Chapter 257: [Alternate View] A Surprise Assault

【Towncar】

“Indeed, it is as His Highness Cosworth says.”

“There is no greater opportunity than this.”

“If we win here, everything will go according to plan.”

Partly because of the pressing circumstances, I agreed to meet them in battle, swayed by such voices.

“Ah, we can’t escape anymore… What kind of idiot dares to invade the enemy camp in such an advantageous situation? They must have some terrifying weapon…”

I could hear Pista, Cosworth’s younger brother, muttering from atop the wall as he gazed in the direction of Centena along the mountain path. Perhaps two defeats were making him like this, or maybe he sensed something ominous in the report from the messenger.

Either way, his personality seems quite different from Cosworth’s.

“…Will we be alright?”

Anxiety is contagious. Because Pista was muttering unnecessary things, one of my subordinates started saying such things. I understand the feeling, but the decision to respond has already been made. Saying we are anxious won’t change anything now.

I dared to smile and shook my head.

“Even I do not know if we will be alright. But we can no longer run. If we have no choice but to do it, it is better to think about how to fight to win.”

“…Yes, sir!”

Their hesitation probably hasn’t cleared, but they seem to be looking forward now. I intended to admonish my subordinates, but the same applies to myself. The weapons and fighting style of the Kingdom of Scuderia are beyond imagination and unpredictable. Frankly speaking, I think we should have allied with the Kingdom of Scuderia instead of the Kingdom of Yelenetta.

However, it is too late. It irks me that things have gone according to Cosworth’s plan, but the moment we adopted a defensive stance based on his words, fighting became inevitable.

Even if we took the heads of Cosworth and Pista in this situation and sued for peace with Scuderia, a country that betrays its ally like that would not be trusted.

“…Judging by the flames at that time, the Watchman of Scuderia is still alive.”

When conducting a siege, a force five times greater is required to capture an enemy stronghold. That is why the Kingdom of Yelenetta significantly bolstered its forces by allying with the Shelvia Confederation. Although we suffered a crushing defeat, the majority of those knights are still alive. In contrast, only two thousand five hundred appeared from Centena. Even if we miscalculated the numbers, it would be around three thousand. With less than a tenth of our strength, how do they intend to conduct a siege?

“Is it just a feint? Or do they truly believe they can fight with this difference in strength?”

Centena would have had victory within its grasp if they had only focused on defense. Yet, why did they switch to an offensive? The answer will be known soon.

Thinking this, I gazed forward from atop the wall and saw figures on horseback running from the depths of the mountain path. Although they were at a great distance where even artillery could not reach, I knew that the riders were knights of my Shelvia Confederation. They were the ones who had been hiding in the mountains as scouts.

“About twenty cavalry from the direction of Centena! They are our scouts!”

Hearing the report from my subordinate, I nodded slightly while racking my brain over what had happened. All the subordinates hiding in the mountains as scouts were intimately familiar with this region. They wouldn’t be easily found, and even if they were, they should have been able to escape sufficiently. Why are they running toward us?

“Lord Towncar! Smoke! Smoke from the mountain!”

“They set fire to it…! Normally, that would be a last resort for the cornered side…!?”

At my subordinate’s report, I unintentionally shouted at an opponent who couldn’t possibly hear me.

It was likely caused by high-powered fire magic. Because the smoke started rising much later, we couldn’t tell from this side. The scouts must have decided the fire would spread quickly and escaped.

Even though there’s a possibility that Centena itself could be damaged if the forest fire spreads, what a drastic action to take. The mountain gradually turned red, and smoke began to dye the sky black. From here, the mountain path looked narrow, and it appeared to be blocked by fire.

But from beyond that fire, the Knight Order of the Kingdom of Scuderia appeared.

Perhaps devising a way to avoid being targeted by artillery, the cavalry immediately spread out widely to the left and right. Then, strangely shaped carriages appeared following them, and after that, knights who appeared to be infantry showed themselves one after another from beyond the fire.

In the blink of an eye, an army matching the report lined up in front of the burning mountain and began to advance toward us.

“It’s a diversion! Fire the artillery!”

Cosworth shouted from the center of the wall, and some of the artillery deployed on the left and right began shelling. Fire spewed, and shells flew toward them, but as expected, they were too far away and didn’t fly as aimed. The shells landed far short of the opponent, shaking the earth.

However, we should have been able to dampen their spirits. If they saw that explosion right in front of them, they might hesitate to advance. I held such a faint hope.

But the opponent did not seem to be so soft.

Advancing boldly down the road where the terrain had changed due to explosions and black smoke rose, one of the cavalry raised a voice high.

“What a quaint welcome! I express my gratitude on behalf of the Kingdom of Scuderia! Now then, as a token of thanks, I, Viscount Panamera Carrera Cayenne, shall present an interesting show! Watch closely!”

Unexpectedly, it was a woman’s voice. Even at a distance where I couldn’t confirm the details of her face, her voice carried well. With her blonde hair swaying in the wind and her sword raised, she looked like a Valkyrie.

“Panamera… Is that Viscount Panamera, known as the Witch of Ashes?”

“Why is such a terrifying woman here…”

“Did she read our movements and leave the main unit to come to Centena…?”

Some knights could not hide their astonishment and confusion at the appearance of the notorious figure. They are free to be surprised by the arrival of someone with such infamy, but this is not the time for that.

“Fools! Fire the artillery immediately! Don’t let the enemy do anything!”

For some reason, they are not using those crossbows. Even without knowing the reason, we cannot miss this opportunity.

Cosworth seemed to think the same. Immediately following my words, Cosworth also issued instructions for shelling.

“All units, fire! Do not let them approach!”

Cosworth shouted, and the bombardment began. A massive volley of artillery fire, incomparable to anything seen before. Twenty, thirty shells were launched into the sky. Its destructive power would rival a simultaneous attack by ten first-rate mages.

As expected, explosions spread all at once, centered on the road. Even for us at a distance, this massive explosion was enough to send a chill down our spines.

“…Did they retreat?”

“Can you see anything in that smoke?”

I caught sight of subordinates whispering such conversations. Since I was praying for the same thing inwardly, it couldn’t be helped.

The flames were low but visible here and there. And smoke reaching the sky was rising.

Suddenly, through that smoke, I caught sight of a single horse leaping over the flames.

“H-hey! Someone appeared! It’s just one person!”

“It’s that blonde woman!?”

How did she control a frightened horse after such a massive explosion? Panamera lightly leaped over the barrier of fire and appeared through the wall of smoke.

Her figure was valiant enough to strike the hearts of the knights.

“You seem quite frightened, gentlemen! Come now, if you can slay me, this battle will be your victory! Come at me!”

Saying this, Panamera spurred her horse and began to run alone.