Chapter 75 – The Battle of Kamurakku Territory

“Have they moved…? Earlier than expected…!”

The Bandred forces moved around noon on the fifth day of their formation.

Honestly, I thought it would take twice as long, ten days…but it seems they are demonstrating a higher level of coordination than anticipated.

As expected, the name of the elite Imperial Knights is not just for show. However, we are equally prepared.

It was precisely because I was convinced of Bandred’s competence that I predicted they would attempt to cross the river.

“Don’t let the enemy land! Prevent the infantry from crossing the river at all costs!”

“Ooooooo!!”

This time, we have concentrated our forces along the river at points where the enemy might attempt to cross. It is a formation solely to prevent the crossing, and if they break through, we will have no countermeasures.

At the front line, we have positioned captured noble infantry. They will fight on this first line, and if they survive, I have promised to elevate them as my vassals.

“Enemy approaching!”

“Release the arrows!”

“Don’t let them get ashore!”

As expected, the enemy advanced with a large force centred on light infantry. Behind them, I could also see heavily armoured cavalry wielding silver spears.

They probably intend to cross immediately once they secure a foothold on the opposite bank.

“We didn’t have time to thoroughly check Darba’s traps but…”

“Well, let’s trust that they will work out somehow.”

“Indeed. Shamia, you should retreat for now.”

“Understood.”

The enemy likely aims to settle this battle here but so do I. By defeating the Imperial Knights here, I will declare the founding of the Northern Empire…!

■

“As expected, they’re formidable…! But…!”

In front of Bandred, he could see the infantry desperately trying to cross the river.

Despite the rain of arrows, they were putting their all into creating a path.

‘Even though we managed to position ourselves on ground suited for defence…to think we’d end up abandoning it ourselves…’

Now that he thought about it, Vilgard probably let them take this ground on purpose.

It was a matter of timing—who would seize this spot first. But Vilgard’s army arrived significantly later than theirs.

Why would he let them take it? To cut off their supply lines and sow confusion among their troops. And also to negate the charge of the heavily armoured cavalry.

The one setting up defensive positions on the opposite bank wasn’t them, but Vilgard.

This also meant that Vilgard wanted to avoid direct confrontation with the heavily armoured cavalry of the Silver Spear Knights.

‘Prince…you certainly have military talent. But because of that talent, it’s clear what I find most threatening. And that reveals your intentions to your enemy…!’

In other words, Vilgard believed his forces couldn’t withstand a charge from the heavily armoured cavalry.

The Imperial Knights were elite, different in morale and skill from a lord’s troops. Bandred believed they would secure the opposite bank.

‘On the other hand, the prince’s forces don’t seem to be that well-trained. He’s likely using the troops of the lords who surrendered to him. But…! We, the elite Imperial Knights, will not be outdone by mere lordly troops…!’

If the opponent was led by a royal, their own force was the true army of the Emperor, commanded by another royal, Aroston.

From his horse, Bandred observed the changes on the opposite bank.

“Bandred-sama!”

“Yes…! I see an opening!”

Countless corpses floated in the river but finally, some units began to climb the opposite bank. Starting from there, their forces gradually expanded.

“Alright…! Move the horses forward! We’re going too!”

“Ooooooo!!”

Bandred donned a full-face helmet and the heavily armoured cavalry wielding silver spears began to slowly cross the river. Arrows occasionally flew at them, but their upward-facing shields deflected them effectively.

‘The enemy’s resistance is weakening…! The landing has caused widespread confusion…!’

Once part of the force had landed, soldiers from other sections were dispatched to reinforce that area.

However, this left those sections thinly defended, making it easier for more troops to land. This further escalated the chaos in the enemy ranks.

“Alright…! Let’s go up!”

By the time they reached the opposite bank, the infantry had secured enough ground for the cavalry to ascend in line.

“I thank you all for your valiant efforts! Leave the rest to us! Silver Spear Heavy Cavalry, prepare! From here, we will annihilate the rebel forces!”

“Ooooooo!!”

Once they were up, the battlefield was theirs.

Bandred gathered his troops and launched a charge along the river. The cavalry behind them would follow in their wake.

“Scatter!”

Riding through the enemy ranks, they swung their spears, scattering and blowing away many soldiers.

Both horse and rider were clad in heavy armor, making it impossible for mere infantry to halt their advance.

“We are the Silver Spear Knights, the strongest heavy cavalry of the Imperial Knights! Try to stop this charge if you can!!”

They scattered the enemy soldiers along the riverbank, allowing more of their own infantry to land.

The enemy troops were now in total disarray, with some even discarding their armor to flee.

“First, secure a foothold on the opposite bank! Then, pursue the fleeing enemy soldiers! Do not let Prince Vilgard escape!”

“Ooooooo!!”

Though some enemy soldiers continued to resist, many had already begun to flee. At this point, maintaining their lines was impossible.

No matter how skilled the commander, without quality soldiers, it was impossible to regroup a shattered unit.

‘Prince Vilgard…! I spared you last time but now I’ll claim your life here…!’

Bandred had his own thoughts but his spear movements remained precise. His loyalty was to the Empire and to Arloston.

After charging a considerable distance along the river, he looked back. Their allies were also breaking through, scattering enemy soldiers and countless cavalry had finished crossing the river.

“Alright…! Now we begin the pursuit! Advance!”

“Oooooooo!!!!”

Vilgard’s army was fleeing to the east. The enemy soldiers were in such a panic that armour and weapons were discarded everywhere.

“They wanted to lighten their load and flee faster…! It’s as if they’re showing us where they’re headed!”

Nearly ten thousand cavalrymen rode their horses, driving the fleeing soldiers from behind.

After securing a foothold on the opposite bank and waiting for a sufficient number of cavalry to cross, there was no hesitation in their direction.

“Bandred-sama! We can see the enemy ahead!”

“We’ve caught up…! Do not let Prince Vilgard escape!”

The soldiers visible in the distance were all without armour and unarmed. Vilgard must be among them.

‘You fought admirably…! But you couldn’t have anticipated that the Silver Spear Knights would successfully cross the river…!’

This was the new Imperial Knights, the power created by Arloston’s vision for the empire.

And I am the one who… in this empire…

“Guhah!?”

“Gyeh!?”

“Huh!?”

Strange sounds came from behind. When he glanced back, the cavalryman running beside him had vanished.

“Gwah!”

“What…!?”

No, they hadn’t vanished. They had fallen.

“This… this is…!”

“Ahhh!”

“Waaah!”

The pursuing cavalry were falling into pit traps one after another. These pits were quite wide and deep.

The pits were cleverly camouflaged, using the terrain’s natural slope to make them nearly invisible.

“Pitfalls… ahead…!”

At first glance, it looked like a normal road. But the cavalrymen riding over the traps crashed down with loud, splintering sounds.

“No, this is strange…! Why aren’t the leading enemy infantry falling into the pits? …The weight!”

Bandred recalled the discarded armour and weapons along the way. The traps were likely designed to collapse under a certain weight threshold.

“Damn it…!”

A moment of indecision crept into Bandred’s mind. Should he continue the pursuit or stop?

But what good would stopping do? This was a rare opportunity. Prince Vilgard, the key to the battle, was right before them.

“The number of pitfalls must be limited! Advance!”

“Ahhhh!”

At the bottom of the pits, wooden stakes were driven in. Some soldiers were thrown off as their horses tripped and fell.

However, fearing the pitfalls and halting was not an option.

“To hell with it…! I leave it to fate…!”

He couldn’t know if there was a pit in his path. All he could do was pray there wasn’t and charge ahead…but then.

“What…!”

Ahead on the road, wooden barricades lined up to block the horse charge, their sharpened ends facing forward.

Such barricades were a major vulnerability for cavalry. To advance, they would have to circumvent these obstacles. But then.

“Bandre…!”

“Gaah…!”

As Bandred and his men halted, a hail of arrows rained down from both sides.

Unlike the arrows they had faced during the river crossing, these were shot from the tops of hills on either side, increasing their force.

The bows being used must have been different, too, as the arrows were powerful enough that only shields could block them effectively.

“What powerful bows…! At this rate…!”

Their momentum was completely stymied. Arrows started coming from the front as well, and more horses were getting hit.

“Shit…! Just a little further…! We were so close to reaching the prince…!”

“Bandred-sama…! We can’t hold out much longer…!”

The arrows intensified. Even among the cavalry bearing silver spears, casualties were mounting.

‘Digging pit traps and stationing archers… Was the prince deliberately luring us in…!? From the very beginning…!?’

There was no proof but if true, continuing to pursue the prince could lead them into even more traps.

“Retreat…!?”

“Bandred-sama…!”

“If we retreat now…! We’ll have to abandon Kamurakku!”

“Bandred-sama!!”

“!! A-all units, retreat!”

Bandred struggled internally. Retreating meant abandoning Kamurakku.

But seeing his troops crumble, he knew he couldn’t afford to lose more elite cavalry.

“Retreat!”

“Fall back!”

They retraced their steps. Many cavalrymen fell into the pits again but they couldn’t afford to look back. The arrows were relentless.

However, soon after they started retreating, a loud shout came from behind.

“What…!?”

Turning around, they saw enemy cavalry closing in from the rear—a large force.

“Impossible…! There were barricades…! And crossing the pit traps would be just as difficult for them…! How did such a large force…!?”