The Story of Hero Among Heroes ~The Founding Chronicles of Arestia - Chapter 159 – Tranberg’s Steel Battalion part 1

[Reporting! The left wing has been routed!!]

[Reporting!! The troops of count Montroll are retreating to the backline!!]

[Reporting. The Tranberg forces are nowhere to be found, they seemed to have retreated somewhere.]

Arcadia Army base. Marquis of Bavaria Gerios who was in charge of leading the army that was supposed to march through Tranberg angrily kicked a nearby chair as he listened to the incoming reports.

[Dammit!! One bad news after another… these guys keep dragging me down!!]

Gerios Bavaria was hailed as one of the prodigious warriors of the Empire while also already being the head of Bavaria clan at a young age. He’s only in his mid-twenties with reddish brown hair and the same color sideburns. His body was tall and bulged with muscles.

As a Marquis, he could be considered as a high ranking aristocrat of the Arcadia Empire. Even within the military body, he held a pretty high position, being the commander of the Imperial Army’s 2nd Corps.

He’s regarded as one of the Empire’s next generation brave Generals along with Prince Carlos, Saxon Young Lord Rudolf, and Archduke Schwarzer’s Ares.

He was a matchless halberdier, and he was famous for his style of marching ahead on his own despite being a commander of the army to rouse his soldiers’ morale.

However, he had a fatal flaw.

Which was…

He’s extremely vain in glory and ambition.

His ambition knew no end, that once he wanted something, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut down his own relatives.

Therefore, it was said that many admired him for his heroic deeds, but at the same time no one dared to trust him.

His participation in this battle under Scion’s command was just to earn achievements so that he could aim for even greater heights. Normally, a guy like him would’ve never stayed under someone else’s command, let alone someone like Scion, thanks to his overly bloated pride.

However, things changed due to some unexpected development; the bestowal of the『General of Conquest』title to Ares Schwarzer.

When he first heard this news, Gerios could only grind his teeth in regret. To him, Ares, whose rise in rank and fame actually surpassed him, was really an eyesore.

Therefore, he needed to catch up in this battle.

『If that guy can become General of Conquest, then a military prodigy like me should be able to become《Grand General》』

Conquering Tranberg, which had remained unconquered for the past few decades, should become an even greater achievement than what Ares did a few years back. Therefore, he joined Scion under the condition that he would be the commanding general for the army heading to Tranberg.

For Scion, Gerios joining him was like a godsend.

His faction’s shortcomings was that it had no connection to the military body and the lack of brave generals.

Therefore, selecting the general that will lead the army to Tranberg was a major headache for Scion. That is, until the renowned Marquis of Bavaria joined.

Scion was more than happy to appoint Gerios for that task of taking Tranberg.

=====

However, something outside of Gerios’ expectation occurred on Tranberg.

He headed to Tranberg with high hope and optimism. But then he noticed how weak the soldiers that the aristocrats had fielded for this battle.

They couldn’t go as fast as he wanted. Instead, he received complaints from the aristocrats under his command.

[Damn! This is why… those civilian aristocrats are useless.]

Other than Archduke Schwarzer’s troops, there were very few troops that could keep up with Gerios’ command.

Meanwhile, Tranberg retaliated fiercely.

Tranberg’s proud『Steel Battalion』made full use of their mobility, slowly reducing the number of the bigger army led by Gerios with each clash.

The Arcadia army was larger in size, but they couldn’t do anything. And Tranberg would attack at the weak point in their ranks every single time.

Before Gerios could do anything to remedy this, Arcadia army had already lost a third of its numbers.

=====

Gerios had a stern look that day. In front of him was a large map, around which aristocrats and generals sat. There were a sizable number of them when the battle began, but now that number had been reduced by half. Most of them were not here either because they’ve been defeated in battle, or had fled the battle.

[Alright, let’s hear your opinion on what we should do next.]

Gerios grumpily announced as he gave those present a look.

No one spoke up. They’re afraid of Gerios.

Meanwhile some turned their head to a certain general sitting a bit away from Gerios.

They’re the two Schwarzer’s old generals Rouen and Alberto. They’re well known as the『Schwarzer’s Twin Towers』. In addition to that, they’re also direct retainers to a high ranking Archduke.

However, the two elders stayed quiet, preferring to meditate instead.

At that moment, someone suddenly spoke up from beside Gerios.

[Your Excellency, I propose to retreat.]

It was a long time retainer of the Bavaria clan, Garm Rockarm who spoke up just now.

Like his master, he’s a man with a muscular body. Despite already over 60 years old, there’s no visible decline in his physique.

Like Gerios himself, Garm was an important component for every army his master led. If Gerios is the executor, then Garm is the planner… the man was like the brain of Bavaria’s army.

[Ha? What did you say just now?]

[We should retreat, Your Excellency.]

Garm’s voice was followed by total silence. Rouen and Alberto finally opened their eyes and turned their attention to the exchanges.

[What are you talking about!! I haven’t lost yet!!]

[No, if our army continues to perform poorly, we will eventually be wiped out.]

Garm replied calmly.

[Tranberg Steel Battalion… the one leading them is a scary person. They’ve been using their mobility to strike at our weakest link with pinpoint accuracy before retreating just as fast to reduce our number, eliminating our advantage in size. If we try to chase, they’ll certainly break through the center, where we are now, to take Your Excellency’s head. Given their strategy so far, I believe it’s a totally valid scenario.]

Silence fell once again after Garm finished.

[I’m confident that I will not be defeated even if they manage to break through the center.]

[Your Excellency is well known in Arcadia for your valor that only one or two could match. However, if we cannot suppress them as they charge through our center, the army will collapse. At present, we are in an area where they can break into the center from any direction. It’s too disadvantageous for us. It’s their strategy to lure us into this area in the first place.]

[Uh! But!! Then we will—]

[Your Excellency will not be punished. Originally, this campaign to attack Thracia was meant to be a show of power. If anyone should be punished, then it’s Scion-dono.]

Gerios and Garm stared at each other with neither willing to give up.

At that time

[We also agree with Garm-dono regarding this matter.]

A voice could be heard from the furthest chair.

Looking at the source, there was Archduke Schwarzer’s Rouen raising his hand.

[If we keep going like this, we will only be dancing in the enemy’s palm. We have achieved our goal. No one should blame you for retreating now.]

Rouen grinned, his gaze was directed at Gram.

Their eyes met, and Garm shook his head after sighing.

After that, many voiced their support to retreat.

And thus, it was decided by majority that the army would retreat.

=====

After the council was over, Rouen and Alberto returned to their own troops to begin the preparation to retreat.

[That man Garm was really unfortunate.]

Rouen laughed as he said so.

[His lord is so boneheaded that you had to send a rescue boat just to settle the council.]

After the military council decided that the army would retreat, they discussed some more for the arrangement.

After retreating back to Arcadia, everyone will immediately return to their territory. Each aristocrat voiced their support for that, so Gerios had no choice but to acknowledge it. That’s how the council reached an agreement.

The idea of returning to each territory directly without stopping by at the capital first… was ostensibly because the aristocrats wanted their troops to have a rest. But the real thought inside these aristocrats’ minds was that they fear that Gerios will make unreasonable actions, such as disposing them off one by one.

The retreat was immediately decided. But later on there were some confusions over who will act as their rearguard.

There is no doubt that the Tranberg army will give chase. Therefore, it was obvious for everyone that anyone chosen to become rearguard will be like they are committing suicide, as they’ll only have their own troops.

Garm was the only one who voiced his opinion.

[Currently, most of our army is in tatters due to Tranberg forces’ attack. We have a lot of injured soldiers with us. Certainly, it’s a hard decision to sacrifice our healthy soldiers to act as rearguard. Meanwhile, sending the injured will not do much to hold against the chasing enemies. We will not be able to retreat safely if we do that.]

That said, Garm turned his gaze toward Rouen and Alberto.

[Thinking back, His Excellency Archduke Schwarzer’s army received the least damage during this entire battle. Not to mention that the soldiers are exceptionally stronger than the majority of us. In addition to that, Rouen-dono and Alberto-dono are acting as the commanders. For such an important matter, I would certainly feel assured if it’s handled by Archduke Schwarzer’s army.]

If Archduke Edgar was here to lead the troops himself, then nobody would dare to voice out such a request, even if they are the acting commander. However this time, it was only his retainers, Rouen and Alberto, who came to represent the Archduke. Since the reason is justified, then it’ll be hard to refuse this request.

Rouen was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed.

And thus, the two old Generals would stay to act as rearguard for the rest of the Arcadia army.

[Even so… this is still within calculation]

It was Alberto who muttered that.

[And what’s with that acting? Pretending to be reluctant at first.]

[Hahaha, perhaps I can be an actor after I retire in the future?]

[…..as if there is a theatre company that will be willing to hire a super strong old man like you.]

They laughed at each other after that exchange.

[….well, jokes aside, let’s wrap things out here already, shall we? By the way, will the Steel Battalion perform as planned?]

Rouen simply nodded in response to Alberto’s question.

[Well, we only need to believe in our young master’s words. That young man always plans two or three moves ahead.]

As he said so, in Rouen’s right hand… was a letter within an envelope.