When the dawn comes (5)
While one legion attacked the castle, the remaining three rested.
When the attacking legion withdrew, another one came out to take their place and continue the onslaught.
With no distinction between day and night.
The soldiers from the Briand Duchy did not dare to ever allow the Leonberg army rest.
For 5 whole days.
It was long enough to make knights lose all their strength due to exhaustion, long enough that even strong armies would have begun to collapse.
But the enemy did not budge.
Instead of falling from exhaustion, they continued to fly around.
“Here is the devil of winter! Here is Jordan! Servants of Briand, throw down your swords and surrender! Then I’ll grant you my generosity and end your lives!”
They even mocked the Briand soldiers in clumsy imperial language.
There were a few cases where soldiers who couldn’t tolerate the provocations went out to confront them, but none of those who left returned alive.
During the siege, several of the Silver Knights tried to overwhelm the constantly taunting enemy in an attempt to raise morale, but their efforts all ended in failure.
In every attempt, the Silver Knights were swarmed by soldiers in black leather armor, and despite their agility, they were the ones to suffer the most losses.
It was an absurd situation where ordinary people were defeating knights.
Since then, the corps commanders gave orders to never respond to the provocations of a soldier wearing black leather armor, especially if they were particularly talkative.
But the real problem was something different.
“I am Bernardo of the Eli family! Knights of Briand, don’t hide and face my sword!”
The knight of the kingdom, who had taken down the leader of the Silver Knights and the Briand Duchy’s beloved paladin, frequently appeared on the battlefield to provoke the Silver Knights.
The Silver Knights could not even dream of clashing with that majestic sword light.
It was only natural for the morale of the soldiers who witnessed their ally knights being overwhelmed by the enemy to be extremely low.
“The soldiers are complaining of fatigue. Over the past 5 days, the number of injuries has rapidly accumulated. If this goes on, there might come a day where we would be laying siege with only wounded soldiers.”
At the words of the corps commander, De Deviche burst out in anger.
“How the hell did this happen! They can’t even sleep properly, how do they still have the energy to run around so wildly!”
He had tried to handle the situation alone, but ended up with only anger and no results.
“They’re only human too, after 10 days without proper rest they won’t be able to continue for any longer! So far they’ve managed to hold on, but sooner or later they’ll fall! Push harder!
Degare de Deviche poured out attacks even more ferociously.
But day after day, after day, after day, the enemy held strong.
“I’ve heard that the King of Leonberg and his army have crossed the border and are only ten days away! We need to do something! There’s no more time!”
To make matters worse, urgent news came that the main forces led by the King of Leonberg were approaching the castle.
There was also news that the Leonberg troops which had been scattered across the front lines were beginning to gather together.
“You need to make a decision!”
The corps commanders echoed in agreement.
“God damn it!”
Degare de Deviche cried out.
“Targian… We’ll give it up.”
And then, he announced that they would abandon the siege.
“There’s a small army of the Leonberg Kingdom stationed at Fort Detente, a day away from here. We will drive them out and recapture the fort, and build our defensive line there.”
“Then the enemies here…”
“If we set up a line of defense at Fort Detente, the enemies here will naturally be isolated.”
“What if they leave the castle and hit our backs?”
“There’s no way they can afford to do that after fighting nonstop for the past 10 days. The only reason they’ve managed to endure so far is because of the advantage of their walls. If they come out, we’ll turn around and annihilate them.”
However, because their opponent was unusual, the corps commanders wanted to send a messenger to the Duke requesting an additional legion to check the forces in the castle.
Degare de Deviche, of course, did not listen.
Sending a messenger to ask for support was like announcing his own incompetence.
He ordered an unconditional march.
“What are you going to do if you can’t even take Fort Detente!”
“Can’t you see! All the sharpshooters in the kingdom are gathered here! The knights here are so powerful that they can suppress the Silver Knights! Of course the other fortresses are bound to be poorly guarded.
The commanders obviously protested greatly, but he was reckless.
Even if he were to ask for support, he would need to secure a victory first.
Thus, Degare de Deviche’s army headed north, leaving the Targian citadel behind.
**
“From the way they are packing their things, it looks like they’re completely withdrawing.”
Hearing Ranger Jordan’s report, Bernardo Eli frowned.
“Those guys have no persistence. We’ve already fought for days.”
Jordan nodded in agreement.
“The skilled ones were wiped out in the previous war, and the ones who survived began following the 3rd princeps, so it’s safe to say that those who are still around are just trash.”
Bernardo Eli concurred, and handed out his orders.
To confirm that the enemies were truly withdrawing, or if they were just pretending to.
“Yeeaaah.”
Jordan, who answered playfully while drawing out the sentence, disappeared.
“They’re not going to the Briand Duchy, but to another castle.”
After going to investigate, Jordan returned shortly after and reported.
“Since they couldn’t capture our fort, it seems they decided to find an easier target.”
His face seemed to be holding back a smile.
“But of all places, they’re headed to Detente.”
Bernardo Eli’s eyes widened when he heard the report.
“That direction, Sir Arwen…”
“It’s not just the Knight of Steel. There’s the Iron Lion Knights1, as well as the Iron Hawk archers. Many of the knights of the central region who had fought in the last war are also there. The troops there are all veterans with war experience.”
He laughed at Jordan’s next words.
“They’re out of luck. Even if they’re no match for us, that side also has a great force. And these guys who fought for 10 days but couldn’t even break down a single wall went there.”
Jordan chattered loudly.
He had a tone of not knowing whether it was pitiful or funny.
Bernardo Eli, who had been listening quietly, jumped up from his seat and gave an order.
“Send a message to Sir Arwen.”
Jordan straightened his back and asked for the contents.
In response, Bernardo Eli.
“Two days later, at midnight, we will have a big party. Please come and be my partner.”
Just two sentences would suffice.
**
Arwen Kirgayen climbed up the wall and looked toward the plains where the sun was setting.
Far from the fortress, three legions of soldiers were preparing to spend the night.
However, even in the dark, their appearance was truly spectacular.
Most of them were injured, and even the uninjured ones looked terrible.
Tens of thousands of losers.
“It’s as the messenger said.”
Arwen Kirgayen, who was watching the scene, turned her head.
The commanders and knights who had fought together several times were looking at here.
“Count Branbrudt. Baron Valdes2. Sir Erhim Kiringer.”
She called them by name.
“Please prepare your troops.”
The commanders and knights who were called out by her clenched their fists, with faces that seemed to be saying their time was coming.
Arwen Kirgayen glanced at their determined expressions and saw the messenger standing by the corner of the wall.
“Go and tell Corps Commander Eli.”
“What should I say?”
The messenger bowed his head and asked.
“Thank you for your invitation.”
Arwen Kirgayen responded calmly to the messenger’s question.
“I will gladly accept it.”
***
Degare de Deviche was confident in his success this time.
The failure of the previous siege was only because he had a difficult opponent.
Countless sharpshooters, and an enemy who immediately defeated the Briand paladin.
If it weren’t for them, he was certain that he would win no matter who he faced.
But for now, he needed to rest.
Because they were worried about being overtaken by the lunatics who had sent 300 troops chasing after an army of 8000, they had moved without sleeping.
His nerves were tense, and his body felt heavy like wet cotton.
It wouldn’t be too late to attack the enemy tomorrow morning.
He laid himself down, awaiting the next day.
But for some reason, he couldn’t sleep well.
He lay in bed for a while and moaned, but it was still the same.
His body was tired but his mind was awake, it felt terrible.
Neither awake nor asleep, he was stuck in that ambiguous state.
Hm?
He had been sprawled out absentmindedly, but suddenly frowned.
For some reason, there seemed to be a commotion outside the barracks.
……!
Degare de Deviche quietly listened to the noises outside.
… aid!
A faint voice could be heard in the distance.
With a somewhat urgent tone.
He jumped up from.
“It’s a raid!”
At the same time, shouts erupted from multiple places.
“Commander, Your Excellency!”
A moment later, the barracks door opened and the knight on duty jumped in. “What happened!”
“Now is not the time! Quickly arm yourself!”
A face so pale it could be clearly seen even in the dark.
“Didn’t I ask you what happened?!”
Realizing instinctively that something unusual had happened, he hurriedly put on his armor and breastplate while complaining.
“The Leonberg Kingdom… Gureuk.”
In response, the knight replied in a bewildered tone and suddenly made a strange sound.
His body stiffened as he tightened the knots securing his armor.
He forcibly twisted his head to look backwards.
A knight with blood on his lips trembled.
A sharp sword sprung out from the center of his chest.
Sseuk.
The sword sprouting from his chest disappeared.
Flop.
The knight fell down.
And behind him, a knight in silver armor appeared.
Whish.
The knight swung their sword vigorously.
The blood on the blade was scattered onto the walls of the barracks.
“Commander?”
In clumsy imperial, a clear voice that didn’t match the situation rang out.
He nodded his head as if bewitched.
Paat.
In that moment, a brilliant light like the stars burst out.
That was the last scene Degare de Deviche saw before his death.
**
“The army was wiped out!”
The Duke of Briand froze.
“What…?”
“Legion commander Degare de Deviche, slain in battle! The Silver Knights have been annihilated! The 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th corps commanders were slain in battle! All the legions that went out have collapsed! It is estimated that the number of survivors will not exceed 2000!”
He couldn’t come to his senses from the sudden news.
“The Leonberg army that decimated our forces number about 3000! They’re currently advancing towards us!”
In a moment of desperation, Duke Briand showed a rare composure.
“That, their main forces!”
But the messenger did not give him the chance to recover his senses.
“The enemy’s main army! 5 days away and currently approaching! Among them, one legion and three knights have split off and are heading quickly toward this direction!”
At the following words, Duke Briand completely lost his mind.
“The flag at the forefront is the crouching golden lion! The troops of Adrian Leonberger, crown prince of Leonberg!”
This seems to have been translated as both Wire Knights (ch 53) and Templar Knights (ch 232). The korean is 철사자기사단 where 철 is iron, 사자 is lion, and 기사단 is knights. Wire comes from mtl incorrectly grouping the text because 철사 means wire. I don’t remember these names other than Erhim Kiringer. If they have shown up before and the previous translation wasn’t too egregious, I’ll update them to match.
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