Episode 91: The State of Battle
The tide of the battle was gradually beginning to tilt in favor of the Serodonia side.
After all, the Serodonia army outnumbered them in terms of troops.
As the fighting progressed, it was only natural that the difference in numbers would make itself felt.
That said, at the present moment, the front lines were still evenly matched, with only a small number of casualties.
In war, the number of deaths surges dramatically the instant the balance is broken.
As long as the stalemate continues, formations and order are maintained, and the amount of blood spilled is surprisingly low.
But… once that balance collapses, it’s a different story.
(That’s right… Identify the moment when the enemy’s front starts to collapse… And then strike there)
Mauricio’s smile deepened even further.
The key was to target that instant when the enemy began to crumble.
Charge in there, and crush them without giving them a chance to regroup—that was his path to victory.
(And once it collapses… it’s no longer an ‘army’… Just a mob of people fleeing in panic)
An army functions as an army only because of its organized actions.
If a hundred soldiers align their spears and advance in orderly fashion, stopping them is extremely difficult.
But if those same hundred scatter and flee in all directions, hunting them down is easy.
(Come on, is it about time…?)
Mauricio held his sword at the ready, pinpointing the spot where he should charge.
At that moment, a sharp report reached his ears.
“Signal smoke has risen from Forssa Fort!”
(Tch… Right when we had a golden opportunity… More enemy reinforcements?)
Though he clicked his tongue inwardly, Mauricio remained calm.
On the battlefield, information was the highest priority— he had no intention of ignoring it.
Keeping his gaze fixed on the enemy forces to not miss the chance, Mauricio issued a dispassionate order.
“Report the content of the signal smoke.”
“Y-Yes, sir! —Wh-What? Th-This…!?”
The soldier stood frozen in place, staring at the signal smoke.
After a brief silence, he muttered under his breath.
“Th-This can’t be… Impossible…!”
“What are you babbling about? A report is simply conveying the facts. Can’t you even manage that…? Ah, or do you want me to kill you?”
“N-No, sir!”
The soldier hurriedly straightened his posture and raised his voice.
“E-Enemy reinforcements! Th-The number— th-three thousand… no, thirty thousand…!”
“…What?”
Mauricio involuntarily tore his gaze from the battlefield— and looked up at the sky above Forssa Fort.
Even from a distance, the signal smoke was clearly visible, with four plumes rising.
First, a single purple smoke. This was the signal meaning ‘new enemy reinforcements have arrived.’
Then beside it, the smoke indicating the enemy’s numbers.
Red smoke— three plumes. And each red smoke represented ten thousand troops. Three of them. In other words, thirty thousand troops.
“Im-Impossible…!?”
A voice of uncontrollable shock escaped Mauricio’s lips.
If thirty thousand reinforcements had arrived, the enemy army’s total strength would exceed forty thousand.
On their side, about twenty thousand.
Even in the current situation, the front lines were nearly evenly matched.
With more than double the troop difference— there would be no chance of victory for the Serodonia side anymore.
And as if to thrust that ominous reality upon him, cheers erupted from the enemy ranks.
The content of those shouts was—.
◇
Around the same time. Iago, a captain under Mauricio, was locked in a stare-down with the red-haired knight Beatrice.
(If I make a reckless move… I’ll be the one cut down)
Iago’s instincts were telling him that.
(Our skills are probably equal— she must realize it too. If she moves carelessly, she’ll leave an opening to exploit)
That was why they were checking each other, unable to step forward. That’s how Iago read it.
At that moment—.
“Knight Commander Beatrice! Signal smoke has risen! One purple! Three red!”
Beatrice’s subordinate shouted.
—Immediately after, Beatrice surged toward Iago in a flash.
“What…!?”
For Iago, that movement was completely unexpected.
But it could also be seen as an opportunity.
(She moved… Then, this is my chance)
Iago quickly assumed his stance, planning to dodge the incoming slash and counterattack.
But—.
“Huh…?”
Beatrice’s movements far exceeded Iago’s predictions.
Her handling of the reins to control the horse, the speed of her sword— everything surpassed Iago’s abilities.
And before he knew it, her blade was right in front of his eyes.
“Damn!”
Judging that he couldn’t evade in time, Iago moved to block Beatrice’s sword.
In their previous clashes, the sword pressure had been equal.
But this time, it was different.
Beatrice’s full-powered strike sent Iago’s sword flying.
“Wha—”
Uncontainable shock appeared on Iago’s face.
And— the red-haired knight brought down a follow-up slash.
“Ah… Gah…!”
Slashed through his armor, blood spurted from Iago’s shoulder down to his chest. It was a fatal wound.
Grimacing in pain, he glared at the red-haired knight with eyes filled with anger and confusion.
“Y-You…! Why… didn’t you attack until now!? Were you… mocking me!?”
Beatrice’s skill was clearly far above his own.
In that case— what had that stare-down been about? Why hadn’t she used that power to end it sooner?
“It was by order of my lord.”
As a courtesy to the one she had crossed swords with, Beatrice answered quietly.
“I was commanded by my lord not to settle the fight until a specific signal smoke rose. There was no intent to insult you.”
“Wha—…!”
Beatrice’s lord. That would be the de facto supreme commander of the eastern front army.
(That guy… deliberately delayed settling things with me. Meaning, he’s scheming something, manipulating the battlefield…?)
The moment he realized that, the strength to cling to the saddle left him, and Iago fell from his horse.
Collapsing onto the cold ground, he formed his final words with trembling lips.
“Captain Mauricio…! These guys… are dangerous…! We’ve already… fallen into the enemy’s trap…”
But those words never reached Mauricio.
—And so, the state of battle began to shift dramatically.
