Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 27 - Chapter 2.2

The dark-armored demons continued to charge forward, raising fierce war cries as they surged over the battlefield that was now stained black with blood. Any person of sound mind would surely turn away from the horror, and some with weaker spirits might even faint on the spot. Yet those responsible for this carnage showed neither joy in killing their enemies nor pity for the wounded soldiers writhing in pain. All that remained within them was a steely, coldhearted resolve to kill. To Ryoma Mikoshiba, the leader of these demons, the enemy soldiers screaming around him were as worthless as stones on the roadside. He viewed them as nothing more than weeds obstructing a hunter’s path, easily removed without a second thought. His mind focused solely on finding and hunting his prey. The coalition forces did not merely stand idle and watch the march of this dark army, but any resistance they put up was ultimately in vain. Then the critical moment arrived. The bloodstained blade of the katana named Kikoku swung toward Bruno Accordo, whistling through the air.

This is bad!

Bruno’s mind went blank. All he could see was the deadly glimmer of the blade coming at him. But his battle instincts took over, moving his body on its own. Without thinking, he raised his beloved war hammer above his head to block the attack. The harsh clang of metal echoed across the battlefield as a sharp pain jolted through Bruno’s right arm. Kikoku’s deadly edge cleanly sliced off the head of his weapon.

The pain snapped Bruno back to reality.

“Damn... Blocked it, did you?”

Ryoma clicked his tongue in irritation and swung his sword at Bruno again. This time, Bruno was not content to stay on the defensive. He discarded the broken war hammer, drew his sword, and braced himself to counter.

“MIKOSHIBAAAA!”

Bruno roared with rage as the two warriors clashed, a shower of red sparks erupting between them. His hatred for Ryoma burned fierce; this was his chance to settle a deep-seated grudge. But their duel was abruptly interrupted. The coalition soldiers, though shaken, mustered enough courage to throw themselves between the two combatants, forming a human shield around Bruno.

“Fall back, sir!”

“Lord Bruno, this way!”

“Send a message to the rear! Have them come to support us!”

“Surround the enemy and cut them down!”

Among the shouted orders, the soldiers dragged Bruno’s massive frame back into the safety of their ranks. With their leader under attack and his life in peril, the soldiers had rallied, like rebooting a frozen machine by restarting it. This scene also demonstrated the unwavering loyalty that Bruno Accordo inspired among the coalition troops.

Seeing the coalition forces rallying, Ryoma Mikoshiba quickly decided to retreat.

“This is enough for now,” muttered Ryoma reluctantly.

Instead of focusing on the image of Bruno surrounded by soldiers, Ryoma’s mind painted an entirely different picture.

“I see... As expected of Bruno Accordo, renowned as the mightiest general of the Kingdom of Brittantia! Remarkably, you were able to fend off our charge—a strategy worthy of the title Man-Eating Bear! Out of respect for your tactics, I shall withdraw for now.”

Those words were clearly detached from the truth.

Bruno’s command had not repelled Ryoma’s charge with any extraordinary brilliance. But such facts were irrelevant. The one who controlled this battlefield was none other than Ryoma Mikoshiba. Even the whitest object would be painted as black when the ruler declared it.

“Well then, until we meet again! I look forward to seeing you on the battlefield!”

With that triumphant proclamation, Ryoma spurred his horse westward. The black-clad demons, who had accompanied his charge on the main camp, trailed him like shadows. Their flawless formation left the allied soldiers frozen, unable to give chase.

None attempted to stop the retreat of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy’s army. They instinctively understood that any rash action would result in their lives being mercilessly snuffed out.

While Ryoma could still kill Bruno if willing to accept casualties, doing so wouldn’t be worth the losses. For now, he calculated it was wiser to withdraw than to risk unnecessary sacrifices. This decision brought a satisfied nod from his companion, Ecclesia, who rode up alongside him.

“So, leaving General Accordo alive will make driving a wedge between Brittantia and Tarja easier? No, it’s more accurate to say that you’ve injected them with a deadly poison.” Looking up at the twin-headed snake crest that symbolized Mikoshiba’s army, she continued, “I see. Letting General Accordo live today might benefit us in the long run.”

“Indeed,” Ryoma replied with a slight smirk. “When Raul Giordano dies but Bruno Accordo survives, it will surely leave a deep rift between Brittantia and Tarja. Although I could have taken his head here, leaving him alive creates a more valuable result—a poison of distrust that will only spread over time.”

That poison would seep into the very fabric of the kingdoms, a more valuable victory than claiming Bruno’s head.

“As you left, you even were shouting praise in his direction,” Ecclesia noted. “You really are terrifying, Lord Ryoma... To have calculated so far ahead in that brief instant.”

Ryoma merely chuckled. “Well, let him take it as a compliment.”

As Ryoma and his forces pulled back, Ecclesia asked, “What will you do next? I understand we’ll withdraw to Rhoadseria for now, but...”

“Yes,” said Ryoma, nodding. “But first, we’ll head to the fortress city of Heraklion. Bringing the entire army to the capital of Pireas might complicate future operations.”

“So, Heraklion, the key stronghold of southern Rhoadseria?”

With a thoughtful expression, Ryoma added, “Given the political turmoil in the Kingdom of Myest and the possibility of betrayal from one of their famed three generals, Alexis Duran, I must reconsider our plans.”

Even a man of Ryoma’s considerable foresight couldn’t have predicted all the complex turns of recent events. Ecclesia nodded in agreement. She, too, found it hard to believe that her former colleague and hero of the Kingdom of Myest had betrayed their cause.

For now, what I need most is time to think.

As Ryoma pondered this, he noticed a group kicking up dust in the distance, drawing closer with the flag of House Mikoshiba raised high. His face softened with a smile.

“Finally, they’ve joined us,” he said.

The five thousand troops he had assigned to the Malfist sisters before parting ways at Jermuk had arrived.

This signaled the end of the campaign that had begun as a mission to aid the Kingdom of Myest. But little did Ryoma know that among the approaching soldiers were unexpected guests whose presence would soon bring another twist to his plans.