ReadNovel Chapter 183 : Chapter 183
Chapter 183 : Chapter 183
Chapter 183
From the moment I heard news that the Orcs were moving south, Ian's biggest worry was the Legion's elite soldiers.
"If we continue with guerrilla warfare, reducing their numbers is possible. If we focus on assassination, we can probably catch about two Legion Commanders. The problem is the main force led directly by the Tyrant……."
At the time, the Moner army's strategy was based on thorough guerrilla warfare.
To inflict maximum damage while hindering the Legion's southward advance.
"Didn't you say the Legion loses its function without a Legion Commander? Then the main force should be the same."
"That is true, but we might not be able to catch the Tyrant with our current strength, and even if we catch him, it's a problem."
The biggest problem is post-war processing.
"If the Royal Guard returns to the forest, guys like the Tyrant will pop out from everywhere."
Orcs' reproduction speed is unparalleled.
If the Legion runs away to the forest, dozens of tribes will spring up everywhere, and the forest near Moner will turn into an Orc field.
"Pushing them towards the Kingdom is also a problem."
Millions of Orcs already live all over the continent.
In such a situation, if Royal Guard-level Orcs flow into the continent, the result is obvious.
"If we're unlucky, a situation more dangerous than them returning to the forest will occur. Because it won't even take a month for Orc tribes that were hiding with bated breath to turn into plunderers."
There is no nation active in subjugating monsters.
Because they know better than anyone that if the nation steps up to subjugate, only the royal family's power will be lost.
Above all, for the royal family, monsters are a pretty decent card to keep local nobles in check and strengthen royal authority.
In such a situation, would the Kingdom move just because Orcs are rampant?
"The Reime Royal Family will come out particularly uncooperatively."
Since they have already turned against the northern nobles, there is a high possibility that the Reime Royal Family will ignore Orcs running rampant in the northern part of the Kingdom.
"So, we also have to think of a way to use this opportunity. Preferably, it would be good if the Orcs clashed with the Royal Army……."
The plan created like that went through modifications and supplements, then led to Natasha.
* * *
After the General returned, Natasha headed to her office with a tired face.
"Is it really okay to do this?"
To Count Lyt's question, Natasha answered.
"Think about why we fled here."
If it was to avoid monsters, they would have fled to the south or the capital.
The reason the three Count families remained in Moner instead of fleeing to the capital is that there is an enemy as dangerous as monsters in the south.
"Even if we bow, the Royal Family's will won't change. The Royal Family has already decided to abandon the north."
"I know that, but what comes next is the problem. Once this war ends, the Royal Family will run wild trying to hold us accountable somehow."
To Count Lyt's worried voice, Natasha smirked and answered.
"Once this war ends, the Royal Family will be busy just saving their own lives. They'll be lucky if they survive."
* * *
Magic Stone.
A stone containing mana and life force.
There are countless studies on Magic Stones.
Grind-grind.
"Sigh, why are they telling us to mix this precious thing?"
A soldier mixing finely ground Magic Stones with wheat grumbled.
"It just comes out the back anyway even if you eat it……."
"Isn't it telling us to eat this and fight with strength?"
"Stupid bastard, don't you know eating Magic Stones just gives you a stomachache?"
Magic Towers announced a long time ago that Magic Stones have no effect on the human body, but there's no way soldiers know Magic Tower papers.
What soldiers know is only experiences passed from mouth to mouth.
"That crazy guy Garcia chewed on a Magic Stone because he had nothing to eat while out on a mission, and they say he just had a stomachache all day."
"Isn't that because he ate it raw?"
"In his team, the guy who cooked it and the guy who boiled it both rolled around saying their stomachs hurt."
Eating Magic Stones hurts.
It is practically common sense information to soldiers who inevitably see Magic Stones often.
"Ha, but why this precious thing……."
As he grumbled while putting Magic Stones into the pot, a giggling sound was heard from the side.
"Isn't it just telling us to eat and get a stomachache? The Royal Army being unlucky isn't just a day or two thing."
"I don't think feeding this little amount will cause a stomachache though……?"
"Idiot, they feed it little by little because feeding a lot at once might get caught. Wouldn't it be crazy if your stomach grumbles when you're actually holding a spear?"
Ian's plan was more persistent than that.
"This is delicious!"
"They said the three Count families have golden plains!"
Perfectly calculated ratios and combinations maximized the taste, and soldiers who tasted it demanded more supplies.
"Asking to increase rations? Sure, we should at least care about what they eat."
The upper echelon, convinced they could secure all the food stored by the three Count families, readily increased supplies.
The problem was that this combination had a powerful effect of attracting monsters, enough to be called 『Monster Lure』.
"Raid! It's a raid!"
Raids by Goblins and demonic beasts attracted by the scent continued several times, and the vicious cycle of the battle-weary Royal Army naturally using more supplies continued for several days.
* * *
Reading the report, Ked muttered in a despondent voice.
"Do the demonic beasts of this forest not feel fear?"
There are no demonic beasts targeting large-scale troops like the Royal Army.
No, if large-scale troops of this magnitude move, even the most stubborn demonic beast usually avoids the spot.
"Why on earth are they attacking?"
Yet deaths are occurring in the Royal Army every day.
It means merely tens or hundreds of demonic beasts are acting crazy and charging in.
Even knowing they will die.
"The damage is not big yet."
At those words, the General didn't smile even a bit.
"There's no way the damage is big. And it shouldn't be."
Since it counts as tens of demonic beasts charging towards thousands of soldiers, it was natural that the damage was small.
"What I'm worried about isn't our troops' damage. It's worrying that even cunning guys like Goblins are carrying out attacks. Think about it, if even cunning guys charge without looking back, how would guys who originally don't look back behave?"
"Ah……."
The General's words hit the mark like a prophecy.
"Terror Bears are running wild!"
"A Black Boar broke into the 1st Unit's kitchen!"
"Chromebats are……."
Monsters captivated by the mana scent emanating from human bodies raided the Royal Army, and starting from that day, battles with demonic beasts continued ceaselessly.
"Damn it, increase the guard troops!"
Around the time the guard duty operating in 4 shifts was reduced to 2 shifts.
"Orcs! Orcs have appeared!"
The worst enemy attacked the Royal Army.
* * *
When the mounted scouts reported the Orcs' approach, the commanders thought what was coming had finally come.
There were no fearful ones.
The Royal Army surrounding Lier is the Kingdom's most elite force, and the opponent is merely Orcs, aren't they?
"Everyone check your armament! The enemy is coming!"
"It's merely Orcs! Don't be scared!"
"Show the status of the Royal Army!"
Rather, there were more who welcomed this opportunity.
It's not like the Royal Army gets many chances to stand on the battlefield, and isn't now the perfect opportunity to accumulate war merits ?
Soldiers, thinking it wasn't impossible to become a Decurion just by catching a few Orcs, ground their spear blades with malice. Commanders encouraged such soldiers and shouted.
"Once this battle ends, all the people of the Kingdom will sing of your bravery!"
Such Royal Army's morale seemed to pierce the sky.
- Until the Legion appeared raising dust clouds.
* * *
"Raise shields!"
At the Decurion's words, Gerrick raised his shield.
"I'll kill anyone who collapses like an idiot first!"
At the fierce warning, he gripped the leather-padded shield handle as if to crush it and tightened his rear thighs.
"Hmph! They're just pig bastards anyway."
"Kuhuhu, right, walking pig bastards."
"Shall we say let's eat pork for dinner tonight?"
While nervous soldiers spat out nonsense, Gerrick caught his breath listening to his heart beating as if it would explode.
'Right, merely Orcs.'
Orcs he had caught more than hundreds of times.
They will never penetrate the Royal Army's defense formed in 4 rows.
That firm belief.
- Grrrk.
Faded the moment he heard the somewhat ominous breathing sound.
"Prepare for impact-!"
With the Decurion's shout, Orcs rushed at the shields, and with a 'Bang!' sound, the shield wall wavered.
'That's really an Orc……?'
Gerrick, facing an Orc between shields, swallowed hard.
I swear there are no Orcs like that on the continent.
Just the black armor they wore looked as hard as armor worn by knights; if there were Orcs wearing such armor, wouldn't Orcs have dominated the continent?
"Spears! Thrust spears!"
At the shout bursting out like lightning, he thrust his spear between shields, but with a sound of scratching metal, the spear scratched the armor.
"Retards, neck! Aim for the neck!"
Seeing not a single one fall, the Decurion screamed, but it couldn't be helped.
No matter how much they extended their spears, it was far too short to reach the necks of Orcs two heads taller than humans.
'Uh……? Uh?!'
The moment Gerrick hurriedly retrieved his spear.
- Grrrrk!
With a crying sound like scratching iron, a scream was heard from right next to him.
"Uh……? Uh?! The bastard grabbed my spear!"
"Idiot, let go, let go!"
It was truly a split-second moment.
When the Orc's ominous fangs embedded into the neck of the soldier dragged by the spear.
Kwaduduk!
With an unrealistic sound, red blood dripping down soaked the battlefield.
'Wh, What……?'
Orcs eating humans.
It felt like dreaming a nightmare.
Right, it must be a nightmare.
Kaduduk! Kaduk, Kaduk!
If it's not a nightmare, there's no way an Orc would be eating the head of a comrade who was next to him just a moment ago like a snack.
Gerrick, watching the Orc 'chewing and eating' a human, unwittingly stepped back a few steps.
"Keep your position! Crazy bastard, keep your position!"
The Vice-Captain's voice filled with malice was heard from behind, but he couldn't possibly go forward.
- Grrrk, Kruk, Kruk.
The Orc laughing with red fresh blood smeared around its mouth isn't a monster one dares to hunt.
Predator.
Aren't those chewing and eating humans alive the predators?
"N, No! I don't want to die like that!"
When Gerrick, throwing away his shield and spear consecutively towards the approaching Orc, hurriedly started running backward.
There were hundreds of soldiers around him who made the same choice.
* * *
The General, seeing the 1st defense line collapsing in vain, shouted urgently.
"Block their charge with crossbowmen and move the cavalry to the flank! Pierce their waists and kill their momentum!"
Contrary to his wish, crossbows couldn't pierce their armor, and despite the cavalry's hard fight digging into their waists, the Orcs' momentum didn't falter even a bit.
Rather, they merely thrust their fangs towards the cavalry that approached them.
The one with numerical superiority was the Royal Army, but the opponent was the problem.
Spears and crossbows couldn't pierce their armor, and every time the cavalry moved to cut the enemy's momentum, significant damage occurred.
The ones who can deal with guys wearing heavy armor are heavy infantry and knights wearing the same heavy armor.
'Damn it, they are stronger than imagined. I should have prepared traps thoroughly and put heavy infantry and knights at the forefront to prepare.'
Turning his head with a hardened face, he made a decision.
"Advance the southern army and retreat the Royal Army in that gap. Since Lier is there, they will target Lier."
Although the southern noble families opposed fiercely, he coldly ignored them and advanced the southern army.
On the first day of battle, 22,000 southern army soldiers disappeared.