Chapter 15
End of battle was a little bit awkward. I would not regret my decision as the commander of demon army, but it’s not possible to not have a heavy heart after killing this many.
Still it is melancholic nonetheless.
Who’s the enemy general to come up with such a reckless strategy.
There were three injured among the werewolves. They are the ones who got hit by arrows directly.
While treating the injured with recovery magic, I praised them for good fight.
Besides a few scratches, everyone else seems to be in good health. As one would expect of the werewolves.
I entrusted the rest to Jerik, and returned to the castle gate in a hurry. Because there is something to be worried about.
Monza greeted me with a troubled expression. Seems it was as I feared.
Near her feet, some men are squatting. There were silver knives scattered in the vicinity.
Their faces looked a bit distorted, so I timidly ask Monza,
“They tried to run, so a little?”
Monza cracked a smile. She is carefree, but she was a person who has room for leisure while executing any kind of cruel act.
I question the men.
Thereupon the men flared up.
“There are howls of werewolves, everyone is completely frightened.?
What a confidence.
“Well enough about that, why are you carrying things like knives?”
There is a law that prohibits armaments of civilians, but since knives used for cooking are daily use tools, so carrying is permitted.
“Hmm”
The knife blade is also made of silver. This seems like the handiwork of inujin artisan, there is a splendid flower engraved on it.
All the other knife blades are also made of silver. Silver is heavy and soft. Not suitable for daily domestic use.
But, among humans, there is a legend that ‘werewolves can only be harmed with silver weapons’.
Because doing so, they would attack with soft and weak silver weapons.
I cross-examined the men while looking down.
No answer. I become a little more angry.
I bared my fangs at the silent men.
It smelled of fear.
Finally one man started talking.
“Letter?”
But it’s like a luxury.
Who would believe it.
“Just to observe the situation because of outside is noisy, did you guys bring tools for breaking the seal of letters?”
They remained silent.
“Check their backgrounds thoroughly. Hand over them to the viceroy. I entrust the punishment to viceroy.”
At last the final punishment would be left to viceroy. There was a need to show off like that.
Monza squad restrained the men, and dragged them away.
“Vaito-san, is it fine? The viceroy is the human, right? Won’t the punishment be mild?”
This young guy seems to be dissatisfied with this punishment.
So I reply with a troubled face.
“That, That is so, but..”
As far as demons are concerned, there are no obligation for the strong to show that much concern towards the weak. If there are signs of revolt, then it’s sufficient to slaughter them all.
Although, doing that would definitely make it unfavorable later.
“Is that so…”
“Well, leave it to me. I will do it so that we will get the most gain.”
As I laughed patting his shoulder, Sukuji also barely smiled.
At that moment, the castle gate opened, Jerik and others returned. I had asked them to inspect the battlefield, seems like that was over.
He held up an arrow, which the enemy had.
While flipping the arrowhead, Jerik, taking me as a fool, explained.
“This is a casted metal. Probably made after melting down silver coins, but it seems to be made in a hurry. Evidence shows that it’s not forged properly.”
I ponder for a bit.
“Ah, I have no doubt. Silver is softer than iron. There is no one to make weapons out of them deliberately.”
“I don’t know. What I know is that because of the fragile silver arrowheads, everyone’s wounds are minor.”
He is truly a master blacksmith in all aspects.
However I can’t afford to be like that, so I muttered folding my hands,
We have completely shut down the human movement in and out of the city since we have invaded Ryun Height. Other than that only the inujin caravan can leave.
“It’s strange”
It seems information is leaking somewhere.
At that time, castle gate opened again, and Woddo squad returned.
“Thank you, Woddo-jiisan”
Woddo-jiisan is currently a peaceful retired old man, but originally he is a mercenary. I have heard that he had slipped into humans and participated in war in various places.
“By the way, Vaito-ya, look at this one”
“Is this? Looks like the enemy bows.”
Woddo-jiisan laughed merrily, and continued,
“….is it for urban warfare?”
“Something like that.”
According to the Woddo-jiisan’s explanation, the bows carried by Tuban cavalry are made pursuing the merit in handling.
“In that case, isn’t it unsuitable for siege wars?”
I was startled.
They attacked with only four hundred, because they had means to break through the castle gates.
I, being wary of the betrayers, left two squads of Monza and other for security, but it became a result just as feared.
Perhaps, the tactics of Tuban side is like this.
The fifty bow cavalry with silver arrows are the counter werewolf urban warfare troop.
That’s why that time only the bow cavalry started attacking suddenly.
Taking advantage of mobility the bow cavalry unit would attack the north gate of Ryun Height. The defectors after opening the castle gates would lead the bow cavalry unit.
As a trading city, the gate or main street are made wide, which is just right for moving around for bow cavalry.
That sort of thing.
Since their assumption was completely wrong, the tactics and forces collapsed.
In this case, I should have questioned after taking prisoners of war.
If the werewolves’ blood boils, then it becomes this brutal……