The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 343

223. Imperial War (1)

“The soldiers on the left wall are weakening!”

“It’s a trap. Maintain forces on the left wing but focus on the center. Don’t waver. Use small golems as shields to intercept attacks at the main gate.”

“Reporting! We’ve identified a group of knights flanking us inside the forest! It’s the Azure Knights!”

“……!!”

The command tent buzzed with activity.

However, despite the urgent report, a moment of silence fell before a calm voice issued orders.

“We can’t assume Kwell McGovern is here himself. At best, these knights are remnants of Marquis Vestal’s personal guard. They’ve likely changed their armor to create a diversion.”

Anthem Howard turned his head.

“Kinu Mukari, Beykan.”

“Yes.”

“Speak.”

“Relay this to all unit commanders. Tell them not to let this affect morale. A great reward will be given to whoever captures a knight in azure armor.”

“Understood.”

“We will relay the message.”

Despite the flood of reports from all directions, he paused only briefly before responding decisively.

‘Impressive.’

‘I see why the lord entrusted him with the battlefield.’

Kinu Mukari and Beykan exchanged glances, thinking the same thing about Anthem Howard.

A back-and-forth battle.

Like conducting a war between great nations on a massive battlefield, the two commanders’ strategic maneuvering was astonishing.

Some might attribute the fact that this battle—the very first of the Imperial War—remained unresolved to the commanders’ incompetence.

But those participating in this war would never think that way.

“Reports are coming in that the Imperial Army and the Digon tribe have clashed in the Great Plains. The Imperial Army has 300,000 soldiers, while the Digon tribe has 100,000.”

“The difference in numbers is significant.”

“If it’s a plain with no cover… it’ll be a full-scale battle. A difference of 200,000 is quite something.”

Kinu Mukari and Beykan exclaimed softly at the soldier’s report.

“What do you two think? You know the Southern Empress [referring to the leader of the Digon tribe] better than I do.”

“It’s just as he says. It’s no exaggeration to say that no one in the South can stand against the Digon Queen.”

“Moreover, she is a Sword Master herself… In fact, she can be said to be the strongest force in the Free Army.”

Anthem nodded at their words.

“I, too, saw Miliana fight during the civil war in the Principality. Her abilities are truly terrifying. However, no matter how outstanding a Sword Master is, they cannot single-handedly overcome a difference of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.”

“Are you saying…?”

“Considering the distance, we are the only ones who can quickly wrap things up in the Marquisate and then send reinforcements to the Great Plains.”

Anthem drew a line on the map placed on the table as he spoke.

“Even if the golems have to stay here to replenish their activation stones [magical energy source], we can participate in the battle by taking the shortest route through the Twin Armor.”

“So, you’re saying we need to bring this battle to a close now.”

Kinu Mukari looked at Anthem.

“What’s the plan?”

At his question, Anthem looked at Kaila Chang, who was standing next to him. As if understanding the meaning in his eyes, she nodded with a tense expression.

“All the groundwork has been laid. Until now, it has been a journey of preparation.”

“Preparation…?”

“That is.”

Anthem looked at the people and opened his mouth.

“The Formation of Emptiness.”

“……!!”

At that moment.

The door of the tent was thrown open roughly, and a figure entered.

Everyone’s gaze turned to that spot.

[Krrr……!!!]

At the same time, the sharp cry of a wyvern was heard.

“Lord!!”

The people inside the tent hurriedly knelt down to greet him.

“I think that was the name in the report you gave me before… Is that right?”

Despite his sudden appearance, Anthem nodded with a relaxed expression.

“That is correct.”

“So, you’ve completed it.”

“But how did you get here…?”

Carryl looked at Anthem, who seemed surprised, and raised the corner of his mouth.

“I’m coming from the Empire.”

“Yes?! The Empire, you say?”

Anthem exclaimed, dumbfounded at his answer. At the same time, he glanced at Randal, who was standing behind him.

“I had some gains.”

Anthem, wary of Randal’s stiff face, looked back at Carryl.

“The main force of 500,000 Imperial troops will move soon. We must completely clear the Marquisate before that happens.”

“500,000…….”

Everyone swallowed hard without realizing it. This was happening while 300,000 troops were already clashing in the Great Plains.

“The problem isn’t just that.”

“Is it because of the Guardian Dragons?”

“That’s right.”

“Certainly, if a dragon is deployed on the battlefield, it will be quite difficult to deal with. However, Sword Masters of Tatur, including the Lord, are powerful enough to handle it.”

Anthem Howard spoke as if he had already factored that into his calculations.

“That would be the case if it were just one.”

“What do you mean…?”

“All four, including the Platinum Dragon. There are four dragons in the Empire right now.”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

“Then… if they strike different places, there’s no way to stop them. No matter how militarily strong we are, the overwhelming pressure from the dragons will break the soldiers’ morale. This is… a bigger problem than the fake Azure Knights.”

But Carryl raised the corner of his mouth at Anthem’s words.

“Is that really so?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve only just crossed the strait, so you don’t know much about the Free Army. Whether it’s the Azure Knights or the dragons, they never get scared.”

Kinu Mukari and Beykan slowly nodded.

“Their fearlessness has already been proven in the battles here. But the enemy is a dragon. And if there are four of them, not just one…”

Carryl smiled wryly at the question.

“It’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“That’s right.”

Carryl also nodded at his answer.

“I have no intention of losing even if I fight those guys. But I can’t do it alone. They have four bodies, and I only have one. I can’t participate in every battle.”

When he spoke about the extremely realistic problem of comparing the strength of the enemy and himself, Anthem couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Haha… Is that the problem?”

“Then?”

Carryl replied as if it were nothing.

“So, I’ve come up with a way.”

“What is it?”

“To draw all the dragons into one battlefield.”

“……!!!”

With those words, he looked at Kaila Chang.

“To do that, we need to achieve an overwhelming victory that attracts attention more than any other battlefield.”

“…Lord, you’re planning to use this place as a battlefield for the fight against the dragons.”

“That’s right. Surprise attacks don’t work on dragons anyway. As you know, there are three wide battlefields where we can maintain formation and fight: the front yard of the Imperial Capital, Twin Armor, and the Great Plains.”

Carryl spread out three fingers and then folded two of them.

“But two of those places are our land. We can’t turn our precious land into ruins. Jarvant, that old man, aimed for the Great Plains and attacked, but he’ll soon have to run away with his tail between his legs.”

It felt like goosebumps were rising at his words.

“Isn’t that the same for you?”

“Yes?”

“You deliberately put in the effort, didn’t you?”

At Carryl’s words, Kaila Chang swallowed hard with a somewhat nervous face. She looked like a student being tested on her homework.

“To confirm the effectiveness of the formation. Using Marquis Vestal as a test subject. This place is the entrance to the South. In fact, this castle isn’t necessary for us anyway. It doesn’t matter if it’s destroyed. Isn’t that right?”

“Did you know?”

Anthem nodded at Carryl’s words.

One order given to Anthem before pacifying the Principality and leaving: to create the best formation by encompassing all existing formations, including the Le Roi Formation of the Rothschild family, the Fierce Fire Formation of the Chang family, and the Celestial Array of the Eastern Kingdom.

And finally, the stage was set to test it.

“It will take time for the main force to depart from the Imperial Capital. Within that time, we will occupy this place.”

“Why?”

“Because I killed the commander.”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh at Carryl’s answer.

How many people on the continent could single-handedly invade the Empire and kill the commander of the Knights as if it were nothing?

“Perhaps they will have no choice but to choose a new commander. I can roughly guess who it will be… It will take time to summon him.”

With Cam Gray dead and even the deputy commander injured, there was only one option Oliver could choose.

‘Kwell McGovern.’

Carryl knew that Oliver would not use the card of the continent’s greatest swordsman forever.

He had simply made it so that he had no choice but to use it when he wanted, not when the guy wanted.

‘I don’t know what you’re up to, but if you have the naive idea that you can change the war with just dragons, then that’s the end of you.’

Carryl’s eyes gleamed.

“Then I will report on the war situation.”

“No, there’s no need. I’ve already looked at everything from above. Anthem, you must have noticed the castle formations of the Marquisate.”

Anthem nodded at his words.

“Yes. The Marquisate’s defenses have a total of five gates: the main gate and four gates on the left and right. However, the second and fourth gates are weakly defended, but the entrances narrow if you enter, so even if you break through, you will suffer great damage.”

“That’s right. The first and fifth are decoys.”

“Yes. There is no path even if the entrance is breached. In other words, the central main gate, which seems the most dangerous, is the only path. It can be said to be the only way out.”

Carryl nodded at his words.

“If the Lord commands, it will be easy to capture. We will divert the attention of the defending forces blocking the main gate.”

“No. Then there’s no point. The reason I came here first is to check the formation you created.”

He lightly patted Anthem on the shoulder.

“You will command directly. From now on, use me as a piece on this battlefield.”

“……!!!”

Everyone couldn’t help but be surprised at Carryl’s words.

The leader of a nation was saying that he would become a knight himself.

“To revive old rice paddies, we must first get rid of the bugs by burning them. To prepare the battlefield for dragon hunting, shouldn’t we first cleanse this land?”

Carryl pointed forward.

“So, burn all the bugs huddled inside the castle.”

Whoosh—!!!

The door of the tent opened.

At that moment,

Anthem, who followed him out, shouted with all his might.

“Deploy the Formation of Emptiness!!”