novelraw Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56. The Invasion of the Lombard Kingdom (2)
Alvarez described the scene he had witnessed in detail.
“The number of enemies is approximately 300,000.”
“Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?”
“The enemy general said so as well, so the number shouldn't be wrong.”
300,000.
This was a number I had never seen in all my time playing the game.
PP was, at its core, a daughter-raising simulation game.
There were group battles, but large-scale confrontations between massive armies were usually glossed over with a simple image.
‘It just showed whether you won or lost, and how much the numbers decreased. That was all.’
Wars between nations occurred frequently in the game, but the highest number I had ever seen was 210,000.
Rude, also seeming overwhelmed by the number 300,000, spoke up.
“Just how much recruitment did they conduct to gather such a number? Do they not care about their people at all?”
The total population of the Lombard Kingdom was probably around 3 million.
An army of 300,000 meant that 10 percent of the population had been conscripted.
Excluding women, the elderly, and children, it meant that most of the productive population had been dragged off to be soldiers.
However, Anonymous showed confidence, saying it was manageable.
“War isn't all about numbers. A single breath attack will kill at least several thousand, so this is child's play.”
“I've said it several times before, but we don't know what kind of magic devices the enemy might have. Turning into a dragon is dangerous.”
Among magic devices, there were not only those that could put dragons to sleep but also many that could turn the tide of battle in an instant.
For example, the types of magic devices that Noemi used to subdue the old Demon Tribe could probably annihilate an opponent without a sound or a trace.
Despite this, Anonymous didn't back down.
“Magic devices that put dragons to sleep are only effective within a certain range. If we fire attacks from a distance, they won't be able to stop them. So we can win without getting a single drop of blood on our hands. Isn't that right?”
It was a valid point, but would the enemy really bring so many soldiers without having thought that far ahead?
The moment they lost the war, it would be as good as the end of their country.
Having mobilized all their forces, there would be no chance to recover if they were defeated.
“We should move as cautiously as possible, not knowing what other magic devices they might have brought. For now, let's observe their movements until nightfall.”
Rude also expressed his agreement with my opinion.
“When night comes, your power will return, so that would be best. The enemy's numbers are large, but we have no way of knowing what they might have prepared.”
Unfortunately, the information Alvarez brought was limited to the fact that the enemy had invaded, their numbers, and which troop types were most numerous.
Of course, this alone was a huge gain.
If we hadn't even known this much, we would have been helpless against a sudden attack.
Everyone except Anonymous voted in favor of my opinion, and Adel nodded and spoke up.
“Then, it would be best to evacuate all the residents to the Dragons' Paradise.”
“That would be right. Besides, the Dragons' Paradise is in a high place, so it's advantageous for observing the enemy's movements. However, supplies could be limited, so we need to take as much food as possible when we go up.”
“Please leave that to me. Before I am my father's daughter, I am a knight who protects this place.”
As expected, Adel was the most reliable person in times like these.
I entrusted the supply issue to Adel and issued the evacuation order.
In the game, I could have a direct negotiation with the enemy king, Alboin.
I could have persuaded him by asking if humans should be fighting amongst themselves when the Demon Tribe had appeared.
But now, no one knew about the annihilation of the old Demon Tribe.
‘This has become troublesome. Thanks to Noemi wiping out the old Demon Tribe, I was able to handle things easily, but because of that, I've lost my trump card.’
It would be great if they retreated on their own, but such a thing would not happen.
Since a war had broken out, it would be important to deal a heavy blow to the opponent to prevent them from ever invading this place again.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to easily set out on an expedition to other lands in the situations that would follow.
I ordered everyone to move quickly and gazed silently out the window.
A blizzard was raging fiercely, and to think they would start a war in a situation like this.
As Number 3 said, it seemed most plausible that Alboin had been brainwashed by the Demon Tribe.
It was true that Alboin was a conquering monarch, but he wasn't a fool who would go all-in on a war so recklessly, which made it all the more likely.
***
Liam, the Knight Commander of the Lombard Kingdom and the supreme commander of this war, was lost in thought as he watched the falling snow.
‘Something is strange. There is no way His Majesty would issue such an order.’
Liam and Alboin were fellow students.
Having fought through countless battlefields together, he could easily deduce Alboin's thoughts.
But now, he couldn't fathom his true intentions at all.
‘Attacking the Benedict Kingdom, I can understand. We've been bitter enemies with the Benedict Kingdom for hundreds of years. But to do it in the middle of winter like this, and to order the capture of the royal palace with a massive army of three hundred thousand, no less. It's too reckless.’
The resentful cries of the people still echoed in his mind.
“Oh, General. Conscription in a winter like this. How are we supposed to live?”
“This child is only fifteen. I will go to the army. So please, spare my youngest son. I beg of you!”
Alboin loved war more than anyone, but he wasn't this reckless.
He was a man who always sought a cause for war with the opposing country and chose the time and occasion to start one.
That wasn't the only thing that had changed from before.
‘Why is he not standing on the front lines with me?’
He always stood at the forefront, leading his soldiers.
But this time, he had sent only his soldiers to the battlefield while he stayed in the rearmost area.
If this was the case, even if they won the war, it would be difficult to receive the support of the people.
War was not a chess game, was it?
Moving chess pieces from a safe place meant one had to bear all the criticism.
‘And to even launch an invasion without a declaration of war. This is not how you show respect to an opponent.’
For this war, Alboin had moved his entire army towards the Benedict Kingdom's territory without a declaration of war.
It might be effective as a surprise attack, but it was tantamount to admitting it was a war without a just cause.
His mind went blank thinking about how the neighboring countries would react upon hearing this news.
Despite this, the army led by Liam was able to easily capture the territory of Marquis Moltke.
Since the marquisate currently had no lord, they were able to subdue the area without any significant battle.
As with many things, an organization without a leader is no different from a castle built on sand.
After letting the soldiers rest for a while, just as they were about to advance directly toward the capital, Tournai, an order suddenly came down from the royal palace.
“His Majesty has ordered that you must first capture Frank's Barony before heading to Tournai.”
“What is the reason?”
“He expressed concern that we might be pincered if we moved while leaving the dragons be.”
It wasn't entirely wrong, but wasn't this the same as telling them to go and die?
Dragons were beings at the pinnacle of all life.
A single adult dragon was powerful enough to lay waste to a small city in an instant.
“Damn it. Is he telling us all to die? Tell His Majesty that I cannot follow that order.”
“G-General!”
Liam had repeatedly voiced his opinion on the injustice of this war.
But not only did the king refuse to see him, but he also gave him, the one who opposed it most vehemently, the position of supreme commander.
It was a move that seemed to intend to shift all responsibility for this war onto him.
Behind all of this was the Chancellor, Clapo.
‘He wasn't like that originally, so why is he suddenly acting this way? He was kinder and more benevolent than anyone.’
Come to think of it, it was around that time that Alboin had changed.
As Clapo became more radical, Alboin, in turn, lost his sharpness and began to rule tyrannically.
Besides them, other key figures in the kingdom were all acting as if only their shells were the same, but their insides had changed.
It was the first time something like this had happened, and his head ached just thinking about how to respond.
Among everything, the thing that bothered him most was the barony the king had ordered him to attack.
The lord who governed that place was the Hero Frank, who had saved the lives of all humanity.
‘I, too, owe my life to him. To think he orders me to backstab such a benefactor instead of repaying his grace.’
But what was this?
The messenger suddenly put on a grim expression and uttered these words.
“You must not forget that the general's wife and children are in the royal palace.”
“How dare you threaten me!”
“Huhu, I merely informed you of the facts as they are.”
What kind of supreme commander of a nation's army was this?
He was nothing more than a puppet whose family was held captive as slaves.
Liam had no choice but to order the entire army to attack the barony.
Not long after he gave the order, a scout came up with the following report.
“Not a single human shadow was seen in Rarc Village, where the lord's mansion is located.”
“What? Then where are they?”
“That much was difficult to ascertain.”
Liam pondered.
Frank was a wise commander skilled in both pen and sword.
This might be a trap to lure them in.
As he hesitated to make a decision.
Among his subordinate adjutants, there was one who was usually very timid.
But recently, just as Alboin and his group had changed 180 degrees, David, whose personality had suddenly changed, pleaded with him to lend him 50,000 soldiers.
“Are you saying you will take the vanguard?”
“That is correct, General. I will be sure to bring back Frank's head.”
To bring back Frank's head.
The moment this became known to the outside world, the Lombard Kingdom would become the enemy of the entire world.
Frank's prestige was that great.
After a moment of thought, Liam nodded.
“We do need to figure out where the enemy is hiding. If it seems you'll be at a disadvantage, retreat immediately.”
However, David shook his head firmly.
“How can one who leads soldiers flee with the enemy right before his eyes? You can just watch comfortably from here, General. Haha.”
With these words, David turned his back and left the barracks.
Liam clicked his tongue at David's arrogant demeanor and shook his head.
‘He was not originally like that…’
Would the kingdom's sudden change work to their advantage in this war?
Liam was more inclined to think not.
This was the most ominous battlefield he had ever been on.
Not only his own fate, but the fate of his country felt like a candle in the wind.
***
As Liam had predicted, David was merely a demon in disguise.
The original David had been in his stomach for a long time.
However, it wasn't just a matter of mimicking his appearance; he was able to inherit the memories of the person he had devoured.
“Hmph! To think I ended up in the body of a guy like this. There's no coward like him.”
Igralus lamented his situation but consoled himself with the thought that if he achieved great things here, he could secure a higher position.
“I am different from the likes of Silentium. He failed, but I will surely defeat the dragons and achieve great merit.”
How many humiliating moments did he have to endure after the Demon King fell to the Hero?
But now, it would be different.
A new world would unfold.
Igralus firmly believed this as he hurried the soldiers.
“The last ones to arrive will have their necks personally slit by my hand!”
Even in a situation where snow was piled up to their knees, his soldiers ran and ran with all their might.
Then, suddenly.
Numerous clusters of light appeared in the empty air.
“What is that?”
“I-It's a breath attack!”
A demon, disguised as a human just like himself, shouted, but Igralus smirked.
“I already expected this much. Bring it out.”
At Igralus' words, the wizards who followed him took something out from their bosoms.
It was an old scroll, filled with unreadable text.
The moment they tore it.
A huge magic barrier unfolded, and soon, a massive explosion was heard.
Boom!! Bo-boom!
The sound was deafening, but not a single person was hurt.
“Uhahaha! Did you see that! Dragons are nothing!”
Igralus laughed like a madman.
But the dragons' breaths continued without mercy.
Thanks to the magic barrier, no one was injured, but quite a few soldiers clutched their ears, bleeding and crying out in pain.
“Kuaaak! My ears!”
“Ughhh. My, my ears feel like they're going to burst!”
Igralus grumbled with a face full of dissatisfaction.
“Tsk. So damn weak. Humans, fall back. Only the demons will remain here.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Night will fall soon. And then, our time will come.”
When night came, not only would their vision become brighter,
but their power would also grow stronger, turning the tide of the battle.
But Igralus didn't know one thing.
Night was the time of the demons, and at the same time, it was also Frank's time.