Before dawn in the early October of the year 2812 in the Western Continent Calendar [Eastern Invasion], Part 1:


　Just as Mikoshiba Ryoma was training daily to master the Dharma, a war cloud was gathering in the neighboring Kingdom of Zaruda.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with them.
　On the one hand, it was for the development and supremacy of the country. On the other hand, it was for the country's survival and stability.
　On the plains of Notis, which stretched across the border, a war that could not be defeated was about to begin.


I wonder what's going on?　What's the status of each unit?

　Shardina, who was commanding in the main camp in the rear, called out to Saito, who was standing at the side, while staring at the huge map spread out on the table.
　On the map, the red and black color-coded pieces were arranged in a formation.

''Yes. According to the report from the messenger order, the main force is advancing along the route as planned. We have received reports that the three spearhead units are currently engaged with the Knights of the Kingdom of Zaruda, who are camped east of the Notis Plains.''

　As he said this, Saito rearranged the red pieces that had been placed in a lump at the edge in three directions.
　It seems that each of these pieces represents an enemy and allied unit.
　The red pieces represent the troops of the Oltmere Empire and the black pieces represent the troops of the Zaruda Kingdom.
　There are 15 red pieces in the center, 5 in the north and 5 in the south, which are quite far away from each other.
　Each piece would represent a total of 25,000 troops as roughly 1,000 troops.　

'How many enemy troops?'

　Saito lined up the black pieces around the border of the Notis Plains and the Mountain Division.
　There were twenty of them.

''It's an army made up entirely of knights, with a number of roughly 20,000.

　At Saito's answer, Shardina lifted her lips and revealed a mocking smile 《choushou》.
　It was the smile of a hunter convinced that his foolish prey had been trapped.

It's a good thing that you're able to have the whole army that can be moved immediately by the king's order. It's all on schedule.

'Well, we're in control so you can't choose any other option...'

　Saito responded to Shardina's words with a shrug of his shoulders.

''There are only five days between the declaration of war and today. There is not enough time to conscript the peasants.

　As a result of a thorough information blockade, the movement of the Oltomere Imperial Army had not been discovered on the side of the Kingdom of Zaruda.
　The Kingdom of Zaruda is a natural strategic point protected by steep mountains.
　But if you receive an invasion without knowing the movement of the enemy country like this one, that natural hindrance will adversely block the movement of the Zaruda Kingdom.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it.
　The important thing is that if you are not prepared to take advantage of it, it will only be a hindrance.

It's a good thing that you've been able to find out the number of troops in our main force on purpose, and because of the illusion that if you mobilize all of the knights under the royal family's direct control, you'll be able to bring it to a five-minute victory, and then drag them out into the field.

　Saito admired Shardina's wisdom from the bottom of his heart.
　Although she was the princess of the Oltmere royal family, it was because of her talent that Shardina was able to lead her army into battle.
　He understands that more than a little.

　The total military strength of the Kingdom of Zaruda is about 70,000. The total number of troops in the Kingdom of Zaruda is about 70,000, but this number includes the private armies of peasants and nobles.
　The strength that the Kingdom of Zaruda can immediately mobilize is about 25,000 knights under the royal family.
　The Zaruda Kingdom, which was not aware of the developments of the empire beforehand, did not have time to prepare its troops to touch the nobility.
　That meant that it would have to be defended only by the knights directly under the royal family that existed in the royal capital.
　Knowing this, Zaruda's military must have been in a hurry. And desperately gather information about the enemy army.
　They sought a breakthrough to break through the predicament due to knowing the enemy.
　The name of the general leading the imperial army. The number of troops. The expected route of advance.
　Countless information gathered. They analyzed them and formulated countermeasures. As a result, they realized.
　The number of troops led by Shardina is not that many. And if you mobilize the entire army under the king's direct control, you have a good chance of winning.

　If the soldiers invaded their own country, even if they eventually won, the Kingdom of Zaruda would be severely damaged.
　At first, Zaruda's military department was thinking of drawing Oltmere's troops into the country, after being prepared to make some sacrifices.
　However, if the number of soldiers led by Shardina is not large, then the story is different.
　If it's a field battle, and that's a battle near the border, the national power of the Kingdom of Zaruda won't be hurt.
　Everyone hates to lose.
　And moreover, there is no one who would choose an option that would certainly cause a loss when there is an option that might not cause a loss.
　Zaruda's army left a mere 5,000 knights and advanced to the Notis Plains.
　But it was Shardina who led them to think that way. The future they envisioned is a hope that was deliberately dangled in front of them, never to be realized.


'How about a separate force of North and South?　I assume things are going as planned?

　Shardina's sharp gaze shot through Saito.
　So far, the trap is working perfectly.
　However, Shardina understands from past experience that a little bit of carelessness can turn the situation around.
　That's why she never lets her guard down.
　The resourcefulness and experience on the battlefield, which is abundantly endowed from the beginning. And the frustration and lessons that she experienced due to the fact that she let Ryoma escape. All of these things mixed together in Shardina and made her grow into a meticulous and bold, exactly the ideal commander.

'Yes, sir. I have received word that both units are standing by at their scheduled locations.

　Shardina must have been satisfied with Saito's answer. She nodded with a smile.

''Fine ... you know the arrangement, right?　Saito.

Yes, Your Highness. Leave it to me, Your Highness.

　Saito's tone is the same as usual.
　A calm and polite tone. Then he bowed to Shardina and walked out of the tent.
　He was so calm that it was hard to believe that he was a person who was about to jump into the middle of a battle.
　However, Shardina can feel Saito's hidden fighting spirit.
　Shardina clearly caught the vision of the intense flames emanating from his back in his eyes.


Is everyone ready?

　Saito, who had become a man on a horse, called out to the deputies around him.

''Ha!''

　Short and powerful words make Saito's eardrums tremble.
　Following behind him are heavily armed knights. There are 10,000 of them.
　The main camp of Shardina is guarded by a small force of only 2,000 or so.
　It's a force that can be called "kenkon iyoku", with the captain's guard reduced to the bare minimum.
　This battle and all future wars of aggression are now on Saito's shoulders.

　In front of Saito's eyes, he could see the spearhead unit desperately trading contradictions with Zaruda's knights.

''Deputy Commander. Your orders.''

　One of his lieutenants asked Saito to order him to go into battle.
　Saito silently pulled out the sword at his waist and pointed high into the heavens.
　Everyone was silent, waiting now belatedly for the next order.
　They were all drunk. It was Saito's silent spirit.
　Then, feeling the fighting spirit filling his soldiers' bodies, Saito silently lowered his sword and pointed at the enemy in front of him.

''Ooooooooooh!''

　The soldiers were running beside Saito, raising a whale wave.
　The arrows, drawn to the limit, have finally been released.

　The knights on horseback are rushing towards the enemy's shadow.
　They are heavily armed knights covered in steel armor.
　They are heavily armed with steel armor, and even their horses are equipped with armor, making them the very chariots of this world.
　They have been strengthened in their physical abilities by martial arts, and they trample the knights on foot, leaping and piercing them with their spears.

'Kill!　Kill them all!

Don't run away!　I will not allow Oltmere's dogs to see my back!

'Shit!　My arm.... my arm...

'f*ck!　Swing a sword when you have time to scream!

　Savage shouts and screams emitted from all over the battlefield.
　This is the result of the imperial cavalry knights who jumped into the battlefield, which was mainly a white war by knights on foot.
　They will overrun the knights of Zaruda to the fullest extent.
　However, the knights of Zaruda were not naive enough to remain overrun as it is.

''Knights on foot, form up!　Hold off the enemy's horsemen!

Listen!　Don't get hung up on your platoon!　We must form up immediately.

　The tactful troop leaders quickly perceived the situation and raised their voices.
　It seems that rather than bumping horses against horses, they intend to set up a formation with knights on foot and prevent an attack caused by the horses.
　Zaruda's knights, whose chain of command is in disarray, quickly reorganize their formations according to their commander's orders.

''This one too, send the knights on foot forward!

　Seeing that the enemy commander had reestablished the confusion caused by the cavalry's blow, Saito moved the charging cavalry unit back and pushed the knights on foot to the front instead.
　Although the heavily armed horsemen are very powerful soldiers, they have some drawbacks.
　The horses from the "Earth" world are bigger and more powerful than their Japanese counterparts, but their physical strength is naturally limited.
　The advantage of a horseman is weight and speed.
　On the other hand, a horse that can't run is just an easy target.
　Soldiers are like rock-paper-scissors, so to speak.
　There is no such thing as the best soldier.

Get ready!　We must bury the Oltmere invaders here!　Don't you dare pull that shit!　Move on!

　When the frontline commander on the Zaruda side confirmed that the knights were ready, he raised his voice.
　The knights on foot of Zaruda, who are in formation, are advancing in step with each other.

''We will not allow the knights and others of Zaruda to flinch!　We are proud knights of the Altomerian Empire!　Kick the enemy to the curb!　

　Under the command of the unit commander, the knights jumped into the front line one after another.
　The ranks, which had been neatly arranged at first, distorted and collapsed as the two sides collided.

　Both armies are troops composed entirely of knights.
　Armor made of thick iron plates. Sharp swords and spears. Physical strengthening due to martial arts.　
　There is no great difference in the strength of a single knight.
　In order for the two armies to be evenly matched, for every one enemy killed, one ally dies.
　It was supposed to be a truly barren war of attrition. But the victory or defeat of the battle was already decided.
　The difference in the ability of the commanders would determine the fate of the two armies.