novelraw Chapter 156: Krafte War - The Battle of Barua (2)
Chapter 156: Krafte War - The Battle of Barua (2)
Even the Krafte Army marveled at the brilliant golden storm that raged with enough force to cover the entire Revolutionary Army.
“Ooooh…!”
A shower of light, rising from the vanguard of the Revolutionary Army, soon formed a circle around them, blocking the Krafte Army's bombardment, which then fell away.
Karl II raised his telescope, looking at the woman in the center of that light, her white robe fluttering.
“The Saintess Queen…”
A light so bright and radiant that even the sun lost its luster.
A light so intense it could blind, yet instead of piercing the eyes with pain, it gave a warm and comfortable feeling.
“…To think I would see such a sight in my lifetime.”
God exists.
Given that divine power is actually used and the Holy Theocracy exists, there are few who would deny that.But God does not judge the trivialities of human affairs individually.
If that were not the case, what reason could there be for divine power to be granted to the corrupt clergy of the Holy Theocracy, who do nothing but make money using their faith?
The Great King, who had lived his entire life as an agnostic believing this to be true, let out a dry laugh.
He had heard of the Saintess Queen’s powerful divine power.
He had known, but…
“…Beautiful.”
It was different from the corrupt clergy of the Holy Theocracy.
The sight, infinitely close to a miracle, as if claiming this woman was God's beloved, made even the Great King marvel.
Karl II stared blankly at the brilliant light particles created by the massive storm, wrapping around and seeping into every Revolutionary Army soldier of Francia. After a long while, he twisted the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“Yes, it has to be at least this much to be a battle worthy of the name, doesn't it?”
*
I slowly raised my hand, clenched it into a fist and opened it, then drew my sword for a light swing.
The vitality flowing through my body made the sword feel light.
…Even if it's not as much as the blessing Gremory had given me, I can clearly feel its effect. And with the aura of divine power surrounding my body, I feel a protective effect, though I don’t know for sure.
Did she just grant this to the entire army?
I looked at Eris, who would be at the front.
I had heard she intended to use five crystals at battle's start, but could she really perform such a miracle and be okay?
She's not staggering.
Sir Beaumont, always by Eris’s side, doesn't seem agitated, and Eris stands firmly on her own two feet.
Eris claims her divine power is continuously strengthening, and indeed, the proof is right before my eyes.
…Whether it's due to the divine power or just my imagination, I feel that even after the blessings of Eris or Gremory have faded, I, too, have become a little stronger.
But is she really okay? Is it possible for a human body to perform such a miracle without strain?
“W-woooow!”
“Long live the Saintess Queen!”
My thoughts were interrupted by the cheers that belatedly erupted from the Revolutionary Army.
A truly overwhelming miracle was unfolding, and its proof flowed through their bodies. The morale of the soldiers was so high that it seemed to pierce the heavens.
In the midst of it all, cannon fire erupted again from the Krafte side, and a huge barrier of light spread across the sky, blocking the bombardment.
“Her Majesty the Queen is protecting us!”
“Victory to Francia!”
At the renewed eruption of cheers and shouts, I slowly blinked.
Right, other thoughts later.
For now, I just need to lead this stage Christine and Eris have prepared to victory.
“Messenger! Your Excellency the Marquis, we have a confirmed observation of enemy artillery positions!”
I nodded at the messenger's report.
Unlike the Krafte Army, our army still has few howitzers and even fewer artillerymen capable of handling them properly.
Direct-fire cannons that shoot roundshot inflict limited damage on infantry compared to howitzers firing explosive shells, so if we were to engage in a counter-battery duel, we would be at a disadvantage.
“Good, relay the order to all artillery. Commence counter-battery fire.”
“Yes, sir! Relay the order to all artillery! Commence counter-battery fire!”
However, our artillerymen are also veterans of numerous wars, including the Iberian civil war. They may not be familiar with howitzers yet, but when it comes to the direct-fire cannons to which they are already accustomed, they do not fall behind in accuracy or rate of fire.
I raised my telescope and looked at the Krafte artillery position in the distance.
I had trusted Eris and deliberately given the artillery a hold order, letting them take the first shot. Their position was specified by the sound of cannons and the smoke of gunpowder.
“Fire!”
Soon, cannons erupted in succession from our side—and the sight of dozens of cannonballs raining down on the Krafte artillery position entered my view.
“…Good.”
No matter how skilled the Krafte Army is, they are no match for a cannonball of overwhelming mass. If they have more powerful howitzer firepower, we just have to take out that powerful firepower first.
I lowered my telescope and looked at the infantry of both sides approaching each other.
“Now it all depends on how well Millbeau does.”
*
As the line infantry of both armies approached each other, gunshots from the vanguard engagement ahead of them echoed ceaselessly.
Bang!
Clang!
“Ooh, long live the Saintess Queen!”
The Revolutionary Army's light infantryman, flinching at the sight of a Krafte Schütze aiming at him, saw the protective barrier that had blocked the incoming bullet shatter, praising the Queen as he ran frantically.
The enemy skirmisher, flustered, was shot down by the charging light infantryman while trying to reload.
The Krafte Army's skirmisher Schützen, acting as snipers, deployed ahead of the line infantry.
This military branch used rifled muskets, which offered much greater range and accuracy than those used by the Revolutionary Army's light infantry.
However, rifled muskets are rare, requiring immense effort to make, and are also more difficult to reload than a standard musket.
So when Francia deployed a much larger number of light infantry, and Eris's blessing protected them, they were powerless, either struck down or frantically chased around without even being able to reload.
“Hah, hahaha! Serves you right—!”
Damien De Millbeau reveled in the sight.
He was repaying the humiliation of retreating after being helplessly beaten in the Mirbeau Line, unable to even properly stick his head out!
“Uahaha, the initial engagement is ours! The Great King of Krafte is nothing special!”
“Do not be careless, Count Milbeau.”
“Do not be careless, Your Excellency, Count Milbeau.”
Damien flinched at the two female voices coming from behind him. Giselle Davi and Eris looked at each other and blinked.
“Ahem, ahem. I am not being careless. P-please do not worry, Your Majesty. I, Damien De Millbeau, will devote my life to protecting Your Majesty—”
“I will take care of myself, so please command the troops well, Count. And please at least look me in the eye when we speak.”
“M-my apologies…”
Damien, unable to even make eye contact while flattering her, immediately crumpled.
'She's wearing a veil anyway, so what does it matter if I avoid her eyes or not!'
Meanwhile, Eris, whose eyes met Giselle Davi's again, smiled gently as if nothing had happened and asked.
“Is there something you wished to say?”
“Ah, well… No, Your Majesty. I will be careful to save even one more soldier's life.”
“That is a reassuring statement. I have heard a lot about you, Major Giselle Davi, and how your accurate judgment has always contributed to victory…”
Eris paused, extended a hand, and spread a barrier in the sky to block an incoming cannonball, then spoke again.
“I have been told, and I am counting on you this time as well.”
“I-it is an honor, Your Majesty.”
Damien De Millbeau narrowed his eyes at the two women who were chatting amicably, then let out a deep sigh and turned back to the front.
“The skirmishers are retreating.”
“Marksmen equipped with rifled muskets must be high-value assets by their standards, Your Excellency. It is correct to retreat if there is no point in engaging them. So, now…”
Giselle Davi, who had quickly composed herself, looked at the approaching enemy line with a telescope and said.
“It is a full-scale battle.”
“Good, good! A good start! Order the light infantry to withdraw.”
While Damien gave the order, the messengers ran.
“However…”
Giselle Davi looked at the enemy's formation through the telescope and tilted her head slightly.
The spacing between the Krafte line infantry seemed a little looser than a typical line infantry formation.
“The line infantry’s formation is a little loose. What kind of deployment is that?”
While Giselle was puzzled, the Revolutionary Army's line infantry advanced vigorously.
The vitality flowing through their bodies was proof of the blessing bestowed by their beloved Saintess Queen.
The line infantry had witnessed the blessing placed on the light infantry ahead of them block the fire of the enemy Schützen, so their morale was indescribably high.
100 meters, 90 meters, 80 meters.
As they advanced, feeling the tension and exhilaration of battle, they entered engagement range, and the shout of a sergeant echoed.
“Company, halt!”
“Company, halt!”
The Revolutionary Army line infantry halted in unison as the command spread like a wave along their long line, and the same thing happened on the other side.
“Aim!”
It was the Krafte Army that aimed first.
“Fire!”
With a sound of tearing wind, bullets rained down—
And soon, with a clanging sound, the protective barriers of several line infantrymen shattered.
However, apart from the few unlucky enough to be hit by several shots, the Revolutionary Army remained intact, and cheers erupted from here and there.
“Her Majesty the Saintess Queen is truly great!”
“Long live the revolution! Aim—!”
Like toy soldiers.
If the enemy fires, our side fires.
The sergeant stepped forward, imagining an engagement that would unfold sequentially like a fair duel.
From their slightly loose formation, the Krafte soldiers twisted their bodies and stepped aside, and the first rank of the Krafte Army, having finished firing, retreated behind them to reload.
“Huh?”
“Second rank, aim!”
While the Revolutionary Army was momentarily bewildered, the second rank of the Krafte Army immediately aimed—
“Fire!”
Gunshots erupted, and bullets rained down.
Soon, protective barriers shattered here and there, and more men fell than before.
As soon as that happened, the Revolutionary Army sergeant's face turned white as he watched the third rank of the Krafte Army twist their bodies and step aside, and the second rank retreat behind the first rank to begin reloading.
“Q-quickly, aim!”
“Uh, uh…”
“Fire!”
The Revolutionary Army, who had lost their senses due to the unfamiliar tactic, the falling comrades, and the splattered blood, hurriedly raised their muskets and fired, but a volley fired hastily in such a situation proved haphazard.
A few Krafte soldiers fell, but due to the distance opened up by the retreating first and second ranks, and the confusion, it proved ineffective.
“Third rank, aim!”
And as soon as that happened.
“Fire!”
When the Krafte Army's third rank fired almost without delay, the groans and falls of men hit by bullets were louder than the shattering of protective barriers.
Damien De Millbeau, watching the scene from behind, shouted as if his eyeballs were about to pop out.
“Light infantry tactics?!”
“It seems they are doing the advance firing in reverse.”
The first, second, and third ranks fire sequentially and retreat, while the unit in the rear reloads quickly, stands up, and fires again.
Reloading time is sufficiently offset by the Revolutionary Army fumbling around, as the distance created by the retreat exceeds their effective range.
And yet, even when firing from a slightly greater distance than the typical line infantry engagement range, the Krafte Army boasted considerable accuracy.
The Revolutionary Army, which had only ever exchanged fire at a proper engagement distance or fired a few times before charging, was completely unable to respond.
Most of all, the blessing Eris had so graciously bestowed was rendered meaningless as the chain of fire instantly shattered the protective barriers.
“Wh-what is that!”
Damien De Millbeau, pale as a sheet, stomped his feet as he watched his line infantry ravaged and powerless.
The Krafte Army, superior to the Francian army in aiming and firing speed, continued to change ranks and retreat while firing.
The Revolutionary Army, to get into engagement range, couldn't even fire their guns properly and merely followed the Krafte Army, which fired quickly and retreated in sequence, enduring constant fire.
The common sense of line infantry engagement is to exchange fire sequentially.
A battle that directly defied that.
They were conducting a skirmish battle, a tactic of light infantry, while maintaining the characteristic order and formation of line infantry.
Damien De Millbeau, watching the scene with a dumbfounded face, tore at his hair and shouted.
“Th-those dirty cheating bastards are fighting a dog-like war!”