Suddenly, Ilimo speaks to me, and my body jerks. Oh, no, no, no. I was too focused on the scene in front of me.
We, the Agartha army, were divided into three groups: 400 men led by Lafayence in the center, 800 men led by Knogen on the left wing, and 800 men led by me on the right wing. Incidentally, Lafayence's unit, which has the fewest number of soldiers, is manned by the most elite men. I felt even a sense of beauty when I saw them retreating backward without breaking ranks at all, keeping just the right amount of space between themselves and the onrushing enemy.
Lured by Lafayence, Ramallon's army was thrown into chaos as the old general's troops and ours on both flanks charged. The Agartha forces were all equipped with warding stones, which basically made them impervious to physical attacks. So Lamaron's troops were being overrun by us like a funny thing. We thought we would be able to encircle and exterminate them, but it seems that the enemy is not so stupid after all, and they have come up with new reinforcements.
"All right, retreat!"
With a command, I fire a burst of fire magic into the air, causing an explosion. With that as a signal, we stop attacking and fall back about 200 meters, maintaining our formation. The Lamarons are not following us. It appears that they have joined up with the reinforcements and are forming up. I go to Lafayence's position in the center, watching Ramalon's movement. Knogen, on the left wing, is also there.
"Mister Linos, I was just talking with Knogen as well, and it seems that the enemy has brought in some infantry as reinforcements.
"Perhaps there are sorcerers among them."
"Okay. Then let's move. I like that place over there where there's a big puddle. We'll go back to our original formation and wait for them to come out. If they charge, we'll lure them into the puddle. When I give the signal, my squad and Knogen's squad will move forward to form a U-shape again. But at that time, those with bows and those who can use magic should be in the front. I think their magic and attacks can be protected by the warding stones, but just to be safe, have the sorcerers and archers stay behind and let the others defend with their shields until I give the signal."
I gave quick instructions, explaining with my hand gestures where to move and the formation, and quickly returned to my position.
As soon as they saw me return, Lafayence's center unit quickly rejoined the flanks and fell back another 200 meters or so, forming a double line. Then the old general's troops formed up in front of the puddle, with me on the right flank and Knogen on the left flank right behind them.
"...What a nonsense! They know how to fight magicians."
One of the Lamaron commanders grumbled hatefully. The other commander opens his mouth to stop him.
Ah, perhaps the army in front itself will serve as a shield. That way, even if we attack from afar with magic, the damage will be minimal. And if the cavalry attack the front, they will again try to pin them down with their flanks, just as before. But we will not play the same game. That's all they think they can do. Fine. Let's play right into their hands.
He shouts out to the people around him.
"Listen up, everybody! Once again, let's charge towards the central unit! They will probably try to lure us in with the center unit retreating and surround us with their flanks. If the front troops retreat, then we will charge at the left flank troops while chasing after them. If they do not move, then they charge the enemy in front. While the cavalry is destroying the enemy, the infantry should protect the rear of the cavalry and keep the enemy troops away from the cavalry. Don't worry! The enemy is a widow! Let's finish this at once!"
One of the commanders said this and rode his horse toward the Agarthan army. Thousands of cavalrymen followed in his wake.
"...They charged at us..." he said. Just as I ordered. Now let's see if they can make it to us."
I mutter with a grin. Then I give loud orders to the soldiers around me.
"Don't move until I give the order! Keep the enemy at the edge!"
I looked at Knogen, who was on the left wing, and he looked at me and waved his hand leisurely.
"...Hm? The troops in front of us aren't moving, are they? All right, then, let's destroy the front! Keep going!"
The commander, who was leading the cavalry, speeds up his horse. They plunged into the puddles, and the cavalrymen who followed them plunged into the puddles one after another. The water splashes all around.
As if on cue, Lafayence's troops attacked with bows and magic. One after another, Lamarron's soldiers fell from their horses. At that moment, I send a signal to Knogen's troop.
"Forward! Get in front of the front line!"
Quickly, my squad and Knogen's squad move out in front of Lafayette and his men. We form a potted formation around the puddle.
"Engage!"
As soon as we are in position, I order the archers and sorcerers to attack. The left flank of the Knogen began to attack with bows and magic at the same time.
The Lamarons are having difficulty moving because their horses are caught in puddles, and they are being hit by a crossfire of archers and sorcerers. They are unable to move forward or retreat, falling prey to the archers' arrows and magic. Unable to move forward or retreat, the Lamarons begin to retreat. And the following infantry, seeing that the cavalry is retreating, retreats as well.
"...What is it? Why are the soldiers coming back?"
Zizeu, the commander-in-chief of the Agartha dispatched forces, was watching the battle from a hilltop, confused. One of the commanders led most of his men to reinforcements, and as a result, the enemy retreated for several hundred meters. The Lamarong forces then pursued the enemy. So far, so good. However, I could not believe that they stopped the pursuit halfway and the soldiers retreated in pieces.
"Commander-in-Chief, the enemy has warders, or perhaps their attacks are completely impenetrable!"
One of the returning commanders reported under his breath. Zizeu looks around at the soldiers, his body shaking slightly.
"Is this all of them?
The number of Lamarong soldiers who had initially numbered about 5,000 had dwindled to about 1,000.
"Commander-in-Chief, look!
When I looked in the direction my subordinate pointed, I saw two long lines of Agartha's army moving toward us in an orderly fashion. Then, when they reached a certain point, they split up into three groups with an order and came toward us slowly and in step with each other. The sheer brilliance of the movement caused Zizeu and the other Lamaronean soldiers to lose their minds.
"...What are you going to do, Commander-in-Chief?
Already Zizeu had lost his will to fight.
"...Retreat. Get out of here as fast as you can! Join the advance party.
With these words, the Lamarong troops under Zizeu broke away from the scene at full speed. All that remained were the many carts full of food that they had taken from the lords.
"The enemy is running away. "Should we pursue them, Lord Rinos?"
Lafayence asks me with a grin. The old man looks really happy to be in a fight.
"No, let's not. No, let's not. Let's hurry up and get that food. Knogen, take your squad back to the capital first. It's unlikely, but if the enemy attacks the capital, you'll take care of it!
"Awe! But they won't be able to hold out that long. Rest assured!
So saying, Knogen's troops left for the capital. I head for the city with the old general to collect the food.
"That was a brilliant strategy and leadership. You are a god of war, aren't you?
"Oh, no, I'm not buying it."
I muttered quietly without looking Lafayis in the face. Then I drove Ilimo slowly.
The retreat of the Lamarons from the battlefield was disastrous. It was good that we could meet up with the troops in the forest, but they had no food at all. Hungry and exhausted, they still had to move toward the border as fast as they could.
Even after they managed to cross the border and enter the Lamarong Kingdom, they had to cross several mountains before returning to the capital. The hungry soldiers invaded the villages and houses in the mountains and wilds and robbed them of their food.
In the end, only about 4,000 exhausted soldiers made it to the capital. Sixty percent of the soldiers who set out for the battle were killed by the enemy, attacked by demons while on the move, or fell. This fact had a great impact on the entire Lamarong Empire, and at the same time, the prestige of the military within the Empire was greatly diminished.
Naturally, the Empress Dowager of Lamaron was extremely angry, and Zizeu, the commander-in-chief of the army dispatched to Agartha, was held responsible for the defeat and for his failure to supervise his soldiers, and was hanged in the middle of the imperial capital in full view of the many people who had gathered there.
Dragged out to the execution site in the pouring rain, Jiseu cried, pleaded for his life, and resisted.
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!! I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die!!!!"
"It's not my fault! Not me! My men, my incompetent men!"
"Stop! Don't touch me! Stop! Stop! Stop!"
"Help! Help me! No! No! No! No! No! No! Daddy, help me! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mamaa !!!!"
This unsightly appearance further undermined the confidence of the Ramallon Imperial Guard.