Episode 81: The Fall of Forssa Fort

　Forssa Fort—a small-scale stronghold with essential defensive facilities like wells and barracks, centered around a two-story brick tower.

　Surrounding the fort was a wooden fence, and in front of it, about 50 soldiers stood on standby.

“By now, Suneiras’s unit might’ve already taken care of the enemy.”

　The man standing in the center of the soldiers—the platoon leader in command here—muttered softly.

　They were the reserve force waiting to intercept any enemy soldiers in the unlikely event that Suneiras’s unit failed to eliminate them all.

　That said, no one believed Suneiras would ever let an enemy slip through.

“Seriously, the enemy’s got rotten luck… having to face off against Captain Suneiras of all people.”

　Suneiras had a sinister personality and wasn’t exactly beloved even among his allies.

　But regardless of his character, no one doubted his strength.

“Hm? Are they back…?”

　A soldier spotted moving shadows in the darkness and called out.

“That was quicker than expected—…huh?”

　The soldier’s expression darkened.

　What emerged from the darkness—was an unfamiliar formation.

　Leading them was a silver-haired young man, flanked on his left and right by a red-haired woman and a tall man.

“No way…”

　An impossible scenario.—Yet, that impossible event had occurred.

　Namely, Suneiras’s defeat.

“H-hey! Signal the tower! Sound the alarm for enemy attack! Wake up the resting soldiers!”

　The platoon leader shouted in a furious roar.

　Even including the soldiers on break, there were only about 100 troops left in Forssa Fort.

　But the enemy’s numbers—by rough estimate, were more than double that.

　Their disadvantage was clear. Still, they had no choice but to fight. …But even that thought was naive.

“H-help! It’s an enemy attack!”

　Surprisingly, the scream came from behind.

　Turning around, they saw a single soldier rushing toward them, his face pale with terror.

“Th-the beastfolk… they suddenly attacked… and they’re trying to take over the tower!”

“Impossible…!”

　The enemy wasn’t just coming from the front.

　They had scaled the fence on the fort’s side and infiltrated from there.

“Damn…!”

　Forssa Fort had two entrances: one at the front and one on the east side. The other areas were blocked by steep mountains, making escape impossible.

　In other words—they had no way out.

“Wh-what do we do…?”

“H-how did this happen…?”

　The soldiers raised their voices in confusion and fear. But then, another blow struck.

“Let’s go, you lot—charge!”

　The tall man leading the enemy forces gave the order and led the assault on Forssa Fort.

“Eek… G-get into defensive positions!”

　The platoon leader desperately shouted.

　He knew the wooden fence could be broken through easily. Still, he attempted resistance, clinging to his last shred of hope.

　But—.

“Gah…!”

“Guah…!”

　Arrows flew in from behind, piercing the soldiers. Likely fired by the beastfolk who had seized the tower.

“Uah… Aaaah…!”

　Enemy soldiers closing in from the front. Arrows raining down from the rear.

　By now, Forssa Fort had no means left to resist.

 

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　In the end, the garrison at Forssa Fort declared their surrender.

　Siegvolt’s unit bound them, stationed guards, and herded them into the warehouse.

　Thus, Siegvolt had defeated Suneiras and successfully captured the fort.

　He gathered his officers in the operations room on the first floor of the tower.

“—I can’t believe we took the fort this easily.”

　Leon was the first to speak.

　After murmuring that with a tone mixed with surprise, he directed a slightly sulky gaze at Siegvolt.

“But… couldn’t you have told us beforehand? …About Bertram being connected to the enemy forces.”

　As those words indicated, Siegvolt hadn’t informed Leon at all about Bertram’s ties to the Serodonia Kingdom.

　No, it wasn’t just Leon. Aside from Fen and the guerrilla unit, he hadn’t revealed that fact to anyone.

“To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies—that’s a fundamental rule of warfare.”

　If he had told them in advance, it might have caused unnatural behavior in Leon and the others, allowing the enemy to sense their internal situation.

　That would have ruined everything— that’s what Siegvolt seemed to imply.

“May I ask one thing as well?”

　Beatrice spoke up quietly.

　Siegvolt nodded silently, urging her to continue.

“How did you figure out Commander Bertram’s connection to the Serodonia Kingdom…?”

“You saw it too, Beatrice.”

“Saw it…?”

“The paintings and vases displayed on the first floor of the Eastern Front Command Headquarters.”

　Beatrice searched her memory.

　Indeed, when she visited the commander with Siegvolt, the paintings and vases on display had caught her eye.

　But she couldn’t understand what they signified.

“The painting showed a manticore, a monster that appears in Serodonia Kingdom’s legends, making it a standard motif in their art. On the other hand, it’s almost never depicted in the Kirchhen Kingdom. The vases were also in Serodonian style. In other words—those items were secretly obtained by Bertram, who was colluding with Serodonia.”

　Siegvolt wore an ironic smile.

“Collectors, it seems, can’t resist showing off their collections. To display them so obviously like that—”

Of course, from Bertram’s point of view, he probably thought no one would realize those collections were from Serodonia based on the painting’s subject or the vases’ style.

　Even if someone did, the surrounding officers around him were already mostly his subordinates under his influence.

“And you noticed that… I had no idea you possessed such deep knowledge of art pieces as well…”

“Naturally. Knowledge of art is useful—when it comes to making villains shine.”

　Siegvolt didn’t have a personal obsession with art itself.

　However—art and villains are inseparable.

　Stolen masterpieces, vases replaced with forgeries, art flowing into the black market—such items naturally draw in villains.

　Therefore, it’s only natural to know about them.

“Of course, I didn’t conclude there was a connection to the Serodonia Kingdom just from that. Why would Bertram, one of the five great nobles, stay on the front lines himself instead of delegating to others? The prolonged standoff. And his attitude when I announced the attack on Forssa Fort—. Considering all of that together, I judged that Bertram was in league with the enemy. Then, I mobilized Fen and the others who were operating separately.”

　Fen and her Gray Wolf unit of beastfolk had been acting independently since departing from the Count von Kreving’s estate.

　They had been sent toward the Eastern Front through forests and valleys, out of sight.

Because Siegvolt was certain.

　That Luverios and Joachim were targeting his life.

　That once he arrived at the Eastern Front, they would come for him in some way.

　The hidden troops to counter and turn the tables on them were Fen and her detachment.

“The rest was simple. I deliberately let Bertram know our advance route. Naturally, he’d position ambushers accordingly. To counter those ambushers, we just needed to set up our own ambush—”

“I understand…”

　Beatrice nodded in agreement.

　Next, Fen spoke up.

“So, what next? Are we gonna shove the proof that this Bertram guy’s connected to the Serodonia Kingdom in his face? If so, maybe we should’ve kept that captain Suneiras alive…?”

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t face the man myself, but… from what I’ve heard, ending him right there was the most suitable curtain call for a villain like Suneiras. A man who finds pleasure in luring enemies into traps and killing them, dies by falling into one himself.—That’s a befitting end.”

“Hey, that’s not what I was asking about…”

“I know, Fen.”

　Siegvolt smiled gently.

“Well—suppose we captured Suneiras alive and got a testimony from him. Sure, that would serve as evidence of Bertram’s collusion with the Serodonia Kingdom. But… who exactly do you plan to present that evidence to, and how?”

“Uh…”

“Present it directly to Bertram? He’d just brush it off as ‘Suneiras is lying.’ The other officers in the Eastern Front are mostly under his thumb anyway.”

“Th-then, couldn’t we tell the king?”

“King Luverios is the one targeting my life—. In fact, it’s safe to assume Luverios and Chancellor Joachim are the ones pulling the strings behind this whole thing. Presenting evidence to them wouldn’t accomplish anything.”

“So… even after outsmarting them, we can’t expose Bertram’s wrongdoing?”

“Exactly. —Well, it’s not like there aren’t ways, like getting the other great nobles involved… but that would take too much time. Rather than that— right now, we should take a different approach.”

　With that, Siegvolt turned his gaze to a corner of the room.

Sitting there were two men.

　One was a middle-aged knight with graying hair—Douglas Reed. Beatrice’s subordinate.

　The other was a young man still in his youth—Robert Moran. A soldier in Leon’s unit.

　In this room meant only for officers, their presence felt out of place.

　Indeed, both of them showed signs of tension.

To them, Siegvolt calmly declared.

　“I’m giving you two a special mission.—Carry it out flawlessly.”