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

 

 

Frontal Battle

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The movement indicating that Lord Mortimer’s army was preparing to march took place on the day following the war council. And on the day after that, the enemy army finally began its advance, and the allied forces confronted them.

Ultimately, the total strength amounted to a little over 300 soldiers under Lord Mortimer, and approximately 250 for the allied forces. Since both armies consisted mainly of militia, it was difficult to form orderly ranks. Instead, several hundred soldiers gathered in disarray and faced one another. The Mortimer army positioned itself to the northwest, while the allied army took formation to the southeast.

Mika’s Valentine forces observed the scene from atop a small hill on the southwestern side of the battlefield. Concealed among the trees that covered the hill, they kept their eyes fixed upon the right flank of Mortimer’s army and the left flank of the allied army.

“Oh, both sides are quite the grand armies!” (Jeremy)

“I have never seen this many people gathered together before. It is astonishing.” (Hugo)

Looking down upon the two armies facing each other, the villager Jeremy spoke with excitement, while the villager Hugo uttered his words in amazement. Particularly for Hugo, who had rarely left the village since birth, the sight of over 500 people gathered in one place filled him with fear and awe.

“I have only ever read about battles of this scale in history books or tales. Those fighting at the front lines must have it rough.” (Mika)

Observing the battlefield together with Jeremy and Hugo, Mika spoke as if it were someone else’s affair.

As a member of Valentine Household, Mika earnestly desired victory for the allied forces. For the sake of peace in this region, and by extension, the tranquility of his own domain, he was fully determined to fight with all his strength. That being said, compared to last year’s desperate battle, this conflict felt far less dire. At the very least, the chances of himself or those under his protection dying today were quite low.

Among those on the northern side of the hills, Mika did not wish for his friend Lorenz to die either, but since Lorenz, as supreme commander, had set his headquarters slightly behind the main force, there was little need to worry about his death in battle.

“Now then, the one we are targeting seems to have also established their main camp at the rear of their army.” (Mika)

Turning his gaze leftward, toward the rear of the enemy army, Mika spoke.

The enemy commander, Lord Mortimer, appeared to be commanding from behind the main force, surrounded by knights and soldiers who were likely professional warriors serving House Mortimer. Mika’s role was to lead his men in a strike against that enemy headquarters.

“Dimitri, there is no sign of anything unusual nearby, is there?” (Mika)

“No, my lord. The enemy is not visible.” (Dimitri)

Standing guard behind Mika and keeping watch on the surroundings, Dimitri nodded in response to his master’s inquiry.

There was no guarantee that the enemy had not dispatched a separate detachment toward this hill, so vigilance was necessary. Mika’s group held the dual role of supporting the main army and observing the battlefield’s flank prior to the start of combat.

“That is good to hear. All that remains now is to wait for the battle to begin.” (Mika)

As he spoke, Mika opened his water flask and drank water mixed with powdered magic stone. Since the coming battle would likely consume a great deal of mana, replenishing it beforehand was an important task for any practitioner of magic. When he turned his gaze to the right, he could see a castle and a village not far away. This battlefield lay close to the inhabited region of the Howellz territory.

Lord Howellz had wished for the engagement to take place farther northwest, away from his castle and village. However, every other lord rejected the proposal, reasoning that remaining near the encampment would allow their troops to fight without fatigue.

Their true motives were different. If the allied forces were to lose and be routed, the enemy soldiers would likely prioritize attacking the villages in the Howellz territory over pursuing the retreating troops. In that case, the armies of the other lords could use the Howellz lands as a decoy and flee back to their own territories. For that reason, all the other lords unanimously agreed to make this place the battlefield.

Naturally, Mika also supported this decision. Though he pitied Lord Howellz, as a lord himself, he too prioritized the safety of himself and those under his protection above all else.

 

—

 

“The total number of banners is eight. I recognize the crest of Howellz Household, but I am not familiar with the others.” (Beatrice)

“They are likely the crests of insignificant minor lords. Even if there are many banners, our army clearly has superior numbers.” (Retainer)

In the headquarters of Mortimer’s army, Beatrice spoke as she looked upon the enemy’s command post from her elevated vantage point on horseback. Her attendant beside her replied.

“That is true. Since our relationship with them is one of conquest and plunder, it hardly matters who they are. The enemy seems intent on a frontal clash, which should give us the advantage, correct?” (Beatrice)

“Indeed, my lord. Not only do we have superior numbers, but our mercenaries are stronger than their simple militia. Moreover, we possess a capable force to strike the enemy’s headquarters. Victory is assured.” (Retainer)

“Good. Then let us crush these obstructive foes as quickly as possible.” (Beatrice)

If she hesitated any longer, there was no telling what interference might arise. She needed to defeat the enemy before her, seize control of the region, and resume the pillaging without delay.

Suppressing her growing impatience, Beatrice issued the order for her army to attack.

 

—

 

“What a magnificent sight. Though it is only for convenience’s sake, to serve as supreme commander in such a grand battle is quite an experience.” (Lorenz)

At the headquarters of the allied army, Lorenz looked across the battlefield from atop his horse and spoke with his usual cheerful tone. Beside him stood his personal retainer, who always served as his bodyguard. Several knights and soldiers lent from other houses stood nearby, serving both as headquarters guards and as reserve forces.

Among them was a physical magic user. Depending on how the battle unfolded, this individual could become the trump card of the allied army.

The other magic users within the allied forces consisted of Lord Mika Valentine, who commanded a separate unit providing support through telekinesis magic, one fire magic user assisting the archers and stone-throwers, and one water magic user serving Meldars Household, who was tasked with supplying drinking water and thus could not participate directly in combat.

Some lords remained at the headquarters alongside Lorenz, while others joined the main force to engage in melee combat. Their decisions varied depending on personal qualities, whether they were physically strong, skilled in martial arts, or valued martial prowess. Flags representing each house stood beside the headquarters. Eight crests, including that of Meldars Household, fluttered proudly in the wind, creating a stirring sight.

“It seems the battle is about to begin. Listen well, everyone! If we allow those raiders to have their way, it will be our homeland that is ravaged! They will invade our homes, steal our wealth and food, harm our families, and kill them! None of us can accept such tragedy, can we?” (Lorenz)

When Lorenz’s clear, commanding voice resounded, the allied soldiers answered with a resounding cheer.

“Then, we must fight and win! Stand your ground and strike down the plunderers!” (Lorenz)

As Lorenz raised his fist high, the soldiers followed suit, raising their voices in unison.

“Oh, that went rather well. I almost sounded like a proper commander.” (Lorenz)

Astonished by how well his speech had gone, Lorenz chuckled. Though they were merely a collection of weak militias from various domains, they now seemed almost like a true army.

“Everyone, face forward! The plunderers’ army has begun to move! Prepare to meet them head-on!” (Lorenz)

Pointing toward the advancing Mortimer army, Lorenz rallied his men.

The distance between the two armies gradually closed, and at last, the battle began.

The Mortimer army charged, while the allied forces stood firm to meet them. More than five hundred soldiers in total clashed head-on.

Both sides were primarily composed of militia. Their equipment was poor, and their clothing no different from daily wear. Their weapons were farm tools, wooden spears, and clubs and all of them were all crude. In contrast, the lords and their household retainers wore superior gear. Many had cloth or leather armor, and some donned chainmail or iron breastplates. Their weapons varied, including swords, spears, and battle axes among them.

Among the Mortimer forces, several dozen mercenaries displayed a wide range of equipment quality. Some were little better than common ruffians, but others bore armor and arms similar to those of noble retainers. The diverse soldiers of both armies struck and slashed at one another with ferocity.

Ordinary men who lived simple lives as peasants now fought desperately with crude weapons to protect their families and their future. A man struck on the head with a club collapsed, and another, stabbed in the abdomen by a sharpened wooden spear, fell with a groan.

A retainer of a noble house, struck squarely in the torso by a militiaman’s blow, remained unharmed thanks to the armor and chainmail beneath his garments, and counterattacked, slicing open his foe’s throat with a steel sword.

A mercenary clad in leather armor swiftly attacked a militiaman’s legs. The wounded man fell and begged for his life, but the mercenary brought his battle axe down upon his head.

As the two armies clashed at the front, chaos and slaughter raged. Supporting them from behind, archers and slingers on both sides loosed arrows and stones in parabolic arcs over their allies’ heads, striking at the enemy lines.

Yet, their numbers were few. The allied forces had roughly twenty such soldiers, and the Mortimer army barely more than thirty. Their attacks lacked density, and their effect was limited.

From the allied side, attacks of fire magic were also launched. Spherical fireballs, about a meter in diameter, were conjured through magic and hurled in arcs toward the enemy formation. Upon impact, flames burst forth, engulfing those struck directly and spreading to the hair and clothing of nearby men, creating confusion and terror.

Amid the uproar and flying blood, the two armies fought evenly upon the roaring field of battle.

 

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