Chapter 45: The War-torn Eastern Continent
New Year’s Day of the 305th year of the Yamato calendar.
On this day, a battle was about to begin.
The location is on the border between Beastvania and the Black Elven Empire, the Wolf tribe’s Fortress City, Wolfvania.
Approximately 20,000 troops of the Black Elven Empire’s Imperial Army attacked a fortress city where 5,000 surviving Wolf Tribe soldiers were holed up after numerous border disputes.
In the castle walls, the wolf tribe soldiers are eagerly sharpening their swords and spears, as if they are constantly on the edge, waiting for the moment to come.
Opposing them are the Dark Elves, the long-eared race forming a battle line in the distance.
They marched uniformly with their staffs pointed straight at the enemy, accompanied by the military band’s melody.
“The Beastkin’s weakness has already been exposed in broad daylight! Now is the perfect opportunity to burn down the filthy beasts’ fortress!”
Behind the front line, Musta Chyornyj, the overweight regent and head of state of the Black Elven Empire, issues orders to his soldiers.
It signals the beginning of the large-scale battle between the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom and the Black Elven Empire, the Siege of Wolfvania.
The cause of this battle traces back a little earlier.
The Yamato Empire made the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom surrender.
It didn’t take long for this information to reach the Black Elven Empire. Just a few weeks after the surrender, they had already begun mobilizing the army.
And then, they made this judgment based on this information.
“I don’t know for what reason. However, the beastkin who had been stubbornly resisting until now suddenly became weak. This is our opportunity to attack.”
Beastkin who can’t use magic is considered a weak species in this world.
Magic is a powerful weapon if you exclude modern weaponry.
It takes approximately 30 seconds to chant a spell. In other words, you can fire a high-powered projectile every 30 seconds.
Its power would probably be comparable to that of a musket gun.
Not being able to use magic is the same as challenging an army equipped with muskets using only swords and spears.
Not being able to use magic makes them extremely disadvantaged when fighting.
If the Dark Elf and the Beastkin fight, the Dark Elf will win.
That is the common sense that is widely accepted by everyone in this world.
In fact, the Black Elven Empire has emerged victorious in over 90% of field battles against the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom.
……However, looking back at the history of battles over the past several hundreds of years, there has been no instance where beastkin suffered a fatal defeat from dark elves.
Despite not being able to use magic and being militarily at a great disadvantage, the Beastkin Kingdom has never had a decisive surrender.
No matter how many times they fight.
No matter how many times they are defeated in field battles.
No matter how many times their fortress is shattered.
Each time the beastkin stood up again, with the broken sword in their hands.
Even after their army was crushed, they continued to resist as guerillas. Even if they lost the castle, they did not lose their will to fight and continued to fight until their lives were exhausted.
The Dark Elf’s army has been defeated time and time again by this guerrilla warfare. No matter how much the enemy army is shattered, they do not suffer a major blow.
The true main force of the beastkins is its entire population, which is about 10 million.
On the other hand, the number of troops mobilized on the one front of the Black Elven Empire is about 100,000.
Despite the advantages of magic, it’s impossible to win against a guerilla army of 10 million with only 100,000 soldiers.
Because the Dark Elves understood this so well, they never launched a full-scale attack on Beastvania territory.
Many of their wars up until now have been minor skirmishes at the border.
Constantly invading each other to hunt for slaves. They engage in playful skirmishes with the enemy army and quickly retreat if the situation becomes unfavorable.
It’s not worth getting too involved, as it only leads to a loss. However, having a different species as a neighbor is unacceptable.
That’s why they continued with these half-hearted wars.
However, since the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom surrendered to the Yamato Empire, this situation has changed.
“I don’t know what kind of method they were using. However, there is a way to make that stubborn Beastkin surrender. There’s no way that Elves, being a superior race, can’t do that.”
The upper echelons of the Black Elven Empire thought so and decided on a full-scale invasion against Beastvania.
And the first wave is this besiegement of Wolfvania.
“Fire!”
With that command, the magic soldiers of the Black Elven Empire on the front line cast their spells at once.
Fire Magic, Wind Blade Magic, Ice Magic.
Various kinds of magic spells all at once sprung forth, assaulting the castle walls of Wolfvania.
“Don’t give up! No more defeats, no more tarnishing the Beastkin’s name in the world! Victory or death!”
One after another, magical attacks hit and shatter the surface of the castle walls.
However, the wall that the Beastkin rely on for their national defense is not easily breached. Bow, sling, ballista. A series of counter-attacks are launched against the army of the Dark Elf.
The siege of Wolfvania has only just begun.
Royal Capital, Lycanvania.
The new king Leon, who usurped the throne from the previous king, was in a big hurry to respond to the invasion of the Dark Elf Imperial Army.
“Defend to death! No matter what happens, we can’t afford to let Wolfvania fall!”
“But King Leon. Our country lacks both soldiers and weapons. This Mar, against letting soldiers fight without weapons.”
“…Ugh, releasing the half-beastkin was a mistake.”
However, things are not as they seem.
To begin with, they don’t have enough troops in the first place. The previous battle with the Yamato Empire and the intense fighting in the Battle of Tigervania had greatly depleted the number of troops that the Beastkin Kingdom of Beastvania could mobilize.
In addition, there is a shortage of weapons.
This is partly due to the many weapons lost during the battle of Tigervania…
More importantly, the half-beastkin slaves tasked with making weapons have gained independence.
The Beastkin’s hands, which at first glance appear to be those of a bipedal beast, are paw-shaped.
Yes―their hands are paws, which makes them unable to perform delicate work.
That’s why blacksmithing, which requires a high degree of dexterity, is not possible, even construction is difficult.
Until now, this hasn’t been much of a problem, they’ve been using half-beastkins as slaves, who are very dexterous…
As a result of their defeat to the Yamato Empire, the half-beastkins formed an independent country called, Elysium the Half-Beastkin Country.
They have left the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom.
At first, they thought, “Hmph, it’s impossible for a lowly half-beastkin to survive without the help of superior beastkin?” The beastkin were the ones who looked down on them with arrogance, but…
In no time at all, production activities came to a standstill, and troop restoration was impossible.
What’s more…
“Even though we can’t afford to lose too much…”
“Because of our recent defeats, the morale of the people has fallen.”
National defense is driven by strong nationalism.
That itself is the beastkin’s greatest defense against the dark elves.
But…
After being defeated by the Yamato Empire, a large crack started to form in their nationalism.
Doubts about the superiority of the Beastkin and the temptation to believe it will work out somehow even if they lose.
Wouldn’t it be better to surrender early and try to please the opponent, rather than fighting desperately?
It has come to such a point that even such opinions are emerging.
On top of that, “Is it really alright for the defeated Lion tribe to hold the throne?” There are people everywhere holding such ideas, which could potentially even escalate into domestic conflict.
If King Leon doesn’t do something about it, the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom may soon fall apart.
“It’s the Yamato Empire.”
After mulling it over for a while, Leon called out that name.
“Huh, what are you saying now?”
“Let’s import weapons from the Yamato Empire. No, if things go well, we might be able to get some support.”
“That’s impossible… No, however, depending on how you look at it…”
“It’s possible. They don’t want our country to collapse.”
That’s right, the Yamato Empire does not wish for the collapse of Beastvania.
No, rather, they are hoping for its survival.
After all, they finally were able to establish communication with a government that was going to try to understand them. At the very least, they need them to survive until they finish paying the compensation money.
“However, a former enemy country. Do you think it will really go that well?”
“Mar. I would even lick the feet of Führer Eryutheia for the sake of my country. If I had to, I would even lick her ass.”
“…Your Majesty, what a resolve. You have truly become admirable.”
The old General Mar became emotional and tearing up.
The sight of a young king who is willing to throw away all his honor in an attempt to fully devote or commit himself to his country. He is deeply moved by that figure.
“I don’t mind if I receive a cold gaze. and being called, ‘You are trash, aren’t you?'”
“…Your majesty, doesn’t that contain a lot of your personal taste?”
“Th-there’s no way that’s the case, right? I’m just thinking about the country…”
Unable to fully hide his warped sexual preferences, Leon ended up with his face twisted in discomfort
However, his idea worked, and the Beastvania Beastkin Kingdom successfully imported weapons from the Yamato Empire at a bargain price.
……Even though, it was a simple spear called Home Guard Pike, made by welding an extra bayonet onto the end of an iron pipe.
Well, it’s better than nothing.
Incidentally, this spear was sold with the Elysium Half-Beastkin Country as an intermediary, through the arrangement of the Yamato Empire, which believed that “instead of importing the spear directly from the enemy humans, it would be better to have a former countryman, the Half-Beastkin, as an intermediary to avoid provoking their national sentiments.”
With the profit made from reselling, the Elysium Half-Beastin Country becomes somewhat enriched, but… Well, that’s not relevant now.
Anyway, Beastvania’s tough battle has only just begun.
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