564

Episode 564: If you run away now, you can survive. (1)

"Hehehehehe… … ."

The priest of the Salvation Church smiled, wiping the blood from his face. The corpses of numerous soldiers were strewn around him.

"Phew! I didn't know you were this weak. Isn't it too easy?"

The name of the priest with a good impression is Flaccus. He is the priest who assisted and treated Berhem, the former king of Rutania.

He fled right when Giselle took over the capital and was active in the Artrode Army.

And the corps he belonged to this time surprised and won a victory over one of the Allied corps that was on the move.

Clank, clank, clank.

The commander of the fifth legion, Count Poleno, approached Flaccus in armor.

"Thank you for your hard work. Now, I plan to move on to the next location."

"Oh, where do you plan on going this time?"

"I plan to go to the agreed location and wait. I need to get information. They must have heard about the attack, so they will take different actions."

At this point, the other party will know that information has been leaked. Naturally, they will punish the traitor and plan a new operation, so we will also have to plan a new strategy.

Placus laughed.

"Kukuk, well, it's not like they're difficult, except for the Rutanian army."

"That's right. However, we must steadily reduce our numbers before fighting the Rutanian army."

"Of course, of course. If the Allied Forces are defeated, what will the Rutanian Army do alone?"

Flaccus tried hard to disparage the Rutanians, but in reality, the opposite was true.

The overriding order given to all legions was to avoid any encounter with the Rutanian forces as much as possible.

The ultimate goal of this strategy was to capture all of the Allied forces and isolate the Rutanian forces. There was no benefit in engaging the powerful Rutanian forces first.

Flaccus belittled the Lutanian army as if covering up the memory of his own humiliating escape.

"Most of them are recruits from the Royal Army. They are a ragtag bunch who were lucky enough to survive and follow the Duke of Fenris. They are just a bunch of guys with a lot of numbers. I want to punish them quickly."

"Hehe, is that so? We have a superhuman priest, so we're not too worried."

Count Poleno smiled and let it slide. After all, we weren't going to fight the Rutanian army right now.

In fact, they had already figured out where the Rutanian army was, so they were all moving around to avoid it.

Someone approached Count Poleno, who was smiling, and spoke.

"It's a bit of a shame. A lot of them ran away."

The one who spoke was the commander of the 6th Legion of the Arthrod Army, Count Srouk.

The Artorod army was moving in two corps at a certain distance apart.

They were communicating with nearby legions and carrying out coordinated operations in order to quickly surround and surprise the Allied forces.

Count Poleno also nodded.

"That's right. They were more spineless than I thought."

They won, but they were not able to completely destroy the enemy. As soon as their defeat became apparent, more than half of their men fled.

I wanted to chase after him, but I held back with superhuman patience. If I made a mistake, the grand strategy could have been ruined.

Count Poleno said, smacking his lips.

"For now, I have no choice but to be satisfied with this."

"Anyway, except for the Rutanian army, they're nothing special. They're just as numerous as pigs."

It's a shame that we couldn't destroy it all at once, but in order to achieve a big goal, we shouldn't get caught up in small things.

This operation will be successful if we can just steadily reduce the Allied forces' strength and morale.

They had the skills and patience to do so.

Count Poleno said as he mounted his horse.

"Let's move now. The enemies will also expand their reconnaissance range."

"Let's do that. We should disperse again and prepare for the next operation. I'll have the infantry wait at the agreed upon location."

"We will do that too."

Although the Artrode Army divided its legions into several, each legion had about 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers, so it could be considered a large army.

Even more than half of them were infantry, so it was difficult for them to move quickly.

Therefore, in each legion, the cavalry that actually moved were between 5,000 and 10,000.

The infantry supported the cavalry by digging traps and creating temporary defensive lines at expected battle locations.

In any case, infantry was a waste for them. The real challenge was a surprise attack led by fast mobility and superhumans.

Count Srouk also mounted his horse and said.

"We can't get food from nearby areas anymore. We'll have to expand our range a little further."

They brought only dry food in order to move quickly. Naturally, there was bound to be a food shortage.

So they divided their forces and went about looting in various places. This also had the effect of disrupting the Allied Forces' vision and information.

Count Poleno waved his hand slightly in greeting to Count Srouk.

"Understood. Move carefully. I will contact you again shortly. The other legions will contact you soon."

The remaining legions of the Arthrod army planned to occupy the supply route provided by Jisel and target the moving Allied legions.

It was a complex and difficult strategy to execute, but the commanders of the Artrode Army had the capabilities to do so.

The relatively slow speed of the Allied forces was also one of the reasons why the Artrode forces were confident of victory.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

The 5th and 6th Legions of the Arthrodians quickly left their positions. Now they will gather new information and set their sights on their next target.

The other legions of the Arthrodians were moving in a similar manner. One more legion of the Allied forces had been hit.

To the Allied forces, it must have seemed as if they were moving at incredible speed.

It was because the Artrode Army disrupted the Allied Forces' vision and information, but it was also because they received information from traitors and moved ahead to set traps.

And the traitor was slightly lost in thought in his tent at the camp.

"Hmm… … They want me to move to another base again. Is this a trap?"

The Duke of Fenris gave new orders. Information seemed to have leaked, so he ordered them to secretly link up with other legions.

He was also told to move his troops without telling his subordinate generals and knights.

"If you look at it like this, it seems like you haven't noticed yet… … ."

A detailed strategy was written down. It was a plan to close the distance with nearby legions and link up with them until additional troops arrived.

It was written that the Duke of Fenris and Yulien also moved to pursue the enemies.

"It looks like it's not completely clear yet."

It's not just the commanders who can be spies. Lower-ranking commanders, knights, and soldiers can also be spies.

In fact, some of his subordinates were actually acting as spies.

So, the Duke of Fenris may have given this order without knowing exactly who the traitor was.

"Okay, I can't miss this opportunity."

If the legions unite, it will be difficult for the Arthrodians to attack. Now, while they are moving to close the distance, was the opportunity.

He secretly called his confidant and told him this fact.

Soon additional troops, disguised as a scout party, left the camp.

* * *

The 9th Corps Commander of the Artrode Army, Count Defroden, was talking to a knight in the dark forest.

"Yeah, you're moving to another base now?"

"Yes, I heard that two legions were affected and new orders were given."

"What about the Rutania main force?"

"There is no change on your side. They will be guarding the supply routes and bases they were originally protecting."

Count Defroden thought for a moment and then asked again.

"Now the Duke of Fenris and the Prince of Turian have also moved?"

"Yes, they both started chasing each other. That must be the direction we were hit."

"Hmm, yes. That's where the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Corps were… … I guess we won't meet. I'll contact the 10th Corps and attack the Allied Forces on the move."

"Well then, I'll be leaving now. I'm here under the pretense of reconnaissance work, so I need to get back quickly."

"Where are you going?"

The knight took out a map and pointed to a place.

"We have been ordered to move here. We will move as slowly as possible, so you must attack before then."

"Understood. Let's send our scouts to report the next contact point on this side. Be sure to check the markers left nearby."

"All right."

As the knight departed, Count Defroden mounted his horse and said:

"Advance at full speed. Let the infantry march in pursuit at night. Establish a defensive line near the objective to prevent the enemy from pursuing."

Count Defroden's 9th Army Corps began to move. Their target was the moving Allied forces.

Originally, they planned to cut off the supply route that Jiselle had provided as bait and intercept the additional troops. However, the Allied forces changed their route and were closer, so they decided to attack from there.

Count Defroden checked his opponent's information once again as he moved.

"Marquis Gideon of the Turian Kingdom. There are about 40,000 of them. It's worth a try since the Turian prince is missing."

This side has fewer numbers, but it doesn't matter. The cavalry of the 10th Legion will join them soon, and even if you just count the superhumans of the 9th Legion, they are more numerous than the other side.

I also confirmed that the main force of Rutania has not moved yet. If we fight the Allied Forces, which lack superhumans, in the field, we will surely win.

"Move quickly! We must strike before the enemies reach the stronghold!"

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

The 9th Corps of the Artrode Army ran without stopping.

If you run like this, there is a high chance that you will eventually be discovered by enemy scouts, but it didn't matter. You can use this speed to quickly hit and run away.

After running nonstop for a day, they arrived at a small forest near their destination.

"Check the surrounding area. Enemies will be passing through this area. Contact the 10th Legion as well."

The 9th Corps' scouts were spread out widely. They knew where the Allied forces would move, so it wasn't hard to find them.

After another day, the scouts returned with news.

"Enemies detected. Moving at slow speed."

"What about the 10th Army Corps?"

"There is no place to hide nearby, so we are quite far away. We will leave first."

"Yes, we will move immediately."

Count Defroden immediately led his men out of the forest, resting well while he searched for the Allied forces.

If you go and block the road, the 10th Legion will also arrive.

Doo doo doo doo doo!

The 9th Corps of the Arthrodians ran briskly. Soon, the Allied forces came into their sight.

Count Defroden smiled broadly.

"You fools, this is your grave."

Knowing the enemy's path was a huge advantage.

It was a shame that I couldn't keep using it. If I were to get hit this time, my opponent would move more cautiously.

But by then, the Allied forces will have already been reduced in strength.

"Block the front!"

Doo doo doo doo doo!

The Arthrodians blocked the Allied forces. They did not start fighting right away, because they had to wait for the arrival of the 10th Legion.

The Allied forces, mostly infantry, immediately took up a battle stance. They could not run away from the cavalry anyway.

Count Defroden laughed at the sight.

"Are you trying to fight because you have more numbers? I'll make you regret not running away right away."

Doo doo doo doo doo!

Let's block the front and wait. Soon, the 10th Corps will appear on the enemy's side. Now, we can charge forward and crush the enemies.

Count Defroden spoke to the two priests beside him.

"Please break the enemy's lines first. I will follow right behind. I have confirmed that there are no superhumans on the enemy side."

There may be only one or two superhumans in each kingdom. Naturally, most of the superhumans in the Allied Forces were protecting the kings in their own kingdoms.

On the other hand, the Arthrod army, although half-sized, has enough superhumans to be deployed in every legion. Furthermore, the commanders' abilities are also excellent.

That is why they were able to win even against a larger force.

The two priests nodded willingly and stepped forward.

Paaaaang!

As the priests ran, two priests from the 10th Legion also ran out.

Now the battle will begin.

Count Defroden raised his hand and shouted.

"All hands! Charge!"

"Wow!"

Doo doo doo doo doo!

The cavalry of the 9th and 10th Legions of the Arthrodians have begun to charge. They will crush their opponents with overwhelming fighting power.

Count Defroden, who had believed so, suddenly felt something strange.

'You're so... calm?'

The momentum was different from the Allied Forces I had seen so far. They didn't show any sign of fear at all.

They couldn't be so calm just because they were outnumbered. Up until now, the Allied Forces have always been defeated by the Salvation Church's superhumans, even when they were outnumbered.

In particular, the Turian Kingdom was a place that had been pushed back by rebels before Yulien appeared. There was no way that Margrave Gideon, who came from there, would not know the power of the Salvation Church.

Besides, according to the information the traitor gave, Yulienne is probably missing now.

Count Defroden frowned.

'Have you grown a little irritated after spending so much time with the Duke of Fenris? You cheeky bastards.'

I don't know what kind of confidence it is, but if I get hit again, the fear I had forgotten will come back.

The priests who went ahead thought the same thing.

'Do you think you can stop us with just soldiers?'

The soldiers who were forming formation while raising their shields looked quite solid, unlike the soldiers I had met so far.

The soldiers in the front line were all wearing armor, which was not typical of soldiers.

But if they jump in and wave their hands a few times, it will quickly fall apart.

It's always been that way, so this time it was no different.

I definitely thought so.

Kwaaang!

Someone from the opposing camp jumped out.

A woman with a body so large that most humans would look down on her. She was wielding a mace that was equally large.

The priests paused for a moment, because there was someone here who shouldn't have been there.

"Surely… … This army… … ."

The priests opened their eyes wide in confusion. Saint Parnielle smiled coldly.

"There really was a traitor. No, he wasn't on our side to begin with, so he's not a traitor."

She arrived in front of the priest in an instant and swung her huge mace.

"Huh!"

The startled priest raised his arm to block the attack.

Those who first met Parniel all had the same reaction, as they had never experienced firsthand how strong her power was.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

"Kwaaah!"

Wood crunch!

The priest's two arms were grotesquely distorted and shattered.