Episode 53: Ambush Battle

A dry, heavy bass reverberates across the grand training field. It’s the signal of the horn, announcing the start of the match.

Yompaldo, serving as the general of Karadis Dorm, tamps down his anger toward Siegfried for the moment and calmly issues orders.

“Let’s proceed as planned. Leave 20 behind, and the remaining 80 will advance.”

This is the most fundamental tactic in dorm battles. Station the minimum number of troops to guard the flag, while the main force moves to the front. It’s a method of building a battle line while gauging the enemy’s movements.

“…It seems Slade Dorm is employing the same strategy as us.”

At the words of the student serving as the second-in-command of the Karadis Dorm team, Yompaldo nods.

Slade Dorm, led by Siegfried, has also left a minimal unit to protect their flag and is advancing with roughly 80 troops.

“In the end, this approach has the highest win rate…”

It’s a tried-and-true theory honed over 30 years of dorm battles.

And if they fight according to this standard, Karadis, with superior horses and equipment, will emerge victorious.

Even so, Yompaldo remains cautious.

(If we clash head-on like this, Siegfried must know he has no chance of winning… He’s definitely planning something.)

Both armies gradually close the distance, finally reaching a point where they’re moments away from colliding.

That’s when it happens. Siegfried makes his move.

Leading a group of about 10, he suddenly breaks away from the main force.

“…An ambush!?”

Yompaldo braces himself.

In dorm battles, the victory condition is to seize the enemy’s flag. It’s not necessary to annihilate the opposing army. A surprise attack on the flag could secure victory in an instant.

Yompaldo reads Siegfried’s intent as an ambush aimed at Karadis Dorm’s flag.

Indeed, Siegfried is maneuvering around Yompaldo’s army, as if targeting the flag.

“…I’ll leave this position to the vice-general! First unit, 40 strong, follow me!”

Yompaldo splits his army in two, entrusting half to the vice-general and leading the remaining 40 to block Siegfried’s path.

Here, Siegfried halts his unit.

The forces led by Siegfried and Yompaldo lock eyes in a tense standoff.

“Hey, Siegfried-kun.”

Yompaldo calls out, raising his voice. They’re already close enough for words to carry.

“It’s a shame… that it’s come to us fighting like this.”

“A shame, you say? I don’t feel that way.”

Siegfried responds in kind.

Meanwhile, Yompaldo quietly issues orders to his subordinates.

“…Without letting Siegfried notice, circle around to his rear.”

If Yompaldo’s 40 troops clash head-on with Siegfried’s 10, it’s obvious Yompaldo’s side would win.

But Siegfried must know this too. If Yompaldo advances, the enemy will likely retreat.

Thus, Yompaldo’s aim is to encircle Siegfried’s unit. He’ll keep their attention with conversation, while his allies slip behind to cut off their escape route. The plan is to surround and annihilate them.

(And once I take down Siegfried, all that’s left are those pathetic commoners… Victory will be assured then!)

Smirking inwardly, Yompaldo continues his conversation with Siegfried.

“I thought… maybe we could’ve gotten along, you know. But you betrayed my trust.”

“You brought this on yourself, Yompaldo-senpai.”

Siegfried flashes a sardonic smile.

“If you ask me, trusting someone who’d betray and defect like that was your own foolishness. You shouldn’t trust people capable of betrayal. …Quite the lesson, isn’t it, senpai?”

(Tch… how dare he say that so brazenly…!)

Rage swells within Yompaldo, but he forces it down, maintaining a veneer of calm.

“Heh, heh… That’s a good lesson, Siegfried-kun…”

(Go ahead and gloat while you can, Siegfried…!)

Yompaldo steals a glance at the situation around him. The detachment he sent is steadily circling toward Siegfried’s flank.

(Good… just a bit more until we’ve got his rear! Once we cut off his escape, I’ll launch an all-out assault… all at once…!)

“Y-Yompaldo-san…!”

A voice calls from the side—a subordinate. But Yompaldo ignores it.

Whatever the matter, now is the time to focus every nerve on this confrontation with Siegfried.

“Still, Siegfried-kun…”

To keep Siegfried unaware of the encirclement, Yompaldo presses on with the conversation to hold his attention.

But another voice interrupts.

“Yompaldo-san!”

“…Don’t you understand the situation!? Be quiet for a moment!”

Yompaldo snaps at the subordinate. Though momentarily startled by his intensity, the student persists.

“B-But… the unit led by the vice-general is on the verge of annihilation…!”

“—What?”

Yompaldo hurriedly shifts his gaze.

There, a battle unfolds between the Karadis Dorm unit led by the vice-general and Slade Dorm’s forces.

…No, the battle is nearly over. The vice-general’s unit has been crushed by the enemy force led by Leon, crawling on the ground in defeat.

“W-Why…!?”

“There’s nothing strange about it, Yompaldo-senpai.”

Siegfried’s voice cuts through.

“I came here with only 10 troops. That means 70 remain back there. Meanwhile, you brought 40 to face me. That left 40 on your side. A battle of 70 against 40… the outcome is obvious.”

“Ugh… ah…”

The difference in numbers determining victory is a basic principle of warfare.

Yompaldo knows this without Siegfried needing to point it out.

Yet… he failed to notice something so obvious.

To Yompaldo, the only enemy worth noting was Siegfried.

That’s why, when Siegfried broke away, he led 40 troops to confront him.

The key to this battle. The detestable enemy who humiliated him. The one to defeat was him alone.

That fixation blinded him to the broader state of the battle.

And… Siegfried’s true aim wasn’t an ambush. His real goal was the destruction of the enemy’s forces by Leon’s unit.

“Thanks for being so fixated on me, Yompaldo-senpai. Because of that—everything’s set for a stage befitting you.”