Chapter 70: The Gallant Battle of the Porlant Cavalry
――Capture the enemy positions.
It was an order that was close to the point of impossibility.
To begin with, cavalry, as a military branch, is not suitable for capturing enemy positions. They could only demonstrate their true value in the open field by taking advantage of their mobility to attack the enemy’s flanks and rear, but they were extremely weak against well-defended enemies.
What’s more, this time the conditions were so harsh that they had to rush into a narrow mountain path, pass through enemy fire, and break through enemy lines.
Even the strength of the cavalry’s legs cannot be fully displayed when they are climbing up a slope. Under such circumstances, if you’re going to face something as dangerous as being showered with cannon fire, it’s pretty much like going to commit suicide.
However, the moment that order was given, cheers erupted.
“Did you hear that, gentlemen! This is the first battle of us, the winged cavalry of Porlant! And what’s more, it’s an order from that Führer Eryutheia.”
“Whooah!”
“The Führer’s maid seems to have said, ‘It is impossible to break through that position with cavalry’. What do you think, gentlemen, can’t you do it!?”
“Our Porlant cavalry are the most powerful and invincible! An undefeated warrior who would not hesitate to give his life for the independence of his country!”
An impossible mission.
The mission came directly from the top of the army.
Isn’t this the evidence they’re relied upon? They are sure that if they were able to seize that position, the Führer would be impressed by the heroism of the Porlants and would help them gain their independence.
Believing so, the Porlants optimistically raised their morale.
“Listen, gentlemen, in the words of Führer Eryutheia, ‘There is no such thing as impossible in my dictionary!'”
“Beautiful thighs! Long live the Führer! Glory to the motherland Porlant!”
They raised their sabers (made in Yamato 120,000 yen tax included) high and shouted, “Long live the Führer!” As they shouted, the 150 Porlant cavalry charged down the narrow mountain pass in high spirits.
By the way, ‘beautiful thigh’ is a pillow word to refer to the Führer. Ah, I’m in awe of Her Majesty… As if to say, ah, how beautiful are the Führer thighs, it is used.
“W-what’s with them! They’re charging in. They’re suicidal, did they want to die that much!?”
“How would I know what a savage is thinking, if they want to die, just kill them.”
“This thing called cannon that we capture, I want to try firing it…”
The elf army’s first defensive position.
The two cannons and a company of magic infantry point their muzzles and staffs at the charging Porlant cavalry.
It is laughable to think that they are trying to break through this heavily fortified position with only 150 cavalrymen.
“Alright… Let them in a bit more closer… Not yet! Fire!”
Discharge of the gunfire.
A massive amount of smoke from the black powder obscures the elves’ vision. Within zero visibility, the elves fire off their magic.
Grape bullets shot out of two cannons, and countless more magic fired from the elves’ staff… The sound of screams and horse neighing echoes from beyond the gunpowder smoke.
“Did we get them?”
Said one of the elves operating the cannon in response to the screaming voice.
But, that’s a word you should absolutely never be spoken on the battlefield.
A red light passes through the smoke. It’s not only one or two, it’s 10, 20.
“What the hell that…?!”
“The enemy’s cavalry is on fire, because of our magic.”
“It’s good if that’s the case… Wait, isn’t that light getting closer?”
“That’s ridiculous… There’s no way someone would rush in while on fire, right?”
It couldn’t be.
The wind pressure created by the cavalry’s charge dissipated the smoke and revealed the figures of the Porlant cavalry to the elves.
A person whose face was half blown off by the artillery fire.
One who has been set ablaze by the magic of the elves.
The proud feather ornaments of the Porlant cavalry burn brightly as flame magic transforms them into a flag of red flame.
But, they won’t stop. “Long live the Führer!”, “Independence to Porlant!” While shouting, they brandishes their saber and charges at the elf army’s position.
“W-what the heck are these guys! Why won’t they die!?”
“Are they using some kind of powerful defensive magic? Even though they’re just a lowly human!”
“Hiek, retreat! This is not our only defense position!”
Without tricks or gimmicks, the Porlant cavalry attacked without fear of death, with a pure fighting spirit so overwhelmingly that even the formidable dark elves retreated involuntarily.
“――We’ve broken through! Long live the Führer!”
“Look at the battalion commander! Even though his face is half blown off and burning, he still moves forward.”
“Amazing! He is truly the embodiment of the Porlant people!”
“No, look closely, the battalion commander is dead on his horse! First squadron leader, take over the command!”
The Porlant cavalry also suffered heavy casualties.
More than a dozen people have already died from grape bullets, including the battalion commander. Including the wounded, they have lost more than 10 percent of their forces in a matter of moments.
But they do not stop.
“Listen, the Führer’s order is to ‘capture the enemy’s position’! There are still three enemy camps left!”
“Let’s take them all! I won’t stop until we take everything!”
They don’t know that the Führer herself is thinking “It would be nice if we could just capture the first position.”
However, they continued to move forward under the rough order to “take enemy’s positions.”
While the elves continue to run around in confusion, they start an assault on the second position, trampling over the fleeing elves as they do so.
☆☆☆☆☆
“It would be difficult to break through with just cavalry forces. I will lead the half-beastkin army to break through.”
“Can you do it, Marshal Hage?”
“…It’s Davout. Half-beastkin’s army was not badly trained as soldiers. It might have been a short time of training, but they are well-trained soldiers. With my leadership, a breakthrough would be possible. But there will be a lot of sacrifice.”
“Some damage is inevitable. Right now, speed is crucial.”
In the rear position, Marshal Hage who effectively lead the half-beastkin army… Not that, it’s a strategy meeting with the tubby marshal.
……However, he stinks. This old man. He smells so bad it even stings my eyes.
I tried to place a lot of charcoal for deodorization, but it had no effect at all.
I wish I had brought some deodorant.
Let’s see…
“Miike-san, how is the situation? What is the state of the Porlant cavalry? Did they able to break through the first position?”
“Err, about that… right?”
I ask Miike-san who I left in charge of watching over the situation, but… What’s the matter? You’re making a face as if you saw something unbelievable.
“…Ayame-san.”
“Right, binoculars. Here you go.”
Nn, thank you.
As for the front line… Wha, there are no enemy forces in the first position. Far from it, even the ally Porlant cavalry is not present.
Nobody is there.
What is the meaning of this?
That there are no Porlant cavalry in the first position means… Did they fail to capture it?
“Eryu-san, on the second position. The second position.”
The second position?
Having been told that I look in that direction… That’s impossible. The Porlant cavalry. The Porlant has advanced. To the second position.
“Is something wrong, Führer Eryutheia? I can’t see very well with my short sight.”
The tubby marshal who came next to me, asked while wearing glasses, “Well, the Porlant cavalry broke through the second position. They are going to charge straight into the third position.”
“What!? That’s impossible! There is no way that the cavalry could break through that position. Also, aren’t those guys supposed to be new soldiers experiencing their first battle this time, right?”
“Ayame-san, give orders to the reserve cavalry! Hurry up and support the Porlant cavalry.”
……I can’t believe this.
But wait, why on earth are they pushing as far as the third position in the first place?
“The objective was to capture the first position…”
When I first gave the order, I thought that as long they could take the first position, that would be enough, but how could they penetrate so deeply into the enemy’s line like that…
“Isn’t it because Eryu-san issued an ambiguous order like ‘capture the enemy’s position’? With that order, they might not know how far should they go.”
“Is that why they charge so deep into the enemy lines? No, that’s impossible, that’s…”
Are they stupid? I mean, how did they manage to charge all over there? Normally, you would be made into a beehive and die first, right?
“Isn’t that just fighting spirit?”
“To call it just fighting spirit… That’s ridiculous.”
Indeed, but there is a breakthrough taking place right before our eyes… How should I put it, it seems like it can somehow be managed with a positive mindset.
……
…………
………………
The elf’s fourth position.
I step in where there are broken cannons and mountains of corpses.
The battle had already ended in victory for our army, and the terrified elven army, whose defenses had been breached by the Porlant cavalry’s great fighting spirit, retreated in fright.
“Haa, haa… Sir, this cannon was captured by me. I will die, but my death will be for the liberation of my country…”
A cannon that was destroyed in a fierce battle. A single Porlant cavalryman leaning against that cannon. He was so covered in blood that he could not stand, his breathing was heavy, he closed his eyes and was exhausted.
“Eryu-san, he is the commander of the 3rd squadron. The battalion commander, the 1st squadron commander, and the 2nd squadron commander have already died in the battle, and he was the one who commanded this far…”
“What about his injuries?”
“I can’t be sure of the extent of the injuries without calling the military doctor, but there are countless injuries all over his body caused by shells, ice magic, flame magic, and spear wounds… He might be beyond saving.”
As she lays down the soldier, Ayame-san carefully checks his wound… No matter how you look at it, he’s beyond saving. His body was covered with serious injuries.
But…
“We must not let the loyal and brave soldier die. Surely we brought along Gadermann-san, the military doctor, didn’t we?”
“Yes, he should be climbing the mountain with that person.”
“…Is that so, please take all possible measures.”
The majority of the Porlant cavalry who charged into the elf army’s position were killed in action. This person is the only one surviving at the commander’s rank.
……I never thought there would be a cavalry as excellent as this. It would be too much of a waste to let them die.
Thanks to their valiant efforts, we were able to break through that defense line with minimal casualties.
This sacrifice cannot be in vain. Now, let’s cross the mountain and head towards Dorcelli. There, we will destroy the elf army.
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