Translator: Cinder Translations
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The battle at Silver Moon Fortress had allowed the Royal Army to defeat the scouting forces of the Orcs. However, this victory did not stop the overall decline on the battlefield.
A day after the battle, Schroder led the main forces to the fort. With the combined strength of Alden and the local lords' troops, totaling over six thousand soldiers, the fortress's defenses were significantly strengthened, allowing Captain Joyce to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
What delighted them even more was that a day later, the Knights of the Royal Capital, who had retreated from the Black Stone Pass, also arrived, along with Princess Catherine among them.
"Your Highness!"
Schroder, leading Captain Joyce, knelt on one knee and greeted Princess Catherine. The old knight's voice carried a hint of emotion.
"It has been a long time, dear Sir Schroder… now I should call you a Baron."
Princess Catherine and Sir Schroder had known each other since the time at the Watcher's Fortress. Meeting again under such circumstances was truly poignant.
The once-desolate Silver Moon Fortress quickly became a bustling construction site as soldiers, laborers, and civilians from nearby regions began repairing the fortress.
A joint meeting was held in a newly cleared room.
"You should issue an order to prevent any retreating troops from moving further west!"
Sir Schroder requested this from the Princess, who agreed.
It was time to organize a second resistance.
---
Inside a tent, the Orc General Calem coldly watched as Amur knelt on the ground.
"Are you really telling the truth?"
"I wouldn't dare lie to you."
Amur reported on his experience at Silver Moon Fortress, including those strange weapons.
Calem narrowed his eyes.
The main force led by the Great Chieftain had already entered the human world, and the Orc warhorses were now galloping across the vast northeastern plains of Aldor. Various generals were eager to conquer territories, and his task was to push westward until he saw the sea—or until he could no longer fight.
However, Calem refused to believe that the Orcs' spearhead could only reach Silver Moon Fortress.
A small scouting force had suffered a setback; that was all.
He took a gulp of wine and wiped his mouth.
"Let's see if the warriors of the plains are better with swords or if human firearms are superior."
---
The situation in Crystal Glare recently seemed grim, with bad news piling up. The Watcher's Fortress had fallen, the Bradley family had betrayed them, and the Sunset Valley had been lost.
Young King Rodney XVIII was overwhelmed.
At a meeting in the Royal Court, the ministers sat with troubled faces. Some, however, seemed unconcerned, even somewhat pleased.
"That knight-led force under Princess Catherine should not be the end of things," someone suggested.
"Your Majesty!"
Chancellor Rupert proposed, "Since we have military notes from the northwest bay, we should quickly assemble a large army."
"You are right!"
The King looked at his younger brother. "Yuriko, how is your work going?"
The young man, shedding some of his earlier frivolity, stood up with a look of determination in his eyes and bowed to his brother.
"The army is expanding rapidly. In just one month, we've recruited nearly five thousand new soldiers, and they're still streaming into the barracks."
"The idea of military notes is truly ingenious. Those hungry civilians eagerly come to join after using it to purchase food."
The King nodded. "Good, but we must train them properly. Courage, discipline, and combat skills—anything less than that, and I won't be happy bringing them into battle."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"
Yuriko replied with a firm nod.
King Rodney XVIII felt a little relief. If the Royal Knights were to be eliminated now, his concerns wouldn't just be limited to the Orcs but also those southern pretenders.
The discussion continued as the map was spread out on the table.
"If only the Yellow Earth could be lost, the Orcs would still lack room to maneuver because the southern mountains would block them. However, if they occupy the Black Stone Pass and push further east to the Giant Elephant Plain, the only barrier separating them from the Kingdom is the Golden River. The Orcs could then pour down like a flood, overwhelming the rich southern lands of the Kingdom."
The Earl's words sent shivers down the spines of many present.
"It's all Catherine's fault! She was useless!"
Prince Yuriko said angrily. "Why couldn't she just stop the Orcs at the Yellow Earth?"
Many present shot him disapproving looks.
"Well, we can't lay all the blame on Catherine."
Prince Jasim defended his niece. "After all, no one anticipated the Bradley family's betrayal, essentially giving the entire Yellow Earth to the Orcs."
As the discussion continued, a page* ran in and handed a piece of paper to the King.
TL/N: Historically, pages were typically boys or young men who performed various duties such as delivering messages, serving at the table, or running errands. Being a page was often a preliminary step in training for a higher role, such as a squire or a knight in medieval times.
King Rodney XVIII glanced at it and immediately felt his brow lift.
"Gentlemen! The Kingdom's army has defeated the Orc forces at Silver Moon Fortress! Princess Catherine has safely retreated there."
A stir of surprise rippled through the ministers.
The King's voice was tinged with relief, "Thank the Merciful Father, and thank those brave northwest men."
"Northwest men?"
The Earl of Merlin asked, "Is this the army of the Earl Grayman?"
"Indeed!"
The King, overcome with joy, kissed the paper fervently.
"So many miracles, Paul, what else do you intend to give me?"
This lifted everyone's spirits, wiping away the gloom of earlier failures.
"Can we mount an offensive now?"
Several immediately proposed this idea.
However, once the letter had been fully read, everyone realized that only five hundred of the Alden soldiers, using the terrain and firearm advantages, had managed to defeat a thousand Orc cavalry. The scale of this victory seemed insignificant, almost negligible.
Yet, given the recent string of defeats, this was indeed good news, especially with Princess Catherine safe.
Chancellor Rupert said, "Your Highness, I think we need to negotiate with the Orcs before the new army is fully formed."
"Negotiate with the enemy? Impossible!"
The ministers exclaimed in shock.
Chancellor Rupert was dismissed as senile, and some grumbled about even considering an agreement with the Orcs.
"Of course, not true negotiation," Rupert patiently explained. "This is more about buying time, releasing some smoke to delay their advance."
"I intend to go myself, to understand exactly what these brutes are thinking and whether the Bradley family can be persuaded to return to the Kingdom."
This idea stirred some waves within the King's mind.
"Very well, my dear Chancellor, I will appoint you…"
"I'll go!"
Prince Jasim rose to his feet, determined. "The Chancellor is too old for such a long journey."
(End of the Chapter)
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