The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 386

Prince Gislain clicked his tongue, frustration evident, after receiving the scouts’ report.

Last night, Count Azadin’s army had bypassed the vast plains, circling behind Prince Gislain’s forces.

While Prince Gislain’s troops were shivering and immobilized by the blizzard, Count Azadin had outmaneuvered them, seizing their rear supply units.

Prince Gislain’s army now had only a single day’s worth of supplies remaining.

The staff was in an uproar, a cacophony of panicked voices.

Let’s concede that it was a coincidence that a sudden blizzard struck the area where Prince Gislain was encamped, while Coxhall remained bathed in a warm breeze.

If they hadn’t anticipated Prince Gislain’s army being caught in a blizzard, it would have been impossible to outflank them on this open plain and strike their rear supply lines.

Could it be that Count Azadin could freely manipulate the area protected by the King’s Aura [a magical field of influence associated with the rightful ruler]?

They couldn’t help but wonder, the implication of that question hanging heavy in the air.

Count Azadin was the true king, chosen by the Banreung throne.

And that wasn’t all.

If Count Azadin could wield the King’s Aura so freely, what did that make the Yaehgas Divine Kings [the ruling family of the Arangi Kingdom], who had been unable to do so?

‘Just fake kings who sat on the throne because they were born to the right parents…’

Such impious thoughts flashed through everyone’s minds. Even Prince Gislain himself was not immune to such blasphemous ideas.

That was why Prince Gislain lost his composure, his face contorted with rage.

He couldn’t tolerate the existence of Azadin, who had forced him, a descendant of the Yaehgas Divine Clan, to entertain such terrible and impious thoughts that should never have crossed his mind.

“Nonsense! That’s utter nonsense!” he roared, his voice echoing across the camp.

“Your Highness…” a staff officer began, trying to interject.

“The forces of Count Azadin deployed in the rear are not many. Most of them are refugees who have joined the army, so there are few mobile units! Azadin must be there!” Prince Gislain declared, his eyes blazing with conviction.

Prince Gislain had accurately assessed the weakness of Count Azadin’s army.

They had very few cavalry with real mobility. With those few cavalry, they had outflanked and struck the rear supply units, but to carry out such a maneuver, the commander, Count Azadin himself, would have had to join the small cavalry unit and move with them.

“The only ones who have commanded cavalry in Count Azadin’s army are Count Ibechek and their retainers, so isn’t it possible that Count Ibechek, not Count Azadin, is the commander of that cavalry?” a staff officer suggested, trying to reason with the prince.

“Even so, Count Ibechek is the master of Sandokar, capturing him would be a great achievement. Pursue that cavalry! Don’t let them return to the main force!” Prince Gislain ordered, his mind set on a course of action.

Prince Gislain gathered his mobile troops and the elite Arangian Guards and immediately began pursuing the cavalry, his anger fueling his determination.

*********

Azadin, having plundered Prince Gislain’s supply units, was leisurely returning, his pace unhurried.

“Slowly. Let’s return without exhausting our stamina,” he said, his voice calm and measured.

As they returned at a relaxed pace to conserve the horses’ energy, Count Ibechek asked anxiously, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return to the main force quickly? We are currently very few in number, so it’s dangerous if we encounter the Arangi Kingdom army. Our knights’ skills are no match for an equal number of Arangi Kingdom troops, and we would be defeated by even half their number.”

As the Count of Sandokar, he knew well how elite the Arangi Kingdom army was, their reputation preceding them.

‘Even if we were twice their number, it would be difficult.’ How shameful it was for a knight to admit such a thing… but Ibechek stated it matter-of-factly, his tone devoid of bravado.

Nevertheless, Azadin was moving slowly, as if he wanted the pursuers to catch up, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

“I told you it’s okay. Can’t you just trust me and follow me sometimes?” Azadin said, his voice laced with amusement.

“Of course, I trust you, Count, but I have gained some experience in the war, so shouldn’t I offer advice on how the situation is unfolding?” Ibechek countered, his concern still evident.

It was then that Azadin flinched, as if he had sensed something, his eyes widening slightly.

“Ah. The pursuers have caught up,” he announced, his tone nonchalant.

“What? You said it was okay? How is it okay that the pursuers have caught up?” Ibechek exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm.

“Well…” Azadin shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes.

Soon after, the Arangi Kingdom’s cavalry came into view for Count Ibechek, their forms silhouetted against the horizon.

The horses and knights, who had been tormented by the blizzard the previous night and were almost like invalids, were forcing themselves to pursue, their movements sluggish and labored. Compared to their side, which had preserved its stamina, the opposing cavalry, who were exhausted from the forced march and the cold, looked like a group of beggars, their morale clearly broken.

‘Was the blizzard yesterday that severe? Amazing. It was bearable cold on our side, but they are half-dead?’ Count Ibechek mused, his eyes widening in realization.

Count Ibechek recalled that their cavalry had not felt any cold and understood why Azadin was so confident, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

Azadin was truly manipulating the King’s Aura freely, a power that defied explanation.

“Oh…” Ibechek breathed, his voice filled with awe.

It wasn’t just Count Ibechek who realized this. The knights of Count Ibechek, who had been half-doubting, and the few cavalry also burst into cheers, their faces alight with newfound hope.

Even though they were being pursued by the enemy, they had preserved their stamina, while the enemy was drooping like wet laundry, their spirits crushed.

“Well then, shall we use our preserved stamina? Let’s run!” Azadin exclaimed, his voice ringing with excitement.

“Yes?” Ibechek responded, his confusion evident.

“Return to the main force in an orderly manner!” Azadin clarified, his tone now commanding.

As if he had been waiting for the pursuers, Azadin increased the speed of the formation as soon as the pursuers came into view, his plan unfolding with precision.

*********

Prince Gislain realized the difference the moment he spotted Count Azadin’s army, his eyes widening in disbelief.

While Prince Gislain’s army had suffered from the cold of the previous night’s blizzard, they were immaculate, their armor gleaming in the sunlight.

The Arangi Kingdom army, exhausted from the blizzard and forced march, and the Sandokar cavalry, who were full of energy despite having plundered the supply units, were a stark contrast, highlighting the disparity in their conditions.

It was a clear contrast that highlighted who the King’s Aura favored, a truth that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

‘Is this the difference between those who are blessed by the King’s Aura and those who are not? Fortunately, the enemy’s numbers are small,’ Prince Gislain thought, trying to find solace in the enemy’s numerical disadvantage.

Prince Gislain was relieved to realize that Count Azadin’s cavalry was small in number, a small victory in the face of overwhelming odds.

However, a staff officer grabbed Prince Gislain’s cloak, his face etched with concern.

“Your Highness. The enemy knows we are approaching,” he said, his voice laced with urgency.

“Of course. They must have used foresight magic,” Prince Gislain replied, his tone dismissive.

Prince Gislain had also used foresight magic to find Count Azadin’s cavalry from the sky, a common tactic in warfare.

The enemy could also use foresight magic, and in this open plain with few hiding places, it was natural to be easily discovered, a fact that was not lost on the prince.

“Our troops are exhausted, and the enemy is in good condition, so it’s dangerous. Here, we should either wait for the main force to arrive or retreat our troops to the rear,” the staff officer advised, his voice filled with caution.

“If I do that, I’ll be branded a failure by my father? It’s a waste of time to join up with the main force,” Prince Gislain retorted, his pride wounded by the suggestion of retreat.

“But…” the staff officer began, trying to reason with the prince.

“Even if we are more exhausted… we are the more elite troops! Charge!” Prince Gislain declared, his voice ringing with defiance, his judgment clouded by anger and pride.

Prince Gislain was not a fool, despite his rash decision.

He knew very well that the staff officer’s words were a hundred times correct, a logical assessment of the situation. However, the victory of the previous day and the fact that the enemy’s commander was right in front of him clouded his judgment, blinding him to the obvious danger.

Besides, he had the Arangian Guards, the elite of the Arangi Kingdom, their reputation for skill and bravery unmatched.

Prince Gislain grabbed his spear and took the lead, starting to run, his determination fueled by a burning desire for victory.

However, Count Azadin and his party began to flee, their movements fluid and effortless.

They were getting away from them as if teasing them, their horses having plenty of stamina left because they had not suffered from the cold, a stark contrast to the exhausted Arangi cavalry.

“Damn it!” Prince Gislain cursed, his insides burning with frustration as he watched them escape.

If he couldn’t capture Azadin, it would be a great disaster for the entire kingdom, a catastrophic blow to their morale and their claim to the throne.

The soulless blasphemer, the king-slayer, the unforgivable foreigner, must not be allowed to be chosen by the throne and wield the King’s Aura! The very thought sent shivers down his spine.

If he didn’t capture and kill him right here, an intolerable blasphemous teaching would spread throughout the world, corrupting the minds of his people!

Prince Gislain cast a vitality spell on all of his troops, a surge of magical energy coursing through their bodies, and began to pursue Count Azadin with renewed vigor.

*********

“It’s Prince Gislain. To use a vitality spell on that many troops, he is indeed skilled,” Count Ibechek observed, his eyes fixed on the approaching enemy.

Count Ibechek recognized Prince Gislain of the Arangi Kingdom, who was chasing them at the head of the enemy, his form unmistakable.

His horse must be exhausted, but he cast a vitality spell and momentarily increased his speed to pursue them, a testament to his magical prowess.

It was impressive enough to chase after their allies who had full stamina, a feat that spoke volumes about his determination and skill.

“Yes. Is Prince Gislain the one?” Azadin asked, his gaze also fixed on the approaching prince.

Azadin also took a good look at Prince Gislain, his expression unreadable.

Prince Gislain and his cavalry formed a wedge formation and charged like a wedge, their movements coordinated and precise.

The goal was a frontal breakthrough, a direct assault aimed at overwhelming their defenses.

He was eager to quickly capture Azadin and end this battle, his impatience evident in his every action.

“Oblique formation!” Azadin commanded, his voice clear and decisive.

“Yes!” Ibechek responded, his voice filled with confidence.

At Azadin’s command, Count Ibechek signaled, and the cavalry stretched out their formation diagonally, forming an oblique formation, a classic maneuver designed to counter a frontal assault.

It was a formation that was good for absorbing and deflecting the impact of the wedge formation, minimizing the damage they would sustain.

‘It’s a textbook response, but isn’t it a reckless formation against the Arangi Kingdom army? Come to think of it, this is Azadin’s first real battle…’ Count Ibechek mused, his brow furrowed with concern.

Count Ibechek suspected that Azadin might be making a mistake that novice commanders often make, simply following the textbook without considering the specific circumstances, a potentially fatal error.

However….

“Then, shall we run? Firewinter!” Azadin exclaimed, his voice ringing with excitement.

Azadin rode his hippogriff [a mythical creature with the body of a horse and the head and wings of an eagle], Firewinter, and protruded from the oblique formation, his movements bold and audacious.

It was a blatant act of luring the enemy, a calculated risk designed to draw them into a trap.

Normally, they wouldn’t take such bait, but… Prince Gislain was currently desperate to capture and defeat Azadin, his judgment clouded by his burning desire for revenge.

Prince Gislain was the victor of the previous day’s battle, but he wanted to reverse the situation in one fell swoop, where Azadin wielded the King’s Aura and his troops were half-dead from the cold and blizzard, a desperate gamble to regain the upper hand.

He had to capture Azadin no matter what, so he couldn’t help but fall for the bait that Azadin himself was throwing, his desperation blinding him to the obvious danger.

“Ignore the others! Charge so that hippogriff can’t take off!” Prince Gislain ordered, his voice filled with urgency.

Prince Gislain took the lead and charged directly towards Azadin, his focus solely on capturing the elusive commander.

As the wedge formation focused on Azadin, the flanks of the Arangi cavalry were naturally exposed to Count Ibechek’s cavalry, a vulnerability that Azadin had anticipated.

“Now!” Ibechek shouted, his voice ringing with command.

Under Count Ibechek’s command, the Sandokar cavalry, who had formed an oblique formation, attacked the flanks of the Arangi Kingdom army, who had formed a wedge formation, their movements swift and decisive.

The Arangi Kingdom army and Count Ibechek’s knights collided head-on against the flanks, the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

And….

“Ugh!” a knight cried out in pain.

“Aaaah!” another knight screamed, his voice filled with terror.

Count Ibechek’s knights fell from their horses, their bodies crashing to the ground with sickening thuds.

“…….” Ibechek was speechless, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The Arangi cavalry, who were exhausted from the blizzard and on the verge of death, took the impact of Count Ibechek’s knights’ charge on their left side, where they held their shields, their bodies battered and bruised.

It was good to defend when attacked on the left side where they held their shields, but it was difficult to counterattack when facing an enemy on the flank while riding a horse, a disadvantage that was proving to be fatal.

In this situation, even if they defended with their shields, it was difficult to cope. In a horse battle with a frontal attack against the flank, it was common to be unilaterally crushed, a brutal reality of warfare.

However, the Arangians twisted their shields to deflect the incoming weapons, hooked their feet with one spur, lightly twisted their bodies, and launched a fierce counterattack, their movements fluid and deadly.

They had attacked the enemy’s flank, but the knights were falling from their horses unilaterally, their bodies broken and defeated, a testament to the Arangi’s superior skill and training.

Azadin questioned Count Ibechek, his voice filled with curiosity.

“The enemy was on the verge of freezing to death, yet they are this strong even when we attacked their flank? We wouldn’t stand a chance even with twice their number?”