Chapter 94
Sancho's forces, a mix of large mercenary groups and regular troops, carefully moved to the expected location.
-Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The soldiers, lightly armed in anticipation of forest combat, moved quietly but quickly, while the scout units guarded the surroundings without straying far from the main force.
Perhaps because of this.
"...It's here."
They reached the point where Imanol had decided to retreat, discovering traces he had left while fleeing, without any ambush from the Red Dragon Corps.
"The enemy... doesn't seem to be visible."
"...There's a bit of gunpowder spilled here. Judging by the direction of the spill, it seems they headed towards where our left wing was stationed."
"We might be a step late..."
The officers exchanged opinions in low voices.
As they had seen the possibility of defeating the enemy piecemeal, they were disappointed by the situation where that opportunity seemed to have vanished.
"...This is ominous."
"Pardon?"
Sancho muttered in a grave voice.
"These are the ones who found out the positions of our scouts hidden in the forest. Those who ambushed our well-concealed left wing and intercepted Baron Rey's forces trying to join up couldn't possibly be this docile."
Sancho raised his vigilance to the maximum, feeling as if the Red Dragon Corps was watching them from above.
He didn't expect crude deception to succeed.
Feeling completely entangled in Viktor's strategy, he started to feel mentally cornered, but tried his best not to show the sense of powerlessness he was feeling while mentioning the Red Dragon Corps' excellent tracking and mobility.
"...Isn't this finally a gap they've shown? Their scouts can't be perfect either."
"Not much time has passed since these traces were left. Since the enemy is fighting while still wearing their heavy armor, we might be able to pursue them."
"..."
However, the officers, unaware of Sancho's inner thoughts, perceived his words as merely raising alertness as usual, and still had confidence as they hadn't directly experienced defeat.
"How about joining up with the right wing even now? Since the enemy's damage is minimal, there's no guarantee we'll have a numerical advantage unless we ambush them perfectly."
"If we give up all the forest on the left, we'll have to fight the enemy with the main road between us. How are we supposed to close that distance and fight without our cavalry forces!"
"Baron Rey, are you scared of defeat? This is our land, our homeland! If we retreat from here, how far are you planning to give up?"
"That's right! Now is our chance while the enemy forces are scattered in the forest!"
Even Imanol, who had mentioned the proposal Sancho wanted, was silenced by the barrage of rebuttals, and the officers unanimously argued for pursuit.
"...Baron Rey is right. If the enemy has joined up, we'll have to fight an enemy that outnumbers us, is better armed, and has morale that pierces the sky."
"But..."
"The enemy must have entered the forest confident they could win. It seems best to retreat even now and gather the forces of the left and right wings that have already retreated."
However, Sancho, who had pondered rationally until the end, decided to retreat before suffering greater losses.
"Are you afraid of taking responsibility for defeat? Feel free to use me as an excuse."
"...Your Excellency."
"Say that General Sancho Gonzales was too cowardly and lost a battle that could have been won. You can tell His Majesty that. But if we don't retreat from here, you might not even get the chance to see His Majesty again."
"..."
"Don't worry, unit leaders. I'll definitely pay your compensation. If it's not enough, I'll sell my house to pay you."
"If you insist to that extent..."
"...We'll follow Your Excellency's orders."
As Sancho preemptively mentioned what the officers and unit leaders were worried about, they no longer raised their voices against him.
"...It's a shame."
"We'll barely avoid a deficit."
The unit leaders who wouldn't receive the juicy additional combat pay just muttered in disappointment.
"We'll join up with the right wing that should be moving this way. Baron Botet. I'll entrust you with the 1st and 2nd Infantry. Take charge of our rear."
"Understood."
Just as the kingdom's army was changing formation to prepare for retreat,
-Ratatatatat!
"Argh!"
"Enemy!"
Bullets flew from the direction that had been the front of the formation, now becoming the rear.
Although the incoming bullets seemed few in number, the kingdom's army, preparing to retreat, couldn't respond nimbly.
"...Damn it."
"Your Excellency! What should we do!"
"The enemy's numbers aren't large! At least, it's not their main force!"
"Hah..."
Sancho, who had been gritting his teeth, heard Alejo's report that the enemy numbers were few and quickly took a deep breath to calm his anger.
The ambush that seemed to have started as if waiting for their retreat looked like part of a net to trap the kingdom's army, or like a last chance for counterattack.
And considering the Red Dragon Corps' movements seen so far, the former possibility seemed greater.
After pondering the response for a moment, he brightened his eyes as he saw the officers and mercenary leaders showing silent expectations.
"Baron Botet, counterattack aggressively! Are the mercenary units ready!"
"Of course!"
"The enemy is likely the force that ambushed Baron Rey's troops, and their numbers are at most half of ours! After annihilating them, we'll strike the enemy's main force together with the right wing arriving for support!"
"Understood!"
The unit leaders, who had received compensation but wanted the generous additional pay Sancho had mentioned earlier, immediately ran towards the mercenaries, and,
"Stop for a moment, Baron Botet."
"...Why?"
"Pretend to counterattack moderately, then quickly withdraw the troops. We're going to retreat."
"...!"
Sancho caught Fran Botet, who was running off following orders, and whispered quietly.
Despite the brief whisper, Fran understood its meaning, nodded, and then ran towards the direction of the enemy's attack, and,
"The policy hasn't changed. Prepare to retreat!"
"...Pardon? Just now..."
-Shing.
"If you open your mouth any further, I'll consider it insubordination. Move!"
"Ah, understood!"
After confirming that the unit leaders had gone far, Sancho drew his sword to prevent any resistance from arising and carefully prepared to retreat without being noticed by the mercenaries.
"The 8th Infantry will..."
"...Didn't you say Lord Hugo would command the 8th Infantry?"
"Ah, right. Then..."
However, before his anxious retreat preparations could finish,
-Ratatatatat!
"Enemy attack!"
"..."
A clearly larger number of enemies than those who had ambushed the rear attacked the kingdom army's flank.
"...Tell Baron Botet. Move to the flank immediately and attack the enemy. Hurry!"
"Understood!"
"Baron Rey."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"...I'll take responsibility for looking after your family. You'll remain not as a defeated general, but as an honorable hero."
"..."
"Baron Rey! I'll give you the 4th Infantry, counterattack together with Baron Botet!"
"...Yes!"
Amidst the bullets raining from all directions, he persuaded Imanol, who had been feeling guilty about the defeat, to conduct a delaying action together with Fran, and,
"Retreat!"
He led the remaining forces to retreat in the direction where the right wing should be approaching.
-Ratatat!
"Ambush!"
"...Ignore it! Don't counterattack, keep moving!"
However, with the continuous ambushes, even those forces gradually diminished.
"...Why aren't they visible yet...!"
The right wing forces, which should have been encountered long ago considering their movement speed, still hadn't shown themselves.
"Wh-what? What's going on!"
Finally, Sancho was able to join up with the right wing only after reaching the main road with his exhausted body.
"...Why are you so late!"
"We departed as soon as the messenger arrived!"
"...What?"
The commander of the right wing brought the messenger who had arrived, and,
"...Only this messenger arrived?"
"No other messengers came."
He could recall that this was the messenger he had instructed to take the outermost route possible, disregarding distance.
"...Ha. Haha..."
Sancho, who had been laughing dryly,
-Clang!
"You bastard!"
"Your Excellency!"
"Do you think this makes sense!"
"What do you..."
"Please calm down for now!"
"It doesn't make sense! It doesn't! Aaaaargh! Haaaaaaah!"
He threw his sword and screamed wildly, filled with the terrible irrationality and resentment he felt.
The officers, seeing this behavior for the first time, all clung to him, trying to calm him down.
A few minutes later,
"...Move to the rendezvous point."
"..."
"We'll join up with the remaining left wing forces and return to the Ceres Gate."
Having barely calmed down, he ordered the retreat in a completely drained voice.
"...Your Excellency."
"Don't say anything. This happened because I was incompetent, because I was lacking."
"..."
"Move quickly. I fear the enemy's ambush."
The kingdom's army completely retreated from Al Berdo Pass and moved to the Ceres Gate.
Out of about 16,000 mercenaries and 12,000 regular troops who had participated in the battle, only 10,000 in total were able to return to the gate.
---
As the long battle concluded, the Red Dragon Corps began cleanup operations.
"The enemy's right wing has completely retreated!"
"The annihilation of the delaying force is also complete."
The Red Dragon Corps officers reported the battle situation, and Viktor was sitting in the middle of the tent with his eyes closed as usual.
With his head deeply bowed, he looked as if he was sleeping, but as he usually would suddenly get up and give orders even in this state, the officers didn't pay much attention.
"Most of the enemy mercenary units have chosen to surrender. Currently, preparations are being made to transport them to the rear."
"General, for additional orders..."
"...General?"
However, Viktor didn't even move at the continued reports.
Anna approached his side and tapped his shoulder.
"General...?"
As she called him while gently shaking his shoulder, she put her finger under his nose, and then,
"...It seems he's fallen asleep."
She reported that he had completely fallen asleep.
"...It's understandable."
"I've never seen the tent lights go out..."
"For now, let's carry out the General's instructions as given."
"Yes. I'll move the General a bit. Miss Erika."
"Ah, yes!"
As Viktor had fallen asleep only after finishing his follow-up instructions, there was no confusion.
Anna, with Erika's help, carried Viktor on her back and moved him to his personal tent, laying him down.
"..."
There was no reaction even as his body was moved, and he didn't wake up during the process of laying him down and adjusting his posture. Anna, who had pulled up a chair and sat beside him, looked at his fatigue-stricken face with complex emotions.