As Gi Gi raised up the twin-headed beast and axe flag (Zeilduk), Gi Ji Arsil the Hidden Blade and Gi Jii Yubu the Goblin with a Regiol accompanied him as aide and thickened their battle formation. In the monster army, just the goblins alone numbered 300. Within those, over 20 were rare-cla.s.s. Gi Ji Arsil’s a.s.sa.s.sin unit numbered 100, but not a single one of those was above rare-cla.s.s. Gi Jii Yubu’s regiol numbered 500, but they had over 40 goblins that were above rare-cla.s.s.
“An alliance with the humans… We have to use it.”
Gi Ji and Gi Gi have always gotten along well, and when they talked about the humans, Gi Ji insisted that since they could cooperate with the orcs, then they should also be able to cooperate with the humans. As for Gi Jii, working alongside the humans was an opportunity to see their tactics, so there was no way he would refuse them.
“The tactics of the humans must be different from His Highness and Pale-dono’s… I look forward to it.”
The goblins of Gi Jii Yubu’s regiol that stood at the head of the army sent messengers to Cultidian before conquering Fatina.
The thing called ‘alliance’ had many types.
There were alliances based upon non-aggression treaties that promised they would not attack each other. There were attack-defense alliances that, as the name implies, is a promise to fight together. As one might imagine, the partic.i.p.ating parties in the first alliance would have little dependence on each other; whereas, the parties involved in the second type of alliance could be said to have thrown their lot in with each other. The alliance formed between the Goblin King and the queen of the Kushain Believers, Mira Vi Burnen (b.l.o.o.d.y Queen), was that of the non-aggression sort.
But there was no way that Gi Gi and the others could possibly understand such specific things.
The fault did not lie solely with them, however, for the Goblin King himself did not bother to explain the situation and only told them that they were now in an alliance with the Kushain Believers.
Because of that they asked the Kushain Believers to attack with them. A request that left the Kushain Believers with a severe headache. Still, these forces were only the remnants of the Red King. As such, even if the Kushain Believers were to take them on alone, they could actually win. That being said, even if Vilan Do Zul were the one to lead the battle, as young and overflowing with talent as he was, even he would have to be prepared to accept some losses.
Fatina also used to belong to the Kushain Believers and was taken from them by the Red King. In actuality, the situation of the Kushain Believers was one wherein they were finally able to catch their breath. A little something they owe to Mira’s genius on handling the domestic affairs and being freed from the encirclement of the enemies.
Their army was secretly discussing about when they would go out to battle next when the goblins suddenly asked them to fight with them. Although this was a situation akin to one wanting to cross a river but not knowing how, only to suddenly be given a boat, joining the goblins in war still meant that they would have to change the details of their alliance.
The question of how they should respond to a joint battle with the goblins was a difficult question for the Kushain Believers. Especially since the goblins were still above them in terms of military prowess. They also didn’t know if it was really okay to just reject their request.
The anti-goblin faction were furious, not able to understand even the significance that their alliance had to the goblins, while the pro-goblin faction argued that this must be their way to expand their power without losing momentum.
In the end, the fierce debate was concluded by Mira herself, who decided to dispatch the army.
“Let’s make this a special exception and oblige the goblins.”
Wearing the strong face of a politician, she sweetly smiled and revealed the greatest trump card she had in her possession.
In other words, the tactician, Vilan Do Zul, would lead the army as an ally to the goblins. Under him were placed 3000 footman and a small cavalry. Their objective would be to aid the goblins and retake Fatina.
The grain-producing region of Fatina could be said to be the stomach of the southern region.
If the goblins could secure that, it would be a huge boon to them. It was also precisely because of that that they had to get results.
Mira sent a messenger to the Goblin King to ask for a firm promise regarding the distribution of spoils. When she came back to her bedroom, she called Vilan over, and while hugging her pillow, asked him.
“…Hey, Vil. I suppose heroes really are necessary, huh.”
“Hah?”
Her eyes were like that of a little girl dreaming. Seeing that sparkle in her eyes, Vilan couldn’t help but recall all the unreasonable requests she’s made of him in the past. It was such that those events had already become a trauma of sort to him, and he couldn’t help but draw cold sweat.
“What a half-hearted response. Anyway, as I was saying, don’t you think only a hero or something would be fitting to stand beside a saint? Otherwise it won’t be balanced.”
“What are you talking about, Ojousama?”
“So, I was thinking, won’t you become a hero?”
“A-Aren’t you asking too much!? In the first place, you can’t become a hero just because you want to—”
“Oh, Vil. Don’t you know? Situations make people. It’s an old saying I’ve heard before.”
“I don’t think the people who said that said that with that meaning in mind…”
“Anyway, let’s start by making you into a famed general. I’ll tell you more when we negotiate with the goblins next, so get yourself together, alright?”
“S-Sure…”
Vilan knew from his past experiences that when Mira wasn’t listening, no matter how much you tried to tell her that it was impossible, she wouldn’t change her mind. As such, he just quietly bowed his head.
The defeated needs a hero.
Because of the alliance with the goblins and Mira’s skillful direction, the Kushain Believers did not notice it, but in truth, in this battle for supremacy in the southern regions, there was without a doubt that the Kushain Believers had lost. Despite encroaching the taboo called ‘holy war’, the Red King was able to take Fatina from them and the goblins were able to take the border lands.
They lost territories and those around them had lost their confidence in them.
The one result they were able to produce was their alliance with the goblins, who managed to secure victory. But even that could change at the whims of the Goblin King.
As such, in order to recover from their situation, Mira wanted a hero. Naturally, it was her most trusted military officer who would a.s.sume that position.
A young man who defeated the army of Elrain Kingdom, fought against the tactician of the Red King who swept over the southern lands, and broke through the long siege against Cultidian. And on top of that, he was also the tactician the saint trusted the most.
He had more than enough achievements to be renowned as a hero or a great general.
The existence of such a figure would raise the morale of the army. His name would allow the people to pick themselves up with pride.
The joint battle proposed by the goblins. To an army that desperately needed to regain itself after defeat, it was a most prized opportunity.
Supposedly, she should have said this much to Vilan, but because of her two sides – the politician and the maiden – fighting within her, in the end, the desire to see Vilan’s troubled face won out, and the result was the earlier conversation.
Still, despite his complaints, she knew that her sweet Vilan would do something about it anyway. And knowingly, she allowed herself to be intoxicated by that sweetness.
Tl Note: Sorry for the lack of chapters. I was busy moving the server and setting everything up. There’s still a lot to be done, but the site is mostly functional now.
Thanks to moving servers, resource limits won’t be a problem anymore and I’ll be able to roll out more features to improve the reading experience on this site. For now though, I’ll go back to translating, so I can meet the chapter quotas for this week.
If you have any problems/inconvenience with the site, please do mention it in the comments.
The forces of the Red King were now led by Saldin, the man who defeated Gi Ba. He took the survivors of the Red King and retreated from Melgion. But despite retreating from Elrain Kingdom as well, he insisted in going back to Fatina.
“How many soldiers do we have left?”
On the throne Brandika once sat upon now sat Saldin. He was not in a happy mood as he spoke with his aide.
“3,000 at most.”
Hmph. Saldin snorted and folded his arms. The forces of the Red King may have fled to Fatina for the time being, but as the situation grew worse by the day, more and more deserters appeared. Saldin didn’t try to stop them either, so while at some point the numbered 5,000, they now only numbered 3,000.
“Now I can see just how great the clan leader was.”
“Well, I mean…”
Seeing his aide twist his lips into a wry smile, Saldin renewed his expression. Currently, although their numbers have been greatly reduced, the clan leaders that have been with the Red King for a long time now and the commanders of the armies were gathered at the throne room.
“So it seems the time to pay our dues has come, but unfortunately, I’m a poor loser.”
As Saldin stood up, he rested his hand on the pommel of his long sword.
“I’m not about to die at a place like this. What say you?”
Although every one of them wore a fearless expression on their faces, they showed no signs of having given up on living.
“It won’t be easy to turn the tides of war now that it’s come to this point. That’s why… We have to lose once. Lose and pull the wool over their eyes.”
Youths who saw a dream in Brandika. Youths who were taken by Carlion’s ideals. Youths who were charmed by Shunrai’s strength. Those kind of youths have long fled, and all that was left of the Red King now were those that decided to live with Saldin.
Saldin was shocked when Brandika died, but because of his natural stubbornness, he was able to pick himself back up. Now that there was no one left above him, he had to lead the clan by himself.
“So we’re fleeing from Fatina?”
“Exactly. We’ll flee to the east. That’s where we’ll rebuild the Red King.”
If it was at the minor countries, then perhaps the Red King might be able to survive just yet. Thinking that, Saldin decided to abandon the south. Unfortunately, doing so would mean the end of Carlion and Brandika’s dream. Even if they succeeded in rebuilding the Red King, their forces would be focused on the east.
Still, just giving Fatina away to the goblins like this would leave a sour taste in Saldin’s mouth.
“We’ll lead them inside and hit them once, and then we’ll retreat.”
Saldin knew all too well how strong the goblins were in the open battlefield. As such, he decided to drag them inside the city, where the s.p.a.ce was much narrower. With the s.p.a.ce much limited, he would be able to inflict more damage on them depending on their tactics.
“Is there any need to go out of our way to put ourselves in danger?”
“Hmph. What? You want us to run with our tail between our legs just like that!? That would make me feel terrible! At the very least, we need to give those gobs a taste of a civilized man’s war!”
Although Saldin was just running his mouth off as a lowborn man that once lived as a bandit, the people gathered at the throne room laughed.
“When we flee, our destination will be the Iron Country of Elfa. Understand, ye b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!?”
“Yes sir!”
After the meeting ended, they packed their bags and prepared for war.
Saldin went back to his room and spoke to the person who was waiting for him there.
“You were listening, right? I’m running. What about you?”
“Hmph. I don’t have a reason to fight anymore.”
The person waiting for him was none other than Cell the Sword Dancer. After bringing Carlion’s remains back to his home, she caught word that Saldin had returned to Fatina, so she visited him.
“Well, do what you want. When you think about it, the Red King was only really the Red King because the clan leader and Carlion were there. Filling the hole they left behind is too great a burden for me. I’m sure that’s true for the others too.”
“That’s… true.”
“…Yeah. That’s why… There’s no need for someone who’s about to be a mother to go to war.”
“…? You knew?”
“It’s not like I was born from a tree, you know?”
Silence filled the room. Saldin didn’t ask who the father was, and neither did Cell try to say it.
“I need to be going soon.”
The one who broke the silence was Cell.
“Oh, right. You remember the treasurer, right? I’ll leave him a word, so take some money with you. Consider it a farewell gift.”
“…Thank you.”
After Cell left and Saldin watched her leave, he couldn’t help but mock himself.
“Tch. why are men always so spineless at times like this?”
After Cell left, Saldin prepared to go to war.
◇◆◆
The walls of Fatina were tall and thick. Carlion loathed siege battles in the past, so the walls of Fatina were built in a way that they would not be broken by ordinary things. Moreover, although the population of the city has decreased from its heydays, it still held a population of over 30,000. Those thick and tall walls were actually long enough to cover all of that and surround a small mountain.
And yet despite that, there was a flaw in the defense of the city.
There were too few people to defend it. In order to defend Fatina, the least number needed was at least 10,000 soldiers. It was a city that was built with that sort of power in mind.
In other words, at this rate, they’ll barely be able to use the defenses of the city. Someone suggested to enlist the people, but Saldin rejected the idea.
“They’ll just get in the way. How are we supposed to run if we tie up our legs and arms too?”
Normally, they’d line up soldiers atop the walls and make them throw stones at the enemy or man the siege weapons, but the only soldiers Saldin could position there were the scouts. He believed that as long as he could figure out from which direction the enemy would be coming from, everything would be alright.
“General! They’re attacking from the south.”
“How many?”
“From what I can see, about 4,000!”
“We better give them a warm welcome then!”
“Yes sir!”
As they thought up a defensive plan throughout the entire city, the forces of Fatina and Saldin prepared to meet the enemy forces. Compared to them the goblin and Cultidian forces were fighting with a solid strategy.
In other words, they were using a large number of siege weapons.
“Oh, so these are the human siege weapon I’ve heard so much about.”
Gi Jii walked around the catapults as he stared at that giant weapon with eyes full of curiosity.
“Goblin-dono, are you interested in siege weapons?”
As Vilan thanked the engineers that quickly built giant wagons to transport materials from Cultidian, he noticed Gi Jii from the corner of his eyes and called out to him.
“I am Gi Jii Yubu. You are the famed general of Cultidian, Vilan-dono, yes!? It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Gi Jii had approached him eager to shake his hands, causing him to be confused, but he still remembered to return the gesture.
“Y-Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you… I’m not actually on the level of a famed general just yet.”
“A man of humility, I see. That aside, this siege weapon. How do you move it?”
It was not good for Vilan’s heart to have a goblin, who was much stronger than him, approach him so enthusiastically like a child who’s found a toy. Just half a year ago, they were enemies.
“If you turn this handle, the recoil from the ropes will send the stone flying. The point is for the stone to hit the walls.”
“What about that one!?”
Gi Jii pointed at a direction and Vilan’s eyes followed it. When he saw what he was pointing at, he nodded.
“Ah, that would be an aeris. The roof protects from enemy attacks and pushing the staff will allow it to break through enemy walls.”
“Hmm… What a strange weapon. I wonder if the Ganra tribe could make it.”
While Gi Jii groped about on the aeris, Vilan, who was nervous at the start, was gradually getting less nervous.
It wasn’t intentionally time it, but it was then that two giant shadows suddenly appeared behind him.
“As expected of the human general-dono.”
“A spectacular thing. We most certainly must put it to use.”
“H-Huh!?”
Before Vilan could open his mouth, Gi Gi and Gi Ji had lifted him by his armpits and were bringing him to another camp to have a meeting. The strength by which they picked him up was definitely not something a human could resist.
“Gi Jii, we’re having a meeting!”
“Huh!?”
“Ohh, Gi Gi-dono and Gi Ji-dono. Vilan-dono, I see you’re coming too!”
Gi Jii excitedly ran to them.
“Now then, Vilan-dono. Let’s take that city down together!”
“Umm, we’re just support.”
“Please, general. There’s no need to be humble.”
“No, umm, that’s not what I mean!”
“Ha ha ha ha.”
Gi Gi’s laugh caused Vilan to draw cold sweat.
“Ha ha ha ha.”
When Gi Ji laughed too, Vilan started to have a bad feeling.
In the end, Vilan had no choice but to set up a large-scale operation and take command of it.
◆◆◆
Each time the stones launched from the catapults. .h.i.t the walls, it was like an earthquake was shaking the city. Under the support of those powerful weapons, the goblins moved out with the aeris and broke through the castle gates.
“…It seems they’re not fighting back.”
“Seems like it.”
As Vilan muttered that, he nodded to Gi Gi’s words without much thought.
“I wonder what they’re thinking,” he said.
“I don’t know, but thinking about it now won’t help. Ohh, the castle gates are almost broken.”
When Vilan heard Gi Ji’s response, he sighed and agreed. With that he renewed his focus. They were the ones on the offensive and their attack was going well. But in the last battle, Vilan suffered at Carlion’s hands, so he couldn’t help but be suspicious that there was a scheme here somewhere.
“We could send some monsters in first to take the charge,” Gi Gi said.
“But then they’ll attack even non-combatants,” Gi Ji replied.
“We’ll deal with it when the time comes. Losses are a natural byproduct of war.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Vilan was troubled as he listened to Gi Gi and Gi Ji talk, so he proposed an idea.
“Please wait. I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Vilan said.
“Hmm, why is that, tactician-dono?”
Seeing how innocent the goblins seemed, the young tactician couldn’t help but sigh.
“It will have an influence later when managing the city,” he said.
“Is that how it is?” Gi Gi asked.
“Who knows?” Gi Ji replied, just as confused.
Gi Gi and Gi Ji both t.i.tled their heads in confusion. These two goblins hadn’t the slightest interest in ruling cities. As far as they were concerned, managing cities was a job for the humans or the elves.
“Let’s use Gi Jii-dono’s regiol and my soldiers to suppress the enemy inside instead.”
“Hmm, if you insist, then…”
“I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Despite being teary eyed at how these two goblins nodded to him, he still forcefully persuaded them and led the army from the frontmost lines.
“But now my monster army doesn’t have a part.”
“Don’t worry. Since the enemy has holed themselves inside, they’ll surely try to run away later. We’ll make use of your beasts then.”
When Gi Ji happily said that, Gi Gi deeply nodded.
“As expected of you, my friend!”
“Hahahaha!”
As the two goblins behind him laughed like devils, Vilan headed into battle.
◇◆◆
In the end, because of how much Vilan hated losses, it took him 10 days to deal with Saldin, who had cooped up himself in the city. But because he prioritized minimizing losses, the people of Fatina and his subordinates, the Kushain Believers, praised him.
Gi Gi’s monster army and Gi Ji’s a.s.sa.s.sin unit pursued the forces of the Red King when they ran away, and in only half a day, they were able to get results.
Vilan showed an exhausted smile to the two goblins that laughed like demons, but his devotion was rewarded in an unexpected way.
When the Goblin King heard of the details of the battle at Fatina, he frowned and sent a messenger, announcing that the management of the city would be left to the Kushain Believers under the condition that they would give priority to the goblins in taxes and food. Although the Goblin King also demanded other conditions such as the construction of a base for supplies and the dispatchment of siege weapon engineers, it could be said that he’d basically given away Fatina to the Kushain Believers.
This was a decision that the Goblin King came to after reading the accounts of Gi Jii Yubu, as he came to believe that it was still too early for Gi Gi to be entrusted with a large human city.
Unbeknownst to Vilan, when word of the Goblin King’s decision was brought to the Kushain Believers, Mira and the rest of the upper bra.s.s danced in joy. They were hoping that Vilan would be able to get some kind of result and that would be good enough, but when it actually came to it, he went far and above their expectations.
Moreover, because of how little damage his army received, when he came back to Cultidian, the people welcomed him with a storm of praise.
From the warm welcome of Saint Mira at the city gates of Cultidian to the brilliant and difficult achievement of receiving her kiss on the cheek, although he knew that he was not truly deserving of his fame, he walked bravely in order to match the public’s perception of him.
After that Mira vigilantly waited for an opportunity to demand even more unreasonable things from him.
Although Gi Gi lost his rights to rule Fatina to the humans, he just laughed it off with Gi Ji, saying that it was great that he didn’t have to do deal with any troublesome things.
“As expected of our king. He knows exactly what we want!”
“You said it! Our king is great indeed!”
On the feudal lord’s mansion at Fatina, the flag of Zeilduk (twin-headed beast and axe flag) stood tall alongside the flag of the Kushain Believers.
Tl Note: Last regular chapter for last week.
I don’t know for sure what the aeris is. I googled it but I didn’t find anything. Maybe it’s a custom term, but my glossary doesn’t have anything on it. It’s written in just katakana too, so I can’t infer what it is from the characters, but from the descriptions, I would a.s.sume it’s a battering ram.