

The large merchant caravan composed of retired Dark Elves, Dwarves, servants, and slaves was selling much more diverse and higher-quality goods at cheaper prices than them. To the extent of embracing everyone from the lowest mercenaries to nobles as customers.

"I've never heard of such a merchant company."

"Isn't this too much? There's something called business ethics, but selling this cheaply. Do they not know we all die if we engage in cutthroat competition like that?"

It is an era where price-fixing is not a crime. It is common for merchants to collude to avoid cutthroat competition and maximize profits.

Being a sutler following a war is a position that guarantees tremendous profits. Naturally, to join the caravan, an entry ticket made of connections and bribes is required.

Naturally, everyone from petty merchants to great merchants is connected by ties. If one acts out unexpectedly in such a situation, they easily become a target.

"Let's wait and see. If they sell at that price, they'll fall out first."

A merchant said with his arms crossed.

"Wh-Why are you looking at me with those eyes? Did I say something wrong?"

Then he panicked as pathetic gazes poured in from all directions.

"The problem is that the Warmart merchants are not in a cutthroat competition. We rushed here after going through a hellish wartime auction from a 4-day distance, but they just brought what they had piled up in advance from a half-day distance."

"Merchant Head Gilbert is right. Even while selling cheaply, they must be making a much larger profit than when we sell at regular prices."

"You must not know what the Moving Castle is. For a merchant to be so dark on information... Tsk, tsk."

Moreover, there was a bigger problem separately.

"Warmart? The name is quite funny too."

"Shh! Watch your mouth. It's a place operated by Count Mayer."

"Sigh. Being a Great Lord and trying to do business. I have 30 years of experience, but this is the first time I've seen such a noble."

That the operating entity was Eugene. The banner of House Mayer fluttered where the Warmart caravan was doing business.

"Merchant Head Gilbert. You have connections with His Highness Duke Robert, can't you do something about it?"

"...Are you crazy? What do you want me to do?"

Bringing up business ethics and arguing with a place directly operated by one of the three big shots of the allied fOrces is a crazy act.

"Let's drop it. Because demand is so high, our goods are selling well enough."

Although they were selling at about 80-90% of the usual, even this was still a tremendous profit. It's just that the species called merchants felt even that was a waste and gathered like this to swallow their resentment.

Eugene, the target of their resentment, transformed into a chef and was serving the nobles in the commander's barracks.

"It is right for us to treat the hero who raised the prestige of the allied fOrces, how could..."

"Your sentiment is enough. Since I brought ingredients that are hard to taste on the battlefield, I would be more grateful if you enjoyed them deliciously."

The food Eugene presented captivated the nobles, knights, and mercenary captains inside the barracks at once.

"I-Is this lobster?"

"It's something you can only catch by taking a boat far out, how did you get this here...?"

The nobles from southern coastal cities were amazed. Due to the lack of preservation technology and distribution networks, seafood is hard to eat unless it's a port city.

Even at this place, which takes 4 days from the nearest supply city, stiffly dried jerky is the limit. However, what is placed before them now is steaming lobster.

"There is a large-scale freezing warehouse inside the Moving Castle. I caught them in the North Sea of Britannia before participating in the war and brought them frozen solid."

"It's been months, yet it's this fresh?"

Except for a few chosen ones, it is an era without the concept of freezing preservation. There were many who were shocked that such long-term preservation was possible.

"A place surrounded by ice everywhere. I would like to visit and see it when I have the chance."

"The door will always be open for you, Sir. Why would I refuse a visit from a comrade-in-arms."

"Thank you! Your Excellency!"

A knight bowed his head to Eugene with a moved face.

"Now, let's all eat before it gets cold."

To minimize the loss of meat juice, the lobsters were wrapped in cloth and steamed, then split in two from head to tail. Seasoning combining cheese, butter, egg yolk, and wine sauce was generously applied.

"If I could eat this every day, I wouldn't mind living on the battlefield my whole life!"

The utensils of the nobles, whose eyes were wide open, trembled. Every texture of the umami-rich meat was infused with the sweetness of butter, the saltiness of cheese, the nuttiness of egg yolk, and the flavor of wine sauce.

If you didn't live near the sea, it was a taste you couldn't even catch a glimpse of, no matter how wealthy a noble you were. The nobles living by the sea were also equally surprised.

"Lobster tastes like this?"

There were only nobles who didn't know it tasted like this because it went bad during distribution, increasing the fishy smell, or because it was made with the wrong recipe.

Some mercenary captains licked the meat or sauce that dripped onto the glass plates and received glares.

"Lowly things."

"Let's drop it. They fought well in the first charge."

"It's a plate too precious for their tongues to touch."

Glass is treated as a semi-precious stone. In the field, dishwashing is difficult and there is a high risk of breaking, so glass plates are hard to see on the battlefield.

Generally, soup dishes use wooden or metal bowls, and other foods use crispy baked bread as a substitute for plates and are eaten togAAether.

"Aren't you going to eat, Baron?"

"Because today is a day I abstain from meat."

Baron Bazo, who hadn't even touched the lobster, smiled and shook his head.

"This is seafood, so it should be fine."

"The one I worship is the Sea God. The blood he shed became the sea foam and the flesh of those lobsters."

"Ah!"

"This is also very delicious. I am just grateful that His Excellency the Count carefully considered even my faith."

In front of Baron Bazo was a flatbread. It was baked after mixing cheese and tomato sauce, and topped with several wedge potato fries. It was a luxury possible because Eugene's Warmart caravan brought mobile ovens.

Clang!

Whooooosh!

Even during the enjoyable meal, the sound of trebuchets firing outside never stopped.

"Yeeeaah!"

"That's iiiiit!"

Occasionally, when it properly hit something like a watchtower, the mercenaries' cheers came out.

"Jackal."

"Yes. Your Excellency."

Jackal answered while wiping his wine-stained lips with a handkerchief. In the past, he would have just rubbed it with his sleeve, but following Eugene, elegant manners became a habit.

-Our captain is a lord.

-Is it really okay for the world to turn out like this?

Actually, he is truly a person of noble status. Because he was granted a small riverside village leading to the sea at the eastern end of Haven.

There are a few more besides him. They are all exclaves separated from Eugene's direct territory in southern Britannia.

Lord! Even a small hamlet with about 10 households doesn't matter. A mercenary who succeeds as a lord is talked about as a hero in drinking parties in that area.

Even mercenary captains leading hundreds of men rarely achieve such a dream. Dying on the battlefield, being kicked out by subordinates, or retiring holding a bag of silver coins at the right time.

-If you want to leave the battlefield, tell me anytime. I will let you rest comfortably under Haven's shadow for the rest of your life.

Despite Eugene's warm words, no one returned to the territory.

-It's still far from retirement. I should at least take an arrow for you.

-A mercenary's life is usually pathetic, but it's different when I'm with Your Excellency. Shall I call it an adventure you'd only see in fairy tales? I still want to see more of the world.

Loyalty, repaying favors, adventurous spirit, more gold coins. There were many reasons. The officials dispatched from Haven managed the territories under the name of Mayer, so there was no need to worry even if left empty.

"Could you deliver the remaining food to the friends running the trebuchets outside? They must be working hard while everyone else is sleeping."

"The other mercenaries will be jealous."

"They won't be able to harass them since they're increasing their chances of survival."

"Understood."

Jackal bowed politely and then packed the food. This young monarch takes care of those who contribute to the community in any form. That is also the reason why the subordinates who received territories continue to serve by his side.

* * *

While the allied fOrces' camp enjoyed a peaceful rest, the Emperor's camp across the river was in an atmosphere where one couldn't even breathe.

Boom!

Thwump!

Because they were close togAAether across the river, the sound of bombarding the earthen fortress sounded closer than in the allied fOrces' camp.

"Water! Bring more water!"

"Let's get some sleep, you sons of bitches!"

The cries of the defending fOrces could be heard even louder.

They had been fOrce-marching, sleeping only 5 hours a day, in a hurry to defend the beachhead quickly. After executing the river crossing operation and even fighting a battle, it was driving them crazy not being able to sleep properly.

"The situation is too unfavorable. How about giving up the beachhead and withdrawing the army."

"That means giving up the south. Those who participated in the war promised territories will defect in large numbers. Even now, there are more than a few whose pay is delayed."

"Damn it. That's why we should have launched an all-out battle right away instead of dueling."

"Isn't that talking in hindsight? Everyone agreed back then..."

They were pushed back in numbers and there was a huge difference in logistics. The opportunity to reverse the fallen morale was the knights' duel. Since the Imperial army was definitely superior in knights' skills, it was worth trying from a strategic standpoint, regardless of custom.

The problem was that the fight, which was going well with 3 consecutive victories, became a mess when Eugene stepped forward.

"In all my life, I've never seen such a monster. How is that a martial prowess possible for a human?"

Other nobles nearby also joined the conversation.

"Martial prowess isn't the only problem. Because there was even a summoner in our camp caught trying to escape secretly."

Everyone shuddered looking at the crucified summoner. It is a cruel punishment that only the King of Roman has the authority to sentence, so it is mainly handed down for treason.

"Were they trying to defect to the allied fOrces' side?"

"Isn't it the legendary Moving Castle? The crystallization of mystery they craved even more than His Majesty appeared, so of course their eyes would turn."

"Several knights belonging to the Shadow Legion are also wavering."

"Because of what?"

"Some waver because of the real World Charger, some because they offered a flower to the Forest Magician at the tournament..."

Nobles are conservative by nature, but among them, the Shadow Legion took immense pride in the old things.

It's not strange for those drawn to a conquering monarch who possesses the crystallizations of both the 1st and 2nd Ages to emerge. Even if that happens to be the enemy commander during a war.

Of course, unlike magicians who serve the mystery itself, knights revere loyalty. They won't desert or betray swayed by emotions.

Anyway, Emperor Gaius knew better than anyone that the atmosphere was getting worse day by day.

"There is no retreat. We launch the attack as soon as day breaks tomorrow."

"I will lead the attack. The enemies only have large numbers, they are full of conscripts and their commanders are separate. If faced with a truly intense attack, they will scatter in all directions."

General Magnus, the commander of the Shadow Legion, spoke.

T

"You have always brought me only news of victory."

The Emperor nodded while looking at Magnus with eyes full of trust.

"However, ancient power requires ancient power. This sword will assist you, General."

"Thank you!"

"My main fOrce will also join the battle. Let's push those rebels away and hold a banquet of victory over their corpses."

The Emperor lent him the AAAether Sword. He couldn't be criticized for stingily lending it instead of bestowing it. Because this sword is the sacred treasure of his house and also the treasure of all of Roman.

The precious, precious 1st Age relic, the AAAether Sword. Even the Roman dynasty, whose power reached the whole world, only possessed one. The knights didn't get their eyes stolen by the figure of Last Autumn Eugene drew during the duel for nothing.

"Prepare the guards' water. We launch the attack when day breaks."

General Magnus, having finished his audience, ordered. The guards' water is a military supply made by combining coffee as the main ingredient with several herbal extracts that have an awakening effect.

To be able to exert the maximum level of awakening effect when necessary, the Shadow Legion is usually forbidden from consuming awakening substances. WhAAether it's a low-ranking soldier or a noble.

* * *

"Is there also magic that summons fog?"

Eugene tilted his head while looking at the grand army that had finished crossing the river. At dawn, fog filled the area around the river with fierce momentum and covered the surroundings, and the army had completed crossing the river through both sides of the earthen fortress under its cover.

He thought they were pulling some trick, but it was such a sinister-looking fog. The allied fOrces also couldn't carelessly approach and had to fall back.

"Magic that changes nature happens slowly in both preparation and action. This is the first time I've seen such intense magic too."

"It seems there is a skilled summoner on the enemy side."

Marbas answered instead of Valda, the orthodox magician.

"There are countless afterlives, and among them are places filled with fog. An outstanding summoner punches a very small hole in the present world and connects a passage to that place."

"Then fog would leak out with tremendous momentum."

"Here, it's important to punch many small holes. That way, dangerous beings other than the fog can't cross over."

Marbas explained a major accident caused by a careless summoner in the distant past. The story was that one day a village was covered in fog, and grotesque monsters appeared and brutally tore and ate the residents.

"Seeing how fast the fog filled, it seems they punched many holes. But seeing how the army is intact, the enemy summoners must be competent."

"Even if you gathered them all, would they match up to you, old man?"

"Hahaha. I can never get used to the Great Lord's sweet talk."

But feeling good, the corners of Marbas's eyes curved into crescents.

Thanks to the massive alluvial deposits coming from the Rein River, the area occupied by the Imperial army is higher. This is one of the reasons the Emperor chose this place as the battlefield.

If they hadn't been able to mobilize the trebuchets immediately due to Duke Leray's arrangement, they would have had to fight bearing a geographical disadvantage.

"It's the black banner."

"Uugh."

"C-Can everyone hear it? That sound?"

The allied mercenaries cringed at the sound of the Shadow Legion advancing.

Usually, when an army moves, there's a thudding sound. But it was different when the Shadow Legion approached.

Clank. Clank.

Clink. Clink.

The sound of tens of thousands of steel parts rubbing togAAether echoed throughout the battlefield. There were even people blinded by the light reflected off their steel armor.

The conscripts' morale was already breaking at the sight of steel beasts coming to devour them. The legionaries wrapped entirely in iron and holding deadly weapons didn't seem like the same humans as themselves no matter how they looked.

If even experienced knights and nobles had pale faces, there's no need to say more.

"Your Highness the Duke?"

At the knight's words, Duke Leray nodded.

"Archers!"

As the knight shouted, light cavalry galloped out from the center to both sides. They held pole banners depicting bows and arrows.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

"Aaarchers!"

"Archers!"

"Archerrrrrs!"

Numerous knights repeated it in their own dialects, and the previously organized multinational archer unit took their places.

Each army exercises independent command through the commander they brought, but due to its nature, Duke Leray took unified command of the archer unit.

Among them, there is only one independent archer unit that doesn't follow Duke Leray's orders. Answering only to the command of one knight, scoffing not just at dukes but even at kings.

"Ribo i thangail!"

At Eugene's voice commanding in Elvish, the Dark Elf archer unit raised their bows in a unified movement. The sight of longbows as tall as themselves moving as one mass is like a waltz on the battlefield.

Creak.

Numerous arrows were aimed, but even more scutum walls were advancing towards the allied fOrces' camp. There was absolutely no fear in their steps.