At about the same time that Almus and his army clashed with King Ferrum's army.
　Another battle was taking place near the border of King Ferrum's country and King Rosais' country.

　''Hmm, the morale of the enemy seems high... maybe they're blasting away saying they'll starve to death if they don't take the grain or something. It's a pain in the ass.
　Bartolo sighs.

　Bartolo fuels his drink.

　'How's that for enemy numbers?'
　Three hundred. Of which, about fifty are light infantry. No cavalry in sight.


　After listening to the sorcerer's explanation, Bartolo nodded with satisfaction.
　This one is a hundred and one better than the other.
　If we fight normally, we will win.
　In the last battle, we lost by twice as much strength but that's just because the previous commander was incompetent.

　Bartolo is not incompetent.


　''Cavalry is a pain in the ass. By the way, what's the formation?''
　'General phalanx. The elite, including the enemy commander, appear to be on the right flank.
　　　　　　　

　Well, it's the same as the last battle. It's a brave thing for a commander to fight on the most dangerous right flank himself. No wonder we lost last time.

　Bartolo fuels his drink.

　Phalanx holds a shield in his left hand, protecting himself and his left flank with it.
　Hence, the right flank, which is not protected by a shield, is left defenseless.

　So it is a basic tactic to put elites on the right wing.
　The commander of King Ferrum's country is a very brave man, and he himself wields a spear on the right flank.
　In the last battle, he was defeated when our left wing was eaten up and flanked by the enemy's right wing, which had gained momentum from the commander's own fight.

　By the way, Bartolo has no intention of fighting in such a dangerous place.
　He is going to drink and watch and take command in the safest place.

　That way I will be able to see the whole picture.

　"All right, here's the plan. All troops, move to your left. We're outnumbered. If our plan works, we'll win the war for sure.

　Bartolo grinned.

________.


　What is the enemy's formation?
　That's why ... they seem to be concentrating their forces strangely to the left.
　■■■
　■■■
　

　The sorcerer descended from the falcon and explained to the commander of King Ferrum's country.

　'Perhaps they learned their lesson in the last battle. The last time we destroyed the enemy's left side, they lost. That's what they are wary of. They are a foolish lot. What good is it if our weakest point, our right side, is neglected?
　The commander says in dismay.

　'And the enemy commander?　On the left?
　That's what's back there, I think. I see it's been drinking.

　The commander laughed outright at the sorcerer's explanation.

　'Isn't that quite a drink before a battle? And the rear?　Cowards. King Losey's men are a sad sight. Now, let's stop trying to lure them into our territory little by little. Let's just defeat them as they are.

　King Ferrum has told me to go win if I can win.
　It's not a violation of his orders.

　'Come on, let's go. Victory to King Ferrum!
　The commander held his spear in his hand and took up his position.

________.


　The battle begins with an attack by light infantry ... archers and throwers.
　And after that, a decisive battle by the heavily armed infantry will take place.

　Once the battle begins, the heavily armed infantry cannot move as much as they would like.
　They just kill the enemy in front of them. They will continue to fight until they die. That's all.

　"Now, all troops, advance!
　All troops, follow me!

　Bartolo and the commander gave the order at the same time.


　The first to collide with the left wing of King Rosais' army and the right wing of King Ferrum's army.

　Both armies clashed violently.

　''Die!
　The commander wields a spear.
　He is the most powerful general in King Ferm's country. And the soldiers directly under his command are the strongest and most elite troops in King Ferm's country.

　They kill King Rosais' soldiers one after another.
　But.........

　Shit, how many enemies do you have?
　The commander begins to show signs of impatience.
　Kill after kill, the soldiers in the rear line fill in the holes.

　There is no end to it.
　But still, as expected of an elite unit, they push King Rosais' army in, little by little.

　Until this time.

　I'm going to have to say it. Go, Kingsguard, go.
　Bartolo gives the order while stoking the drinks.

　From the back row, the elite troops of King Rosais's country - the elite that originally guarded the palace - go out to the front.

　They were said to be vulnerable to Almus and were beaten up by Ron, but they were not weak by any means.　
　That was just the cunning of the Almus with their blessings (cheats).

　They are definitely elite.

　The soldiers directly under the commander are strong.
　But they have been fighting battle after battle, and they are exhausted.

　It's irresistible because that's where they hit the elite.
　Gradually, King Rosais' side pushes in.

　The commander is made to feel inferior.
　But there was still room for him.

　It was the enemy's right wing.
　The enemy foolishly concentrated the troops that should normally be concentrated on the right wing on the left wing.

　That meant that the right wing side was poor.
　Soon the left flank on the King of Ferrum's side would have beaten the right flank on the King of Rosais' side and gone around the flank.
　The commander chuckled.

________.

　I don't think our dealers would be able to supply you with that.
　Bartolo takes a drink.

　Then he looks at the right wing on his own side.
　The right wing was still alive and well. No, the fight had not occurred in the first place.

　Bartolo ordered the attack to be concentrated on the left as a whole.
　That's why the left wing was so prominent and the right wing was so far behind that it hadn't been able to engage the enemy yet.

　'If the right flank is weak, he said, then we shouldn't fight it.
　Bartolo grinned and threw down the empty liquor bottle.

　'Well, it's time to settle this,'

_______________________________________________________________.


　'Shit!　What the left is doing!
　The commander cries out.

　But in response to his words, the spears of King Rosais' kinsmen attack him.
　Desperately, the commander deals with it.

　But there are limits to what a man can do.
　He had been fighting ever since the battle began.
　One cannot stay focused for long.

　The enemy's spear strokes the commander's cheek.
　Starting with that, the commander's movements became slower and slower, and the cuts increased.

　''Uggghhh!
　A spear grew in the commander's stomach.
　Several spears focused on the commander.

　''Enemy general!　I got it!
　Someone in the Kingsguard shouted.
　With that, the right flank of King Ferm's side collapsed.

　Quickly, the left flank of King Rosais' side went around the flank and attacked Ferm's side from the right.
　The weak point was exploited and King Ferm's side collapsed.


_______________________________________________.


　'Yes!　More territory for me!　You did it!
　Bartolo jumped up and down with joy.
　Nowadays, he seems to be so innocent and joyful that it's hard to believe that he is a general who has defeated his enemies with a godlike command.

　This is one of the battles not mentioned in the history books of the man known as The Serpent of Romano (Orochi).