Chapter 63: Arrival
7 days by horse from the royal capital to the viscount's territory
It's been 16 days since we set out with the Marquis Andrei.
“Ah, Marquis Andrei!”
"...When are you going to get used to it?"
Sermus was nervous due to Andrei.
Not good at it?
It seems that there is such a feeling
"I-I'm sorry"
"You are in command of this army. Do not make the soldiers uneasy."
That said, no matter how one looks at it, the Marquis' soldiers don't feel uneasy.
Like a machine, marching in precise step
“Marquis Andrei!”
“What is it, Wince-dono?”
Wince, on the other hand, is undaunted.
By the way, Gotton and the two children are staying at the residence in the royal capital.
The same goes for the guards who came with Sermus.
All the marching troops are from the Marquis family.
“I have a feeling that there are not enough wagons. Will the troops be able to feed themselves?"
"You're asking that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Pemmican and portable soup are things you guys made, right?"
"You're using them?"
“Actually, I tried eating it continuously for about 10 days, but there were no particular problems. It's proven that we can move on a smaller amount than with cookies."
It's a mass of fat. It's a calorie bomb.
"And I don't think it's going to get us into a real fight."
"You think it's like with the Viscount?"
"I can only imagine."
"Ah, I see it now."
When we crossed the hill, I could see the town where the viscount's territory was located.
"It seems that they have already arrived there too."
Sermus points to the opposite hill.
Beyond it, many soldiers were waiting.
They were led by Sermus' father, the former lord Wilderness.
"Father!"
"Selmus! Why did this happen!"
"I had nothing to do with it. It's all Viscount Kyrgy's fault."
“Shiro-dono, is that rue?”
"It's true, it's true"
Wilderness is holding his head.
“And that you have become a frontier count?”
"It's true."
"Haa... what should I do..."
I guess we'll just have to accept it, won't we?
"Anyway, Sermus. Your soldiers are 300 infantry and 50 cavalry. Use them however you like."
"Yes!"
By the way, Marquis Andrei's army consists of 500 infantry, 10 cavalry, 5 mages, and 80 wagons.
"Why do you need cavalry?"
It's not going to be a field battle, is it?
"If we are going to pursue those who run away, we need cavalry. And also to look good."
"Appearance, huh? It's your first battle, is it necessary?"
-------------
Naturally, the cavalry is out of the picture.
"Castle destruction magic! Release!"
When Sermus shouts, five mages summon giant boulders and smash them against the gate.
"Doesn't seem to have much effect."
"It's like a single wall of iron."
The gate poured with molten iron
When I saw it in person, it was more than I'd imagined.
It's completely coated in iron, and it's not like you can hit it with a rock.
"How effective would it normally be?"
"It's enough to rip up a piece of wood."
Is it my turn?
"Sermus. I'll do it."
"Do you have a way to break it?"
"There is magic that can melt iron."
"Then let's get the men away."
"And give me a robe or something. I'll hide my face."
"Why?"
"I don't want to stand out"
--------
I've served the Marquis long enough to be in charge of a good number of men.
I am proud of that.
But
The Marquis himself became an assistant to an up-and-coming nobleman.
It's absurd
It's usually the other way around.
The young nobleman used magic on the iron gate
Naturally, it had no effect.
He was a young man who couldn't even judge the situation
"What is the Marquis thinking?"
My fellow companions also complained
“It's the Marquis. Trying to show the young man who's getting on his nerves the reality of the situation?"
"Maybe"
If a soldier says something like this, the general command will be over.
"All troops, stay away from the gate!"
It is a direct order from the Marquis
So we'll fall back.
"Look, the Marquis has started giving instructions."
"Shame on you, young man."
Everyone starts making fun of the commander
But those words are immediately lost.
Only one person, cloaked in a black robe, touches the gate.
"Begin the siege!"
The commander confirms this and shouts.
Immediately after
The gate, now a mass of iron, glows red and melts.
The woody parts of the gate quickly turn to black charcoal.
The heat reaches this far, even though we are quite a distance away.
And then
The black robed person cuts the gate in two with a great sword.
"What the hell!"
I've never seen magic like that.
"Hey... can you use that magic?"
"Of course not. I've never seen magic like that."
“In the first place, how can a mage easily swing a sword like that!”
Even the five leading mages of the Marquis family had never seen such magic.
"All troops, as soon as the iron cools, we will resume our march!"
The commander gave the order as if it were a matter of course.
In short
He made us understand.
He has a force that rivals or even surpasses the Marquis. And...
"So the mages over here were left to bite the dust...."
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