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 57

Chapter 57   The Battle at the Royal Capital Shampur

“Over here! Over here!”

The enemy patrols were calling for reinforcements.

“Clear my path!”

I wanted to escape immediately, but we couldn’t let the secret passage be discovered. As I fled with the queen, I mounted Comet and charged at the two enemy sentries. I drew my beloved sword from its sheath and swiftly decapitated them.

“There they are! Over there!”

Infantry with spears from the enemy forces began climbing the hill. More enemy soldiers were arriving. It was clear that fleeing was the only viable option.

“This way!”

“Understood.”

I mounted the queen on Comet and sped up the slope. The White Rose Guard held off the enemy to allow our escape.

“These are women!”

“Capture them alive! Let’s have some fun with them!”

“No!”

Thanks to the brave efforts and sacrifices of the White Rose Guard, I managed to escape from the enemy’s control and safely return to our base.

◇◇◇◇◇

At the camp—

“Well done! You’re safe!”

Stallon, looking desperate, had clearly been worried.

“…Sorry. But the queen is here with us! Break camp immediately! We’re returning to Lebe Castle!”

“Understood.”

My personal goal of ensuring the queen’s safety seemed to have been achieved.

“Don’t let the enemy see us retreating! Keep the flags up! Make it look as if there are still people here!”

“Understood.”

Our forces quietly withdrew from near the Shampur Castle. By the time we reached the main road, we marched swiftly back to our territory.

◇◇◇◇◇

“Welcome back!”

As we passed through the castle gates and arrived at the administrative building, Io greeted us. She was visibly surprised to see the queen.

“Thank you for coming. Please, this way.”

“Yes, sorry for the trouble, but this is the situation now.”

“Take care of the queen! And call everyone here!”

“Understood.”

I gathered the generals at the administrative building and explained the plan to protect the queen.

“Are we going to announce that we escaped with the queen?”

Stallon was the first to ask.

“No, we’ll keep it secret as long as the decoy performs well. Make sure everyone understands the gag order!”

“Understood.”

“Also, what’s the situation with the rear operations?”

“Yes, it appears that Nataraja-sama has already launched a surprise attack on the enemy’s supply units. Results should start to show gradually.”

“…I see.”

The invading army was plundering and requisitioning supplies from enemy territory. However, with the Republic’s army numbering around thirty thousand, the scale of the operation required resupply from the Republic’s homeland to sustain it.

“Besides the castle’s defenses, the entire army should target the enemy’s supply lines! Do not let them receive even a single grain of wheat!”

“Understood.”

The Rillburn family committed all their resources to destroying the Republic’s supply lines. That night, the castle’s drawbridge was raised and the gates opened. The various units quietly departed and disappeared into the dark of the night.

◇◇◇◇◇

The capital of the Owen Alliance Kingdom, the city of Shampur Castle.

Its massive walls were fortified with double layers, with the outer wall enclosing the entire town.

“Attack!”

The Republic’s army, encircling from all sides, began their assault in unison. The Republic’s mages created fireballs and hurled them continuously at the castle gates.

“Don’t falter, return fire!”

The defenders responded with arrows and crossbow bolts. They rained arrows down on the advancing enemy forces.

“Advance the heavy infantry!”

“Yes!”

Tall men in full armor with large shields formed a line and approached the castle walls. Their shields were effective enough that the defenders could not repel them.

“Deploy the siege weapons!”

Next, a battering ram equipped with a shield was moved closer to the castle gate. The defenders responded by dropping massive stones onto it.

“Place the ladders! Drive the enemy off the walls!”

Orders from the command posts were relayed by messengers to each unit. The Republic’s army surged toward the walls, setting up ladders to scale them.

“Attack! Attack!”

“Push forward!”

The defending kingdom’s army numbered three thousand, while the attacking Republic’s army numbered thirty thousand. Outnumbered, the kingdom’s forces gradually found themselves in a disadvantageous position.

“Victory cry!”

“Hey hey! Hooray!”

Within three days of the attack’s commencement, the Republic’s army had breached the outer walls. Consequently, Republic soldiers flooded into the city of Shampur. They invaded homes and turned them into a cauldron of plunder.

However, the second, more formidable wall of the royal castle remained intact, continuing to provide solid protection for the royal palace.

◇◇◇◇◇

At the northern edge of the Rillburn Count’s territory.

Near the Republic’s border, around Jif Village.

“Attack the enemy supply train!”

“Set it on fire!”

“Yes!”

The Rillburn forces surged into the Republic’s supply lines. They continuously raided and seized provisions by changing locations and tactics.

“General, even the Ishtar wheat alone is a huge amount.”

“Yes, and we’ve also acquired a lot of arrows.”

I was transporting the seized supplies to Lebe Castle, discussing with Stallon.

“Lager! Are you there?”

“Yes.”

“Have the merchant Hop arrange for these supplies to be transported to the port city of Europa.”

“Understood.”

The supplies that could not fit into Lebe Castle were quickly transported to the eastern port city of Europa. Given Lebe Castle’s proximity to the front lines, moving supplies to the rear area was a standard precaution.

“Your Majesty, for your safety, shall we move you to the east?”

“…Very well, make the arrangements.”

I decided to have the Queen move east as a precaution. While the White Rose Guard was assigned for her protection, I appointed Stallon as the head of her escort.

Stallon was a mercenary with excellent senses. He provided a level of protection that regular soldiers did not possess.