Chapter 49 – The Art of Ruling (9)
“Remarkable. You truly are the most skilled mercenaries in the region, just as the rumors suggest.”
“Our success was smoother thanks to the appropriate assistance from the garrison captain.”
“No. The garrison captain himself attested to how bravely and skillfully you fought.”
The Lizardman Lord, Baron Morta, chuckled as he watched Cruiger’s mercenary band returning after rescuing the fortress’s inhabitants.
This was once again a sign of their rising reputation. They were already popular, but with this latest achievement, even more people would seek them out.
“Captain, there are those who wish to join us. What should we do?”
“We need to test them.”
Moreover, it is often said that troubled times bring forth heroes, and there were no shortage of those who wished to join with such heroes.
Cruiger, whose initial goal was to build his force, screened these people and assimilated them into his faction.
As a result, the mercenary band that had started with a few dozen members now exceeded a hundred, transforming into a large-scale mercenary group. As time went on and their fame and accomplishments accrued, more people would surely join, solidifying the inexorable growth of Cruiger Mercenary Band’s power.
“I wonder how many we’ll have when the war ends.”
“Who knows? Captain, you might claim some barren land and become a new noble.”
His comrades were feeling a great sense of pride and accomplishment from the mounting credits and expanded influence. Both demons and humans thought in the same way: the power of the faction was their own power.
After all, they are intelligent beings that create societies.
“Everyone, stay vigilant. The war is not over yet.”
Cruiger appropriately tempered the excitement of his subordinates. Indeed, the one I highly valued showed no signs of complacency or negligence, even amid continuous success.
Or, perhaps it’s due to my constant reminder not to let our guard down and prepare for what is next.
“Eliminating the enemy and reclaiming the land that’s been devastated will mean the end of the war. But is that really possible?”
“Still, the hobgoblins are starting to move. If they preserve their strength and cooperate with the allied forces, it will be better. But even if they don’t, merely targeting the vacant enemy nests makes it quite plausible, no?”
He mentioned the news received not long ago — the hobgoblins would mobilize their armies and advance north to attack the Legion’s nests.
Of course, nobles were angered at Ludras’ intention to use their fierce battles as a diversion to target the undefended enemy main camp. However, their anger was useless.
“If they completely eliminate the enemy nests, that may well happen. But if they fail, the war will not end. The Legion endlessly splits and grows.”
Ludras’ plan would succeed only if he dealt a critical blow to my nests.
To the extent that my faction can no longer produce or operate additional troops, I will withdraw my main force.
However, if they fail, the main force of my army will stay, feed on the occupied territories, and independently procure nutrients and reinforcements.
‘Looks like they won’t be able to do it.’
And right now, while simultaneously witnessing countless scenes, I calculated that Ludras’ hobgoblins would not be able to burn my nests to their satisfaction.
“March forward! If you see the enemies’ nests, burn them to the ground!”
“Their main force is far away, fighting other nobles. Don’t worry and push forward boldly!”
Countless hobgoblin units gathered and began to advance all at once.
By my count through aerial reconnaissance, at least an army over 30,000 was on the move.
Even this wasn’t their full strength, which was impressive for one of the strongest Lords in the region. Ludras had thoughtfully spared forces from other regions.
He had predicted that I might turn my forces around and attack his territory at any time. He had intended to perform a small-scale rear destabilization, but that plan had been thwarted.
[We could divert a part of the main force.]
“No. Let’s just give up a few nests. Most of the northern nests are already in hibernation anyway.”
Defeating such a massive enemy army without any losses is impossible.
However, minimizing those losses is certainly possible.
The nests they set their sights on in this region are mostly dormant due to the lack of food nearby.
Since the sungrasses planted in the barren land cover the advantageous main force and surroundings first, the old Ogress Domain, which the hobgoblins are now advancing toward, is currently abandoned wasteland.
Even if the nests there disappear, it wouldn’t be a critical blow.
‘Let’s draw them deeper. At their most complacent and excited moment. That’s when we’ll sweep them away.’
Since I’m prepared to lose a few nests, I’ve firmly decided to use them as bait.
They will charge in, believing I’m retreating helplessly, and when they cross a certain line, I will launch a counterattack.
[New soldiers will soon awaken.]
The timing is just right.
*
“Nest!”
“Poison bombs are coming. Shamans, raise your shields!”
The hobgoblins, unaware of what their queen has planned, just advance steadily. And truly, they fought rather well.
They smoothly neutralized the poison bombs planted for defense, and the forces that rushed out for defense were no match for their heavily armored, tightly grouped units.
“Destroy it!”
The victorious hobgoblins gained the right to burn the nests as spoils of war.
In front of the thoroughly destroyed and burning grotesque meat masses, they cheered loudly as usual. It was a thrilling scene of victory.
“If we keep doing this, removing the many nests in this region won’t be too difficult. It’s amazing how much help the nobles, who are holding onto the main forces of the enemy, provide.”
“Absolutely. But… looking around, there’s a problem even if we destroy all the enemies here. Who can live on this land anyway? Everything is destroyed, and everything is lost.”
Among the forces, Sabak, the knight and a confidant of Ludras, smiled brightly at the merit their subordinates had established.
In contrast, Ragmo, the head shaman who had joined with his subordinates, stared blankly as he sighed at the desolate land.
The lands under the Legions’ control were truly lands of death. Everything alive was slaughtered and turned into nutrients.
What remained were merely inorganic materials and the Legions’ nests. As a shaman who relied on the forces of nature, it was impossible for him not to feel sorrow at the sight.
“Don’t worry too much. The land’s inherent strength will remain, and if new seeds are planted, crops and trees will grow again.”
Without knowing the fact that the sungrasses were draining all the organic matter from the ground, Sabak smiled and comforted Ragmo.
In the first place, now that Sabak was feeling too good with the consecutive victories, he felt like laughing off whatever happened.
“But, Commander. There still has been no notable reaction. Surely Lord Ludras said that if the enemy suffers critical damage, they would react somehow…”
“In that case, let’s burn more nests. I don’t know how horrifying the boss of these monsters is, but it seems they still believe they can handle us.”
An emboldened Sabak thought they could keep fighting. He was also considering advancing deeply into the old Ogress Domain.
Already, in his mind, the demons that had put all their strength into war with the nobles had no more power.
“Sir, Sir! Urgent message from Lord Karmenos guarding the left flank! A large number of enemies are appearing on the left!”
“What?”
However, just as if waiting for them to venture deeper, large forces that had gathered from local nests in the region approached them with precise timing.
“Perhaps the newly grown forces have been quickly gathered in one place. Rather conveniently! If we crush them, the enemies won’t be able to stop us in this region anymore!”
Caught off guard but quickly composing himself, he instead rejoiced, giving combat orders to all units, figuring he could secure a quick victory as the enemy numbers were fewer than theirs.
“Enemies are appearing from the east, too!”
“North, a group is heading south from the north! If this continues, we’ll be surrounded!”
Moreover, it wasn’t just that. Three large groups of Legion soldiers suddenly appeared from different directions to approach with exact timing, forcing them to split their forces if they wanted to avoid encirclement.
