My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 238

238. The Beginning War (1)

The Elan Dur March, located in the eastern part of the Empire.

“I never thought I’d set foot in Elan Dur again like this.”

Sian looked around with a face full of mixed emotions.

Behind Sian, Ruben’s troops were lined up.

2,000 soldiers, 200 knights, 500 magic corps.

A total of 2,700 of Ruben’s troops.

And confronting Ruben’s forces was:

“Was it called the Lauffer Bills Territory?”

A huge castle loomed before them.

Lauffer Bills was a vassal of Elan Dur.

Even if he was a vassal, Elan Dur was still Elan Dur, wasn’t it?

The structure of the castle was quite solid for a baronetcy.

Above all, there were about 30,000 troops defending inside.

Lauffer Bills, as well as Branco, Bonder, and Flamingo.

The combined forces of the three baronies.

All of them were vassals of Elan Dur.

“There are so many.”

Elan Dur, which has continued its history for hundreds of years.

As expected, its military strength was considerable.

The baronetcy defended by 30,000 troops was truly impregnable.

Above all, they were in a defensive position.

And generally, defense requires three times the force of a siege.

In other words, to siege a castle with 30,000 troops, 90,000 troops had to be mobilized.

That was the basic common sense of war, to be roughly equal.

But Ruben’s forces were only 2,700.

There was a tenfold difference in power, let alone three times.

It could be said that the fight itself was impossible from the start.

“And it doesn’t seem like they’re going to come out.”

Moreover, they didn’t seem to want to come out of the castle.

Usually, with a tenfold difference in power, they would open the castle gates and engage in an all-out war, regardless of defense.

30,000 versus 3,000.

Why were they locking the castle gates?

Nevertheless, they didn’t seem to want to open the castle gates.

“Did they receive separate instructions?”

It seemed that they had received some instructions from Elan Dur.

If not, they would have ignored Ruben, saying it was only 2,700 troops.

“I wish they had ignored me.”

Sian swallowed his slight disappointment.

In this case, he had to capture that castle in the end.

However, the process of siege, climbing the walls, was not easy.

No matter how elite Ruben’s troops were, there were bound to be casualties.

“That’s a bit…”

Of course, it didn’t make sense to have no casualties in war.

That was just an idealistic story.

War is a history written in blood.

But if you could shed that blood to a minimum, shouldn’t you?

However, with conventional tactics, it was impossible to penetrate the castle without a siege.

“Lord, the preparation for Singijeon [rocket arrow launchers] is all done.”

Only with general common sense.

At Lucas’s report, Sian turned his head.

Then, dozens of Singijeon were waiting for Sian’s order, each loaded with 200 arrows.

A weapon that indiscriminately assaults the castle.

Sian let out a laugh without realizing it.

To be honest, at first, he thought, ‘What the hell is this naming?’

He wondered if the Mobile Lord had gone completely crazy.

But now.

What is the reason why he sympathizes with that nickname more than ever?

“Fire.”

Sian gave the order in a low voice.

At this, Lucas nodded sharply and shouted loudly.

“All troops, fire!!”

Soon, a series of soldiers raised their flags.

At the same time, dozens of Singijeon emitted a black light and trembled.

Kiiiiiiiiing─!!

The tremendous wave of magic erupted.

The surrounding air vibrated and trembled with the magic emanating from the highest-grade magic stone.

And after a while.

Pshushushushuk!!

Shushushushuk!!

The arrow rain, blackening the sky, covered the walls of the baronetcy.

#

Kwakwakwakwakwang!!!!

Kwaaaang!!!

A roar that completely bombed the entire area.

“W, what is this…”

Lord Lauffer Bills wondered what was going on.

Lauffer Bills, a vassal under Elan Dur and loyal to Elan Dur.

The scenery that appeared before the eyes of such Lauffer Bills.

There, the walls of the baronetcy were completely destroyed and shattered!

Bricks that were broken into pieces.

Debris that seemed to have overturned the entire earth.

“……”

That was really… nothing more than a mess.

The place where the arrow rain poured down was completely devastated.

But is it possible with just arrows…?

Impossible.

He could say that for sure.

The magic arrow cast by wizards, Magic Missile.

Even that cannot emit that much power.

“But what on earth is going on now…”

The firmly locked castle gates were meaningless.

Lord Lauffer Bills stood there blankly.

And it wasn’t just Lord Lauffer Bills.

Baron Branco, Baron Bonder, and Baron Flamingo, who brought troops under the order of Elan Dur.

“……”

“……”

“……”

All of them were standing there like statues.

“Emergency!! Emergency!!”

“It’s an enemy attack!!”

In an instant, there was a commotion among the soldiers.

Looking at the place, Ruben’s soldiers were advancing into the baronetcy.

The castle gates were firmly locked, but it was meaningless.

Smashed… no, destroyed…

No, the devastated castle walls were playing that role instead.

Lord Lauffer Bills was able to come to his senses then.

“Don’t just stand there, block them quickly!!”

And he shouted urgently at the soldiers.

It is true that he lost his mind for a while due to the unbelievable violence just now.

And that violence was an extraordinary power.

Asymmetric Power that reverses the course of the battlefield.

A force that ignores compatibility and causes asymmetry just by its existence.

In fact, it was like a Master or higher-level knight had invaded.

But that was it.

There was no more violence.

The reason was probably that it could only be used once.

Or it was clear that it could not be used many times.

Because Ruben was not the end of this battle.

And the power difference with Ruben was still the same.

30,000 versus 3,000. A tenfold power that can never be reversed.

The advantage of defense disappeared with the collapsed castle walls.

Nevertheless, nothing changes.

“Don’t panic!! It’s just a small force!!”

Lord Lauffer Bills shouted loudly.

At Lauffer Bills’ shout, the three barons also reassured the soldiers.

“It’s a tenfold power difference!”

“Nothing changes even if we fight head-on!”

“Everyone, take up your weapons!!”

The soldiers of the baronetcy also showed off their respective weapons.

“For such a tiny territory!”

“You know where you’re going to die!”

Amid such shouts, Ruben’s soldiers finally entered the baronetcy.

The soldiers of the baronetcy rushed towards Ruben’s soldiers, scattering their murderous intent.

And the clash that followed.

Seogeok─!

The result was as expected.

It wasn’t a joke or just a figurative expression.

Seogeok─!

Kwazazak─!

The troops were simply swept away.

It was a natural result.

A head-on battle between 3,000 and 30,000.

Being swept away was a natural result.

But… why?

“W, what is that…!!”

The target being swept away was not Ruben, but this side!

“No way!!”

“H, how can this be…!!”

Lord Lauffer Bills, as well as the three barons, all opened their eyes wide.

The soldiers of the baronetcy were swept away and washed away.

They were not even a match in the first place.

Most of the soldiers fell without even lasting one move.

That was not the level of soldiers.

Ruben’s soldiers, wearing black armor, were not soldiers but almost knight-level.

Above all, something black was flickering on their swords.

“O, aura [a manifestation of inner energy]…?”

That was definitely aura.

Mere soldiers were using aura!

“N, no way…!”

“How can soldiers use aura…!”

That’s why they couldn’t be called knight-level soldiers.

No, each and every one of Ruben’s soldiers visible now.

“W, what is this…!”

It was safe to say that they were all knights!

Moreover, it didn’t end there.

The clear black lion pattern engraved on the armor.

Unlike the previous soldiers, these people felt like real knights.

The number was less than 200.

But… it was impossible to stop them.

“Keheok…!”

“Keuhak…!”

The 30,000 troops couldn’t do anything to those 200!

Lord Lauffer Bills’ face was dyed with shock beyond astonishment.

But… it was okay.

No, it wasn’t okay, but it was manageable somehow.

Anyway, the power difference was tenfold.

If they pushed with the number of people, they could somehow block it.

They couldn’t win, but they could endure it.

They could somehow buy time and hold on.

They could barely block it in this battle.

Kugugugugugung…!

Lord Lauffer Bills thought so until he heard this sound.

A huge wave of magic felt through the skin.

Lord Lauffer Bills’ head turned to the sky without him realizing it.

And what he saw were lumps covering the entire sky.

Fireballs that flickered and emitted a hot heat.

“Magic…?”

That was nothing more than a disaster.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!!!

Kwaaaang!

The troops in the rear were swept away by the pouring magic bombardment.

The troops in the front were swept away as they were.

The troops in the rear were swept away as they were.

They couldn’t even fight properly and were swept away as they were.

“T, this is…”

The opponent… is not a match.

A tenfold power difference? The advantage of defense?

Human wave tactics? Buying time? Holding on?

Don’t fucking lie!

Those were things that only worked in general common sense.

And the scenery visible now was definitely not common sense.

Overwhelming force.

“M, monsters…! These are monsters!!”

“R, run away!! Everyone, run away!!”

Common sense had no meaning in front of it.

#

“Lord Lauffer Bills’ army has been completely annihilated. Also, we have completely captured Lord Lauffer Bills’ territory.”

At Lucas’s report, Sian nodded calmly.

The fall of Lord Lauffer Bills’ territory and the annihilation of the army.

An overwhelming victory that reversed the power difference between 3,000 and 30,000.

“What is the damage situation?”

“There were 11 injuries on the soldiers’ side.”

The damage Ruben suffered in the process was only 11 people.

No matter how overwhelming it was, a tenfold power difference was not easy to ignore.

Nevertheless, the damage received was only 11 people.

Moreover, it was not casualties but only injuries.

And perhaps the soldiers’ equipment was also upgraded due to Sian’s numerous cash injections.

“Ugh! You idiot! I told you not to be distracted!”

The injuries also did not seem very serious.

The sight of soldiers receiving treatment in the distance.

“S, sorry, senior…”

“You almost died, why are you sorry to me?”

“But senior was almost in danger because of me…”

“You know that. If you knew, be more careful next time. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand.”

It didn’t seem particularly serious.

It seemed that the injured soldiers were also new recruits who had not been enlisted for long.

They were still clumsy at catching demons.

Also, new recruits who have not experienced actual combat with the Royal Knights.

Anyway, fortunately, the injuries did not seem serious.

Sian turned his gaze back and asked Lucas.

“Any other special notes?”

“No. However, Commander Kendrick asked when he would be deployed.”

Kendrick, who did not participate in this battle.

The reason was that Sian ordered him not to participate.

“I’ll tell you separately, so tell him to wait a little.”

There was no need to reveal Kendrick’s existence.

Kendrick, a knight of Master Upper level.

Kendrick was like a hidden card.

Of course, if the situation was not good, he would have been deployed immediately, but there was no such thing.

In that sense, Sian also did not participate.

A feat of annihilating 30,000 troops at the start of the war.

But it was only the beginning.

He had annihilated some of the Elan Dur forces, but this was also only a part.

He had only annihilated 3 barons and 1 viscount.

There were still 13 barons and 8 viscounts left.

And finally, the Elan Dur Marquis.

“After finishing the maintenance, we will advance immediately.”

The war was just beginning.

#

Outside the door opened to Isabel’s office.

“B, big trouble!!!”

The urgent cry heard from outside the door was getting closer.

And not long after, a soldier with an urgent expression ran into the office.

The soldier who had delivered the news that 30,000 troops had been annihilated just now.

His expression was not much different from that soldier.

And as expected, there was no such thing as a knock.

However, Lerrit and Isabel did not blame the rudeness.

No, it was accurate to say that they didn’t even have the mind to blame.

After a little time passed, the soldier’s words were heard.

“Griffa Barony and Nasagi Barony have been captured by Ruben’s forces!”

“W, what…?”

Isabel’s eyes widened in shock.

It was just now.

It was really just now that she heard the news that 30,000 troops had been annihilated.

But what now, what?

Griffa Barony and Nasagi Barony have been captured?

How much time has passed since then…

This was an impossible speed of advance.

No, it wasn’t just a matter of speed of advance.

At this rate, it was almost like they were captured at the same time as the start of the battle.

But does that make sense?

Isabel’s shock did not easily subside.

And really, why?

“R, reporting!!!”

A cry full of ominousness was heard again from outside the office door.

And this time it wasn’t just one person.

Soon, a series of soldiers poured into the office like a flood.

And then, they spat out their words.

“Marquel Viscount and Rossi Barony have been captured!”

“Raigen Baron, Rihofen Baron, and Bert Barony have also been captured!!”

“Balk Viscount and Lukrune Viscount also…!”

That was an unbelievable story.

“W, what is this…”

Isabel couldn’t come to her senses.

The soldiers’ reports that were constantly being heard now.

So, a total of 6 baronies and 3 viscountcies have been captured.

Those short few words of report included many Elan Dur vassals.

About half of the vassals.

In other words, it meant that about half of the vassals’ forces had been annihilated.

As a result, it was the same as saying that the Elan Dur Marquisate had been captured by that much.

Even in this short amount of time.

“T, t, this is…”

It didn’t… it didn’t make sense.

That didn’t make sense at all.

No, it shouldn’t have made sense.

Although they were Elan Dur’s vassals, they were also Elan Dur’s forces.

Elan Dur, one of the two pillars supporting the Empire.

There were families who opposed Elan Dur during the hundreds of years of history.

But they all disappeared into the back alleys of history.

No one could overcome Elan Dur.

But now.

That hundreds of years of acropolis was collapsing.

It wasn’t the imperial family, the owner of the Empire, or the rival Rothschild.

A tiny territory located on the outskirts.

Even with only 2,700 troops.

“This is… this is…”

Isabel was feeling some kind of astonishment beyond shock.

A fact that had never changed in hundreds of years of history.

“This is ridiculous…!!”

That immutable history was being rewritten anew.