Chapter 52

Count Schwabin’s army, led by His Excellency Count Schwabin, and the Helzman army, led by Count Helzman, have been at a standoff for an extended period.

During the standoff, there were occasional small-scale skirmishes to provoke the enemy, and even mobilizations of the Croilet Baron’s troops to engage in combat with the enemy, but…

Despite that, Helzman remained utterly composed, showcasing his experience, refusing to move until the end.

Damn, if this standoff continues for too long, the ‘food’ will run out, and we’ll have to retreat…

If that happens, my isolated son and his army over there will suffer devastating losses, and all the blame will fall entirely on Count Schwabin.

If such a result occurs, I would become a fool who failed to serve His Excellency the Count as the highest vassal of the Nante Count family, a human scum who sent my son to his death…

I wish there were some sharp strategy…

As I was reconnoitering the battlefield with the knights of the Nante Count territory, lost in thought, a messenger hastily approached on horseback.

The messenger quickly dismounted and knelt before me to report.

“Your Excellency, I bring news! Count Schwabin has led Baron Crescent and his soldiers to raid an enemy village. He said that by raiding the enemy’s village, Helzman would certainly mobilize to defend it, so not to say anything.”

This is ridiculous.

Even though this is enemy territory and raiding is permissible, this is a conquest war aimed at subjugating this land.

In other words, even though we are at war, losing the support of the serfs will result in significant turmoil from rebellions after we conquer it…

And he’s going to raid without considering that.

“I understand, you’ve worked hard.”

“Thank you, Guardian Excellency.”

“Then please let them know that I will return to defend the main camp according to Baron Croilet’s orders.”

“Yes.”

In front of the messenger, I was able to feign calm, but I was quite worried about His Excellency’s unilateral actions.

Despite having some thoughts behind this unilateral decision, to lead the charge without informing even me, the appointed guardian by the late Count Nante…

For now, what I can do is inform my son, who is at the front line, of this ‘news,’ giving him time to establish a strategy to respond, and pray for His Excellency’s safe return.

Oh God, protect Count Nante, Count Schwabin, and our armies.

**

About two weeks passed, or rather, during the month we stayed here, His Excellency continued raiding villages near the Linz Plain.

During the raids, under the pretense of boosting soldier morale, he permitted ‘pillaging, murder, rape, and kidnapping,’ and as a result…

The morale of the soldiers and knights soared to the highest levels.

Having pillaged so many villages and gathered cattle and pigs, the soldiers received roasted pork or beef every three days.

I have fought countless battles on enemy territory, but I have never experienced such vast pillaging.

Even if it is wealth accumulated from raiding the enemy’s lands…

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency!”

I stopped thinking and looked back at a knight calling me.

“Ah, Sir Charlotte. What is it?”

“Count Schwabin is going out tomorrow. He would like you to participate in the military council before the departure.”

“I will go immediately.”

Upon entering the military tent, unlike usual, His Excellency was speaking with vigorous energy.

“I will entrust the infantry command to Baron Crescent, and I and Baron Croilet will lead your knights to directly confront Helzman’s knights. Is there any dissent?”

Whether out of dissatisfaction with His Excellency’s courageous, or rather reckless, command tactics, Baron Hayden, who usually wouldn’t speak much, raised his hand and cautiously stated his opposition.

“However, Your Excellency…”

“Go ahead, Baron Haydn.”

“This is your first sortie, yet you wish to stand at the forefront of the wedge formation, which even veteran knights find challenging…?”

Hearing those words, my mind was filled with confusion.

No matter how much suppression I face for speaking ‘the right words’ to His Excellency, shouldn’t he at least mention this to me, his guardian, before deciding such things?

Isn’t this excessive…?

So I questioned Count Schwabin in a reproachful manner.

“Count Schwabin, why didn’t you discuss this strategy with me beforehand? I am your guardian!! Shouldn’t you inform me?”

Hearing my words, Count Schwabin shook his head as if in disbelief and replied.

“That’s right, you are my guardian. But you see… your son, yes, Siel.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Siel is several years younger than me and has been unable to withstand a lance charge due to an injury from a few years ago, yet I heard he went into battle clad in armor at the very front of a knight charge. Even on his first sortie. What are your thoughts about this?”

My son Siel, when viewed objectively, had rejected entry into the academy despite some wanting to enter…

He was on a different level than the usual noble heirs.

He consistently looked at least two steps ahead, sometimes acting as if he was considering the future 20 or 30 years down the line.

Moreover, he has always maintained a strong body through relentless training since childhood to become a knight like me…

Unlike his current self, Count Schwabin hasn’t held a lance since inheriting the countship, and rarely rides while wearing armor.

If Count Schwabin were to stand at the front in a knight’s charge… I can only imagine what might happen.

However, if I straightforwardly mention, ‘How dare you compare me with Siel and belittle me!!’ he might take it as an insult to his honor…

“Your Excellency, Siel is merely a baron. In other words, even if he stands out, he is still your vassal. Moreover, should he fall there, I am still here, so there’s no issue. But Your Excellency… you do not yet have someone to uphold your legacy, and you are of higher nobility than my son, right?”

Count Schwabin became more enraged upon hearing my words.

“But His Majesty, Duke Sentroil of the Elaline Empire, personally leads the knights in their charge. Therefore, as a Count of Elaline, I too can lead the way to crush them!!”

“Ah, but…”

Count Schwabin seemed to be losing his temper over my continued objections, stomped the ground hard, and slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming.

“Then, Guardian Excellency, do you truly believe I, a mere baron, cannot lead the charge? How absurd!! Enough!! This meeting is concluded. Tomorrow, we shall engage in a massive battle in the northern part of Linz Plain across the river as agreed with Helzman!! I will elevate my honor there, so follow me, everyone.”

After that, Count Schwabin waved his hand, dismissing all the barons present.

I quietly planned to remain and provide counsel as a guardian, but seeing me, Count Schwabin barked in a furious voice.

“If you wish to boast about your son, go do it at home, Guardian.”

… How will this battle turn out?

**

However, the battle unfolded surprisingly well.

Baron Crescent, in charge of the infantry, continued the fight silently with his men.

While I couldn’t hear what was being discussed where the knights were waiting to charge, they were at a stalemate with the enemy.

Still, seeing them gradually encircling the enemy’s left flank to leverage their numerical superiority…

It seems we will achieve victory with ease.

As I watched the infantry battle from a high vantage point, a soldier approached me and said.

“Guardian Excellency, the charge will begin soon. Please take your position.”

“I understand.”

I took my place at the front line of the knights’ charge, specifically on the far right.

To my left stood Sir Blackheim, the chief knight of the count’s territory, and at the center… Count Schwabin was nowhere to be found.

As I started to wonder where he was and was about to call a soldier to find him, a huge cheer erupted from the right of the front line.

“Long live Count Schwabin!!!”

“Victory in this war!!!”

Turning my head toward the cheer, I saw the knights pointing their swords forward at their horses, while Count Schwabin was clashing his sword against theirs.

This was a traditional action a lord at the forefront would take to boost knight morale…

This isn’t so bad.

Soon after, His Excellency approached me, lightly tapping my sword like the others before returning to his position.

Then he raised his lance adorned with his banner up and down, preparing to declare ‘war.’

Together, we rode slowly towards the enemy, towards the village of Valoa on the right side of Linz Plain.

At a slightly faster pace than walking, even so, as the horses matched their steps, it created a monumental feeling that resonated through the land.

After a certain distance, the enemy knights finally came into view.

Seeing the banner hanging from the enemy’s lance, it belonged to Baron Sansong, known as the left arm of Helzman…

This will be a challenging fight.

Following my plan, I shifted the formation into a wedge shape, moving towards the far left of the triangle.

Then we increased our speed, and just as a very short time passed before we were about to clash with the enemy…

Count Schwabin turned his horse around and attempted to retreat.

Damn it, of all times, he would commit the blunder that inexperienced knights often make in this situation…

At this point, there’s no choice.

Centered on me and Sir Blackheim, we had to change to a crescent-shaped charge, allowing the Count to escape.

So I waved my lance, which had my banner, signaling the others to follow me.

As a result, His Excellency was able to escape, but…

**

“Hey, Balt! This is insane.”

Hearing that, Balt looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why is that? The soldiers are watching.”

“Ah, sorry, but the situation in the battle is a complete mess. Count Schwabin retreated in the middle of the lance charge.”

Balt stared at me, unable to comprehend my words.

“Once you take up a lance, don’t you have to charge? As long as you wear full plate and padded armor correctly, if you don’t get trampled, you’re almost guaranteed not to die.”

“Because of that, the knight casualties were tremendous. Fifty knights dead, forty severely injured… We managed to receive their surrender, thanks to taking advantage of our numerical superiority in the infantry battle before the knights could return.”

“But this…”

I could see Balt trying hard to swallow his words and spoke directly.

“Yes, Count Schwabin acted recklessly in his first war. And because he couldn’t take responsibility for that recklessness, he has completely lost his ‘honor as a knight.’ Simultaneously, he’s caused his knights to die in vain, and although he won against Helzman’s army, it’s still…”

Personally, I thought Count Schwabin would end in disgrace after being caught in a snare and failing to capture the stronghold, but…

Surprisingly, thanks to his capable father, he managed to defeat the Helzman army.

What an unexpected turn of events. But it doesn’t matter; after all, he committed the forbidden act of ‘unconditionally retreating during a knight’s charge.’

He will live a life of disgrace as a knight and noble, and in return, now… I finally have a justification to sever ties with him.

Ah, but if I want to claim the Nante Count territory… I need to wait a little longer, right?

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