Golden Cross: Chapter 4

Chapter 4.  By The Brotherhood’s Name (1)

 “Oh, gosh!”

The mercenaries who were looking on from nearby were too amazed to even say anything legible.  Although they did not clearly see all of Eugene’s movements, they knew well what just happed since they were seasoned warriors.

 “A provost was this powerful…..”

One mercenary’s groaning voice was speaking for everyone else’s thought.  Harrison and Kunadal who were next to him, knelt on their knees with feared expressions.  As Maxen was doomed, they quickly figured out how they should act.

 “We were wrong!”

 “Please spare us!”

They would be mocked by the other mercenaries for acting this way, but as far as the current situation went, it was a smart move.  It was possible to lose their lives should they upset a provost.  And their action was certainly beneficial.

 “Be careful from now on.”

 “Yes!  Will do!”

Eugene’s hardened heart was soon softened.  His opponents were too weak for him to be emotionally charged.  Eugene’s expression turned nonchalant, and Harrison and Kunadal, who were just trying to read Eugene, hurriedly helped Maxen up and ran off.

 “Wow, you’re really awesome.”

As if he was truly impressed, sign of respect flew out of Leon’s eyes.

 “Quiet.  Just get some sleep.”

 “Gosh.  That’s all you tell me every day.”

The incident came to a closure with that, and from that day on, no one disrespected Eugene for being a youngster.  That’s how Eugene was becoming a respectable double-paid mercenary of the unit.

They reached the outside of Meiphonestark city limits after over 15 days of marching.  Originally, Malian Landgraf who supported Duke Betin, the 3^rd prince, and his allies were attacking Meiphonestark which supported the great duke Benfist, the 2^nd prince.  However, unlike the other cities that were overrun by Malian Landgraf, the city of Meiphonestark was holding up well, and now their allies have shown up to help.  Malian Landgraf pulled back his forces in preparation for the confrontation against the 15,000 forces, led by Stuartemitte and Myrus.  However, as too many families congregated near Meiphonestark, discerning between friends and foes, and their names has become tricky.  After a long thought process, the directors have decided to call the troops that supported the great duke Benfist, the Blue force, and the forces that supported Duke Betin, the White force. These names were derived from the colors of the coats of armors of the duke and the great duke.  Eugene belonged to the Blue forces. 

Since then, a game of cat and mouth chase ensued for four days between the Blue and White forces.  Then Malian Landgraf who led the White Force took up position at a gently hilled area, and on June 2^nd, the Blue force caught up with them, not too long after they started their march.  Schutartmitte Landgraf who led the Blue force ordered all troops to line up in formation.  Schutartmitte Landgraf did not seem to have intention of mobilizing until after past Noon since the sunlight was still disadvantageous for the Blue forces.   The opposition seemed to have recognized this as they were leisurely putting together their own formation.

The Black Regiment which Eugene was part of was placed to the right, and they took on difficult missions.  One of the enemy’s regiments was taking up a strategically critical spot on the hill, and the Black Regiment has been ordered to overtake it as the spot was in the line of their advancement.  It looked to have been assigned to them, the elite unit, since it was a difficult task, but with a forecast of many casualties, the atmosphere of the regiment was not very pleasant.

“Everyone be on the alert!”

The officers who were dispersed to various locations around the regiment screamed.  The atmosphere was heightened, and the sound of the military band playing also became louder from everywhere.

 “Leon, do not get scared.”

Leon, who was still a young recruit, positioned at the end of the regiment, but he was turning blue with fear.  Eugene was also positioned towards the end of the regiment.  He was tasked with supervising the unit in charge of preventing desertions.  It was because even if he was a provost, it was his first battle, and he was still a youngster.  Thudupdupdup-.

The cavalry troops that were relaying orders were busily moving about.  The moment of the battle seemed imminent.  Even Eugene, who was full of confidence, couldn’t shake off his anxiousness.

Boong!  Boong!  Boong!  Boong!

Heavy drum sounds vibrated the air in the area, and a flag was raised from the main camp.  Upon seeing the signal, the regimental commander immediately raised his sword over his head and loudly ordered.

 “Long spearmen, raise your spears!”

At the same time, the long spears that were over 5 meters tall were raised over their heads.

Thadathak.  Thak.  Thadak.  Thak.

The colliding sounds of long spears positioned like the needles on porcupines reverberated in the area.  The dignified look that was displayed by over 1,000 long spearmen was truly a sight to behold.  The riflemen took positions around the long spearmen in 3 groups, and the supply troops were positioned on the flanks and the rear of the regiment.  Kwang!  Kwaang!  Kwang!

Eugene flinched at the sudden sound of the explosion coming from the back.  When he turned to look, he saw the artillery unit already started to fire the cannons.  Flying with a low grade arch, the cannon shells ripped up the enemy’s camp is a straight line.

Kwa-kwang!

The power of Calverin cannon was incredible.  It was said that there were 10 giant heavy guns, and that they were named the ’10 holy knights’.  The cannons were strictly created by the dwarfs who were explosive experts.

Kwaang!  Kwang!  Kwang!

The White forces’ heavy guns began to fire in earnest at this time.  As they had already employed the dwarfs in advance, they were not a push over when it came to fire power.

Shoooook-.  The sounds of cannon shells flying in from 500 meters away gave the shivers.  The troops were strictly forbidden from breaking their formation in their efforts to dodge the incoming shells.  They just had to hope that they were lucky.

Kwaaaang!

The power to which the ancient stone launchers couldn’t be compared to shook the ground.  The troops on the spot were torn into pieces and tossed up in the air.  It was normal to have over ten troops to lose their lives with a single shell.  However, each regiment was over 2,000.  The gap that was created by the shell was immediately filled by other troops.  They, who were veteran mercenaries and military men, stood over the dead bodies of their war brothers as they maintained the formation.

 “To the front!”

Following the voice of the regimental commander, the Black regiment moved to the front in an orderly fashion.  The movements of the long spearmen were disciplined, and the movements of the riflemen were more unconstrained.

Doong-doong-doong!  Thathathat!  Thathathathathathat!

Unfittingly, the sound of the military band music was rather cheerful.  It was as if it was a time for a spring picnic.   All the while however, the shells continued to take the people’s lives with loud explosions.

Neighhhhing!

This time around, the cavalry was hit with a shell as the horses cried loudly.  Even the highly trained military horses were scared of the incoming shells, and the horsemen were busily occupied, attempting to calm the horses down.  That was how all units moved forward, step by step, by stepping in on the bloodied field of their comrades.  After advancing about 250 meters, a loud thundering voice was heard from the cavalry unit.

 “Charge!”

With the sound of the thundering screams, the cavalry squadron that was marching along next to the Black Regiment suddenly catapulted forward.

Thududu-Thududu-.

The squadron, which had 800 men of which 400 was heavy musket cavalry and 400 was firearm cavalry, moved by forming a great strong line.  As a result, the surrounding vicinity became covered with sand storm.

 “Charge bravely!”

The cavalry men, with heavy muskets, who were at the very forefront took out their guns and began ferociously firing into the enemy’s direction.

Pang! Pang!  Paang!  Pang!

The whole area was turning white, along with the unique smell of the exploded black powder from the guns.  Yet, the Black Regiment was silently moving forward, but slowed as they came in to the range of the heavy muskets.  From this point on, the forces would be moving in concert with the gun men.

 “Unit, fire!”

The non-commissioned officer who was at the front of the regiment instructed to begin firing by pushing forward his bayonet.

Pang!  Papapapang!  Paang!

Fire spewed out from the long guns at the front in to the direction of the enemy on the hill.  At this time, Eugene felt as if though nothing other than the white smoke, smell of the gun powder, and the deafening sound of multiple gun fires were recognizable to him.  After each firing, the gun men retraced backwards, and the ones who were standing ready behind them moved forward and fired.  The Black Regiment, although slow, kept their march forward in that fashion.  The enemy also began to fire back.

Pang!  Pang!  Pang!

The regiment was exposed to the long guns, but they kept moving forward.  Right in front of him, Eugene saw the thick pole of the long spear break off into pieces by a bullet.  It was then followed by screams from here and there, and the troops fell to the ground.  As the regiment moved forward from the most rear position of the line, Eugene saw the dead bodies of the troops.  On their luminous breastplates were the footsteps of the troops that had passed, stepping over the bodies.  Although he didn’t know their names, their faces were familiar to him.

 ‘Darn!  Rest in peace.’

Eugene briefly prayed for their souls and kept walking.  The vicinity was filled with the sounds waling, battle screams, gun fires, loud cries, and other various noises which were usually made in a battle, but Eugene did not have a complete picture of the situation.  Eugene was not a general, but a lowly soldier, so the Black Regiment was the whole battle to him.

 “It’s magic!  Careful!”

Urgent warnings came from all directions.  As the forces came within 100 meters, the magicians who were being kept protected in the midst of the long spearmen began coming to life.  With their awesome powers, lightning came down from the top of the long spearmen’s heads.