novelraw Chapter 97 : Chapter 97
Chapter 97 : Chapter 97
Chapter : 97
-Dugudugudugu!
-Waaaaaaah!
-Charge!
The tide of battle, which had been tilting, suddenly shifted.
It began with the right wing.
From the left wing of the King of Aragon's army, a force of 1,000 cavalrymen led by Count Steffen came charging in.
-Crunch!
-Thudddd!
-Aaargh!
The 1,000 cavalrymen led by Count Steffen were not only powerful, but the timing of their attack was also exquisite.
The nobles of the Kingdom of Aragon on the right wing had advanced too far and were now too far ahead.
"Don't stop, advance as you are!"
"They are a disorderly mob."
"For Count Steffen! For the King of Aragon!"
Count Steffen did not miss the opportunity and immediately broke through with his cavalry.
"Uh oh? Block them!"
"We need to get support to the rear quickly!"
Seeing this, the Aragonese nobles hastily tried to deploy their rear troops, but it was too far.
The troops at the very front were suddenly attacked from both the front and rear.
And the powerful lance charge of the cavalry struck their undefended rear. The result was truly catastrophic.
-Crashhhhh!
-Aaaaargh!
-Crack!
In an instant, the vanguard of the right wing was annihilated. With just 1,000 cavalrymen, they began to tear apart a vanguard force of nearly 5,000.
As this happened, the atmosphere on the front line began to change drastically.
"R-run away!"
"Damn it! You fools. Hold your positions! If you scatter, you'll be whipped..."
"Aaaargh! We're all going to die!"
With nearly half of the right wing wiped out in a single lance charge, fear instantly set in.
The once-confident soldiers of the right wing turned their backs and started to flee.
"No!"
Watching from a distance, I let out a gasp of astonishment.
Did this even make sense?
To create such a situation with just one charge?
I had seen the power of a five-star general many times while playing [Pangea Universalise] in the past, but seeing it with my own two eyes was a completely different experience.
This... wasn't he a true war machine? To break through that small gap and shatter the formation!
"Get a grip. If you get agitated here, the soldiers will also be frightened. After all, aren't you the main force of the right wing?"
"Ah, thank you. Agpiel."
That's right. The main force of the right wing was my army, not the hastily assembled army of the Aragonese nobles.
"If your army holds its ground, won't those who fled eventually come back?"
"I know, Magician Agpiel. Biden! Captain Konrad!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Right, human lord!"
"There is no retreat. We will hold this area. Show them our strength."
"Understood!"
When I spoke firmly, Biden and Captain Konrad each returned to their positions and took command.
At that, the wavering soldiers steeled their hearts and began to form a phalanx again.
"What should we do about the fleeing allies? They are running towards us."
"Hmph. Do not waver. Keep your spears down and maintain the formation. Block them so they absolutely cannot pass!"
"B-but they are allies, sir?"
"Silence. Can you not follow orders!"
Captain Konrad, commanding the phalanx, spoke coldly.
It was harsh, but it was the right course of action. If the allies were allowed to pass through and the phalanx broke, there would be no way to stop that damn cavalry charge.
-Heeeeeigh!
"Ho, their discipline is strict, but it's quite pathetic."
Of course, Count Steffen, who was watching from a distance, could only sneer.
"How dare they try to stop us with mere infantry. Isn't that right, gentlemen?"
"Hahahaha! That's right, Your Excellency the Count!"
The cavalry, having already ground down the Prince-elector of Bohemia's soldiers once, had their morale soaring through the sky.
Although the Margrave's army had strict discipline and seemed numerous, they were still just infantry.
They believed that if they charged, the enemy would collapse like the Aragonese nobles' soldiers just did.
"Alright then, let's show them our power again! Everyone, raise your lances-!"
"Waaaaaaah!"
Thus, they cheered at Count Steffen's command and began to charge.
-Dugudugudugu!
Watching their movement, Captain Konrad and Biden roared.
"Do not be afraid! Trust the comrade next to you! The enemy's lance will not pierce us!"
"Crossbowmen, forward!"
At that command, nearly 1,000 crossbowmen stood before the pikemen's phalanx.
They all stood in a tight line, aiming forward.
"Not yet, not yet! Wait."
"When their heads are the size of ripe apples, that's the right time!"
They had already fought several battles with this tactic.
By now, Captain Konrad and Biden had learned how to inflict maximum damage on the cavalry.
Patience and more patience.
They had to lure the cavalry as close as possible and then unleash a massive volley of bolts.
Therefore, Captain Konrad and Biden waited as long as they could.
And finally.
-Heeeeeigh!
-Kill them!!
-Huff huff!
When it felt like they could hear the breathing of the charging cavalry.
"Fire!"
"Volley fire!"
-Pshshshshshshshsh.
-Papak.
-Thwack.
Bolts, brimming with tension, descended upon the cavalry.
***
-Peeeeeeeeeeeeing!
A ringing filled his head.
At the same time, Count Steffen, who had momentarily lost consciousness, quickly opened his eyes and looked around.
‘W-what is happening?’
For a moment, the world turned black, and then something heavy struck him on the head.
Fortunately, thanks to his sturdy helmet, he was unharmed, but the ringing in his ears persisted.
However, this luck was only for Count Steffen.
-Aaaargh!
-Thwack!
-Crack!
-D-dodge!
The knights, who had been charging proudly with their lances raised, all fell in the front rank just before impact.
As a result, the cavalry following behind tripped over the fallen horses and tumbled in a chain reaction.
At this gruesome sight, the cavalrymen, without realizing it, stopped their charge and milled about at the front.
"Y-Your Excellency! Your orders."
"Ah!"
Count Steffen, who had been staring blankly, finally came to his senses.
"R-raise your lances! We charge again!"
"What?"
"Crossbows take a long time to reload! Do not let the sacrifice of our comrades be in vain!"
"Ah! Understood, Your Excellency the Count! Charge-! Let's crush them."
Although shocked by the sudden turn of events, Count Steffen was indeed an indomitable general.
Quickly assessing the situation, Count Steffen ordered another charge.
‘Damn bastard!’
He wondered why some infantry were just standing there in the front rank, but to think they were all crossbowmen armed with crossbows!
He had never imagined such a large-scale operation. Though an enemy, the Margrave of Bellua deserved praise.
But that was that, and a battle was a battle.
‘I’ll charge right in and crush you-!’
He had suffered great damage from an unexpected tactic, but that was all.
Crossbows took a long time to reload.
At this distance, they could strike in a single blow. Count Steffen gripped his lance and glared.
To trample the infantry of that damn Margrave of Bellua mercilessly.
But then.
‘Huh?’
As he drew closer to the enemy infantry with their spears, Count Steffen felt something was strange.
Something... something...
‘They’re too long?’
The spears held by the infantry were much longer than he had expected.
And that meant.
The outcome would be the same as when he fought the cavalry of Mangtong City last time.
"H-halt!"
Count Steffen, realizing the situation, shouted hastily, but it was too late.
-Crunch.
-Thwack.
-Heeeeeeigh.
-Aaaaargh!
They were all skewered by the long pikes and fell from their horses.
***
"We got them!"
Watching from the center of the formation, I shouted.
It had worked this time too.
Pike and shot.
This tactic had hit its mark perfectly. It wasn't called the tactic that changed the battlefield from cavalry superiority to infantry superiority for nothing.
Although they were all cold weapons, this was before plate armor was made.
This alone was enough to deal a significant blow.
"Deploy the halberdiers! Capture all the fallen knights!"
I immediately gave the order.
I deployed another powerful knight-slaying unit, the halberdiers, with full force.
-Crack, thud.
-Ugggh!
-Help me!
-Crack.
Thanks to that, hell unfolded in front of the pike phalanx.
The knights began to get tangled up and flail about as if they had fallen into a swamp.
"Advance the entire army! We must surround them all."
At my command, the ten divided units began to advance slowly.
In particular, the five units stationed in the rear quickly moved to the far right and began to envelop the left wing of the King of Aragon's army, who were watching all this with dumbfounded expressions.
-Uh oh?
-Th-they're advancing?
The surprised enemy tried to push back, but it was useless.
The pressure from the pike phalanx from the front was immense, and the crossbowmen protected between the pike phalanxes were too destructive.
-Pshshshshsh!
-Aaaargh!
There was no way the army of a mere noble could withstand what even the 1,000 elite cavalry led by Count Steffen could not.
They began to melt away as quickly as ice under the summer sun.
-Run away!
-Count Steffen, Your Excellency the Count! Where have you gone-!
Then, it was the King of Aragon's army that fell into chaos.
When Count Steffen, who had survived the inferno, turned his horse and retreated, their morale plummeted.
"Now-!"
I did not miss the opportunity.
Mounting my horse and lowering my visor, I shouted to the elf knights.
"It is time to show your valor. Let us crush them together."
"Ooooh!"
"With His Excellency!"
"Charge-! Kiyoooooot. For honor."
From between the pike phalanxes, nearly 300 elf knights that had been saved up until now charged out fiercely.
"Completely crush their left wing-!"
The elf knights I led swung wide to the right and struck the enemy's flank.
-Crash!
-Crunch!
The tide of battle had been completely reversed.
***
"Pathetic human knights! If you have any honor, then come at me."
The Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia was brave. And very powerful.
He did not retreat from the vanguard and fiercely trampled the army of the King of Aragon.
Several renowned Aragonese knights challenged him, but they were outnumbered.
After a few clashes, they were miserably thrown to the ground and captured. Therefore, the Prince-elector of Bohemia thought he would soon be able to see the outcome of the war.
But then…
"Your Excellency the Prince-elector! The right wing is collapsing."
"What? What are you talking about!"
"Count Steffen led the cavalry and raided the right wing."
"Damn it!"
At the sudden news from the messenger, the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia clicked his tongue.
No wonder he hadn't seen Count Steffen; it seemed he was trying to break the weakest link.
"Damn it! The king was right there in front of me!"
Thanks to that, the Elven King Prince-elector of Bohemia couldn't hide his disappointment, clicking his tongue.
He felt that if he had pushed just a little more, he could have captured the king and ended it, but now all his plans were ruined.
If Count Steffen completely crushed the right wing, he would expose his vulnerable flank and could collapse.
"What about the Margrave of Bellua? He hasn't collapsed yet, has he? Send word quickly. Tell him I will send reinforcements and to hold his position!"
Therefore, he temporarily halted his advance and immediately sent out his swift cavalry to support the right wing.
At that moment, the messenger brought more news.
"Y-Your Excellency! It is said that the right wing has blocked Count Steffen's attack and driven him back."
"What?"
It was rather unbelievable news.
He had heard that it had collapsed and was breaking down?
Did they perform some magic in that short time? But the news from the next messenger was even more absurd.
"Your Excellency the Prince-elector! It is said that the Margrave of Bellua has crushed the enemy's left wing! He has sent word that he will strike at the center and requests your cooperation."
"???"