Chapter 99
At this rate, we won't hold out.
After seeing how things stood once the first night's raid was over, I knew for certain.
Rodelight will probably come again tomorrow night. Of course, the enemy will attack during the day as well.
The fortress's size is working against us. Under normal circumstances, this fortress is large enough to easily hold out for around ten days even under the same conditions, but this time things are different.
This is an all-or-nothing battle for Golbel. Since they are forcing an extremely short decisive battle, they are relying heavily on brute-force assaults. Even in the future I know, this is probably one of the reasons both armies suffered heavy losses in this battle.
And there are no reinforcements. Without replenishing our ranks, we're bound to be worn down.
The enemy has seen through our exhaustion as well. It goes without saying that they'll attack even more fiercely tomorrow—during the day and after sunset.
I had to come up with some kind of plan. And quickly.
"We won the first day!!"
Late at night, as I listened to Boldras-sama's victory cry rallying the soldiers, I simply stared into the darkness where Rodelight had gone.
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"Eat! Eat! Eat as much as you like!"
Early the next morning, Boldras-sama opened the food stores and distributed provisions to the soldiers.
"The enemy will leave if we wait four days! There's no need to ration! Eat whatever you like and build up your strength!"
Using the words Rufa, the battle priestess, had delivered as an oracle as a shield, Boldras-sama emphasized the accumulated snow as something the soldiers could rely on in place of reinforcements. Though the soldiers were only half-convinced, they answered, "Aye!" and dug into whatever they wanted to eat.
Rufa herself had risen early, made soup, and gone around handing it out with breakfast, lifting the soldiers' spirits.
"Roa-dono, aren't you eating? You won't last if you don't."
Seeing me staring blankly, Wickhart spoke up.
"As Wickhart says, you need to eat first. Nothing can begin until you've eaten," Frein said.
"Even if you don't have an appetite, force something down," Ryuzel added.
"Ah, yeah. It's not that I don't have an appetite. I was just thinking..."
"Oh, did you think of something interesting again?" Frein asked. "Yeah... I wonder," I replied vaguely.
I had come up with something.
But the risk was simply too high. To be honest, I wasn't sure whether I should suggest it.
In the end, breakfast ended with me still undecided, and the generals and I were called together. It was time for a war council.
The atmosphere in the room was grim. Everyone was keenly aware of how difficult this battle was.
"Oh, come on, everyone's making faces like we've already lost~. If you keep that up, we'll lose even a battle we could win, you know?" Hock-san joked, but the response was lukewarm.
"Indeed. Let us change our mindset. Nieshock-sama, I'm sorry to ask, but could you command the forces outside to keep the enemy in check again today?"
"Yes. That's what I intend. Ryuzel-chan, you're ready, right?"
"Yes. We are ready."
"And YuiMei...?"
"Of course."
"We're going."
The twins clenched their fists, snorting impatiently.
"Now, as for the deployment of the others..." As Boldras-sama briskly worked through the assignments, someone called out to me. "Roa-dono?" It was Wickhart.
"Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but have you thought of a plan, Roa-dono?" he asked, coming straight to the point.
"Why do you think that?"
"I can't say exactly... You just had that look."
Before I knew it, the generals nearby had put the deployment discussion on hold and were watching our conversation.
I was honestly still a little hesitant, but at this point I decided I should tell them. I steeled myself.
"I was wondering if we should spread some false information."
"A rumor?"
"Yes. If it works, it could make things rather interesting... but it might be too dangerous to use."
When Hock-san urged me to tell them, saying, "Whatever it is, tell us," I slowly began explaining my idea.
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That night, after Roa proposed his plan.
At Golbel's main camp, General Zegabain returned to his command tent after the day's battle and let out a deep sigh.
We attacked even more recklessly than on the first day, but as expected, it still wasn't that easy to take...
Though he muttered that, in reality, just as the strategist had said, things were proceeding in Golbel's favor for now.
Rodelight often acted on his own without consulting anyone, but this time, things seemed to have turned out well for us.
If I let Rodelight have his way again tonight, we might be able to take Kitzar Fortress tomorrow. No—considering the further losses we might suffer, perhaps it would be wiser to wait and make certain of it the day after tomorrow.
But the difficult part would come after that. How many soldiers should we leave at Kitzar Fortress, and how many should we withdraw? It would be no laughing matter if it were recaptured immediately after we had taken it. We would have to station a suitable force there, but if we committed too many troops, it would interfere with the country's defense.
What if I simply left that selfish man in charge of defending the fortress? Then, even if Rudek took it back, the responsibility would be Rodelight's. That might not be a bad idea.
In any event, I wanted to keep our casualties as low as possible...
As Zegabain pondered what to do after taking the fortress, an aide approached him.
"What is it? I'm busy right now."
"I apologize. Someone wishing to establish a secret line of communication has requested an audience with Zegabain-sama."
Outside, the spirited shouts of the unit led by Rodelight rang out.