Ready?　We won't be able to hit the gates anyway. So we will bury the gates. ....Let's block up the gates with all the rocks and dirt and furniture we can find in the country.

　Under Alexios' direction, Rezad began to set up its defenses.
　The Pofenian army has landed on the beach near Rezad.

　They would arrive at noon.

　Rezad has only one hundred mercenaries in his possession.
　And the guards from Rezad are about three hundred.

　The total number is four hundred.

　In addition to that, the recruited volunteer army is five thousand.

　They are neither the number nor the quality to defeat thirty thousand of the Pofenia Army.
　But there is no need to win.

　You just need to be able to withstand it.

　Even amateurs can play a role in siege warfare to some extent.
　This is because you can kill people, even if you just throw stones at them.

　Moreover, logistical support, such as replenishment of weapons, is the key to siege warfare.
　Even if you can't fight directly, women and children can still provide logistical support.


　Anyway, it's something to throw. A rock, a stone, an ornament, anything. You can scrounge up anything you can find. You can tear the house down if you want. And make a simple pitchfork out of your clothes.

　If I had a little time, I could have done some training.
　Even a little training in the handling of weapons and how to move would make all the difference.

　But there is no time for that.

　''It's a terrible army, isn't it? No, it's not even an army.
　But Alexios, that sounds like fun.

　Melia smiled at Alexios.
　Alexios scratched his cheeks as if he was troubled.

　In fact, he was enjoying it.
　He was excited in the face of this overwhelmingly unfavorable war.

　'Well I don't hate it.

　Alexios cowered his shoulders.





　Noon that day.

　'Well, it's a sight to behold. An army of 30,000 is a thing. It feels so much more than I've seen in a long time.'
　'Not long ago, I was usually commanding around 10,000, although I didn't reach 30,000.

　Alexios and Melia shelve the flag with a crescent moon on it and watch the advancing Pofenian army.
　The sight of them puts pressure on the hearts of the volunteer soldiers defending Rezad.

　If you look closely, you can clearly see that they are unified in terms of disunity.
　The type of weapons, the armor, the shape of the shields, the race.......

　All of them are different from one unit to another.
　It's like a military museum of the entire Teutonic coastline.

　"I see archers from Kroto, stone throwers from the Volfa Islands. There are also many other famous mercenary groups and tribesmen in the area and this is a problem.
　And we're a bunch of amateurs.

　It will take about a day for King Almus to arrive in this city.
　That means if we can hold out for a day, our hopes are linked.

　But how long can this group of amateurs last?
　It's doubtful.


　We'll stall for as long as we can. Okay?　It's going to be up to you to make this siege last.

　Alexios tapped Senator Rezad on the shoulder.
　The senator has a nervous look on his face.

　''Well Lord Alexios, you are from the Barca family, aren't you?　Wouldn't it be better for Lord Alexios to go?
　'I'm sorry, but me and my uncle Kepka were tongue-tied every time we saw each other. Apparently he didn't like the fact that the young man with the creepy eyes could outperform him.

　Alexios cowered his shoulders.





　'Hmm, so you represent Rezad. I have nothing against you. Open the gates quickly. I will save your life if you open the gates.

　In other words, there is no guarantee of property.
　For Kepka, for Pofenia, and for the mercenaries, looting is a quick way to make up for the expenses of war.

　'Ho, could you wait just a moment?
　'Why? I'll tell you what, I think it's the best I can do with your troops to last an hour.

　Kepka glares at the senator.
　The senator replies in a cold sweat.

　''That's the thing.......we're torn between King Rosais's country and Pofenia, who we should surrender to. I'd rather be under the control of Pofenia than be ruled by those barbarians, but there are a certain number of foolish ones out there.

　

　Even if there was no looting or killing, it is quite common for people to have their land confiscated and reduced to peasants disguised as slaves.

　This is 'common sense'.

　Therefore, Kepka does not know that King Rosais' country is an invader that not only rarely loots, but in some cases is so tolerant that it even gives them autonomy.

　If he knew this, he would have felt uncomfortable with the senator's statement.
　That the rule of the country of King Rosais, who does not work plunder and guarantees his property, and the rule of Pophenia, who is willing to plunder, and that the two cannot be hung in the balance.

　But Kepka didn't know.

　(.........Now, what should we do? Besides, I've heard that King Loseys has an army of over forty thousand men in his country. (If possible, I'd like to leave the walls of Rezad intact)

　All right, you've got two hours to get your story straight. You've got two hours to wrap it up.

　The advantage of having an army of 30,000 men against Rezad, who had few men.
　And ignorance of the southern Adelian peninsula and northward.

　These two things caught Kepka off guard and wasted his precious two hours of time.






　As usual, he's a bit of a tightwad. His strategy is bold, yet his logistics and tactics are royal and reliable. I would like to give him the reputation of being a bold, but well-behaved general. If only he hadn't been so lax in his packing.

　Alexios amusedly referred to Kepka as such.
　Alexios is a member of the Barca family.
　Hence, he knows a lot about the person called Kepka Barca.

　That, in turn, means that Kepka Barca also knows the commander of Rezad.......
　Kepka Barca is unaware of the fact that Alexios is the commander of Rezad.

　At the very least, Alexios and his team are slightly better than Kepka when it comes to information.

　''Well, that bought us two hours of time for starters. Good for you.
　Okay, so what do we do now?
　'Two hours later, demand another two hours for no good reason. Well, Kepka is not stupid, he just has a habit of letting his guard down. He's definitely going to find out that I'm stalling for time, though.

　But the minute you try, it's free.
　Alexios says he'll just try it.

　'What if it doesn't work?'
　'All right, I'll open the gates, just wait for me!　And then we'll get ready for battle.

　It will take enough to open the walls, so just wait.
　I can earn a plus ten minutes just by saying.

　'What do I do when the battle starts?'
　Thankfully, you're going to have to fight.

　Alexios looks at the senator with a look that says, "What are you talking about?
　The senator's face is very pale.

　''But we are far outnumbered and outgunned by the enemy, aren't we?

　The only way to do that is to be enthusiastic about it. It's not something that can be increased by trying to increase it. At any rate, stay calm. If you are in a hurry, the enemy won't weaken your attacks if you become weak.

　''Melia is right. The morale is even more suspect when you, the leaders, get too upset. You're not going to be able to do anything about it. Keep your mouth shut.

　Alexios and Melia sighed.
　But the senators' fears were understandable.

　They were merchants, and until now, the war had relied on mercenaries.
　Never in their lives have they ever faced a war where their lives, let alone their property, were in doubt, with such a desperate force difference.

　Of course, Alexios and Melia have the same point.
　But they are both ex-military men.
　They are both ex-military, so they have different guts.

　''We'll be fine, we'll be fine. A castle with high morale is not likely to fall. Even if the gap between their forces is desperate.

　Two hours words, Rezad's side again demanded an extension of time.
　Kepka was angry and demanded that the gates be opened immediately.

　Ten minutes later, the Pofenian army, led by Kepka, launched an attack on Rezad.
　There were only three days left until the arrival of Rosais' army.

　The desperate siege battle began.






　The first day.

　

　Three hours into the battle, Kepka described Rezad's defense as such.

　Even if they didn't have mercenaries, they could still be used as soldiers if the residents were motivated.
　The problem is the commander who commands them.

　I'm not sure if the senator of Rezad, who only cares about the money business, will be able to command properly, Kepka underestimated Rezad.

　'Apparently I need to change my mind.

　The color of carelessness fades from Kepka's eyes.
　He pours the wine down his throat in one go and flies his instructions.

　'Send in all the archers and the stone throwers. The raiding party, put the ladders on the ramparts and attack forcefully.'

　We will no longer be on our guard.
　With all our strength, we will defeat the enemy.





　"Calm down, okay? Just hold the shield in your hand and you'll be able to block the arrows.

　Alexios raises his voice and gives instructions to the volunteer soldiers.
　It was the remaining mercenaries in Rezad who served as Alexios' hands and feet, taking the place of the junior officers.

　Alexios' talent and the presence of the few mercenaries who were accustomed to war made the improvised army somewhat better.

　The volunteer soldiers desperately raised their shields and threw stones and pieces of timber carried in the manner of a bucket relay at the enemy.
　With gravity on their side, the objects hit the soldiers' heads as they tried to climb the city walls, causing solid damage.

　''Oops, your movement has changed.''

　Alexios changes his expression.
　He threw in the troops that the enemy had preserved.

　The amount of arrows raining down at once doubles.

　''This is a tough one. ........We have to increase the amount of arrows we throw as well.

　Alexios would counter that by sending in his reserves.
　Although it sounds good to call them reservists, they are not soldiers, but volunteer soldiers, old men and children.

　However, even they can throw stones.

　'Don't panic if they come up the ladder. Pull the ladder off the wall and drop it on the ground. If you do it calmly enough, you'll be able to handle it.

　Under Alexios' direction, the enemy soldiers are prevented from entering at the water's edge.
　What is surprising is Alexios' commanding ability.

　The enemy tried to take advantage of Rezad's gaps by repeatedly changing the location where they concentrated their forces.
　However, Alexios responds to it as if he is looking down on it from above (...).

　With a small number of minimal troops, he continues to prevent the enemy's maximum attack.

　I'm not going to drop them so easily. After all, I'm the one protecting........

　Alexios calmly draws his sword and knocks off the flying objects.
　A number of stones are flying at Alexios' eyes.

　I'm not sure if it's the same as the other two. As usual, accurate stone throwing.

　The stone throwers of the Volfa Islands are very famous in the Teutonic Sea.
　Their stones can reach farther than even bows and arrows can reach, and they are so powerful that they can shatter bronze armor and shields in a hundred shots.

　The stone throwers of the Volfa Islands recognized Alexios as their commander and sniped at him.

　''That's dangerous.......totally.

　Alexios shifts his position, moving out of sight and into a blind spot from the Vorfa pitchers.
　He does not back down.

　Because if Alexios backed down, the battle lines would collapse in a heartbeat.

　'Well, let me say it again. This city is not going to fall. Not as long as I'm guarding it.

　Alexios laughs inappropriately.




　Later, as the sun went down, the attack on Pophenia's army ended.
　Pophenia had finished the day without raising a single soldier on the city walls.

　There were only two days left until Rosais' army arrived.