Fun Territory Defense Chapter 234

[Another Viewpoint] Astonishment of the Royal Army of Shelbia

[Towncar Pillars, Count of Shelbia Knights of the Order]

I had heard the story. The eastern part of our country had agreed to the request of the Kingdom of Jiernetta to form an allied force, which would not be advantageous to our country.

At any rate, they were going to attack from our territory to fight against the great Scuderia Kingdom. If we lose, our country will definitely become a part of the Kingdom of Scuderia. Besides, the only advantage we would enjoy in the event of victory would be the maintenance of our alliance with the Kingdom of Jiernetta. No, since we have heard that they have declared that they will attack and destroy our country first if we do not form an alliance, it will be an alliance that clearly includes a hierarchical relationship, unlike the previous alliances.

Shouldn't we then strengthen our alliance with the Kingdom of Scuderia instead of the Kingdom of Jiernetta? The most powerful and senior nobleman in the west, Count Corsair Norrath Aviator, said so, which was rejected by the royal capital's senate.

In the end, the eastern part of the country succumbed to the military might of the Kingdom of Jiernetta. We do not know the extent of the new weapons that the rumored Jiernetta Kingdom possesses, but there is no doubt that they are such that it is necessary to change the way and position of the Shelbia Confederacy so far.

As a reason to support this, the eastern nobles have been sending their knights to the western side of the Shelbia Confederacy, where the border with the Kingdom of Scuderia will be the battlefield. Some of them even mobilized a group of knights to protect their own territories, resulting in a total of more than 30,000 people. On the other hand, the western nobles, who were only thinking of cooperating with the Kingdom of Jiernetta, numbered about 10,000 in total.

In contrast, the Kingdom of Jiernetta had a total of 30,000. This is an incredible number considering the fact that they are currently fighting the main forces of the Kingdom of Scuderia elsewhere. If the same number is holding off the Kingdom of Scuderia, then surely the Kingdom of Jiernetta will win this battle. And they should also win this battle on the borders of the Kingdom of Shelbia. Even if the Marquis of Fertio remained in his own territory, he would have no chance against the combined forces of Shelbia and Jiernetta, which totaled 70,000.

"...Times have changed, it seems."

I muttered to no one in particular and looked at Centenna. Violent explosions are heard, and fire is rising from everywhere in the fortress. There were five flying dragons in the sky, ready to attack further.

The battle had just begun, but no matter what they thought, they could only see a future in which the fortress Centenna would fall.

"If I were to defend Centenna, what would I do...I would have no choice but to charge in, prepared to be crushed to pieces."

After saying this, he checks about the knight corps he leads. Halfway up a mountain slope. There was a hollow where they could not be seen by their opponents, and they were hiding there. Traps were set both on the road and in the surrounding area, in case the other party should attack. Moreover, they had this cannon on loan from the Kingdom of Jiernetta.

The knights of the eastern nobility, who had offered to deploy themselves on the front line, were attacking from the cliffs on either side with the cannon in their hands. Since they had traveled for three days to that location, it would be difficult for them to evacuate if they were hit by a counterattack. In other words, that is how much they trust the new weaponry of the Kingdom of Jiernetta.

And they were proven half wrong.

"The range is about a kilometer...? It would be difficult to counterattack if that many attacks were made succeeding from multiple directions."

If it takes too much time to counterattack, the cannon is moving. The range of a single attack is only a few dozen meters, unless you are a great magician. If they move every time you fire a shot, you can't expect any effect when you counterattack.

"So this is the war to come..."

The battle was definitely won. But for some reason, there was a sense of emptiness, as if there was a hole in my chest. The tactic of using magicians as the main body, cavalry, and infantry to play with the enemy and move them according to one's aim...such tactics must be a thing of the past now.

From now on, attacks with cannons and black balls would be the mainstay of attacks, and magicians would be used as diversionary and auxiliary tactics to ensure the success of such attacks....

Just as I thought this, a red light flashed from the rooftop of the Centenna toward the cliff on my right. It was a band of bright red flames. The cliffs flared up in the blink of an eye, quickly spreading to the whole area of the cliffs, which naturally told me how hot the flames were.

"...Marquis Jalpa Bull Ati Fertio. So that's what's left of Scuderia's guard."

Seeing the caustic fire magic, he clenched his fists involuntarily. This would have greatly increased the time it would take to fall Centenna. Although the situation was a matter of seconds, he felt a small joy inwardly at the fact that the power of a single powerful sorcerer who appeared on the enemy's side had affected the war situation.

It was as if to say that the age of the sorcerer was not yet over.

Another band of flame burned away the cliffs on the other side.

"Count! There may be a magical attack from Centenna! Evacuate to the rear at once!"

The Knight Commander offers to evacuate, but I refuse, shaking my head from side to side.

"No problem. That attack was by a single hand. That much prominence is enough to make you a target. By now, they should have stopped fighting back and moved to safety."

As soon as I said this, the sky turned red, as if mocking my words. I looked back in surprise to see a curtain of hellfire covering the sky, as if it were burning the sky to the ground.

"Baa...idiot...what the heck..."

The Knight Commander's eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed at the scene of the burning sky.

I understand that feeling painfully. I am an earth magician and the Knight Commander is a fire magician. And I can't believe that we, as the same four elemental magicians, can use so much magic.

"...This may not be an easy way to proceed. You know, the Keeper of Scuderia is standing in our way."

I was in trouble. That's what I meant to say, but the Knight Commander looked at me with a raised eyebrow and shook his head from side to side with a wry smile.

"...Count-sama, you seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit."

"Hmm, it's just your imagination."

I responded appropriately to the Knight Commander's point and turned my back to Centenna and looked back to the main camp. The main camp is located off the street, hidden by a cliff.

"The wyverns have been driven off, albeit temporarily. There may be a change in strategy."

"Ha!"

The Knight Commander replied, straightening his back as he walked toward the main camp.