Fun Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord (Novel) - Chapter 96 - Together with Panamera's Knight Order

Chapter 96 – Together with Panamera’s Knight Order

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Don’t break formation!”

“Sir!”

“You there!
You’re half a step behind!”

“My apologies!”

Shouts like angry roars flew through the air, and Bora and the others, marching at the very rear along with the ballistas and catapults, walked desperately with twitching faces.

When Van gave marching orders, they would rotate riding in the wagons to rest, take a short break after one hour of walking, and a long break after three.
They had rested quite frequently.

But Panamera’s knight order was different.
They repeated a schedule of one hour of walking and five minutes of rest all day long, and meals were given only in the morning and evening.

That was standard for a knight order of the Kingdom of Scuderia, but for the knight order formed by Van, it was fairly brutal.

In truth, the units that fought with swords and spears rather than as the Repeating Mechanical Bow unit had undergone a reasonable amount of special training.
Many of them had experience in knight orders, mercenary companies, or as adventurers, and the rest had been selected for their strong builds or confidence in their stamina.

But the Repeating Mechanical Bow unit was different.
They had been gathered while ignoring the qualities ordinarily sought in soldiers.

Even Dee’s regular training had placed most of its weight on marksmanship practice for defending Seat Village.

“C-Captain. Isn’t it about time for a proper long rest…”

“T-there isn’t going to be one… even my legs feel like sticks.”

“Those sticks feel like they’re about to snap…”

And so, grumbling weakly, they kept marching for five days straight.

At that night’s encampment, the advance force that had gone ahead to scout the situation at Scudetto had returned, and a council was held gathering all the unit commanders.

Panamera’s knight order was a small elite force, but even so there were more than ten unit commanders alone. All of them were hardened veterans, and some were already bristling with bloodlust before the battle.

And Bora had been made to join them.

“You are the captain of important reinforcements, and the key to this battle. Come now, to the center.”

“Y-yes…! E-excuse me!”

Surrounded by big armored men, Bora sat down stiffly in her chair and raised her face.

With a simple table in the center, everyone sat in a circle with straight backs. Receiving all their gazes, Panamera narrowed his eyes sharply.

“First, we will share information. It appears Scudetto is in the middle of reinforcing its walls and gates while receiving logistical support. In the previous retreat battle from Scudetto, the Border Knight Order and Marquis Fertio’s Knight Order were routed after being subjected to unusual attacks from wyverns and violently explosive spheres. However, there were also reports that Baron Van’s knight order, which entered the battle midway, slew several wyverns.”

Breaking off there, Panamera lightly looked over everyone.

“In other words, there is a high possibility they will not leave Scudetto until their forces, such as their wyverns, are replenished from the Kingdom of Yerinetta.”

At Panamera’s words, everyone nodded shallowly. Bora followed suit and nodded as well, a beat late.

Confirming that, Panamera continued.

“Given Scudetto’s location, we have no means of cutting off supplies from the Kingdom of Yerinetta. In that case, the most efficient course is to strike before their resupply is complete.”

At that, one knight spoke up.

“If I may.”

“What is it?”

With Panamera’s permission, the knight cast a sideways glance at Bora.

“About the slaying of wyverns by Baron Van mentioned earlier, I have heard that Captain Bora’s bow unit here possesses the same technology and weapons. If so, then even if the number of wyverns increases, should they not still be able to deal with them?”

Asked that, Panamera raised one eyebrow.

“Hmm… so if we can kill the wyverns, then our kingdom, which can concentrate its forces more easily than Yerinetta, would gain the advantage?”

Muttering that, he shrugged.

“I believe that once Marquis Fertio was forced into retreat, the warfare of the past ceased to apply.”

With that preface, Panamera drew his sword.

“To speak plainly, my knight order is weaker than Marquis Fertio’s. That is not a matter of training or quality, but simply the power of numbers. The same applies to the number of magicians, but more than local factors, the disparity in troop strength is likely the greater issue.”

Saying that, he drove his sword into the ground. Everyone’s eyes turned to it.

“The Border Knight Order fought a defensive battle in an ironclad fortress city, and as reinforcement Marquis Fertio himself joined the fight with his personal knight order. And yet even in such a situation, Yerinetta took Scudetto with shocking ease.”

At that, everyone fell silent with grim expressions.

Confirming that, Panamera pulled his sword back out.

“The age in which one broke through from the front with the power of Four Elemental Magicians came to an end ten years ago. And now even the warfare currently dominant, in which magicians are introduced intermittently from multiple directions, can be said to have reached its end.”

At Panamera’s words, one knight opened his mouth almost involuntarily.

“Then… does that mean the Kingdom of Yerinetta now holds the greatest military power?”

At that dissatisfied mutter, Panamera smiled fearlessly and returned his sword to its sheath.

“Or perhaps it is Baron Van’s ballistas and catapults, which make long-range attacks possible… well, I believe it is the latter.”

When he said that with clear amusement, everyone looked at Bora again. Bora faltered for an instant under those gazes, but immediately steeled herself, straightened her back, and spoke.

“…I too have not the slightest doubt that Van-sama’s weapons are the strongest. I will prove that now.”

At Bora’s firm declaration, the eyes of everyone there widened slightly.

And Panamera, gazing at Bora’s face with amused interest, murmured,

“I thought you seemed unreliable, but your core may be stronger than I expected.”

Then, five days later, Panamera and the others arrived before Scudetto. Slightly later came the king’s direct knight order, Marquis Fertio’s knight order, Count Ventury’s knight order, and Count Ferdinand’s knight order, and all of them began moving according to the plan.

“Do not break formation. We will guide the wyverns’ movements. Advance carefully.”

Every knight order moved while giving similar orders, but Panamera’s knight order alone was different.

“Do not attack at all. Our role is only one thing: to protect the bow unit.”

“Sir!”

At Panamera’s command, the knights answered while raising their drawn swords before their faces.

Then Panamera looked toward Bora and the others. After slowly taking in Bora’s line, which in barely ten days now showed a remarkably ordered formation, he spoke.

“You understand already, but you are the key to this battle. We will risk our lives to guide the wyverns and protect you. That is exactly why I expect you to devote everything you have to slaying the wyverns.”

At those words, Bora and the others nodded deeply with expressions full of tension.

“Leave it to us.”

Returning a smile to Bora, who answered on behalf of them all, Panamera looked at the others lined up behind her.

“…Baron Van has surely kept half the bow unit behind to defend his territory. In other words, you who were sent here are the elite among the bow unit, whom the Baron trusted would surely survive a battle with the Kingdom of Yerinetta. Let us win and return without betraying that trust.”

At those words, Bora and the others changed the look in their eyes and nodded.