The massive weapon deployed by the Empire is tearing through our defenses—and castles—with ease.
Physically and psychologically, there’s not a single defense left standing. Everything is crumbling to dust, and there’s literally nothing we can do about it.
And so, we’ve arrived at the inevitable final gamble of desperate men.
“We’ll subtly leak information that we’re planning a counter-rotation. After gathering troops nearby, the Empire and Nobogorod will assume it’s real and start repositioning their forces.”
“From their perspective, if we do execute a turn here, it’s highly probable they’ll aim to secure the Erden Forest area first.”
“And if we rush in with all of Artria’s forces and smash through this region to attack their rear lines, even these guys will be sent into chaos. With a bit of luck, we might even destroy that cursed ‘Woolf’ weapon of theirs.”
Now, realistically, it’d be wiser to throw all those troops into a proper defense of the city.
We’ve lost too many times already—the mood’s awful, supply lines are strained, and yet here we are planning to fight them in open fields outside the fortress. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?
But upon closer inspection, it makes sense why Artria has chosen this course of action.
First, the cities and defensive outposts are being utterly destroyed by the unexpected appearance of the Empire’s colossal siege weapons. Every time that giant trebuchet of theirs launches boulder-sized rocks, everything goes to pieces. Even if the walls manage to hold, the buildings behind them vanish into nothingness. Even throwing in pebbles instead of boulders would be enough to obliterate soldiers.
What’s more, there’s almost no supplies left inside the castle. Literally, game over. We’re out. Even if we wanted to defend further, it’s impossible now. The storage rooms are empty, and there’s nowhere left to gather resources.
With all of this stacked against us, both the commanders and the soldiers have lost the ability to hold the line. Even if they wanted to endure, they wouldn’t last long before succumbing to surrender at the slightest pressure. Our defense now resembles a sandcastle on the beach—ready to collapse at the slightest touch.
And so, the Artria command has presented this desperate plan: If, by some miracle, this counterattack succeeds and we manage to seize the Empire’s supplies, we could endure through at least one more season—even if it’s only a fraction of what we need.
“…Therefore, our kingdom of Artria humbly asks, how do the Dedolant brothers feel about this plan?”
Technically speaking, the king of Artria is Cassius II of Dedolant. However, current governance largely rests in the hands of Artria’s noble council. Therefore, after internal discussions, they sought Dedolant’s approval.
Not long after, their reply arrived:
[Operation approval granted. Some assistance possible.]
It wasn’t Cassius II who replied but Dedolant’s military command—an unusual choice. Shouldn’t the king be the one to authorize such a major operation? The nobles of Artria momentarily questioned it but decided it was simply due to the pressing circumstances elsewhere.
“But… please, let’s reconsider. Is this truly the best course of action? If we mishandle this, we might be cutting our own throats.”
A small group of commanders and nobles voiced concerns. With the current situation already so precarious, launching an offensive seemed absurd. Nevertheless, the preparations continued, methodically carried out.
“Isn’t it only logical to take risks like this when the odds are utterly stacked against you?”
—Arguments like these began to dominate the discussions among the nobility of Artria.
News that Artria was not fortifying their position inside the castle but preparing for a counter-rotation soon reached the Northern Legion of the Empire and Nobogorod’s forces. Reacting swiftly, the enemy forces began moving.
Of course, this movement wasn’t simply a blind reaction to Artria’s supposed plan. They were suspicious.
Why are these guys suddenly switching tactics now? Have they realized that relying solely on walls to counter the Woolf is suicidal?
But wouldn’t charging out in the open be equally suicidal?
“Something is off.”
“There’s definitely a trick here.”
Charlotte of Nobogorod and the Legion Commanders of the Imperial Northern Army both sensed a deeper intent behind Artria’s actions. No sane commander in their right mind would abandon their crumbling defenses so recklessly. Yet, they had no idea what* exactly Artria was attempting.
From the start, abandoning defense and engaging in such a desperate maneuver doesn’t make sense. This unpredictable and illogical decision-making was throwing their predictions off. In hindsight, it was logical—our side was rational, but theirs wasn’t. Their standards were different, so their actions naturally defied our expectations.
When faced with such chaos, all commanders eventually reach the same conclusion: Play your strongest card, and play it hard.
Charlotte deployed her ultimate ace—none other than the formidable Kaya.
“Sir Kaya! Welcome!”
“Hey! Look alive! Sir Kaya has arrived! Pay your respects!”
“Sir Kaya is here! The end of those Artrian rats is imminent!!”
The imperial and Nobogorod allied forces, already positioned for the rumored counter-rotation, greeted Kaya enthusiastically. On the Artria frontline, just as the Woolf dominated Siege warfare, Kaya owned Open combat. Wherever she went, victory followed.
As the two armies were preparing, sudden reports of enemy infiltrations began pouring in from the front units:
[Artria troops on the move.]
[Movement doesn’t align with a simple rotation shift. Multiple temporary posts are under attack.]
[This appears to be a deliberate deception. Artria’s main force is advancing en masse towards the front lines.]
Initially, both sides were baffled by these developments.
Leaving their defenses was already strange enough. And now, instead of trying to lure our forces into a favorable position, they’re launching a frontal assault themselves? What advantage could that possibly bring?
“This seems like a collective nervous breakdown from the enemy forces.”
“Word is that their supplies are dwindling. How long do you think this assault will last?”
“If we just hold steady, they’ll collapse from exhaustion on their own, won’t they?”
The legion commanders echoed the same sentiments, with Charlotte concurring. This wasn’t the sort of decision a rational army would make. It felt like a purely emotional reaction, a desperate strike with no strategic merit.
“Perhaps they’re banking on overwhelming our vanguard, pushing through to the rear lines, and capturing our supplies.”
“Is that even feasible? In terms of military skill and operational readiness, we Empire and Nobogorod forces far surpass them.”
“Not possible. But the fact that they believe it to be so speaks volumes about their deteriorating sanity. Clearly, their strategic thinking has fallen apart. They’re clinging to sheer hope at this point.”
Their reliance on capturing our supplies highlights just how dire their situation has become. Let me explain the tragic conclusion this will inevitably lead to.
Charlotte smiled and immediately contacted Kaya at the front line.
The order was simple: Deliver an overwhelming and perfect victory for the Empire and Chief of Staff.
“Hmm.”
Upon receiving this welcoming message, Kaya immediately mounted her horse and advanced toward the gathered ranks of the imperial soldiers and the towering Demon warriors. Initially known more for brute strength than tactical depth, Kaya had evolved. She received invaluable advice from Kael and had Charlotte beside her. Not exactly known for being unintelligent, she quickly absorbed the lessons from these two mentors.
The result: Here she stood, unifying forces from both the Imperial Northern Legion and Nobogorod under a single banner—”The Fierce Beasts of the North.” In doing so, she fostered a rare sense of camaraderie between two separate factions, directing their full hatred toward Artria.
“Courageous Predators of the Northern Front!”
At first, Kaya was nothing more than a warrior, but now she delivered motivational speeches with authority. Though not the most eloquent, her words resonated among the troops.
“The cowards who relied on their walls have finally crawled out into the open, driven by hunger, cold—and fear of us! They’ve clearly lost their minds!”
—ROAR!!
“Let’s show them the error of their ways! They believe a surprise assault will send us reeling, but let’s teach them that no matter how many sheep charge, sheep are still sheep, and predators will always remain predators!”
Enormous roars followed, shaking the earth. The imperial soldiers and the towering Demon warriors alike gripped their weapons tightly, brimming with a rage aimed solely at Artria. Their goal was clear: Annihilation. Extermination. Total destruction. Nothing less.
It wasn’t long before Kaya’s forces clashed with the main body of Artria’s charging army. Numbers-wise, Artria had the advantage, but this battle was never going to be about counting soldiers. Artria’s knights and nobles split in half under the pressure, crushed like flies. Even the soldiers who attempted to fortify with enormous shields couldn’t withstand the assault.
“All we need to do is knock them off their horses! Absolutely, any way you can!”
This was a lesson learned from bitter experiences. Simply unseat those imperial knights, especially this so-called sister of the Chief of Staff. Surely, she could serve as a valuable asset for negotiation. And if we can turn the tide, we might stand a chance.
This was what Artria’s command desperately tried to cling to.
“Support Sir Kaya! Let’s go!”
“Spare not a single one of those cowardly sheep! Cut them all down!”
But as with all gambles, this one ended in utter ruin. Far worse than even the southern kingdom of Benito’s fall. The northern kingdom of Artria collapsed in a spectacularly disastrous fashion.
