Chapter 217

Havard praised me highly, but unfortunately, the seventh javelin I could offer was the last one.

Instead, I gave it to him directly as he wished, so I guess the author must be satisfied too, right?

*”Ha-shal-rueueue!”*

Nope, apparently not.

Havard, who barely blocked the javelin, turned as red as a date and started shouting at the top of his lungs. The shame of almost falling off his horse and the overwhelming anger that followed were clearly visible.

What a desperate cry. If someone saw this, they’d think he was trying to catch a cheating lover.

I exhaled lightly, rotating my slightly sore right arm. My remaining strength was about 60% of normal. Not bad, considering the White Flag Troops’ infantry, which had numbered a thousand, was now down to around eight hundred.

Their charge speed was faster than expected, making further javelin throws impossible. The distance between Ludenburg’s infantry and the White Flag Troops was now less than 20 meters, meaning a few sprints would lead to a collision.

*”Regroup! The traitors and Empire scum are right in front of us. Tear them all apart! Warriors, gather behind me!”*

Like a flower bud closing, the scattered White Flag Troops quickly formed a solid battle line. Their speed of regrouping was impressively fast, as expected of a well-trained infantry unit.

“2nd and 3rd Infantry, spear wall formation! 5th and 6th Infantry, hurry and join! Flank infantry, keep advancing! Protect the medium cavalry!”

Ludwig shouted frantically, commanding the soldiers. The situation was favorable, but not overwhelmingly so, at least from my perspective.

Ludenburg’s medium cavalry had shattered the White Flag Troops’ cavalry line but hadn’t completely broken through, leading to a chaotic melee. Their armor shone even in the chaos, but it would still take time to completely annihilate the enemy cavalry.

Some of the White Flag Troops’ cavalry even jumped off their horses to grapple with the medium cavalry, rolling on the ground as if determined to die together. Meanwhile, the rear archers were flanking to target the medium cavalry’s rear, but the light cavalry meant to stop them had already been wiped out.

Additionally, the 5th and 6th Infantry hadn’t yet joined the main force.

The barrier was originally built to keep enemies out, not to let troops out. There was no reason to make the exits wide, so the number of troops that could be deployed at once was limited.

Or perhaps, in this case, the White Flag Troops’ infantry was just incredibly fast.

*”Attack!”*

“Defensive charge formation!”

At the commanders’ shouts, four hundred heavy infantry and eight hundred White Flag Troops clashed mercilessly.

—

When Ludwig decided to deploy all four masters to the flanks, I suggested keeping at least one in the center, in case the enemy’s elite warriors tried to break through the center.

What did Ludwig say then…?

Ah, right. He said the center infantry was composed of the toughest heavy infantry, and breaking through a heavy infantry formation head-on would be difficult even for a master-level warrior. It would be hard to penetrate, and even if they did, they’d lose momentum halfway and get stuck.

It’s definitely not an easy task.

Unless you can bombard from a distance like me, as a warrior relying only on the speed of your horse and the weapons in your hands… Even if you charge in heavy armor, you’d slow down after piercing a few, and if your horse’s legs get cut, you’d fall, and it’d turn into a melee.

His strategy seemed rational to me.

While the center infantry held out, the flanks would focus all their strength to annihilate the enemy cavalry, then target the enemy infantry’s rear with a cavalry charge. I was supposed to reduce their numbers with javelin throws from a distance before joining the infantry behind the barrier.

It was a classic, textbook strategy, but in the midst of being ambushed while deploying troops, neither Ludwig nor I could think of a better plan.

We couldn’t just hold our ground and retreat when the enemy had entered our range. We needed to resolve the eastern front as quickly as possible, so a field battle was inevitable.

I was a bit uneasy, but I ultimately agreed. A successful classic is better than a failed gamble—assuming it succeeds.

And we were wrong.

—

*”White Flag Troops! It’s finally your turn! Triangular formation! Warriors, follow me and break through!”*

*”Uooooo!”*

With a triumphant roar, Havard charged through the heavy infantry like a hot knife through butter. It was like splitting a rock with an axe, but surprisingly, the heavy infantry line began to split.

A heavily armored soldier was sent flying like a pebble, and screams echoed with each swing of his glaive.

Heavy infantry were crushed under the hooves of his warhorse. His horse, like a military truck, charged forward, deflecting spears and swords aimed at it.

“What the…! Is he riding some divine beast?!”

Even Marquis Ludwig couldn’t hide his astonishment. Calling it a divine beast wasn’t an exaggeration. From my perspective, it didn’t seem like something an ordinary horse could do.

[Did he master that…? No wonder he charged so confidently.]

Hersela muttered with a hint of admiration.

‘That?’

[It’s not a divine beast. If we had such a horse, we would’ve offered it to Orhan. That’s a technique I proposed in my youth. A grand warrior’s energy isn’t just in their body but also infused into their steed.]

That sounded absurd. Infusing energy into another living being?

‘Is that even possible?’

[For you or the Empire, no. That’s something only those raised with horses from childhood can achieve.]

Rana, after spending a long time on horseback, it’s something only possible for someone who has finally recognized their own body. Even great warriors have failed countless times. But those who succeeded… look, that’s how such feats become possible.

A cavalryman, sharing the power of my master, wielding absurd strength.

There was no one who could stop that charge.

“Pathetic! Do you think you can stop me with these weaklings?”

With a hearty laugh, the soldiers’ blood splattered everywhere.

The trail left by a great warrior. Following Havar, the warriors charged in, creating even more cracks.

The heavy infantry’s formation was split in half.

—

To make matters worse, the problem wasn’t just in the center of the formation.

The soldiers facing the White Flag Troops were also encountering tactics they had never imagined.

“Ahhh!”

A heavy infantryman screamed and fell, an arrow embedded in the middle of his face.

This was something that rarely happened in typical infantry battles.

But such incidents were occurring all along the front line.

The heavy infantry of Landenburg, like ordinary infantry, were armed with long shields, spears, and swords. They blocked with shields, stabbed with spears, and drew swords when the battle turned chaotic—standard tactics.

But the White Flag Troops were created to break that.

This was their first time fighting the Imperial Army… which meant the Imperial Army also knew nothing about them.

The Triangular Formation.

It was a wave attack, dividing the infantry into three columns, each launching different assaults.

The front line fought like ordinary infantry, relying on spears and shields, but with slight gaps in between.

“Ahhh! My leg…!”

“These savages!”

The middle column soldiers, wielding swords, rolled on the ground and targeted the legs of the enemy line.

It was a suicidal move, but the rear column was there to cover them.

“Second column! Aim for the ones rolling! Pierce their backs… Ugh!”

The soldiers at the rear of the Triangular Formation were armed not with spears or swords, but bows.

Their arrows rained down on the Landenburg heavy cavalry targeting the middle column.

At such close range, even with armor and shields, there were plenty of weak spots to hit.

It was a tactic the Empire would never choose—it relied too much on individual skill.

But the Ka`har infantry had the skill to accurately hit their enemies even in the chaos.

The Landenburg heavy infantry had to choose: die by the swords targeting their legs or the arrows targeting their armor.

“White Flag Troops! Surround their flanks! We must kill them all before reinforcements arrive!”

Havar, having broken through, turned his horse and shouted. Part of the White Flag Troops split left and right, moving to flank the heavy infantry.

The heavy infantry was thrown into chaos.

In front, an enemy with unfamiliar tactics. In the center, warriors breaking through and slaughtering. The flanks were blocked, and from the rear, a terrifying enemy commander was preparing to charge again.

The four hundred heavy infantry began to dwindle rapidly.

—

‘Didn’t you think to tell me about such tactics…?’

[Of course not. Did you think I was your strategist? My advice is only to ensure you don’t make a fool of yourself while fighting under my name… How many Imperials die is none of my concern. Just like the White Flag Troops.]

Hersela sneered.

Right. Of course.

I’m the one fighting for the Empire, not her.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled out the eighth javelin from my back.

“Marquis Ludwig! Throwing a spear now will only increase our casualties! You need to go down the barrier and stop the enemy’s great warrior…!”

Marquis Ludwig urgently tried to dissuade me. His face was full of dismay.

The heavy infantry was collapsing faster than expected. Even if I went down the stairs now, by the time I reached the other side of the barrier, half of the four hundred heavy infantry would already be annihilated.

I knew that too.

“Right, I need to go down.”

[It seems too late already… but, give it your best shot.]

‘…It’s not too late.’

With a short remark, I charged.

Not towards the stairs behind the barrier, but straight ahead.

Ludwig, realizing what I was about to do, was horrified.

‘…You said you didn’t want to see me make a fool of myself? How about this?’

Gripping the spear tightly, I threw myself forward.

Towards the ground 30 meters below.

A dizzying sense of falling engulfed my entire body.