WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 123: A New Hero (1)

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After a fighting retreat that pushed them to the limit, the Ferdinand Regiment escaped the battlefield. Not long afterward, the Hildegard Regiment and the conscript units also succeeded in escaping the fortress and retreated east.

The army of the Kingdom of Arelia did not pursue deeply. It seemed they intended to focus on holding the captured Arnsberg fortress.

After linking up with the transport unit that had been waiting in the rear, they continued east along the road even after sunset in order to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the enemy. They finally stopped around midnight. At this distance, the enemy in the fortress would not be able to attack immediately. Taking comfort in that alone, they allowed the exhausted knights and soldiers to rest.

When they confirmed the exact losses, the remaining strength of each of the two regiments, excluding the dead and gravely wounded, had fallen below seven hundred. The Ferdinand Regiment had lost many experienced veterans, including Baron Eugen Stamitz and Knight Barthold. The Hildegard Regiment had also lost multiple senior officers and seasoned soldiers who had served as the rear guard during the retreat.

And in both regiments, the regimental commanders had fallen into states where they could no longer command. Count Matthias Hosenfeld was in critical condition after taking a crossbow bolt to the chest. Marquis Joseph Obsidian had also been gravely wounded by an enemy attack during the escape from the fortress, and now lay unconscious.

“According to our army doctor, his chances of survival are half and half. Treatment is finished, so the rest depends on his strength, but he is old. There is no telling how it will go.”

The one who spoke of Joseph’s condition was Diethelm Brightkreuz, now serving as acting regimental commander.

Diethelm had commanded the most dangerous vanguard in breaking through the enemy lines on the eastern gate side, while Joseph had commanded the equally dangerous rear guard. That Diethelm escaped with only scratches, while Joseph suffered a life-threatening wound, was nothing more than the result of battlefield chance.

“I see. I sincerely hope Lord Obsidian recovers.”

“Yes… And Lord Hosenfeld as well.”

Diethelm asked no more than that, and Friedrich only nodded in silence.

The situation was extremely harsh. They could not rely on the living hero of Edelstein, nor on the old general who had supported the kingdom’s army even longer than that hero. Arnsberg fortress, the key to the border defense, had been lost. Their manpower losses were heavy. From this point on, no one knew what would become of the western royal demesne, or of the kingdom itself.

As surviving soldiers on the front, they knew what had to be done. But they were in no state to immediately begin moving at full strength. The officers of Friedrich’s Ferdinand Regiment and Diethelm’s Hildegard Regiment confirmed the actions they would have to take at daybreak, arranging reinforcements and supplies from the rear, calling up militia from the surrounding regions, and so on. Then, for the time being, they returned to their respective regiments to take a short rest.

Even so, neither Friedrich nor the regiment’s officers, including Gregor, Romilda, Rudiger, and Oliver, could bring themselves to sleep.

All of them wished for Matthias, the regiment’s lord, to cling to life. For the hero to return from the brink of death.

At the same time, given the wound he had suffered, they understood that this would be extremely difficult. Precisely because they were soldiers who had seen countless deaths on the battlefield.

“…Everyone.”

The one who called out to Friedrich and the others as they gathered wordlessly was the regiment’s army doctor.

The doctor, a second-generation immigrant from the east with pale features, wore such a look of regret that everyone understood Matthias’s fate just from seeing his face.

“To state the conclusion first, there is no prospect that Lord Regimental Commander will survive. He has lost far too much blood, and the wound has reached his organs.”

They were confronted with a cruel reality, yet no one raised their voice in shock.

Friedrich too kept his expression tense while trying to remain calm. Beside him, Yurika’s hand brushed faintly against the back of his.

“There are two choices. We can keep him at rest as he is so he may live even a little longer. Or we can use medicine to temporarily restore his consciousness, though it will hasten his death.”

Friedrich had heard of that medicine. When used on a person in critical condition, it drew out all the remaining vitality in that person and made their mind clear for a brief time. It was used mainly to allow kings, nobles, and other such people to speak their final words.

“Whichever you choose, the difference in his remaining time will be a matter of several hours, half a day at most… What shall we do?”

At the army doctor’s words, Friedrich looked over everyone’s faces. In return, everyone looked back at Friedrich.

“Young master. You are the heir of House Hosenfeld. Please make the decision.”

Gregor’s words seemed to represent the will of them all.

“…Then please use the medicine. I believe His Lordship would wish to leave words for everyone, rather than depart like this.”

After a few moments of thought, Friedrich spoke to the army doctor.

“Understood. Then… everyone, please come this way.”

Following the army doctor, the regiment’s officers moved. Friedrich, with Yurika at his side, followed the others while taking a small, deep breath.

He was about to witness the hero’s final moments.

He was about to see off the foster father who had found him.

・・・・・・

When the army doctor told them the preparations were complete and everyone entered the small tent, Matthias lay on the bed inside with his eyes firmly open. When Friedrich and the others approached, Matthias turned his face and gaze toward them.

At first glance, he did not look at all like a man who was about to die. He seemed as though he might rise at any moment and go right back to work.

But when Friedrich drew near and looked closely, the face illuminated by the candlelight was so pale that it scarcely seemed to belong to the living. His neck, his hands, every bit of visible skin had lost all color. It was almost as though a corpse were moving.

“I have been told of my condition.”

Opening his mouth, Matthias said that first. It seemed the army doctor, now concealing his presence in the corner of the tent, had already told him this would be his final time.

Even conscious of his own end, the hero remained calm.

“What happened to the battle after I fell?”

“…In order to receive the enemy pursuit and allow more than half the regiment to retreat, Lord Stamitz, Battalion Commander Barthold, and the other veterans died in battle. Arnsberg fortress has fallen, and the Hildegard Regiment escaped. Lord Obsidian was gravely wounded and is unconscious. Both regiments are currently waiting at a point slightly less than a day east of the fortress. At daybreak, we plan to move farther east and begin establishing a proper defensive posture.”

When Friedrich explained concisely, Matthias looked up at the ceiling of the tent and fell silent for a short while. Then he opened his mouth again.

“I see. So Eugen and Barthold have gone.”

After murmuring that, he turned his face once more toward those gathered.

“From what I hear, the battle situation is severe. I no longer have the strength to face it… but what the Ferdinand Regiment must do will not change in the slightest after my death. Under the command of the royal house, fulfill your duty.”

The word death coming from Matthias’s mouth deepened the tragic air within the tent.

“Romilda, Rudiger, and Oliver. All of you are officers no less capable than Eugen or Barthold. In fact, you may be more talented than our generation. I have no worries. Continue supporting the regiment.”

The three he named tightened their expressions like soldiers and answered with silent salutes.

“Yurika. You are Friedrich’s emotional support, and one day you will support House Hosenfeld itself. I wanted to see with my own eyes the day when you would stand beside Friedrich and bear the Hosenfeld name. Please remain at my heir’s side forever.”

“Yes, my lord. I will.”

Yurika answered with an expression more solemn than usual.

“…Gregor. My loyal retainer. My friend. You have served me well all this time.”

Saying so, Matthias held out his hand. Gregor took that right hand, extended slowly with weak movements, and clasped it firmly in both of his own.

“From now on, serve Friedrich, who will inherit the Hosenfeld household, and support him.”

“By your will. It has been my honor to serve you, Lord Count.”

Gregor bowed solemnly. Matthias gave him a smile and a nod, then looked over everyone.

“I believe in the victory of the Kingdom of Edelstein. I am certain that all of you can overcome this hardship and protect the kingdom… As a commander, those are the only words I can leave now. For the end, leave me alone with Friedrich.”

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