"All of you, evacuate: ！！！！！

　Jebe shouted this at the exact same time that the Red Wolves led by Sonia made their charge.

　Jebe was the only one who managed to roll on the ground and avoid the cavalry charge. ......
　The soldiers accompanying Jebe and standing in front of the warehouse were all crushed by the horseshoes of the heavy cavalry.

　"All hands!　Get on your horses!　Let's get out of here!

　Jebe shouted as he mounted a nearby horse and galloped off.
　As expected of an independent ranger unit led by Jebe.

　Since they were originally engaged in sabotage in the midst of the enemy,......, they had taken into account the possibility of being ambushed by the enemy and had been trained to leave the scene immediately in case of emergency.

　He was on the run like a rabbit.
　In no time at all, the independent rangers led by Jebe were out of the way.

　As he drove his horse, Jebe checked behind him.
　The enemy was in pursuit, but ...... far behind.

　And ...... his men and replacement horse are following behind him.

　This is the result of daily training.
　But ......

　d*mn, we're down to 500 men. We've lost half our replacements.

　Jebe gritted his teeth.

　The loss of 500 elite troops and the loss of the replacement horse were both great.
　The loss of 500 elite troops and the loss of their replacements was also significant. This meant that the mobility of the independent rangers led by Jebe was greatly reduced.

　(We lost 100 in the march and battle up to this point, and now we have lost 500. Now we've lost three hundred. ...... Maybe it's time to move on.

　We've rampaged far enough.
　It might be dangerous to stay in Iphiclesia any longer.

　So Jebe decided to return a day earlier than planned.
　But ......

　"Captain!　From the forest on your left: ......
　"d*mn, we're being ambushed!　Retreat to the right with cavalry fire!　Avoid direct combat as much as possible!

　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　In response, the Red Wolves were not intimidated at all and made a cavalry charge against the left flank of the Lemurian army.

　The Lemurian army is split back and forth.

　d*mn ......, let's save our friends!

　Jebe turned quickly, and now made a cavalry charge against the left flank of the Red Wolves that had pierced the Lemurian army.
　The following Lemurian army also attacked the right flank of the Red Wolves as Jebe charged.

　The Red Wolves, trapped between the front and the rear, were now in a tight spot.
　Jebe, with his skillful command, surrounded the Red Wolves and tried to destroy them.

　"Don't be afraid!　Show the inferior race the power of our warbeasts!
　"Oh, oh, oh... ！！！！

　However, the Red Wolves were not intimidated at all, and launched an absurd assault on the Lemurian army led by Jebe.
　The soldiers of the Red Wolves became like hedgehogs after taking countless arrows.
　However, the resistance was greater than expected, and the Lemurian army led by Jebe suffered many casualties.

　In the meantime, the Red Wolves, led directly by Sonia, had returned.
　Their armor, which had been pure white, was now dyed red with fresh blood.
　They charged straight at the back of the Lemurian army surrounding their friends, without slowing down.

　Jebe hurriedly broke the siege and formed up.

　On the other hand, Sonia also arranged the Red Wolves' ranks, which had been disrupted by the encirclement.

　About three hundred independent rangers and one hundred Red Wolf troops faced each other.

　In order to catch a beast that is fleeing at an untraceable speed, you have to set a trap in advance. Isn't that obvious?

　Sonia spoke to Jebe in Lemurian.
　Jebe snickered.

　The beast is that way.

　Then he drew his saber.

　"Two battalions ....... Troops A and B, run ahead. Troop C, you're stuck with me.

　Jebe gave the order to the independent rangers.
　At the same time, Sonia ordered the Red Wolves to...

　"Kill the vermin that are destroying our land.

　The voices of the generals on both sides overlapped.


　"Charge!


　About one hundred independent rangers and one hundred Red Wolves clashed with each other.










　It was a mess. ......

　At noon the next day, Jebe, with wounds all over his body, rejoined the two battalions that had escaped earlier.
　The first battalion, led by Jebe, had been chased all day yesterday by the Red Wolves, led by Sonia.

　Thanks to them, we lost six hundred of our best men.

　The Red Wolves led by Sonia were as strong as they were rumored to be: ......
　A battalion led by Jebe lost sixty men.

　The number of soldiers lost in the march so far is 100.
　And 500 in the ambush by Sonia.
　And 600 in Sonia's pursuit.

　We lost a total of 120 men.

　In effect, we lost an entire battalion.

　"Captain, thank you for coming back. ......
　"That's my line. You got away with it.



　Jebe smiled and thanked the troops who greeted him with tears in their eyes.
　If this had been a normal ...... unit, they would have been scattered among the enemy, and the independent raiding party led by Jebe would have been annihilated.

　However, Jebe had set up a rendezvous point in advance so that he could escape no matter what happened.
　Therefore, the Shinshin led by Jebe and the two battalions that had fled earlier were able to reunite safely.

　Many of the soldiers were killed, but ......
　There were no soldiers lost.

　Jebe patted his chest.

　"What do we do now?　Captain.
　We can't stay here any longer. Let's get the hell out of here.

　Thus, on the seventeenth day after Hercule had crossed the desert.
　The independent rangers led by Jebe have begun a general retreat.






　d*mn, did we lose him?

　As Jebe rejoined his allies, Sonia muttered to herself, her teeth chattering.
　Her lovely lips revealed sharp canine teeth.

　The white armor was dyed bright red by the blood that came back. ......
　And her beautiful chestnut hair is covered with a thick layer of blood.

　I'm not sure what to say.

　Sonia looked around at her soldiers.
　Although the Red Wolves had decided to take them by complete surprise and had given them a thorough chase, they were by no means unscathed.

　They had lost forty of their best men in the counterattack.

　"Oh, well. We've lost at least 100. Now they'll retreat from the Iphiclesia region.

　They had lost about a third of their men.
　It's safe to assume that their operational capabilities are greatly diminished.

　"First, let's go back to the palace and report our ...... victory to His Majesty.

　Sonia flipped her reddish cloak and began to retreat.







　The next day, that is, the eighteenth day after Hercule had crossed the desert.
　That was the day the city of Teripol fell.

　"Hello, Stefan. It's good to see you.
　"Your Majesty, it's good to see you too. Good to see you.

　Stefan said sincerely.
　I'd be in a lot of trouble if my sovereign left me to die in the desert.

　Your Majesty. What do you intend to do now?

　I'm going to take a legion of cataphracts and a legion of bulgarian cavalry and return to Cyrene City. Then we will join Darios and his men who are attacking Azdavia and destroy it.

　"So I should be defending with General Oscar Almon with a total of three legions of infantry?

　Yes, that's what it will take. The chain of command is ......, and you're up there this time. You're better at defending, aren't you?

　When Hercule said that, Stephan nodded.

　Yes, sir. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results. ...... But are you sure?　I'm newer than you, and my status is also .......

　Oscar is the oldest of Hercule's generals and a member of the Armon family, a prestigious noble family in the province of Misrule, albeit a minor one.
　Stephan, on the other hand, is newer than Oskar and a former mercenary.

　"Don't worry. Don't worry. I've already agreed with Oskar's guy. He's much better at offense than defense.

　Hercule muttered inwardly, Oscar on the offensive and Stefan on the defensive.
　I don't want to say it, because it sounds very unhealthy and anti-Messianic.

　Stefan looked relieved when he heard that Oskar had given his consent.

　Normally, Stefan talks to Oscar in a broken tone, but ......
　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　What is the plan for General Jebe and General Nia's independent rangers?

　"They've both been ordered to retreat to the city of Teripol. At least they'll be here sooner than the enemy will be able to retake Teripol City.

　As of yesterday, Hercule had ordered Nia to meet up with Stephan in Teripol City.
　Now that the city of Teripol had fallen, there was no need for any further information blockade.

　Besides, ......
　It was about time that the information that had fallen through the cracks was delivered to Hilderick II.

　Well, ...... maybe in two weeks at the earliest, a month at the latest, enemy reinforcements will arrive from both Teriportania and Cerda. We'll be coming for you as soon as we've defeated the Azdavians. ...... Hang in there until then.

　When Hercule said this, Stefan nodded.

　I understand. Leave it to me. ...... I'm good at defense. May I use General Jebe and General Nia as I see fit?
　I don't mind. Teripol is a key city. Make sure you defend it ...... even in death. Don't let them see you run away ...... like some other guy.

　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

　I'm sure you don't mind if I annihilate ...... the Cerda Kingdom army, do you?
　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.　If you feel like dying, you can run away.

　It's a matter of feeling.


　I really don't want you to die, Hercule reminded him.