WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Asakusa
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◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈
Chapter 40: Divine Punishment (1)
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Though the supply base’s defenses were not particularly strong, once the soldiers were swiftly positioned and formed into tight ranks, they projected an intimidating presence equal to any fortress.
Perhaps the barbarians sensed it as well.
They did not recklessly launch an attack.
Having heard of their previous defeat, they were buying time to ensure victory.
‘Are they planning to wait until nearby allies join them, then take the base in one stroke?’
Someone among them seemed to be thinking more carefully than barbarians usually did.
That suited us just fine.
We needed time to prepare as well.
‘I guarantee it...’
Their half-baked scheme would become the noose around their own necks.
Leaving the enemies locked in a staring match with the soldiers atop the earthen rampart, I checked on the base.
“Has Dihelm left?”
Peiron, who had been digging, wiped away his sweat and nodded.
“Yes. He went into the mountains with a few mercenaries and, uh... the scout unit.”
“Good. What about what I told you to do?”
He pointed at the drainage ditch with his shovel.
“We’re digging it from inside the base outward, as ordered. At this rate, we should finish it by the end of today.”
“Good work.”
“Still, will this really matter? The sky is overcast, but do we really need to prepare this much...?”
“You know what they say. By the time you realize it, it’s too late.”
“Pardon?”
“Just think of that as the reason.”
By the time you realized it, it was too late.
It was one of the most necessary sayings for the current situation.
Not only the drainage ditch, but the repairs to the warehouse were also proceeding smoothly.
‘Good. At this rate, we can finish all the preparations today.’
Honestly, the role of Dihelm and the soldiers who had headed upstream was the most important, but I had given him thorough instructions. He would handle it.
“Captain Ubel... are you really sure we should stay like this?”
I calmly answered Marcus’s question with a question of my own.
“What?”
“I heard about what you’re preparing from the strategist. But can we really carry out the water attack you have in mind?”
That was right.
What I was preparing was a water attack.
“The stream in front of the garrison is far too shallow. It barely reaches the ankles. That won’t deal any meaningful damage to the enemy.”
“...”
“Since you ordered the drainage ditches dug, I assume you anticipated rain, but...”
“Even if it rains, it won’t have much effect?”
“Yes. If anything, we’ll only give the enemy time to gather more forces.”
Oh?
Marcus had improved quite a bit in strategy while I had not been looking.
The way he laid out a logical argument with proper reasoning was impressive.
‘If he keeps honing his skills, he’ll be able to command soldiers on his own.’
As he said, the stream in front of the base was wide but too shallow. Even if it rained, it would be difficult to launch a proper water attack.
‘Of course, that would be true for ordinary rain.’
Imperial Calendar 387.
At the end of spring, as summer began, an unwelcome guest visited the Empire.
An unwelcome guest called abnormal weather.
‘Nothing else may be certain, but the abnormal weather will come.’
Why?
No matter how much I interfered, a natural disaster that was meant to happen would not simply disappear.
But Marcus, unaware of this, pleaded earnestly.
“Once the enemy has increased their numbers, we’ll have no chance of winning. We have to attack them first, before that happens.”
“Haha, I understand your concern, but there’s no need.”
Why waste our strength on enemies who would be swept away on their own?
In fact, I wanted the barbarians to bring as many forces as possible.
‘That way, I can wipe them all out at once.’
With a faint smile, I patted his shoulder.
“It’ll work out. Don’t worry so much.”
“...Understood.”
Marcus still wore a sullen expression.
Looking forward to seeing how his face would change tomorrow, I turned away to reassure the soldiers.
Then, at dawn the following day,
droplets slowly began falling from the sky.
The terrible downpour that would bring the enemy nightmares had begun.
＊＊＊＊＊
Around the time the rain began,
the barbarians gathered around the supply base established their camp along the flat stream bank rather than on the steep slope, then prepared themselves.
“If we wait like this for around four days, all nearby kin except for a few tribes who headed south will gather here.”
At the words of Mayan, the young chieftain of the Moonlight Tree Tribe, the chieftains sitting nearby wore dissatisfied expressions.
“Is all this effort really necessary?”
“I heard there are not even three thousand Imperials stationed there.”
“Even by numbers alone, we have the advantage. Rather than waiting around like this, why not charge in and slaughter the Imperials at once?”
Mayan clicked their tongue inwardly at the chieftains’ opinions.
‘Ignorant fools...’
The Great Chieftain had previously declared an intention to seize this land.
That meant
occupying Imperial territory and founding a nation for the Huran Tribe there.
‘We must preserve every last tribesperson if we are to think of the Huran empire that will someday stand here.’
The Huran Tribe was not numerous. To defend and govern this land, they needed to keep as many tribespeople alive as possible in this war.
‘Yet these people call themselves chieftains while being swayed by nothing more than their fighting spirit...’
It was utterly pathetic.
But now was the time when Mayan needed their cooperation.
Mayan soothed them with as pleasant a smile as possible.
“Please endure a little longer. Isn’t Lapkin, who is facing the main body of the Imperial Army in the north, dealing with the enemy in a similar fashion?”
“Ahem!”
Lapkin was second only to the Great Chieftain in renown among the Huran Tribe. At the mention of Lapkin’s name, the complaining chieftains fell silent.
Smiling in satisfaction at their reaction, Mayan continued.
“If we wait just a little longer, we can obtain the food there and the Imperials’ heads without suffering great losses.”
“Ahem, if you put it that way.”
“I’ll trust you.”
“Leave it to me.”
This battle was something Mayan had personally planned and led.
No matter what it took, Mayan intended to achieve great results.
‘More tribes are gathering than I expected.’
Mayan had realized it the moment the people of the Moon Wind Tribe came seeking help to avenge themselves.
This was a good opportunity.
‘We help them take revenge by dealing with the Imperials.’
Then the Moon Wind Tribe’s warriors would naturally be absorbed into Mayan’s tribe, while Mayan would earn great renown among their people.
So Mayan swiftly settled here and spread rumors among the nearby tribes.
The Imperial Army that had slaughtered the Moon Wind Tribe’s people was here, and the garrison where they stayed held an enormous quantity of food and supplies.
Fortunately, the plan had succeeded.
Countless tribespeople who heard the rumor had flocked here for revenge and food.
‘All I need to do is slowly tighten the noose around the Imperial bastards’ necks.’
Everything had seemed perfect.
Until the falling raindrops grew uncontrollable.
＊＊＊＊＊
Within only a few hours, the rain pouring from the sky had turned into a tremendous downpour.
Even so, the enemy did not move.
They believed it would stop after a day or so.
But contrary to their expectations, even after two days, there was no sign of the rain stopping.
Shhhhhhh...
Wrapped in a leather rain cape, I headed toward the stone wall.
“How are the enemies? Anything unusual?”
Walter, also wearing a rain cape, answered in a firm voice.
“No, sir! They seem to realize the situation is serious and are trying to move, but our garrison is on high ground and the rain hasn’t let up, so they can’t mount a proper offensive.”
“That’s fortunate. How many enemies have gathered?”
“We can’t get an exact count because of the rain, but there appear to be at least ten thousand.”
I did not know what they had been doing, but over the past two days, despite the fierce downpour, the enemy had steadily increased their numbers.
I was happy enough to jump for joy.
They had come to their deaths of their own accord. Was that not wonderful?
I smiled in satisfaction and continued questioning Walter.
“How is their camp? Is it still the same?”
“Yes, it’s still a complete mess.”
I cast my gaze beyond the stone wall.
As Walter said, the enemy camp below the supply base had collapsed and been washed away in places.
The shabby camp the barbarians had thrown together could not withstand this flooding.
Then Marcus and Max, who had approached the stone wall, spoke to me.
“If we hadn’t dug the drainage ditches as you ordered, we would have ended up in a similar state.”
“That’s right. If not for you, Captain, we would have been in real trouble. How did you predict this downpour?”
The soldiers around us, including the two of them, looked at me with shining eyes.
They looked as if they were gazing at a prophet.
Feeling awkward beneath their stares, I offered a vague excuse.
“I once heard that this area gets torrential summer rain every few years, so I merely prepared for it.”
One soldier who heard my explanation tilted their head.
“Pardon? I’ve served here for over five years, but this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing...”
Ahem! Don’t spoil the mood.
Ignoring the soldier’s doubt, I hastily changed the subject.
“Ahem. More importantly, have we heard from Dihelm?”
“Well, not yet...”
Marcus was shaking his head when Peiron came running from inside the base.
“Captain Ubel! The strategist has sent a messenger.”
The timing could not have been better.
“I’ll go at once.”
I went with the commanders to receive the messenger.
The messenger was a soldier from the scout unit.
The journey here must have been difficult, because mud and wet leaves clung to their body.
“Dihelm sent you?”
“Yes. He says the water is rising at the embankment faster than expected. However, since it was built hastily by a small crew, they can’t bring it down at will.”
“That doesn’t matter. We only need to act accordingly. How long did he say until the embankment collapses?”
“He said it should collapse in approximately twenty minutes.”
“Then we must prepare on our end as well.”
“Oh! The strategist also asked me to deliver another message.”
There was another message?
When I asked what it was, the messenger spoke with a solemn expression.
“He said, ‘I sincerely beg forgiveness for daring to distrust the lord of the fortress, who read the will of the gods. Once this is over, please punish this foolish one...’”
“...”
From what I heard, Dihelm seemed to have been quite deeply shocked.
‘It’s certainly good that his trust in me has grown, but...’
How should I put it?
It felt like he had gotten a little strange.
Trust was trust, but it was not quite the sort of faith I had in mind, which worried me somewhat.
“Ahem. We’ll discuss the strategist later. First, let’s prepare. Marcus, Max!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Once the order to sortie is given, the two of you will each lead five hundred soldiers with the strike force. Split to the left and right, and block the enemy’s retreat.”
“We accept your orders!”
This time, I turned to Peiron and Walter.
“Walter, Peiron, you will take the center with me. We’ll sweep through the enemy quickly, so make sure you don’t fall behind.”
“Understood!”
“Leave it to me.”
“Melton, prepare the supplies needed to deal with the aftermath inside the base.”
“I’ll make every preparation.”
Once the orders were issued, everyone swiftly began readying themselves.
“Move faster!”
“The First Strike Force to the left, the Second Strike Force to the right!”
Marcus and Max formed up so they could sortie at any moment.
“The mercenaries will join the central force, so get ready!”
“Yes, brother!”
Peiron stood in the center with the mercenaries, ready to charge out at any moment.
‘Perfect.’
The soldiers’ movements caused a brief commotion, but once all the formations were in place, silence soon descended.
Shhhhhhh...
Nothing could be heard but the rain.
There was no other sound.
How much time had passed?
Rumble.
From far away, an unusual sound began to pierce through the rain that had filled our ears.
Rrrrrumble.
The sound drew closer as time passed.
Then, accompanied by a vibration that seemed to shake the earth, its source appeared.
Crash!
A wave surged down the stream toward the enemy.
The torrent, like a gigantic serpent, swallowed the enemy camp in the blink of an eye.
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