Lost Sword story · Main story, Part 1
Chapter 10: Cornwall Team Battle I
6 scenes, 195 lines
1. Imperial Army Base
73 linesI stretched my back as soon as we left the castle.
That meeting felt like several months' worth of battles all at once.
Yeesh, how is that mage so powerful?
Hmph, she is nothing compared to me. Only humans would find a mage with a few circles impressive.
Weren't you lying down the whole time?
Ethan!
Tristan came up behind us as we bickered on the way back to our rooms.
Tristan?! Are you okay?
Huh? For what?
I heard everything. Titania's conspiracy... You saving His Majesty...
I am sorry I could not help when it mattered most.
You got nothing to be sorry about. You were defending against a surprise attack on the castle!
It's thanks to you Elizabeth came at just the right time.
Nevertheless...
Tristan wavered.
Her strong sense of responsibility made her feel guilty she was tricked by a false Isolde and couldn't punish Rowena herself.
(It's really kinda cute when you think about it.)
I tried consoling a red-faced Tristan when another person walked up behind her.
I shall leave the details to Her Highness.
What? That's Isolde?
Greetings, Ethan.
It is nice to meet you. I am the real Isolde.
I have heard the whole tale... You all have suffered greatly.
I thank you, truly, for saving me and my father...
You are the real Princess Isolde?
She is. She woke up the second Rowena vanished. No spellcaster meant that the curse was lifted.
I still cannot believe I didn't notice it wasn't her...
I, of all people, didn't know she was a fraud...
Oho-ho, still your mind, Tristan. No one could have known.
Yeah, she even had the same laugh, for cryin' out loud. Buck up.
Enough. I do not wish for your consolation.
Hmm... Well, this does seem like the real Princess Isolde.
Yeah, and the spy eating away at Cornwall is now gone.
All that's left now is a battle with the enemy.
Then... war?
Yup. This is the real thing now.
The hard-earned trust from King Mark means nothing to joining the alliance if Cornwall is conquered.
I'm about to fight in an actual war in this world.
I shall also assist you.
Pardon? But you have only just woken up, Princess.
Elizabeth is right. You should stay in the castle.
This is a fight for our kingdom.
It would be nice to leave it to our knights and all of you, but I must be there if the men are to feel inspirited.
I have been worthless in my bed for too long... I wish to be of some help in this fight.
Princess Isolde was resolute.
Okay, whatever you say, Princess.
Ethan, are you certain of this?
Yeah. We do need someone to rally the troops for battle. We're outsiders. It'd be hard to command without the Princess.
The odds are in our favor though, aren't they? I'm not interested in a fight we're doomed to lose.
Well, it won't be easy, but we fought our way here to win. The well-poisoners are gone too, so if we all come together, we have a pretty good chance!
We will not be so easily beaten. The Catfolk will join our forces, and we have Dame Lua as well.
I hope it all works out, but still, we're facing an empire.
We could find ourselves in trouble if our strategy breaks down even just a little. We ought to inspect the battlefield ahead of time.
What? Now?
Our fate will be determined tonight. We can't have a good night's sleep now.
It's always the same. If we don't do what the piggy says, he'll keep oinking. Let's go.
Phew, just barely beat them back.
Good thing it was only a group of scouts.
Undisciplined and not battle-ready... They were no match for us.
Yeah, but the main legion won't be anything like that.
Tomorrow's battle... Can we be victorious?
We will be. I'm just as nervous as you, but if we fall here, everything we fought for so far will have been in vain.
We're gonna show them the kind of power I promised King Mark.
All right! I'll do the best I can, Ethan.
It can't just end here.
This is only the beginning of the real battle. We can't fail now.
Well, the enemies are taken care of, so let's head back. I'm gonna collapse from starvation.
At least get up before saying that...
After greeting the real Princess Isolde, we began preparations for battle.
2. Bluesand Forest
34 linesThe next day...
We set up camp with Cornwall's army at the forest entrance according to plan.
It is an honor to stand alongside you, Ethan.
Are you sure you want to fight?
The fate of my kingdom hangs on it. My safety is of no concern, oho-ho.
Well, don't worry about that, 'cause I'll keep you safe. Now, this strategy... Will it work?
Certainly. I have gone over it several times.
The enemy will come out from over there. Cornwall's men will stand in a wide array here. Then the battle starts.
But we can't rush our attack. The enemy knows we stole their battle map.
Wait for our signal.
All right. I only pray nothing goes awry.
Ethan... Please take care of yourself... And good luck out there.
Thank you, Princess.
The prep work is done. I braced myself for battle as I looked over the knights of Cornwall lying in ambush beneath the ridge of the plains.
How long we waited.
The Imperial Army finally emerged.
Ethan, it is the main legion of the empire.
That is a whole lotta guys...
Don't be intimidated. Stick to the plan. We have to look like we're not here to fight.
I doubt the enemy has any intention of reaching an agreement. They just want it as an excuse to subdue Cornwall with little effort.
As long as we look like we're here to negotiate, they'll be pleased, thinking their plan worked.
That's the moment we're aiming for!
(Just draw 'em in a little more. And we need to all strike at once to muddle their battle line as much as possible.)
The fate of Cornwall... of the alliance...
And my own fate. They will all change here.
Around the time the Imperial Army vanguard exited the forest...
One of them, a giant man, realized something was wrong, and let out a big shout.
What are you doing, Cornwall rubes?!
Where is the consul who sent the letter?! Is it not negotiation you want, but war?!
Oi! Answer me!
I did not answer, but drew my sword and shouted to those in wait.
Now! Charge!
Raaaaah!!!
The war began once we lured the Imperial Army in.
3. Cornwall Right Flank
23 linesThe battle went on for some time.
The battlefield was utter chaos. Enemies fought enemies coming out from the forest, while others were still in disorder from the sudden combat.
We broke through the front line, which shattered their expectations, but also got us surrounded.
Banners, spears, and swords all mixed in the turbid battlefield center. Slicing, stabbing, smashing, soldiers on our side beat back the Imperial Army.
But their numbers only seemed to grow.
H-How are there so many?
We ought to retreat! This... We can't win this!
Calm down! We still have the upper hand!
I reinvigorated the frightened soldiers, but the furious Imperial Army's vigor just continued to grow.
This won't do.
Once I saw the battle was at a deadlock, I called out for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth!
Yes, Ethan!
Let's support the right flank like we planned!
To Salisbury!
This first battle is inevitably in our favor since we caught the Imperial Army off-guard.
However, numbers-wise and skills-wise, they had us beat, and began to push the Cornwall Army back.
I was hoping to use that as a way to bring the Imperial Army right to the front of Cornwall Castle.
And for that... We have to give them the impression we're fighting with all our might, making it seem really close.
If we just ran back to the castle in the middle of the fight, as long as their commander isn't an idiot, they'd find it suspect.
To make this work with the weaker Cornwall Army, our participation is essential!
We ran over to the right, where we started getting pushed back.
The war of Cornwall had begun. As we started being pushed back, we ran to the right flank.
4. Cornwall Right Flank
10 linesWhew, that balanced things out.
We took care of the Imperial Army on this side, which gives our men enough freedom to counter the ones coming in from behind.
Ethaaan! Wait for me!
The Fairy Queen was floundering between a mass of soldiers.
I shook my head at the poor state of her.
Yeah, when you have no body to speak of, your head does all the work...
Ethan! I'll open up a way to the left flank!
Great, knock 'em down, Bedivere!
5. Cornwall Left Flank
25 linesThe tables began to rapidly turn as more and more of the Imperial Army came out of the forest.
The situation on the left was worse than the right because of it.
Help me!
Uaagh! The arrows are flying!
How Vortigern was able to erect an empire, how he made those other lords capitulate...
I only realized the answer standing on the blood-soaked battlefield.
He's on another level, but that doesn't mean we can fail here...
Wake up, people! The enemy may be strong, but we have the upper hand!
Gaaah! Look at all those men! It's like a giant black mass coming our way!
Haaa... Conscripted soldiers just don't have the fighting spirit.
At least there were a small number of real knights that could match the enemy's vigor. And Tristan, of course.
The soldiers dragged in from noble houses or commoner houses had awful morale.
Do we have to retreat?
No, not yet. If we fall back now, they will definitely chase us down.
That won't give us time for the next stage of the plan. We need to deal as much damage to them as possible!
What do we do, Ethan? There are too many arrows flying. We can't advance any farther!
Damn... If the left flank collapses, the plan might follow suit...
Haaa, I suppose I've no choice. I shall settle this myself.
Morgana!
Has that little squirt ever shown such bravery?
Morgana stood before the hail of arrows and emit a grand and marvelous force of magic.
Once the line of archers was blasted away, I reacted with a shout and sword held high.
Now! Charge!
Raaaaah!!!
Morgana's magic saved the men on the left flank, but morale continued to worsen.
6. Cornwall Center
30 linesAfter we barely saved the left flank, the men took a breath and straightened the battle lines.
Yet there were still many of those who were afraid, wanted to run, or were stepping back.
Hold fast, my men! Your princess is fighting alongside you!
Seeing Isolde come out to the front lines ignited their final spark.
But reality is ugly and cruel.
With the whole Imperial Army now out of the forest, the difference in strength laid bare our inferiority.
W-We can't do this! I'm leaving!
Chariots! Uaaagh!
What are you doing?! This is the fight for your country! Get back here, you idiots!
It is no use, Ethan...
War is a foreign thing to these people... We should consider it remarkable they fought this much...
She is right, Ethan. Unfortunate it may be, perhaps it would be best to retreat and move to the next plan.
But look at the situation...
Elizabeth's expression darkened, as if recalling the usurping of the throne.
The situation was that, despite having the advantage in position, we were being pushed back.
Anyone would be afraid of such military prowess.
Still... I don't have the slightest intention of giving up here!
If Cornwall loses the war, there is no alliance.
Don't worry, Elizabeth. It's not time to give up just yet.
What? Do you have another plan?
This war will be decided by fighting spirit.
Such spirit deflates because of fear.
Therefore, we just need to get rid of the fear.
Yes, and you know what it is.
What... do you mean?
This!
I held the fake Holy Grail up high and cried out.
This war will be decided by fighting spirit. Such spirit deflates because of fear. Therefore, we just need to get rid of the fear. If Cornwall loses the war, there is no joining the alliance. That is why I held the fake Holy Grail in the air and shouted to all.