[You have activated the quest 'First Territory War Victory.' To complete the quest, eliminate the officially recognized lord who owns the territory.]
[You will receive a charm increase of 50 as a reward.]
[The administrative capacity of your territory will increase by 50% without any additional requirements.]
Hidden in the darkness, I activated a quest. As this was my first territory war, I had chosen the most fitting quest in advance. The rewards were quite decent. Not only would it enhance my charm, crucial for recruiting talent and forming diplomatic relations, but it would also increase the maximum administrative capacity of the territory.
Normally, to increase administrative capacity, one must achieve 100% in governance rating and go through an adjustment period. However, with this quest, I could skip such processes and elevate the limit at once. Our territory was in a virtuous cycle, steadily improving administration, making this rapid expansion very important.
I was silently holding my breath. The soldiers ambushing with me on the side road had hidden in pre-dug trenches, perfectly camouflaged with fallen leaves and wooden fragments. Despite the chill in the pre-dawn air making their entire bodies cold, none of the soldiers showed signs of discomfort or fatigue.
Meanwhile, on the main road leading into our territory, I stationed 500 soldiers, including Rakis. We gathered all the military banners within the territory and planted them there. Although we only had 500 troops, it was to give the impression of having more.
We had firmly established a stronghold on high ground, securing geographical advantages in advance. If I were the enemy, our defense would be formidable enough not to risk a frontal assault.
Just a day ago, our territory seemed entirely free of the threat of war, completely peaceful. Under Rakis's orders, soldiers stationed at the border of the neighboring territory were even more lax than usual. They indulged in heavy drinking, neglecting their watch duties, which I had allowed.
However, once the scouts I had sent out beforehand detected the movements of the Mallorca-Ronella alliance army, everyone moved in an organized and orderly fashion, preparing for what was to come. It was a pre-arranged maneuver.
That was the situation now. The alliance army, having already mobilized, could not easily withdraw their troops. With a clear numerical advantage, they probably thought that, even if discovered, they could simply overwhelm us. While I couldn't read their minds, based on experience, I could predict with 99.9% certainty.
I didn't bring any promising talents with me. They were still like fragile glass that could break at any moment, too young for war. I left Hayes behind, who clutched at my trousers, insisting on joining. Instead, I instructed her to stand by at the rear, focusing on healing injured soldiers should the need arise.
I vividly remember what Hayes said before we parted. "My lord! Why aren't you taking me to this important war?"
"Your abilities are certainly valuable and precious. I don't want to lose you. The battlefield is a place where even a single mistake can cost you your life."
"You don't want to lose me? My lord, I'm touched! I didn't think you'd consider me so precious... I'm embarrassed, my lord!"
Indeed, Hayes had a remarkable talent for interpreting words in the way she wanted. I didn’t bother to correct her.
"Who wishes for the death of anyone by their side? Of course, I don’t want to lose you!"
"I understand, my lord's heart! I won't shed tears!"
"Anyway, stop arguing and stand by! When the injured come, you’ll have a lot to do. Don’t cry about hard work then, just be ready."
"Understood, my lord! I will be fully prepared! Shall I set up an impromptu ward?"
"I’ll leave that entirely to you, make sure to prepare thoroughly. You have the list, right? The list of citizens capable of serving as medical staff in emergencies from last time."
"Yes, I have it. Leave it to me!"
Thanks to that, she was readying herself for the treatment of wounded soldiers at the rear. Initially, I had considered bringing Isabelle, but I changed my mind at the last moment.
Even though I had strategies for this war, it was true that we were outnumbered. I worried Isabelle might be in danger if things didn’t go well. Protecting my own life was manageable with magic, but guarding and saving another’s life was more complicated than it seemed. So I didn’t bring her along.
Ella and Chloe, who were invited purely as guests for Lena’s lessons, also didn’t utter a word about the war.
Clippity-clop, clippity-clop, clippity-clop. Meanwhile, the sound of hooves, though distant, could be heard as it drew closer to the territory from outside. I raised my hand.
All the soldiers hidden behind various covers and in trenches dug deeper into their hiding spots. They covered everything, saving space just enough to keep breathing. With the moon gone and the sun not yet risen, it was the darkest time of the day.
I checked the state of the mines I had buried underground for the last time.
[Jared Mine - Explosive Type]
[Emits a towering flame 10 meters high in a vertical direction, simultaneously scattering iron balls loaded inside with propulsion.]
[Jared Mine - Linked Explosive Type]
[This mine is a large-scale explosive type that is connected through special silver threads to other mines. Once the magic starts flowing, all the linked mines activate as one large organism.]
Countless mines were planted along the side road. There were single-explosive anti-personnel mines, as well as wide-area linked explosive mines. Spending a month dedicated to mine production, exploiting a reset bug to raise the crafting level astronomically, became a divine stroke of genius.
In the silence, only the cautious breathing of the soldiers could be heard. The mines remained inactive. I had not infused them with the magic necessary for activation yet.
But once I infused the mines with magic, they would reveal their hidden claws. Just then, a clack, clack, clack sound resonated.
'They changed direction!'
I confirmed it. The soldiers of the alliance army, who had been approaching via the main road, all turned their horses toward the side road.
Indeed, they did their homework thoroughly. Of course, this thoroughness led to them falling into their own trap.
'Countdown.'
I placed my hand over the thick silver thread prepared right in front of me. Once I started infusing magic here, all the mines planted along the side road would activate immediately. And then... what would unfold next would be a hellish scene.
At that time, Bartoman and Horgus, who followed the vanguard leading the central army, both wore grins on their faces.
They had already crossed well into the borders of the Krivia Territory, yet there had been no battles, not even a proper defense. They had only seen soldiers blocking the main road leading into the territory.
In other words, if this place fell, they would be able to conquer the villages in Krivia Territory one by one. Horgus pointed at the Krivia soldiers blocking the main road and spoke.
"Foolish people, they must have thought everything would be solved by just blocking the main road?"
"Hahaha, if I knew it would go this smoothly, I would have attacked Krivia Territory much sooner."
"They worked hard to nurture their fruits, and we just need to lay our spoon on the set table, don’t we?"
"Ha ha ha!"
"Once we cross the side road, we can advance right into the villages, leaving the enemy unable to respond cohesively. There isn’t even a fortress in Krivia Territory to worry about."
"Is there any doubt? Once we conquer Krivia Territory, as we've discussed in advance, let's divide it west and east between us."
"Of course, it's a given."
The next steps after conquest and merger were already forming in the minds of the two lords. Victory was a foregone conclusion.
"Shall we ride faster? Yah!"
"Let’s go!"
Horgus and Bartoman, already sensing victory, whipped their horses, entering the end of the side road with the central army.
The vanguard was advancing swiftly, and the leading force had already reached the part where the side road led into the village.
A distant cheer was heard. Looking back, the Krivia army, standing guard on the main road, was visibly flustered, climbing the hill in a hurry.
'Jared seems like a fool without any strategy from one to ten.'
Horgus smirked slyly. To guard against cases like this, he had brought all available high-level forces from his territory. The proof was in the elite forces, including Archon, a 4th-class mage, and two 3rd-class mages.
If the war ended unexpectedly blandly, his plan was to ambush Bartoman right next to him, aiming to swallow even the Ronella Territory. If this operation succeeded, they would be able to acquire two territories overnight!
All were rose-tinted speculations. Horgus galloped forward in high spirits, enjoying the gently thrilling spring breeze of dawn.
He thought of encouraging his troops and showcasing his competence as a lord in a long time.
"Now! Vigorous soldiers of Mallorca! I, Horgus, speak to you..."
Right at that moment!
Horgus saw a blue streak suddenly extend over the once dreary, mud-colored ground. The azure light seemed like a lightning strike on the ground, branching out in lines all directions.
"What is this?"
As Horgus hesitated with confusion. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Argh!"
"Waaah! My eyes! Aaaaah!"
"Ugh!"
An explosion erupted throughout the entire side road.
As if a volcano had erupted, flaming pillars shot up fiercely into the sky here and there, and countless iron balls scattered in every direction.
"Argh!"
Horgus himself was within the affected range. An iron ball from a mine that exploded just 5 meters away penetrated Horgus's left shoulder in the blink of an eye.
Swish! Thud. Thud.
Moments later, Horgus saw heads rolling to a stop before him after being flung from afar. Not just one, but two.
"Isaac, Odium...?"
Horgus's complexion turned ashen. The owners of the heads that flew, separated from their bodies, were the two 3rd-class mages under his command.
Both were skillful mages he had brought in at great expense, and they had met a swift, tragic end. But the catastrophe didn’t end there.
"Rahhhhh!"
Acron, seized by someone, was being lifted out of the battlefield, rising up high into the sky.
Taking advantage of the dawn that had followed the sunrise, Horgus squinted to see that the person holding Acron and ascending was none other than Lord Jared.
"What in the world is this?"
The broth of victory Horgus had savored just moments before suddenly turned sour.
"Please! Spare me! I don't want to die! Lord Jared, please!"
"What, how could this be...?"
His mind turned completely white. His one remaining hope had been his chief mage, Acron.
Yet from up above came not cries of courage but Acron’s desperate pleas for life. It was a nightmare upon a nightmare.
Chapter 39