Chapter 39 – Schleitocker Road 2

“Guh…!”

It had been quite some time since the infantry clashed. They were already heavily pressed.

‘Those guys with the long spears among the enemy infantry are troublesome…!’

Among the enemy ranks were those who held their formation intact, advancing straight with their spears poised.

They coordinated perfectly with the surrounding infantry, indicating a high level of training. Despite defending with large shields, the part facing them was particularly vulnerable to being pushed back.

But whether being pushed back or not, we needed to synchronise our movements. While fighting at the forefront, I also issued orders, redirecting a few heavy infantry to prevent any part from being pushed back too much.

‘Is this the limit…?! We can’t afford to be pushed back any further…!’

Initially, the centre had bulged out, and even now, the enemy’s pressure was concentrated here. This was where the real carnage began.

“Oooooohhhh!!”

I shouted as I swung my sword, cutting through enemy weapons and armour, taking their lives.

“Here he comes again!”

“Take down that black-armoured one!”

Multiple spears are coming at me. I clumsily deflect them with my sword, bending forward to advance and cut down the enemies.

It’s the first time I’ve fought on the battlefield for such a long time…! It’s consuming both my physical and mental strength like never before…!

It’s tough, it’s painful. But I have vows to uphold. And ambitions and dreams too.

To fulfil the loyalty of the people of the grasslands, I must make Rina happy.

For Mayo’s sake, I must reclaim the Amatsuki Empire.

To restore peace to the continent, I must unify the empire.

And…I won’t let the empire take away my place anymore… or my precious ones…!

■

“Hmph…they’re more resilient than I expected.”

Barkdine advanced forward with the infantry, coordinating with the surrounding troops in the central rear.

Initially, he had thought they could quickly annihilate the enemy infantry, but he hadn’t anticipated having to fight for such a long time. In this regard, it’s fair to give credit to the barbarians.

“But the power of numbers directly affects the outcome of battles. You chose a battlefield where you could leverage that advantage.”

However, fatigue had also accumulated significantly among their own infantry. Upon closer inspection, he realised that the enemy hadn’t just formed a simple line formation.

Only the central part bulged out towards them, naturally initiating clashes from there. And although they were pushing back, the prolonged fighting had also worn down their infantry.

“These impudent barbarians… However, they must be fatigued as well. With our numerical superiority, we will eventually prevail as long as we continue to advance.”

This was the way of the Imperial Knights. Crush the few with overwhelming force and numbers. There was no need for clever tactics when they could simply trample over them with brute strength.

“…………….”

He recalled the past defeat in a large-scale exercise against the newly formed Imperial Knights.

In truth, Barkdine was meant to be the next Knight Commander. His experience, age, and lineage all made him suitable for that position.

Moreover, the Bihickturk family, Barkdine’s household, was a prestigious military aristocracy. Over its long history, it had produced several Knight Commanders. It even boasted the head of the Emperor’s personal guard, the Imperial Equestrian.

Since childhood, he had trained his body and earned martial achievements that befitted a Bihickturk man on the battlefield.

There were times he almost died and occasions when he had to retreat. His body bore countless scars.

But he took pride in always fighting at the forefront. Many of his comrades in the Knights had fought alongside him until today. Among them were not only nobles but also common soldiers with whom he had formed long-standing bonds.

Fighting the same enemies on the battlefield, sharing meals from the same pot. Once you shared such a battlefield, bringing up differences in status was tasteless.

Barkdine treated commoners as equals if they fought with their lives on the line. Sometimes, he even bought them drinks.

Of course, excluding official occasions… But indeed, besides the old-fashioned noble knights, Burkdain was also popular among his commoner subordinates.

‘When that brat became Knight Commander ahead of me, I thought this empire was finished.’

When Aeroston, who had no military experience but only bureaucratic expertise, became the new Knight Commander, Barkdine confronted the former Knight Commander. He demanded to know why he wasn’t chosen as the next Knight Commander.

The former Knight Commander had stepped down due to age-related issues, but it had been understood that Barkdine would be the next Knight Commander.

So, he immediately questioned why it wasn’t him. The response he got was simply 【It’s the Emperor’s decision】.

Honestly, Barkdine didn’t particularly like the current Emperor. The previous Emperor’s sudden death, under circumstances suggesting foul play, pointed fingers at the current Emperor, Creyval.

True, the previous Emperor had been somewhat weak in dealing with foreign powers. He also hadn’t managed the internal nobility well.

But unlike Creyval, he didn’t seem to unnecessarily stir up trouble. From Barkdine’s perspective as a knight, he must have faced significant challenges as a ruler…

And as soon as Creyval replaced the previous Emperor, the empire predictably fractured internally. And in the worst possible way, as expected.

And yet, Creyval appointed another inexperienced youngster as the Knight Commander.

Initially, Barkdine had thought that perhaps Creyval, being the illegitimate brother of Aeroston and having the same father as the former Emperor, had started favouring his brother without a claim to the throne…

But Aeroston, in his own way, seemed to be trying to reform the Knights for the better. And he had shown results.

By defeating Barkdine’s Knights with the newly established ones.

‘At that time, it was 10,000 against 10,000, with equal forces. But it was a crushing defeat…’

At that moment, Burkdain had thought, yes, this young man could sit in the position of Knight Commander for a long time to come.

While he himself would retire within a few years if he became Knight Commander, the Imperial Knights of the future would likely continue to be led by this man.

But he couldn’t help but feel discontent. Thanks to that, the head of the illustrious Bihickturk family would end his life in the position of Knight Commander alone, without advancing further.

Perhaps leading a grand army of 60,000 would be the greatest achievement of his career. And once it’s over, retirement might be in order.

Then, he would spend his remaining years drinking with fellow aging knights and commoners.

‘My final stage… ends with bandit suppression, huh…’

Even now, this vast army continues its advance. It’s commendable that the bandits, despite being pushed this far, still haven’t routed.

This makes one curious about the man who must be leading them, Vilgard.

Despite the odds being against him, he hasn’t let the frontline collapse. It’s evident he can command the bandits quite effectively. But that too may be just a matter of time.

“…………..??”

At that moment, there was some commotion in the rear.

Turning around to see what was happening, but being in the heart of the main force, no one knew what was going on except in the front.

Someone tripped, and a few others got caught up… That’s what he thought, but then he noticed a large number of infantrymen behind were closing the gaps.

No, it wasn’t just behind. The gaps were closing on the left and right too.

“Oi, what’s going on? Why are we closing ranks like this?”

“We’re being pushed…”

“Did something happen over there…?”

Although he was curious, while he was talking, the advancing infantry ahead suddenly stopped. Despite steadily advancing so far, they suddenly halted in place.

“Hey, why aren’t we moving forward? Did the enemy retreat?”

In situations like this, with a large army, it takes time for information about the front line to reach him. Instructions are difficult to give and even harder to convey.

That’s why, in battles, it’s crucial to choose places and timing where simple commands alone can secure victory. Like this time. But…

“General Barkdine!”

Finally, a report came from the front line. The soldier delivering it seemed extremely flustered.

“O-our army…! We’re completely surrounded by the enemy from all sides!”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Front, rear…! And left and right too! We’re surrounded from all directions!”

“Calm down. The enemy has fewer troops. Even now, as we’re pushing and crushing them, why would we be the ones surrounded? This isn’t terrain where they could set up ambushes.”

“I don’t know…! B-but it’s true! Our army is completely surrounded with no escape…! The frontline is already in chaos, and many allies are dying…!”

“W-what…!?”