Chapter 440
My Villains Episode 440
65. peak of spring(15)
“Oooooh-!”
As the knights, including Lord Langbolt, and the cavalry returned to the defense line, the soldiers let out thunderous shouts. There were soldiers brandishing weapons and flags at the dawn, and there were also soldiers standing on top of broken wooden fences and swearing at the enemy..
‘Isn’t the expression ‘morale soaring through the roof’ meant for a scene like this?.
Well, it was natural that the soldiers' spirit increased. In less than 30 minutes after launching a surprise attack at dawn, nearly 500 enemies were crushed..
But the war situation was not all optimistic..
“…… Two hundred and fifty people were killed or injured? “Just two magic shots?” Staff Fogan, who was commanding the troops next to Count Aeneas, nodded with a heavy face..
“As you may have seen, the Commander was not an ordinary spell. It seems that a high-ranking destruction master sent from ‘Linhow on the Mountain’ is in the enemy camp..”
but. 'Sphere of Destruction' is a spell that is used by borrowing the power of a magic circle, but even so, 'Arrow of Destruction' is a spell that even an ordinary destruction magician cannot imitate. If there is a high-ranking saboteur who can use such spells in the enemy camp, massive damage is inevitable..
“Umm. In any case, we will have to evacuate the injured to Aisbowald first... … . How many difficult-to-treat injuries are there on the Ethiopian Line??”
As a soul shaman who has earned the title 'Kanzai', Iopiya also has the ability to heal wounds..
However, due to the nature of the spell and its low level, the healing magic used by the girl from the grassland was not as immediate as the power of the Gwangmyeong Bridge. While the priest's prayer technique was to instantly wash away wounds, Iopiya's magic was to boost vitality and quickly regenerate it. Would you say it feels like using a slightly less effective wound healing potion?.
Of course, that alone was a great help, but it was impossible for IOPIA to take care of dozens of wounded people alone..
“The exact extent of the damage is still being determined, but at least 30 people will need to be evacuated..”
“Thirty people. It's an ambiguous number..”
“That's why I'm telling you this.”
Staff Fogan hesitated for a moment and then added:.
“It would be better to postpone evacuation for a while..”
“Evacuation? why?”
“There are not even enough troops to form an evacuation unit. If you want to preserve some of your energy, it is better to do one large-scale evacuation rather than multiple small-scale evacuations..”
I shut my mouth for a moment.
Injuries that require evacuation may be those with amputated limbs, tetanus, or bleeding that will not stop, and must be treated by a priest. If evacuation is delayed, some of those thirty or so people will not be able to survive. If you are lucky, one or two people will die. If you are unlucky, more than half of you may die..
“Let's do that..”
But I nodded without thinking too long..
“I'll decide based on timing, so be prepared..”
“I will accept it, Commander..”
There were roughly a hundred enemy soldiers who lost their lives by my hands just a few minutes ago. It wasn't that difficult for me now to give orders to wounded soldiers whose lives were at stake to hold on just a little longer..
The advance team of Hofken Castle, which suffered heavy damage from the night attack, retreated its garrison by about a hundred meters. It was a measure to escape from the breath of old mage Og Shlizo..
The next action was very simple. Taking a strong defensive posture and firing a destruction spell…….
A magical barrage similar to artillery fire, which I experienced at dawn, began to pound the defense line. The exhausted wizards and even Atalanta came to the defense, but even after four or five hours, they were unable to stop the non-stop destruction spells..
In the end, our troops had to stick their heads behind mounds or under trenches. Since dense formation is a privilege of the side with superior magic power, now that even the few wizards have exhausted all their mana, they have no choice but to spread out and endure..
By noon, the defense line was completely devastated..
Nevertheless, Altenberg's advance party did not move and only fired orders. It's like waging a siege against a giant castle..
They tried to fight back by crossing the river again, but they didn't seem to be willing to fall for the same trick twice. Since Hofken Seongbaek himself led his disciples and elite soldiers, including imperial knights, to the field, they could not attack them carelessly..
Of course you can try to attack.
However, considering that Hofken's armor is a powerful magical tool that freezes all surrounding magical power, if you confront his elite troops, you will have to engage in close combat without even using blood magic..
If Hofken and I were to stick together for a short period of time, such restrictions would not be a big deal. But this is a battlefield.
Hopeken, standing in the field, was not just a sword master, but a noble commander with over a dozen swordsmen, over 30 imperial knights, and numerous elite soldiers..
Lord Langbolt and the knights of the Milgrester family are not lacking in skill, but they are greatly outnumbered. If you put your head in front of them, both sides would have to fight for their lives..
In the end, Chief Fogan's advice was very sound..
As damage continued to occur while being pinned down and beaten in the collapsing trenches, the number of soldiers needing evacuation increased to over 100 by evening..
When the evacuation unit departed before the sun set, the number of troops remaining in the devastated defense line was at most less than eight hundred..
In this situation, an incident occurred that threw the already greatly broken morale into the gutter..
The enemy's main force has arrived..
“Fuck you.”
I find myself muttering without realizing it..
I'm standing on a watchtower with one corner blown off and looking down at countless enemy soldiers. It would be strange if I didn't curse out of the despair..
“……Roughly how many are there??”
Lord Langbolt, who was stroking his mustache and watching the enemy lines, answered my question..
“well. Probably not 6,000, but definitely more than 5,000..”
I was just a little relieved..
To me, who is not yet accustomed to counting numbers, the enemy gathering across the river seemed to number in the tens of thousands..
However, the officers and staff gathered around seemed to have different opinions..
“Commander. Please retreat to Eisbovalt right now. If that large army attacks, you won't be able to last an hour - no, not even thirty minutes..”
“Isn't just delaying the enemy's advance for a moment a satisfactory result??”
“3You promised that His Majesty the Prince and his army would appear, but there has been no news so far..”
Perhaps because the situation had progressed to this point, the remaining knights and officers, about fifteen in total, unanimously suggested that they should retreat for now..
When I glanced to the other side, I saw that Atalanta was silent, looking a little tired, and Sir Langbolt had his arms crossed with an expressionless face..
I quietly scratched my eyebrows and then asked a question to the girl sitting on one side of the watchtower..
“What do you think, Your Excellency??”
Count Aeneas, head of the Milgrester family, had a sleepy expression on his face and blinked his eyes blankly..
“What do you mean, commander??”
“Do you think, Your Excellency, that you should step down as well??”
“Why are you asking me that??”
“That's right, about half of the troops left on the defense line are your troops..”
Even if you simply count the number of soldiers, it is that much. Most of the knights and officers gathered on the watchtower are Milgrester's vassals, and the battle wizards who blocked the magic soldiers last dawn are also those who receive her support..
So, if we were to evaluate it calmly, it would have to be said that Count Aeneas's stake in this battlefield was higher than Sir Langboldt's or Atalanta's..
«eww ”
Count Aeneas narrowed his brows for a moment..
A noble girl with pale skin and rosy cheeks and a noisy battlefield with a musty odor did not suit her at all. However, the pupils, which were slightly divided up and down and gave off a sharp look, gave rise to an unfounded belief that the girl would make a good decision..
“I remember what the commander said yesterday..”
“Do you mean me?”
“You said that if you step down, you will only lose. As if this is the only place where victory can be found.”
The Count continued speaking with a calm expression..
“Since we have already placed a bet on the three princes and the Lord, we must believe it until the end..”
“……I'm just grateful that you trust me. But it's not like gambling for fun.”
“From the commander's point of view, it may seem that way, but for me, it's a risky gamble..”
A subtle smile was drawn on the girl’s small face..
“and… … To a young and greedy noble like me, the odds are more noticeable than the odds of winning..”
I smiled awkwardly because it didn't seem like something that would come out of the mouth of a fifteen-year-old girl..
Milgrester's knights and officers who had been talking about a retreat fell silent. It always amazes me that a count who hasn't even had a coming-of-age ceremony can control his vassals so tightly. Is this a control worthy of a prestigious family?.
“……Well then, let’s just hold on for one more day. If you survive the night well, the day may turn out somehow..”
I looked back at the people gathered at the watchtower..
“Just one day. If Prince Ulkar does not appear by tomorrow evening, then let us retreat without hesitation. Eis Bobald, and even Proshafen if necessary.” “I already told you, Commander, the difficulty of surviving one day against an army as large as that is……
“I will go on a rampage, ready to die..”
I shrugged my shoulders with a light expression that did not match what I had just said..
“If that doesn't work, there's nothing we can do. If I die, then each of you can either run away or surrender. but." About twenty pairs of eyes turned to me. I continued speaking quietly..
“Not even a day has passed, or if I am still alive and there is someone running away or surrendering..”
There was tension in the gathered eyeballs, but I just kept my mouth shut and smiled..
Looking at their expressions, it seemed like there was no need to say anything else..
“……I can't do it.”
A young woman who was sitting near a campfire and looking into a crystal ball suddenly stood up..
“You're trying to do something ridiculous. I have to step up..”
“That's not possible..”
The elderly man, who wore golden rings on each of his ten fingers and gold bracelets on both wrists, dissuaded her with a firm tone..
“Have you forgotten why we left the palace? Since you are a smart person, you probably know that coming this far was far-fetched. Please be careful..”
“I never asked you for help. I just do what I have to do.”
A cool wind flowed between the woman with flowing blonde hair and the sturdy old man..
The six men and women who appeared to be in a group looked sideways between the two, holding their breath..
“It's starting again.”
“This time, our lady's momentum is strong.?”
““But it won’t work for that old bastard.” The ones whispering like that were a woman and a man who were polishing a straight military sword and a heavy scimitar, respectively..
The woman had brown hair and freckles across her nose and cheeks, and the man was short but had a stocky physique and a bald head with a grim face..
“……Isn’t being an old man a bit harsh??”
“It's harsh. A person who only believes in his age and acts without any regard for either up or down.-”
An old man decked in gold looked at them with one eye..
“Mira, Steedman. What were you talking about now??”
“Hehe.
“ Q »
Freckled Mira and Tight Steedman shrugged their shoulders like startled mice..
Instead of the two, the young man sitting next to him hung a bow on the pole and made eye contact with the old man..
“I said what you said was right..”
“I wasn't asking for your opinion, Cole. It's not your business to discuss.”
“This is what I want to say. Who would dare to interfere with the events of the most noble person in the palace??”
“……Are you being sarcastic now? How dare you, you bastard-”
As the old man stood up, archer Kol quietly placed his hand on the quiver of arrows hanging on his thigh..
At that time, the blonde woman shot the old man..
“Take care of yourself, Aktufir. Your job is to follow us around. No one wants to be a nanny.”
The elderly man, 'Actu Pir Ol', one of the seven grandmasters of La-Palais Palace, looked back at the woman with a frown on his face..
“High Master, remember your duty. Your mission is to investigate the necrophilia going on in the Dawn Council, and hunt down your former lover.-”
“old lover?”
As the blonde woman let out a cold voice, Aktufir's face crumpled even more..
“Who is your ex-lover??”
The dark forest began to tremble at the sound of mana originating from the woman..
“Do you really need to put it in my mouth? “Highmaster also heard the rumor!” Grandmaster Aktufir twitched his nose for a moment and spoke in a yelling tone..
“The Red Knight is a very lecherous man, enjoys molesting women, and has women who resemble snakes, demons, and shadows! You will betray the responsibility that flows in your blood by falling for the temptation of such a lewd villain.!”
The young woman's pink lips were torn long. She spoke in a refreshing tone with her blue eyes flashing..
“As much as you want.”
“High Master!”
“What I do with those bitches is none of your business. And, if you try to use the crown you put on me as a dog leash, I will gladly abandon you. So what do you want to do??”
“Avoid verbal abuse! It is natural that a noble lineage and position comes with great responsibility! How dare you talk about things like dog leashes?!”
As the sturdy old man raised his mana, a whirlpool swirled in the middle of the forest..
As the situation progressed like that, Aktufir's disciples who were sitting a little distance away slowly stood up..
“under. What is the atmosphere, this??”
“Bastards like Saennim.”
The sight of Freckled Mira, Tight Steedman, and Archer Cole standing up as if bouncing was the signal for those sitting near the bonfire to quickly get ready..
crunchy.
When a woman wearing steel vambraces and gray leather armor raised a long sword, a flash of electricity flowed along the blade. The dark gray hair was dyed blue, and the calm expression of the woman called 'One-Eyed Simos' or 'Blue-Haired Moses' and the eyepatch covering one eye were revealed..
The two men standing behind them just stared, unable to do anything..
Master Hagni, a man wearing a robe with geometric patterns, swallowed dryly when he saw Aktufir's angry face, and then shook his head as if he came to his senses at the sight of the young woman being engulfed in flames. Then he lifted a staff with three jewels on it and pretended to aim it at the old man..
Saitz, the spell thief, a young man wearing a shabby cloak and holding a dagger and a cane, stood awkwardly, shaking his chin, then quickly took a step back and hid himself in the shadows of the forest..
“Now you're going to face the palace again.?”
“It's fun.”
The cloak of flame fluttered, and the camouflage spell surrounding the young woman melted..
The shabby coat turned into a gorgeous white robe with black patterns, a tree branch that seemed to have been broken at random turned into a black, shiny quarterstaff, and a shining tiara appeared on top of rich blonde hair..
“I am the owner of the palace, and I am the palace, so you are asking who is against whom??”
“High Master!”
“I've been patient enough. ”
Highmaster Ellen said with a bright smile..
“I think I'm grateful just for joining in with our childish play house.. ”
As he threw the quarterstaff forward, the black magic rod turned into a black carpet. She got on the carpet as if half-flighted, and before Aktufir could stop her, she flew off into the night sky..
“This sudden.”
While the old man was mumbling with a bewildered look on his face, the High Master's followers, who also looked embarrassed, looked at each other and slowly took a step to one side. Then he suddenly started running towards the place where Ellen disappeared..
“her.”
Aktufir sent them away without stopping and looked back to one side of the dark forest..
“This might be good?”
The shadows of the forest swayed and a woman appeared..
She appeared after breaking the invisibility spell, wearing a black veil draped over her eyes with long eyelashes, and holding a three-headed snake-shaped staff in one hand..
“You knew it would be like this, Aktufir.?”
“I knew there would be a problem, but I never imagined that he would act so irresponsibly. You act as if you became a High Master to escape the palace.?”
“I guess that's true.”
“I don't have time to listen to sweet things, Nashal..”
Nashal An Wei, one of the seven grandmasters of the palace, like Aktufir, smiled..
“so? What do you want this sister to do??”
“……I'm just asking for your opinion. We can't let the Highmaster get caught up in the war.?”
“Why are you asking when you know? Quickly follow me.”
“It's impossible to stop her alone..”
“You have disciples.”
Ak Tupir looked at his disciples, wizards called masters in his palace, and answered as if it were not appropriate..
“A High Master is a person who is skilled in all the tricks a wizard can perform. Can my disciples say a single incantation in front of her??”
“It won't work.”
“So I need help.”
“no.”
“Nashal!”
She answered in a drowsy voice without hiding her annoyance..
“My back hurts. If I recklessly confronted that monster girl, I wouldn't be able to walk for about ten years..”
“Then you just want to watch.?”
“Who stops adolescent deviance? If you commit a crime in moderation, let’s take care of it..”
“Nashal!”
“Oh, I don't know. Stop looking for your sister and take care of it yourself..”
Aktufir sighed, holding his wrinkled forehead..
“…… Nashal, no, senior. Please be serious. With the great senior of the school acting like this, doesn't the atmosphere of the palace get disturbed? You must be responsible for the creation of such a high master..”
“Oh, is that so? I thought he was somehow cute, but I guess it was because he looked like me..”
The old man sighed again as if he was annoyed and looked back at his disciples..
“I'll go first, Senpai - no, please follow along with Grandmaster Nashal..”
Then, without hearing an answer, he chanted a spell, and ten golden rings flashed. Then the huge figure of Aktufir rose up and shot like an arrow toward the southeast..
Comments