Chapter 65: 66

Peasant Arc

Chapter 66 - Confrontation

"More than five hundred soldiers?　　They've collected that many?"

　

　The old peddler went to the city and gave me the information he had gathered.

　

　As I had expected, the Fontana family had sent troops against me after I attacked the tax collectors who were sent by the nobles.

　

　But there were more than five hundred of them.

　

　Normally, the number of people conscripted from Barca village is about 50 at most, but the Fontanas have prepared 10 times that number.

　

　You can see how enthusiastic they are.

"So, what are we going to do, Ars?

"What are we going to do? I think we have no choice but to fight.

"Eh? While I've been gathering information, I heard you built a huge camp here. Moreover, you even gathered people from the neighboring villages. I was wondering if you had a plan."

　

　The peddler ojiisan asked me, and I pondered.

　

　The current strength of our force is more than 100 people.

　

　I think we have exceeded the expectations of the Fontana family in this regard.

　

　However, there is still a large difference in numbers between us.

　

　I think I've heard somewhere that it takes three times the number of people to guard a city wall than to break it down.

　

　Considering that, no matter how much we built a wall here and set up a defensive formation, we would not be able to withstand the onslaught of soldiers.

　

　Or rather, the method of a siege itself is difficult for us to take on.

　

　The only condition that is absolutely necessary for a siege is that reinforcements are coming.

"I guess we'll have to settle this on the field."

"I agree with you, General. Even if you want to defend yourself, you need to be prepared. We don't have the means to defend ourselves here, by far."

　

　Vargas, who was listening to the peddler's report with me, agreed with my idea.

　

　Vargas was not much more than a soldier on the battlefield, but I'm sure he knows from actual combat experience that it's not a good idea to be defensive in a position such as ours.

　

　If that is the case, even if we are in a position of overwhelming inferiority, 100 to 500, we might as well go out and fight instead of cowering inside the walls.

　

　The other side would think we were just a bunch of peasants, a ragtag bunch.

　

　In other words, it would be a form of a surprise attack.

　

　We'll attack them before they know that all of us can use battle magic and inflict damage.

　It's the only way to get the victory before they take countermeasures.

　

　This is the only way to win, but it's a tough one.

　

　Anyway, we only have one chance.

　

　If we can't inflict damage in the first battle, the people who have followed me this far will probably leave me.

　

　My body trembles.

　

　My body shakes, and I sometimes wonder what the point of what I'm doing is.

　

　But I can't turn back now.

　

　I've already crossed the line from where I could turn back, having involved other people.

　

　I have come to the point where the only way to survive and gain my freedom is to fight.

　

　Thus, I forced myself to calm my mind, which was filled with anxiety and fear, while I thought about the measures I would take.

　

　The wind blew.

　

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　The wind was blowing, the branches and leaves of the trees were shaking, and my ears were ringing.

　The sounds continued.

　

　There were two groups of people.

　

　One group is shabbily dressed in rags.

　

　On the other hand, many of the people in the other group are wearing something a little better.

　

　Some of the larger people wore metal armor that refracts back the sun's rays.

　

　There must be more than thirty of them.

　

　Based on the information we received from the peddler, we decided to intercept the Fontanas' army.

　

　We went to a plain a few hours further from the river where we had set up our camp.

　

　The peddler's information was accurate: the approximate number of people and their marching schedule were correct.

　

　This is how we came to meet each other at the destination.

　

　The two sides were still standing at a distance that no bow and arrow could reach.

　

　And then there was someone coming out of the Fontana army.

　

　A person riding a white horse, or rather a hornless Valkyrie, came out alone a little further forward than the head of the Fontana army.

"Attention, inhabitants of the village of Barca. Surrender immediately and lay down your arms, and your lives will be spared."

　

　The person stopped, took a breath, and began to speak.

　

　I wondered if that was it.

　

　Is this an ultimatum* before a battle?

　TLN*: Not really a translating notice, but here's the definition: a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations

　Or was it a speech to raise the spirits of the soldiers and lower our morale?

　

　I didn't know what to do, so I just looked around.

"Ars, who lives in the village of Barca, has committed a crime. Not only did he ignore the orders of the nobles, but he also harmed the tax collectors and soldiers. This is not a problem that can be overlooked. However, we don't want to judge all the inhabitants of Barca village either. If Ars surrenders now and everyone puts down their weapons, we promise that life will return to normal. Disarm yourselves immediately."

　

　Hmmm, the enemy has a good, noble voice.

　

　Although they are getting a little closer to us, they are still a good distance away.

　

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

　

　I wonder if you could call it a voice that can be heard far and wide.

　

　By the way, I think I've heard that a good commander is one who has a clear voice on the battlefield.

　

　That was when I was thinking about it.

"Hey, Ars. Hey, Ars, are you sure you want to just sit there and listen?"

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"'Dad, what's wrong?' - I'm telling you, this is not the time to sit around. You can't just sit there and listen to that. We have to say something back.

"That's right, General. General, the pre-battle speech has begun. That means the battle has already begun.

　

　After my dad, even Vargas said that to me.

　

　I see.

　

　If you are not careful, this kind of thing can have a big impact on the war situation.

　

　I'm not sure what to say, but I think I need to say something at this point.

　

　With that in mind, I rode out in front of the group, also riding a Valkyrie.

TLN: The person who came out of the Army on their hornless Valkayrie hasn't had their gender revealed yet, so I had to use they. However, at points, you may have confused a "They" with the Fontana Army. 

I would like to point out that in any part where Ars starts admiring the person's voice, a They or Their refers to that single person and not the entire army itself. 

and ... I gave you the arc name in this chapter, if you had already forgotten, because in just a few chapters we will be starting a new arc. this arc is the Peasant Arc. 

btw, we are only 3 chapter numbers away from our Sacred number... :LennyFaceInsertedHere:

thanks for reading this far. 

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