Chapter 14: Entry to the Capital

The late afternoon is generally not an ideal time to start a battle.

The soldiers have already exhausted their energy from the day’s tasks, and the enemy is likely to be fully awake and alert.

Logically, if one were to launch a surprise attack, it would be best to target a time when the enemy is asleep and their vigilance has weakened, right? The fact that night-time gives the attacking side the advantage in seizing control is also a key factor.

“Then why are we trying to pass through the gates in the evening?”

“For impact… just kidding. The situation is a bit unique right now. Those bastards barely defend during the day.”

However, things are slightly different now.

After several failed surprise attacks, the capital forces have been severely depleted, and they haven’t been posting guards on the walls during the day.

This is because the few remaining guards are concentrated during the night and early morning hours when their defenses are weakest.

From a standpoint of focus and concentration, it’s not the worst decision, but to us, it’s just an open display of their weaknesses.

It’s like they’re openly declaring that they’ll be slow to respond even if we attack in broad daylight.

Thus, we chose the evening.

After resting all day, we’d launch the attack with full energy, aiming to scale the walls.

And since it would naturally get darker as the battle goes on, we calculated that we’d have the advantage as the night progressed.

“Well, there’s also the element of showing off and making a statement.”

Of course, it was also to declare to the citizens of the capital and the noble lords that the revolutionary army had won.

We had to show our superiority to reduce the chances of anyone thinking foolish thoughts.

“Understood. Tell the commanders of each unit to eat well and rest. We’ll probably have to stay up all night.”

“Yes, sir!”

As I sharpened my sword and tightened the laces of my boots, time passed slowly.
Finally, the moment of battle arrived.

“General, the gates are open.”

“Have all the troops assembled according to the formation?”

“Of course. Just give the order, and we’ll move out.”

At the time when the sun, brightening the blue sky, touched the earth—6 PM.

There were still about 30 minutes left before the night shift guards were to relieve their posts. And then, without any warning, an anomaly occurred.

–Clank.
–Screeeech…

The gates, which had been impervious to cannon fire, were opening.

The outermost thick steel gate, the iron bars behind it, and the wooden gate on the innermost layer—all three layers of defenses were being unlocked simultaneously.

All of this, without any interference or resistance.

Someone on the castle wall screamed in terror and ran somewhere, but it was already far too late to respond.

“Did the captain keep his promise?”

I mounted my horse and activated my amplification magic, shouting at the top of my lungs.

“All troops—!!”

I paused for a beat, drew my sword, and issued the order.

“Charge in order!! Let’s make our flag flutter over Rahator!!”

“1st Battalion, advance! Our cavalry will take the lead!!”

“Don’t stop and run as if your life depends on it! Even if you fall, think of it as falling inside the castle walls and keep running, you slowpokes!!”

As previously planned, soldiers and officers dashed forward.

To seize the opportunity that might never come again, they rushed toward a small opening in the massive fortress, like a horde of zombies.

“What about the artillery, General?!”

“Leave the cannons behind and run! If we win, we can come back and retrieve them! Right now, just focus on getting inside the capital!”

“This is a quick, decisive battle! We don’t have time for fire support or forming positions, just charge straight ahead!”

Tens of thousands of people quickly approached the castle walls.

Then, Just like water gushing from a small hole in a dam or contents spilling out of a tightly held plastic bottle, elite soldiers from the north poured into the royal capital, Rahator.

–EtOH!

“3rd Division, head west and seize the noble district! Don’t kill the residents, just lock them all inside their homes!”

“7th Division, secure the cathedral and the commercial district to the east!”

“The palace will be handled by my 5th Division and the 39th Battalion! The target has been set, so the detailed commands will be handled with discretion!”

It was impossible to control a city with hundreds of thousands of people and tens of thousands of buildings through a detailed plan.

Such an enormous operation couldn’t physically be mapped out in advance.

So, only the general targets and tactical objectives were set, leaving the execution to the officers in the field.

They all had the skills to handle it.

“The resistance is weak. They didn’t expect us to come at this time, did they?”

“More than that, the key issue is that their forces are scattered. The remaining troops aren’t part of a single unit; they’re a collection of stragglers pulled together from various places. Their barracks and outposts are probably all over the place.”

“Idiots. How long did they have, and they still couldn’t consolidate anything?”

There was no organized resistance.

At best, we encountered a handful of enemies blocking the way.

They were so weak that the effort fizzled out quickly, but well, no complaints there.

The weaker the enemy, the fewer our men would be hurt.

“Tell the civilians to stay inside their homes and not cause trouble. Minimize violence as much as possible.”

“General, the civilians are requesting aid because they’re running low on food. How should we respond?”

“Aid? They want food? Tell them to wait a bit. Once the situation is over, logistics will be normalized.”

Unlike the nobles who couldn’t get their heads straight even when the tide had completely turned, the exhausted citizens, who had been under siege for so long, welcomed us with open arms.

All the efforts we made in spreading our message of justice and goodwill had paid off.

We had been spreading the word that the revolutionary army was on the side of the people, and now it was bearing fruit.

The reason for our rebellion was so just, and the high-ups had done so much to deserve the people’s disdain.

We were guided enthusiastically, and there was support everywhere we went.

While it didn’t directly help us, it certainly boosted morale. The momentum was building.

“First to Fifth Districts have been fully secured!”

“We’ve spotted snipers in the Twelfth District! They’re being dealt with now!”

“What about the Sixteenth District? There should be a political prisoner camp there.”

“We’re almost there! We’ll suppress it and secure the prisoners within the next hour!”

The capital city, Rahator, was administratively divided into 16 districts, with the royal palace as the center.

We focused on securing the most valuable areas while leaving the slums and residential districts untouched.

We seized various locations such as weapons depots, ammunition factories, monasteries and cathedrals where clergy lived, salons and coffee houses of the nobility, and banquet halls and opera theaters.

We arrested everyone inside, treating the technicians and workers with respect while binding the nobles and escorting them away.

As we continued advancing, Finally, we encountered a group that could be called enemies.

“You damn traitors! You won’t pass here until we’re all dead!”

“That flag is unusual. Are they the nobles’ personal soldiers?”

“That flag belongs to the Barelmont family. Their family guard seems to have come out in a hurry to block us.”

A small unit of about 60 soldiers, blocking the narrow street and forming a defense line with guns and spears.

Their uniforms weren’t as grand as those of the personal guards, but they were certainly elite, well-trained troops.

But so what? The battlefield is no place for naive guards protecting important people.

“Take cover and return fire. Once their momentum dies down, throw grenades.”

“Yes! Commencing fire!”

There’s nothing dumber than grouping up in urban combat.

The effectiveness of explosives is maximized due to the surrounding buildings.

They didn’t even have time to set up barricades, so the defensive formation was a last-ditch effort.

But honestly, it was worse than not doing anything at all.

If it were me, I would’ve just lined up carts to create an impromptu wall. That would’ve been safer and more effective.

Boom!

As the two grenades thrown by the riflemen exploded, the enemy was obliterated, turning into a pile of meat.

Those who survived were either unconscious or had lost limbs. Seizing the opportunity, I immediately gave the order.

“Charge! The palace is right ahead!”

There was no longer anything blocking our way.

They were either dead or dying.

After subduing the soldiers guarding the palace gates, we immediately rushed through the garden and into the building.

Passing through long corridors and various rooms, we made our way to the heart of this massive structure.

After securing the princes’ bedrooms and the queen’s private chambers, we began capturing the maids and attendants we encountered, and there, I came face to face with a familiar face.

“Albrecht, my lord.”

“…Carolus. It’s been a while.”

“I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”

A man forced into rebellion by the king and a man who abandoned the king to join the rebellion. The two exchanged complex glances.

There were many things I wanted to say after such a long time, but I didn’t speak them aloud. Now wasn’t the time to waste on old grievances.

“Where is Carl?”

“Are you calling His Majesty by his first name now…? He’s inside with the nobles. While they were enjoying their banquet, I locked them up.”

“Well done. You’ll be rewarded later.”

“Don’t bother. At my age, what use do I have for riches and glory?”

General Albrecht and a middle-aged officer named Holtman opened the door to the banquet hall.

The heavy sound drew all the eyes in the room to us. In this critical time, there they were—hypocritical scoundrels wearing fancy dresses and uniforms, pretending to be noble.

On the table was a lavish feast, and a play was being staged on the stage.

This scene was nowhere near a city that had been suffering from a siege for so long.

And at the center of it all…

“Have you been well, Your Majesty?”

Our despised tyrant, King Carl VII.