It was the fortieth day after the crossing of the Elkur Desert.

　At the exact same time that the Second Siege of Teripol began, another battle that would determine the course of the Lemurian-Cherda War was about to begin.

　The Lemurian army, now totaling about 7,320 after joining forces with the army led by Hercule, began to lay siege to the city of Azdavia, where about 5,000 troops were holed up.

　We'll surround the city so thoroughly that not even a single ant can get through.

　To tell the truth, surrounding an enemy force of 500,000 with approximately 700,000 troops was a bit unreasonable in terms of the difference in strength.
　If we were to conduct a siege with this difference in troop strength, it would be more effective to concentrate our troops and conduct a wave attack instead of a siege.

　However, the goal of Hercule this time is not a siege.
　It is a siege itself.

　Therefore, the small difference in troop strength was not much of a problem.
　However, even so, there was still a risk of a breach between 700 and 500.

　Therefore, Hercule undertook large-scale civil engineering work in order to thoroughly surround Azdavia.


　He built a four-meter-high earthen mound around the city of Azdavia.
　This earthen mound was not only piled up with earth, but also thoroughly reinforced with wood, stone, and Lemurian concrete, and planted with reverse bushes.

　Four rows of dugouts were dug in front of the earthen mounds, reverse bushes were planted under the dugouts, pitfalls were built in front of the reverse bushes, and a large number of iron stakes were driven in front of the pitfalls.

　In order to prevent the enemy from breaking the siege, they set up a number of defense posts and watchtowers.

　Iason had been observing the movements of the siege, but ......
　Some of the impatient warbeast generals tried to interfere, but the Lemurian army intercepted them all.

　Once the inner siege was complete, Hercule built the very same siege that had surrounded Azdavia in order to repel any enemy reinforcements that might come to liberate the city.

　These civil works took twenty days to complete.

　Once the work was completed, Hercule brought in forty days' worth of food and prepared for the siege and siege.




　Somehow, we managed to finish it before the enemy reinforcements arrived. Well, I would have liked to have fortified it a bit more if I could. ......
　Isn't that a bit overprotective?
　Well, that's one thing.

　Hercule nodded at Galfis' words.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it. Leaving behind a minimum of defense, they'll be at almost full strength, ...... with an army of two hundred and ten.

　That means two things.
　It means that the Lemurian army currently surrounding Azdavia may be pinned down by a total of 700, consisting of 500 from the Azdavian side and 200 reinforcements.

　And ......
　At present, there are almost no troops defending the region of Teriportania.

　You got what you wanted, didn't you?
　"Yes. Now the region of Teriportania is as good as fallen.

　The Azdavian garrison, which should have prevented the Lemurian army from entering the Teriportanian region, is holed up inside Azdavian City and is being thoroughly surrounded.
　And the Teryportanian garrison, which is supposed to be the last line of defense, has gone to Azdavia City to help their friends ...... and has left the Teryportanian region behind.

　That's why. I'll be leading a legion of Bulgaroon cavalry and a legion of medium-armored cavalry (cataphracts) to the region of Teriportania.

　There are no more than 10,000 soldiers defending Teriportania.
　Moreover, those less than 10,000 soldiers are scattered all over the vast region of Teriportania.

　If we put 2,400 fully equipped cavalry into the area, ......
　Many cities will choose to surrender rather than fight.

　"Galfis, the overall command reverts back to you, but ...... you know what you have to do, don't you?
　"Nail both the Azdavian and Teryportanian defenses, is that it?
　Exactly. There's no need to force the city of Azdavia. Just make sure they can't get out.

　When Hercule said that, Galfis nodded.
　Then he grinned and said.

　But you don't mind if we defeat ...... them, do you?
　I don't mind, but take it easy, okay?

　Hercule became a little worried.




　So, Hercule led a legion of bulgarian cavalry and a legion of medium-armored cavalry (cataphracts) to the region of Teriportania.





　...... What is the enemy's goal?

　Iason tilted his head as he watched the Lemurian cavalry leave the siege.
　The reason why the enemy has surrounded us so thoroughly is probably to bring down Azdavia.

　And the fact that they have even built defensive equipment is to prevent the enemy from attacking behind you,......, which means that even if they do attack behind you, they are determined to take down Azdavia.

　And yet, it is inconceivable that they would remove a force of over 200,000 from the siege.
　And then, a worst-case scenario came to Iason's mind.

　(Don't tell me that the ...... Teriportanian garrison is on its way to reinforce us?

　But if they are, it makes sense.
　In other words, they're building defensive facilities to prevent the Terriportanian garrison from attacking.
　And the reason why ...... over two thousand troops were removed from the siege was to gain control of the Terriportanian region, which had been stretched thin while the Chelda Kingdom's army was drawn to Azdavia City.

　No, that's not possible!　No, it can't be! I gave orders not to send reinforcements, but to hold the line!

　Iason said to himself.






　It was more than twenty days ago.
　Forty-seven days after Hercule had crossed the desert.

　The commander of the Terriportanian garrison received two fast horses.

　The first was that the Lemurian army was about to encircle Azdavia, and that Iason was in danger.
　The other was an order from Iason to never leave his post and to absolutely continue to defend the region of Teriportania.

　"...... is an order from Master Iason. It can't be helped.

　The commander of the Terriportanian garrison continued to defend the Terriportanian region as ordered by Iason.
　But after ......, more information came to the commander.

　Many of them were fast horses that came from cities and villages near Azdavia.
　The content of the information was that the Lemurian army was trying to encircle Azdavia thoroughly.

　The commander was torn between two questions.
　Should he continue to obey the order or should he go for reinforcements?

　If possible, he would ask Iason for instructions, but the Azdavian garrison led by Iason was completely surrounded by the Lemurian army, and he could not ask for instructions.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.



　In the end, it was the lessons of the past that pushed the commander forward.
　What will we do if we keep making the same mistakes over and over again?
　Would Iason be able to protect the city of Azdavia?

　What guarantee do we have?
　General Carmine was defeated.

　It would not be surprising if General Iason were to be defeated.

　If the Azdavian defenders are defeated, there is no way to prevent the Lemurian army from pouring into the Teriportanian region.

　No, no, but ...... if we stay out of Teriportania, there is a possibility that some of the Lemurian army will pour into the region. ......

　This is the reason why Iason ordered us to never leave the region of Teriportania.
　If the Lemurian army were to pour into the thinly stretched region of Teriportania, it would be enough to take over Teriportania.
　If that happened, the Kingdom of Chellda would be finished.

　But ......

　"No, ......, but isn't that better than the fall of Azdavia?

　Iason is asking us to protect Teriportania on the assumption that Azdavia will be protected.
　However, if Azdavia falls, it will no longer matter whether or not there are about 200,000 Terriportanian defenders left in the Terriportanian region.

　More than 700 Lemurian troops will pour into the Teriportanian region at once.
　And if you cross the ...... Teriportania region, you will find the city of Teripol, which is currently under siege.

　If more than 700 Lemurian troops approach Teripol, the siege of Teripol will have to be abandoned.

　In other words, ......
　That would mean that the region of Teriportania would become completely the territory of the Lemurian Empire.

　No way!　No, perhaps ...... that's the goal of the Lemurian Emperor!

　It's possible.
　It's possible.

　The commander does not doubt Iason's wisdom, but ......　
　There is no doubt objectively that the Lemurian emperor is superior to Iason.

　It is possible that Iason is dancing in the Emperor of Lemuria's hands.

　What a mess!　We've wasted too much time. ...... We have to hurry!

　Thus, the Terriportanian defenders left behind only a minimal amount of defense, and led a near-entire army of 200 to Azdavia City.
　On the way, information reached the commander that the Lemurian army was heading for the region of Teriportania, but ...... he did not return.

　He did not return because he thought there was no turning back now.
　He also thought that it would be better to temporarily give the region of Teriportania to the Lemurian Empire than to let the city of Azdavia fall.

　This was also an opportunity, the commander thought.
　Because the Lemurian forces currently besieging Azdavia were about 500,000 strong.
　And the number of Azdavia's defenders is also about 500,......, and the reinforcements are 200,000.

　In other words, the Lemurian army of 500 can be pinned down from the front and back by 500 and 200, for a total of 700.
　The commander thought that he might be able to annihilate the Lemurian army.

　If he did so, the war situation would suddenly tilt in favor of the Kingdom of Cerda.
　If he led a total of 700 troops to annihilate the 200 troops that had later occupied the Teriportanian region, and then invested another 700 troops in the siege of Teripol, the city of Teripol would also fall.

　The Lemurian army would have no choice but to retreat from the Kingdom of Cerda.

　And perhaps ...... the Emperor of Lemuria sent his army to Teriportania in order to avoid such a worst-case scenario?
　The commander also thought.

　Daring to attack in order to stall enemy reinforcements: ......
　This was a move that the Emperor of Lemuria had made many times in the past month-long war.

　How can I fall for the same trick over and over again?
　The commander headed for the city of Azdavia with a certain confidence in his heart.


　...... Well, the Commander was not wrong in his thinking.
　It is true that the fall of Azdavia and the annihilation of the Azdavian garrison would be a greater loss than the loss of the thinly-held region of Teriportania.

　And ...... it was true that this pinch was also an opportunity, and if the Lemurian army could be successfully pinned down and eradicated, the war situation would quickly turn in favor of the Kingdom of Cerda.


　However, ......
　The only mistake I made was that I forgot that the Lemurian emperor also knew this.

　In other words, I had completely forgotten the possibility that the Emperor of Lemuria was prepared to defend himself even if he was caught in the crossfire.







　Iason's despair at the sight of the Terriportanian garrison that had come at his heels was ......
　It was sixty-six days after the desert crossing.