— The first day.
The battlefield where tens of thousands of soldiers had clashed came to a close as House Walt's forces withdrew, owing to the setting sun.
Inside the command tent, the key members of House Walt had gathered and were holding a meeting. However, despite having sustained no small number of casualties, the House Walt forces showed no signs of panic.
Maisel addressed those assembled in the tent.
"So, it has now been proven that Laiel possesses the Jewel passed down through the generations, and that he can use it. The Skills from the First through Third Generations have many shortcomings, but the Skills from the Fourth through Seventh Generations are utterly troublesome on the battlefield."
On a battlefield where the use of Skills was restricted, having his formation hold this well against a first encounter was a first for Maisel with Laiel. But she wasn't panicking.
Baim came to report.
"The second and third sons' units, eager to distinguish themselves, pushed too far forward and sustained a fair number of casualties. It's not insignificant, but it still falls within our projections."
There had been casualties. That meant people had died. Yet the gathered members didn't seem particularly distressed.
Maisel looked faintly sorrowful.
"Those who cannot inherit the household dream of making a name for themselves on the battlefield and rising through the ranks. It's only natural they'd be reckless. But it wasn't for nothing. They demonstrated with their own bodies that Laiel can wield the Jewel."
Gerard also gave a report.
"Maisel, we confirmed Novem's presence on the right wing. However, she has not engaged us directly. The enemy appears to be shifting units to match our formation. I judge their rear support to be more capable than ours."
Baim likewise agreed.
"The same on the left. We thought they'd come out to fight in the open, but they've focused on defense and set up barricades. It's practically a siege. Their numerical disadvantage is quite substantial."
Hearing this, Maisel nodded — and smiled.
"Well then, I've given them their chance to shine. That should keep the young ones quiet for a while. Besides, a taste of hardship does wonders for one's composure. Up until now, it's been nothing but one-sided battles."
One of the vassal knights offered Maisel a suggestion.
"On the right wing, there are lords who have suffered significant losses. They should be pulled back. And if I may say this as a vassal of House Walt, being stationed in the rear indefinitely would be a blow to their pride—
"I see. Now that we've identified the troublesome ones, let's reorganize our formation as well."
And so, Maisel and the others began planning for the following day.
"The right wing is being targeted heavily."
Hearing Monika's voice from the lookout post, I finally understood why the main camp and the left wing hadn't been pressed nearly as hard.
"They're attacking from the right wing, then. Send reinforcements. Even so, we still have the numbers advantage. If they do something like this, what do they think will happen—"
Numerical superiority. Geographical advantage. Despite all of this being on our side, Father's strategy was to concentrate everything on the right wing.
The left wing and the center had room to spare, and we had reserves available. The enemies pushing into the center were few in number and their equipment was inferior to yesterday's. Moreover, they weren't attacking aggressively. Once I decided to send reinforcements, I immediately issued orders to the messengers.
"...So he intends to take the right wing first?"
We had prepared defensive strongholds, which meant we couldn't easily shift our formation. That was the drawback — we were well-suited for defense but lacked flexibility for offense. To compensate for that, we always kept a reserve force on standby...
Just then, Monika reported on the movement in the center.
"The enemy is retreating. However, this is—they're scattering in every direction."
Looking out, it was clear that the enemy was trying to lure us in.
"Ignore them. Right now, the right wing needs reinforce—"
But before my judgment could be heard, the units in front of me charged out on their own. It was almost exactly the opposite of yesterday's situation.
"...The vanguard unit is crossing the palisades and pursuing."
"Why... What is General Broa doing?"
But the units near the general hadn't moved. Some had broken ranks and initiated pursuit on their own initiative. And several other units had been drawn into following them.
I immediately sent a messenger ordering them to pull back, but the messenger came running back moments later.
"Some units have ignored orders and begun pursuing the retreating enemy! They've crossed the palisades in defiance of General Broa's orders! General Broa is requesting that reinforcements be dispatched immediately—"
Facing the messenger, I issued my command despite the fury boiling inside me.
"Send them! Make them hold until then!"
Looking at the battlefield, it was clear the enemy units were equipped for a fighting retreat. He had thought they were concentrating on the right flank, but scattered enemy soldiers who had broken away were now attacking a neatly organized unit that had made it outside.
To support that unit, yet another formation surged out from the center.
"What are they doing?!"
Enemy and ally were all tangled together—there was no way to provide covering fire with magic or arrows. At the same time, he was painfully reminded of the gap in discipline between the enemy and his own forces. His troops had the formation down, but the enemy's experience and depth of training were simply on another level.
"The enemy is retreating from the right flank. They're now beginning to shift toward the center."
"Damn it! Will the reinforcements make it in time?"
Moments later, a massive flash of magic erupted on the left flank.
On the left, the composition of the enemy force was different from the day before.
The enemy unit, organized around House Foxes' troops, had intensified their magical assault considerably.
The Rael camp was holding firm on defense, but even so, the enemy was far more formidable than yesterday.
Novem raised her staff and unleashed a spell, protected by the Valkyries surrounding her.
"Shield!"
With just those words, a pale, yellowish light materialized in front of the allied forces on the left, forming a protective barrier.
However, the enemy was concentrating their magic on a single point, and Novem was pinned down trying to hold that spot.
Because of this, enemy soldiers had begun breaching the palisades in certain areas. With Maxim, Miranda, May, and Marina holding the line, the formation hadn't collapsed—but it was an incredibly tight situation.
The problem was that their own troops were growing unsteady.
The worst of it came from the soldiers who had joined up from outside. More than Banseim's forces, it was primarily soldiers who had merged in from Baim who made up the left flank, and that was part of the problem.
"We have them outnumbered," Novem murmured.
Just then, an enemy unit with Magic Shields deployed charged directly toward Novem.
"Here they come."
When she looked at the enemy, she could make out the figure of her brother, Elbert Foxes—the one who had delivered the staff to her.
Novem had already deployed her Magic Shield, and since magic could no longer be used, the Valkyries drew their guns from their binders and opened fire.
However, every bullet was completely blocked by the shield Elbert had deployed. The rounds ricocheted away, and the charging cavalry accelerated as they bore down on the barricades.
The enemy cavalry, now at full speed, shattered the barricades with their own Magic Shields and broke straight through. What sheer brute force—Just as Novem was thinking this, the Valkyries surged into action. They lunged at the enemy charging toward her with weapons drawn.
Then Elbert leaped from horseback and landed directly in front of Novem.
"It's been a while, little sister!"
Her brother, his long brown hair tied back, stood clad head to toe in armor with a sword gripped tight. He slashed at Novem, but she caught the blow with the staff in her right hand.
"It's been a while, brother. Then this attack must be Father's doing. His habits really do show through, doesn't they? His timing is easy to read, too."
Watching Novem's unwavering expression, Elbert broke into a cold sweat.
"Don't take it the wrong way. Just as you devote your loyalty to Lord Laiel, we devote ours to Lord Maisel."
Novem gave a slight nod, then turned her left hand toward her brother—
"I understand. That's why I'll make sure this doesn't hurt. Be blown away."
She unleashed her magic and sent him flying.
Elbert too quickly deployed a Magic Shield, managing to limit himself to being blown backward. He then swept his gaze to the surroundings, where he should have been able to see his escort knights locked in battle with the Valkyries.
The Valkyries were dragging knights from their saddles and finishing them off.
"...They're not human, are they? Then in that case!"
Wary of the Valkyries, Elbert raised his left hand. The enemy knights gathered beneath his command. Novem didn't move a muscle, and as if to shield her, the Valkyries stepped in front of her and deployed the wing-like binders on their backs forward, forming a living wall.
A storm of fire raged outward from Elbert's position, blasting away the surrounding barricades and everything else in its path.
Moments later, magic rained down upon Novem and her companions, and violent explosions erupted all around them.
"Did we get her?"
When Elbert said that, the Valkyries lay in ruins all around him. Half their bodies had been blown away, but their skeletal frames remained intact. Because they were made of such durable material, this was the extent of the damage.
And there stood Novem, completely unharmed. Elbert looked at her with an expression of sheer disbelief.
"...These girls are extraordinarily valuable, you know. Lord Lyle assigned them to me as personal guards."
Novem had deployed a Magic Shield to prevent collateral damage to the surroundings, and she stared at the fallen Valkyries with a dumbfounded look. Then she turned her gaze back to her brother.
Elbert was faintly smiling.
"That was everything Father and I had — our full power, nothing held back. A blow strong enough to scatter an entire right wing. As I thought, you're beyond all measure. ...Everyone, retreat."
Watching Elbert wear an exhausted expression, Novem raised the staff in her right hand.
"It was a fine attack. But don't think I'll let you escape."
Novem had blocked the all-out strike from the father-son pair of Gerard and Elbert while also minimizing damage to her allies. However, the battlefield was tilting into a dire situation for Lyle and his forces ——.
Night. A war council was being held inside my tent.
"Well now, the tables have certainly turned compared to yesterday. We dealt the enemy an early blow on the first day, and a few units got a bit ahead of themselves and charged out."
General Broa delivered the report in a joking manner, but his expression was utterly drained. Apparently, there had been commanders pressing forward who refused to abandon the troops that had overextended, making it impossible to issue proper orders.
That was exactly what military discipline was supposed to handle, but the difference in the discipline each side had cultivated was painfully obvious.
Inside the tent, I gathered the key figures at the center and murmured while reviewing the damage reports.
"...Move the reserve units to the front line as-is. Send the wounded soldiers to the rear."
When General Broa reviewed the units being sent to the rear—
"A bit more than I'd like, but there's no help for it."
Just as General Broa said, our victory on the first day had made us careless. We should have tightened up our formation more.
Then, Eva spoke up with a weary expression.
"Give me a break. Not only did they charge out on their own, but the rescue attempt ended up creating even more casualties on our side. There are people who are plenty unhappy about this, you know. There's no punishment or anything?"
If soldiers were killed right before your eyes and you just ignored it, morale would plummet. The reason people had rushed out driven by righteous fury was because they wanted to save their comrades. And if they hadn't been saved, that resentment would have turned toward their own side.
Toward me and General Broa, that is. And once that anger subsided, it would shift toward the units that had charged out. I seriously wanted to know what any of them were thinking.
"They'll be sent to the rear, and the commanders will receive disciplinary action. For disobeying orders and acting on their own initiative. Though, well, I'll arrange a chance for them to redeem themselves."
Eva wore a disgruntled expression. That was only natural. After all, people from Eva's own unit had died during the rescue.
These were war casualties that could have been avoided in the first place.
"I'm not satisfied with that."
Eliza, who was also present, looked equally displeased. She had originally been assigned to the left flank, but after the formation was rearranged, she'd been asked to take Novem's place in the center. Though, thinking about today's events, it might have been better to have her stay on the left from the start.
"It was an obvious trap. And they couldn't see through it... Baim's soldiers really are pathetic, aren't they?"
Eliza's unit had also sortied for the rescue. But the enemy had pulled back while keeping their own losses to a certain degree, so you couldn't really say we'd dealt them a serious blow.
General Broa shrugged his shoulders.
"It's a bit much to compare them to Rusworth or Galleria, for whom the battlefield is everyday life. Still, the responsibility does lie with us."
I let out a sigh.
"...I bear some responsibility too, for not being more vigilant on the first day. I failed to see through the enemy's objective."
At that, General Broa shook his head.
"I'm not so sure about that. From their perspective, if the center hadn't crumbled, they would have concentrated their fire on the right flank. That said, the explosion on the left flank was quite a surprise as well. The casualties were minimal, but I won't lie—it sent a chill down my spine."
According to the reports, personnel losses were within acceptable limits. But the barricades we'd set up had been rendered useless. We'd halted reinforcement efforts and ordered the left flank to pull back. As a result, the right flank had ended up jutting forward.
"...Let's pull back the right flank as well."
General Broa's expression turned serious upon hearing my words.
"That would leave the center exposed. Ideally, though, I would have liked to keep them pinned down for a few more days to force them to bleed."
The flanks were always intended to fall back, all part of the plan.
As I stood, I spoke.
"Let's have the engineer corps work on reinforcing the barricades through the night as well. Starting tomorrow, the center will become the main theater of battle."
This battle was already approaching its mid-game.