Outside the battle of the two Vanadis and a single knight, the roughly 8,000 soldiers of both armies wounded each other, shed blood, and herded their opponents towards death on a battlefield of dread and madness.
Leitmeritz’s army had deployed 2,000 infantrymen in the center, reinforced by 800 soldiers on each wing, consisting of 500 infantrymen and 300 cavalrymen. Moreover, 400 cavalrymen were on standby in the rear as reserve. On the other hand, although Legnica’s army also used 2,000 infantrymen to hold the center, their right wing consisted of 500 cavalrymen, and their left wing was manned by 1,000 infantrymen. 500 infantrymen were waiting in the back as reserve.
But then again, those numbers only reflected the state at the beginning of the battle. At this point, both armies had each lost around 200 of their soldiers. And that number would only continue to climb until the end of the battle.
Rurick was leading Leitmeritz’s army in Lim’s stead beneath the black dragon and silver sword flags. So far he had been facing Legnica’s army without having committed any conspicuous blunders. Because he didn’t wear a helmet, his characteristically bald head clearly transmitted the snow’s coldness.
“Sir Deputy Commander, how about putting on a helmet?” A knight, who had been entrusted with the task of serving as Rurick’s adjutant, proposed with worry coloring his face.
However, the 23-years-old deputy commander laughed it off with a shake of his head.
“This way is better. After all, it nicely cools down my head which seems like it’s going to overheat anytime soon.” Rurick cracked a joke while flashing a cocksure smile, but his left hand periodically stroked his abdomen.
He complained in a voice so quiet that no one besides him would hear it, “God damn it, if I had known it’d turn out like this, I’d have taken lessons in commanding an army, and not just archery, from Lord Tigrevurmud.”
As a knight, Rurick had longed to lead several thousand soldiers, but now that he was actually trying to do so, he was weighed down by the heavy responsibility rather than rejoicing over the opportunity. Not to mention the two Vanadis who were duking it out in the middle of the battlefield.
In the terrifying case of their side being overwhelmed and routed, Elen would get stranded on the battlefield. Rurick had to avoid such a situation at any cost.
At the same time, Legnica’s army was flying the black dragon flag and the crossed blade flag. The one leading the soldiers on this side was a knight called Svirid. With his 45 years, he had worked at the governmental residence for a long time, serving three Vanadis: the current Figneria, her predecessor Sasha, and Sasha’s predecessor.
Figneria had entrusted the army’s command to him because she had seen his battle records and the way he worked at the governmental residence, allowing her to judge him as a reliable man who had accumulated lots of experience over his many years. That judgment was correct, but Figneria didn’t pay much attention as to how Svirid regarded her.
Svirid had vaguely realized the dream Figneria was secretly harboring. Svirid’s perception as a man who had served three Vanadis could be described as far superior to Figneria’s heedless aloofness. Of course, this didn’t mean that Svirid precisely knew what Figneria was thinking and planning. However, when he heard her announcement about the battle against Leitmeritz at the governmental residence, he sensed that Figneria was about to make a bet.
Considering his age and position, Svirid should have probably stopped his lord. But, he chose to obey Figneria. Svirid had also decided to bet on his new lord, diverting from his steady modus operandi of the past.
“There’s probably another way this battle might play out than getting buried while filled with anxiety.”
Svirid’s command was extremely proactive.
“If you can’t advance, make sure to at least hold your ground! Raise your voices! Wave our flags! Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by the enemy’s momentum!”
When the battle began, Svirid had been in the rear of the army. However, without him realizing, he had urged his horse all the way to the center of the battle. Those knowing him repeatedly attacked Leitmeritz’s army in a forceful, vicious manner as they got influenced by his zeal despite being surprised about the change in Svirid.
A man called Fiovort was a member of the unit forming Legnica’s right wing. He was the son of Knight Saul who had died a heroic death in the naval battle of Olsina. Fiovort was the captain of a squad of 100 cavalrymen, but he used a sword with a long hilt, that allowed him to hold it with two hands, instead of a spear. The blade was also longer than that of a common sword.
He brandished that sword while standing at the head of his soldiers, spurred on his horse, and cut into Leitmeritz’s army with a bravery that could also be described as recklessness. He smashed the head of a soldier alongside his helmet, thrust down a soldier trying to defend with his shield, and pierced the belly of another soldier who came to face him. He had his horse trample on those he felled, and repelled the swords and spears closing in on him with the flash of a sweep. His armor was dyed with enemy blood as he pushed forward while raising a war cry. And as if being enticed by their captain’s onslaught, the cavalrymen under him charged just as furiously.
Triggered by the momentum of Fiovort’s squad, even the units on their left and right started to break through the ranks of Leitmeritz’s army.
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Receiving a report that his army’s left wing was under heavy pressure, Rurick’s face cramped up.
──I heard that the enemy’s right wing had less soldiers than our left wing, and yet…
It was information he had received from their scouts. Moreover, the information was correct. Legnica’s right wing consisted of 500 cavalrymen, whereas Leitmeritz fielded 500 cavalrymen and 300 infantrymen.
If armies clashed on ground with gentle undulations such as Boroszló, the side with the momentum would win unless there existed an overwhelming difference in numbers. Not only had Legnica’s right wing overturned their numerical disadvantage, but they went at it with such a fearsome force that it caused an upset.
Rurick was compelled to make a choice. He could order the left wing to hold their ground, wait for the enemy to run out of steam while rallying the ranks by making the wing retreat, or he could send out the 400 reserve cavalrymen as reinforcement for the left wing.
──It’d be a disaster if the wing collapsed, unable to hold their ground despite me having ordered them to do so.
His stomach hurt. When he thought how it was likely for the situation to get worse while he was wavering like this, his breathing became pained from all the stress. While thinking about silly stuff like what Elen, Lim, or Tigre would do in his shoes, he wasted precious time.
──If I’m going to send reinforcements, how many should I send? All of them? However, after using up the reserves in the rear, they won’t be available anymore if it looks like another part of the army could collapse.
He gritted his teeth. Then he firmly clenched his left hand, which had been stroking his abdomen, and made up his mind.
“Send all the cavalry in the rear to support the left wing! Make them hold out with all their might!”
After receiving the deputy commander’s order, the runner curtly saluted, and then darted off. Rurick spat out his breath while watching the runner from behind.
“…Once this battle finishes, I’ll try to take lessons from Lord Tigrevurmud.”
Thanks to Rurick’s decision, Leitmeritz’s left wing barely managed to endure. Some soldiers formed a cluster by lining up their shields, forcing back the enemy’s ferocious attacks. Other soldiers picked up the swords and spears of their dead comrades, and brandished those, repelling the approaching enemies.
The cavalry unit, which had its numbers bolstered by the reinforcement, crashed into Legnica’s right wing from the front. The bodies of their horses slammed against each other as their riders wielded their swords and spears. Blood and sweat got scattered in addition to angry bellows, screams, and neighing. No matter which affiliation, once a rider fell off his horse, he got trampled to death by a storm of horse hooves, never getting back up ever again while only leaving a corpse with a smashed helmet full of bloody mush and a dented armor with a broken body behind. Just like some riders got crushed to death underneath their collapsing horses, others had their hands and arms bitten off by excited horses.
At the time when Rurick received the report of Aram’s death, Rurick could only confirm it with a stony face, and had the messenger fall back. Aram had been leading one of the infantry units of the left wing, but they had attempted to challenge Fiovort’s squad in order to hold them back. Although they had succeeded in ensnaring Fiovort, Aram himself had gone to the bloody mud, and almost half of his unit had perished alongside him.
Men and horses covered the ground in piles in a section of the battlefield that was dominated by a mad rush and destruction. The momentum of Legnica’s army wasn’t abating much if at all, and there were no signs that the damage to Leitmeritz’s left wing would be kept short. Even after dispatching the reserve, one report after the other followed, crying danger to Rurick.
As of yet the left wing was still holding out. However, he had no spare soldiers available anymore. It was possible to pull units from the center or right wing, but if he did so, those sections would likely get into trouble.
──Did I misread the situation?
Several streaks of sweat ran down Rurick’s face as he regretted and despaired. The battle was in the process of tilting in Legnica’s favor.
──Is Aram’s death going to spell our defeat?
Rurick couldn’t determine whether his entire body trembled out of sadness or rage. He pondered whether he should pull soldiers from the right wing’s rear.
It was then that the ever-changing battlefield took a new turn.
◆◇◆
Svirid, who had been focusing fire on Leitmeritz’s left wing, suddenly looked back. At this time he had advanced even further forward from Legnica’s center. Because of that, he had only watched Legnica’s soldiers, who were right in the middle of tension and exaltation, and Legnica’s flags depicting a scarlet and golden blade crossing each other diagonally.
──What…?
Svirid’s gaze went beyond the soldiers of his own army, staring in the far distance. His experience of 45 years allowed him to sense the change in the atmosphere. Just when he thought, Don’t tell me…, a single soldier appeared next to him while panting.
Leaning in to Svirid, the soldier reported in a whisper, “Lebus’ army has appeared in our right rear. At a distance of one belsta.”
Svirid’s eyes flew wide open, and he almost allowed a growling “No way!” to pass his lips. He had known from scout reports that Lebus’ army was heading this way. But, at that time they had been more than 15 belsta away. Legnica’s army should have been able to win this battle before Lebus’ army would reach this place.
──Just when the hell did they cover this much ground!? No, wait. Why in our right rear?
A map of the area, including this battlefield, expanded in Svirid’s mind. Boroszló was a steppe with few ups and downs. There was one hill, and a river also streamed through the area, but both were a distance away from the battlefield.
“What are their numbers?”
“Judging by the number of flags, I think around 3,000.”
Moments ago he had resisted, but this time it was impossible. A grinding of teeth involuntarily escaped Svirid’s mouth. He had guessed how Lebus’ army had approached all the way up to there.
“They used sleighs…!?”
The enemy we discovered must have been a decoy. While drawing our attention in that direction, the main force of Lebus’ army traveled the frozen river with sleighs, rushing to this location. The river is certainly a good distance away from this battlefield, but even infantrymen can reach this place within a quarter koku. Lebus is situated in Zhcted’s northwest. The coldness during winter is as harsh as in Legnica or even worse. They’re accustomed to traveling frozen rivers on sleighs, and I doubt they’d have that much of a problem scraping together the necessary number of sleighs from the cities and towns within their principality.
Svirid hadn’t realized that part because Lebus’ army was quite a distance away from the river when he received the report from his scouts. His face turned pale from shock and anxiety. He could feel how the victory they were about to grasp was about to slip out of their hands. Like the snow which fell to the ground, just to melt away in the next moment.
◆◇◆
3,000 infantrymen stood in the right rear of Legnica’s army. They didn’t wear any armor. Instead they had covered their bodies in thick pelts while wearing leather undergarments atop underwear made out of wool. They had helmets on their heads, but even those were stuffed out with fur down to the parts that touched their ears.
They were Lebus’ soldiers led by 『Princess of the Thunder Swirl』 Elizavetta Fomina. The flags flying high up in the air next to the black dragon flag showed a golden belt drawing a splendid curve on violet ground.
Liza, who stood at the head of the army, didn’t wear any pelts, with her body clad by nothing more than a deep violet dress. The jet-black whip in her right hand protected her from the cold. Just as Svirid had conjectured, Liza had gathered a large amount of sleighs and dogs to pull the sleighs, and arrived here after hurrying across the frozen river.
“It looks like we somehow made it in time.”
Looking at the battle unfolding several hundred alsin ahead, Liza lightly breathed out in relief. It was also a possibility that everything would have been over when they got here. After all, Legnica and Leitmeritz’s armies had decided on this area to decide their fate.
“According to our scouts, Leitmeritz’s army seems to hold out, albeit under heavy pressure.” A knight next to Liza reported.
The knight’s name was Naum. Liza nodded slightly without looking at him.
“It sounds good enough to call it good news.”
The worst case for Liza would have been a victory by Legnica’s army and Figneria as well her soldiers still having enough spare energy. In such a case, Lebus’ army would have very likely been crushed in an unsightly manner.
──So the battle between Elen and Figneria still hasn’t reached a conclusion.
Of course Liza didn’t possess the ability to see through a battlefield. But, because she was a Vanadis herself, she could tell. If the battle between the two Vanadis had ended, the loser’s army would have collapsed by now.
Liza gazed at Legnica’s army. Rage filling her golden eye, and fighting spirit dwelling in her blue eye; both flickered as they awaited the moment of eruption. Naum looked at his lord, waiting for her to order the charge.
For Liza this would register as a return match. Moreover, seeing how their army stood in the enemy’s back and how that very enemy was fighting Leitmeritz’s army, the enemy would be hard pressed to deal with them. It should be a golden opportunity to charge and overrun Legnica’s army.
And yet, the order coming out of Liza’s mouth was contrary to what Naum had expected.
“Advance without breaking the ranks. We’ll swiftly retreat after delivering a single blow against the enemy.”
“…Will that be enough?”
“It’ll be plenty. Above all, I want to avoid this turning into a battle royale.” Liza shook her head.
Leitmeritz’s army didn’t know that Lebus’ army would show up here. After all, Liza had no time to get in touch with Elen. But then again, there were two reasons why Liza had returned to Lebus while accompanied by Olga. First, for the sake of staying vigilant since Earl Kazakov had been showing suspicious movements. Second, for the sake of getting ready for Figneria who had returned to Legnica after escaping the capital.
Liza had invaded Legnica with the intent of restraining her opponent as much as possible while sounding out Figneria’s plans. She had only yesterday learned about the movements of Leitmeritz’s army. If she and her soldiers rushed onto the battlefield here, they’d be in danger of being mistaken as enemies.
Naum fully understood the meaning behind Liza’s words. He only asked to make sure.
“But, leaving it at just one blow feels somewhat lacking.”
Liza slightly tilted her head, looking at Naum. Suddenly she burst into laughter.
“Let me say it once more. It’ll be plenty.”
Her mortification and anger over having been defeated by Figneria during their duel in the capital were still smoldering deep in her heart. However, she had experienced many losses so far, making her fully aware how dangerous it’d be to surrender herself to such emotions.
If some fateful connection between Figneria and her had existed, Liza might have felt conflicted as well, but their relationship was limited to one defeat for Liza and one win for Figneria. Thus Liza could differentiate with ease.
In concert with its owner’s fighting will, the whip glowed whiteley while cladding itself in lightning. The whip’s name was 『Lightning Flash of Crushing Calamity』 Valitsaif. Liza raised her draconic tool overhead.
Golden glitter surged out of the whip’s tip as it drew a beautiful arc in the air. Piercing through the atmosphere as if tearing it apart, it connected heaven and earth. A thunder so loud that it even drowned out the battlefield’s clamor roared, and the horns blown by Lebus’ soldiers followed its lead.
I don’t know where to find Elen on the battlefield, but it’d likely tell her that I’m here with my army. Of course Figneria, too.
Liza began to haughtily stride amidst the snowfall. Lebus’ soldiers followed her, stamping on the frozen ground while tightly gripping their swords and axes.
At the time, when they had reduced the distance between them and their enemy to a hundred alsin, arrows came flying at them all at once from Legnica’s army. Without a single twitch of her eyebrows, Liza lashed out her whip. According to her will, Valitsaif became twice as long as it freely danced through the air while crushing the rain of arrows. Lebus’ soldiers raised loud cheers amongst the dispersing embers of lightning.
“So they’re coming at us…”
Liza raised Thunder Swirl above her head once more. At the end of her line of sight, Legnica’s soldiers had started to move. She estimated that their commander had dispatched the soldiers, which had been on standby in the rear, in order to hold them back.
“Follow me!”
Liza kicked off the ground. Her soldiers ran after her while roaring. Legnica’s soldiers tightly clenched their weapons and fiercely dashed towards them as well. Eyes met, bloodlust entwined, the dull gleam of swords and spears hitting eyes, and the blood circulating through the bodies seething in excitement.
Both armies clashed. Liza swept her whip to the side, hitting five Legnician soldiers at once while breaking their shields, helmets and heads, or slapping them to the ground. Even those who barely escaped death, were unable to get back up with their consciousness on the verge of fading. The following Legnician soldiers didn’t falter even after witnessing this terrifying spectacle. Their opponent was a Vanadis. If they were to get flustered over some sacrifices, they wouldn’t be able to close distance in the next thousand years. Stepping over the corpses of their comrades, they tried to assault Liza.
Liza was calm and coldhearted. After a glance at the swarm of enemies, she brandished her whip while flipping over the hem of her dress. As the atmosphere boomed, one Legnician soldier after the other collapsed while spouting blood.
With her red hair fluttering and her body clad in lightning, Liza lorded over the enemy soldiers. Her appearance truly suited her name as princess of the battlefield.
“Don’t leave everything to our Vanadis! Grab the deeds of arms with your own hands!” Naum scolded the soldiers from next to Liza.
Taking a heart, Lebus’ soldiers slashed away at Legnica’s soldiers.
While dragging an enemy soldier, who had challenged her from the front, to the ground with her whip, Liza glared at Naum with a frown.
“I was sure I told you to not go too far. Please don’t stir them up too much.”
“Excuse me, milady. But, our soldiers are angry. Very much so. Can’t you understand at least this much?”
Liza only snorted without saying anything in return.
Because of Lebus’ attack, Legnica’s predominance on the battlefield completely crumbled. Svirid, who commanded Legnica’s army, had ordered to send the 500 infantrymen, which he had kept as a reserve, to meet Lebus’ army, but within almost no time, he received a report that they had been crushed.
Once Lebus’ army defeated and scattered the 500 infantrymen, they orderly retreated without trying to cut in any further. However, if one were to think that things had become easier for Legnica’s army because of this, it’d actually be the opposite. The threat of Lebus’ army always loomed in their back.
This was the moment when Legnica’s army, who had been resolutely attacking Leitmeritz’s army, lost its momentum. After learning about the presence of Lebus’ army, they temporarily stopped advancing, reorganized their ranks, and tried to get ready for attacks from behind.
However, in terms of the result, this was a mistake since it gave Leitmeritz’s army enough time to come back to life. As soon as Leitmeritz’s soldiers shifted towards a counteroffensive after having tenaciously defended against a fierce onslaught up until then, they started to gradually overwhelm Legnica’s army.
Svirid fervently moved his soldiers around, switching his army’s mode to defense, but then he received a report that Fiovort had died in action and that his squad had taken flight at the right wing.
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——————— End of Part 3 ———————
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