181 Episode 22 Battle of Teripol Introduction




 It was a nightmare for the Kingdom of Cerda.
 Suddenly, a group of dusty people were approaching.

 If it had been the usual barbarian Barbarian attack, the border guards of the Kingdom of Chelda would have been able to respond calmly.
 But ......

 The army was flying a double-headed eagle and the military flag of the Lemurian Empire.

 Why is the Lemurian army coming from the desert?
 What's going on?
 Help me, please!

 Jebe, who was in charge of the spearhead force, ruthlessly ordered his men to shoot the fleeing guards.

 "Shoot to kill!
 " "Yes!

 The independent rangers, led by the well-trained Jebe, shot and killed the enemy without mercy.
 And they easily break through the enemy's defense line.

 "Rear, report to the Emperor. The defense line has been breached. He wants us to push forward at once.
 "Yes, sir!

 Jebe sent a message to the rear: ......
 "Yes!" Jebe said as he sent a message to the rear, "Keep your speed and approach the enemy city at once.

 I'm not sure what to say. The Lemurian Empire's army is attacking!
 No way! No way! We're in the middle of a huge desert! There's no way the Lemurians are coming.
 False alarm! False alarm! 
 No, no, no, I saw the double-headed eagle!
 Could it be the Barbarians, disguised as the Lemurian army?
 Whatever they are, they're the enemy!
 Close the gate!
 Wait! There are still people out there! We can't leave them behind!
 We can't just leave them!
 Hurry, hurry, everyone into the city!
 Hey, you're in my way! We can't close the gates! Get out of the way!
 Please, my wife's not here yet!
 Hey, that wagon's in the way! It's too big!
 Don't rush me! ...... Ah! The wheel, the wheel is broken!
 Don't be silly, at a time like this! I can't close the gate!
 I don't care what you do! I don't care if you break it!
 Don't destroy it! It's my property! Don't steal my stuff!
 I don't care what you do, just do it!
 Oh, hey! The Lemurian army is already upon us!
 Nonsense! The fast horses from the guards haven't arrived yet. ...... No way, are those fast horses?
 Oh, they're right behind the guard's fast horse!
 Come on, come on, close the gate!




 It's getting pretty exciting.

 Jebbeh said cheerfully as he watched from afar the chaos and confusion at the gates.
 The tone of his voice is casual, but ...... the horse is moving at full speed.

 Captain, aren't you moving too fast? The Bulgurons and the Cataphracts are not keeping up. ......
 "No, this is good. This is what Your Majesty ordered. This is what you want, that's why you made me the spearhead.

 The Independent Rangers, led by Jebe, are made up entirely of cavalry.

 They are completely lightly armed, with only a few sharp points of protection.
 The horses are nearly naked.
 Their weapons are sabers and bows and arrows.

 If that's all they are, they are just light cavalry.
 The most distinctive feature of the independent rangers led by Jebe is that each rider is accompanied by four replacement horses.
 Therefore, by changing horses several times, they can move at maximum speed.

 You're going to flow into the city. ...... Clear the obstacles.
 ""Yes!"

 The cavalrymen replied: ......
 The cavalrymen replied, and raised their Lemurian compound bows.

 The arrows rained down, sweeping away the crowd in front of the city gate.
 Jebe drew his saber and shouted.

 After the raid, we'll hold the gates and then we'll take the city. All hands, prepare for battle!
 ""Ha!"




 After that, the Lemurian Imperial Army led by Hercule invaded the heart of the Kingdom of Cerda, dropping its cities at a breakneck pace.



 And three days after they began their march: ......
 The Lemurian army was closing in on the city of Teripol.

 What the hell ...... is going on? What's going on? Has some port been taken? Where did the Lemurian army come from?

 Carmine, the general of Teripol's garrison, who defended the city of Teripol, held his head in his hands.
 The sudden appearance of the Lemurian army had torn apart the defense and intelligence networks of the Kingdom of Cerda.

 Information was completely mixed up, and it was impossible to tell what was a lie and what was the truth.

 Some claimed that the port had been captured and the Lemurian army had landed from there. ......
 Others claim that General Iason was defeated and that the Lemurians came up here.
 Others claim that the enemy is the Balbarians, and that they are only borrowing the Lemurian flag. ......
 Others say that the Lemurian army has crossed the Great Desert.

 This mixture of false and real information makes it impossible to grasp the current situation.
 In the first place, the truth that "the Lemurian army crossed the Great Desert and launched a surprise attack" itself is so fictional that it cannot be helped.

 "Yes! That's why I said we shouldn't spread out our forces! Just as I thought, we've been caught short! That young man with the raw art of war!

 Carmine's frustration was evident.
 The youngster was Iason.
 It is true that Carmine's strategy would have been to ...... intercept the enemy in the city of Teripol with the best of intentions.
 But ...... then Hercule would have taken a different tack, so it really wouldn't have made much difference.

 "Hey, General! Anyway, we have to intercept them!
 I'm sure you're right, but ...... we only have 500,000 troops!

 Originally, the garrison of Teripol was supposed to consist of 700 troops.
 However, ...... as expected, gathering 700 troops would take time, and Azdavia had to be prioritized first, and the capital and Teriportanian defenders had to be mobilized at the same time.

 As a result, only 500 Teripol defenders have yet to be assembled.
 But if we could gather 500, we would have no problem.

 We have already sealed the port with thick chains, and we are ready to deliberately sink the ships to render the port unusable.
 Even if the Lemurian Imperial Navy tries to land, ......
 If the Lemurian Imperial Navy were to attempt a landing, 500 ships should be enough to prevent it.

 But ...... the enemy came from land.

 "But the enemy force is about three hundred! We are superior to them!
 "Yes, that's true ......, as they say. If we siege the city, we should be able to hold out for a while. ...... How much food do we have?

 Carmine checks the amount of food stored in the city.
 Carmine listens to the report and ponders.

 "d*mn, it's too little .......

 Preparing for a siege also takes some time.
 It's not easy to prepare enough food that you won't have a problem even if the food supply is cut off for a long time.

 The city of Teripol has a population of 10,000 and is located in the south of the city.

 Moreover, Teripol City is the second largest city in the Kingdom of Cerda, boasting a population of 150,000.
 Their stomachs must also be supported.

 However, it is impossible for the ...... Lemurian army to completely encircle a city with a population of 150,000 where an army of 500,000 is holed up.

 However, it is still possible to interfere with ...... logistics.
 If the food supply to the city of Teripol is interrupted, there will undoubtedly be people who die of starvation.

 "Yeah, I don't like it, but ...... we're in the field! We have more men than you, there's no reason we can't win!

 So Carmine set up camp near the city of Teripol and waited for the Lemurian army.







 So Carmine set up camp near the city of Teripol and waited for the Lemurian army.

 I'm not sure what to make of that.

 They have more men than us. It makes sense.

 "Yes, exactly. I think it's a wise choice. I think it's a wise choice. Basing yourself in this situation is just plain stupid. We have more men than they do. If we siege, we'll dry up in less than three days and we'll have to make a final stand. Then it is rational to intercept them in the field from the start.

 I am not a foolish general.
 He was not a foolish general, and Hercule and Alicia appreciated it.

 But ......

 But to challenge me in the field with less than twice the number of ...... troops is a thousand years too early.

 Hercule smiled wryly.





 After that, Hercule waited for the entire army to assemble ......
 After regrouping his forces, he slowly closed in on the city of Teripol.

 The final battle was the next day.
 And that night, Hercule called Jebe.

 "Jebe here.
 "Thank you for coming, Jebe. Your work with the independent rangers has been excellent. It's thanks to you that we've made it this far without any obstacles.

 Hercule praised Jebe.
 Jebe's ears reddened a little, as if he was happy to hear this.

 (...... You really do have a pretty face, don't you?

 When he saw Jebe's blushing face, Hercule had an indescribable expression on his face.
 It's just as well that she was sent as Hercule's mistress.
 However, Hercule has no taste for men, and Jebe has no taste for being held.

 "Well, Jebe. You will not participate in tomorrow's battle, and you will leave here early in the morning.


 "All right, sir. ...... What's your destination?
 Iphiclesia.

 Iphrykia.
 It is an administrative division of the Kingdom of Cerda, west of Teriportania, where the city of Cerda is located.
 In other words, it's like a metropolitan area.

 "Proceed to the Iphrykia region while avoiding engagement with the enemy. ...... Threaten Chelda City and distract the enemy. With the mobility of your cavalry, it should be possible.

 "...... leave it to me. That's my specialty. We'll just wreak havoc, won't we?

 Yeah. I'll leave you to judge the situation. Just ...... as little damage to civilians as possible. It'll make it difficult to govern later. And send out the horses regularly. We don't want to lose track of where you are. Yeah. ...... Be back in a month, anyway.

 Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind.

 Jebe nodded.




 After Jebe left, Hercule then called Nia.

 "This is Nia Lucarios.
 "Good to see you, Nia. Thanks to your protection, we were able to march smoothly this time. You've grown.
 "Heh, ......, that's right, .......

 Nia grinned happily.
 In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to use it to pay off your credit card debt.

 "Well, Nia. You will not participate in tomorrow's battle, but will be assigned to another ...... mission.
 "Another mission?
 Yeah, I want you to start early in the morning.

 Hercule nodded.
 Then he unfolded an elaborate map.

 It was a map made when the area around the Kingdom of Cerda was part of the Lemurian Empire, with information that Hercule had gathered through merchants and agents, as well as information he had gathered on the ground.

 As you know, the city of Teripol is the hub of Teriportania, and also a major transportation hub. Nia, I want you to take over the barrier on the main road connecting Teripol City and Cerda City, and cut off information from west to east of Teripol City.

 "Yes, sir! ...... May I ask why?

 You're worried about not knowing if Teripol City has fallen or not ......?

 Hercule smirked.
 It's impossible to block out all the information, as there are small narrow streets.

 But if Nia blocked the main road, some information could be prevented.
 Distraction by manipulating information is also possible.

 This can only be done by your independent rangers. Take care of it.
 Yes, sir! I'll do it, I promise!

 Nia clenched her fists tightly.


 After Near had left: ......
 Hercule smiled wickedly.

 "Well, well, ...... can you handle it? Let's see what Hilderick II has in store for us.

 Hercule smiled with amusement.