Chapter 234: The Shelvia Kingdom Army's Astonishment [Alternate View]

【Count Towncar Pillars, Shelvia Knight Order】

I had heard the rumors. The talk was that the eastern part of our nation had agreed to the request of the Kingdom of Yelenetta and formed an allied force, despite there being no benefit to our own country.

After all, the plan was to invade the powerful Kingdom of Scuderia by attacking from our territory. If we lost, our nation would surely become part of the Kingdom of Scuderia. Furthermore, the only benefit we would enjoy if we won was the maintenance of the alliance with the Kingdom of Yelenetta. No, since I heard they declared they would crush us first if we didn’t ally, this alliance was clearly based on a strict hierarchy, unlike previous pacts.

Shouldn’t we be strengthening our alliance with the Kingdom of Scuderia instead of the Kingdom of Yelenetta? Corsair Noras Aviator, the Marquis who holds the strongest authority in the west, argued this point, but the Royal Senate vetoed it.

In the end, the east submitted to the military might of the Kingdom of Yelenetta. I don’t know the true extent of Yelenetta’s rumored new weapons, but it must be something significant enough to necessitate changing the entire stance and status of the Shelvia Confederation.

To substantiate this, despite the border with the Kingdom of Scuderia in the western part of the Shelvia Confederation becoming the battlefield, the eastern nobles eagerly dispatched their Knight Orders. Some even mobilized the forces meant to defend their own territories, resulting in a total assembly of over thirty thousand troops. In contrast, the western nobles, who were merely contemplating cooperating with Yelenetta, contributed only about ten thousand in total.

Against this, the Kingdom of Yelenetta contributed thirty thousand troops. This number is unbelievably staggering, considering they are currently engaged in battle with the main forces of the Kingdom of Scuderia elsewhere. If they are holding Scuderia back with an equal number of troops, then Yelenetta will indeed win this war. And they should also win this battle at the Shelvia border. Even if Marquis Fertio had remained in his domain, there is no way he could defeat the combined allied forces of Shelvia and Yelenetta, totaling seventy thousand.

“…The times seem to have changed,” I muttered to no one in particular, observing the situation at Centena.

Violent explosions rang out, and fires were breaking out in various places in the fortress. Five flying dragons were circling in the sky, ready to continue the assault.

The battle had only just begun, but I could only foresee the fall of Fortress Centena.

If I were defending Centena, what would I do? “…There is probably nothing left but a suicidal charge.”

After voicing that thought, I checked the status of the Knight Order I was leading. We were located halfway up the mountain slope, concealed in a hollow that kept us out of the enemy’s sight. Traps were set both on and around the road in case the enemy attempted a charge. On top of that, we had these cannons, borrowed from the Kingdom of Yelenetta.

The Knight Orders of the eastern nobles, who had volunteered for the front lines, were attacking from the sheer cliffs on both the left and right, wielding the cannons. They had spent three days traveling to those positions, so it would be difficult for them to retreat if they faced a counterattack. This proves how much they trust Yelenetta’s new weapons.

And it was proven that they were half-correct.

“The effective range is about one kilometer…? If they are subjected to continuous attacks of that magnitude from multiple directions, a counterattack would be difficult.”

If the enemy delays in counterattacking, the cannons will simply relocate. Unless the mage is exceptional, the attack range is typically only a few dozen meters. If the cannons move after every shot, a counterattack would achieve nothing.

Is this what war will look like from now on?

We are undeniably winning the battle. Yet, I felt a sense of emptiness, as if a hole had been torn in my chest. Tactics centered on mages, using cavalry and infantry to toy with the enemy and forcing them to move as intended… such strategies may now be a thing of the past.

From now on, the main force will be attacks using these cannons and the black metal, and mages will be relegated to diversionary or supplementary roles to ensure the success of the attacks…

Just as I thought that, a red light shot out from Centena’s rooftop toward the cliff face on the right. It was a band of fiercely burning flame. The cliff face was instantly engulfed in fire, spreading rapidly across the area and clearly demonstrating its sheer heat.

“…Marquis Jalpa Bul Ati Fertio. I see, the Watchman of Scuderia remained.”

Seeing that fierce fire magic, I clenched my fist involuntarily. With this, the time until Centena falls will be significantly extended. Even in a situation where every second counted, I felt a small inner joy that the power of a single mighty mage appearing on the enemy side had influenced the course of the battle.

It was as if he were saying that the Age of the Mage was not over yet.

Another band of fire swept across the cliff on the opposite side.

“Count! There might be a magical attack from Centena! Evacuate to the rear immediately!” The Knight Commander pleaded for an evacuation, but I shook my head, refusing.

“There is no problem. That attack was the work of a single person. Since he drew that much attention, he would be the primary target. He is probably moving to a safe location now, having stopped his counterattack.”

The moment I said that, the sky suddenly turned red, as if mocking my words. I turned back in surprise to see a curtain of hellfire, as if incinerating the sky itself, covering the entire horizon.

“I-impossible… What in the world…” My Knight Commander’s eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at the sight of the burning sky.

I understood his feelings perfectly. I am an Earth Mage, and the Knight Commander is a Fire Mage. As fellow Four Elemental Mages, we could hardly believe that such a massive amount of magic could be wielded.

“…It seems we may not be able to proceed easily. Not with the Watchman of Scuderia standing in our way.”

We had a problem. I meant it when I said that, but the Knight Commander furrowed his brow, looked at me, and shook his head with a wry smile.

“…My Lord, you look quite entertained.”

“Hmph, it’s your imagination,” I retorted to the Knight Commander’s observation, turning my back on Centena and heading toward the main camp. The main camp was located on the outskirts of the road, hidden by the cliffs.

“Since the Wyverns have been chased away, even if only temporarily, there may be a change in strategy.”

“Yes, sir!” The Knight Commander straightened his back as I began walking toward the main camp.