Chapter 184: Sage of Malice

***Arc 8 One Who Spread Death, Chapter 184 Sage of Malice***

"...It looks like the enemy is wary of breakthroughs."

Garhka's adjutant Dalkris, who is looking at the battlefield from his horse, in the center of Garhka's army reported.

The left wing Alberinea made a tremendous advance.

In just half a koku, they completely defeated the enemy's right wing, the army of the Giant Elkar.

Alberinea had boldly stated that they would defeat it head-on.

It was true that her idea of defeating the elephant soldiers with magic possessor javelin was a reasonable one, and one that Dalkris and the others could understand――but it was too quick.

Dalkris had assumed that it would take two or three koku to completely break through, and the same would probably be true for other things as well.

If they try to take down Elkar, the enemy general Orugan would definitely move to prevent it.

However, Alberinea did not allow Orugan any time to provide support, and by defeating the enemy general Elkar, they completely overcame this and destroyed the enemies that were twice as many.

It was an unimaginable breakthrough.

The soldiers who survived the civil war and the corps commanders under their command have the ability, but the biggest reason was probably the giants who tore through enemy lines.

Jarea Gashea――Alberinea's secret weapon that was only taught to Dougleen and Dalkris.

Its tremendous power was enough to overturn conventional wisdom.

The situation was exactly as she declared.

The enemy's main force is against Alberinea army, and the Kilrea army against the Garhka army.

However the enemy right in front of their eyes――Kilrea was not letting his guard down either.

Seeing that there was a possibility of a breakthrough by the Garka army, they were building up their strength on the front.

"He must have sensed it, after all. Orugan is a very cautious man, and so is Kilrea."

Dougleen looks towards the rear of his right wing.

The enemy, which was being moved to bypass the wingtip, had also begun a partial retreat.

Kilrea was originally thinking of a short-term decisive battle.

Pressure on the rear with about 20,000 troops――he probably intended to crush Dougleen immediately.

However, after seeing the initial scenario of the Alberinea army being destroyed by war elephants collapsed, Kilrea immediately pulled out diversionary forces for defense.

――Cautious.

Kilrea was the exact opposite of the decisive Elkar.

Elkar would probably have increased the detour force and aimed for Dougleen immediate destruction.

"However, Kilrea's weakness is that he's a little too worried.""

Dougleen placed a corps behind his right wing, a reserve of 5,000 men, to prevent the detour.

5,000 against the 20,000 detour――Kilrea must have felt that it was too little.

So Kilrea read it too deeply, and when his initial response failed, he immediately pulled back his detour troops.

Probably because he thought their aim was to break through the center at full force.

Dougleen had fought Kilrea once.

He understood the character of the general Kilrea.

That was why he only needed 5,000 troops to prevent the detour――assuming that the other party would read too much into it, he responded with the minimum number of troops.

In this situation, Kilrea's best move would be to increase the detour force.

Dougleen had no defense against 20,000 detours, and he had no intention of breaking through the enemy lines from the start.

Compared to the Alberinea army, which defeated the elephants head-on, there was not as much of a difference in morale between the Garhka army and the Kilrea army.

The exchange of arrows was intense, and it took a lot of sacrifices and time to break through the enemy's lines.

It would have been possible to break through at one point if they pushed themself, but it would also have been possible for the other side to complete the siege before they defeat Kilrea.

However, at this stage the enemy has no prospect of encircling us.

――At that point, Kilrea had already lost.

"The enemy's main camp has begun to move towards Alberinea's army. It's time to start preparing."

"Yes sir. I don't know how powerful it actually is, but..."

"The enemy is already restless now. It's enough if it surprised them even a little."

Dougleen looked at the enemy's main camp――the elephant that Orugan was riding.

"...Rather, this is my battle to begin with. I think it's more enjoyable that way."

And Dougleen lifted his cheeks.

"...Elkar"

The right wing was destroyed――turmoil was spreading even to Kilrea's main camp.

Kilrea's hopes that he might have somehow managed to escape were in vain, and when a messenger from the main camp informed him of Elkar's death, Kilrea held his eyes shut.

The commanders in the front line were informed that Elkar had managed to survive the enemy onslaught and had joined up with Orugan.

Alcazaris, the war elephant, and the collapse of the right flank――the situation was clear to the soldiers.

There was no way he could convey information to them that would further lower their morale.

"...I never thought that Elkar-sama would be killed."

"As long as it's on the battlefield, death can happen to any hero. ...However, we lost a precious man."

The adjutant looked puzzled, and Kilrea looked up and shook his head.

He took a handful of his long, gray hair――tied up, looked at it, and cut it off with a knife.

He then scattered the hair as the wind blew.

"...Guess it's farewell to that bald head."

It was a stupid play.

To make fun of Elkar, whose hair was thinned at a young age, he grew his hair to show it off.

"...Now I can't make fun of that bald head again."

Kilrea smiled bitterly, carving deeper wrinkles on his already wrinkled face.

"Kilrea-sama..."

"Let's just pray that he'll be blessed with hair in his next life. ...We can soak in sentimentality later."

Kilrea looks over the elephant to his left wing.

Garhka's choice was to form a diagonal line with the left wing in front――inevitably, there was a huge distance between the main camp and the left wing, which was trying to bypass the enemy's right wing.

Due to the situation on the right wing, he was worried that the enemy might break through, so he pulled out troops from the detour, but it would take some time for them to reach him.

――The situation was progressing too quickly.

The right wing Elkar was broken through at full force.

Kilrea, who was the first to realize what the other side was aiming for, immediately pulled his troops out of the time-consuming detour attack and tried to create a reserve force to help Elkar.

Unlike Orugan and Dougleen's reading that Kilrea was pulling out his troops to create a thick line against Dougleen, his action was not prudent, but decisive in order to save his friend's life.

Having a thick line in front of his main camp was nothing but a result of it.

He simply used the reinforcements, which ended up idle, there.

Kilrea had not imagined that Elkar's right flank would collapse before the reinforcements could reach him.

"...should we have sent the main reserve toward them?"

"It can't be helped in that situation. Besides, in that case, Garhka might have thought about forcing his way through."

The reason why they did not move this left wing main camp's reserve was because they were concerned that the Garhka army would coordinate with the Alberinea army and try to forcefully break through here.

The situation in which Dougleen had only allocated 5,000 troops to prevent the detour was a check on this left wing headquarters reserve, and there was no doubt that he had read too much into it.

But he wasn't sure if he was reading too much into it.

The situation changed rapidly in half a koku.

Which choice was right or wrong?

There is no time to ponder about it.

The War Lion Commander and the general that Orugan brought with him this time.

Many were men who survived the harsh civil war.

None of them were incompetent, and it could be said that the commanders who participated in this decisive battle were better than average.

If only they had the time to think and analyze the situation, they would have demonstrated their abilities to the fullest.

What was taken away was not only morale, superiority, and initiative.

――It was time that Alberinea stole from them.

Analysis, thinking, decision making.

The enemy took away all the time they needed.

"Kilrea-sama, the reserve at the main camp...it's Zalvaag-sama."

"...He moved huh"

The battle between the Alberinea army and Orugan main camp of 20,000 began.

Flying from Orugan's main camp was Zalvaag's flag, which had a twin curved sword drawn on it.

As soon as the assault was engaged, one wing was diverted to aim at the enemy general.

Nothing will change, as usual――the outcome will be either Zalvaag take the enemy's head or Alberinea break through head-on and take Orugan head.

It was simple and clear.

"...... time that has passed can't be turned back. The vice-chancellor's orders are to maintain this place and strike Garhka later. The 5,000 that have just been brought in will remain as it is, and the 5,000 we are returning will be given back to the vice- chancellor. We will send it as reinforcement."

"Yes sir. Messenger!"

Originally, the 20,000 used to detour from the extreme left wing were Orugan's soldiers.

Since they were positioned at the furthest point from the chaos that had occurred on the right wing, their morale was not that low.

Even now, Orugan had the superiority in force, and there were also remnants of defeated soldiers from Elkar.

If another 5,000 were to be added to this number, he would have a significant advantage.

He sent a messenger to relay the information――that was when Kilrea let his guard down.

He thought he had finally made up for the lost time.

There would be some degree of stalemate between the Orugan main camp and the Alberinea army, as well as the Kilrea army and the Garhka army.

He thought this would give him time to think and made his next move.

He believed that his forces still had the advantage, and that as long as they calmed down, they would have a myriad of options.

"Wha!? Kilrea-sama, that!!"

It wasn't the person on top of the elephant who spoke up, but one of the guards standing on the ground.

"Hm?"

For a moment, Kilrea didn't understand what he pointed out.

There appears to be no abnormality in the direction he is pointing.

In the first place, it was questionable why he, who was on the horse, could see what Elkar, on an elephant, could not see.

"Above! The sky...!!"

And that question was soon resolved.

Countless shadows appear in the sky above the fortified city of Nakria.

――It was a large beast.

Thirty beasts spread their wings and fly onto the battlefield.

"...Griffin?"

He had never seen it before.

A beast that flies freely in the sky and lives in the northern part of the kingdom.

He wondered why it was here――and immediately decided that it didn't matter.

What matters is why it appeared at this time.

There were at most 30, which wasn't a huge number, but he could see them even from a distance.

On the Griffin's back was a man who looked like a horseman and a soldier in black armor.

And among them was silver hair――Alberinea and a black flag.

Why did she move at this time?

It's obvious. This was because Zalvaag and Orugan's main reserve had left the main camp.

Thirty cavalry at most, and sixty people riding.

However, it was probably the most elite of Alberinea,

"――Immediately send the reserves from here to the vice-chancellor main camp!! Their target is the general head!!"

――The moment Kilrea saw that, he raised his voice.

'――Does that mean you're aiming for a surprise attack on the enemy's headquarters?'

The night before the war started.

The corps commanders were looking at Krische's "plan for tomorrow" with serious faces.

The feelings of anger that were there at the beginning were nowhere to be found.

Completely breaking through the enemy's right wing――her bold words, however, were not completely reckless.

It would be brute force to cause a collapse in morale and break through head-on, but Krische had enough necessary conditions to consider it realistically.

With the support of Dougleen Garhka, who had been shown Jarea Gashea in advance, and his adjutant Dalkris, the army commanders under Garhka completely changed their emotions and listened to her talk.

And above all, the eyes of the girl filled with absolute confidence.

One could say that that purple color coerced them.

Vinthril Sharana, hiding under a cloak, entered the tent.

The absolute respect that the Kreisharana's Chief Warrior showed seemed to guarantee that.

'Well, if you roughly describe the movement of this unit, it would be like that.'

'Roughly speaking...?'

The corps commander who asked the question frowned.

At the same time as the battle with Orugan's main camp begins, a surprise attack is launched by 60 elite soldiers.

That in itself wasn't bad.

Speaking of concerns, the number of 60 people was too small.

Regardless of Krische ability, which even has tamed a Suiko, if she flies in the sky, she naturally falls within the enemy's sight.

The surprise attack effect will be dampened, and even more intense fire from enemy archers would be expected.

On the other hand, the number 60 seemed too small.

'Yes. As Krische said at the beginning, corps commander. The major premise for each corps commander is to break through head-on. Krische's movement is a surprise attack, but this does not mean a direct surprise attack on the enemy's main camp, but rather a support attack to break through.'

'......supporting attack?'

"That's right. Your role remains the same. Krische's thinking, just like the left, that you, the right breakthrough the enemy head-on.''

Looking over at the corps commander, Krische smiled.

"In short, this strategy is simple and straightforward. It's a complete breakthrough against 100,000 enemies."

――Compared to the ground, the wind was blowing a little colder.

"Fufun, the enemy's reserves also moved from the left wing. As expected."

Above the battlefield――at the head of the thirty Griffins, behind Vinthril.

Krische smiled as she rode sideways on the hip of his griffin, Ritgund.

The enemy's left wing was directing its reserves toward Orugan main camp.

The enemy probably believed that the griffin was intended for a direct drop into their main camp.

Normally, that's what one would think, similar to the reaction of the corps commander.

Thirty knights at most――it was normal to think that what they could do was limited.

And on the battlefield, it was the general's role――Krische's role to overturn that 'natural'.

While maintaining their own advantage, turn the opponent's advantage around and take it out on them.

Steal their time, confuse the enemy, and kill them without letting them do anything.

The battle was simple and clear, that's all.

"The route?"

"Where the big flag is... we'll aim for the battle line directly in front of General Garhka. Krische'll give you detailed instructions again later, so do as you see fit."

"Ha"

Vinthril answered, raising his spear to follow.

Then move it and give the signal.

Krische nodded with satisfaction and looked behind her.

He looked over at Mia, who had a pale face, and her eyebrows furrowed.

"Mia, you volunteered, right? You're the adjutant, so please be more careful."

"I-I know..."

"Don't worry, it won't suddenly fall off. Even arrows won't reach it."

It was not like Mia really wanted to join the sky.

She just thought that Aleha, who has the ability, would be better on the ground to break through the enemy's right wing head on.

She just thought that Aleha would be able to play a much better role than Mia in assisting Kolkis and Bagil, so she proposed it was.

There was Krische here, so no matter what kind of amazing enemy appeared, there was no anxiety at all.

Aleha was excessive and Mia was appropriate, that's why.

"Now now, Usa-chan, Mia came with me because she didn't want to be separated from me. Ha, it's tough being a popular woman."

"Shut up idiot, just let Kahlua fall!"

Mia said as she looked down and hurriedly averted her gaze.

She had done a lot of cliff descent training, but being in the air with no footholds still makes her feel weak.

Naturally, she trained many times to ride behind Griffin, but she was traumatized by falling and breaking her leg while training alone.

Fortunately, the fall was relatively low, so she got away with just a broken bone, but at this height.

If she fell, instant death was inevitable no matter how she thought about it.

"Well, anything is fine. Just make sure you don't make any stupid mistakes."

"Unde...understood."

"Hahaha, well, on the contrary I feel assured at this height. Even if you fell, I have plenty of room to pick you up."

The man carrying Mia speaks in Western common language.

Since they also serve as messengers, many of them also knew the language of the plains.

"But I never thought I'd be able to ride with a beautiful woman like you on my back on the battlefield. Feel free to hug me, Adjutant-dono."

"Baeg-san, I don't think you can enjoy the feel of breasts with Mia, you know?"

"...Kalua, I'll remember this."

Vinthril, who heard this, smiled bitterly and told him.

"Baeg, it's a battlefield. It's okay to laugh, but wait until it's over before you relax."

"Ha, Chief Warrior!"

Krische looked behind her and narrowed her eyes.

The people here were veterans of the Black Flag Special Force――soldiers who fought through the civil war.

Even if they were a little nervous, they didn't seem to have any problems, and the same was true for the Kreisharana warriors.

"Everyone doesn't seem to be that nervous huh."

"All of them are warriors who have experience participating in the Suiko Hunt. Even if they don't know the battlefield, they know how to fight."

Vinthril answered Krische's words and continued.

"However, it is true that this is an unfamiliar environment. Like I said, I would like some time to get used to the atmosphere."

"I see. Take care after we descend. Kurofuyo's support will be enough. Don't push yourself too hard, Lira is worried too."

"Thank you."

The speed of the griffin flying through the sky was close to that of Suiko running at full speed unless there was a headwind.

The destination――the center of the enemy's left wing, Kilrea's army, was just a short distance away.

"Stay at this altitude. There's a wind. Move north about three ken."

Krische looked below and read the movement of the wind from the slight flow of magical power flowing there and gave instructions.

It was not directly above the battle line of Kilrea's army, but rather above the central vanguard of Garhka's army.

From below, she could see enemy soldiers looking up at them, shouting something, and shooting meaningless arrows.

Basically, unless one gets very close, arrows wouldn't be effective against the griffin.

The griffin flies with two people on its five shaku shoulder-high frame.

The griffin's wings would create a storm――arrows without any weight would be repelled by the wind.

The thing to be wary of was the spear-thrown by a magic possessor, but there weren't many people who could throw a powerful spear overhead.

Putting aside if it was a mountain with complicated terrain, but the griffin that flies over the plains is invincible.

With some distance between them, the griffins formed a double file in the air.

Placing it parallel to the battle line, Krische smiled with satisfaction.

Her purple eyes captured all the currents of wind within a radius of one ri.

"Mia, signal."

"Yes. ――All members, prepare to drop!"

The soldiers all touched the griffin's side.

It was originally a rectangular wooden box attached to the place where a throwing spear would be stored.

There were ten fist-sized round black spheres on each side, and the sparkling magic crystal peeking out from the top.

Each of them took out a magic crystal and held it up.

After confirming this, Mia turned her attention to Krische again.

Krische's left hand, which continues to look down below――five fingers.

"Five! Four――"

As Mia watched it fold up, she shouted,

"――Zero! Start dropping!"

At the same time as the words were spoken, the sound of wooden boxes being opened all at once.

"Ignition!"

With that signal, the magic crystal in their hands began to shine.

And the blue flickering of the magic crystal was also repeated from something scattered from there.