HOT NOVEL UPDATES

Madan no Ou to Vanadis - Volume 16 - Chapter 4.4




Hint: To Play after pausing the player, use this button

Around the time when Legnica’s army began its preparations for war, Elen and Lim returned to Leitmeritz’ official residence. The one welcoming his mistress and her adjutant – both smeared in dirt from the travel – with a surprised look was Rurick who had gone ahead of them by around several hours.

“You two made your way back here too…?” Those were the first words coming out of the bald knight’s mouth, accompanied by a doubtful frown.

After entrusting her horse to the soldiers and knights who had rushed over, Elen nodded at Rurick with a face keeping a fighting spirit within.

“I’ll tell you about the details soon, but to put it simply, we’re going to war. Please call everyone together.”

While Rurick and his subordinates ran around the residence, Elen and Lim got their personal appearance in order.

 

◆◇◆

 

Receiving the report that all the major knights and generals had assembled in the council room, Lim visited Elen’s room. Elen had just finished changing her clothes, and was now holding the scabbard of Arifar in her left hand. Arifar sensed its master’s ambition, and caused a gentle breeze to blow through the room in response, making Elen’s silver hair lightly sway.

“──Eleonora-sama,” Lim called out to her mistress after pondering for a moment, “it’s a bit sudden, but what do you think of my outfit?”

Confronted with a weird question, Elen stared at her adjutant looking somewhat mystified, “It’s your usual uniform, no? Is there anything you’ve changed about your outfit?”

“No, just as you mentioned, it is my usual uniform. Since I have put this uniform on ever since becoming your adjutant, I think it has done me good service for roughly four years now.” Lim answered with a smile, but immediately put on a serious expression thereafter, “Eleonora-sama, both of us have already become used to wearing our current outfits. I will not tell you to forget or cut loose of the past. After all it is a fact that we are currently here because of the many things we obtained in the past. However, you are now a Vanadis, and I am your adjutant. And Figneria is yet another Vanadis. Please make sure to not forget that.”

After slightly lifting an eyebrow at Lim’s comment, Elen said with an unconcerned look, “Some things don’t change, be it in the past or the present. ──Like your fondness for bears, for example.”

“Eleonora-sama!” Lim’s cheeks reflexively flushed red from the teasing.

The silver-haired Vanadis gave a high, clear laugh, “Forgive me. But, I’ve understood what you want to tell me. You’re telling me to defeat Figneria as fellow Vanadis, right?”

Lim pulled herself together, giving Elen a confirmation in reply. But, the anxiety coloring her blue eyes didn’t quite wane. Elen walked up to Lim, and lightly tapped her shoulder.

“If it comes to a situation where we Vanadis clash while leading the soldiers, you’ll take down Legnica’s army while I’m suppressing that woman. We’ll send a messenger to Lebus to contact Liza and Olga. If they can attack Figneria, it’d be ideal, but it might prove to be difficult.”

“Yes, Figneria will get in the way of that, I am sure. Besides, Elizavetta-sama and Olga-sama need to be cautious of Kazakov and Valentina.”

“I guess we’ve got no choice but to content ourselves with having them prevent nuisances from entering the fray. ──Let’s go.”

The two left the room, and silently walked through the corridors, heading for the council room.

At the meeting, no one was surprised to hear about the upcoming battle against Legnica. However, the other participants also learned about the battles between the Vanadis that took place in the capital not only from Elen and Lim, but also Rurick. In addition, there was also the decree from Eugene, the current regent.

“Although we’re going to attack Legnica, we don’t intend to attack any towns or villages, nor will there be any plundering. Our sole objective is to bring down the rebel Figneria. I’d like you to follow me while being aware of those terms.”

Just as Lim had said, Elen had served as Vanadis for more than four years now. The officers and men had learned to understand the temperament and methods of their mistress, harboring a tremendous respect and faith towards her. Moreover, those serving as commanders knew about Eugene too. Likewise it was a big boon for them to have a justification through a direct order by the royal palace. The soldiers gladly declared their will to follow their Vanadis, and proudly hoisted Leitmeritz’ flag, depicting a silver sword on black ground, alongside the black dragoon flag.

On the next day, Elen left Leitmeritz, leading 4,000 soldiers.

 

 

The wind blowing across the prairie carried a chillness, making one strongly feel the presence of winter. Ten days had passed since the approximately 5,000 soldiers led by the Muozinel royal Hakim had crossed Zhcted’s border.

Over the few days after invading Zhcted, the Muozinel soldiers freely exhibited their brutality, burning down several towns and villages, enjoying rape and plundering to the fullest, and sending the people they had caught to their homeland as slaves. Their advance was held in check by the resistance of soldiers of the neighboring lords and people who got away, but the Muozinel showed no hints of withdrawing.

“This won’t become much of a deed of arms, will it?” Hakim sighed as he sat in a palanquin carried by ten soldiers at the rear of the army.

Currently he was 35 years old. His face was round, and so was his belly. His skin being darker than that of an average Muozinel, and his three-parted goatee were characteristic traits of this man. Because he wore layers of furred clothes to endure Zhcted’s coldness, his body looked even rounder than usual.

He had deliberately led his 5,000 soldiers across the border in his desire for military accomplishments. Or to be more precise, he needed deeds of arms to oppose Kureys, his biggest enemy in the fight over Muozinel’s throne. Hakim, the late king’s nephew couldn’t measure up in blood relationship with Kureys, the late king’s younger brother. But, he was the second princess’ guardian, ruled over a big territory, and had many lords on his side. If only he could earn some deeds of arms here, he’d be able to compete with Kurey on a more than equal ground, he believed.

“Ludmila Lourie, or Sofya Obertas – either is fine, so won’t they show up soon?”

Winning against a Vanadis would be plenty of military achievement. After all, even Kureys tried to avoid fighting Vanadis as much as possible. And while eliminating the sporadic resistance, Hakim extended the range of the plundering to keep up the soldiers’ morale, but on the tenth day he finally received the report he had been hoping for from his scouts.

“We discovered Zhcted forces on a hill around 15 belsta to the north. They number around 4,000.”

“What about the battle flag? You don’t know to whom they belong?”

“We spotted the black dragon flag and a battle flag with a blue spear on white ground, Your Grace.” The soldier answered Hakim’s question.

A blue spear on white ground signified Olmutz’ flag.

“Alright, we’ll move the troops up close to them. However, we won’t launch any attacks even if provoked. We’ll wait until they show us their backs.”


This land, which wasn’t far off the road connecting Zhcted with Muozinel, was known as Kišbál. Except for being dotted with hills and the river flowing from the north to the west, it was an ordinary prairie with no outstanding features.

What delighted Hakim was the fact of no snow fluttering about in this area. Coldness was the archenemy of every Muozinel. It wasn’t just the enemy’s resistance, but also his mindfulness of the coldness that caused Hakim to desist from invading too deeply into Zhcted. The Muozinel army began its march while letting its flag – a sword and golden, horned helmet on scarlet ground – fly in the wind. The flag depicted the War God Varhrān.

All of the 5,000 soldiers were infantry, wearing leather armors beneath thick clothes and fur coats. Curved swords hung at their waists, and they owned elliptical shields and either a bow or a spear. With their march lasting from morning to noon, they kept closing the distance of 15 belsta, and just after noon, Olmutz’ army came into sight.

Around this time, the sun was hidden behind clouds, not even allowing a single ray to reach the surface.

Olmutz’ army should have noticed the Muozinel, but they didn’t even try to move from atop their hill. Hilltop and prairie were separated by a distance of around two belsta, allowing the two armies to glare at each other.

 

◆◇◆

 

Ludmila Lourie looked down at the Muozinel army from atop the small hill with a cold expression, befitting her title as Freezing Snow Princess. Behind her, the approximately 4,000 soldiers of Olmutz had built a camp. The two flags hoisted high up into the air were furiously fluttering against the gray background thanks to the cold winter gusts.

It wasn’t as if all of them were infantrymen as around 100 of them were cavalry. There was not much of a difference in armament between both. Seeing how it was a given that they’d wear fur coats, and since it was also Mila’s order, it was only natural for them to be lightly equipped. Because their Vanadis led them, the soldiers morale was high, but she didn’t fail in doing all she could to keep it that way.

“Even though we walked all the way here in this cold, we’re going to stand still again, huh?” Mila muttered with a surly look.

She had already heard reports about what the Muozinel had done to the Zhcted after crossing the border. She had no intention to let off even a single of their soldiers.

A single youth was walking next to her. He wasn’t a Zhcted, but a Muozinel. He had a tall figure, slender nose and chin, and two eyes were gleaming sharply beneath his black hair.

“All of them are infantrymen. Their equipment is reasonably good. The morale isn’t low either. Their supreme commander is a man called Hakim. He’s the nephew of the late king. As far as I can remember, he doesn’t have any battle experience to speak of.” Damad wrapped up the report to Mila with an unsociable expression and a curt tone.

He had slipped into the Muozinel army to investigate their battle formation. A stunt possible exactly because he was a Muozinel himself.

“Thank you for your efforts.” After expressing her gratitude, Mila cast a curious look at him, “All things considered, you did well to come back here.”

“I do have a sense of obligation towards my employer.” Damad replied without the slightest change of his expression.

Him being here was something Tigre had willed. When Mila and Sofy were about to leave Silesia, Tigre had taken Damad to the two, and asked them to employ him.

On top of that, the youth had said the following to Damad: “Once the battle against the Muozinel army finishes, you’re free to do whatever you like.”

Just like Gaspal and the other men had mentioned in Silesia, Damad was a free man. Tigre had furthermore passed him some travel expenses, and encouraged him, “I pray that you’ll be able to make your dreams come true.”

Tigre knew of Damad’s dreams. Even though he regarded Damad as a friend, Tigre decided to respect Damad’s own wishes. Because of those circumstances, Damad was currently present here. At present he didn’t utter a single complaint, or rather, he obeyed obediently while remaining silent for most of the time.

“Are all Muozinel filled with such a strong sense of duty like you?”

“I don’t think it’s all that different from Brunians or Zhcted.”

Mila felt delighted over his unpretentious words, causing a single matter of curiosity to well up in her, “What part of Tigre do you like?”

Damad frowned. Not because he didn’t understand Mila’s question, but because he was apparently bothered when he tried to ask himself that same question anew.

After some time, the Muozinel answered, “For some reason or another, I feel like I can entrust my back to him.”

Mila’s eyes widened slightly, just for her to nod in satisfaction.

──His back, eh?

That was something Mila also felt as a warrior. As a matter of fact, they had already fought in such a manner in the past. Entrusting one’s back to someone, who only possessed ability, was impossible, unless you trusted them.

After Damad left, one of her close aides addressed Mila, “Do you think the battle might start before the day is over?”

“The day will end with a glaring contest,” Mila shook her head. “The enemy wishes to grab an easy victory. They should be waiting for us to turn our backs on them to withdraw in a hurry.”

Going by the facts of them having attacked during this season, and the way of how they had advanced so far, Mila had mostly seen through the enemy’s objective. This changed into conviction through Damad’s report which told her that the supreme commander was a royal with little experience in battle.

Why would someone of a royal standing lead the soldiers himself instead of leaving the command to a subordinate? Obviously because he wanted to earn personal deeds of arms.

“We are being looked down on, huh?” The aide flashed a menacing smile.

Mila agreed with his view.

──Saying they want to win easily with us as opponents while not even devoting themselves to finesse like Kureys does… At this rate it looks like the civil war in Muozinel is going to be over rather soon. Kureys is probably going to destroy one opposition after the other, and might be sitting on the throne by next year. Though, for Zhcted it’d be more desirable for the civil war to drag out as long as possible.

From atop the hill, Mila could observe how the Muozinel army began to retreat. Seeing that they hadn’t charged their position, Mila guessed they planned to build a camp after taking some distance.

That day ended without the two armies clashing.

 

—————– End of Part 4 —————–





COMMENTS

No Comments Yet

Post a new comment

Register or Login