Chapter 126
Two days after the allied forces decided on the detailed plan.
About a day faster than expected, an advance force of about 30,000 arrived at the outskirts of Adige.
"These are beings without strategy. They just push with strength and numbers, so if we move according to plan, there should be no problem."
"It's been that way so far. Their movements don't seem to have changed much now either."
"We've also confirmed that they're actively responding to the scouts' luring. It's an opportunity to break the enemy's spearhead."
Unlike Blake, who still seemed to harbor some doubt, Vittorio showed strong confidence.
If their explanation was true, it didn't seem like Caligo was directly commanding the forces.
"I'll trust you."
I extended my hand to Vittorio first, and,
"Yes, let's do well."
As if the word "opportunity" had been ambiguous, this time he didn't frown even when our hands clasped.
---
Most of the allied forces were deployed in the valley of the Berti Forest.
Blake's 12,000 troops were positioned as if blocking the end of the valley, and the 15,000 imperial troops and Vittorio's 9,000 troops were divided on both sides of the valley.
The dwarves would block the enemy's charge once, the imperial army would block the opposite entrance, and the elves in the center would strike.
It was preparation for an ambush utilizing the valley.
The remaining 8,000 or so imperial troops were to wait on both sides of the dwarves to support Blake's forces, and about 3,000 elf troops advanced to the outskirts of the Berti Forest to prepare to lure the enemy forces.
-Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The elves who had moved for observation and luring could hear the regular footsteps characteristic of the forces led by Caligo.
While orcs usually display a wild and disorderly appearance, Caligo's orcs acted more like machines carrying out simple instructions.
They chased after the elves, not caring about getting caught on trees or trampling fallen comrades.
"..."
"...Hah."
The elves who had watched such scenes many times tried to suppress the creeping fear.
"Don't be too scared. There are only orcs ahead."
"Can those bastards climb trees or fly? They'll never be able to chase us."
"..."
As the sensitive elves of the Labria Republic confirmed they were deployed in the rear, they carefully conversed and comforted each other.
After everyone was prepared, they cautiously approached the advancing enemy forces.
"..."
The elves hid among the bushes to approach them, carefully nocked their arrows, and,
-Swoosh!
Fired simultaneously at the orcs who were only looking forward as they walked.
-Thud. Thud thud.
Except for arrows that luckily hit vital points like the eyes, the arrows shot from the scouts' short bows couldn't properly penetrate the orcs' skin, but.
"...!"
Like a wave starting from the vanguard hit by arrows, the orcs all turned their heads in the direction the arrows came from, and,
"Run!"
-Crack! Rustle!
The elves fled to the designated location, deliberately making loud noises to fully draw attention.
To this, the orcs not under Caligo's direct command simply began to sprint towards the direction where the elves disappeared, as they had been ordered.
Such luring began in various parts of the Berti Forest, continuously attracting dozens or more orcs, which soon created a clear tendency in the orcs' movements.
-Crack! Crunch!
"Quickly! We can't let the distance narrow!"
"...If we go this way, we'll overlap with Sandra! Run that way!"
The elves occasionally shot arrows backward to maintain the orcs' interest, and gradually gathered towards the valley where the allied forces were ambushed, adjusting each other's movement routes to some extent through mental communication.
Eventually, small groups of orcs began to enter the valley.
"They said you need to withstand some of the initial charge!"
"We will!"
For certain annihilation, the elf dispatched as a messenger conveyed that Blake needed to take the attack until many orcs entered the valley.
"...You seem to trust the elves too much."
An old dwarf officer expressed concern to Blake, who seemed to completely trust the elves, but,
"It was just that they were strange before. Think about it sensibly. This is elven land, what reason would they have not to do their best!"
"That's..."
"The enemy is charging!"
"Prepare for defense! Don't you know how important our task is!"
"...Understood."
Blake, who liked Vittorio's changed attitude, judged the elves by common sense.
-Thud!
"Ugh...!"
"Stick together and put strength into it! We can't be pushed back!"
The dwarves held up huge shields that came almost to their heads, withstanding the body slams of orcs more than twice their size.
"..."
"..."
Confirming that the dwarves were becoming increasingly engrossed in battle, the main body of elves prepared for escape in advance by slowly moving to the rear while pretending to prepare for battle.
As the enemy's vanguard was smaller than expected, they postponed their original plan of striking a big blow by completely abandoning the humans and dwarves until the enemy's main force arrived.
Their goal was a relatively minor revenge of moving troops passively as long as the imperial army and dwarves didn't notice, and retreating first.
"Now!"
"Let's go!"
"Waaaah!"
Dozens of minutes later, when more than 20,000 orcs had gathered in the valley.
The imperial army, which had been looking down on the valley from both sides, advanced and cut off the orcs' rear.
"Fire!"
The longbowmen poured a rain of arrows towards the center of the orcs from the high ground, and,
"Thrust!"
-Thud! Crack!
The infantry, thoroughly maintaining their formation, pushed the orcs in as much as possible with spears.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
The elves on the outside of the formation also attacked the orcs together.
"Our allies have begun the ambush!"
"Good! Everyone, put your strength into it!"
When this news reached the dwarves who had been waiting for the elves to move out with suspicion, they became completely engrossed in battle, and,
-Thud!
"Aaaah!"
"Stick your spears in the ground and hold!"
The imperial army in the rear, which had to withstand pressure similar to the front, didn't seem to have the leisure to look elsewhere.
"..."
Moreover, as the width of the valley was narrow, the gap between the imperial army surrounding the orcs, the elven ambush team, and the dwarves was not significantly widened.
"...!"
"..."
The elves saw this as an opportunity and tried to slowly retreat, starting with the forces still hidden in the forest.
They carefully conversed through mental communication and tried to pass by the dwarves who were completely engrossed in battle, but,
"..."
"...!"
The reconnaissance team led by Salvatore reported that other forces were deployed on the flank of the dwarves, and.
"...Ah! There you are!"
Despite the elves' efforts not to encounter allies, they encountered a small force led by a human officer on the ridge.
Behind him, a group of imperial troops was approaching widely as if blocking the path.
"What is this..."
Salvatore couldn't hide his confusion and exchanged glances with other elves who had stopped in their tracks.
This encounter was, at least, not in their plan.
However,
"Deputy Commander, it's Stefan! We've been waiting!"
"...What?"
Stefan, a junior officer of the Andau Guard at the front, greeted the elves with an excited voice.
"Weren't you moving for an all-around strike on the enemy! The commander said to wait at this position and prepare for a second ambush together with the elves!"
"...?"
He explained his mission in a clear voice.
Salvatore, who had moved while receiving reports from the advance scout team, didn't properly understand why he had encountered an imperial officer or how the situation was unfolding, but,
"I heard this was something agreed upon in advance. Isn't it?"
"...That's right. Are you ready?"
"Indeed! Let's begin! About 3,000 imperial reserve troops are waiting behind me as well!"
"I see. I'll relay that."
He could recognize that they couldn't do anything about the imperial troops completely blocking their escape route.
"How could this happen, how!"
"...Commander."
"Did they notice... or was it leaked?"
While Vittorio resented Salvatore for having their movements detected by an unremarkable officer, he was also anxious about why the forces that were supposed to support the dwarves were blocking the ridge.
"...Let's follow along."
"What?"
"Move!"
"Ah, yes!"
For now, he instructed to cooperate with the imperial troops who seemed not to suspect.
"..."
"..."
The elves who had been preparing to retreat had no choice but to prepare for battle again, and,
"Charge!"
Together with the imperial reserve forces, they rushed towards the orcs in the valley.
"Ha, haha..."
Vittorio sat down in the forest, letting out a dry laugh at the situation not going as expected, when,
"A messenger from Commander Viktor has arrived."
"...What?"
An imperial messenger who wasn't even out of breath approached him.
"He said part of the reserve forces will remain on the ridge to respond to any sudden movements by remaining enemy elves or orcs!"
"...Is that all?"
"Yes!"
"..."
As if telling him not to think strange thoughts, the messenger threw out one sentence and left. Vittorio stared blankly at the back of his head, then,
"Hey, Hugo."
"Yes, Commander!"
"Did we ever communicate our position to the humans?"
He asked Hugo, who was nearby, about the strange point that suddenly occurred to him.
"No, we didn't. ...Huh."
Hugo's mouth opened again after his short answer, and,
"...I have a bad feeling."
Vittorio felt an ominous premonition creeping up on him.