WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 157: The Victors

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As if chasing after King Childebert Arelia, who had been sent to the rear, the survivors of the Kingdom of Arelia's army retreated to Arnsberg fortress, their rear base. On the way, most of the conscripts and mercenaries, more than half of the noble domain forces, and even part of the royal army deserted.

The great army that had boasted a strength of forty thousand before the battle fell below five thousand by the time it fled into the fortress, even including the wounded.

The army of the Kingdom of Edelstein pursued the routed enemy west and deployed near Arnsberg fortress. Though it assigned a certain number of personnel to the rear for post-battle work such as caring for the wounded, managing prisoners, and clearing corpses, it still maintained more than fifteen thousand troops.

Several days passed after the army had cornered the Kingdom of Arelia's forces that way. The main commanders of the royal army, noble domain forces, and imperial reinforcements were gathered in the command tent, and a council before the queen was held.

"First, I will tell you the most important good news from my own mouth... Childebert Arelia is dead."

When Claudia looked around the council and said that, a small stir rose among the assembled generals.

It was the news they had long waited for, and news everyone had expected to hear in this place today. Even so, once it became reality, the impact was great.

After waiting for the stir to quiet, Foreign Minister Count Alphonse Barten took over the role of explaining from Claudia and opened his mouth.

"The Kingdom of Arelia has not formally notified our country, but according to reports from spies who infiltrated the fortress, an official announcement of the king's death was made to their officers and soldiers. According to prisoners captured during the pursuit, many witnessed the Arelian king being carried to the rear in a state that anyone could see was near death. In addition, rumors of the king's death seem to have spread inside the fortress from early on... The enemy generals, including the king's younger brother Emmanuel Arelia, likely judged that they could no longer conceal the death of the hegemon king."

Instead of a stir, an air of relief filled the tent.

At last, they had struck a great blow in the decisive battle and slain the hegemon king Childebert. It would be extremely difficult for the Kingdom of Arelia to continue its hegemonism as before, and the days of invasion by that country would come to an end for the time being. That relief came because everyone thought so.

As one of the generals, Friedrich also let out a relieved breath.

"This too is the result of Diethelm Brightkreuz's achievement in showering Childebert with Black Crossbow bolts. You did well."

"...To receive words of praise directly from Your Majesty is the highest honor. However, if I may be so bold, I merely fulfilled my duty as one general. I believe this victory was obtained as the result of the fierce efforts of every general, officer, soldier, and Her Majesty herself."

Diethelm answered solemnly. Claudia smiled and nodded.

"Indeed, you are right. Lord Eisenhut and the others who formed the center of the vanguard and received the enemy charge. The archer units of both the kingdom and the Empire who supported them from behind. The Ferdinand Regiment, which crushed the enemy vanguard, drew the enemy elite units to the left wing, and created the situation needed for victory. Our country's cavalry unit, which carried out the charge that became the decisive blow. Lord Carlisle and the imperial cavalry unit, who moved to make that charge perfect and inflicted great damage on the enemy cavalry. The rear support personnel who sustained the decisive battle. Because every person fulfilled their role, we won. I too believe that, while protected by Lord Eichberger and the Royal Guard, I was able to contribute to victory by showing resolve as queen."

Claudia spoke while looking toward Diethelm, Marquis Rebecca Eisenhut, Viscount Gustav Eichberger, the lord nobles, the imperial generals beginning with Viscount Chester Carlisle, and those who commanded rear support beginning with Baron Randolf Balzer. Toward all who had entered the battle.

"But if I must decide the greatest contributor, it would be Count Friedrich Hosenfeld. After all, he was the one who devised the outline of this operation by himself."

Suddenly named, and then gathering everyone's attention, Friedrich opened his eyes slightly.

"That is... if I may be so bold, far too generous an evaluation."

"There is no need for humility. Without your wisdom, our country would not have achieved victory. Everyone here recognizes that. Do you not?"

When Claudia called out, those present showed their agreement one after another. Some nobles, who had still looked at Friedrich skeptically during previous military councils because of his unusual background as the heir to the hero, now acknowledged him.

"Take pride in it, Friedrich. From now on, you are the living hero of Edelstein."

Diethelm said that while casually patting his shoulder.

"The living hero of Edelstein. That is what I will be called from now on."

Murmuring that, Friedrich looked at his own hands.

The hero's successor. Since being taken in as Matthias's adopted son, those around him had spoken of him and treated him that way as if it were predetermined. The one who inherited everything from the hero. Before the decisive battle, he had encouraged those around him by speaking of himself that way.

But the title of the living hero of Edelstein was still in a different class. When he realized he would truly be called that, he felt powerful tension.

Would the kingdom, and his late father, acknowledge him being called that?

He could not help thinking so.

"You have that qualification, Friedrich Hosenfeld."

At Claudia's words, Friedrich raised his face and looked toward her.

"Your wisdom led the kingdom to victory, saved those who live in this country, and even saved those who died in this battle. As queen, I will spread word of your achievements in this battle. My retainers and subjects will speak of them as well. From now on, when allies hear your name, they will feel courage, and enemies will tremble in fear. Your name holds that much power. If someone like you is not called the living hero of Edelstein, what else should we call you?"

Her words scattered Friedrich's conflict like mist.

Saving those who lived, and even those who died in battle. From the way she spoke, Friedrich understood that she too knew with what resolve his late father Matthias had accepted the title of hero.

"...Understood. As a soldier who will not shame the title inherited from my father, I will continue devoting myself to the royal house and kingdom."

When Friedrich renewed his resolve and answered, Claudia smiled gently.

"Good. I look forward to the future deeds of you, who have truly become a hero... But before that, let us discuss this victory. Our greatest enemy, Childebert, has been slain, and in other matters as well, our country is in a position that should be called a great victory. Lord Eichberger, explain."

Prompted by Claudia, Gustav now took the role of explanation.

"This time, the Kingdom of Edelstein not only slew King Childebert Arelia, but also succeeded in inflicting great losses on the enemy. Enemy dead are estimated at roughly ten thousand. Wounded are estimated at ten to fifteen thousand. Among the corpses left on the battlefield, many conscripts appear to have been excessively packed together in the chaos of the enemy vanguard, or trampled and crushed to death during the rout. Because a considerable number of wounded enemies are believed to have died on the battlefield as they were, the estimate of wounded is lower relative to the dead."

The enormity of the enemy losses caused another stir.

"It is presumed that not only enemy conscripts, but also regular soldiers, especially the elite units of the kingdom's center that supported the authority of the Arelian royal house and the elite units of the kingdom's east that had served as important forces for the royal house, suffered heavy losses. The elite units of the kingdom's east were defeated by the Ferdinand Regiment and destroyed, with more than half killed in action. Most of the survivors were wounded. Among the elite units of the kingdom's center, roughly half were killed or wounded. As for the Armor of the King, the royal guard of the royal house, casualties are thought to approach half their number. We also inflicted no small losses during the pursuit on the enemy regular army units that had waited in the rear. Of the approximately ten thousand regular soldiers who participated, casualties likely approach at least three thousand."

"Officers of our Empire, who watched from a distance, also cooperated greatly in estimating enemy casualties. They counted the proportion of enemies leaving the battlefield by retreat or flight. You may thank us."

The one who cut in was Crown Prince Edwin Rigald, standing beside Claudia. His lighthearted remark was true, but opportunistic, and laughter rose from those gathered.

"Of course I am grateful. Not only for your assistance in strength of arms. Your country helped us greatly. It is thanks to the Empire that more detailed records will remain of the course and result of this historic decisive battle... Now, Lord Eichberger, continue."

After answering Edwin, Claudia prompted Gustav and returned the flow of conversation.

"Next, our losses. Our dead number approximately thirteen hundred. Of those, one thousand are conscripts and mercenaries. Wounded are around four thousand. Most are injuries from combat against enemy conscripts or from arrows fired by the enemy. That our losses are far lower than the enemy's can be said to be the result of the imperial archer unit's suppression of enemy archers and the fierce struggle of each unit that supported the front without allowing the formation to collapse... Lastly, regarding prisoners."

Gustav took a breath there, then spoke further.

"Centered on enemy wounded left on the battlefield, we obtained more than five thousand prisoners in total. Around eighty percent are conscripts, but the remaining twenty percent are regular soldiers. There are also more than thirty people connected to noble houses."

Even conscript prisoners had uses. Those unharmed or lightly wounded could be used as labor for post-battle work beginning with clearing the battlefield, and if returned to the enemy country as a group, they would add to the profit of victory. If their wounded were treated and they were returned home after being handled humanely, it could improve the feelings of the people of the neighboring country bordering Edelstein.

Even so, regular soldier prisoners were more valuable. In order to recover precious fighting strength and maintain the loyalty of regular soldiers, enemy royalty and nobles would almost certainly pay ransom.

Prisoners connected to noble houses were still more valuable. Depending on their title and connection to the head of the house, they could be worth hundreds or even more than a thousand times as much as commoners. More than thirty such prisoners was an extraordinary achievement.

"Among the prisoners, the most important is Crown Prince Samuel Arelia. His political value is considered enormous. In addition, we captured Count Patrick Villeneuve, commander of the Armor of the King, and Count Cecilia Fargiere, the wise general, along with seven heads of noble houses. Prisoners who are children or relatives number twenty-five."

At the name Count Fargiere, Friedrich's eyes narrowed slightly.

She was an opponent with deep connections to him. He had thought she had died in battle, but he had heard soon after the decisive battle ended that she had fortunately survived and become a prisoner.

Hearing her name unavoidably drew his attention. Even so, he felt no hatred wishing she had died. She had slain his late father, but when soldiers opposed each other on the battlefield, it was no surprise for one side to die.

Soldiers fought because that was their duty, and there was no room for personal feelings there. One should not rejoice at killing anyone in war, nor resent anyone for being killed. Friedrich felt inward relief that he had properly upheld his father's teaching.

"As for Crown Prince Samuel, he will be used in peace negotiations with the Kingdom of Arelia. Since the enemy has lost its king and its crown prince has been captured, further resistance will be difficult for them. We will use this moment, while the Arelian royal house is exhausted politically and militarily, to extract the most favorable terms possible in exchange for returning the crown prince. Other prisoners will be converted into ransom. The profit gained by the kingdom will likely return to the lord nobles who participated in the battle, and the Empire too will surely obtain a certain indemnity as victor... Now all that remains is to wait for the enemy to request peace."

As if supplementing Gustav's explanation, Claudia spoke of her thoughts as queen.

Even though it was almost certain things would flow into peace negotiations as they were, she would wait for the enemy side to request them in order to make the talks afterward even more favorable. By taking the form of the victorious Edelstein royal house graciously hearing the request of the weakened Arelian royal house, the initiative in negotiations would remain firmly in Claudia's hands.

"To show a strong stance, we must maintain our forces and remain ready to fight at any time until peace is formally made. I ask all of you to continue exerting your strength for a little longer."

"The same for the gentlemen of the Empire. Let us fulfill our duty to the end, and in doing so embody the pride of us imperial people."

At the words of Claudia and Edwin, the generals of the Kingdom of Edelstein and the Rigald Empire answered powerfully.

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