Margrave Territory’s Knight Order Deployment

A highway leads to a vast forest where an elven autonomous zone exists. The appearance of the marching legion is magnificent.

Leading the way are foot soldiers, lightly armed with long spears. In other territories, this type of infantry, often temporary conscripts or rogues, is employed, but in the Margrave Harkin territory, they are hired as regular troops, undergoing rigorous training day and night. Their demeanour vastly differs from the infantry seen in other lands.

Following the foot soldiers are knights clad in metal armour, mounted on horseback. Their appearance truly befits the kingdom’s honour. The knights of the Margrave territory are known for consistently achieving excellent results at the annual tournament held in the capital. Of course, those who participate in the event are specially selected, but from their synchronized and organized formation, it is evident that even the lower ranks boast high skills.

Marching at the rear of the legion are individuals without armour or any obvious weapons.

They are magicians.

What is noteworthy is their number, making up nearly one-tenth of the entire army. In the Lombard Kingdom, only the knightly order directly under the royal family could muster such well-trained mages.

At the rear, exclusive supply troops essential for the proper operation of the army are protected. The total number of troops assembled amounts to roughly three thousand. Almost all of the knights of Margrave Harkin’s territory can be mobilized immediately.

The expressions of the villagers and travellers along the roads as they saw this spectacle were something to behold.

Rumors have already spread among the people about a major outbreak of monsters in the vast forest of the Elf Autonomous District. Therefore, the commoners were gripped by fear of an uncertain tomorrow… yet unable to leave their homeland, they lived with an overwhelming sense of unease.

Along with the march of the knightly order, those fears were dispelled.

‘What can mere monsters do!’

‘In the Margrave territory, there exists an unparalleled knightly order!’

‘Tomorrow, they will surely protect us!’

The people applauded from afar as they observed the marching knightly order or expressed their gratitude directly by lying prostrate along the roadside.

Marching forward, the soldiers gathered respect from the people, advancing to save the Elves, who had been friends since the founding of the nation. Contrary to what people speculated, what lay within their hearts was, however, an emotion completely opposite. In other words,

It was Fear.

…that’s what it was.

Everyone in the knightly order understood that this campaign… was nothing short of a march to death. And the reason for that was none other than… The lack of numbers.

Following the orders of the wise lord Forusha, the elf soldiers acted as messengers with a resolve to risk their lives. Based on the information brought by those who are now walking the path back home while among the knight order, it became clear that they were about to face an unprecedented large-scale outbreak in the kingdom’s history.

Even if the legion marching on the roads were to double… no, triple in numbers, would it really be enough? Moreover, the large forested area in the Margrave territory where the autonomous region exists is such an impossible terrain for a large army to deploy that the coordination skills honed day and night would be rendered useless.

There was hardly any chance of winning. Yet, they had to go. What is the Margrave territory knight’s order if they don’t save their good neighbours? Sometimes, even facing a seemingly hopeless battle is what a standing army must do. The large army entails taking several days before marching into battle, and it was impossible to rush there with the speed of a flying bird… For now, they could only trust that the elves were holding their ground and move forward.

In such circumstances, even the rearguard supply troops marched on with a solemn expression. The present Margrave Berg Harkin, who led them directly, had a remarkably calm expression.

Being known as a wise ruler despite his youth, he surely understood the desperate situation at hand. However, he maintained his composure while taking command… and from his demeanour, one could sense his care not to sow even a speck of doubt in the soldiers’ minds.

Or perhaps… Could it be that it wasn’t just an expression of determination but that he actually had a strategy and hope in this battle?

To others, this might seem like clinging to straws and being foolish. But for the soldiers who knew the wisdom of their leader, it was a hope worth embracing, providing them with a tiny bit of strength.

Amidst all this, the vanguard of the army finally reached the end of the large forested area. With a determination for the decisive battle… or perhaps a readiness for death, everyone tightened their faces.

“Huh!? What did you say!?”

Who was the one who actually raised that voice? No way to figure that out. Every knight belonging to the Margrave territory’s army was shouting a similar cry.

At the edge of the great forest where the Elven district exists, awaiting the Knights of the Margrave Territory were the most prominent figures of the Elven community led by the Eldest Elf of the Elves, Senior Forusha, whose name is mentioned in the history of the country.

“Forusha-sama! But…!”

Sent as messengers, the Elven soldiers who guided the knights up to this point tried to say…

“I am saying it was a misunderstanding.”

If the respected Grand Elf declared it so, no one could do anything but remain silent and step back. And as a matter of fact, it was obvious to the Elven soldiers from this homeland, as well as to the human soldiers, that the great forest was still and tranquil, to the extent that there was no hint of a large emergence of monsters.

If the situation was as dire as rumoured, it would be impossible for Senior Forusha and others to greet them like this.

“It’s all because of my foolish daughter - Ente’s hasty conclusions. Well, there was indeed a large emergence of monsters, but it was of a scale that had occurred multiple times in history, and we had already dealt with it. I truly apologize.”

The great elf who had survived for over eight hundred years bowed deeply to Margrave Harkin, representing everyone. At this point, no one could interject anymore.

“As punishment, my daughter has been exiled to the Land of Death. Furthermore, we will make every effort to compensate and make reparations for mobilizing such a large army. Could you find it in your heart to forgive us?”

“Oh, sending your daughter to the Land of Death...?”

The Margrave chuckled at that, then later… He declared while looking back at the entire army.

“Everyone! As you’ve heard, the sentence for his daughter, who caused this commotion, has already been carried out! Any doubts about these words shall not be tolerated in the name of the Margrave! I’ve heard that the elves will make a collective effort for compensation… Therefore, let’s put this matter to rest and understand that we conducted a large-scale military exercise!”

This was indeed like a decree from the top… The knights of Margrave Harkin’s territory felt as if they had been deceived by something as they reluctantly made their way back to the capital city Urones.