Kays Translations

Chapter 126: Entrusted with a Major Task

The Royal Army, upon reaching the southeastern part of the kingdom where Marquis Eiger resided, established their camp atop a hill on the border of his territory.

On the opposite hill across the valley, Marquis Eiger was already prepared and waiting.

The soldiers deployed along the gentle slope were more numerous than anticipated. There were probably around seventy thousand of them.

With a hundred thousand troops on the kingdom’s side and seventy thousand rebels, although the kingdom’s army had the numerical advantage, it wasn’t overwhelmingly significant.

“Across the valley, as far as the eye can see, there’s nothing… It doesn’t seem like they’re hiding any ambushes.” 

Dible observed, looking down at the battlefield from the hill.

The wide valley had good visibility. There were no places suitable for hiding ambushes.

In other words… it was a straightforward, head-on confrontation.

“He’s quite… confident, isn’t he, that Marquis Eiger? Does he intend to win by fighting head-on?” 

Considering the kingdom’s larger numbers, that much could be expected.

Yet, instead of defending a castle, they were opting for an open-field battle without any tricks, even selecting a battlefield where no trickery could be employed… It seemed more than just confidence, bordering on foolishness.

“Marquis Eiger’s territory has many plains… There are plenty of places to deploy a large army, but few places to hide troops. Therefore, they’ve probably decided to confront us in the valley at the border to keep us from entering their territory.” 

“Siege warfare doesn’t work without reinforcements… Yuri mentioned that too. Since they can’t defend a castle, they have no choice but to engage in field battles, even if it puts them at a disadvantage…” 

“If there were forts or citadels, it would be a different story… But if they were to build such structures in a place like this, not even a border region, they would likely be seen as rebellion. Since they’ve kept their cards close to their chest until the last minute, they probably didn’t have any other options.” 

The logic made sense.

In the first place… Marquis Eiger intended to use the Monster Hunting Festival to unleash the magic beast Sabnock on the royal capital.

He hadn’t anticipated a head-on confrontation from the beginning, so it was understandable that they were ill-prepared.

“And… on the battlefield, there are times when individuals emerge who easily overturn the numerical advantage. Rest, you must have learned about this during your study sessions, right?”

“The Council of Sages’ ‘Divine Spear’ Van Wally. The first king, Adamlet Iwood. The ‘Divine Thief’ Jack O’Lu Wu…”

They were all individuals reputed to have single-handedly defeated tens of thousands of troops or monsters.

In a world where magic was commonplace, having a soldier capable of single-handedly defeating a thousand foot soldiers wasn’t particularly rare.

If it was one of the top military officers like the Knight Commander or the Chief Court Mage, it was quite normal for them to be able to defeat a thousand ordinary soldiers alone.

(By the way… I could probably do it too. At least that much.)

While he wasn’t confident enough to declare it outright, with a thousand or so soldiers, he could probably defeat them single-handedly.

Of course, he wouldn’t actively go around boasting about it.

(The action speaks louder than words. Even if I don’t say it out loud, if I can produce results…)

“Rest Clover-dono. Are you here?”

As Rest pondered while gazing at the enemy camp, someone called out to him.

Turning around to confirm the voice’s owner… Rest’s eyes widened immediately.

“Your Highness…the crowned prince!?”

There stood Prince Richard Iwood, the commander of the Royal Army, smiling gently, much like the king.

“You’re the student who defeated the magical beast Sabnock, aren’t you? I saw you at the commendation ceremony… You’re quite young.”

“Umm… Excuse me!”

Rest hurriedly knelt down. Dibble and the other soldiers around him did the same.

Besides the guards, there was also the Marquis Catreya, who was appointed as the Knight Commander’s vice officer, by Richard’s side.

What could the commanding prince possibly want with Resto?

“Ah, please don’t be so formal. I’ve come to ask you for a favor.” 

Richard said with a smile.

Rest couldn’t help but interject, but Richard nodded graciously without reproaching him for his rudeness.

“At present, our army and the rebel forces are facing each other across the valley… We will soon clash. At that time, Clover-dono, I would like to ask you to lead the charge.”

“…!”

Being asked to be the “first spear” meant that he would be the one to charge into battle at the forefront… Since Rest was a mage, it likely meant to unleash his magic.

“I would like you to demonstrate the powerful magic that defeated the magic beast Sabnock. Deliver a devastating blow to the enemy with maximum firepower and sow confusion among them.”

Being the “first spear” was considered a great honor on the battlefield.

To entrust such a task to a young man who had just been ennobled as a viscount, there must have been appropriate considerations.

“…Understood. I accept.”

Since the Crown Prince had requested it, there was no option for Rest to refuse.

With his knees still on the ground, Rest bowed respectfully.

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