The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 329

216. Vestal Assault (1)

“Hmm…”

Kahlil said, looking at the map.

Many people were gathered in the hall.

“Reports indicate that the Empire’s 100,000 troops are currently heading south.”

The first to speak was none other than Anthem Howard. Having departed from the Duchy, he was the first to join Tatur on Karl Mc’s ship.

“The transport of the Golem Brigade from the Duchy is nearing completion. Except for some forces passing through the Fournine River, the remaining forces are currently heading south.”

Anthem placed his hand on the map.

Immediately, a red line appeared from Tatur and began to branch out in several directions.

“For a swift raid, the Wyvern Brigade would be ideal, but all Wyvern Brigade units are currently deployed to transport Revol, so we won’t be able to use them.”

He grabbed one of the branching lines of light and moved it.

“Instead, if we use a small, highly mobile Golem Brigade, we should be able to arrive around the same time as the Imperial Army.”

“The Empress’s rebellion has inadvertently provided us with a battlefield.”

“The Empire likely considers leaving the Empress alive as a source of trouble. They probably intend to deal with her during this war.”

“That’s right. They’d rather the Empress die than become our prisoner. They’ll try to erase even the last traces of the former Emperor completely.”

“Using the Golem Brigade is to minimize casualties, but if you consider a faster option, we could use the soldiers of the Lanion Alliance to occupy the Vestal Marquisate first.”

“Estimated casualties?”

“Actually, they’re not that significant. We’re just choosing a method to attribute even those small casualties to the Empire. It’s to take advantage of the situation when the Empire and the Empress are fighting each other.”

Kahlil nodded at Anthem’s words.

“The commander?”

“Bran Gaumont. I’ve investigated, but there’s not much of a career to speak of. It’s a bit surprising to appoint an inexperienced commander.”

“Bran Gaumont, huh…”

Unlike Anthem, Kahlil mulled over the name, slightly frowning.

‘He ended up under Olivon’s command after all.’

One of the Empire’s Seven Greats in his past life and the most brilliant strategist in the history he remembered.

It was a shame, but there was nothing he could do.

He hadn’t had any connection with the Imperial Palace since then, so it was difficult to create a link with Bran.

‘It’s only natural, but it seems I couldn’t immediately win him over with just a first impression.’

It would be nice to have all talented individuals under his command, but that was realistically impossible.

Besides, Kahlil knew that Bran at the time he met him was very interested in tactics but didn’t have the courage to wage war directly.

He was still young.

But with time, he must have changed as well.

‘On the other hand, I should be satisfied for now with having obtained Anthem Howard, who didn’t fully blossom in my past life and met an untimely end.’

Kahlil smiled wryly.

From the Duchy’s civil war to Fran’s death.

Honestly, countless efforts were needed just to obtain Anthem Howard alone.

Perhaps it was greedy to even hope that Bran Gaumont would be captivated as well.

‘He is a genius of war and has a natural talent for tactics. That means he’s a difficult opponent to fight, but conversely, if I can execute a perfect battle, it’s also a way to make him remember me.’

However, Kahlil didn’t seem to have given up on him yet.

Rather, he was being greedy.

It was difficult, but it wasn’t impossible because he knew the method.

Anthem Howard and Bran Gaumont.

He believed that he needed the power of these two geniuses on both wings in the upcoming Holy War.

“Don’t underestimate him. This battle might be quite challenging.”

“Pardon?”

“Anthem, I entrust you with the command of the Vestal territory battle. Keep in mind that this opponent is fully capable of fighting with all their might.”

“I won’t forget it.”

Anthem nodded at Kahlil’s words.

“It’s the first decisive battle with the Empire. You know that the momentum will change depending on the victory or defeat.”

“I will live up to your expectations.”

It was truly a showdown of the century.

Bran Gaumont was called a genius of war, but Anthem Howard was the one who inflicted his only defeat in his past life, so Kahlil was in a position to enjoy the confrontation between the two.

“Kinu Mukari, Kayla Chang, Beykan.”

Kahlil called out the three people standing behind Anthem.

“Yes, my lord.”

They knelt and answered simultaneously.

“I will give you 50,000 Free Army soldiers. Join with each tribe and support Anthem.”

“Understood.”

“What should we do with the Lanion Alliance?”

As the three people who received the order stood up, Viola, who was waiting in the middle of the hall, spoke.

“As Sir Anthem said, it is possible to capture the Empress first with our alliance’s forces, but…”

She straightened her back and spoke.

Looking at her, Kahlil chuckled and looked at her.

“Are you still aiming for merit?”

“Not at all. However, Sir Anthem’s statement that combat through the Golem Brigade will result in the least damage may not necessarily be correct.”

Viola placed her hand on the silver triple sword she was wearing on her waist.

“Give us your command.”

Grace, who was next to her, also supported herself with her sword on the floor.

‘Miliana was right.’

Kahlil looked at him and smiled strangely.

Miliana and Grace, whom he met in the Kingdom of Istan during the process of organizing the Three Kingdoms of Istria.

She had her eye on him at that time, so Miliana told Kahlil about Grace in the Wyvern that came down from the north to the south.

‘Like Aidan, he has slightly crossed the threshold of Sword Master.’

The energy emanating from Grace was incomparably refined compared to before.

Even among Advanced Sword Experts, there was a clear difference between those who had stepped into the threshold of Sword Master and those who had not.

That was the difference between those who could become Sword Masters and those who would remain Experts forever.

Kahlil already knew in his past life that Grace would rise to the ranks of Sword Master, but he realized that his much faster achievement than in his past life had now made him a definite force in Tatur.

It wasn’t just the two of them.

The people in the hall were all armed.

Bringing weapons into the palace was unimaginable in the Imperial Palace of the Empire.

The confidence that there was no one who could harm him.

It was something that could be seen as arrogance if someone else did it, but no one gathered in this room would have such thoughts.

Rather, that confidence was what captivated people.

“Do nothing.”

“……Pardon?”

However, unlike the feelings of the two, Kahlil said with an indifferent expression.

“The Lanion Alliance will gather on the Imperial front and stand by. The affairs of the south will be concluded with the Free Army I just named.”

“However…….”

“Don’t be impatient. Your soldiers should be used in a much more important place.”

Viola looked somewhat disappointed at his words, but soon nodded as if she had accepted it.

“Viola. Don’t think of the events of the Three Kingdoms War as a debt. It was natural for me to help you, and you would have certainly unified the Three Kingdoms even without me. Your alliance was not achieved by my power, but by your leadership.”

“I am sorry.”

Kahlil spoke first, as if he had noticed her feelings.

[There are many who are eager to prove themselves. Well, that can be said to be a blessing of people.]

Aln said, pointing to the people looking at Kahlil with shining eyes.

[None of them are afraid of war, and they are all trying to go to the battlefield themselves.]

Kahlil smiled faintly at his words.

“Hashir.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Gather the troops in the north and prepare to move south. As soon as the battle begins in the Vestal Marquisate, we will simultaneously press in from above and below through the northern army and the Digon clan gathered in Twin Armor.”

“Understood.”

“Once again, the battle that signals the start depends on your shoulders, Anthem. Are you confident?”

Kahlil looked at Anthem as if to confirm.

“The number of small golems that can cross the strait and are mobile is about 200. Their power will exceed that of 150,000 soldiers. With the addition of the Free Army, it is an overwhelming force.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. This has given me confidence.”

Anthem said happily, like a child who knows a fun story only to himself.

“In my lord’s plan.”

“……?”

“……?”

Like his expression, everyone looked at Anthem with puzzled expressions at that last word.

Only Kahlil smiled faintly at the answer.

* * *

“It’s spectacular.”

“Is that a golem? You’re saying people ride inside that? Amazing.”

Kinu and Beykan muttered their impressions as they looked down from the hill at the 50,000 troops and the orderly assembled golem brigade.

The Vestal Marquisate.

It was a border area in the south where the Deng Knights were located, but it was a place where there had never been a significant battle.

As tens of thousands of soldiers gathered in this peaceful place, a heavy sense of impending war began to envelop it.

“The Imperial Army is beyond there, right?”

Unlike the two, Kayla Chang spoke in a trembling voice as if she was nervous. She had been in charge of subjugating the monster dens in the southern region, but she had almost no experience in war.

Moreover, it was not just a tribal battle.

With the Free Army facing the Imperial Army in the south, centered on the Vestal Marquisate, the number was as high as 200,000.

Contrary to expectations that the Imperial Army would deal with the Empress before the Free Army arrived, the Imperial Army did not invade the Vestal Marquisate.

In a situation where she could not start a fight with a large army in front of her, the Empress could not use any other method other than confronting the Imperial Army.

Seeing the situation, Anthem sensed that the commander of the enemy army, Bran Gaumont, was by no means an easy opponent.

“I honestly didn’t know there would be someone among the enemy who could think like this.”

The three people who were looking down the hill looked at Anthem Howard, who was standing on their left.

“What’s wrong, Commander?”

Kinu Mukari asked him.

Unlike the other two, he, who was the only one who participated in the Duchy’s civil war, had no doubt about Anthem’s skills.

Although he was an enemy at the time, his war abilities were outstanding. The fact that he was surprised meant that the opponent was by no means easy.

“Look at that formation. The Imperial Army is stationed in the rear of the Marquisate [territory ruled by a Marquis], isn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

The three nodded at Anthem’s words.

“The Empire will try to get their hands on the Empress no matter what. If they are trying to protect the Empress, it could be an easy fight. But if they don’t care about the Empress’s life, the war will become difficult.”

The adjutant standing next to Anthem nodded at his words. He was the adjutant who assisted Serika when attacking Yoman.

“If it’s the latter, you’re saying they don’t care if the Vestal Marquisate becomes a ruin. But protecting the Empress means fighting while protecting the territory. That creates that much of an obstacle.”

“That’s right. But here’s another thing.”

Anthem placed three pieces on the map.

“Conversely, if our goal is to take the Empress, it can be a difficult fight. But if we exclude the Empress’s life, it can be an easy war. So, in this case, what would be the easiest war?”

The adjutant looked ahead as if he was thinking about his question.

“Are you planning to play twenty questions on the battlefield where the battle will take place right now, Commander?”

Kayla Chang shook her head at Anthem’s words.

“As you said, the Empire is protecting the Empress, and we don’t have to worry about the Empress’s life.”

“That’s right.”

Anthem nodded at the adjutant’s words.

“The formation to use the Marquisate as a defense makes it look like the Empire is using the Empress as a shield in the war with us. On the surface, it looks like they don’t care about the Empress’s life, but in reality, they are still trying to persuade her. It satisfies the former possibility.”

Anthem looked at the remaining three and pointed to the Marquisate with his index finger.

“They are acting. They are saying they will protect the Empress, so come in. There is likely to be a trap inside the Marquisate already.”

“……!!”

“But if the leader of the enemy is a running man, our lord can be said to be a flying man. He already saw through the enemy’s thoughts.”

“What does that mean?”

“Acting is not only done by the Empire. The actors are you. 50,000 soldiers and a golem brigade. Truly a sufficient force. No, they have given us so many troops that it is excessive. What is the reason?”

“Hmm……. Does it mean to win perfectly?”

“It’s similar. With this much power, it would be enough to make anyone think that we consider the Empress an important element.”

Anthem chuckled.

“But would my lord value the Empress’s life? No.”

“Because he is the one who will win with power rather than using the Empress’s glib tongue.”

Anthem nodded at Beykan’s words.

“But the Empire won’t know that. The Empire will see our troops and try to catch us by using the Empress in reverse.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Nothing. We don’t have to fight.”

“What does that……?”

“I was convinced when I came here. Why my lord gave us so many troops. All we have to do is look like we came out to protect the Empress and the Marquisate.”

The three tilted their heads slightly as if they didn’t understand his words.

‘It’s amazing. My lord sat down and saw through the strategists’ thoughts. I know why you left the Lanion Alliance in Tatur. The Lord was going to use them.’

But Anthem kept smiling on his face.

“The Empire may be obsessed with the Empress, but my lord was already focused on the big picture.”

He said quietly.

“Who would have imagined that 100,000 troops were just bait?”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes widened.

* * *

Dusk spread at dawn.

Black figures were hiding among the bushes.

A boy standing at the head of a group moving secretly, even silencing the sound of footsteps.

“Are you ready?”

“Everything is finished. As expected, there is no increase in troops. Perhaps the enemy did not expect us to come here.”

The boy nodded at the report.

“Is that the castle? The defensive castle built to check the King of Fournine after Twin Armor.”

“That’s right.”

[Krrr…….]

A low growl was heard.

“Shh. Shh. Quiet. Is your bloodlust intensifying because it’s been a while? But wait a little longer.”

The river flowing in front of the boy.

Even the usually strong currents had become quiet at night, and inside, huge eyes blinked.

To some, it may just sound like the terrifying growl of a monster, but he was different.

The person who tapped the forehead of the huge Sea Serpent as if looking at an animal showing affection to its owner was none other than Kahlil.

And behind him, many glittering weapons could be seen.

“I’ll give you time to run wild, so be prepared.”

Kahlil sat cross-legged on the head of the Water King, crossed his arms, and looked at the castle rising far away.

‘Empress? Do whatever you want with that kind of thing, whether you take her head or take her alive, Olivon.’

He muttered in a low voice.

“But I will decide the battlefield.”