New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Commencement of Battle

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Lord Howellz’ forces established their encampment atop the hill, upon a somewhat open expanse. Having dispatched the sharp-eyed Lewis as a scout to reconnoiter, it was reported that tents and banners were arrayed upon the hill’s summit.

From that moment until the following morning, the enemy made no move whatsoever.

A nocturnal assault was an exceedingly perilous choice. Should enemy and allied forces become intermixed in the night, friendly fire would become likely, orders would be difficult to enforce, and retreat might prove impossible. If the majority of the soldiers were conscripts drawn from the local populace, the risk of disorder would increase further.

Moreover, the enemy had only just concluded their march, and their soldiers must surely be fatigued. Lord Howellz himself, as their commander, likely advanced because he deemed it possible to secure a decisive victory through a direct confrontation without resorting to reckless gambits.

Mika, for caution’s sake, rotated local villagers as sentries to guard against a night attack, yet morning came without incident.

After partaking in breakfast together and completing preparations for battle, it was not long before the enemy, having likely finished their morning preparations similarly, descended the hill and formed their ranks. Standing before the wooden palisade and observing the enemy at a distance, Mika turned backward toward the villagers.

The villagers had resolved to fight. None wavered now. Yet tension was evident. Their faces were stiff, many sweat profusely, and several trembled. It was no surprise. Until now, the village had enjoyed relative peace. The bandit raid last year had ultimately been repelled by Mika, and none of the villagers had yet faced true battle. But what awaited them now was war itself, a conflict of life and death among humans. Such overwhelming tension was only natural.

“Everyone, you are terribly nervous, aren’t you? It is only natural, considering that the enemy stands arrayed before you… Now, let us look behind us for a moment.” (Mika)

At Mika’s words, the villagers turned their gaze behind, toward the village and farmland.

“You can see your homes. Houses built by your parents and grandparents, inherited by you, and one day to be passed to your children and grandchildren. Beyond them, the farmland stretches. Farmland that is far more extensive than last year, yielding richer crops of wheat and rye, ready for harvest in summer. The barley you planted this spring will yield a far greater harvest in autumn than ever before. This abundance is a direct result of your hard work. The lives you lead in those homes and the bountiful harvests you reap from that land are rights granted to you alone… And yet, look northward!” (Mika)

As Mika spoke with greater force, the villagers turned their eyes once more northward, fixing their gaze upon the enemy army.

“Lord Raymond Howellz, who commands that force, seeks to strip you of your rights! He intends to take away your peaceful lives within those homes and the richness of the harvests from your fields! You deserve to live in peace and prosperity, yet this invader Howellz seeks to prevent it! Despite all the effort you have exerted, all the toil of your parents and grandparents is about to be undone by that army!” (Mika)

Listening to Mika’s words, tension evaporated from the villagers’ faces, replaced instead by righteous anger. Their expressions hardened with resolve, reflecting the faces they wore when they had decided to fight.

“Such injustice must not be tolerated! It cannot be! We have the right to live in happiness! We fight to defend that right! We are in the right! There is no way we will lose!” (Villager)

From the outset, their hearts had been brimming with the will to fight. By inflaming their anger, Mika had effortlessly kindled their fighting spirit. By the time his speech concluded, the villagers were imbued with a palpable, indomitable vigor.

Not long afterward, the enemy, having arranged their ranks, began advancing. Mika commanded the villagers to prepare for combat. The villagers numbered roughly 25. At their feet lay agricultural implements repurposed as weapons, or hastily crafted wooden spears. In their hands, they carried sling cords, beside which rested stones roughly the size of fists, ten or more each.

The enemy army halted approximately a hundred meters from the palisade, from which a lone knight bearing a white flag approached.

“…That appears to be a messenger from the enemy. They have come to parley. No one is to attack.” (Mika)

Mika instructed everyone to wait as the knight drew near, halting a few meters from the palisade and confronting Mika.

“Are you the magician residing in this village?” (Knight)

The knight’s tone and the elevated perspective from his horse betrayed an attitude unworthy of addressing a local lord.

“…I am Mika Valentine, head of the Valentine Household and the new lord of this land. Shall I hear Lord Howellz’ explanation for invading my domain without permission?” (Mika)

“This village, which is without a lord and belongs to no household, falls under the dominion of the Howellz Household. His Excellency Lord Raymond Howellz offers you mercy as a magician residing in this village, granting you the opportunity to depart alive. However, the removal of any property is strictly forbidden.” (Knight)

Mika exhaled softly at the predictable demand.

“That is unacceptable. I am the head of the Valentine Household, the lord of this land. I will resolutely resist any invasion of my territory.” (Mika)

The knight fell silent for a moment, then surveyed the villagers.

“You! Drive this magician out or kill him! Then, and only then, shall your lives be spared by my master.” (Knight)

“Silence, fool! Vanish this instant!” (Villager)

“No one will drive out Mika-sama! Killing him is out of the question!” (Villager)

“That’s right! If anyone dies, it will be you! We will strike you down!” (Villager)

“Spare our lives, you say!? What else do you intend besides that!? Speak!” (Villager)

The villagers roared their defiance, leaving the knight bewildered. Perhaps he had not expected such fierce morale. He seemed genuinely confused.

Observing the knight’s reaction, Mika smiled faintly and spoke once more.

“As you see, my villagers recognize me as their lord. Neither I nor my people will accept Lord Howellz’ demands… There is no purpose in further discussion. Perhaps you should return to your forces.” (Mika)

“…Are you serious? Victory is certain for us in battle. My master commands that you be slaughtered and that the villagers suffer extreme punishment. Yet you still choose to fight?” (Knight)

“Do not worry. We will certainly win.” (Mika)

Mika turned to the villagers, who all nodded in firm agreement.

“…Very well. I shall report to my master that you have refused to surrender.” (Knight)

The knight departed, casting one last glance of pity toward Mika and the villagers. Though acting in accordance with his role as a retainer of the Howellz Household, Mika judged him to be personally not entirely unkind. Yet obedience to his lord dictated hostility toward them, and that was irrelevant. This was war, a contest of life, dignity, and property, wherein the very essence of human existence hung in the balance.

“Everyone, the only thing left is to fight! Let us protect our lives!” (Mika)

“Yes!” (Villager)

“Yes!” (Villager)

“Yes!” (Villager)

Mika’s call was met with a ferocious roar from the villagers. Satisfied, Mika nodded and turned toward Dimitri.

“Dimitri, I’m counting on you when the time comes.” (Mika)

“You may leave it to me. I shall protect Mika-sama’s back without fail.” (Dimitri)

The stalwart retainer spoke with resolute conviction.

 

—

 

“…I see. So, they will fight. Admirable courage… or perhaps merely foolishness.” (Raymond)

Receiving the report from the knight who had returned after the surrender refusal, Raymond smiled audaciously.

Even had a wandering magician wished to remain in the village, Raymond had expected the villagers to tremble at the sight of a force exceeding a hundred. Yet the magician had somehow inspired remarkable morale in the villagers.

So be it. The army was assembled for an easy frontal victory. Should the villagers resist foolishly, they would be crushed by force. The self-proclaimed lord would be slain, and the villagers subjugated, ensuring that no rebellion would occur again. Casualties during combat or subsequent occupation were irrelevant. Indeed, he could annihilate all men, carry off the women and children to his territory, and populate the village with his own settlers.

With the village remade to his convenience, it would serve as a secondary stronghold to expand his influence. Perhaps he could then orchestrate a pincer with the Melder’s territory.

“Commence. Send the main force to charge.” (Raymond0

Already contemplating post-victory scenarios, Raymond issued the command.

The combat troops under his command numbered approximately 110, of which 16 were professional soldiers, including knights and reinforcements from relatives. The remainder were conscripts.

Initially, roughly 80, including 5 regular soldiers, charged as the main force.

The enemy had erected wooden palisades for defense, though these reached only chest height and were easily surmountable. Fewer than thirty soldiers stood behind the palisade; their numbers could be overwhelmed, and the conscripted peasants would likely collapse once the defenses were breached.

Raymond observed the main force’s charge, confident of swift victory when the enemy also made a move.

“…Is that a projectile attack?” (Raymond)

Seeing the villagers begin to swing cords with stones, Raymond murmured.

 

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