Chapter 178: Disadvantage
The strategy room of the Baumgarten Mansion.
Susane and Kurt, surprisingly, did not lose their composure even upon learning of Sophie’s and Achim’s deaths. Perhaps both of them had already steeled themselves for it.
“Messenger!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
A messenger immediately responded to Cassandra’s voice.
“Have Rudolf take command of all forces from this point forward. And, we will move headquarters from here to West Town. Notify Thea of the Healing院 and Rudolf.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Watching the messenger run off, Cassandra turned with trepidation to Susane and Kurt, who were waiting behind her.
“Regarding this matter…”
“Madam, before that, let us prepare for the move. Do you have any instructions?”
“…We will release the weapons stored in the Baumgarten Mansion. Distribute them to the non-combatants. From now on, they will also participate in the battle.”
“Understood.”
“I will help too!”
“Thank you, Zuzana-sama.”
Both Kurt and Zuzana undoubtedly wanted to hear about the final moments of their son and friend. However, they suppressed those feelings and were trying to take the best course of action.
Cassandra was grateful for Kurt and Zuzana’s attitude, which could, at first glance, even be perceived as cold.
“Thanks to Achim, we’ve secured the minimum number of troops. However…”
Watching Kurt and Zuzana leave the room, Cassandra muttered in a somber voice.
As expected, engaging in close combat with the monster army had significantly depleted their forces. So much so that they had to consider deploying non-combatants like the elderly, women, and children.
Rudolf’s Third Army had also been whittled down to about half its original strength. The loss of troops was a major problem. As expected, they needed to effectively utilize the city walls to fight in an advantageous environment to compensate for the difference in numbers.
However…
“The Third Wall is smaller than the Second Wall… How long can we withstand the monsters’ fierce onslaught… And the loss of the Magic Battalion is too painful…”
Cassandra’s murmurs were endlessly dark and heavy.
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“I see, Achim-dono…”
Rudolf lowered his eyes upon hearing the news of Achim’s death. Achim had accepted Rudolf and the Third Army, who had arrived suddenly, and moreover, had not tried to seize command. To Rudolf, Achim was a magnanimous and wonderful warrior. It was always sad when a comrade-in-arms passed away.
However, he couldn’t just dwell on sadness.
“I understand about the succession of command. Please convey that to Madam Baumgarten.”
“Yes, sir!”
He never thought that he, an outsider, would be entrusted with the command of the entire army.
Perhaps the Baumgarten Territory Army’s losses were that severe.
Thinking this, Rudolf immediately took command of the battle.
The monsters, perhaps not needing sleep, had been launching fierce attacks since morning.
Compared to the Second Wall, the Third Wall was lower.
This lowness was creating a troublesome situation. The Giant Centipedes, which had been wreaking havoc since the beginning of the battle with the monsters by forming living ladders, were now able to climb the wall directly because it was lower.
“Centipedes are coming! Draw swords!”
The Giant Centipedes, carrying Goblins on their backs, scaled the walls. They deflected the spears thrust out to stop them with their carapaces, and once on top of the wall, they rampaged along with the Goblins. There was nothing more troublesome.
Thanks to this, archery attacks were no longer effective.
“Troublesome…”
Rudolf muttered, twisting his proud beard with one hand.
And what was most painful was the loss of the Baumgarten Territory Army’s Magic Battalion. Although they managed to rescue a few mages, they had lost most of them, including Battalion Commander Sophie. This was as painful as losing his dominant arm.
But no matter how much he lamented, the dead would not return.
“Commander, our army is at a disadvantage. We must do something…”
“I know…”
One of the staff officers hesitantly advised, and Rudolf replied in a displeased tone.
“Shall we use the fire pots?”
“I want to save those for illumination at night. Something else… Shall we use the bombs?”
“The weapons developed by Margrave Baumgarten, you mean? We have very few of them, but…”
“Use all of them!”
“Yes, sir!”
Rudolf had only heard about the bombs from Cassandra, but now he wanted to try anything that had even a slight chance of breaking the current deadlock.
“Have the archers fall back behind the wall and use arcing fire! Reinforce the top of the wall with heavy infantry!”
“Yes, sir! Immediately!”
After giving further instructions, Rudolf let out a heavy sigh.
“I hope this improves things even a little…”
Muttering a complaint he couldn’t let his subordinates hear, Rudolf continued to rack his brain.