Chapter 288 – Chapter 28 – Don’t Get Caught
The demon army led by Ferdinand and Ashley was advancing rapidly.
Unlike the border area of the kingdom, which was plastered with all kinds of forts and defensive troops.
There were no defenses on the border between kingdom and empire.
Rather, there were only roads that were easy for the troops to move around.
Thanks to this, we entered the territory of the Empire much sooner than expected.
“Looks like you arrived too sooner than expected.”
While the soldiers were taking a break, Ferdinand opened his mouth while looking at the middle commanders.
If the enemies had an idea, how would they resist in the border area where it was easy to defend?
That’s the way you can hold out for the longest time with the fewest troops and resources.
The Empire side was just silent, not showing any movement.
Several commanders also nodded at Ferdinand’s question.
Even if the empire did not resist, there were still resistance forces left in the kingdom.
Or, I thought that fairies located relatively close to the empire would use guerrilla tactics.
It bothered me that I had a very comfortable march while coming this far.
“Ashley Palatinat. What do you think?”
“Me too. At least I thought the fairies would get in the way. Should I say it’s like a hand beckoning me to come inside? It feels like walking into a trap with my feet.”
Fighting in the mainland and fighting in a foreign country are completely different issues.
So, Ferdinand and Ashley naturally expected that the fairies and beastmen would start and end this war in the land of the kingdom, or at least the empire.
However, in this way, the empire would be occupied within a week, and even fairy territories would reach a level where it was possible to advance at once.
In a word, the reality that the enemy never wants is the same as the enemy gave themselves up.
Of course, it was inevitable that there would be a sense of alienation.
“The current location is one day away from the imperial castle.”
“According to the spy reports, there is nothing that could be called a defensive line.”
“Is there a place where we can do a surprise attack?”
“On the way to the imperial castle, we pass a small forest, but in fact, there is no such thing as a forest. The road is wide and the forest is so small that it is faster to be the first to surround the forest than to cut your back.”
“Still, the forest is annoying. Can you make a detour?”
“It is possible, but then you will have to spend at least half a day at most. There is nothing on either side of it that could be called a road.”
Again, Ferdinand and Ashley drool at Ain’s report, who was in charge of the lead.
The most important thing in the current situation is ‘speed’ above all else.
Perhaps the enemies ran without slowing down to form another line of defense across the empire.
In such a situation, it was judged that there were no enemies, and even if they prepared a surprise attack, conversely, if they were in a position where they could eat them all at once, it would be much better to eliminate them than avoid them.
“Ain.”
“Yes, Mr. Ashley Palatinath.”
“Double your scouting and search the entire area, not just the forest. The traces of the enemies, even the smallest ones are fine, so find them unconditionally and report them. The fact that the enemy is not doing anything is rather suspicious and worrying.”
“All right. After this time, we will double the number of scouts to intensify the search around the area.”
As befits the nature of reconnaissance, which has to move faster than the main unit, Ain stood up right away.
Leaving the barracks and looking at the demons disappearing far away, Ferdinand opened his mouth slightly.
“I’m afraid that even with double reconnaissance, we won’t find anything.”
“I mean. In that case, since the scouts who were divided into 3 orders and operated in 2 orders, the fatigue accumulation would be considerable. But you can’t help it. There is nothing more terrible than being attacked by fairies during a march.”
“It would be nice if at least one thing was certain.”
After the break, the Demon Army started to depart again.
Obviously no threat, but more nervous than ever.
It seems that he was not so worried when he crossed the border and entered the kingdom.
At that time, the enemies were camped on the defense line and were holding on, and anyway, the enemies were in sight, so there was no problem even if they were just moderately tense.
But now, this place is a very different environment from the borders of the kingdom and the defense line.
Enemies are nowhere to be seen, and it is impossible to know where they are waiting.
Rather, it is a place that exudes only a peaceful and calm atmosphere, as if you were out for a walk.
However, what is also funny is that this is not the hometown, but an obvious enemy.
Everything reflected in the eyes and touched by the skin is a very peaceful place, but you have to be nervous.
Because it was like this, even though the commanders and soldiers hadn’t fought a single battle, the fatigue reached its peak.
‘It’s not good.’
Ferdinand tutted and clicked his tongue as he checked the condition of his soldiers.
It’s still okay, but if a few more days pass like this, the atmosphere will eventually loosen up.
Otherwise, it was clear that there would be negative results, whether all the blades that had been built would become dull.
Rather, if enemies are lurking everywhere, they can maintain that sharp momentum.
Between the fear of death and the fear of surprise, it is the only shield that can protect you.
However, if you don’t feel the atmosphere of any battle, but only you have to move in a state of tension, the mental fatigue is bound to be considerable.
‘I’d rather have a cool fight at least once.’
Even though it is unknown how much the soldiers will be damaged by the battle.
Not only Ferdinand and Ashley, but also other commanders and even soldiers had such thoughts.
Everyone knew for the first time that the peace encountered in enemy territory was so alien and unpleasant.
When entering the forest, the fatigue reached its peak.
For the fairies, the forest is the same as their home, so no one can predict how badly they will suffer if they are attacked.
Thanks to this, everyone, from the lowest soldiers to the highest commanders, slowly and very slowly made their way through the forest, vigilantly holding their spears and knives firmly.
That’s how the leader left the forest first, formed a camp, and almost got out of the forest to the main unit.
Someone rushed to Ferdinand who was a little relieved.
“Ferdinand-sama!”
Did the enemy attack the rear as well?
Even after increasing the number of reconnaissance, seeing them hiding and then attacking, I immediately thought that those fairies are not ordinary ones.
Had I known this was going to happen, would it have been better to take a detour even if I wasted a day?
“I, Klaus-sama has arrived.”
“… What?”
Why did the person who stayed by the demon king and organized the inside of the kingdom suddenly arrived?
The one in charge of the front line is definitely Julia, who said she would leave it up to Ashley and herself.
Could it be that they distrusted themselves and presented the most powerful card in their hands?
Ferdinand had no choice but to think that way.
“… What happened all of a sudden? Or rather, did he come after us right after we left? If we had caught up so quickly even though we were marching fast…”
“It doesn’t seem like it. It is said that he was in the royal castle until we crossed the kingdom border.”
Ferdinand, who had been listening to his adjutant’s report, left a message to bring Klaus to his command post as soon as the main force left the forest.
For now, it was important to stay vigilant and camp after leaving the forest.
Fortunately, there was no other problem, and I went into a final rest before advancing to the imperial castle.
At the same time, Klaus comes to the command center, so Ashley, who hasn’t heard from him yet, huh? Surprised, she asked why she had come all of a sudden.
“Why. Are you worried that His Highness the Demon King did not believe in you and sent me?”
“Uh? Oh no… It’s not like that. Wasn’t the king’s name given to you an internal order of the kingdom?”
“I heard that too, Klaus. But what happened all of a sudden? If it’s enough to cross the borders of the kingdom and run all the way to the empire, it seems like a very important issue.”
“Because of the situation right now.”
Situation now? Asking back, Ferdinand and Ashley tilted their heads at the same time.
In response, Klaus nodded and tapped the map spread out in front of him.
“What the enemy was aiming for was not to surprise us. It’s just to make them fall into exhaustion before battle, give them a fatal defeat in a single battle, and then drive them back into the kingdom’s territory.”
“… It looks like we got some information.”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it have been much better to just send a messenger? I don’t think there was any reason for you to come like this.”
“Of course it is. But the sooner the war ends, the better. Alas, don’t get me wrong. Command still rests with you and Ashley, just the two of you. I am not given the authority to give you orders or to mobilize your own troops. I just came to tell you the news and to help by your side. To be honest, I didn’t want to be in the middle of a war again.”
“… You?”
Ferdinand and Ashley ask back at the same time when they say they hate war.
To say that Klaus hates war and no one else, who was the most riotous on the battlefield?
Klaus was the one who was not the one who only commanded in the First Continental War, but also the one who slaughtered the demon soldiers in front of him holding a spear, and the one who won the rebels’ favor in the Eastern Civil War.
He said that such a person suddenly hated war, so he was dumbfounded.
But from Klaus’ point of view, of course, it was inevitable, how many times had he done this.
And it is unknown how many decades it has been repeating.
I felt like I wanted to finish it quickly and rest comfortably as an old man in the back room without having to go out anymore.
“Anyway, enemies are not in Imperial territory. All waiting in the realm of fairies. Originally, of course, they would have sent a small unit to harass you, but they seem to have decided that conversely, it wouldn’t be bad to drain the demons like this.”
“… Guys who know how to keep their honor are filthy shrewd again at times like this anyway.”
“This is why there is an old adage of our ancestors not to believe in fairies.”
“So, try to reassure the soldiers a little. At this rate, everyone will be exhausted and collapse before the battle. Everyone has too much energy in their bodies.”
To Klaus’s words, Ashley retorted, saying that she couldn’t help it.
In any case, this is the enemy camp, and there are fairies in a place where you can reach if you fall down, so as an ally, you have no choice but to be wary of them.
It’s not that I don’t understand, in fact, Klaus himself would have acted that way too.
If there is no information, there is nothing certain about the absence of enemies.
“It’s an intelligence that has been confirmed many times, so you can rest assured. I’ll take care of it, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“… Well, not anyone else, but Klaus, if you say so, that’s for sure.”
“Good thing. I was worried that if we stood in front of the imperial castle and gave off a ferocious atmosphere, the people of the empire would become afraid of us.”
“Anyway, fairies, they do a good job with their dirty tricks. Disgusting things.”
Ashley spit out.
At that, Klaus had to laugh inwardly.
The fact that the fairies aren’t doing anything right now isn’t just to deceive them.
Natasha had poured water on the seeds of division she had sown, so the seeds grew very quickly, creating cracks in the hearts of the fairies.
