The Tale of the Nation That Banished the Saint - Chapter 12

Episode 12: It’s in Sight

We ride our horses and spend a day to arrive at Alderan’s territory.

Alderan’s territory has large towns to the west and east. The lord’s mansion is located on a hill on the outskirts of the eastern town, closer to the center of the territory.

Although it’s called a mansion, it’s fortified, making it highly defensible.

Upon arrival, I head to the town in the west.

We can receive supplies from local mercenary groups and friendly trading companies. Thanks to my travels for monster hunting, I’ve established connections.

In the mercenary union of the western town, while securing supplies, I confirm the state of the battle.

Zopondort’s advance party has already entered Alderan’s territory, besieged the lord’s mansion, and sent envoys demanding surrender.

In response, Alderan has stationed two hundred soldiers at the mansion, refusing Zopondort’s demands.

Mobilizing troops takes considerable time and effort. Before adequate preparations for war can be made, the mansion is already under siege.

However, on the flip side, there are still soldiers available within the territory. If we can break the siege, we can bolster our forces.

In addition to the lord’s forces, civilian mercenary organizations can also be used as military assets.

I coordinate with the mercenary guild to mobilize mercenaries who can act immediately from the western town.

—

Zopondort’s advance party leader, Count Repolins, has decided to crush Count Alderan, who has not responded to three surrender demands.

Repolins is a middle-aged noble with a well-trained, robust physique, indicative of his martial nature. However, he refrained from attacking until now due to warnings from his lord, Zopondort, not to push too hard.

Zopondort’s main force consists of ten thousand troops.

Even if Alderan resists our demands now, once the advance party joins forces with the main body, forming a ten-thousand-strong army, Alderan will have no choice but to betray the king.

However, if he remains loyal to the king, he can be crushed with a large army—

The advance party’s role is to pressure Count Alderan and prevent him from moving.

Repolican understands this well—

But now is the time to bring Count Alderan on board or, if possible, to eliminate him—

It would be a significant achievement.

Repolican wanted to make a name for himself.

Born as the eighth son of a middle-ranking noble, he has always felt constrained.

Someday, he’ll rise up and show everyone.

That ambition was within him.

However, he was not skilled in socializing or paperwork, so he relied on his blessed physique.

He trained to become strong and rise through the ranks as a knight.

He never neglected his training from a young age.

Fortune favored him.

When the saint was exiled and monsters began to appear throughout the country, the need for warriors to fight monsters increased even in Zopondort’s domain.

Repolican fulfilled his duties in monster hunting and rose to the rank of commanding a battalion of a thousand troops.

Furthermore, his lord Zopondort declared to replace the incompetent king and decided to raise an army.

If they win this battle, he can further elevate his position.

How much he can advance depends on his military achievements.

He wants to achieve something before the main force arrives—

Even though they’re besieging, they’ve received reports of about two hundred enemy soldiers.

They outnumber the enemy by more than three times.

To lay siege, they’ve allocated two hundred soldiers, leaving eight hundred in reserve. If they attack, they can surely eliminate the enemy general.

Repolican ponders for a moment before making a decision.

Just as he’s about to gather his commanders and order a general attack—

“Attack from the west of the mansion! Estimated enemy forces are about a hundred— the unit besieging the mansion is under attack!”

A report of enemy attack comes in.

“Hmm.”

Repolican smiles.

“It seems the bait has taken the bait—”

Repolican orders three squadron leaders to intercept.

Since each squadron leader commands a hundred soldiers, they’ll have a total of three hundred for interception.

“Surround and capture as many as possible!! Break the enemy’s morale inside the castle—”

Generally, the tactic of siege relies on reinforcements.

If the friendly reinforcements are scattered and brutally executed, it will crush the morale of the besieged soldiers.

If the enemy’s morale drops, conquest becomes easier.

Repolican watches the situation without moving his main camp.

“The enemy is retreating. Shall we pursue?”

At that moment, Repolican senses something odd.

The retreat seems too quick—

With their forces outnumbering the enemy threefold, retreat is expected, but the decision seems too hasty. It’s as if they had planned it—

Of course!!

“If the enemy is lying in ambush, they would hide… here— Yes, I see it now. Enemy general!! Your thoughts and your figure—”

As preparation in case Count Alderan makes a move from the mansion, leaving reserve forces behind, Repolican leads two hundred soldiers available for mobilization to strike the main enemy reinforcements—

Repolican sets off.