WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle
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◈ The Wandering Knight and the Moving Castle ◈
Chapter 49: Medieval Bulldozer (1)
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Roxanne had her sights set on Cordon Castle, House Duran's forward base.
“It doesn't look particularly sturdy, does it?”
That was Eugene's impression after surveying the whole place from the hill. The castle stood on flat land, and with no river nearby, it had no moat either.
Still, it became a crucial strategic point whenever House Morad and House Duran sought to pressure one another.
“It has a short history. House Duran built it when they sought regional supremacy after spending so long bowing their heads as the second power in the west.”
“Did House Morad just sit around and watch while they built it?”
“The current count wasn't the head of the house back then. He hadn't even inherited a fief yet, so all he could do was watch helplessly.”
The former head of the house, now dead, had reportedly been a weak man. He had a fine head for business but lacked political judgment and charisma.
“The current Count Morad reportedly urged an attack several times while the castle was under construction, only to be refused every time. It completely ruined the relationship between father and son, and they say he didn't shed a single tear at his father's funeral.”
When a hundred reinforcements appeared, the defenders on the walls looked even gloomier. Roxanne's envoys, on the other hand, wore bright smiles.
“Thank you for coming to me. It couldn't have been an easy choice.”
Roxanne rose to greet them when they arrived at the command tent.
Most of the knights who followed her were second or third sons of their houses. All they had were their bodies and equipment.
Even with Roxanne's skill and reputation, that was unavoidable as long as she was not the heir. The fact that so many knights had voluntarily followed her was remarkable enough.
“After I sent my reply to Lady Roxanne, I received a letter from Lord Timothy. I came to keep the promise I made first, as a knight.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
Roxanne's eyes curved like crescent moons, and the knights smiled as well. Everyone there had used such social tactics at least once.
“By the way, it looks like you returned with the same number of people you left with?”
“Some were injured, but no one died.”
“Amazing. It was impressive enough that you finished the task and returned so quickly.”
Roxanne had received word of the subjugation through a homing pigeon, so she could only marvel.
They had subdued four Bugbears and pirates without losing a single subordinate. That meant Eugene was not only personally brave, but also an outstanding commander.
“How did you catch the pirates, anyway? They're annoying bastards who bite like wolves and run like rabbits.”
Since the urgent report had only briefly summarized the results, Roxanne did not know the details.
“...We were lucky. We managed to strike while they were completely unprepared.”
If he said he had destroyed a longship with a thrown spear, everyone would think he was a liar. Eugene answered without telling a falsehood.
“Luck is also skill, and a commander's ability lies in seizing it. Let me welcome you to my army once again. I truly feel reassured.”
After the strategy meeting ended, Roxanne personally showed Eugene around the camp.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Behind a huge canvas screen, dwarf smiths were making siege ladders.
Beside them stood a nearly completed battering ram, imposing in its sheer size. It was the weapon capable of delivering the greatest striking power humanity of this age could produce.
“Are we going to strike the castle head-on?”
“Cordon Castle is on flat ground, has no moat, and does not have double gates. We have a new battering ram, so I'm planning to try breaking through the gate. If that fails, we'll have no choice but to starve them out.”
“The ladders are insurance, then. I hope we won't need to use them.”
“The war is only beginning. We can't be climbing over castle walls by piling up mountains of corpses.”
In this age, the foundation of siege warfare was to surround the enemy and starve them out. No matter how superior their numbers were, attempting to scale the walls would lead to severe casualties.
“How much food do they have stored in the castle?”
“Less than three months' worth. We smashed their supply column.”
“Oh! That's good news.”
“Can't you see this?”
Roxanne pointed at the corner of her eye with a playful smile. Fading dark circles still lingered beneath her beautiful, unpainted face.
When they had only just decided to attack Cordon Castle, Roxanne learned of its supply plans through spies she had planted.
She left the still-unprepared main force with her adjutant, then raced ahead with the knights and elite cavalry.
Toward the end, she even took stimulants received from a clerk and continued the forced march without sleep.
As a result, they succeeded in annihilating the supply column as it hurriedly moved to deliver food to the castle with inadequate protection.
“To think they just watched while something like that was built. That incompetent grandfather nearly ruined the house. Shouldn't we take it over while we can?”
There was a reason Roxanne had confidently chosen to lay siege to the castle.
* * *
The situation inside Cordon Castle was worse than Eugene had imagined.
“Sentence them to thirty lashes for neglecting their watch.”
“P-please forgive me! I'll never fall asleep again!”
At the garrison commander's order, the crying mercenary was dragged away. Thirty lashes was a punishment that might as well leave someone half dead.
“Please show some mercy, sir. It wasn't even external guard duty.”
The adjutant spoke cautiously.
The person being dragged away had fallen asleep while guarding one of the wells inside the castle. With morale at rock bottom, harsh punishment could make matters worse.
“If I let one man off, the rest will grow lax as well. Absolutely not.”
The garrison commander was a former mercenary who had won a knighthood and command of a castle through his own efforts.
If he defended the castle, he had been promised noble status and a formal appointment as its lord. His entire life was on the line.
“What happened to the reinforcements that were supposed to come?”
“House Morad received a hundred reinforcements just yesterday!”
The mercenary captains' unease made the garrison commander grit his teeth.
-Timothy's army is targeting Goldford. Defending it is more urgent, so there will be no reinforcements.
That was the house head's reply to their request for aid.
Goldford was House Duran's grain-producing region and a transportation hub. Its importance was on an entirely different level from Cordon Castle.
-The Emperor said he would send knights separately. Join forces with them and hold out somehow.
The house head had promised them only a handful of troops, as though doing them a great favor.
‘Damn it. Defending a castle requires an army and supplies, not a few knights!’
The garrison commander burned with frustration, but there was nothing he could do.
That night, knights and cavalry sent by the Emperor entered Cordon Castle through the rear gate.
“Sir Geist. Thank you for coming.”
The garrison commander bowed respectfully.
Their numbers were small, but Imperial Guard Knights were among them. Geist was one of the five strongest knights in Roman.
“I'm sorry there are so few. His Majesty's reinforcements had to head to Goldford.”
“We are deeply grateful for the help, but in our current situation...”
The garrison commander trailed off. No matter how exceptional the knights were, the gap in troops and supplies was simply too great.
“I understand that the circumstances are difficult, but you must endure. Once Goldford's main force is defeated, they'll withdraw.”
Geist knew the situation was unfavorable as well. Yet he was an Imperial Guard Knight. He had a duty to trust the Emperor and achieve results with what he had been given.
Even the clear-minded Emperor understood the value of Cordon Castle and hoped to secure their future through a ceasefire somehow.
That was why House Duran could propose a truce despite having received a count's title in advance and accomplishing little of note.
* * *
The next morning.
Small groups of cavalry met for negotiations. Escort knights held their houses' banners and glared at the other side with hard expressions.
It was a meeting for negotiations, and Eugene was not a retainer, so he remained behind in the camp.
“I understand you formally requested a ceasefire, so why have you brought such a large army?”
The garrison commander was irritated by the sounds of construction coming from Roxanne's camp. It only made his own miserable state, unable to repair even a single broken catapult inside the castle, feel worse.
The sight of mountains of food and well-fed heavy infantry made it hard for him to breathe.
“Do you think we'd accept just because you want to stop after beating us to your heart's content?”
“Did we not show sufficient sincerity? I heard Lord Timothy was tempted.”
“He takes after his grandfather, preferring to keep the peace and let matters slide. But Father and I are different.”
Roxanne rolled up her sleeve, revealing a sword wound that had not fully healed. The garrison commander immediately realized that reaching a peaceful compromise would be difficult.
“Winter will come soon.”
“It's only early autumn. Don't exaggerate.”
“I acknowledge that your army is large, but you still cannot get over Cordon's walls.”
“I already know the situation inside the castle is poor. Even if winter comes, you will be the ones suffering.”
Roxanne's army held the advantage in every way: troops, food, morale, and justification. The longer the garrison commander spoke with her, the smaller he felt.
“I'll give you two days. Take down that flag.”
Roxanne pointed at House Duran's banner fluttering above the gate.
“If everyone disarms, opens the gates, and surrenders, I will guarantee your lives. Yours, your adjutants', and your soldiers' as well.”
“How generous.”
Roxanne was famous for being cruel to those who opposed her, much like Count Morad himself.
“Since I've come as a commander rather than a knight, I cannot act as I please. So, will you accept or not?”
“We will never surrender. Whether you win or lose, a great deal of blood will be spilled. Fighting a castle is never easy.”
“Well, good luck.”
Roxanne grinned.
“There is no need to waste time and soldiers unnecessarily.”
A knight behind the garrison commander rode forward. He was a huge man clad in ornate armor.
“This is Sir Geist, an Imperial Guard Knight sent by His Majesty.”
Seeing Roxanne's questioning look, the garrison commander spoke.
“Must we go about this so miserably? Let us settle this in a noble fashion, without needlessly sacrificing soldiers. We will each send out our finest knights to fight.”
Geist was demanding that they decide the outcome through duels in place of their armies.
“Hey. Aren't you the commander of that castle? Even if he's the Emperor's knight, are you just going to watch him speak as he pleases?”
The garrison commander's face turned red with shame. As Roxanne said, it was a clear overstep of authority, but it was also true that he had no other option. At this rate, they would collapse on their own by the time winter came.
“Are you afraid? If you are, feel free to tuck your tail between your legs.”
The garrison commander forced a smile as he delivered the obvious provocation.
“I accept.”
Roxanne nodded.
“...!”
“Why are you both surprised after making the proposal? Did you think I'd refuse?”
Roxanne let out a small laugh at the two men's foolish expressions. She felt an intense thrill at having the situation completely in her hands.
‘She actually accepted.’
Geist felt both bewilderment and hope.
This challenge had not been discussed beforehand. He had thrown it out on his own in a desperate attempt. After comparing the situation inside the castle with the besieging army he had seen up close, victory seemed impossible.
“Let us hold the duels at noon tomorrow. I can decide that much, can't I?”
“Of course.”
The garrison commander nodded as well. For now, they needed to escape this crisis.
If Geist and the Imperial Guard Knights won, the problem would be resolved in a way he had never expected.
And the chances were not low. House Morad's finest knights had all gone with Timothy.
* * *
“We need people to take part in mounted duels.”
When Roxanne returned and explained the situation, the knights stepped forward with excitement bordering on madness.
“I will fight!”
“I'm Sir Gauss's relative. Please grant me a chance for revenge!”
“I have trained for this battle all my life! Please grant me the honor of leading the charge!”
A duel held before countless warriors. Spectators were a knight's strength, and victory won before them would be sweeter than anything.
Any achievement in the duels would surely reach Count Morad's ears. For knights who were second and third sons, it was a shining opportunity to rise in the world.
“Sir Geist is among the opponents.”
“The swords of Morad are no less sharp than the Emperor's sword!”
Even against such a dangerous opponent, the knights did not yield. Rather than calculating their odds, they possessed the fanaticism of believing their courage could defeat every enemy. That was what it meant to be a knight.
Unfortunately for them, one place had already been decided the moment Roxanne accepted the duels.
“Why aren't you saying anything, sir?”
With an odd smile on her face, Roxanne looked at Eugene. Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
“Uh...”
Eugene hesitated for a moment with his arms folded, then continued.
“I thought I was already included. Was I not?”
“Pfft.”
At his reluctant question, Roxanne and several others could not hold back their laughter.
Footnotes:
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