197 Episode 5 The Second Battle of Teripol City Ends (1/2)

The day after a drunken Nia set fire to an enemy camp.

The sixty-seventh day after the desert crossing.

Hercule was marching through the Terriportan region at a speed of forty kilometers a day.

Considering that it was a force composed entirely of cavalry, it was a very slow march compared to the usual Lemurian army.

”Let's show them what the Bulgurons are made of!　Commence firing at once!

”Keep up with the Bulgurons!　Don't fall behind the Bulgurons! Show them what the Lemurian medium-armored cavalry is capable of!　Charge!

The Bulgaron cavalry led by Alicia distracted the enemy with cavalry fire, and the Cataphracts led by Karolina charged in.

Then, as if to push open the hole made by the cataphracts, the bulgaron cavalry also pulled out their sabers and charged.

The outnumbered infantry of the Warbeasts of the Kingdom of Cerda fled like spiders.

Karolina, you're really exerting yourself.

”Yeah. It's been a while since you've been on the rampage, so you must be having fun.

...... I don't think it's fun, I think it's more like she's competing with Alicia.

Scheherazade guessed Karolina's psychology.

With Nia, Alicia, and Scheherazade, the number of Hercule's favorite princesses who could fight as well as she could, Carolina was feeling a little impatient inside.

So, as if to make up for the delay, she is fighting hard.

But what can I say? But what can I say? It's a very sporadic attack.

Well, the main force, the Terriportanian garrison, is not here.

The Teryportanian garrison is surrounding the city of Azdavia.

In other words, the region of Teriportania is completely out of reach,......, but it is not completely defenseless.

There are many warbeasts who were not drafted into the army living in Teriportania.

As farmers, they can't so easily give up their farmland and go into battle ......, but they can make a certain level of resistance when the enemy attacks.

However, they are still no match for an army of 240,000.

We will continue to move westward along the coast and take control of the port cities. The inland areas will have to wait. We'll kill any enemies that resist, and show them mercy if they surrender.

Are you sure about the interior?

Yes. There are too many warbeasts inland.

The reason why Hercule is taking over from the coast is partly because he wants to seize the port ...... to secure the communication and transportation routes to the mainland of the Lemurian Empire, but there is another reason as well.

This is because the coastal areas of Teriportania are inhabited by a large number of human races, including the Kiris.

There are also many descendants of the Cheludans - not the warbeasts, but the humans who built the Cheludan Republic long ago.

Of course, all the port cities in the Teriportanian region were built by the Kiris and the Cheludans long ago.

And in the Kingdom of Chellda, it is mainly the descendants of Kilis and Chellda who are engaged in the shipping business.

Teriportania originally had a large percentage of humans.

And most of them live in the coastal areas.

And many of the ...... humans are Orthodox Messianics.

The Orthodox Messianic religion is now divided between the Papal and the Mediumistic factions. ......

In fact, many believers are not aware of the difference.

The division is only within the ruling classes, such as the clergy and nobility.

Well, it seems that Hilderick II has begun a policy of reconciliation with the human race, but ...... the history of persecution is not so easily erased. In addition, it is still just a philosophy, but the reality has not caught up. ...... In other words, discrimination by warbeasts against humans is still taking place.

The humans have no motive to fight the Lemurian Empire for the Kingdom of Chelda.

Therefore, many cities have welcomed the Lemurian army with bloodless siege.

In contrast are the warbeasts.

They seemed to think that their privileges would be abolished if they came under the control of the Lemurian Empire, and they took a defiant attitude toward Hercule.

We will burn any warbeast villages that stand in the way of our march. Of course, if they surrender, we will guarantee their lives and property.

Hercule grinned.

Not all of the warbeasts are resisting the Lemurian army.

I don't know if they know that they will be defeated if they challenge 240,000, or if they think that the defeat of the Kingdom of Chelda is already certain. ......

Some villages surrendered to the Lemurian army, while others showed reverence and actively cooperated with the warbeasts.

In other words, the warbeasts are beginning to split between the Lemurians and the Cheludians.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea. They won't be able to return to Teriportania.

The region of Teriportania was already occupied by the Lemurian army, and a not insignificant number of troops, 2,400, were closing in.

If the siege failed, the only possible destination for the Kingdom of Chelda's forces was Chelda City, or in other words, the Iphrygian region.

If they were to retreat to the Teriportania region, they would be pinned down by the siege forces of Teripol City and the 2,400 cavalrymen led by Hercule.

That means we're already at .......

This war is ours to win. We've already won this war. ...... Victory was already decided when we succeeded in crossing the desert.

Hercule smiled and ......

”Aha!　What are you doing?

There's a city to the west. I'm sure there will be prostitutes there so the soldiers can have women. If a soldier can have a woman, that means I can lift the restrictions I have placed on myself.

The restrictions that Hercule has placed on himself.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

I'm going to make love to you a lot tonight.

”Heh, Your Majesty. ......

While Carolina and Alicia are on the front lines fighting the enemy: ......

I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

It's been thirty-four days since the second siege of Teripol began.

The seventy-fourth day after the desert crossing.

...... ”Gentlemen, today will be the last general assault.

Carmine announced early in the morning to his commanders.

This made the commanders bite their lips in frustration.

This was because during the 33-day siege of ......, there had been no sign of the city of Teripol falling.

Every siege weapon had been destroyed, and the tunnels had been easily spotted and destroyed.

And the number of troops that had initially reached 15,000 had been reduced to 10,000 due to the counterattack by the Lemurian army and the plague.