novelraw Vol 3. Chapter 669: To the Decisive Battlefield
Vol 3. Chapter 669: To the Decisive Battlefield
The North River, Darwei’s northern border.
Like the South River that flowed through the Imperial Capital, it was a great river, over a kilometer wide in its broader stretches.
For a long time, this North River had served as Darwei’s northern border.
*****
North of the North River, it grew considerably colder, and so the land was not regarded as especially valuable territory.
Because of that, even the dynasties before Darwei had treated this North River as their northern border, and there had been times when horse-riding peoples built states on the far side of it and fought one another.
Since a great river could even be called a natural fortress, the Peiyu Kingdom, a state of mounted tribes, had not invaded Darwei so easily.
Especially over the last few decades, the relationship between the two countries had also been good.
But not long ago, the Peiyu Kingdom had suddenly invaded Darwei.
At that time, it had crossed this very North River and attacked.
That invasion had been repelled by Prince Ryun, acting under imperial command.
However, this time, the Choouchi Empire, which had annexed that Peiyu Kingdom, had crossed the North River and invaded.
When it had been the Peiyu Kingdom, no one had thought such a thing possible, so not much defensive strength had been stationed on the south bank.
That was why the invasion had been allowed through so easily, but this time was different.
Since the possibility of a southward advance by the Choouchi Empire had been judged real, the Third Prince, Prince Churei, had been stationed there as Great General of the Northern Campaign with ten thousand Forbidden Army troops under his command.
Prince Churei was known in the Imperial Palace as a prince inclined toward martial matters.
As long as he stood guard there with the Forbidden Army, everyone had thought everything would be secure, but...
*****
“Do not fall back! If we retreat here, they’ll invade without end!”
Prince Churei shouted.
The area around him was already right in the middle of chaotic close combat.
“Your Highness! The enemy has committed a fresh Ogre unit!”
A subordinate gave the new report with a look of despair.
Yes, the Choouchi Imperial Army was deploying monsters under its command onto the battlefield.
Prince Churei understood as well that the new enemy force had to be met with their reserves.
But...
“There are no reserve troops left to commit.”
He muttered it and bit down on his lip.
*****
The main force of the Darwei army that had gone out to intercept them was the ten thousand Forbidden Army, said to be the very elite.
Even against Ogres—monsters that stood two and a half meters tall—the Forbidden Army had fought without flinching, without yielding even a single step.
In fact, in the early phase they had endured the attacks, and in the middle phase there had even been moments when it looked as if they might push the enemy back.
But the enemy had not been only monsters.
“Here they come again!”
“Curse talismans!”
“Watch above you!”
There they were.
The curse talismans flying in from behind the enemy army.
Hundreds of curse talismans flew through the sky, raining stones and fireballs down from overhead.
If they held their shields up above their heads, they could defend against it.
But if they did that, it interfered with their battle against the monsters in front of them...
As a result, the Darwei army’s strength and morale were gradually worn away.
“Found you!”
Clang!
Prince Churei blocked with his own sword the strike that came diving in together with a voice sharp enough to pierce the ears.
“That splendid armor doesn’t belong to some underling. But you’re still young. Which means you’re the child of the Shitaifu class—or royalty!”
“What if I am?”
Prince Churei gave a casual answer to the man’s deduction.
The answer was casual, but from the sharpness of the slash, he understood this was not an opponent he could afford to take lightly.
“I am Galibechi, one of the Seven Star Generals of the Choouchi Empire. The man who will take your life. Remember that!”
“If my life gets taken, I won’t be able to remember you.”
At Galibechi’s introduction, Prince Churei let out a sigh.
But as a member of the imperial family, he could not simply leave it unanswered after being given a name.
“I am Prince Churei, Great General of the Northern Campaign of Darwei.”
“Prince Churei? Then you’re the Third Prince. Quite a big prize!”
“I see. Then what will you do?”
“Take your life.”
“In the end, nothing changes.”
Then began a sword clash between Phantomkin and man.
Combat raged all around the two of them as well.
But almost all of it was monsters against the Darwei army.
“You’re the only Phantomkin here, while you drive nothing but monsters forward?”
Prince Churei asked.
“Our population’s small. So we make effective use of the monsters we can command.”
Galibechi answered with his mouth twisted.
Though they were exchanging words like that, the swordfight itself was extremely fierce.
Galibechi attacked more often, but Prince Churei was by no means losing.
“I thought you’d be some soft princeling, but you’re pretty good. I figured royals just hid in the rear.”
“If the prince does not stand at the front, no one will follow. That should be obvious.”
“Ah... I almost want our emperor to hear that.”
After muttering that, Galibechi hurriedly added more words.
“No, if he’s commanding, then of course he shouldn’t be at the front. Yes, of course.”
“Who exactly are you making excuses to?”
Prince Churei tilted his head, unable to understand what Galibechi meant.
Their swordfight was fierce, but one of them was also the supreme commander.
After his subordinates cut down the monster before them, they called out.
“Your Highness!”
“Do not come! I’ll handle this one!”
But Prince Churei refused their attempt to come to his aid.
“Wouldn’t it be better to let them help you?”
“Unfortunately for me, Phantomkin, you are strong. My men are no match for you.”
Prince Churei said it clearly.
He understood that he was the only one here who could oppose him.
But at the same time, he also understood that he was the only one who could command while keeping an eye on the whole battle.
(I just must not miss the timing for retreat.)
He knew they were at a disadvantage.
He himself, the Great General, had been thrown into the middle of the melee.
And they had no reserves left.
The Ogres that had just been committed, and the curse talismans loosed as if to press the attack further.
Those two things were causing the Darwei battle line to collapse.
*****
“To think you can still keep the front in mind while trading such fierce blows. Impressive, Prince.”
“That is the role of a Great General.”
Galibechi said it with what sounded like genuine admiration, and Prince Churei answered with a scowl.
Because the instant he said it, he saw one group that had been resisting stubbornly get smashed apart by an Ogre.
(We’re at the limit.)
And yet...
“You won’t get away.”
Galibechi had sensed it too—that his own side had gained the upper hand.
If that was so, then of course the prince before him would try to withdraw.
A fighting retreat was the hardest kind of battle.
Because the enemy pursued.
“You can hardly command a retreat while crossing swords like this, can you?”
“Tch.”
Galibechi said it with a grin, and Prince Churei had no answer.
What Galibechi said was perfectly true.
And yet...
“Raise the second withdrawal signal!”
Prince Churei roared.
Several of the attendants around him heard it, pulled out black boxes about the size of card cases from their pockets, and slammed them against the ground.
Orange smoke burst out from the black boxes.
Orange smoke rose from several points across the battlefield.
The next instant, more than a hundred somethings flew in from behind the Darwei army.
Boom, crash...
When they hit the ground, they scattered deafening blasts and blinding flashes.
That threw the monsters into confusion.
“What?”
Even Galibechi was startled.
Prince Churei was not the kind of man to miss that opening.
Slash.
“Damn it!”
Galibechi, his belly cut open in a straight line, cursed and leaped far back to the rear.
Naturally, Prince Churei did not pursue.
He ran together with his own army as it began withdrawing.
Thus, the Northern Campaign army led by Prince Churei was defeated by the Choouchi Imperial Army.
*****
“It seems Prince Churei has been defeated in the north, but first we must enter the Imperial Capital and show all under heaven that His Majesty the Emperor is safe.”
“O-oh...”
“Because the only one who can stiffen the backbone not only of the people of Darwei, but also of the Forbidden Army, which may have been shaken by the defeat, is His Majesty the Emperor himself.”
“That’s true. But why are you telling me this?”
Abel asked suspiciously at ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Ryo’s sudden speech.
“Because there is a possibility that Abel may act rashly and charge alone into the Choouchi Imperial Army. And I would like to stop that.”
“I see. But don’t worry. I’m not thinking of doing anything like that. Not even a little.”
After saying that much, Abel realized.
“It’s not me. You’re the one getting impatient, Ryo.”
“W-what are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean.”
Ryo said it while sliding his gaze away.
It was completely unconvincing.
Even so, Abel did not avert his own gaze, so Ryo reluctantly continued.
“I hate wars of invasion.”
“There isn’t anyone who likes wars of invasion...”
“But still, throughout history, all kinds of countries invade their neighbors, don’t they?”
“Well, that’s true.”
The Knightley Kingdom—Abel’s realm, and the place where Ryo’s home stood—had itself once been invaded by the Debuhi Empire in league with the king’s younger brother.
At the time, Ryo’s base had been in Rune in the south of the kingdom, and the Empire’s invasion had not reached that far.
Even so, when he had received the report that the kingdom had lost the war and allowed the Empire’s invasion, he had been badly shaken.
“Abel, as king, do your best to make sure your country never gets invaded.”
“Uh-huh...”
“If your military strength is lacking, I’m prepared to provide ten thousand Ice Golems from the Grand Duchy of Rondo. Just say the word when the time comes.”
“Seriously...?”
“At present they can still only lower their spears and charge, though.”
“I-is that so? Don’t make them get too strong... I think they’re fine about where they are now.”
At that moment, Abel pictured in his mind a marching army of golems filling the horizon.
“I need to continue researching water-attribute magic and alchemy and make the Flying Squirrel Golem corps into a proper force too.”
“You mean that thing—flying golems?”
“Yes, yes, those. If I pair them with the aerial battleship Golden Hind and establish control of the skies, then coordinate them with the main Ice Golem ground force advancing below, the Debuhi Empire won’t be able to throw its weight around! We absolutely must never bow to invaders again!”
With that, the Premier Duke thrust his right fist into the air.
“Yeah... I’ll work hard too.”
Even while understanding it was just one of Ryo’s fantasies, the king found himself thinking that if it really happened, it would be a little frightening.
At the very least, the people close to the center of power in the Knightley Kingdom seemed to be thinking about all kinds of things.
Though at present, those two men were very far from their own country.
*****
Three months after Emperor Tsuin had been abducted, the Emperor finally returned to the Imperial Capital.
Emperor Tsuin walked with the Second Prince, Prince Kouri, on one side and the Sixth Prince, Prince Ryun, on the other, while the allied forces from foreign lands advanced as well in a magnificent procession, and the people of the Imperial Capital erupted in excitement.
Even if it had not been officially announced, word had still reached them.
That some empire from the north was advancing south.
That apparently the Darwei army had lost its opening battle.
But now His Majesty the Emperor had finally returned.
And the armies and princes following him looked strong too.
This had to mean they could do it!
With those cheers at their backs, the party entered the Imperial Palace.
“Zhuon, Shau, it seems you moved in many ways. You have done well.”
“Your praise is more than we deserve.”
“We are deeply honored.”
At Emperor Tsuin’s words, Zhuon of the Inspectorate and Secretary Shau of the Censorate bowed their heads.
“The people’s lives still seem stable. Smiles were on their faces.”
“In that regard, Lord Hau Gin and the patrol troops under his command did not waver.”
“I see. As expected of First-Rank Marquis Hau Gin.”
Emperor Tsuin nodded deeply and praised Hau Gin, who protected order in the Imperial Capital.
The Emperor also knew that if the ground under their feet became unstable, it would be impossible to meet and repel an enemy that had violated the borders.
That was precisely why Emperor Tsuin held in such high regard the patrol troops that firmly protected the Imperial Capital, the very ground beneath their feet.
Going to the battlefield was not the only work of soldiers.
Some soldiers went to the battlefield and broke foreign enemies.
Others devoted themselves to the well-being of the people.
From the standpoint of a ruler, both were important.
While Emperor Tsuin fulfilled the role of a restored ruler and the generals planned operations against the Choouchi Empire, in another place two masters were rejoicing at their return.
“Yeah, home really is best!”
“Well, it is certainly our home in the Imperial Capital...”
Those were the words of Ryo and Abel as they reached Rondo Manor.
Inside the gate, the Ice Golems serving as the garden guard stood in neat lines, delighted at the return of their masters.
Of course, Abel could not tell in the slightest whether they were delighted or not.
“They’ve really grown into something. They’re almost unrecognizable now.”
“...Have they?”
Ryo said it happily, lightly patting each one in turn, but Abel had no idea what he was supposed to be seeing.
Then, amid all that, something came slowly approaching...
“Oh, Andalusia!”
Ryo’s beloved horse Andalusia had, unusually, left the lawn and come all the way to the gate to greet him.
The horse rubbed its face against Ryo, delighted.
Ryo happily stroked it in return.
There was trust there that crossed species.
And naturally, the other black one was there as well.
“Feiwan, you did well holding down the fort while I was gone.”
Abel’s beloved horse Feiwan had also come all the way to the gate and began licking Abel’s face.
That was Feiwan’s way of showing affection.
“Hahaha, that tickles. There, there.”
There too was trust that crossed species.
At last, the two of them had returned to Rondo Manor.
“Even so, we’re going to be setting out again right away, aren’t we?”
After bathing first and washing away the grime of travel, Ryo said that over tea.
“We have to meet the Choouchi Empire in battle. Even though he suffered one defeat, Prince Churei is surely still holding on in the north with the surviving troops, yes? While he buys time, a great army has to be assembled.”
Abel said the same while drinking tea.
Then he continued.
“That said, we’re outsiders. The center of this war belongs to the people of Darwei.”
“Yes, I understand. Of course, if they ask for our cooperation, we’ll help with everything we have.”
If he went out himself, casualties would be reduced.
And yet, he could not simply go out from the start.
Whenever Ryo stood on a battlefield, he always ended up carrying that contradiction-like feeling inside him.
But war was not something where victory alone was enough.
The manner of victory decided many things afterward—the direction of the country, the hearts of the people, and more.
After seeing the liberation war of the Knightley Kingdom, Ryo understood that clearly.
“They say war is part of politics too, but... politics really is difficult.”
“Yeah, I won’t deny that.”
Ryo grumbled while shaking his head, and Abel admitted it with a wry smile.
Apparently there were even unusual people in this world who wanted, of their own accord, to get involved in that troublesome thing called politics.
The world was vast indeed.
The day after the party returned to the Imperial Capital, Ryo and Abel were summoned to the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Tsuin had called the two of them to his private chamber, the Hall of Literary Splendor, and personally thanked them for many things.
“No, we only did what was natural.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about it.”
Ryo and Abel answered as they always did.
Then Emperor Tsuin said that information particularly relevant to the two of them had come in, and that was why he had called them.
“I believe I told you that in order to go to the Central Countries, one must pass through the Corridor while the Wall is open.”
“Yes, I remember. It’s in the northwestern part of Darwei, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. On that matter, I had old records and such investigated even before I was taken by the Choouchi Empire, and several pieces of information were found.”
According to them:
More than a thousand years ago, the Wall had been closed by alchemy.
The reason had been to prevent something from entering from the Central Countries.
The alchemist who had taken the lead in closing the Wall had set the Key for opening it to the blood of the emperor of that age.
Naturally, Darwei was only one hundred fifty years old, and so at that time it had not existed even in shadow.
But the Darwei imperial house were descendants of the dynasty of that age.
Therefore, the blood of members of the direct imperial line, including Emperor Tsuin, might be the Key that opened the Wall.
“I see. So that’s why the Choouchi Empire kidnapped Your Majesty and drew your blood.”
Ryo nodded.
Beside him, Abel also nodded silently.
“As for the information held by General Yun, whom we captured earlier, I too received a report from Secretary Shau. It seems the Phantom King is trying to go to the Central Countries.”
“Yes. They will likely use Your Majesty’s blood to open the Wall and pass through the Corridor.”
“Even if the Wall is opened, it seems we still do not know what will happen.”
“Wasn’t it blocking something that had tried to come in from the Central Countries?”
“It was. But it has already opened for several years out of each span of decades. At least during that time, people can pass through...”
“It may be that Phantomkin cannot pass because they are different from humans. And so they need to open the Wall completely.”
Because they did not have enough information, both Emperor Tsuin and Ryo were piling conjecture upon conjecture.
But there were times in this world when that kind of thinking was necessary.
Three days after Emperor Tsuin returned to the Imperial Capital, the northern expeditionary army departed.
It was an imperial campaign led by Emperor Tsuin himself as supreme commander.
At its core were thirty thousand Forbidden Army troops.
There were also twenty thousand Black Banner Army troops of the Ministry of War, and five thousand magicians.
In addition, local lords were scheduled to join them along the way with their own forces.
Prince Ryun and Prince Kouri accompanied him as deputy commanders.
Prince Ryun was one thing, but in Prince Kouri’s case, the judgment had been made that he could not be left alone in the Imperial Capital, and so they might as well keep him close and bring him along.
“How few trustworthy allies there are.”
“That’s true.”
Ryo, who had joined the campaign as an advisor, shook his head and lamented it, and Abel, acting as his guard, agreed.
Incidentally, Lord Rowon remained in the heavy prison, still frozen solid.
“This really is a rushed departure. I wonder if the army’s organization is going to be all right.”
“The core must have at least been organized already. They’ll probably finish organizing the expanding parts while moving toward the battlefield.”
“Is that really okay?”
“As a military method, no.”
“Right?”
Abel said it flatly, and Ryo nodded as well.
“But realistically, it must be a situation where they have no choice.”
“One of those cases where it’s wrong in purely military terms, but right in political terms?”
“Not recently, but it happened a few times in the kingdom when my father ruled. The people at the political center know perfectly well, even without the generals telling them, that it isn’t ideal. But sometimes the army has to be moved toward the front even a little sooner.”
“For political reasons.”
So long as the military was subordinate to politics, armies were moved for political reasons—even if, in purely military terms, that movement was not correct.
That was how it was.
“Everything really is difficult. It’s better to stay home and eat something delicious.”
“Yeah, I’ll grant you that.”
Two weeks after departing the Imperial Capital, the northern expeditionary army led by Emperor Tsuin joined up with the army of the Third Prince, Prince Churei.
“Churei, you held out well.”
“Your Majesty, I am ashamed of the result. I beg your forgiveness.”
“Not at all. It is precisely because it was you that the enemy’s invasion has been halted. Hold your head high.”
Though he had lost the opening battle, Emperor Tsuin praised Prince Churei for his stubborn resistance.
In one corner of the main camp of the northern expeditionary army, the advisor and his guard were chatting idly.
“I hear that after shattering the Darwei army in the opening battle and securing Shuntai Fortress on the south bank of the North River, the Choouchi army has remained stopped there. Almost as if they’re waiting for this main force to arrive.”
“They’re waiting.”
Abel shrugged at Ryo’s words.
“So you think so too, Abel?”
“Of course. This is the main force led by the Emperor of Darwei. They mean to decide everything in this one battle.”
“At the center are thirty thousand Forbidden Army troops, and if you include the forces of the lords who joined along the way, there are over a hundred thousand men, you know? And they still think they can beat that.”
“That’s right. Maybe they’re thinking, You scraped a hundred thousand together in numbers alone.”
“A hundred thousand, hm? You scraped a hundred thousand together in numbers alone.”
In one corner of the Choouchi Imperial Army’s main camp, the Phantom King said that and laughed.
“But even if they are humans, a hundred thousand is not a number that can simply be dismissed.”
The one who answered was Taoran, draped in a black robe.
He had settled into a position something like the Phantom King’s adjutant.
“His Majesty the Emperor is said to be delighted that the Emperor of Darwei has come out. He says everything can be decided in this one battle.”
The one conveying the emperor’s current state was General Yun.
In this southward campaign, he occupied a position something like chief of staff under the Phantom King.
“He did say that. If we draw the Emperor of Darwei onto the battlefield and kill him, then that should settle it all. And well, he’s not entirely wrong. The Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Sixth Prince are all on this battlefield too. If we kill all three princes along with him... then the only one left will be the Fourth Prince, who’s half out of his mind and has been left in the Imperial Capital. If they end up with no choice but to enthrone him, even a great empire like that won’t last.”
The Phantom King said it with a shrug.
“But the problem is...”
“Whether it can actually be done.”
Neither Taoran nor General Yun were as optimistic as Emperor Wangshan Ku.
“Now then... just how much does the Emperor—does my father—actually understand?”
The Phantom King said that with a small shake of his head.
Choouchi Empire main camp. Supreme command post.
There, one old man was shaking with excitement.
“At last. At long last, I can avenge my grudge against Darwei. Thirty years since I was freed from the seal... how long I have waited for this day.”
The Choouchi Emperor, Wangshan Ku, trembled with joy.
By rights, he was not yet old enough to be called an old man.
But perhaps the many hardships he had endured made him seem older than his true age...
Even though he was Phantomkin.
“Thirty years! For thirty whole years this grudge of mine was sealed away, and only now can I finally avenge it!”
The laughter that followed was a true howl of madness.
Anyone who did not know the circumstances would absolutely refuse to go near him.
No—probably even those who did know the circumstances would stay away.
“Very soon now, very soon, very soon, very soon...”
Bearing the thoughts of the many who had gathered on the battlefield...
The battle of the Piurai Plains, which later generations would call the Battle of the Three Eastern Emperors, was about to begin.