In an instant, the Cherokee Kingdom army, like raging waves, attacked the fortress guarded by Helmut.
However, Helmut's guarded fortress was truly impregnable, so the Cherokee Kingdom suffered tremendous losses and had to retreat after the first battle.
The Lota Kingdom army was well-prepared, and capturing the fortress guarded by Helmut was no easy task.
"We will attack again tomorrow morning!"
The Cherokee Kingdom commander did not give up and continued the siege attempts persistently.
But the results were not much different.
The next day.
And the day after that.
Each time the Cherokee army went to battle, they were forced to retreat with heavy losses.
In contrast, the Lota forces suffered very few casualties.In the last few days of the siege, the Cherokee suffered nearly 3,000 casualties, while the Kingdom of Lota sustained fewer than 50.
Absolute defense.
Alternatively, Universal¹ Defense.
Helmut had unmatched skills in defensive operations and siege warfare, which allowed him to fend off the Cherokee Kingdom army's surprise offensive with minimal casualties.
Of course, even Helmut wasn't entirely relaxed.
"Huff…. Phew."
Helmut was panting heavily as he leaned against the ramparts.
He was out of breath from the recent skirmish that had taken place.
‘Damn.'
Helmut suddenly regretted becoming Otto's vassal.
‘If I had known I'd be overworked like this, I wouldn't have pledged my loyalty back then. Should I resign now and retire to the countryside?'
Helmut thought this because he was genuinely exhausted.
The unscrupulous King Otto always provided only the minimum number of troops, and each time, Helmut had to fight until he was on the verge of exhaustion.
He even thought that at this rate, he might die from overwork rather than in battle.
Of course, his loyalty to Otto hasn't wavered.
Otto had been treating Helmut fairly well, not using his family as hostages and acknowledging the autonomy of his territory.
He just felt overly exploited.
It was partly because Helmut was a cost effective person.
The ability to hold off a large army with just a handful of troops.
Moreover, since he possessed the Marquis' Resolve, Helmut was destined to be overworked to the fullest extent possible.
‘I can't end up being used and not retire even when I'm old, right? No, it shouldn't be like that. It mustn't be.'
Helmut shuddered with fear that Otto would not allow him to retire and that he would serve him until he grew old and died.
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After speaking with Otto, Count Tormund immediately met with Bayaba to convey his decision of surrender.
"I have decided to surrender to your Kingdom."
"Is that really true?"
"That it is."
"Thank you for your wise decision."
Bayaba clapped with joy when Tormund expressed his intention to surrender not to the Lota Kingdom but to the Cherokee Kingdom.
"First."
Tormund says.
"I'll get the nobles together and make arrangements."
"You will not need any assistance?"
"That is something I can accomplish with my own strength."
"Ooh."
"As soon as I'm done, I'll immediately issue orders to the border commanders to allow your troops to enter the Kingdom."
"That's perfect."
"However, there is a condition."
Count Tormund set out his terms.
"You must bring a large amount of food with you when you come."
"A great quantity of food?"
"As you know, our kingdom has experienced a long famine that has left our people in starvation, and our army is stretched thin. If you don't support us with food from your kingdom, we cannot fight the Lota Kingdom together."
"Mmm!"
Bayaba nodded his head.
"That's a fair argument! If we're going to drive out the bastards from Lota, we'll need not only our own army, but also the military force of the Loredin Kingdom."
"That's right."
"I will speak to His Majesty King Kalmar about this and ensure that provisions are brought."
"We are also severely lacking in military supplies. We need not only food but also weapons and significant financial support."
"Hahaha."
Bayaba laughed.
"You need not worry, Count Tormund. Even without you mentioning it, our King will send astronomical amounts of supplies with our troops."
"I'm reassured to hear you say that. Haha!"
"Hahaha."
Bayaba was simply happy that he had accomplished his mission, oblivious to the fact that Tormund has already met with Otto and hatched a scheme.
"Then, please have a safe journey."
"See you soon."
After Bayaba had left.
"As Your Majesty instructed, we have successfully drawn in the Cherokee Kingdom army."
"You have done well."
Otto clasped Tormund's hand and sincerely thanked him.
Indeed, if it hadn't been for Tormund, Otto would have truly faced a significant crisis.
His extended stay in the Caliphate has caused much delay, allowing the Cherokee Kingdom to restructure itself and keep the Lota Kingdom in check.
What if he had not visited Tormund, or if the delay had lasted another few days?
‘The Loredin Kingdom would have been eaten by the Cherokee Kingdom.'
Otto was incredibly lucky.
It had been worth the risk to come to visit Tormund and earn his trust.
"From now on, you must deceive your allies as well."
Otto instructed Tormund with utmost seriousness.
"Even the nobles must think they are surrendering to the Cherokee Kingdom."
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"Then we will prepare to receive the Cherokee army."
"Please leave it to us."
"They will assist you, Count."
"Thank you very much."
Otto went so far as to provide Tormund with a hundred magic swordsmen from House Kuntachi.
With that kind of force, capturing the Loredin royal family would be no problem, and there would be no hiccups.
"All troops, stand by. We will not attack the capital of the Loredin Kingdom."
Upon returning to the Lota Kingdom's encampment, Otto gave the order and quietly waited for the right moment.
He planned to keep his forces in reserve until the Cherokee Kingdom army walked into the death trap, intending to annihilate them in one fell swoop.
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Upon receiving the report from the front lines, King Kalmar of the Cherokee Kingdom grimaced.
"You mean to tell me that we continue to take casualties because of their commander?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Answered one of his officials.
"The report states that it's incredibly difficult to break through because of "that" Helmut defending it."
"Helmut?"
Kalmar's eyebrows knitted.
"You mean the same Helmut who was the Margrave of the old Kingdom of Magritte?"
"That's right, Your Majesty."
"This…."
The realization that Helmut had become the commander of the Kingdom of Lota was a bitter pill to swallow.
Helmut's military prowess, as well as that of House Valdemar, was renowned on the continent.
Having held off the nomadic warriors of the Haver Prairie for centuries, It would be strange if their reputation was anything less than stellar.
"They say, however, that the number of enemy troops stationed there is very small, so if we continue to attack, we may be able to seize the fort in due course."
"Hmm."
"Once we breach the border, the terrain makes it easy to attack, so the field commander decides it's better to accept the losses."
"There is no victory without casualties. Very well."
Kalmar nods in understanding.
"Our forces will continue to assault the border unfazed."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
And then.
"Your Majesty, Knight Bayaba has returned from his mission."
At that moment, Bayaba, who had traveled as an emissary to the Loredin Kingdom returned.
"Sir Bayaba. I hope your trip went well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Bayaba smiled brightly.
"Count Tormund, a key figure in the nobility of the Kingdom of Loredin, has accepted to surrender to our Kingdom."
"Oh."
Kalmar's face brightened.
This was very welcome news after hearing that they had not breached the border, but were suffering heavy casualties.
"Does this mean that our troops can now cross into Loredin's territory?"
"That's certainly correct."
Bayaba nodded.
"If our army joins forces with the Loredin Kingdom army, driving out those wretched Lota from the Loredin soil is only a matter of time."
"You've done well."
Kalmar warmly grasped Bayaba's hand, expressing gratitude for his efforts in the Loredin Kingdom.
"Thanks to you, our Kingdom's wellbeing has been greatly enhanced, truly you have done a great service."
"I am honored."
"Good."
Kalmar issued a decree.
"Sir Bayaba, I appoint you as the supreme commander. Lead two legions and go to the Loredin Kingdom. Drive out those Lota bastards from there. This way, the Lota forces will be pressured from both sides and will gradually crumble."
Based on his overwhelming national strength and military power, Kalmar intended to pressure the Lota Kingdom from all fronts.
Since it was difficult to concentrate forces at the border due to the terrain, he decided to redirect all remaining troops to the Loredin Kingdom.
This strategy would not only halt the expansion of the Lota Kingdom but also allow the Cherokee Kingdom to absorb the territory of the Loredin Kingdom, making it an optimal outcome for the Cherokee Kingdom.
Once the Loredin Kingdom was secured, it would be as good as having already won the war.
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A few days later.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah!"
In the dead of night, rebel forces launched a surprise attack and stormed the Loredin Royal Palace.
The surprise rebellion was a resounding success.
Count Tormund captured the royal palace in less than two hours and even succeeded in capturing the King.
"T… Tormund! You treacherous bastard!"
The king lashed out at Tormund with furious accusations.
Tormund didn't bat an eye.
‘Your tyranny and incompetence have starved to death over a hundred thousand people. You are not fit to rule as king.'
With a cold gaze, Tormund looked at the king and then issued commands to his knights.
"As of this moment, I depose the King from his throne. However, as he was once our Kingdom's Monarch, he should be treated with due respect."
"Yes, Count."
"Take the king to be detained in a separate chamber immediately."
"Yes!"
Thus, the king was dethroned by the rebel forces led by Count Tormund and found himself imprisoned in a remote location.
He wasn't the only one.
Count Tormund arrested all the royals, stripped them of their titles, and installed a puppet monarch in his place.
Afterwards, he served as the regent for the scarecrow³ as the new king's guardian.
In effect, he became the king of the Kingdom of Loredin.
"Soon, reinforcements from the Cherokee Kingdom will arrive to drive out the Kingdom of Lota's army. Therefore, we will open the northern border."
The implication of those words meant that the Kingdom of Loredin would submit to the Cherokee Kingdom, but no one objected.
Most of the nobles were content as long as they could preserve their own positions, so there was no objection.
Since the kingdom was essentially doomed, why should it matter whether they surrendered to the Lota or the Cherokee?
A few days later.
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
Two legions of Cherokee forces crossed the northern border of the Kingdom of Loredin and entered its territory.
Those Cherokee Kingdom troops brought with them a vast amount of food, military supplies, and gold.
At Tormund's request, they have brought with them full scale provisions for the devastated Loredin Kingdom.
And….
"Welcome to Hell."
From afar, Otto watched the Cherokee Kingdom's army crossing the border, a chilling smile on his face.
In Otto's eyes, the two legions of Cherokee soldiers did not look like living men.
They were the dead.
The odds are that less than half of the Cherokee would be able to make it back alive once they entered the land of the dead.
"Let's go."
Otto looks back at Camille.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Having completed their reconnaissance, Otto and Camille headed towards the Kingdom of Lota's military encampment.
Preparations to receive the Cherokee army were already complete.
Now all that remained was to take the Lota Kingdom army and surround them with the Loredin Kingdom army and annihilate them.
** ** **
TL/N:
1. Updated Chapter 79 Space Defense changed to Universal Defense
Reason: cooler when reading… nah just joking felt more apt than "Space" Defense kept getting reminded by the Space Defense game on Steam
2. Margrave – Referred to the medieval military commander responsible for defending a border province within a Kingdom.
Margrave – Military Rank
Marquis – Aristocratic rank
3. Scarecrow/Puppet King/Puppet Monarch – Someone who has become a Ruler of a Kingdom but has no true authority or power and is just being manipulated like a Puppet. (Sometimes wondered If really necessary to add this sort of TL/N stuffs)
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