Published: January 13, 2026
[Count’s Army · Commander]
I could hardly believe my eyes at the unbelievable sight before me.
I was already stunned by the wyverns that appeared at the sight of Yelinetta’s banner, but this new shock was on a whole different level.
One by one, the wyverns were being shot down. I didn’t know exactly what was happening, but I heard the sharp sound of wind being sliced and a low rumble simultaneously. Then, the wyverns’ movements became erratic, and they plummeted to the ground.
They had been attacked by something.
I understood that much. But I had no idea what kind of attack it was. The regular soldiers assumed it was a top-tier wind magic assault, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
Nor was it earth magic or anything similar.
“Knight Captain! Yelinetta’s forces have stopped moving!”
“All the wyverns have been wiped out! That leaves about fifteen thousand ground troops of the Yelinetta Army!”
Reports kept coming in one after another even as I pondered. It seemed the enemy was also thrown into chaos by the sudden arrival of reinforcements, but we could not afford to freeze up either.
“Strengthen the defenses while keeping an eye on their movements! The reinforcements appear small in number! If they’re magician corps, they’ll be wiped out if they get too close! If the Yelinetta Army turns back, we’ll strike their rear immediately!”
As I gave orders, the soldiers raised their voices and took their positions. Light was finally breaking through what had been an overwhelmingly disadvantageous siege warfare. The rise in the soldiers’ morale was extraordinary.
Now that the airborne threat was gone, the soldiers would immediately carry out even a frontal charge if commanded.
I had placed heavily armored troops at the collapsed parts of the walls, but I planned to instruct cavalry to stand ready behind them.
Normally, siege defenses last for months, and reinforcements are key to deciding victory or defeat. Considering this strategy, if a dreadfully powerful reinforcement appeared now, the Yelinetta Army would almost certainly either crush that reinforcement or choose to retreat.
The only worry was that the walls had partially collapsed. If the Yelinetta Army was confident in their breakthrough ability, they might advance into the walls without hesitation.
“...It’s best to consider both possibilities,” I muttered quietly and moved up onto the wall to survey the defense situation.
At that moment, a report came to me on the wall.
“Knight Captain! The Yelinetta Army has split into two groups!”
“What!?”
I hurriedly ran along the wall to the edge.
Looking down through the gaps in the arrow shields, I saw that the Yelinetta Army had indeed divided into two, roughly ten thousand and five thousand troops.
What was astonishing was that the ten thousand had headed toward the reinforcements on the hill.
Had they judged that only five thousand soldiers were enough to take Count Ferdinand’s Domain?
“...Don’t underestimate us, Yelinetta!”
Shaking with anger, a shout burst from my lips.
“Mighty warriors of Ferdinand! They’re underestimating us! They intend to destroy us with a mere five thousand! Were we such weaklings!? Answer me! Was our knight order really that fragile!?”
My yelling changed the expressions of the soldiers.
Their anger turned into morale, and their hands gripped their swords tighter. However, the enemy possessed that mysterious magical tool that had destroyed the walls.
A thoughtless charge would be foolish.
“Rain arrows down from the walls! Do not hold back!”
After ordering the archers, I turned to the cavalry.
“From now, have the heavy infantry open gaps! We will strike by surprise and launch a sortie! But do not confront them head-on! They destroyed the walls with a mysterious thrown weapon! Cavalry, confuse the enemy at top speed! Judging by how many times they’ve used those weapons so far, their supply is not ample! Force them to waste those projectiles!”
The cavalry drew their swords and responded to my words.