The news about Anhalt’s disgraceful escape
As I received the report, Count Turun and I wore expressions that said we expected this.
“Really? That guy Anhalt?”
“Yes, it seems he bolted in fear from General Tilly’s attack.”
“Then the Palatinate army by now…”
“Yes, most likely dead or scattered.”
“Hmm… the messenger…”
Listening to the subordinate officer, Father Count Turun nodded.
Even though the proportion of mages was small, the fact that the Palatinate army, which boasted a force of 7,000, had crumbled so helplessly signaled a serious turning point in the war.
However, despite hearing this news, Father’s expression showed no sign of wavering.
No, rather at this moment… it seemed like he embodied a sense of composure as if everything was progressing as planned.
Seeing my father like that, I spoke with resolute conviction.
“This means that the time has finally come.”
“That’s right. Now, let’s hurry and carry out our plan.”
“Yes, Father.”
Following my father, a thick sense of anticipation began to blossom on my lips.
This wasn’t just excitement about my first appearance as a mage.
It was… an expectation for what was to come.
With all plans falling eerily into place, I felt a thrill as the planner of this scheme.
*
Exiting the barracks after finishing his final checks was Count Turun.
Even though the overall situation on the battlefield was currently unfavorable for our side,
With the Palatinate army being decimated, the battlefield began to tilt in favor of the Emperor’s Army, especially with Tilly and his direct subordinates wreaking havoc, systematically defeating the scattered Bohemian troops.
Of course, the Emperor’s Army had incurred significant losses in the process, but nonetheless, the numerical superiority was beginning to shift the tide of victory in their favor.
Yet… Count Turun felt a deep joy about this situation.
“As expected… everything is going just as Santana said. This means my turn has finally come… our House Andreas’ turn!”
Thinking this, Count Turun turned back once again.
There stood the 3,000 troops waiting here since the battle began.
Among them were mages under House Andreas and many elite soldiers Count Turun had painstakingly trained.
To him, these soldiers were a source of endless pride.
Leading the front, the Count drew his sword and began to roar like a lion.
“Finally, the time for revenge has come! Advance, all forces!”
With those words, Count Turun and his legion swiftly galloped forward.
They began to charge through the mist, rapidly moving toward their indicated targets.
“From now on, it’s a race against time! We won’t give the enemy a chance to recover, and we’ll finish everything with this momentum!”
“Yes! My Count!”
“For Bohemia!”
“For House Andreas!”
*
The intruders inside the camp, mostly the Bohemian army, were gradually being cleared out.
Although the powerful mages known as the 13 Nobles still fought on, their stamina was starting to wane as time passed and their magic depleted.
Meanwhile,
General Tilly and his subordinate mages, who had been using magic consecutively against the Palatinate, were also in a similar state, with Tilly himself having expended most of his magic at this point.
However… Tilly still had some reserves left.
Since the Emperor’s Army had a large number of mages from the start, by now, the physical and magical resources of both sides had become roughly even.
Both sides were significantly exhausted from the fierce battles fought in disarray.
At times like these, it was the individual combat strength that would decide the outcome of the war.
From that perspective, Tilly, as a high-ranking general of the Emperor’s elite, naturally had the upper hand.
“Even if the beginning was a bit shaky, luckily, it seems we’ve seized the momentum… If we can eliminate the remaining Bohemian forces and march to the castle, the terrified heretics of Bohemia will surely surrender…”
While thinking this and steeling himself to finish off the remaining Bohemian troops, Tilly suddenly heard…
“Whoa!!”
“Charge! For the glory of Bohemia!”
“Sweep away all of the Emperor’s filthy dogs!”
A sudden loud cheer erupted.
Tilly turned quickly in alarm, and confusion began to etch itself into his face.
“What… what’s that?!”
Just as he was tidying up the scattered Bohemian forces, out of nowhere, a new Bohemian army appeared, stirring deep concern within Tilly.
“Reinforcements for the enemy? Damn it… of all times, why this large a number?”
Thick fog made it impossible to accurately judge the enemy’s size.
However, based on what he could see, this new force seemed to be nearly equal in strength to the army he was directly leading.
Crucially, those incoming troops showed no signs of exhaustion, unlike his own or other Bohemian forces.
They appeared as if they had just come back from a deep rest, fresh and vibrant.
And at the forefront, a mage wielding a sword wrapped in concentrated magic rushed forward.
It was Count Turun.
“Is that Tilly, the Emperor’s dog?! Come! Let’s settle this!”
As soon as he spotted Tilly, Count Turun bellowed loudly.
Recognizing him, Tilly’s face twisted with fury as he retorted, “Ah… you must be Turun! The devil who led the innocent people down the path of heresy! Today I will tear out your heart!”
With that, the two clashed, driving their horses forward.
-Crack!!!-
The swords infused with concentrated magic collided.
As they clashed, sparks ignited from their swords due to the backlash of their magical energies.
“How dare you trespass here! This will be your grave!”
“You filthy heretics!!!”
Releasing tremendous killing intent towards each other as they swung their swords,
Each strike caused intense sparks to erupt between them, and the waves of magic that accompanied them were powerful enough to stagger the surrounding soldiers.
It seemed like a tense duel was underway, but at that moment, Tilly and Turun’s thoughts were in complete opposition.
“Damn it… under normal circumstances, I’d dispatch a rebel leader like you in an instant, but why is my magic depleting at such a critical moment…?”
“This really feels different! I can win! I can behead Tilly here and now!”
Although Count Turun was a powerful Grade 7 high mage, defeating Tilly, a Grade 9 archmage, in a direct confrontation was nearly impossible.
However… Tilly was currently weakened beyond comparison.
His magic was almost exhausted from the previous battles and his magic circle.
No matter how great a mage he was, if his magic ran out, he’d just be an ordinary human.
In such a state, facing the unrelenting assault of Count Turun was nearly impossible.
And eventually…
“Hah!”
“Ugh!”
-Clang!-
In the next moment, Tilly’s sword broke with a sharp sound.
Although it was a treasured sword bestowed by the Emperor, due to its lack of magic protection from exhaustion, it was easily cleaved by Count Turun’s strike.
The outcome was painfully clear.
With that, Count Turun advanced toward Tilly with his sword raised.
