WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 102: The Battle of Novakia’s Border Defense (1)

Continental Unity Calendar 1010, mid-March. The royal capital of Saint-Victoire in the Kingdom of Arelia.

South of the capital, in the royal castle. The King’s Armor, the royal family’s elite guard numbering one thousand, had assembled together with fifteen hundred from the kingdom’s premier forces, whose main duty was the defense of the royal domain.

They had all gathered in full battle gear, told that the reason was the annual spring military review.

Before the perfectly aligned ranks of these 2,500 elite soldiers, King Childebert of Arelia soon appeared. The vast courtyard of the castle, which also served as an emergency mustering ground, grew even tenser.

Dressed in a lavish military uniform made for him alone, Childebert stepped onto the dais prepared for speeches. Every soldier saluted at once, the unified, powerful sound of fists striking armor ringing out without a single break in rhythm.

Raising one hand in acknowledgment of the grand sight before him, the conqueror king began to speak.

“Knights and soldiers of the King’s Armor, the pride of our royal house of Arelia, and you, the elite guardians of the royal domain. Your loyalty to the crown and your resolve to fulfill your duty are shown in the precision of your ranks here today. Truly, you are a reassuring sight. As the ruler of this realm, I am pleased.”

At their sovereign’s praise, the 2,500 soldiers did not move a muscle, yet an air of pride seemed to emanate from them.

“Now, you were told by your commanders that you gathered here today for the inspection parade. But in truth, that is not the case… 

From here, you will depart the capital and march to the border with the enemy, the Kingdom of Novakia. We will strike that insolent northeastern petty kingdom with a sudden blow and conquer it.”

As Childebert continued, even these seasoned elites could not keep their expressions and posture entirely still. A low ripple of murmurs spread through the ranks as soldiers wondered aloud what this meant.

“Silence! You stand before His Majesty the King!”

The commanding voice belonged to Count Patrick Villeneuve, captain of the King’s Armor and one of the few who had been informed in advance of the coming surprise attack. Despite his tall, slender build, Patrick’s deep, powerful tone carried across the courtyard. At that sound, the elites fell silent at once, their soldier’s instinct to obey orders kicking in immediately.

“I apologize for keeping this plan secret even from you, the finest of the fine. But to deliver a large-scale and flawless surprise attack, to secure a great and glorious victory for our Kingdom of Arelia, it was necessary. I reveal it only now because I have faith that you are ready to fight at any time, no matter the hour or place. 

Outside the capital, a large transport corps is already standing by, prepared to carry all the supplies needed for your march. I will march with you myself. This will be a royal campaign , a march toward a decisive battle with the Kingdom of Novakia. 

If we seize victory at the end of this advance, your deeds will be carved into the history of the Kingdom of Arelia for all eternity! And when you return once more to the capital, the roaring cheers of the people will greet your triumphant homecoming!”

There was a strange power in Childebert’s voice, filled as it was with confidence and pride.

The conqueror king’s speech swept away the doubts from the hearts of his knights and soldiers, replacing them with a rising exhilaration for battle. With every word he spoke, the morale of the 2,500 gathered men climbed higher and higher.

“This is the advance toward glory, mine as your king, and yours as proud soldiers of the kingdom! Knights! Soldiers! Follow me!”

By the time Childebert finished speaking, there was no one left among them whose resolve was not firmly set.

・・・・・・

The border between the Kingdom of Novakia and the Kingdom of Arelia was formed by a vast mountain range running from the northwest to the southeast.

At its southeastern end, where it met the Judith Mountains, there was a single large gap. Guarding this gap was the Vantor Fortress, the key stronghold of Novakia’s border defenses. At present, nearly 3,000 troops were gathered there, prepared for a large-scale offensive from Arelia.

In late March, a report reached Vantor Fortress that a massive reinforcement force from the Kingdom of Arelia was approaching. Barely two days later, before Novakia could gather additional troops, a force of roughly 2,500 combat soldiers and supply units appeared directly before the fortress, facing them across the field.

“…To think our spies failed to detect the movements of an army over 2,000 strong. Seeing them here now, I have to admit the enemy outplayed us.”

Upon the fortress ramparts, Crown Prince Julius of Novakia muttered the words as he glared down at the enemy’s attack force, both the troops originally stationed along the border and the newly arrived reinforcements, totaling some 7,000 soldiers.

Soon to inherit the throne, Julius had been placed in overall command of the fortress defense, both to build his record of achievements as the next king, and to serve as his father’s representative in this major battle against the Kingdom of Arelia.

Among the banners in his sight flew the royal standard of Arelia. Alongside it, the flag bearing the crest of the House of Count Fargiere.

Crown Prince Julius was, of course, well aware of the reputation of Countess Cecillia Fargiere, the brilliant strategist who had once led the conquest of the former Kingdom of Myurei, once Novakia’s neighbor. He was half convinced that this sudden and skillful surprise attack was the work of her hand.

“But even against a force of this size, Vantor Fortress will not fall, correct?”

“Indeed, Your Highness. We shall surely repel the forces of the Kingdom of Arelia and hold the border.”

The one who replied to Julius’s words was Viscountess Paulina Varienfeld. Renowned in the Kingdom of Novakia’s army as a formidable female commander, she served as the leader of one of the core units responsible for defending the fortress, and here, she was acting as Julius’s strategist.

The Vantor Fortress, fused seamlessly with the natural defensive wall of the mountain range, was a truly impregnable stronghold. The tall, sturdy stone walls, built to block the upward slope, would allow no one to pass. 

Atop the walls were various defensive installations, concentrated especially above and around the main gate. Even if enemy soldiers managed to destroy the gate or attempt to scale the walls, these defenses and the soldiers manning them would decisively repel them.

The fortress’s most notable feature, and the linchpin of its defense, was the subsidiary fort known as Fort Lecoa, built on the fortress’s left wing.

It stood upon one of the mountains lining the side of the fortress. Constructed by cutting into the mountain’s mid-slope, Fort Lecoa was surrounded on three sides, its front and both flanks, by steep inclines. No enemy force could hope to climb such slopes head-on.

And to the rear, the fort was protected by a cliff that rose at a steep angle. For a sizeable enemy force to make its way through the mountains and descend this cliff, which could be called a sheer wall, and then enter the fort would be entirely unrealistic. 

In other words, the enemy army had no means of capturing Fort Lecoa from any direction.

The entrance to the fort was narrow, located on the Novakian Kingdom’s side of the mountain range, and it was no easy task for an enemy to cross the rugged mountains to get there. 

Even if they managed to intrude, attacking the fort’s gate required passing along a mountain pass so tight that even wagons could not pass each other, making such an assault impossible. The ironclad defense would not waver.

Stationed in this fort, which was as impregnable as the main stronghold of Vantor Fortress, were eight small catapults, eight ballistae, and a hundred veteran longbowmen. Fort Lecoa itself was built facing northwest, toward Vantor Fortress, allowing it to easily target enemy forces pressing against the fortress walls.

What’s more, this fort stood at a higher elevation than Vantor Fortress, meaning that attacks from the fort could easily reach their targets, while attacks against it would hardly land. 

Even with high-quality longbows, delivering effective shots to the fort was difficult, and large weapons such as ballistae or catapults could hardly be placed on the uphill slopes in front of Vantor Fortress.

As a result, any enemy attacking Vantor Fortress would find their advance blocked by its sturdy walls and defensive installations, assaulted from above, and subjected to a relentless barrage of arrows and stones from Fort Lecoa on their right.

Given the limits of its national power, the Kingdom of Novakia could not easily field a massive army. To continue protecting its western border, it had built the defensive system composed of Vantor Fortress and Fort Lecoa. 

The defensive strength created by the combination of these two strongholds was formidable, so much so that the former neighbor, the Kingdom of Myurei, had never once managed to breach the border. The current neighbor, the Kingdom of Arelia, had not even been able to lay a hand on the walls during past skirmishes.

In this battle as well, Fort Vantor and Fort Lecoa would endure. The Kingdom of Novakia’s border defenses would never be broken. Julius, Paulina, and every knight and soldier believed that without doubt.

・・・・・・

"Even so, their defense is as impressive as ever, even if they are the enemy,"

Childebert murmured as he gazed at Vantor Fortress, where many knights and soldiers stood atop the walls, and at Fort Lecoa, which sat firmly on the mountainside at roughly the two o’clock position.

This was the rearmost point of the Arelian Kingdom’s camp, where a total of seven thousand troops were arrayed, the location of the main headquarters. At Childebert’s side stood his close aides, Cecillia and Patrick.

"However, this stronghold’s reputation for being an impregnable bastion will last only until today. Without fail, I shall present His Majesty with victory,"

Cecillia said with her usual gentle smile. Childebert returned it with a faint smirk.

Then, sweeping his gaze over the assembled knights and soldiers, he raised his voice.

"Soldiers of the proud and mighty Kingdom of Arelia!"

All seven thousand pairs of eyes turned to Childebert at once.

"Today, I will etch a new victory into the history of this continent! I will etch it together with you! Victory brings honor, and merit in battle brings reward! Each and every one of you will be celebrated and respected throughout the kingdom as a victor! 

Those who achieve remarkable feats will be granted gold! Those who bring back heads of value will be granted knighthood! And to the one who claims the head of the enemy commander, Viscountess Varienfeld, or Crown Prince Julius, I shall grant a title and lands!"

Childebert always kept the promises he declared. Those who rendered distinguished service were always rewarded with prizes befitting their deeds. It was a method he had learned and emulated from his close aide and mentor, Marquis Robert Montesqueu, in the way he commanded and bound his subordinates.

In fact, there had been a time when he granted a common soldier, who had slain the general of a conquered nation, the rank of baron, a small fief, and the education necessary to become a noble.

Because they knew the Overlord would reward them exactly as he said, the knights and soldiers’ morale soared. His speech ignited the fire of ambition in their hearts.

"This victory will forge the proud future of the Kingdom of Arelia, and the shining future that awaits you! Fight with all your strength! I am watching everything!"

At Childebert’s resounding declaration, the knights and soldiers answered by thrusting their fists into the air.

‘Long live His Majesty the King. Glory to the Overlord.’

Countless voices engulfed the battlefield. The fervor was more than enough to satisfy Childebert.

"This will do, will it not, Lady Fargiere? Begin."

"As you command. Then, first we follow the standard course for an assault on a castle… archers and forward infantry, advance!"

Nodding at her lord’s words, Cecillia issued her orders.

Those orders were relayed through the officers to the front lines of the camp, and first, the one-thousand-strong archer unit at the foremost line began their advance. Following them, more than three thousand forward infantry moved out as well.

The invaders’ great host began climbing the slope, drawing ever closer to the walls of Vantor Fortress.

Footnotes: 

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