Dragon Knight Chronicles ~ From a mere mercenary, rise to success through tactics! A small harem with the princess and the lord's daughter!? I'll also develop my territory! ~ - Chapter 100

Chapter 100   Castle Hardy, a fortress in the Sork Region

In the hallway outside the room where Her Majesty the Queen was resting:

“How is Her Majesty’s condition?”

General Alcock pressed the chief royal physician for an answer. The physician wiped his round glasses, took a breath, and then replied.

“It seems she has been overworked. She needs to step away from her duties and rest for a while.”

“…I-I see. Understood.”

General Alcock nodded weakly, and then led us, the advisors, back to the staff headquarters.

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In the War Room of the General Staff—

General Alcock sat at the head of the table, surrounded by several strategists.

“This is quite a predicament. With Her Majesty in this condition…”

“Indeed, indeed. This was the perfect opportunity to weaken the influence of the Clock faction.”

Alcock’s aides grumbled among themselves. Many of those present were seeking to regain political power during the absence of Marquis Clcock, who was severely injured. However, with the Queen, whom they relied on for support, now falling ill, their plans were on the verge of collapsing.

…But the misfortunes didn’t stop there.

Two hours later, an urgent messenger burst into the room.

“Urgent news! Duke Chad’s forces have launched an attack on Hardy Castle!”

“What!?”

Hardy Castle was a critical stronghold located on the coastline of the Sork region. For the Kingdom of Owen, which had lost the Ferguson region, it was a vital defensive position on the front line.

“General! We must send reinforcements immediately!”

The strategists all crowded around General Alcock. Losing this stronghold would likely lead to further loss of the kingdom’s territory.

“Send a messenger to the Chancellor at once!”

“Yes, sir!”

Chancellor Clock also held the highest military office as Grand Marshal of the kingdom. Without his permission, only the Queen could authorize the movement of troops.

…However, the Marquis was gravely ill. Sauer, the Lord Chamberlain and steward of the Clock household, stubbornly refused to send reinforcements.

“Is Lord Sauer planning to abandon the brave warriors on the front lines!?”

“…No, but we currently lack the resources to deploy troops. We must wait. We are currently engaged in peace negotiations with the Garland Trading Nation. We cannot afford to provoke them by mobilizing the military right now!”

“…D-damn it!”

Duke Chad has defected to Garland, but it seems that he has not come under the direct control of the Garland Trading Nation. Instead, he has maintained the Duchy of Chad’s independence, presenting it as a separate ally of equal standing with the Garland state.

Indeed, it might be difficult for the current kingdom to mobilize a substantial reinforcement. If all resources were directed westward, there is no telling when the eastern Fletcher Republic might strike.

“…That’s the situation,”

General Alcock, having heard Lord Sauer’s decision, looked extremely troubled but eventually spoke.

“We cannot send a large force, but we must deploy at least some troops to maintain morale. I will lead 2,000 men, both as reinforcements and for reconnaissance.”

“Yes, sir!”

According to subsequent reports, the enemy force numbered around 15,000. A mere 2,000 troops would be inadequate to confront such a disparity in strength.

I was also assigned to this force. I instructed Adelheid and Nataraja to prepare.

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Three days later—

The 2,000 troops led by General Alcock prepared their hastily assembled supplies and departed from the capital city of Shampur. They hurried westward.

On the sixth day, they established their camp on a hill from which they could see Hardy Castle, setting up their encampment at a safe distance from the enemy forces. They erected tents and prepared for a long-term deployment.

“The enemy numbers more than 20,000,”

“This is not what was reported!?”

General Alcock cursed at the staff officer who brought the report from the scouts.

“I apologize. It seems that many in the Sork region have allied with the enemy.”

“…Damn it. How can these nobles of the Owen Alliance Kingdom be so untrustworthy!”

General Alcock was furious, but the Sork region was originally a territory under the kingdom’s control. The local nobles had different customs compared to those on the kingdom’s mainland.

I took the lead and climbed the hastily constructed observation tower. Hardy Castle was tightly surrounded by the enemy.

The defenses were heavily fortified with multiple layers of barricades, and there were structures resembling watchtowers in several places. The fortifications were designed with consideration for additional reinforcements, and it was easy to foresee that any attempt to approach would be easily repelled.

“How does it look, Baron Burnt?”

“It’s a well-prepared fortification. I don’t see any gaps to exploit…”

Upon hearing this report, the general took on a resigned expression.

“It can’t be helped! Continue to send messengers requesting reinforcements to the capital!”

“Yes, sir!”

Thus, we were left depending on reinforcements from the capital and became mere observers of Hardy Castle.

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Hardy Castle—

It is a beautiful and renowned fortress in the Sork region.

Built on a rugged rocky outcrop jutting into the coast, it is a solid stone fortress. The castle does not encompass a town; it is solely a military facility.

The moat is filled with the natural rough waves of the sea. Access to the castle is possible only during low tide, when part of the path is exposed.

At high tide, it is truly a fortress floating on the vast ocean, striking fear into the hearts of any attacking enemy.

The autumn sea was relatively calm, but the Chad Duchy’s army had few warships and lacked the naval strength to mount a direct assault.

As a result, the Chad Duchy’s forces laid siege from a distance, waiting for the castle’s supplies, food, and fresh water to run out.