BBYW Vol. 2 Chapter 24 (WN)
Chapter 24 – Conditions of Victory
Following the empire’s declaration of war, I led the Maxwell territory’s forces to Fort Bryden.
It was my first time visiting the fort in 5 years: the preparation for the empire’s large-scale invasion filled it with a heavy atmosphere.
During the war council, it was decided that I would lead 5,000 of the 7,000 troops that formed the eastern nobles’ allied forces. My old man was in charge of the remaining 2,000, posted in the Maxwell territory’s capital of Avalon.
“Basically, the war will be decided at this fort. If we lose, the kingdom of Lamperouge falls too.”
The royal palace was still in shambles, due to the sudden departure of the previous king and crowning of his young successor, the royal family had no actual fighting strength. We probably couldn’t count on the support of the other margraves either. The battle at Fort Bryden was going to be decisive for the kingdom of Lamperouge.
“It’s the same for the empire, though: if they lose after mobilizing so many troops, they’re never going to recover. Either the kingdom or the empire will fall…and the next battle will decide which.”
“YEEAAAAHHHH!!!! I’m already on fire!!”
“A historical battle in the making, indeed. To think that we would stand at a turning point in history…”
The man who shouted, or rather roared after hearing my explanation was a close friend of mine since childhood, Ladd Efreeta. The other man was Salm Silfis.
We were comrades-in-arms who shared the same battlefield against the imperial forces five years ago, friends of the same age, often up to no good.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it. Reminds me of the battle five years ago.”
“Right! Let’s smash those empire goons, just like we did that time!!”
Ladd shouted eagerly, cracking his knuckles. Looking at my reliable friend, I felt my expression soften.
“We have 5,000 on our side, and the enemy declared that they mustered a force of 50,000, correct?”
“Yeah, they’re exaggerating their numbers though. In reality, it should be around 30,000.”
“I see, still five times our forces. The battle will be a harsh one.”
In stark contrast with Ladd, Salm maintained a cool composure, calmly analyzing the situation.
According to the information provided by the Fangs of Steel members who had infiltrated the empire, the imperial allied forces consisted of 6,000 soldiers from the First Imperial Army, 10,000 from the Second, 5,000 from the Imperial Knights and 6,000 volunteers. Considering that the empire is surrounded by enemy countries in all directions, it’s impressive that they managed to gather so many.
“Clearly, a standard clash of troops would be suicidal…what are you planning, young master?”
“I have a plan, of course. And it might just be the foulest you’ve ever heard.”
My lips twisted into a grin.
Some say that only victory achieved through fair and square means truly holds meaning. That only makes me think that those people do not have something they truly want to protect, though.
If they had something they wanted to protect with their lives, they would use any and all means at their disposal. They would not care for the infamy they might have to bear, or if they had to fall to “evil” ways.
If there is something you simply cannot give up on, you should seek victory through any means necessary.
“We have arrived, young master.”
“Finally…”
I turned around and found the familiar figure of an assassin — Oboro, Sakuya’s older brother.
“Did you manage to bring them, Oboro?”
“Yes, they are the Fangs of Steel members chosen as deathwatch.”
Behind Oboro stood two men, clad in black just like him. A bearded man apparently around 60 years old and a leaner man in his 40s.
“It really pains me to have to say this, you two, but you are both going to die in the next battle. I will not ask you not to bear resentment, but believe that we will repay your loved ones as much as possible.”
“Not a problem, young master. My liver will not let me last much longer, you see. I suppose I shall go out in a blaze of glory.”
“I have lost my wife and children already and have also contemplated taking my own life: I could not be happier than to have the chance to die with honor.”
“I see…you have my thanks. Your deaths will not be in vain.”
I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to the two warriors and bowed my head. They smiled and nodded, then disappeared to perform their mission.
“Lord Dyngir! We’ve finished moving the supplies!”
Just As the Fangs of Steel left, one of the young soldiers assigned to the fort came to do his report. A report I had been eagerly waiting for,
“The vases filled with gunpowder and water jars are all ready and accounted for!”
“Excellent. Now we only need…”
“This, my lord?”
Following the young soldier, into the room came my lover and bodyguard, Shana Salazar. Between her candid fingers was a letter, which she handed to me.
“A love letter from Princess Rossellia, written exactly as you wished.”
“Excellent, truly excellent. With this, we have everything we need.”
I flashed my biggest smile of the day.
Five thousand veteran soldiers and trustworthy friends. Spies resolved to die. A large amount of gunpowder and water jars. And finally — a love letter from the goddess of victory.
The preparations to defeat the imperial army were complete.
“Our victory is in sight. Prepare to be crushed, imperial army!!”
It was my first battlefield in a long while. A battle with a scope I had never experienced before. I wouldn’t be a man if my blood didn’t start burning.
Barely managing to contain my seething spirit, I gazed towards the eastern sky — towards the empire.
That’s pretty much the reason why Dyngir wants to rebel and found his own country. He doesn’t like the kingdom’s central noble’s “to each their own” mindset. The central nobles are mostly elitist assholes who don’t think the frontier nobles like House Maxwell are “real” nobles and are just savages so they don’t want to associate with them in any way including sending them reinforcements while at the same time those nobles take it for granted that they’ll be protected by House Maxwell anyways and they have no sense of danger since they’ve never had to go into real battle themselves which is another reason why they won’t send reinforcements.
Meanwhile the royal palace isn’t “in shambles” because the nobles are heavily reliant on the king like you think. It’s in shambles because the nobles are mostly all selfish and opportunistic. The previous king was an incompetent ruler and such a doting father to former crown prince Sullivan that he couldn’t stand the thought that anybody else but him could become king so when he heard that Sullivan apparently died and that his second son would instead inherit the throne, the king was willing to destroy his own reputation by claiming he was cuckolded and that his second son isn’t actually biologically his despite there being no evidence to suggest it and most likely the claim was made up just so the second prince can’t claim the throne. The Prime Minister is trying to quash the claim with a counterclaim saying the king became a raving lunatic because of grief or sickness and the second prince really is the king’s biological son. Meanwhile the central nobles are being opportunistic and trying to use the king’s claim to try to have someone from their own families become king by claiming they have royal blood in their veins no matter how distantly related they might actually be in order to legitimize their claim to the throne over a boy that rumors say isn’t actually of royal blood and now the Prime Minister is trying to wrangle and control the nobles so they don’t start their own rebellions to claim the throne.
I kinda pity the prime minister at this point. I just want him to join up to Dyngir and handle his affairs because the kingdom isn’t appreciating his efforts. The dude also did say that he deeply respect the prime minister as the ideal noble.
Really, I would be tempted to let an invader force reach the central region without opposing it.
I just hope it wasn’t a death flag tho XD
Our protag ain’t a prince
Ah shit, my bad gonna correct this.
What bothers me the most is the prime minister keeping everything the same even though he has a king puppet in his hands… I thought the man would take this chance to fix the kingdom but no, it seems they only think about the capital, which is why I am rooting for Dyn to conquer them eventually.
Looking back on it, there’s a chance it’s either a plot hole from the author, or purposefully written to add more to the story later on…or simply cuz the higher ups there just suck at governing and are corrupt.
Yeah it could be. The author makes him look like a good man but he is most likely only less corrupt compared to the rest.
So is Dyngir trying to start infighting within the enemy troops? Like write a fake love letter addressed to either first prince Lars or the Halphas guy talking about how Rossellia will marry the recipient of the letter once she’s rescued and have the letter be found by the second prince Grett. He’s an incestuous creep and would probably be outraged enough to turn his forces against the others while somehow deluding himself into thinking the contents of the letter are actually a proclamation from the princess that she’ll marry whomever rescues her and thus spur Grett into immediate action to get rid of who he thinks are his love rivals.
Meanwhile the deathwatch guys are already dying or have nothing to lose so they’re gonna be suicide bombers with all that gunpowder and blow up key empire officials. Not sure what the jars of water will be for though. Maybe poison or taint it with a disease and smuggle it into the enemy’s water supplies? Dyngir did say he wasn’t going to be honorable and would play dirty.
Thanks for the update! Honestly, I’m quite surprised at the disconnection between the ones guarding the kingdom’s borders and the authorities at the capital. I’d normally expect a war council between those of power but it looks like the kingdom is a “to each their own” type, despite their opponent being the empire. I think “the royal palace was still in shambles” is a weak reason for the others to not even bother sending a small group of reinforcements, considering when the Maxwell falls, the kingdom is done for. Idk, I just think it’s weird that the kingdom is heavily reliant on the king when even the empire can operate to a minimum without an emperor
he goes to a war with a love letter as weapon…thats…. heavily romantic! i approve!!
thanks for the chapter!! this made me ecstatic!
Ohhh boyy this bastard lord maybe planning medieval terrorism
thanks for the chapter
Thanks a lot for the chapter
That love letter is the most powerful card in his hand I bet. Thanks for the chapter.