Chapter 51

In a film or dramatically victorious war, there can be cases where the castle’s defense commander calls for a “meeting” and then deliberately buys time to strengthen the defenses, achieving victory.

However, such instances occur extremely rarely, and even when they do, it is only under conditions where food is sufficiently stored, and morale is somewhat maintained.

Therefore, the current conversation must clearly indicate a discussion about “the conditions for surrendering and handing over the castle.”

“Bring in Corporal Short.”

“Yes, understood.”

With those words, the messenger quickly went out to call for Corporal Short.

After a while, Corporal Short entered my tent.

He had just been promoted, so he should have a bright expression, but his face looked a bit dark instead.

Did something happen during the reconnaissance?

“Corporal Short, I’ve called for you.”

“Thank you for calling me quickly.”

“Not at all!”

“Right, the reason I called you is that I want to ask you something. After all, you’re the most trustworthy among the reconnaissance soldiers on the front line…”

Short swallowed hard upon hearing my words and replied in a tense voice.

“Please speak, Your Excellency.”

“What is the enemy’s food situation? According to your report, they seem to be getting hungry… You don’t need to organize the information; just tell me what you received in the report.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Short finished his response and immediately began reading the bundle of papers he was holding in his left hand.

“Based on the reconnaissance conducted by Corporal Pat and ten reconnaissance soldiers until yesterday, the enemy has eliminated rations for the citizens and serfs due to severe food shortages a week ago. As a result, a large demonstration took place within the castle, leading to clashes between the soldiers and the citizens.”

It seems like a harsh measure; even if I were in a position to defend the castle, I might have done the same under such circumstances.

Even if all the citizens outside the castle starved to death, completing the mission of defending the castle would be the duty of the commander.

However, that was somewhat short-sighted.

It would have been better to arm the citizens and peasants lightly and open the castle gates to reduce the number of people involved in the fighting…

“Continue.”

“The knights and soldiers under Sir Lance beheaded thirty ringleaders among those who participated in the demonstration and executed some of those who joined the protest. After that…”

Corporal Short, who had been speaking monotonously, suddenly began to stutter and stopped talking at some point.

I had asked for a full report, so the fact that he was stuttering meant there was undoubtedly something “too difficult to say” in the content.

However, I needed to hear this information to reduce the sacrifices of our soldiers and those holed up inside the castle.

So I decided to pressure Corporal Short and looked at him sternly.

“Corporal Short.”

Perhaps he understood the meaning of my words, as he closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth.

“Some soldiers, citizens, and serfs have attempted to dig up the graves of the dead to eat the corpses, engaging in acts that should not be committed by humans… However, since Sir Lance properly supervised the holes where ‘their corpses’ were buried, ‘cannibalism’ did not occur… Based on this, I believe the enemy’s food situation is dire.”

“I see… Is there anything else?”

“If Your Excellency were to demand that they open the gates as a condition for salvation, I believe that there would surely be those who would join you. Just yesterday, Private Hans reported that even after being caught by a serf inside the castle during reconnaissance, that serf openly said, ‘If you spare my life, I will cooperate.’”

Hungry citizens and soldiers who would not shy away from cannibalism, and even considering rebellion at Helzman Castle…

If I handle this well, I could force the gates open with today’s conversation.

Considering that conclusion, I waved my hands and smiled.

“Go on in. Also, I grant you a leave of three days, no, four days. Inform the reconnaissance captain to allow all reconnaissance soldiers to rest in shifts.”

Although he heard the announcement of the leave, Corporal Short’s face didn’t brighten.

Even if they are the enemy, witnessing a scene where they would dig up the corpses of the dead must have been shockingly traumatic.

If he showed such a demeanor even in front of me, it must mean he received a tremendous mental shock…

Post-traumatic stress disorder… PTSD may develop…

So, I decided to use the best method I could at the moment to ease their minds.

“I will grant you a four-day leave, during which I will provide an unlimited supply of meat and alcohol. They should eat and drink to their heart’s content as long as supplies allow.”

“Thank you.”

With those words, Corporal Short quietly bowed his head in respect and then left my tent.

Among the soldiers now, there might be others like Short who are caught in situations where they can’t adjust as soldiers due to psychological shocks.

How can I reinvigorate those guys’ spirits again?

Hah, who knows.

“Orderly! Immediately contact Balt and Helmut, and bring the most fearsome-looking mercenary officer you can find!!”

“Yes! Understood.”

**

Time passed, and at last, the day arrived when I would converse with Sir Lance, who oversees the defense of the castle.

Even though it had become an “unofficial” conversation due to Sir Lance stubbornly adhering to his pride…

Nonetheless, by the very act of suggesting a dialogue, he effectively admitted, “If this continues, we will all die, so please spare us.”

Now, if I can just properly bring down the castle, Count Nante will either clash with Helzman and kill each other, so I won’t have to face any reproach for whatever I do.

No, even if they want to reproach me, I will undoubtedly receive an enormous reward.

Lately, the Schwabin has been openly expressing jealousy toward me, saying, “Decha!!! Decha!!! A guy like you who is better than me should just die!!”

Imagining the Schwabin forcing himself to endure and begrudgingly bestow a hefty reward upon me…

Just that alone would help me swallow a kilogram of bread without any side dishes.

As I was lost in this pink fantasy, a soldier’s voice reached me from outside my tent.

“Your Excellency, Sir Lance has arrived.”

“Let him in. Oh, also, bring in the beef, bread, and beer for us to eat together.”

“Yes, understood. Your Excellency.”

A short while later, as Sir Lance entered, our table was laden generously with beef, bread, and beer.

“Please eat to your heart’s content. You must not have had such a feast while inside the castle.”

“Thank you.”

With those words, Sir Lance and I started eating in silence.

I observed Sir Lance’s condition as I ate slowly and with dignity, while he was hastily devouring food, probably due to the food shortages despite being the ‘defense commander.’

Upon closer inspection, although his face was not entirely gaunt, there was no shine of oil on the face of such a prominent figure, and his cheeks were very hollow…

It seems that persuading him this time will likely succeed.

Once our meal ended, a certain officer suddenly pushed past the soldiers and entered the tent, exclaiming loudly.

With a face that looked as sturdy as a bear, an extraordinarily thick beard, a voice as strong as a whale’s sinew, and a colossal body…

He truly resembled a berserker straight out of a movie.

Balt and Helmut had picked the right one.

“Lieutenant Lancelot!! I have something to report to Your Excellency!!!”

Already scripted, I scolded him in the loudest voice I could to inject some life into the situation.

“You brat!!!! Do you know where this is?! Get out!!!!”

“No, I cannot step back!! Even if you are His Excellency, how can you have a conversation with such trash trying to commit the taboo of eating each other’s corpses due to starvation!! You must cut off that man’s head immediately!!!”

This is quite the act, isn’t it?

However, if Sir Lance had no mental composure left, hearing that made him show a terrified expression.

“You brat!! Hey!! Take that rude man away at once!! What are the soldiers doing!!”

With that, several soldiers came and laid Lancelot down before lifting his arms and legs to drag him out.

Sir Lance, witnessing that scene, tried to feign calmness and spoke in a composed voice.

“Hoho, it seems that there are quite a few… scary individuals in the army of Count Croilet.”

“Not at all. They are merely… individuals blinded by merit. Our reconnaissance soldiers have already identified that ‘your’ army lacks any reserves, and reported it. Hence, they hope to seize or behead the neck of a ‘knight’ during this opportunity. Moreover, just during the war, a soldier named Short beheaded a knight from your army during reconnaissance and received a reward equivalent to the ranks of ten veterans alongside a hefty amount of gold coins…”

Upon hearing my words, Sir Lance’s face turned as pale as a sheet.

“Is that so…?”

I placed my index and middle fingers on his chin and whispered into his ear.

“Honestly, I could plant rebel elements within your castle at any moment to instigate a civil riot or commit even more severe acts of sabotage. However, I am deliberately ignoring the words of fools like Lancelot because I fear that my soldiers might die in the process.”

“I see…”

“However, if this conversation does not go well and you choose to continue to fight with me… then it cannot be helped.”

Then, I deliberately dropped a ‘forged letter from the Count’ in front of him and said.

“Read it.”

After a moment, he looked horrified while looking at me, stammering.

“… If we cannot breach the castle, you will personally face… reprimand?”

“That’s right. This is the limit, so I will begin fabricating siege equipment tomorrow. I plan to lead my soldiers in two days. We’ll see you on the battlefield.”

Sir Lance, seeing the potential worst-case scenario if a siege was launched on a castle that had already reached its limits, stared at me, stammering “Uh-uh, uh-uh…,” unable to continue speaking.

“In the worst-case scenario, the soldiers may take your neck and open the castle gates. Ah, congratulations. There’s no dishonor in that. Choose wisely. Will you remain the commander who opened the gates to save the soldiers and citizens while protecting them? Or will you become a fool whose history ends up being slaughtered by his own soldiers?”

Upon hearing those words, Sir Lance stood in a daze for quite some time.

Then, with a resigned expression, he finally said.

“I will surrender. Even if you take my life, please guarantee the lives of my family and the knights and soldiers inside, as well as the citizens.”

“Agreed.”

**

After that, the defense commander Lance personally moved to the castle gates with me and ordered the soldiers.

“We cannot continue defending the castle and lose our lives along with those of the citizens and serfs. Open the castle gates.”

We did it. Now, I have conquered the enemy’s capital without losing a single soldier.

Although it took a tremendous cost to cut trees and prepare various provisions…

That money would have been spent anyway, and spending it to protect my soldiers holds more significance.

Together with Lance, I was able to enter the innermost part of the Count’s castle without encountering any resistance.

As I was writing a letter to announce my conquest of the castle, I received a message from the Count.

The outer surface of the message bore his seal along with the following text.

[Combat Report between the Army of Count Nante and the Army of Count Helzman]

I wonder how it turned out? Did that fool fall into the trap?

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