Battle of the Haksha Plains (8): Escape

After my meeting with Laimar-san, I asked Captain Ryuzel for help, and we raced upstream with nearly the entire Ryuzel Unit.

The bridge to the north was our destination. It was some distance away, so with the river in danger of flooding, we had to hurry as much as possible.

There were two reasons we headed for the northern bridge. If Wickhart-sama's departure for battle was unavoidable, sending reinforcements was our only option.

To keep casualties to a minimum, we wanted to make a wide detour so the enemy wouldn't notice the reinforcements.

There were bridges to the north and south, but reaching the southern one meant passing by the Sixth Knight Order.

Since the surprise-attack force had not yet set out, if our movements were noticed, they would likely stop us and ask what was going on. At worst, it could lead to fighting among our own forces.

I also wanted to check the bridge's condition—to see whether it would remain passable even if the river flooded. If we charged in from the north, we'd probably escape south.

But in the worst case, we also had to be prepared to abandon the rescue and turn back. In other words, heading north again would mean we had failed to save them.

To put it bluntly, the bridge on the northern side was extremely flimsy. There was a village nearby, so the villagers must have rebuilt it each time it was washed away. Even in the darkness, it was easy to see how simply it had been built, as though it would be washed away again anyway.

"It took longer than I expected," Captain Ryuzel muttered.

I asked Captain Ryuzel, "Please die." Captain Ryuzel merely said, "Tell me your plan." After hearing me out, he said nothing else and began preparing for our departure in utmost secrecy.

"Wickhart-sama may already have begun crossing the river in the south. We have to hurry..."

"Yes... Still, I have to admit, I've gained a little more respect for you, Roa."

"What do you mean?"

"This was your first battle only recently, and there was hardly any fighting worth calling a battle at Ellen's Village. But this time is different. We're heading into a place where death awaits. Even so, you're remarkably calm."

That's absurd. I'm already on the verge of throwing up, and once we reach the battlefield, I may even piss myself. I'm only here because I'm desperately determined not to die here.

When I told him so honestly, both Captain Ryuzel and the soldiers around us laughed.

"No, if you still haven't thrown up or wet yourself, you're quite the tough one. Few people make it through their first battle without throwing up or wetting themselves."

Even as we talked, we crossed the bridge and hurried south. Speed was important from here on, but so was timing.

We needed to strike in that one instant: when the enemy's attention was completely focused on Wickhart-sama's unit, when they had become certain of victory and let their guard down, and while Wickhart-sama and the others were still alive and had enough strength left to escape.

If General Franklurt—or perhaps Sakuri—had anticipated the flooding and devised a plan to cut off both our escape route and our reinforcements, I would turn that plan against them. I would make nonexistent reinforcements appear.

By the time we reached the battlefield, fighting had already begun. I could make out Wickhart-sama and the others around a command tent lit by a single watchfire, for some reason the only one burning.

"When should we charge in?" At Captain Ryuzel's question, I turned my gaze south. Had Laimar-san made it in time?

I had also asked Laimar-san to strike the enemy from behind, from the south. However, I told Laimar-san to give up and withdraw if we didn't attack.

Laimar-san and the others had to wait until after Wickhart-sama set out before making their move, so they likely had less time and fewer troops at their disposal than we did.

"...I can't say. If we delay too long, we'll miss our opportunity. At worst, we may have no choice but to cut through the enemy lines with our own men."

"I don't know about timing. I'll leave the signal to your experience, Captain Ryuzel."

At my words, Captain Ryuzel grinned.

"Then this is it—the time is now."

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The plan worked. At least, so far. The Golbel soldiers, caught completely off guard, were cut down with barely any resistance.

Following Captain Ryuzel's instruction to "just cling to your horse in the center," I clung to my horse for dear life and raced through the enemy camp.

We reached Wickhart-sama almost laughably easily, and the Ryuzel Unit immediately charged into the enemy formation on the far side. From here on, it would be a head-on fight, but the Golbel soldiers, unable to understand what was happening, were visibly confused. We can do this!

I shouted to Wickhart-sama, who was staring in stunned disbelief!

"I'll explain later! Follow us! We're getting out of here! Fall behind and you'll die!!"

The unit Wickhart-sama had brought with him was made up largely of seasoned soldiers deeply loyal to their former commander. They instantly recognized this as their chance and followed in our wake.

"If you don't want this Ryuzel to run you through, get out of the way! Move!" Captain Ryuzel's ferocity was astonishing. Normally, Captain Ryuzel barely changed expression, but on the battlefield, Ryuzel was a completely different person.

Some enemy soldiers even announced themselves before attacking, shouting, "You're up against Deries!" But Captain Ryuzel ignored them. We didn't have time to deal with people like that.

"Strategist! Your plan has worked!"

At first, I had no idea whom Captain Ryuzel was addressing. A moment later, I realized he was speaking to me. Another huge cheer rose from the direction he pointed to with his spear. Laimar-san must have launched his attack.

Then, suddenly, a clear path opened straight through the enemy lines, as if cleaving them apart. Laimar-san had secured it for us.

"Thank you!" Captain Ryuzel called as he raced past. "I should be thanking you!" Laimar-san replied.

"Laimar-san, withdraw at once as well!" I shouted as we passed. "Leave the rear guard to us!" came the reply.

At last, we broke through the enemy lines.

When I looked back, Wickhart-sama was right beside me.

"Are you all right!? Sorry, but we'll be heading south for a while! Just one more push!" "I'm sorry!" His reply still sounded full of energy.

After that, we raced south as hard as we could. Whether we could escape depended on luck and the "something" we'd prepared in advance.

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"A surprise attack!? From where!" General Franklurt kicked the chair aside.

"From both north and south!"

"Our army is in disarray!"

"The enemy has formed a single mass and broken through our lines!"

One unbelievable report after another came pouring in.

"What in the world is happening!?" Franklurt shouted into empty space. The nearby aide trembled.

"S-sir, order an immediate pursuit! We can strike them from behind now!" As the aide desperately offered his suggestion, another report came rushing in.

"A huge blaze has erupted in the northern part of the far bank!"

"What now!? What's happening!?"

"We don't know! In any case, there are flames blazing bright red!"

"Some kind of stratagem...?" General Franklurt pondered, staring into empty space.

"General... the pursuit..."

"We will not."

"Are you sure that's wise...?" the aide asked cautiously.

"The river can't be crossed now. What does that mean...? The enemy saw through our strategy and lay in wait. We've been monitoring the surrounding area... If so... they must have taken a wide detour and hidden themselves in advance... And those mysterious flames. It can't be... but could General Rays already have arrived?"

"General Rays? Of the Tenth Knight Order? But the Tenth Knight Order's advance party only arrived yesterday..."

"What if that itself is a trap to lull us into complacency? If we pursue them, couldn't they strike us from behind again—or attack this command post while its defenses are thin?"

"No way... That can't be..."

"We will not pursue them. I cannot risk the fate of my entire army for the sake of one greenhorn's head... We have lost."

Having forced the words out, General Franklurt sank heavily to the ground.