Chapter 63

Hearing those words, Count Schwabin trembled all over and shouted as if he knew it was an undeniable truth.

“You rascal! Did I not personally favor your family by appointing your father as a guardian and making him into a baron, bestowing upon you many fiefs!! Yet, you dare to break the contract with me, a godless wretch! Are you even human? You twisted child in human skin, I shall personally crush the heads of the Croilet father and son with my army’s hammer!”

No, nobody would believe that. It’s more believable to think someone is making a sweet red bean paste than to believe this.

See, under normal circumstances, soldiers would be shouting to boost morale, but it was so quiet you could hear the sound of insects.

And shortly after, cheers erupted from the camp where Count Schwabin’s knights were gathered.

“Long live Count Schwabin! A curse upon the twisted Croilet family!!”

“Down with Croilet! Long live Nante!!”

As cheers rose from the knights’ camp, even the enemy soldiers began to shout in response.

It looked desperate.

So, as if trying to break that atmosphere, Schwabin started to shout again.

“Knights, and soldiers! I am magnanimous! I, Count Schwabin von Nante, swear that if we deal with that loathsome Croilet wretch, I will allow unlimited pillaging of the enemy! Take women and loot as you please, for all the wealth of the Croilets shall be yours!”

Damn, did that fool Schwabin just publicly say ‘We are going to commit war crimes, so we have to win’—the most simplistic yet effective crazy statement in history?

This will raise the morale of our soldiers but, even more, it will raise the enemy’s morale…

Let’s stop this trash talk and prepare for the battle tomorrow.

So I said the words that one must say before starting a war in this era.

“May God Deus be with this war between Count Schwabin von Nante and I, SIEL von Croilet, and may He grant victory to the one He deems more righteous among us! All soldiers of Croilet, let us return and pray to God!”

Although I said that, instead of praying, I would check the strategy once more and think about the placement of the commanders.

After all, to ensure the success of my operation, I also need to move with the soldiers at dawn and look for a wagon squad that can protect me.

Which squad should I fight with to survive…

**

As dawn broke on the agreed day for battle, Ella, who had been sleeping in the same tent, whispered to wake me.

“Master, please be sure to protect me. Please wake up.”

Ella’s words, filled with sincerity for me, instantly dispelled my sleepiness.

Then, as always, I naturally dressed and began putting on my armor with Ella’s assistance.

She hadn’t shown any signs of nervousness since waking me, perhaps trying to care for me.

However, unlike previous battles, the significant troop difference made her fear for my safety as I felt her hands shaking even through her armor.

Yet, after dressing me in armor, Ella continued to speak calmly as if nothing was wrong.

“Master, it’s all done.”

She seemed scared to send me into a disadvantageous battle, but despite that, Ella appeared commendable for acting tough.

So, I patted Ella’s head and said, “Ella, don’t worry. I will definitely return safely. When I do, let’s drink some wine and share old stories together like we did in Eslon. By the way, I mentioned I visited Windheim recently? Let’s hear about that.”

Upon hearing my words, Ella seemed to finally relax as tears welled in her eyes, saying,

“Yes, Master. Ella will surely tell you.”

**

The season was already early spring, with dandelions and roses budding, the frozen river thawing, and new shoots sprouting in the fields.

However, winter did not seem willing to leave this land of Europa, as the chill of winter still lingered in the dawn air.

Breathing out, visible white mist formed.

In this cold, at an early hour when one would want to sleep a bit longer, the soldiers began constructing a castle made of wagons to protect the lives of the warriors, known as Bargenburg, for the battle.

Each squad leader and company commander was bustling about, giving various instructions and running around to ensure the success of this operation, while some even picked up hammers and began hammering and digging along with the soldiers.

“Drop those wagons a bit more! Hurry!! We must not leave room for more than two enemy horses to enter!!”

“Check if the left wagon wall opens! If it doesn’t open, fix it quickly!!”

“You idiot! This is how you dig! Is the one who claims to farm not able to dig better than me?”

Under normal circumstances, those with the rank of ‘officer,’ which is on par with the nobility, would only supervise during such tasks, while most of the work directives would be done by ‘privates, corporals, and sergeants’…

But since it’s wartime, even higher-ranking squad leaders and company commanders are involved.

I, too, was riding around the working company to set an example and encourage them.

In a Korean military, if a division commander personally comes to help with the work, soldiers would feel burdened while the officers would feel crushed…

But in this era, having a division commander who “lives on a cloud” come and encourage the soldiers is seen as grace rather than a burden.

Not exaggerating, for them, it’s like a top Hollywood actor personally coming to say, “Thank you for watching my movie. I remember your name. Yes, it’s you, 00!” and then giving an autograph.

So perhaps…

“Company commander, you’re doing great. But the gap between the wagons is a bit too wide. Can you adjust that slightly? Yes, you’re working hard. And please take care of the soldiers too. Fighting alongside those I can trust like you, I’m not afraid even to fight a horde of wild boars. Give it your all.”

Even this formal word of encouragement received a fervent response from everyone.

“Your Excellency! Joining your army was the best decision of our lives!!”

“To think we could fight alongside such humble beings… No soldier in history has experienced such glorious circumstances.”

“Ugh… Ugh… Your… Your Excellency…”

And with my encouragement, they resumed their work, now determined to repay my favor “even in death.”

Of course, it’s a brutal way for a commander to inspire his troops, telling them, “Die for me, for my victory.”

Seeing soldiers work so hard for me brings pride and gratitude, but on the other hand, I feel guilty for pushing them toward death.

While I was lost in these thoughts, doing rounds to check the combat wagon arrangements and encourage the soldiers,

Chris and Balt approached me.

Following the hierarchy, Balt reported to me first.

“Your Excellency, 200 knights have been stationed in the center of the camp as you instructed. Furthermore, I have informed the squad leaders commanding more than ten knights of the ‘gaps in the wagons’ they need to penetrate, based on the enemy’s knights’ positions.”

“Good work. No matter how much I endure, without the knights performing the hammer role, both my soldiers and I will just meet a meaningless end. Who do you intend to put at the front of the wedge charge?”

“The vanguard… has been volunteered by Baron Nante. I tried to dissuade him, but he insisted that ‘The last of Nante must be adorned by his guardian himself…’”

If my father, who is highly regarded after me, takes the lead in the wedge charge, it will assuredly boost the morale of the knights.

Moreover, being at the forefront as a vanguard will leave little room for schemes to protect Count Nante.

I know how it feels to be in the vanguard; I cannot even think in the first line of a five-row rectangular formation…

In the wedge charge, where the pressure is the greatest…

“Let him proceed as such. However, be sure to secure his armor tightly since retreating will not be an option. And you and Frost will take positions right behind the vanguard.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And did you inform the captains of Chris’s infantry or higher about the ‘operation overview’? If they don’t understand this, the encirclement won’t be completed…”

Upon hearing my words, Chris beamed with confidence as she replied.

“Your Excellency, don’t worry. I conveyed it very clearly with diagrams to make it easy for them to understand. Also, I instructed them to follow behind the fleeing knights if something goes wrong, so I believe they will manage to follow.”

“And what else?”

“Didn’t you order to disseminate ‘armor, weapons, currency, and grain’ to delay enemy infantry support? I am also spreading rumors to the local serfs that ‘some have deserted, leaving these behind.’”

“Good job. You may go now. Balt, stay.”

Upon hearing my order, Chris hurriedly mounted her horse and moved to her unit, the ‘Main Defense Unit.’

Although the Main Defense Unit is merely one company in strength.

Once I confirmed that Chris had moved away and there was no one around, I whispered quietly into Balt’s ear.

“Balt, if circumstances allow… bring Schwabin back with broken limbs. That way, it would assist me in legally inheriting the ‘title of count.’ Do you understand?”

Balt, understanding my intent, flashed a wicked smile.

“You plan to repay the grievance for what he did to Ella fully. Your Excellency… I was just thinking the same thing. It would be an honor. But, once the order is executed, I would like an ‘informal’ reward…”

Seeing Balt’s wicked smile, I replied with an even more sinister grin.

“Listen well. 50 gold coins for each arm, 60 for each leg, and if ground to powder, an extra 10 for each. By the ‘set time,’ I shall send the coins to your tent… Or rather, I may just have lost a pouch. Since the owner is unclear, anyone could take it.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

Although I promised a lot of money, in this era where ‘respect towards nobility’ is deeply ingrained, making such a request might lead any decent knight to say, “I’d rather quit than do this!!”

Yet, Balt seems to do it precisely because we are friends, as he only needs ‘money’…

Or does he just equally loathe Schwabin?

**

A few hours later, I entered the wagon fortress constructed perfectly in the south.

As I stepped in, the soldiers inside the cramped wagon attempted to bow and prostrate themselves upon seeing me, but I stopped them.

“There’s no need for that as we’re heading into war soon. And as I said, I will fight alongside you soldiers. I’ve come to keep my oath of honor. So, First Lieutenant Frost, Master Sergeant Mark, I’ll rely on you both.”

The two seemed moved by my words and responded with voices mixed with tears.

“Thank you!! Your Excellency!!”

“We will protect you even if it costs us our lives!”

“What are you saying? Make sure to return alive. Go back and achieve such great merit that you empty my pouch. And you there, soldier!”

Upon calling his name, the soldier proudly reported back.

“Corporal! Randell!”

I entrusted him with the flag symbolizing my presence and said,

“Keep this flag raised until we see the dust of the enemy knights approaching. And then lower it.”

“Yes, understood!!!”

Randell, hearing my words, raised the flag with a look of emotion at the honor of holding the ‘flag symbolizing me.’

And in response, cheers erupted from the soldiers, chanting praise for their noble lord.

So many began to shout at once that I couldn’t even hear my own voice.

Not long after, I spotted a group the size of a fist kicking up dust as they rushed towards us.

This group gradually increased in size in front of us, and they began to pick up speed as if they intended to smash us apart.

Seeing them, I shouted.

“Signal by waving the flag three times left and right; lower the flag when I signal! Corporal Randell! And all crossbowmen, charge your crossbows as previously instructed with the goat foot, and when they come within range, shoot as many as you can! Shouldn’t we treat our enemies generously!!”

With that, my heart began to race.

In all the wars up till now, I had always faced ‘favorable circumstances,’ so feeling this kind of tension for the first time in my life was new.