Episode 119 Promised Victory - The Saga of Lioncourt

Half a Month Later Despite some minor skirmishes between Baron Guy and Baron Cocteau, the war situation had largely settled down. Secret envoys from Baron Cocteau had frequently come with proposals for peace, but I persistently refused to negotiate with anyone other than Ramire de Cocteau. As a result, they seemed to have finally given up on sending envoys. While this may have worsened Ramire's position considerably, it's all part of warfare strategy. In front of me, the assembled armies of various lords continued to gather. It was anticipated that the Basharel Castle would not be able to accommodate everyone once the assembly was complete, so Jean and Andre's forces were asked to pitch tents outside for the lords who arrived later. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, both of you," I said, addressing Jean and Andre in the castle courtyard. Jean suddenly started to present his castle expansion plans. It might actually be necessary considering future plans. Rolo was nodding in agreement, adding a word or two to keep up with Jean. "I am a retainer of Lord Varian. I am not like the other lords, so please do not worry about me," Andre humbly replied, despite the shine on the top of his head that signified it had become barren land. His sun-tanned scalp was shining with the sheen typical of a middle-aged man's oily skin. Though bald, Andre had the capability to mobilize over a hundred troops single-handedly and held a position that easily qualified him as one of the lords, particularly considering the location of his territory. He was a key figure in the Kingdom of Lioncourt. "Jean, how are the other lords moving?" Rolo inquired of Jean regarding the movements of the other lords, and honestly, the army's assembly seemed slower than expected. A long waiting time for the army meant consuming more resources... Currently, around 2,000 soldiers were stationed in Basharel Castle, and just maintaining them required an enormous amount of food and firewood. Supply was something Jose was diligently working on... but I didn't want to exhaust the Basharel lands. If this dragged on, we'd have to procure resources from the Cocteau Barony... I crossed my arms and pondered the challenge of maintaining the army. Soldiers tend to dwindle just by being stationed. Illness, injuries from fights or accidents, desertion, punishment for breaches of military discipline... there are countless reasons for soldiers' numbers to decrease. Especially if food and water run out, soldiers disperse incredibly fast. People cannot live without food... it's as natural as it is inevitable. Maybe we should travel with goats? No, we would need to ensure food for the goats too... that's putting the cart before the horse... Amassing troops alone is not enough. Logistics need to be prioritized. Setting up a permanent department dedicated to logistics and distribution might be a good idea. We may also need to improve roads and waterways. "This is quite the nostalgic feeling," Andre suddenly muttered quietly beside me, who had been deep in thought. "Indeed, all we need is Tanqueray and... Andre's hair back," I teased. "Oh, you had to bring that up," Andre laughed and nudged me playfully, making Rolo and Jean smile wryly. "It would be good if Tanqueray gets well too." "And if Andre's hair grows back, even better... Oh, look, someone’s coming," Jean pointed out as he noticed Guy running towards us. Guy appeared to be currently working as an errand boy at Jiro's request. Initially, I had considered having him join the Brotherhood like his brother. Unfortunately, Guy wasn't skilled in horseback riding. The Brotherhood currently focused on cavalry, and there wasn't time to train someone new for this battle. Therefore, Jiro took him under his wing. "Your Highness... a herald from the Benuro Viscounty has arrived, led by Lord Albert de Benuro. They say he'll arrive tomorrow," reported Guy, breathless but with a delighted expression. His eyes shone with respect, which made me slightly uncomfortable. When youthful eyes glitter at me in admiration, I somehow feel guilty. Is it just me? "Thank you, Guy. While you're here, let me introduce you to everyone," I announced, drawing everyone's attention to Guy. He was the brother of Lucas Emone, a soldier who fought alongside all present here as a Brotherhood member. "This is Guy Emone, Lucas Emone's brother. Please make him feel welcome," I introduced, and as my friends one by one introduced themselves, Guy looked tense, his eyes darting nervously. For this simple youth from Lioncourt, those gathered here must undoubtedly feel like individuals from another world. "Lucas's brother? I thought he might be a secret child of Varian's," Jean joked. "No, the age doesn’t fit," I responded to Jean's playful comment while Andre chimed in with, "It's possible," making everyone burst into laughter. "Guy, Lucas was a dear friend and an exceptional warrior. Even in death, he remains the pride of our Brotherhood. Do your best," Rolo encouraged with a gentle smile. Even though Lucas was understated, there's no need to speak ill of the deceased. This was Rolo's kindness at play. "For Lucas's brother, you're quite well-kept. He was such a mess... I remember he cooked with his hands dirtied under those black nails. It was something else!" "Oh, that! The nails got all clean after cooking! Remembering that gives me the chills... Wasn't it when we attacked Belje?" Jean and Andre laughed heartily. Memories of old comrades seemed to remain well engraved in mind. The bonds formed with 'comrades in arms' who shared hardships were profound indeed. "That takes me back. Older than Daumier, isn't it?" "No, about the same. Both of them were members who gathered at Lord Varian's manor," Rolo promptly responded to my inquiry. This man truly remembers everything. As we indulged in nostalgia, we lost track of time talking. Guy, too, seemed happy listening to our stories, but later, he was apparently scolded by Jiro for taking too long for just one report. My apologies. … Four Days Later The assembled force at Basharel Castle exceeded 5,000. Being the initial battle for the Kingdom of Lioncourt, the lords from the northeastern region seemed to have mobilized a considerable force. ...This is incredible... Looking at it anew, the sight of a mass of over 5,000 people was overwhelming, and it was like an entire city convened here. A distinctive scent of life began to waft through the courtyard. "Jose, how’s the supply situation?" "Just barely... Or I should say, we cannot maintain this any longer," Jose, thoroughly seasoned with handling supplies, whispered with a slight furrow in his brow, keeping the tone low so as not to be overheard by the soldiers. ...Perhaps there was no need to assemble them with such urgency. Heading directly to Count Dalmond's territory from the northeast might have been a strategy... though it's too late for that now... Inexperienced in leading such a large force, the challenge to sustain it was giving me quite the headache. More people meant more mouths to feed... It’s an obvious point, but facing it in reality was a different story. "Alright, there’s no sense in dilly-dallying any longer; let's make a decisive move. I feel bad for Viscount Arbo, who just arrived, but we march out." I instructed my retainer to relay a message to Ponsero, who was on standby in Baron Guy's territory, and I also issued orders for the entire army to assemble. This was in preparation for delivering a speech before we marched out. With such a diverse group, it took a considerable amount of time just to get everyone assembled, but with patience, they eventually formed lines, albeit loosely. Due to space constraints, this had to be done outside the castle. Although the lords' armies were under my banner, they weren't particularly friendly with one another. Just getting them to line up led to brawls among the soldiers and some even ended up lost among the other troops, causing quite a commotion. ...Well, they’ll get more accustomed to this as time goes on. It's only a matter of practice... If you persistently train a group of kindergartners, they'll eventually line up quickly. There's no reason the people of Amoros can't do the same. "Looking over this, there aren't many Lioncourt people," I observed aloud. "That's true. There are hardly any in the northeast or in Basharel," Rolo responded. It's easy to forget while living in Lioncourt, but Lioncourt people are actually a minority... forgetting this could lead to serious issues. Perhaps from overthinking, I felt a slight queasiness in my stomach today. "Lord Varian, it's about time," Rolo said in his usual tone, prompting me. The uneasy feeling in my stomach might have been due to the nerves of addressing five thousand people. My childhood friend here truly had a bold heart. Compared to him, I'm rather faint-hearted. ...But I am a king. I can't afford to show weakness to the soldiers before the battle... Lifting my head, I called out to my guards, "Let's go." I galloped on horseback in front of the haphazardly aligned soldiers. It was to make sure they saw me. Wearing a golden crown over my helmet, a red eye patch, and a fur surcoat, I made for a striking sight. Once seen, it would not be easily forgotten. "Varian! Varian!" "Varian! Varian!" Recognizing me, the soldiers raised a great cheer. Being showered with such cheers is quite addictive... the thrill rising from deep within my body brings a smile to my face. After riding past, I turned my horse’s head and faced the assembled army from the center. The cheers continued for a while but gradually subsided, and within a few minutes, everyone was ready to listen. "Can you see me? Can you hear my voice?!" With this many people, it's unclear how far my voice reaches. However, kindly, both my horse Noir and I are quite large. Even if my voice doesn't reach, they should at least be able to see me. "Comrades! I stand here trembling with joy and astonishment! That the day would come when we, once at odds, gather under the banner of Lioncourt to align our shields together!!" I paused for a moment, urging my horse to walk a bit... even if just a bit more, I aimed to meet the eyes of more soldiers, conveying, "I'm talking to you." "And then! Something even more astonishing has occurred! There are those who dare to challenge the warriors gathered on this land!!" As I pointed south with my mace and announced, "It's Baron Cocteau!!," the soldiers' expressions became more focused. "But victory is assured for us! There is no Varian among the enemy ranks, nor warriors as formidable as those gathered here!! There is no reason for us to lose!!" As I raised my voice with determination, it resonated with the soldiers, and many began to stomp their feet. The commander's fighting spirit spreads to the soldiers. "Take it!! Cocteau is rich and wealthy!! Seize it!! Take it all!!" I cried out in a near-shout, waving my mace in the air, and the soldiers responded in kind, baring their teeth and raising a ferocious war cry. The sheer force of the sound was tremendous. Clashing shields echoed like thunder, and the fierce stomping became a rumble that pressed against me. Feeling nervous, my speech ended up more rational than usual, but it seemed to have been a success. I breathed a sigh of relief. "The enemy is to the south! Advance, Avance!!" With this simple command, the soldiers began to move. With overwhelming numbers and high morale... it was a battle we shouldn't lose. Precisely because of this confidence, I reminded myself that there was no room for complacency and kept my focus sharp.