511

Episode 511 Let's decide here. (2)

'I got hit!'

A cold sweat ran down Cayenne's spine.

The Fenris Mobile Force was renowned for its speed. I had anticipated that they would move separately.

But the number was only 20,000. It was not a small number, but with that number, there would be no major problem if they joined the enemy.

No, I hoped that would be the case. It would be the perfect opportunity to kill Earl Fenris before the Ferdium and Royal forces arrived.

It wasn't a big deal to gather troops again. No matter how much damage was incurred, if we could just eliminate that guy, we could consider it a success.

'But... ...you hit him from behind?'

The Earl of Mowbray had remained neutral until now. Despite repeated pressure from the dukedom, he declared that he would side with the victor and closed his territory tightly.

Since they had a strong military force, it was burdensome for me as an agent to take them down by force, so I left them alone for the time being.

Even though they placed surveillance troops around him just in case, the royalist faction did not make contact with him.

'I've never met anyone before? What on earth is going on?'

The Earl of Mowbray was guarding his lands with his own army, and the Duke's watch force kept a close eye on them.

But still, he gave way.

'That means the promise was made even before the war started! When on earth did they meet!'

Cayenne quickly figured out the situation. The two must have met before the war started. Otherwise, she wouldn't have given way so quickly.

It was a long time ago that Giselle saved Edwin, the son of Count Mowbray, by extracting Dark from his body.

The Duke knew nothing about this, so he could not even imagine that they would directly invade the Duke's territory.

It was a mistake to not pay attention to the territory at the southernmost tip. Even if it meant suffering damage, I should have made my position clear earlier.

'What should I do?'

There were hardly any troops left in the dukedom. The garrison consisted of only 10,000 men.

Of course, I didn't think I would be defeated easily. Ilois, a 7th circle magician, was still in the dukedom, and he had laid many traps.

Still, I was uneasy. Earl Fenris had always done things beyond imagination.

'We have to move now!'

I couldn't allow the Earl of Fenris to trample on my duchy.

No matter how fast the mobile force is, it takes time to go around the southern tip. From here, all you have to do is go straight south.

He spoke directly to Gator.

"Please take care of this place. I think we need to go south."

"… … I got hit in the back of the head. Do you think it'll be hard to block it?"

"It's half and half. Even if the mobile force stops, they might lose Earl Fenris. I think it would be better to take this opportunity to capture and kill him for sure."

"Umm… … . Okay, I understand. I'll guard this place."

The situation was reversed in an instant thanks to Jiselle's flanking attack. Now, they had to play the role of blocking the northern army hunkered down in the fortress.

Because when the Ferdium army and the royal army arrive, that entire army may move south.

Cayenne selected 40,000 of his best cavalry. He didn't dare to bring any other units. He had to move as fast as possible to engage the Fenris Mobile Force.

With 40,000, you can maximize mobility and gain an advantage in the number of troops.

"You insolent bastard… … This time, I'll definitely cut your head off. Let's go!"

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

At the command of the enraged Cayenne, 40,000 Delphian cavalry moved south.

Amelia was looking at the scene from the top of the fortress with a cool smile on her face.

* * *

"You really came. I can't believe it."

Count Mowbray looked at Giselle and exclaimed in admiration.

I had heard rumors about Jiselle's activities. Her fame had grown beyond comparison to when I had briefly met her as an 'exorcist'.

Even now that the capital has fallen, his father is preparing to become king. No, he is already a king.

Giselle smiled at Count Mowbray.

"You kept your promise."

Count Mowbray was able to stop Giselle, for he had gathered all his forces in preparation for war.

Since the deal with the Duke had not yet been reached, he could have broken his promise with Giselle and walked away altogether.

But he didn't do that. He withdrew his troops and cleared the way.

That's why we were able to meet like this

Count Mowbray said, puffing out his chest.

"Why would I make a promise if I was going to break it? I'm not that kind of person."

Edwin stood beside him, armed. He didn't look as timid as before. He was tense, but his eyes were alive.

Indeed, it seemed that the physical therapy that Jiselle had been doing at the time was quite effective.

Dark, who had discovered Edwin, came out quietly and started nagging him.

"Kekekeke, aren't you my 'former' master? How have you been?"

"eww...."

Edwin frowned. His heart felt a little uneasy as he remembered that time.

Thanks to Dark, I was able to live comfortably, cut off from the world. But in reality, I was just living like an animal.

When Giselle saw Edwin armed, she spoke to Count Mowbray.

"Don't worry too much. The Duke's family will be finished in this battle. If I lose, you can join the Ferdium army."

"I will follow you too."

"yes?"

"I cannot stand by and watch the kingdom fall into the hands of cultists. I will not be as fast as the Fenris Mobile Force, but I will lead all my cavalry and follow them as fast as I can."

"Are you okay?"

"I guess I have to make a decision now anyway. And I'll also guide the 'other army' that's following behind."

Count Mowbray chuckled. He couldn't keep proclaiming neutrality. No, he had abandoned that idea when the Salvation Church first broke out.

At this moment, even though the Duke's family pressured him, he held on, and even though the prince's faction reached out to him, he simply refused.

Believing that Giselle would come someday, he waited, enduring the Duke's surveillance and political pressure.

Jiselle also smiled and nodded.

"It's nice to hear from you. Well then, I'll be counting on you."

The more troops the better, because news that he was going to attack the dukedom by making a detour would soon reach Cayenne.

He had already eliminated the surrounding surveillance forces. It was obvious that he would come down very quickly as soon as he received the news.

"Then I will leave first."

"I'll try to increase the speed as much as possible."

With the help of soldiers provided by Count Mowbray, Giselle chose the fastest route and moved.

There was no one to stop the Fenris Mobile Force, because the Duke's family had already mobilized all but the bare minimum of guard troops.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

Thanks to this, the Jiselle and Fenris Mobile Forces were able to advance towards the dukedom at a very fast speed.

The remaining border troops were annihilated in an instant. The southern lords could only watch.

"The Earl of Fenris himself came all the way here."

"How can you move so boldly?"

"The kingdom is truly the best when it comes to surprises."

Everyone was locked in the castle and did not dare to come out. Since they had no troops, it was difficult to even build their own territory.

All they could do was worry about how this war would end, because if the Duke lost, they would all lose their positions.

News that Giselle was coming to the Duke's house quickly spread.

"That guy is truly a pain in the ass in many ways."

Ilois, the 7th Circle wizard of the Duke's family and known as the greatest wizard in the kingdom, frowned as he stroked his beard.

"Count Joseph, can you stop him at the castle?"

Raoul shook his head.

"It's impossible. The Fenris Mobile Force carries powerful siege weapons. The feeble walls here will have no chance of stopping them."

The Duke's castle, 'Eclipse', was located in the center of the dukedom and was a huge city. However, the walls surrounding the city were only beautiful and had little defensive power.

In fact, there was no need to worry about defense. Who would dare attack the Duke?

In the first place, it was impossible to get here. It was a place that required breaking through numerous vassal territories and fortresses.

But now, there was no one to stop the army that was rushing in here.

Ilois laughed heartily.

"Wow, in my eighty years of life, I have never seen such a great army. The youngling from the North has now become the one who will decide the fate of the kingdom."

Raoul answered with a serious expression.

"You have to go out and fight yourself."

"Yes, that's right. There's no need to ruin this beautiful place. I didn't think there would be any use for 'that', but this is what happens. As expected, people live long enough to see things."

It wasn't that the duke's household was completely defenseless. Ilois, a master of illusion magic, had been steadily setting traps since he first arrived at the duke's household.

The traps, built over decades, could neutralize tens of thousands of troops in an instant.

"I can finally test my masterpiece. If the opponent is a divine being of the kingdom, it is a worthy price to pay."

Ilois and Raoul led a garrison of 10,000 men.

Even though the opponent's power was much greater and stronger, no one was afraid. That was how great the status of the 7th Circle Master was.

The defenders waited in a pre-prepared location. There was a reason they had to fight in this spot.

Ilois asked Raoul, stroking his beard out of habit.

"How long do I have to wait?"

Although Ilois, who had no knowledge of military science, was given command because he was the highest in rank, there was no problem.

Because Raul will be there to help you anyway.

"I will be there soon."

"Hmm, it hasn't been that long since I heard the news… … Are you saying that the army is really that fast, and not just a single cavalryman?"

"In terms of mobility, it is the best in the kingdom… no, it would not be an exaggeration to say it is the best in the continent."

They even moved with siege weapons, and did not even need supplies. No army could keep up with their mobility.

The technology was all hidden behind a veil, which made their opponents even crazier.

Ilois said with a smile.

"It's a shame. If he had been on our side, it would have been a great help."

"If he was that kind of guy, I would have tried to persuade him a long time ago."

Raoul also smiled bitterly. He had tried to flirt a little at the previous banquet, but Giselle had firmly refused.

Thinking back now, it was truly a shame.

'Should I have just kept trying to persuade her?'

Maybe we could have been on the same side? If we had offered to give them all of the North and given them a lot of support, would the outcome have been different?

'No, that can't be.'

Even at that time, Giselle had already shown strong hostility towards the Duke. And she did so very openly.

Now, various reasons have intertwined to make them a definite enemy, but Raul still doesn't understand.

Why did Jiselle show such strong hostility at that time?

'I guess it was fate that we would become our archenemies.'

Otherwise, it would be inexplicable. How could the Earl of Fenris at the time know that he was trying to destroy Ferdium?

Raoul stopped his thoughts. He saw the army running towards him in the distance, raising a cloud of dust.

Ilois said in a tone mixed with admiration.

"Really. Really fast. Amazing."

Unlike the leisurely Ilois, Raoul quickly looked around and shouted.

"All hands, prepare for battle!"

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The soldiers raised their shields and held out their spears.

The garrison here was entirely infantry, far smaller than the Fenris Mobile Force in the capital.

No matter how elite they are, if they allow an assault like this, they will be swept away in vain. The enemy's breakthrough ability is so excellent that it is called the strongest in the kingdom.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

Indeed, Jiselle did not even think about catching her breath as she continued to charge.

"Break through like this! Sweep them away in one breath!"

Clank! Clank! Clank!

At Giselle's shout, the knights at the forefront raised their spears. Their shining blue spears would shatter the enemy's ranks in an instant.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The mobile force spread out and held their spears equally. The knights in the lead would break the formation, and these would grind down the rest from behind.

It was a surprisingly simple and clean tactic. All it required was overwhelming destructive power.

This was Giselle's favorite assault tactic.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

Raul gulped as he watched the mobile force rushing forward with tremendous momentum. The same was true of the defenders waiting behind them.

There is absolutely no way to stop it with the forces we have now. No, no army will be able to stop that charge.

"Lord Ilois, hurry… … ."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it."

Ilois, the only one who didn't lose his composure, slowly stretched out his arm.

The magical power that stretched from his hand seeped into various places under the ground.

Jiing―!

The magic circles that had been hidden underground for a long time began to glow.

Once this was activated, it was not easy to stop it even if the magic power was blocked. This was because the magic circles only served to amplify Illois' magic.

The magic of the 7th Circle Master, amplified tens and hundreds of times, was spread across the battlefield.

"May you all have happy dreams."

Saaaaaaaa… … .

As Ilois spoke, glowing particles rose from the ground. They fluttered and dug into the bodies of the advancing mobile force.

That wasn't all. The particles of light scattered in the air split and split on their own, filling the surrounding area.

It was a very beautiful sight on the surface, but the mobile forces exposed to magic were unable to take it in.

Dagdak, dagdak, dagdak… … .

The horses that had been running vigorously slowed down. Their eyes opened and their mouths began to open.

It was the same with knights and soldiers riding on horses.

"ah...."

The momentum that seemed to turn the world upside down disappeared in an instant. Everyone lost focus and stared into space.

They were seeing the welcome. The welcome they saw was different for each person.

People who see their childhood, people who see their beloved lover, people who see their parents who are far away, people who eat delicious food, people who see the days when they worked out and built muscles… … .

Everyone was blankly looking at the times when they were happy or good, or things they wanted to see.

"Crunch!"

Some of the high level knights bit their lips and bled. They were not properly welcomed.

But they couldn't move their bodies either. They just kept crossing the line between reality and illusion.

Ilois smiled as he watched the mobile force slowly and disorganized.

"I'll catch Earl Fenris. The rest will be fine, right?"

"You don't have to worry."

Raoul nodded with the aforementioned expression. What would be difficult about killing someone who was sleeping?

It was truly amazing. This was the true power of a wizard. It turned the situation on the battlefield around in an instant.

It was worth the time and money spent setting up the magic circle.

Doo doo doo doo doo!

Only Giselle was running in front. Raoul shouted with a joyful expression.

"Hit! The enemies are just scarecrows!"

This time, the defenders charged forward with great momentum. There was no one here who would be afraid of an opponent who could not even put up a fight.

Jiselle looked at them and laughed.

"A truly prepared army worthy of the kingdom's greatest wizard."

If I hadn't known, I would have been annihilated here in vain, because I hadn't brought any wizards to destroy the illusion or protect my allies.

If we had brought wizards, the speed would have been slower, and in the meantime, the other side would have made more preparations.

In any case, you can't help but be greatly affected by Ilois' magic at least once.

However, Jiselle already knew the enemy's plan and was prepared.

"Dark!"

Jiselle's voice echoed like thunder throughout the battlefield.

Paaaaah!

A black aura emanated from his body.

Dark, who had consumed half of his mana in one breath, began to take on a gigantic shape in the air.

Ilois paused for a moment when he saw the swaying human figure.

"Excuse me, what is that?"

No one answered. No one knew what it was.

Then, Jiselle shouted loudly again.

"Wake up!"

Wow!

Dark's form exploded and enveloped the entire mobile force.