Chapter 330
My Villains Episode 330
57. Preface(11)
Things that would be treated as mysteries or fantasies on Earth are real in this world. Representative examples include wizards who twist providence, priests who are granted power, and knights who transcend the limits of the flesh..
These are the people who burn dozens of people with a single wave of their hands, raise the dying to their feet, and give four or five times the strength of a single-handed march. The existence of these superhumans has a much greater impact on the world than we think..
The place where its influence is most clearly evident is the battlefield..
“…… If you add the battle wizards given by the Marquis and those summoned from all over Antrum, including Trumwell, there are as many as ten people with the title of Master. If you include those who are younger than that and the disciples of the masters, the number is well over 30..”
General McNeil spoke about magic power in a voice that was neither loud nor quiet..
“I can guarantee you that the Bloodmane mercenaries' magical power is not even half as strong as ours..”
“I guess so. In the end, they are just mercenaries and their reputation is not very good..”
“That's right, Baron Toseth..”
MacNeill nodded to the old lord and continued speaking while looking around the audience..
“Their base is Mitergeland. This is Mittergeland, where the famous witch-hunting group runs rampant..”
About that time, an officer lined up cards with small flags on a map spread out on a table..
“In other words, if the mercenary group, which was essentially a band of thieves, had included several wizards, they would have been subdued by the emperor right away. The only ones who are still around are probably just some wanderers..”
The ones with white branches on a yellow background are our allies, and the ones with red manes on a black background seem to be the Blood Mane mercenaries..
“So, most likely, they won't attack you head on..”
Dense formation in the field is the privilege of armies with stronger magical power than the enemy. In other words, if the magic power is equal to or inferior to the enemy, splitting is forced..
Well, it’s obvious..
No matter how many troops there are, if 20 to 30 soldiers are burned to death by a single fireball, the battle will not be successful..
“It would be thankful if they came charging on horseback while blowing trumpets. At least half of the time, you'll end up with your head on the ground, not in a square..”
Ellen, who had just arrived in Longville, had roughly master-level skills. If there were ten battle wizards of that level, it would not be a task to destroy hundreds of concentrated troops..
“If I were one of those guys-”
MacNeill moved the horse boards of the Blood Mane mercenaries and surrounded the allies..
“We will create a loose siege network, taking advantage of all cavalry. Cut off supply and engage in guerrilla warfare..”
“So how do you respond??”
“You will enter the castle through a path on one side. Our army has over 40 knights, so we can at least clear a path..”
When troops are spread out, the importance of knights is maximized. In a battle between a small number of people, if a person with a hundred armed forces begins to run wild, the scattered detachments will be wiped out in an instant..
The unit consisted of twenty-five knights from the Arriaga family and about twenty knights brought by the marquis' vassals. Even if you take out Count Osu's four bodyguards, this is enough power to break through to one side..
Lu Yan, who had been sitting quietly and letting go of her anger, suddenly opened her mouth with a calm expression on her face..
“In the first place, such siege tactics require a high level of training and persistence. Instead of relentlessly pursuing us, those mercenaries will try to rob nearby villages or take a detour to enter Antrum..”
“I totally agree.”
General McNeil nodded with a calm expression, seemingly forgetting the fact that he had pointed his sword at the boy lord..
“So how do you deal with it??”
“won't cope.”
“……what?”
MacNeill shrugged..
“I'll say it again, it's not our goal to catch and kill that mercenary group. It is not a suitable mission due to the nature of the unit, which is mostly infantry..”
“So you're just going to watch those thieves raid the entire kingdom??”
“The 3rd Prince will probably take care of it. “If it’s the Royal Guard cavalry under his command, the Blood Mane mercenaries won’t be a problem.” “Ulkar’s- hmm, the prince’s personal guard cavalry is only about a hundred strong, but there are thousands of them.
How do you deal with a mercenary group??”
“They say the unit has been expanded and now has over 400 troops. And the reason the Guard cavalry is strong is not because of the numbers, but because of the commanders and knights..”
“commander and knight?”
“3The prince himself and the highest level knights in the kingdom..”
Some lords and knights frowned at the words praising Ulkar, but General MacNeill did not even pay them a glance..
I think I finally know what kind of character this guy is..
“Anyway, this is what I want to say. The main threat to our forces right now is not the Bloodmane mercenaries..”
“then? Do you want to talk about Father Burcard's magic bottle??”
“Magic weapons are dangerous, but they are not an immediate threat. I want to talk about the Dragon Knights of Topal..”
Topal is one of the provinces of the Mittergerand Empire and is famous for steel, beauty, and beer..
Its owner, the Strom family, used the power they had developed in Topal to conquer a large area equivalent to five or six earldoms in the kingdom, and they still rule it to this day..
The military force that the Strom family was most proud of was the Dragon Knights (Dragon Antam). These are knights of the sky who ride wyverns and wield long spears over 4 meters long..
“That is why I dared to ask the princess to attend..”
At McNeil's words, the crowd's attention focused on Theodora..
“The princess is the niece of Duke Avilambus, head of the Strom family. So, you probably know about Topal's Dragon Knights..”
Theodora, who was sitting quietly next to me, opened her mouth with a shocked expression..
“Before I am his nephew, I am a paladin of the Calandari Order. Are you planning to involve the clergy in the fight between the Gwangmyeongists??”
“I do not intend to drag you into battle. I just want to ask for advice..”
I narrowed my eyes at his words..
“Anyway, isn't it too casual to tell people to betray their family??”
“Sorry if it sounded that way. But if it was betrayal, didn't Duke Avilambus do it first??”
“What does that mean??”
“He poisoned his older brother, the Duke of Guellambas. He exiled and assassinated his sons, and consigned his only daughter to a convent..”
……what?
When I turned around in surprise, Theodora was sighing softly. She immediately wet her lips and answered.
“……It's a rumor. The person who killed my father was an assassin sent by the Sultan of Amir..”
“hmm. okay.”
General McNeil nodded quietly..
“I apologize if you were offended. I often make these mistakes because I have low-class parents, so please forgive me..”
After a polite apology followed by a sudden selfie, Theodora opened her eyes and pursed her lips..
“……Umm, I'm fine, don't worry... … . And you command the workers
Isn’t this the general who does it? Even though my status is low, I am sure the Lord took care of me because I had great parents..”
……No princess, why did you sit there comforting me?…….
McNeill must have been just as dumbfounded as me, so he blinked for a moment and then smiled..
“The princess is, as rumored, a thoughtful person. I don't know if drunkards and sluts are good parents..”
“uh……，”
The lords and knights burst out laughing at his jokes. Meanwhile, Theodora was looking confused with a look on her face like ‘Is this funny?’.
Soon after the laughter died down, General McNeil spoke again in a polite manner..
“I don't mean to ask something that big. This is for the people of Plateau and Antrum, so please consider this, princess..”
Theodora made eye contact with me, so I slightly shrugged my shoulders. After thinking for a moment, she crossed her arms as if to listen..
“70It is known that since the Great War years ago, the Dragon Knights have never left the territory of House Strom..”
“……It's a widely known fact.”
“What I want to ask is this. Do you think it will happen this time too??”
“I'm asking you, princess, whether the Dragon Knights will not leave the 'Hundred Years' Castle in To Pal during this war..”
“What does that question have to do with young people??”
“I heard that wyverns are big eaters suitable for their size. They say that you need to feed a large pig a day to be able to fight..”
When Theodora nodded quietly, General McNeil continued speaking..
“If those guys come here on an expedition, there will definitely be a shortage of supplies. Then they will target livestock and loot private homes..”
“The Dragoons are not a band of thieves..”
“That's probably the case with the Bravery. But what about their master, the Duke of Avilambus??”
“Even if only half of the rumors I heard are true, he is very... … You will be a person with high decisiveness, flexibility, and adaptability..”
“……It's kind of like that.”
“I see. So do you understand my concerns??”
Theodora bit her lip as if she was in conflict..
She was incomparably majestic when she was driving Brightmere with the 'Holy Sun' on the tip of her spear, but now she looked even more fragile as her pale green eyes wavered in hesitation..
After appreciating her new side for a while, I gave her some advice..
“If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer..”
“……What does that mean??”
“Anyway, the people here and the people will not care what the princess says. They just say things like that..”
Because I didn't bother to lower my voice, General McNeil looked embarrassed when he heard what I said..
“……Lord Poynix. what do you mean by that.”
“What? As for Antrum, Marquis Eaborn will take care of it, and it doesn't matter whether the plateau is robbed or not.?”
While the audience was silent, perhaps out of embarrassment or absurdity, only the boy Lord Lu Yan burst out laughing and said 'Poo-hop'..
Theodora was the only one who read the mood and showed an unpleasant expression..
“I see. I won't answer.”
“Wait a minute, princess..”
General McNeil became urgent and quickly made a proposal..
“If you answer, I will send troops to protect the people of Gowon and those poor Gwangmyeong believers. From the plunder of the Dragon Knights. I promise.”
“no. I made up my mind. No matter what you ask, I won't answer.”
Even though McNeil clung to her three times, Theodora did not budge..
“……You are decisive..”
General McNeil muttered that, instantly erasing the look of urgency on his face and tapping on the map..
“indeed. It looks like the Dragon Knights can't leave Hundred Years Castle..”
“what does that mean.”
“There is no way that the princess, who is famous for her kind heart, would abandon the poor Gwangmyeong believers so easily. You don't answer because the Dragon Knights won't be able to come anyway..”
“……red. It's too much to guess.”
This lady… … Just looking at it, it has nothing to do with lying. Well, it's not bad..
“Anyway, I understand. Thank you, princess..”
“…… I don't know what I'm thankful for. Among my subordinates, General McNeil is the strongest, having served in the military two or three times longer than Conwyer. There was no way Theodora's clumsy facial expression management would work on such a veteran..
“So it looks like there is no immediate threat. We will focus on reconnaissance for three or four days and move forward..”
General McNeil patted the table with a light expression, as if he had just spent some time..
“That’s it, we’re disbanded..”
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