Shall We Begin the Next Operation? (3)
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The army of 500 that the mage had spotted was none other than Ghislain and the Yulian Mercenary Corps.
They had thrown the punitive army as bait and, while the marquis' main army was caught up in the frontlines, launched a bold surprise attack to capture Marquis Falkenheim.
As they raced forward without rest, Dark, who had gone out on reconnaissance, hurriedly reported to Ghislain.
— Master! We've got trouble! There's an army waiting ahead! Judging by the fact that they've even set up a proper encampment, it looks like they were here in advance!
"What?"
Ghislain was taken aback. The route he had chosen was one that the marquis' forces should have had no reason to patrol.
And yet, an army was waiting there?
A chill ran down Ghislain's spine. It was the first time he had felt such a thing since arriving in the past.
'Someone figured out my plan?'
Before executing this operation, he had meticulously confirmed the movements of the marquis' army and his vassals. No one had considered the possibility of a surprise attack.
Over 100,000 troops were already locked in a standoff. In such a situation, no one would expect the only superhuman to abandon the battlefield for a reckless maneuver like this.
And yet, someone had anticipated even that and positioned troops in advance? Whoever was behind this had to be a formidable strategist.
"How many are there?"
— Looks like about 3,000!
"Three thousand?"
Ghislain tilted his head in puzzlement. If they had truly expected him to come, they wouldn't have sent only 3,000. That was nowhere near enough to stop a superhuman.
And yet, they had only deployed 3,000...
'Could it be that they stationed all their superhumans here?'
If so, then he had been outplayed. That would mean the marquis' forces had willingly used their massive army as bait.
A grin spread across Ghislain's face as he tightened his grip on his staff. He was curious to see who he was up against.
To think that someone else would use such a bold strategy. The thrill of it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Alright, I'll acknowledge you. Let's see what you've got."
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Ghislain spurred his horse forward with a fierce energy. Sensing his rising momentum, the mercenaries followed suit, their fighting spirit surging.
The tension of an impending clash spread through them all.
The misunderstanding between both sides had deepened significantly, but given the circumstances, it was only natural for them to think the way they did.
That was how far removed from the main battlefield this location was.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Ghislain and the mercenaries charged ahead without hesitation. Soon, they spotted the enemy's encampment.
The opposing forces must have detected their approach in advance, as they had already formed their battle lines and stood at the ready.
"I see."
Ghislain smirked. The fact that they were this well-prepared meant they had expected his arrival and maintained a firm defense.
That alone spoke volumes about the enemy commander's capabilities. A skilled leader never takes security lightly.
"This enemy is different from the ones we've faced before! Stay sharp and give it your all!"
At Ghislain's words, the mercenaries gripped their weapons even tighter, their tension rising. He had never spoken like this before.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Ghislain gathered his mana to its peak. There was bound to be a superhuman among the enemy, so he planned to unleash a fierce attack from the very start.
Just as he surged forward, preparing to hurl his staff—
"Ah! Welcome, welcome!"
A man with an annoyingly slick appearance spread his arms wide, greeting them with a bright smile.
"...?"
Ghislain was momentarily thrown into confusion.
'What is this trick? A new strategy?'
He had been about to throw his staff but lost the timing. It was an utterly flawless welcome.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
They were still charging forward at full speed. Just as they were about to push through, the man beamed again.
"Oh dear, why the rush? What's the big hurry? It's all fine now, really."
"...?"
He was far too cheerful. In the end, Ghislain had no choice but to pull his horse to a stop. The mercenaries following him were also forced to halt abruptly.
Blinking a few times, Ghislain asked,
"And you are...?"
The man before them winked and smirked.
"Why, we're just the 'taking-it-slow' unit, of course. You know, right?"
"...No, I don't."
"Aww, don't pretend you don't know. Do I really have to say it out loud? How embarrassing. Didn't you also conveniently step aside?"
"......"
"Since it's come to this, why don't we kill some time before moving together? That way, our excuse for being late will sound much more convincing."
Count Balesant did not know the identity of the opposing party, so he maintained the utmost courtesy. However, when Ghislain remained silent in response, the count cleared his throat and asked,
"Ahem, I believe I've explained enough… In any case, I am Count Balesant. May I ask which territory you hail from? It seems the man in front is the leader—what is your status?"
To properly establish hierarchy, he needed to know who he was dealing with. Count Balesant discreetly examined Ghislain and the mercenaries.
'Ah, their attire is rather shabby. Are they from poor territory? They don't seem to be of higher status than me.'
While he was lost in thought, Ghislain casually answered.
"We are the Yulian Mercenary Corps."
"Ah, mercenaries. No wonder your outfits look so cheap. Which lord hired you? So your name is the Yulian Mercenary Cor—huh?!?"
Count Balesant nearly fell off his horse in shock.
The Yulian Mercenary Corps?! The very mercenary group that had plunged the kingdom into chaos?!
With a look of disbelief, Count Balesant asked,
"Is this for real?"
"It is."
"Then… that insane superhuman… Astion?"
"That would be me."
"Wh-why is that mercenary corps here?!"
"We're here to hit the marquis from behind."
"........"
Count Balesant was utterly stupefied. An opponent they had absolutely no chance of handling had just appeared before them.
And in this place, far from the battlefield, where they had thought they were the safest!
To think they had welcomed them so cheerfully, flashing smiles—how foolish.
Not that fighting would have been the better option. They should have fled the moment they spotted them.
While Count Balesant stood there, dumbfounded, his adjutant was the first to snap back to his senses and shouted,
"Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle! Enemy sighted!"
The soldiers, who had been expecting a leisurely respite, were startled and hastily grabbed their weapons.
Ghislain raised his staff and asked Count Balesant,
"Is there a superhuman here?"
"Th-there's no such thing here. Why would a superhuman be here?"
"......."
Ghislain realized he had completely misunderstood the situation. They had simply stumbled upon a unit that was slacking off.
Even Marquis Falkenheim probably didn't know that there were men loafing around in the middle of such a crucial war.
Ghislain was once again reminded of a simple truth—there were far too many variables in this world.
Rubbing his forehead, he sighed and said,
"Haah, well, we're in a hurry, so just die quickly."
"I surrender! I surrender!"
"......."
Count Balesant immediately declared surrender without even attempting to fight.
This was the infamous Yulian Mercenary Corps. He had no chance against an army led by a superhuman.
In truth, he hadn't wanted to fight in the first place, which was why he had been slacking off. Declaring surrender outright was the smartest decision.
Count Balesant promptly dismounted and knelt.
"I, as a noble of the kingdom, formally request to surrender to the 'Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom's Army.'"
"…You're not going to fight?"
"I've despised Marquis Falkenheim for a long time. I only obeyed him because I had no power of my own. Ah, that bastard is truly irritating. Also, I love peace."
"…I see."
When the other party was this blatantly cooperative, Ghislain's excitement faded. He was on his way to strike Marquis Falkenheim, so there was no need to waste time here.
Then, an idea struck him.
"Actually, bringing you along would make things easier."
"Pardon?"
"Avoiding inspections and fortresses is a hassle. In some places, we'd have no choice but to fight. But if we take you with us, we can slip through more easily, can't we?"
"Y-you mean…?"
"Yes, from now on, you'll be our guide. We'll disguise ourselves as your soldiers and go meet the marquis."
"…Can't you just go without me? I'll stay here quietly."
"Nope. Bringing you along is more convenient."
Ghislain smirked as he lifted his staff again.
"Of course, I respect freedom of choice. The decision is yours."
"…Do you also respect freedom after the choice?"
"No, I don't. I have my own burdens to bear."
"…Let's just say we're on the same side."
With tears in his eyes, Count Balesant accepted his fate. He had fled the battlefield to survive, and he wasn't about to die here.
Ghislain and the mercenaries quickly changed into Balesant's soldiers' uniforms. They also took the banners, making them look unmistakably like Balesant's forces.
Count Balesant spoke in a trembling voice to his soldiers.
"Wait here… Don't worry… Once the marquis is captured, the war will be over."
For them, all they could do now was hope that the Yulian Mercenary Corps succeeded. Even though they had been forced into this situation, they were now in the same boat.
If the mercenaries failed, they planned to claim they had been taken hostage and had no choice.
Seeing Count Balesant's sullen farewell, his adjutant gave him a meaningful look. As his loyal second-in-command, he couldn't take the count's words at face value.
The two had been together for a long time, practically soulmates. They believed they could understand each other with just a glance.
'What should we do? Shall we secretly follow you?'
'Hey, just in case, I'm telling you—stay here and get some rest. Don't do anything stupid and put the soldiers in danger. Looks like they'll let me go once they get the marquis.'
'Understood. When the opportunity arises, I'll make sure to rescue you, my lord.'
'I'm off. Just stay put.'
'Do not worry! Even at the cost of my life, I will rescue you!'
And so, without understanding each other at all, Count Balesant was dragged away by Ghislain.
As their group moved in the opposite direction from the usual troop movements, the marquisate's checkpoints and fortresses naturally stopped them. Each time, Count Balesant stepped forward and shouted,
"Hey! Don't you know who I am? The marquis ordered me to come immediately! We were selected as escort troops for the supply convoy!"
Due to the sudden outbreak of war, many troops were moving before official orders reached them. As long as they were confirmed to be on the same side, there was little suspicion.
Fortunately, some knights recognized Count Balesant's face, making it easier to pass through.
Thanks to this, the Yulian Mercenary Corps was able to cross the marquisate's territory with remarkable ease. Ghislain looked at Count Balesant and smiled in satisfaction.
"How fortunate."
Originally, they had planned to avoid as many checkpoints as possible and force their way through when necessary.
Since the marquis had already sent most of his forces to the front, sneaking past or even fighting through wouldn't have been too difficult.
But nothing could be faster than walking straight through like this. It also reduced the risk of getting surrounded if word got out.
And all of it was thanks to Count Balesant's opportunism.
While Count Balesant wore a miserable expression, the Yulian mercenaries grinned as they moved forward.
Their journey to the marquis' castle had been far easier than expected.
However, that trick no longer worked when they reached the fortress.
"Halt! State your business!"
The guards at the fortress glared at them with sharp, wary eyes.
Count Balesant wore an uneasy expression. It was obvious that lies wouldn't work here.
Still, he decided to at least give it a try. Looking up at the commander on the wall, he called out,
"You recognize me, don't you?"
"Yes, aren't you Count Balesant? What brings you here with armed troops?"
"The, the marquis summoned me. I've brought reinforcements."
"I haven't received any such orders."
"Th-that's probably because it was a rushed request. Hurry and open the gate."
"In that case, I'll send a messenger to confirm. Please wait."
Hearing that, Count Balesant flinched and turned to look at Ghislain.
Ghislain cracked his neck a few times before speaking.
"Good work. From here on, we'll have to use force. Still, thanks to you, we had a comfortable journey up to this point."
"Th-then I can go now, right?"
"But I'm still not sure if you're truly on our side or not."
"Oh, come on, we came all this way together. We're obviously on the same side."
"I'd like to see a little proof of your loyalty. Something to show that we're truly in this together."
Count Balesant let out a deep sigh. If things went south, he had planned to claim he was a hostage. But that excuse wouldn't work anymore.
In the end, he turned forward and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hey! Open this damn gate right now, you bastards!"
"…?"
The knights and soldiers on the walls all wore dumbfounded expressions.
Where did this lunatic think he was, shouting like that?
The fortress commander frowned and was about to say something, but Count Balesant yelled again, pouring all his strength into his voice.
"Hey, you damn rebel scum! Stay right where you are! I'm bringing the entire army to chop off your traitorous heads, you treasonous bastards!"
"…?"
At the word "rebels," the commander's brows furrowed.
Now that he thought about it, something did seem off.
Why had Count Balesant suddenly appeared at the marquis' stronghold without any prior notice?
There was no need to overthink it. In times of war, the best response to suspicious figures was to kill them first and ask questions later.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
By the looks of it, there were only about 500 men.
Even after sending troops to the front, the fortress still had 2,000 stationed here. That's how important this place was.
The soldiers atop the walls raised their bows.
With just one command, a rain of arrows would be unleashed.
Ghislain smirked and patted Count Balesant on the shoulder.
"Count, let's work well together from now on."
"Y-yes… let's do that…"
"Hey, a few of you, guard the count. He's really one of us now."
The mercenaries raised large shields and formed a protective wall around Count Balesant.
At the same time, Ghislain's eyes gleamed red.
It was time to tear through this place and capture Marquis Falkenheim.
"Shall we begin?"
Boom!
His body shot toward the fortress walls.
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