The Battle at Yurba Fort (2)

The Cashew Garrison, clad in dull-gray armor, and the Demon Army, clad in black armor, advanced toward one another, closing the distance.

"Archers! Three volleys!"

Hardy ordered the archers led by Graves to fire. Almost simultaneously, the Demon Army returned fire, and arrows rained down on both armies.

The soldiers raised their shields to block the falling arrows. Several fell, but the soldiers continued forward.

We had thirty archers, while the Demon Army had around fifty, giving them the numerical advantage. However, the Demon Army numbered only around three hundred in total, so the two sides were relatively evenly matched.

However, an archery unit that was small to begin with could not inflict serious damage. Infantry was the key to war. Amid the falling arrows, the infantry advanced at a steady pace.

Even with the enemy right before them, the soldiers did not break into a run. They probably wanted to charge the enemy at a full sprint, shouting all the while, but they held themselves back until the last possible moment.

A charge gained power from momentum, but it could not last. The extra running would only waste their strength.

To make an ideal charge, we had to draw the enemy in as close as possible.

The Demon Army was advancing at the same steady pace.

The way both sides continued forward while restraining themselves was like a bow drawn taut.

Wasn't it time to charge? Just a little farther! I can't hold back any longer! Not yet, draw them in closer! We can do this! Let's go! Hurry!

With the enemy before them, I could almost hear the soldiers yearning for the order to charge. The sweat of their mounting tension seemed to carry a concentrated scent of bloodlust and excitement all the way to the main headquarters.

I can't hold back any longer!

When I sensed that the soldiers had reached their limit, Otto, standing at the very front in the center of the formation, let out a beastlike roar and raised his enormous warhammer.

At Otto's roar, the soldiers shouted as one and dashed forward like arrows. Almost simultaneously, a battle cry rose from the Demon Army, and they charged with their spears thrust out.

The two armies slammed into each other.

Sword clashes sent sparks flying, and fresh blood danced across the battlefield. Screams and war cries became tangled together.

Many soldiers were wounded or had fallen, but we were not losing. We were killing more of them than they were killing of us. The Cashew Garrison had a slight advantage. In addition to our numerical advantage, the Demon Army's pressure was weaker than I had expected. Perhaps their morale was low because Prince Henri had slain their general, leaving them as routed remnants.

"The two wings are pushing them back, but the center is stubborn as expected."

Velli-sensei analyzed the situation as he watched the battle. The two wings were indeed pushing forward, but the center was holding firm. In particular, a unit clad in red armor was keeping Otto and Kyle at bay. Those red-armored soldiers appeared to be elites.

The infantry battle was evenly matched. We needed a powerful blow to decide the outcome.

"Captain Rome, it's our turn."

Al stepped forward.

First we had our infantry clash, then we targeted the enemy's rear with cavalry. It was the same tactic we had used in the battle against the ant people.

However, we could not easily get around to the rear. Around fifty cavalrymen and roughly fifty reserves remained near the Demon Army's main headquarters. Even if we launched a cavalry charge, they would stop us.

"Romelia, target their rear with the cavalry and draw out their cavalry and reserves. Then have our reserves circle around from both sides and encircle them."

Velli-sensei proposed a plan. It had a good chance of success. However, I did not immediately adopt it.

"No, not yet."

I did not send the cavalry out immediately. Something was bothering me.

Something was wrong. The enemy's movements were strange. Rather than their pressure being weak, they lacked aggressiveness. They had fewer soldiers than we did, so they should have been wary of letting us seize the initiative. Why weren't they making the first move? Did they have some kind of plan? But this was an unexpected encounter. They could not have prepared for it or devised a strategy beforehand.

I looked at the red-armored commander directing the battle from the center of the main headquarters.

The commander's bearing was as imposing as the fine armor they wore. There was no doubt this was a battle-hardened general. Perhaps such seasoned veterans did not consider an enemy of this size worth taking seriously.

As I continued staring at the Demon Army's commander, they suddenly glanced behind them for the briefest moment.

It was an insignificant gesture. The commander had looked back for only an instant, then immediately faced forward again and appeared to issue orders to their subordinates.

But when I saw the commander look back, something inside me clicked into place.

At that moment, all color vanished from my vision, even sound receded into the distance, and the noise of the battlefield fell silent.

It was that strange sensation I had experienced during the battle against the ant people.

I could survey the battlefield from above, grasping not only the movements of our soldiers but even the enemy soldiers' slightest movements, awareness, and shifts in their gazes.

It felt as though I had the battlefield in the palm of my hand, but it was slightly different from before.

It's dark.

The colors were gone from my vision, but unlike before, I did feel the darkness. Previously, I had been able to see everything on the battlefield clearly. This time, however, it was not as clear as before. Much of my vision was dark and indistinct.

Our soldiers were not affected as badly, but the Demon Army was somewhat blurred in my vision.

I did not understand what differed between this time and the last, but I had regained this sensation. There was no reason not to use it. Besides, it had revealed one thing to me. I needed to go and confirm it.

"Hey, Romelia?"

Velli-sensei called out to me. When I looked over, my mentor was somehow startled by my expression. But that did not matter now. I turned to Al and Ray and gave them their orders.

"Al, Ray. We are going to launch a cavalry charge. I will be joining you, so prepare yourselves."

It was dangerous, but I needed to join this charge myself.

"Captain Rome too?"

Al looked surprised, but I ignored him. There was no time to argue now.

"Miecha, Sei, Bly, Shuro. You will join the cavalry as well. Each of you will lead ten cavalrymen and accompany us."

I gave orders to the four members of the Rome Unit whom I had kept close at hand as guards for the main headquarters. I would need their strength for what I was about to do.

Finally, I turned to Hardy and Velli-sensei.

"Hardy, Sensei, I'm counting on you here. We will draw out the Demon Army's cavalry and reserves. When the opportunity arises, commit our reserves as well."

The encirclement plan Velli-sensei had proposed earlier was a good one. However, we needed to pull the cavalry and reserves completely apart, and that was something I could handle.

"Yeah, got it. I don't know what you're planning, but I'm counting on you."

Velli-sensei nodded, despite looking surprised.

"Someone, get me a horse!"

I rattled off commands, had a horse brought over, then donned my helmet and checked my equipment.

"Captain Rome, are you really coming?"

Al, who was waiting behind me, asked again.

"Yes. I have to."

As I answered, I checked the tack on the horse that had been brought to me.

"But the commander doesn't need to go forward to draw out the cavalry and reserves in the rear."

Ray made a valid point. Certainly, I did not need to lead a cavalry unit myself just to do that much.

"Yes. That's why we aren't attacking the enemy's rear. We're going to target that place."

I mounted my beloved horse, extended my right hand straight ahead, and pointed toward the depths of the battlefield. Farther back than the enemy commander's position lay a cluster of wagons that appeared to be the baggage train and the rear headquarters, where tents had been pitched.

That was where the Demon Army's commander had glanced earlier.

"What's over there?"

Ray asked, not understanding.

"The true enemy in this battle."

I smiled confidently.