Supporting Characters Also Need Some Love

CHAPTER 4: EACH TRUTH AND EACH HAPPINESS (XIX)

Part 085

 

The Count’s Allied Forces’ operation appeared to be a success. As they entered deeper into the canyon, the speed of the Taln cavalry decreased significantly due to the turbulent ground. As they reached the slightly widened entrance to the canyon, the Count’s allied forces, who were in ambush, rained arrows on them. The knights of the three families risked their lives to lead the way, and the soldiers who left their families behind did not back down. While the Taln cavalry, lined up along the long gorge, was unable to form a line and was in disarray, the Ville corps led by the lesser counts attacked the rear. The Taln cavalry fell helplessly to the Allied forces rushing in from both front and back. With a valuable victory in one day, a considerable number of cavalry were defeated. However, as the sun set and the battle lulled, a counterattack by the Taln cavalry massed in the middle of the gorge began. At the entrance, they began to turn around and push up little by little, taking up as much defense as possible. The star corps, comprised of fewer people than the main corps, tried desperately to block it, but little by little it began to fall back. Rutvan was trampling on the bodies of dead Allied soldiers and gritting his teeth as he stood his ground against the approaching Taln cavalry. The number of Ethart Knights who were fighting the enemies at the forefront decreased one by one. Arrows providing support from the rear were also cut off. As the battle continued for the second day, all the arrows brought were used up.

 

“Leader!!”

 

Lutvan, who saw the leader of the Ethart Knights fall from his horse, ran forward. While his knights were desperately trying to bide their time, they managed to bring back the leader, who had suffered a serious injury to his right arm, but his condition was not good.

 

“Count, didn’t I tell you to stay behind because it’s dangerous?”

 

The leader of the knights, who had been his family since childhood, was panting and worried about Rutvan. He forced himself to stand up and stood with his Rutvan sword next to the knight leader, who moved his sword to his left arm and held it.

 

“I can’t just hide from you all…”

 

“I don’t think I can hold out for long. Take shelter and return to the Count.”

 

“Bullshit. Even if I die with them, I can’t clear the way for these guys.”

 

Dumbud barely blocked Taln’s sword, and Lutvan gritted his teeth. Although the battle situation was noticeably unfavorable, he had no choice but to hold out and trust in the main force, which was pushing back the Taln army at the entrance to the canyon. If you miss the cavalry that has captured everything like this, you will not get a second chance. Everyone in the Count’s allied detachment was holding on with the same spirit. As the battle dragged on, not only the Allied Forces’ detachment but also the main unit became anxious. Even if the main unit of Taln’s army in the Marquis of Huger joined, it would be a detachment of the Count’s allied army that would be trapped by the enemy in front and back, and would be like a rat in a poison. The three counts, who had sent all of their family’s heirs to the military, were so upset that they turned black. Many soldiers died and many enemies were killed, but the main force was advancing little by little. This was proof that the separate unit was being pushed back little by little. When the sun rose in the sky, the main Allied force was already in the middle of the canyon. The detachment was pushed back almost to the end of the canyon. The worst news came that Taln’s main force, which had lagged behind the Marquis of Huger, had begun to move. The three counts urgently gathered together and held a meeting. All three counts left their territory empty and sent out troops. It would have been a big deal if part of Taln’s main force had taken a different route and headed toward the empty encampment. If you do something wrong, the entire Allied Forces will be trapped in the canyon. They were in a situation where they had to give up the detachment and decide to retreat. Faced with the decision to risk their children’s lives, the three counts were at a loss for words. As they looked at each other’s faces and were about to give the order to retreat, a commotion arose from the rear ranks.

 

A soldier came running in a huff and shouted to Colin and the Counts.

 

“It’s the Capital Army! Support has arrived from Midok!”

 

The attention of the three counts, as well as the entire Allied Forces, was focused on the rear. Soon, a red-haired boy without armor appeared in front of the three counts. A young face spotted Colin and approached him, bowing his head.

 

“This is Ethan, Duke Bigor’s lieutenant. Count Etihart, you are safe.”

 

“Reinforcements? The Duke, did the Duke come too?”

 

The unfamiliar face greeted him and pretended to recognize him, but Colin didn’t even have the presence of mind to wonder. Colin ran in front of Ethan and asked urgently, and Ethan answered with a mischievous smile on his face.

 

“The Duke went to Count So’s place.”

 

Relief appeared on the faces of Colin and the other two counts. Not only did the reinforcements, which were expected to arrive a few days later, appear on time, but the commander of the capital army came personally. The three counts, who were about to make a painful choice, looked at Ethan with moved faces.

 

“I will say hello to you later, but would you like to hand over command first?”

 

Ethan asked in a polite tone, and the three counts nodded their heads at the same time. Ethan, carrying the flag, the symbol of the three counts, led the cavalry and went to the front of the line. The allied forces of the Counts began to ebb away, clearing the way for the Capital Army’s cavalry. The Taln army was facing off with corpses and shields piled up like a roadblock. Ethan looked back at the capital cavalry and shouted loudly.

 

“We will join the detachment first before the commander arrives!”

 

The cavalry with long spears began to rush forward, trampling on the Taln cavalry. Meanwhile, the situation of the detached unit, where the number of soldiers from 1,000 had been reduced to less than half, was serious. The soldiers, who were exhausted from the continued battle between them, were being pushed back by the persistently attacking Taln army. If they were pushed to the outside of the canyon like this, it is as obvious as possible that they will be annihilated. To make matters worse, there was news that military movements could be seen in the rear. If Taln’s main force had already entered the canyon, there was no hope. Even as defeat deepened, Rutvan steadfastly maintained the lead and encouraged his soldiers. The commander of the Etheart Knights eventually lost his life, and only a few Etheart Knights remained.

 

Rutvan rode his horse here and there, running through the tenaciously attacking Taln forces, and eventually became isolated. The Taln cavalry surrounding Lutvan cut down his horse. Lutvan jumped off the fallen horse and raised his sword, but the Taln cavalrymen surrounded him and threatened him. It was a close call. Just as Colin and Damien’s faces passed before my eyes, a long spear flew in from afar, making the sound of cutting through the wind. Lutvan saw the Taln cavalryman, who had been laughing at him from his horse, fall under the chaff with his chest pierced. A group led by a huge black horse, holding high a flag embroidered with a black wolf with sparkling eyes, ran towards Rutvan. Adrian, approaching Lutvan while slaughtering the struggling Taln army, nodded from his horse.

 

“It’s late.”

 

“Duke Bigor…”

 

“Stay back. George, take the minor counts to the rear.”

 

While George retreated to the rear with the minor counts and the wounded, Bigor’s knights, led by Adrian, faced the advancing Taln army. Although the uniforms and flags were different, the Taln army recognized Adrian and his men, who had been harassing them terribly at the border for four years, and stopped their advance. The Bigor Knights were narrowing the distance, giving off a momentum that was different from the Allied Forces they had faced so far. Someone from the Taln cavalry who had previously confronted Adrian shouted.

 

“Damn it! To the army! A crazy wolf has appeared!”

 

“You’re retreating when you need to quickly join the main force. There’s nowhere else to go in this canyon?”

 

“First of all, hit it! Shield! Where’s the shield gone? A crazy wolf has appeared!”

 

Thierry, who was listening to their shouts, smiled and spoke to Adrian, who was standing in front of him.

 

“They are looking for their master.”

 

“You must answer the call.”

 

Agham’s horse leaped with all his might and landed on top of the Taln horseman. Adrian’s spearhead plunged into the neck of an unfortunate Taln cavalryman struggling under his fallen horse. The battle began with all 100 Bigor Knights running wild. By the time the sea was setting, Adrian and the joint military detachment had joined the main unit. The 5,000 Sangvis cavalry that Taln was proud of was all told. It was Monday, the 52nd day of fall, and it only happened for half a day.

 

* * *

 

On Saturday the Cologne delegation left. About a dozen administrative officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with their solemn faces, received a special order from Princess Remina and hurried on the long journey. As long as Cologne participates in this war, the Taln people in the west will go back. Then Adrian will be able to join the Capital Army, and the Western Front where his father and Rutvan are located will also be safe. She also saw them off with an eager heart. Laurel cheerfully shook her hand and coolly turned around. 

 

‘Please, I hope everyone returns safely and with what they set out to achieve.’

 

After a Sunday where her heart was heavy and she didn’t feel like resting, another week began. Thanks to running around all last week, everything went smoothly. The documents for organizing grains and taxes were completed last week, and grain sales were also proceeding without a hitch. This concludes the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The treasury’s affairs were almost settled as the one unit that was having a hard time was finally thrown out, and the other two armies left Midok with supplies. She thought she was about to relax a little, but Princess Remina called her. She went to the office to see what was going on, and the princess had laid out a map of the entire Midoc Island, and she was in trouble.

 

“Lord Etihart, do you know how many people there are in the Outer Castle?”

 

“The reported population is about 80,000, but the actual population is probably higher than that. I think it’s about 100,000.”

 

“Can we accommodate 100,000 people from the outer city area into the inner city?”

 

She was taken aback by the unexpected question. Is the situation on the front line so urgent that we need to consider evacuation of residents? Has any bad news been delivered to me without my knowledge?

 

“What happened? Is it urgent enough to require evacuation?”

 

“No. That’s not it. I’m just angry. I just thought there was a problem with not having an evacuation plan or accommodation plan. Wouldn’t it be difficult?”

 

Mmm. She looked down at the map the princess was looking at and rolled her head. Looking at the area alone, it would not be impossible for the entire population of Midok, 150,000, to enter the inner walls. When there is a big event such as a coronation, more people come into the inner palace. Still, temporary movement and long-term residence were different stories.

 

“It is possible to accept them, but it will be difficult to provide a place for them to live. Your Majesty.”

 

At her answer, the princess furrowed her brows and looked down at her map. Although it is best not to let that happen, there was some truth to what the princess said. If the residents continue to act like this after something happens, the damage will be greater. As we looked down at the map together and thought about it for a while, we thought, “Wait a minute.” This doesn’t have to be a building like an inn, right? If evacuation is not about travel, but about building a tent and living there for a while, then all you need is a spacious place, right? Midok was not a small city. Even within the inner city, the area is quite large for a city of this era. There are parks here and there large enough to run horses, and the mansions of nobles have ridiculously large gardens. Moreover, more than half of Midok’s nobles have now left, leaving more than a few empty mansions. She thought it might work, right?

 

“Sir, I think we can make some space.”

 

Looking at the princess raising her head with a happy face, she extended her finger to her as a map.

 

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Translator Note: