novelraw Chapter 150
Chapter 150
Chapter 150
After the Cow Tribe marched out under Lucas’s command.
Inside the Cow Tribe’s Castle, the Second Horn, preparations for war were in full swing.
They moved as quietly as possible, conscious of prying eyes, but this place was already no different from a battlefield.
“All Cow Tribe members have been evacuated here. We’ve collected all the supplies, too.”
“That’s good. Any complaints?”
“There’s no reason to complain. Those Imperial bastards will be swarming soon.”
“True enough.”
Since the day before the departure, the Cow Tribe members from other castles had been evacuated here.
It was to concentrate the enemies’ attacks on this one place.
It was only natural that the Second Horn, with its massive warehouse, would be their primary target, but if things turned sour, the enemy might attack another castle and take the residents hostage.
Since most of the Cow Tribe’s forces were deployed outside, it was better to have fewer places to defend.
‘It’ll be a little uncomfortable, but that can’t be helped.’
The Imperial bastards were closing in.
Whether warrior or not, every Cow Tribe member was naturally aggressive—perhaps they even welcomed it.
When gathered together, the Imperial bastards would inevitably come charging right in.
Either way, during a siege, the cooperation of the Cow Tribe was essential.
It was their job to knock down the enemies climbing up the castle walls.
‘We don’t have enough troops here, so we’ll have to rely on the residents’ help.’
In truth, calling them residents was just semantics—they were more like a militia.
Few among the Cow Tribe didn’t have at least one weapon at home.
It was a familiar scene.
It reminded me of the atmosphere back in Johnson Territory.
‘It feels… strangely familiar, somehow.’
In any case, this siege wouldn’t last long.
I believed we could hold out for at least one or two waves.
“Well then, I’ll get going, too.”
“Yeah. Take care. We’ll have to stay busy—too many variables.”
“If anything happens, I’ll contact you immediately.”
Around this time, Rudelrof and the Lion Tribe warriors quietly left the castle.
Unlike the Cow Tribe warriors who had openly announced their campaign, these ones had a secret mission.
They slipped out the back of the castle under the cover of night—no one would notice.
‘After all, no one would imagine there’d be another unit left behind once the Cow Tribe warriors had already departed.’
After a full day of coordinated movement, everything finally took shape.
The one commanding the Cow Tribe was Gariman, Chieftain of the Third Horn.
The remaining reserve warriors and armed residents were assigned to guard duty.
Meanwhile, the troops from Johnson Territory still remained hidden.
They planned to stay concealed and report updates until the enemy reached the castle gates.
“How many do you think will come?”
“Hmm, hard to say. If I were the Regent, I’d want to settle this in one strike.”
“Right?”
“Yes. Since they have no idea of our actual strength, it’s only natural they’d think that way.”
The key to this operation was how many troops the Imperial bastards would send to attack the Second Horn.
It all depended on their decision—half luck, half calculation.
If the enemy stayed coiled up in Lucas Castle, or tried to raid this place with a minimal force, we wouldn’t achieve the results we wanted.
‘But that doesn’t seem to be the case.’
We’d done enough to draw out as many of their troops as possible.
By sending the fully armed Cow Tribe warriors to Lucas Castle, we’d forced them to take us seriously.
Meanwhile, we made this base look terribly underdefended.
And we avoided showing any other Beastmen.
From the Imperial perspective, attacking here first seemed like the easiest move.
‘The Imperial bastards have a lot of enemies and are pressed for time. To finish things quickly, they’ll have to deploy significant forces.’
If they advanced with a large army toward this place, it would mean our strategy had succeeded—at least halfway.
“I trust in the Imperial bastards’ greed and arrogance.”
“Because the opponent is the Cow Tribe?”
“Of course. It’s the Cow Tribe—simple and brutish. Even dumber than the Black Lions.”
“…I’m not sure about that. They don’t seem so different.”
“No, no. When it comes to that, the Cow Tribe’s unbeatable.”
Leon claimed the Cow Tribe was dumber than the Black Lions.
Personally, I thought they were about the same, but there was one thing in his words I couldn’t deny.
The Imperial bastards’ greed and arrogance.
They’d never give up the Cow Tribe’s warehouse, nor imagine they could lose a battle of wits to them.
Of course, it wasn’t really the Cow Tribe leading the mind games—it was that sly Black Lion kid.
“Iron. We’ve got a message.”
“From where?”
“Irene, who’s with the Horse Tribe. The Imperial bastards have departed from Lucas. They split into several groups, hiding their movement, and are advancing north.”
“Really?”
Yuria, who was serving as our communication officer for this war, delivered the update.
Irene, operating with the Horse Tribe, reported that the Imperial bastards had begun their march.
Looks like they’d taken the bait.
Instead of defending, they’d chosen to go for an easy plunder.
“The enemy numbers around three thousand.”
“…Whoa.”
“A big catch, huh?”
They’d chosen a swift assault.
If they’d mobilized three thousand troops, there must be a huge number of knights among them.
That couldn’t possibly be just the forces from Lucas.
They must’ve pulled soldiers from multiple territories.
It seemed Regent Octosia had gone all in.
‘Damn. Those Imperial bastards, always overreaching.’
However, their boldness also complicated things for us.
They’d deployed far more troops than I’d anticipated.
At this point, it was clear—they intended to end it in one decisive blow.
If the Second Horn were to fall in the first battle, we’d be in real trouble.
‘Do I have to prepare for that too…? That’s not ideal.’
I might have to ready something bigger after all.
At the northernmost edge of Levelium, Lucas Castle.
The Empire’s Master, Dagren, stood atop the walls, watching as the Cow Tribe’s army advanced slowly from afar.
Their number—roughly three thousand.
About the same size as the Imperial army that had marched north from Lucas Castle.
Each side, three thousand strong, advancing toward the other’s stronghold.
“Then we had the advantage.”
If the side that seized the enemy’s stronghold first won, the Empire was overwhelmingly favored.
The gate city guarding the northern Levelium, Lucas’s walls were high and solid like a fortress.
Moreover, the opponent had already fallen for the Regent’s scheme, hadn’t they?
If they lured the enemy into the castle and then shut the gates, they could cut the enemy in two.
Soldiers already hidden inside the castle were only waiting for the right moment to unleash a rain of arrows, so they could force considerable casualties from the very first battle.
Besides, even if they were pushed back here, it wouldn’t be the end.
If holding them off seemed impossible, they could simply evacuate to another castle.
Lucas Castle might be looted by Beastmen, but there weren’t many supplies left here anyway, and most of the residents were from the old kingdom—half-dead, they wouldn’t care much.
“Alright, come.”
While the Cow Tribe’s forces slowly approached the gate, a commotion erupted at the north gate.
It was a prearranged script.
A ruse to lure the Cow Tribe.
They would put on a big show, and then just manage to get the gate opened.
“Those foolish beasts have been tricked… huh? What’s this?”
As soon as the gate had opened, the Imperial soldiers had expected the Cow Tribe to rush in at once, but they did not move; they simply stayed where they were.
The Empire’s troops waiting to lure the enemy inside were also at a loss, surprised by the unexpected turn.
Dagren, the castle’s supreme commander, was puzzled about what to do.
Should he cancel the operation?
Or wait a bit longer?
But he could not keep the gate open like that.
That was ridiculous.
What kind of fool would keep the gate open with the enemy right outside?
They would have to somehow quell the “rebellion(?)” and close the gate again.
“I have no idea what’s going on.”
Judging that the lure had already failed, Dagren closed the gate first.
It looked like he would have to drive the enemy out through straight force.
The Cow Tribe had taken position about a kilometer from the gate.
Seeing them set up there, it seemed they were prepared for a long war.
“They really are foolish. Dragging this out will only hurt them.”
They thought it would benefit them if the enemy delayed.
There was no need to initiate an attack outside the walls, so they simply watched for a while.
But Dagren’s laughter lasted only briefly.
“The enemy… they’ve disappeared!”
The Cow Tribe forces that had been encamped outside the castle vanished without a trace overnight.
“What the hell is this! No way, those bastards—”
Realizing he had been completely deceived, Dagren hurriedly sent a message.
If his prediction were correct, his main force might be in danger.
The Cow Tribe’s main force dashed north again after leaving Lucas Castle.
The Cow Tribe chieftains, Rioxen and Delmason, smacked their lips in disappointment.
“There didn’t seem to be much there—why not just take the castle?”
The two simple, blunt chieftains felt it was a shame to leave so meekly.
“No, that’s nonsense. Why smash into the walls? The Imperial bastards are crawling all over those northern fields too.”
“Right, didn’t the Empire send three thousand that way?”
“Exactly. So let’s hurry. If we’re late, our share will be gone.”
“Yeah, let’s go now. Oh, but let’s eat first.”
“That’s a good idea. After running all night, I’m a bit peckish.”
Rudick, the tempering hand who restrained the impulsive Cow Tribe chieftains, calmed the two down and sighed.
Then he plopped down beside them and opened the canned meat he had saved for himself.
“Wow, this—”
“Tastes so salty and—”
“Yeah, meat is the best. This is amazing.”
The canned meat Iron had taken care to prepare was praised by the Cow Tribe.
Opening the cans out here felt like going on a picnic.
All they had to do now was go home and beat up the Imperial bastards; they could ask for nothing more.
“But if we leave like this, won’t the Empire follow from that castle?”
“If they catch our rear, it’ll be a pain. Maybe we should wait here for them…”
The chieftains started arguing again.
But they weren’t entirely wrong.
If the Empire was not foolish, they would certainly send a pursuit force.
If the Cow Tribe ran straight to the castle, the Empire’s main force would be flanked between the Second Horn and the Cow Tribe’s main army.
Conversely, if the Empire’s main force retreated and a pursuit detachment set out from Lucas Castle, the Cow Tribe’s main force could be encircled.
So the chieftains’ suggestion to intercept the pursuit was not without merit.
“Don’t worry. They’ve prepared their own plans. They probably won’t dare come near us.”
“Huh. Feels like all the tasty bits are being taken away.”
“That’s just your feeling. The tastiest thing is the main force, isn’t it?”
Rioxen smacked his lips again at the reassurances that they needn’t worry about a pursuit.
It looked like the Cow Tribe’s first battle would be against the Empire’s main force.
“Right! If you’re done eating, hurry up! Let’s beat the Imperial bastards and go home!”
The Cow Tribe’s rough march resumed.
Their target was the Empire’s main force.
They planned to head straight on and strike the Empire from behind.