Chapter 102
"Our target is not the Red Dragon Corps! Move!"
Most of the kingdom's army had been instructed to avoid engaging with the Red Dragon Corps, so except for a small number of light cavalry to draw attention, the kingdom's army attacked only the 5th Corps, avoiding the slowly approaching Red Dragon Corps.
"To the side, to the side!"
"Argh!"
"Raise your shields! Don't get separated from our allies!"
The vanguard infantry, completely surrounded by mercenary units and regular troops, was on the verge of breaking formation, and,
"Huff, huff... You cowards, running away!"
"They're coming from behind!"
"These bastards...!"
The 5th Corps cavalry was exhausted from being caught in the wheel tactics of the kingdom's light cavalry, and,
"Enemy cavalry on the right!"
"Again... 3rd Infantry Regiment, stop the enemy's charge for now! The rest keep moving!"
"There are too many enemy cavalry! It's dangerous!"
"...No! We must at least save the cavalry!"
The infantry led by Axel also slowed down due to the cavalry constantly targeting their flanks.
"At this rate, we can completely annihilate them!"
"The Red Dragon Corps is marching for support, making them relatively vulnerable to raids. Should we take this opportunity to attack the Red Dragon Corps as well!"
The kingdom's officers were excited by the situation progressing smoothly according to plan and argued for targeting even the Red Dragon Corps, but,
"...It's about time we prepare to retreat."
"Pardon?"
Satisfied with the sufficient results, Sancho argued for retreat.
"Why are you saying we should retreat now!"
"The enemy's other corps have been completely caught up in our movements, but not the Red Dragon Corps."
"That's right. They continue to march without stopping, and it seems they will soon join with the enemy's rear forces."
"Hmm. Our cavalry is also losing strength, gradually slowing down. The Red Dragon Corps is a difficult opponent unless we're in perfect condition."
"...Yes."
The officers from other countries were dissatisfied with the idea of retreating first from a battle they were winning, but nodded in consideration of the condition of the cavalry that had actively maneuvered.
"Have the cavalry regroup and stand by, and deliver retreat orders to the infantry."
"Understood!"
The kingdom's army prepared to retreat.
"Form ranks and withdraw slowly."
The regular troops attacking the flanks of the infantry led by Kai prepared to retreat first, reorganizing their formation, and,
"Are we retreating?"
"Tch... It's still not enough."
With this, the mercenary forces that had been fighting haphazardly also gradually stopped their offensive.
The cavalry that had been harassing the 5th Corps while avoiding the Red Dragon Corps gathered on the flanks of their infantry, waiting to ambush any pursuing enemies.
"Reinforcements! The Red Dragon Corps has arrived!"
"...We're saved."
The Red Dragon Corps pushed away the remaining raiding parties around and joined with Axel's forces, and,
"The enemy's offensive has weakened!"
"...It could be a trap. We should still..."
Kai, who had already been fooled once by the enemy pretending to retreat, remained cautious even with the enemy's noticeably weaker offensive, but,
"Large-scale forces from the rear! ...It seems to be the Deputy Corps Commander's forces!"
"Finally! How is the enemy's movement?"
"They seem to be withdrawing! The offensive on the flanks has almost stopped!"
"...Let's prepare for a counterattack! This is our chance for revenge!"
As it seemed certain that the kingdom's army was retreating and reinforcements had arrived, they were about to prepare for a large-scale counterattack.
"The condition of our soldiers is not good, so it's difficult to counterattack now. We should leave the offensive to our allies..."
"If we stop, who will grab the ankles of the fleeing enemy! We need to move even now!"
"We can't! If the enemy ambushes us like before, we'll be completely annihilated!"
"We are not cowards who just take a beating and let it go!"
Thinking that the battle shouldn't end now after suffering such heavy losses, Kai tried to resume the attack, pressuring the concerned officers, but.
"Cavalry in front!"
"What? The enemy?"
"No! It's our allies! The Red Dragon Corps!"
"...Hah."
What blocked their path was not the enemy, but the Red Dragon Corps cavalry.
"Well, let's go see."
"...Yes."
Kai let out a dry laugh and moved to the front with his officers.
"Ugh..."
"Get up!"
"My legs, my legs..."
Seemingly ignoring the soldiers whose morale had hit rock bottom, they strode forward, and,
"Stop!"
"The enemy cavalry is preparing to counterattack!"
Soon, they could face the Red Dragon Corps cavalry shouting at the soldiers to stop in front of them.
Kai approached the one who seemed to be their leader.
"...Hey."
"Don't come any closer!"
"Hah... Don't you know who I am?"
"I don't. And I don't think I need to know."
To Kai's call, Regiment Commander Heinrich Rauch responded gruffly.
Kai tried to approach despite Heinrich's warning, but,
-Click.
"What are you doing?"
"I clearly warned you. Don't come any closer."
"...This is not the time to waste like this."
At Heinrich's gesture, soldiers who had dismounted raised their guns and aimed at Kai.
After glaring at them for a moment, Kai,
"I am Baron Kai Schuh. Why are you blocking our path?"
He stepped back and questioned him.
"Heinrich Rauch, Cavalry Regiment Commander of the Red Dragon Corps. I'm carrying out Corps Commander Viktor's orders."
"Sigh... This is not the time for this. Push the forces in front and tell Corps Commander Viktor. Now is the perfect opportunity to counterattack."
Kai tried to persuade Heinrich, who was being rigid, but,
"The enemy has regrouped their cavalry and is preparing to strike the flanks, and the rear of the retreating enemy is guarded by elite kingdom regular troops. He said now is the time to regroup."
"Would Viktor's judgment from behind be more accurate, or my judgment from fighting on the frontline? Even now..."
"Our cavalry only follows Corps Commander Viktor's orders."
"..."
He gave up trying to persuade in the face of such an unyielding attitude.
"What are you doing! Everyone, prepare to march!"
"March...?"
"There's no time! Quickly form ranks!"
Instead, he approached the soldiers who were relieved at the cry that there would be no more fighting, demanding them to prepare to march.
"Stop this! They..."
"They're still our allies, aren't they! If we push forward, how could they stop us!"
"..."
As the 5th Corps officers hesitated, overwhelmed by Kai's momentum,
"Prepare to fire."
"...What?"
-Click.
At Heinrich's word, the cavalry aimed their guns above the heads of the 5th Corps soldiers.
"Are you crazy?"
"You're the crazy one. I'm warning you. If you don't stop now, we'll have no choice but to respond forcefully."
"...Think we'll be scared? Move! I said march!"
Despite Heinrich's warning, Kai urged the soldiers, and,
"Fire."
-Ratatatatat!
With Heinrich's order, the front-line soldiers fired into the air.
-Thud.
"Eek!"
"I-I'm not going!"
The soldiers who had reluctantly stood up at the officers' orders sat down at the gunfire ringing in their ears, and no one listened to Kai's voice.
"...You're insane."
"We didn't load bullets this time, but there won't be a next time."
"..."
Kai, who hadn't expected Heinrich to go this far, had no choice but to back down.
He returned to the rear, mulling over his situation, and,
"Our allies have arrived, they say."
"...Is that so?"
At the news that Axel and Viktor's forces had arrived, he immediately headed to where they were.
"Where is Corps Commander Viktor?"
"...Over there."
Cutting through the disgruntled soldiers, he arrived in front of Viktor and Axel.
"Why did you stop! The enemy was clearly focused on us, and they even showed their backs while retreating just now!"
"..."
"Shouldn't we have caught them, and you annihilated them! What was the reason for interfering to the point of sending troops to block our way!"
He shouted loudly as if spewing out his anger, but Viktor's gaze watching this was cold.
After briefly looking at Axel standing beside him,
"Insubordination, especially in a combat situation, is a serious crime. Arrest them."
He ordered the arrest of the officers, including Kai.
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
"Wh-what..."
Soldiers from the Red Dragon Corps came out with ropes, tying up the bewildered officers.
"Are you in your right mind! We belong to the 5th Corps! This is clearly overstepping your authority!"
"Deputy Corps Commander! What is this about!"
"Why are you just standing there!"
The officers, who thought Axel would discipline them if anything, called out to Axel in surprise, but he remained silent.
Rather, seeing him lowering his gaze and watching Viktor's reaction, the officers' confusion grew.
"Corps Commander Viktor, remove these ropes immediately..."
"You're noisy."
Viktor approached them as they twisted their bodies, grabbing Kai by the collar.
"Ugh..."
"If you want to talk about overstepping authority, you should at least maintain some basic standards."
"Gah..."
"You didn't follow Her Majesty's orders, my request, or Deputy Corps Commander Axel Lübeck's instructions, and you handed over half of the 5th Corps to the enemy. And yet you get angry asking why we stopped, I'm speechless."
"What on earth..."
"Blinded by greed, you crossed the line this far. Even paying with your life wouldn't be enough."
He released Kai's collar as if throwing him, and,
"Lock them up. After finishing the field cleanup, appropriate punishment will be given. And, Deputy Corps Commander Axel."
"Yes."
"Make sure this never happens again."
"...Yes."
Now that the corps' size was insufficient and Viktor had cleaned up the major mistake made by his subordinate,
He could only weakly agree to Viktor's words, who spoke as if he was completely in charge.
"..."
Viktor, having warned Axel as well, watched the backs of the officers being dragged away with a sharp gaze.