WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

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◈ Friedrich's Battlefield

Chapter 26: Marching

A few days after Friedrich’s first audience with Crown Princess Claudia Edelstein, an official order was issued to the entire Ferdinand Regiment: they were to deploy to the Northern Plains.

Once the order came down, the regiment moved quickly. The knights and soldiers, trained in peacetime for rapid mobilization, completed their preparations in less than a week and departed from the royal capital of Sankt Waltrude.

This marked the first campaign as a soldier for Friedrich. But under Matthias’s orders, he had been so occupied with preparations that he had hardly found time to feel nervous.

As was standard, the infantry and archers departed first. The cavalry and regimental headquarters followed shortly after. Each unit was accompanied by a supply corps.

Their bulkier equipment and supplies were loaded onto wagons handled by the transport unit, and along the western road lay supply stations established at regular intervals. Thanks to this infrastructure, their march progressed at a steady pace.

Even so, riding horseback for an entire day down well-maintained roads required little focus. The journey was monotonous, almost dull. And so, as he rode along, Friedrich who finally found a moment of quiet began to feel the slow, creeping tension of his first battle rising within him.

“If you keep that look on your face from the very start of the march, you’re not going to last, Friedrich.”

“…You’re right. I know but still…”

Friedrich, riding at the very rear of the regimental headquarters column, was called out to by Oliver, who was leading the cavalry at the front. He replied with a strained smile.

“Fufufu, I already told him he’s fine. I’ll be protecting him, after all.”

“Having someone like Yurika personally guarding you, and you're still that tense? Talk about luxury,”

Oliver replied with a teasing grin as Yurika, riding beside Friedrich, gave a toothy smile.

Both of them were clearly trying to lighten his mood with jokes. Friedrich understood that. But even so, his expression remained stiff.

He wanted to become someone. Now that he was a soldier of the kingdom, he wanted to fulfill that duty. He also wanted to live up to Matthias, the man who saw potential in him, appointed him a retainer, and even granted him the title of knight.

Yet despite all that, the tension and fear of battle still rose within him. He wasn't composed enough to simply forget his fear of death.

And the endless time to think during the march wasn’t helping. Back in Volga, when he’d faced off against the bandits, there had been no time to dwell on nerves. From the moment he resolved to fight to the moment the bandits came, things had moved too quickly as he had been thrown into action before he could even begin to feel afraid.

“It’s not even certain the enemy will come to the Northern Plains in the first place. They could just as easily appear at the Beiral Plains, stare us down, and then retreat without a fight.”

Tracking the movements of an enemy force was more difficult than it seemed. While information about troop gatherings and deployment preparations within enemy territory could be gathered from spies or traveling merchants, once the army began to move, the window for reliable intelligence narrowed significantly until they reached the border or entered visible range of scouts or sentries.

Scouts were undeniably valuable, but they came with limitations. How far they could travel from the main force, the delay between observation and report, their limited numbers, and restricted hours of operation. Matthias had taught Friedrich that overreliance on scouts was dangerous: try to see everything on the battlefield, and you’ll end up seeing nothing at all.

In this case, the enemy’s destination remained unknown. Based on where they’d gathered, it could be narrowed down to either the Beiral Plains or the Northern Plains, but no further than that. The Ferdinand Regiment’s deployment might end up being unnecessary. That would be the best outcome, but there were no guarantees.

“You’re right, of course… but personally, I think they’ll come to the Northern Plains.”

“…Did Lord Hosenfeld say something to that effect?”

Oliver shot him a glance, but Friedrich shook his head.

“No. All I was told was that they might come to either plain. But… if I were the King of Arelia, I’d have them attack the Northern Plains.”

The Kingdom of Arelia had conquered the Kingdom of Myurei two years ago. The next most accessible targets were, from Arelia’s perspective, the northeastern Kingdom of Novakia and the eastern Kingdom of Edelstein. With the Arelian king’s ambition, there was a strong chance he would soon turn his full attention toward launching a new campaign.

Political factors also came into play. Arelia’s population had swollen to two and a half million. If it managed to conquer both Novakia and Edelstein, then in terms of sheer numbers, if not overall national strength, it would finally rival the Rigald Empire.

To the north lay a vast mountain range. To the west and south, the sea. With no immediate threats remaining, Arelia would be in a position to stand face-to-face with the empire itself.

If they hesitated, the empire might grow closer to its current allies, Novakia and Edelstein. From Arelia’s perspective, now was the time to strike.

“—That’s how I came to that conclusion.”

As Friedrich finished and glanced back, he saw Oliver staring at him with a look of surprise.

“…I always got the sense from our conversations that you were sharp, but now I think I understand why His Excellency chose to take you in. You’re not just intelligent. You see things from a perspective that we ordinary officers and soldiers simply don’t.”

“Exactly! That’s why Friedrich’s amazing, isn’t he?”

Yurika beamed with pride at Oliver’s words, as if the praise had been directed at her.

“You’re giving me too much credit. I’m really not that impressive.”

Even as he said it, Friedrich couldn’t help but smile—just a little, and not entirely displeased.

・・・・・・

The region bordering the Northern Plains was the domain of the Brightkreuz County, a noble territory of the kingdom. The various divisions of the Ferdinand Regiment gathered near the county capital, where a temporary camp was established.

Over the following days, the local forces from noble domains near the Northern Plains gradually arrived to join them. Altogether, their numbers came to around three hundred. Among them was a familiar sight for both Friedrich and Yurika, the forces of the Viscounty of Dofen. Though their numbers were small, likely due to the ten men they had lost last year, their presence was still notable.

The day after all participating noble forces had assembled, a meeting was held in the afternoon beneath the large command tent that had been set up as field headquarters. Present were the captains and vice-captains of each battalion in the regiment, as well as the commanders of each noble domain's forces.

“With the arrival of the noble forces, our strength in the Northern Plains has now reached thirteen hundred. On behalf of His Majesty the King and Her Highness the Crown Princess, I extend our deepest thanks for your support.”

Matthias spoke as he looked around at the commanders of the noble domain forces.

These commanders were either the heads of noble houses or their heirs. As proud nobles of the kingdom, their morale was high, but the quality of their troops was notably inferior to that of the royal army.

This disparity was rooted in the kingdom’s history.

Ferdinand Edelstein, the tenth King of Edelstein and grandfather to the current monarch, Sigismund, sought to strengthen royal authority in response to the shifting times. He proposed a plan to the landholding nobility: in exchange for greatly reducing their military obligations and freeing them from the burdens of border defense, they would pay a set amount in annual tribute to the crown.

At the time, the kingdom was enjoying peaceful relations with its neighbors, the Rigald Empire, and the Kingdoms of Loire and Novakia. In such an era where administrative skill was valued more than martial prowess, the noble lords long distanced from their roles as warriors, readily accepted Ferdinand’s proposal.

Over the next decade, the noble domain forces were scaled down to the level of semi-military organizations, primarily for maintaining public order and serving as reserve units. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Edelstein’s royal army which had previously numbered fewer than two thousand, nearly doubled in size using the tribute collected from the nobles as funding. Many knights and soldiers from the noble domain forces flowed into the royal army, securing manpower.

In honor of this great achievement, the Third Regiment bears the name Ferdinand.

“Arelia’s forces number around twelve hundred, consisting of a full regiment from their royal army along with additional troops from noble domains. According to our spies, they assembled in Toulouse, the capital of the Loire region, and have begun their march toward the Northern Plains. Our own scouts have also confirmed the presence of roughly eleven hundred soldiers on the western edge of the plains. The missing hundred are likely a detachment sent to block the southern mountain pass. We’ll be dispatching a force of our own to secure that route shortly.”

Everyone listened quietly as Matthias gave his report. Some wore expressions of eagerness for battle, others showed signs of tension, and a few maintained a stoic, unreadable face.

“This time, we should expect not just a standoff, but full-scale combat. The banner of House Fargiere has been sighted among the enemy ranks.”

Surprise flickered across the faces of those gathered at his words.

House Fargiere was a famed military family from the former Kingdom of Loire, so prominent that when one spoke of the Loire army, their name was the first to be mentioned.

The family survived even after Loire was conquered by Arelia. The current Count Fargiere was welcomed into the Arelian army as a general, and during the conquest of the Kingdom of Myurei, he reportedly achieved great distinction, demonstrating his loyalty to the Arelian crown.

Now, that same Count Fargiere was leading the enemy forces. This alone made it unmistakably clear. The current invasion was far more than a mere border skirmish.

Tension surged through the command tent.

Friedrich, standing beside Gregor behind Matthias, kept his expression carefully neutral.

He was well aware of the glances being cast his way, nobles subtly turning their attention to the newcomer standing behind Matthias. If he showed even a hint of unease or hesitation here, it wouldn’t just damage his own credibility, they might begin to take his lord Matthias, lightly as well.

“That said, we are nearly evenly matched in terms of numbers. Their formation is likely similar as well, but when it comes to experience in regiment-level warfare, the Kingdom of Edelstein has the upper hand. The enemy’s core force is assumed to be composed of former Loire troops, but they are a force that was once defeated by us after all, and then again by Arelia. As for the current Count Fargiere, he’s still quite green compared to me. No matter how you look at it, there is no reason for us to lose.”

Matthias’s words weren’t born of arrogance or blind optimism. They were meant to belittle the enemy on purpose so as to lift the spirits of his own men. And indeed, all those present responded with firm agreement, energy rising in the tent like a gathering storm.

“Tomorrow we march further west. The decisive battle will likely take place in two or three days. Let us defend the kingdom’s lands and deliver victory to His Majesty the King!”

“Hooah!”

After that, further discussions were held regarding the next day’s movements. Once they concluded, the assembly was dismissed.

Only Matthias, Gregor, Friedrich, and the one ordered to remain, the vice-captain of the cavalry battalion Oliver, remained inside the tent.

“Knight Oliver Falke. Regarding the detached unit I mentioned earlier, I intend for you to lead it.”

Matthias fixed his gaze on Oliver as he spoke.

The Northern Plains, one of the natural breaks in the Yudit Mountains, spanned less than ten kilometers north to south. A little over half a day’s march to the south lay a mountain pass that cut across the range.

The mountains in that region were of somewhat lower elevation, nestled between two plains. In exchange, the terrain was blanketed in deep forest, creating a natural stronghold.

The mountain path that ran through it was about two hours’ walk from end to end. It was a narrow route hemmed in by rough slopes, an obvious chokepoint. Any attempt to move a large force through it would be noticed the moment they gathered. And during the march, the column would stretch thin and long, leaving it vulnerable to ambush at the exit and unable to maneuver or respond effectively.

The path had never become an actual battlefield for that reason. Both kingdoms limited themselves to regular patrols and gathered information through merchants or travelers passing through, seeking signs of enemy movement.

However, if the Northern Plains were to become the site of a full-scale battle, they could not afford to leave the mountain pass unguarded. Leaving it completely undefended could allow an enemy detachment to slip through and wreak havoc on Edelstein territory. In fact, it seemed the enemy had already dispatched a small unit for that very purpose.

To counter this, Matthias explained that a detachment of one hundred troops consisting of two infantry squads, one archer squad, and one cavalry squad, that would be placed under Oliver’s command and sent to secure the mountain pass.

“If both sides position forces of similar size, it’s unlikely the enemy will attempt a serious push through. That said, minor skirmishes may still occur. I understand you may regret not being part of the main battle,but I want someone I can trust commanding this post.”

At those words, ‘someone I can trust’, Oliver’s expression grew even more resolute.

“You’re expected to become the cavalry battalion commander of the regiment in the future. I want you to gain firsthand experience leading a unit. Can I entrust this to you?”

“Of course. As a soldier of the kingdom, I will stake my life to fulfill this duty.”

Oliver answered firmly, and Matthias gave a nod of approval.

“I’m counting on you. As for someone to act as your advisor… I’ll assign Friedrich.”

Called by name so suddenly, Friedrich’s eyes flickered in surprise for a brief moment.

“I’ve personally drilled Friedrich in the ways of war. His memory is exceptional, and he thinks quickly on his feet. If you ask for his opinion, he’ll always have something to offer.”

“......”

Matthias’s wording was a bit blunt, but there was no mistaking the high regard he held for him. Friedrich glanced sideways at his protector, eyes widening slightly.

To be separated from Matthias who had always watched over him, it stirred some unease, but he kept that feeling firmly locked away.

“Tomorrow morning at departure, the two of you will head south. As for the cavalry squad, Oliver, take your own unit under your direct command. I’ll handle the selection of infantry and archers here. And Friedrich, Yurika will accompany the detachment with you naturally. Explain the situation to her yourself… That’s all. Understood?”

“Sir!”

After receiving further detailed instructions, Friedrich and Oliver were dismissed.

Footnotes: 

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