63. retreat (2)

“…report.”

A miserable voice escaped from between his lips. The Marquis sat quietly on a chair in a corner of the residence. The retreat was successful. The Marquis’ injuries were not serious. During the retreat, there were no serious injuries, although he was wounded here and there while dealing with numerous monsters. But the troops following her were different.

dead.

The wall collapsed, and all the watchmen who stood guard all night on the wall were killed. Before the wall collapsed, more than half of the troops were killed by a group of monsters who had already occupied the wall. Another death was caused by a monster that completely crossed the wall, and the Behemoth that appeared last destroyed the wall, and countless knights and soldiers died.

As many soldiers as dead were wounded.

Many soldiers lost arms or legs one by one, ribs were broken and stabbed in the intestines, and many soldiers were unable to move properly because their spines were crushed.

More than half of its thousands of troops were useless in the first attack. The Marquis closed his eyes. Many colleagues passed away. Those who had been together for 15 years, those who joined the no-man’s land just a year ago, those whom the king sent directly from the capital, and the members of the Jackdaw Knights who had met face to face many times.

The Behemoth did not advance further after destroying only the walls. The Behemoth seemed to have ordered only monsters to chase after the humans without even going ahead. The Behemoth then stood on top of the collapsed wall and looked up at the sky.

The troops in the no-man’s-land didn’t have time to stare at it. They were busy retreating to the border area, dyeing their eyes red and repulsing the monsters chasing them.

“Report the damage suffered by the main unit from this raid…”

The Marquis again ordered the soldier who was wrapped in bandages. The soldier standing in front of the Marquis had a bandage wrapped around his arm. Injuries will not only be visible. Uncomfortable, the limping was like a broken leg or ankle.

“…Exact damage cannot be estimated.”

The soldier said so and lowered his head.

“However, it is presumed that all personnel near the wall at the time the Behemoth appeared and destroyed the wall were all dead. The number is about 600 people. That number includes 20 knights.”

The Marquis nodded. The reason she was able to accept that number as just a number was purely because of the responsibility as commander-in-chief that weighed heavily on her shoulders. Marquis Baek looked at the soldier and nodded.

“And.”

“I will continue.”

The soldier bit his teeth and continued his report.

“After ordering a retreat, most of those who volunteered to stand in the rear died. It is estimated to be around 100 people.”

Most of those who volunteered to stand at the rear were veterans.

“Yeah…that’s right…”

The Marquis bit his lip. Blood gushed from the lips that had been bitten violently. It wasn’t over yet. There was one question that was most important, yet most wanted to avoid. The Marquis opened his mouth with the feeling of chewing and swallowing the soy sauce.

“…They said they would send the lead troops, and those who, including Clint, turned their horses to the other side to fight the monsters, what happened?”

The Marquis couldn’t keep his expression. Suffering and guilt leaked through his tight mouth.

‘The Marquis!’

Clint, her most loyal subordinate, spoke to the Marquis on horseback. Damn it, the Marquis had to be in the forefront and lead the retreating troops.

‘I don’t think so. It doesn’t look like the Behemoth is chasing it… but the speed of the chasing monster is unusual.’

Clint’s eyes were fixed, as if he had made up his mind. The Marquis had seen those eyes many times. Those were the eyes of someone who was prepared to die.

‘I will take my troops and turn my horse to the back to stop the advance of the monsters.’

The Marquis was straight.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Clint, if you go a little further, the city will come out, and if you activate the magic left by the wizards and block the entrance to the city, you can prevent further damage…’

‘The soldiers and knights in the rear are still dying, Marquis.’

Clint interrupted the Marquis. The Marquis twisted his mouth and urged Clint.

‘…I can’t give permission.’

‘You’ll catch up, Marquis. Please send it.’

It wasn’t what Clint said. Clint’s adjutant also looked at the Marquis with the same expression as Clint.

‘…There’s something the Marquis said.’

Clint took the word and said.

‘I have to be a commander who can make wise decisions, and above all else, I have to be someone who puts the protection of the kingdom first.’

‘Don’t get swayed by emotions and don’t hesitate to sacrifice a cow for the sake of the great.’

The Marquis looked at Clint and his men. I knew. She knew perfectly well that this was the best way. Even now, another soldier or knight would have lost his life in that slight delay. Clint said in an urgent voice.

‘This is the life I have already decided to spend for this land and the Marquis.’

‘Damn it, I know.’

The Marquis said so.

‘go. go block it And, as always,’

Despite knowing that that was unlikely, the Marquis said.

‘Return alive. Don’t even dream of a glorious death. Because that kind of thing doesn’t exist. If you want to buy enough time, just turn around and come back.’

Clint slightly raised the corners of his mouth and nodded.

‘Yes. I will.’

And, Clint and the knights turned around. The Marquis did not look back. I just ran fast.

‘Faster…! Hurry up, before the monster catches up…’

“What happened to Clint and his troops?”

The soldier shook his head slightly.

“Could not return.”

“Follow-up… organize a search unit…”

The Marquis wanted to say more, but fell silent. The expectations placed on him by his subordinates were too heavy. The Marquis waved his hand at the soldier who was making a worried expression. Another knight, loyal subject, and close friend, the Margrave had to be sent.

“No, no. How is the current monster situation?”

“Currently, the first magic, ‘veil’ has been activated, but there is not much time left to maintain the magic. The protective wall will run out of mana to maintain in two days.”

It was a situation where you couldn’t believe more reinforcements coming from the capital, who didn’t know when they would arrive. The Marquis shook his head.

“…two days.”

The Marquis looked out the window at the city. A purple curtain was placed in the sky. It was a barrier that prohibited entry from inside and outside. Even now, the dome-shaped curtain surrounding the city was thoroughly blocking the entry of demonic spirits.

“It would be better to rule out the possibility of reinforcements coming.”

“I think so.”

The soldier cautiously proposed, and the Marquis agreed.

“…how about retreating to the second front?”

“Muraro?”

“I’m embarrassed, but I am.”

The Marquis sighed.

“…I get it. First of all, go out and help me organize the troops. I think I need to think a little… about the strategy.”

The soldier nodded and closed the door of the Marquis’s room.

“Damn it.”

The Marquis slammed his hand on the desk. The poor desk shattered with fragments flying around. The Marquis kept muttering the name of his dead colleague and gnashing his teeth while resting his forehead on the desk.

—

It was less than twelve hours after we had barely arrived in the city when the order to retreat came.

“Are you retreating further?”

“It seems like they’re retreating to the second front.”

The soldiers were agitated by the news that had been handed down. Wounded soldiers being treated in the city did not believe the news that the walls had collapsed. The soldiers who fled from the battlefield were not relieved that they were still alive and were lost in thoughts of their dead comrades and monsters.

“Damn it, Philip.”

“I said that we should be discharged together…”

lived

I thought that I had lived tenaciously.

In a battlefield where death is commonplace, no one took death for granted. Maxim checked to see if his comrades were still alive in the temporary barracks set up in an empty building.

Theodora was unharmed. Maxim could see them going to the Marquis’ residence. Paola, Roberto, and Christine were now in the barracks with Maxim. However, not all of the raven knights were safe.

“In the end, this is how it turned out.”

Christine said in a dazed voice.

“I didn’t think anyone in our knights would die…”

Maxim could not say anything. Neither Roberto nor Paola could do anything right now except listen to the complaints.

“How will it be? now.”

It was Paola who responded.

“Since they said they were withdrawing to the second front, they probably intend to make this city their graveyard.”

“tomb? What do you mean?”

Roberto asked.

“…They say there are other magics prepared in this city besides the magic of the veil.”

Paola stomped her foot on the floor of the building.

“Explosive magic that can blow up entire cities,”

“So, are you planning to bury the monsters along with this city?”

Paola nodded in agreement.

“If the power of the kingdom arrives after somehow reducing the number of monsters and catching the Behemoth, we will deal with the Behemoth as it is.”

“Can I deal with that monster?”

At Christine’s question, Paola shrugged.

“I don’t know either. Explosive magic should do its job. It would be great if I could kill the Behemoth with that magic, but…”

I don’t think you’ll die that easily with a single spell.

said Paola bitterly.

“…when will reinforcements come?”

“If His Majesty the King wants to protect his people and his territory, he should arrive tomorrow at the latest.”

Otherwise, you don’t know how much this monster will eat this kingdom.

At that time, the door of the barracks building opened and a soldier entered the barracks of the Jackdaw Knights. As the knights’ eyes focused, the soldier turned his head around in embarrassment and fixed his gaze on Paola, who seemed to be the eldest.

“Now the Marquis has issued a summons. It is an order to gather in the city square, with all your belongings packed.”

The soldier looked at the knights for a moment, perhaps thinking that an explanation was needed.

“They say they will remove the barrier and retreat from this city.”

he added.