The Knight Orders’ Joint Exercises (6): Complicated Feelings

At the Eastern Army’s headquarters, Zackhart watched the battle, gripping a Ten-Knight Bow. In the hands of the towering Zackhart, it looked like a toy.

"The Western Army has Grants’s unit in the center, Lapiria’s unit to the north... and the Fourth Knight Order and the Roa Unit to the south? The center is as expected, but that’s a little surprising." The one who spoke to Zackhart as he watched the battlefield was his deputy, Baylius.

"What did you find unexpected?" Zackhart asked without turning to look at him.

"Well, that they committed the Roa Unit from the start, and that they didn’t send it over to Lapiria’s unit."

At Baylius’s words, Zackhart bristled. This was probably within Baylius’s expectations, too. But whenever the man had no part to play, he would indulge in this sort of childish banter.

Zackhart could ignore him, but if he did, Baylius would keep changing the subject and talking to him. It was less of a hassle to deal with him quickly.

"What is there to be surprised about? Even with the difference in the number of new recruits, the Western Army has fewer. It’s clear they’ll be at a disadvantage the longer this goes on. So taking the initiative and attacking first isn’t a bad choice."

"Indeed. Then, why did the Fourth Knight Order join up with them?"

"Hmph. Isn’t that obvious? The twins of the Fourth Knight Order are cavalry, too. They can make full use of their mobility by joining up with the other cavalry."

"You see right through it."

Zackhart ignored the last, insincere compliment and focused on the movements at the front. As agreed, the new recruits had begun clashing with long-handled spears. According to Roa, long-handled spears were originally created as weapons militia could wield without fear.

"I see. It’s not a very interesting weapon, but it might suit those who aren’t used to handling weapons."

"That’s true. Oh? Someone’s advancing with their spear held level. That’s an unusual way to use it. They could gather more men and have them charge in that formation, couldn’t they?"

It certainly did look novel, but...

"No, there’s no force behind the thrust. If the opponent were an experienced soldier, they could easily dodge the spearhead, grab the shaft, and stop them in their tracks. Then they’d be an easy target for the bows."

"Quite true. And if they can’t move, there’s also that."

Baylius’s gaze shifted to the Ten-Knight Bow in Zackhart’s hands.

Zackhart took another look at the weapon in his own hands.

"War is growing more and more boring..."

Those words weren’t directed at Baylius. No, perhaps he hadn’t even meant to say them aloud. They were simply Zackhart’s true feelings slipping out.

"Are you dissatisfied, Zackhart-sama?"

Baylius asked, his playful air gone, his voice a little more serious.

Dissatisfied... Was I dissatisfied? Yes, perhaps I was. Fighting was steadily becoming easier and more efficient.

Whether it was a bow or a spear, each weapon reflected the skill of the one who wielded it.

Defeating the enemy with strategies born of skill and experience... I had considered that a kind of art.

Roa was probably right. If these weapons became widespread, Rudek’s way of fighting would advance to a whole new level.

But still...

Zackhart aimed the Ten-Knight Bow in his hands toward the Western Army’s headquarters. As he thought, this just felt boring.

No, best to stop thinking about it. There was no point dwelling on it any further.

"It’s about to begin."

Baylius’s words interrupted Zackhart’s thoughts.

The new recruits’ clash ended, and as the center devolved into a melee, the northern and southern forces began to collide.

The Fifth Knight Order, which had taken the northern flank, had equipped everyone with ordinary crossbows in addition to the Ten-Knight Bows.

A rain of arrows.

But Lapiria’s unit knew what it was doing. It moved freely, deftly evading the rain of arrows and seemingly keeping casualties to a minimum.

Crossbows couldn’t be fired in rapid succession. As soon as it looked like the rain of arrows had let up, Lapiria’s unit charged the Fifth Knight Order.

To the south, the unit locked in combat with the Seventh Knight Order flew a banner bearing a moon and a swallow. It was the Roa Unit. The Fourth Knight Order left the Seventh Knight Order to the Roa Unit and bore down on Zackhart’s forces.

At the very front were the twins, clad in full armor. They were heavily armored cavalry, and even their horses wore armor. But only some of the soldiers near the front were heavily armored. The equipment was cumbersome to carry on the march, so it seemed they hadn’t brought enough for everyone.

"The Ten-Knight Bow won’t get through to the front line like that."

Against heavily armored cavalry, even arrowheads would probably bounce off.

"If we’re going to aim anywhere, it should be their feet. Cavalry are vulnerable once their momentum is stopped."

"Indeed. Try it and see how effective it is. Aim at the ground, not their feet. We shouldn’t injure any horses during a training exercise."

"Understood."

At Baylius’s order, the soldiers who had been handed Ten-Knight Bows took aim at the ground in front of the Fourth Knight Order’s leading ranks.

Just as Zackhart thought they were almost within range, it happened.

The Fourth Knight Order’s front line suddenly split to either side and galloped off in unexpected directions.

Behind them, cavalry in standard gear all raised their Ten-Knight Bows. There were far more than a hundred or two hundred of them.

"This is bad! Fire!" Baylius hurriedly ordered them to shoot, and at the same time, the Fourth Knight Order loosed its arrows. The Fourth Knight Order’s volley far outnumbered theirs, and many soldiers were taken out at once. Before long, a second volley was ready and fired into the Third Knight Order.

"What is going on?! Their rate of fire is far too fast! Did the Fourth Knight Order train in rapid shooting beforehand?" As Baylius furrowed his brow and issued orders to keep the front from collapsing, Zackhart’s lips curled into a smile.

"No, Baylius. That’s the Roa Unit. Only the Fourth Knight Order’s front line was a ruse. Roa planned from the start to make full use of the Ten-Knight Bows and strike us."

They must have brought every Ten-Knight Bow in the Western Army. I see, I see. So this was Roa’s way of fighting. Interesting.

As he thought it over, Zackhart realized something.

Roa’s way of fighting was interesting. No matter how weapons changed, they were useless unless their users could master them.

Then could a new weapon become art, too, if it was truly mastered?

The twins, who had made a wide detour, now turned their horses back toward the Third Knight Order.

Zackhart began to feel rather exhilarated.

"Men! From here on, I’ll take you on myself! Whoever wants to be crushed, step forward!"

His fierce cry rang across the battlefield, loud enough to reach Roa at the Western Army’s headquarters, far in the distance.