When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 32

Episode 32

The retreat of the 9th Legion, led by Commander Elliot Crane, would become a scene of utter carnage.

With only 5,000 personnel from the 9th Legion to protect the tens of thousands of non-combatants stationed in the fortress city of Bastiona, their escape became a desperate ordeal. Despite the relatively youthful composition of the non-combatants, given that Bastiona itself was at the forefront of human survival zones, abandoning the fortress city for a retreat was exceedingly harsh.

Not only legionnaires but also adventurers and non-combatants took up arms, engaging in a literal all-out war throughout Bastiona. Furthermore, while breaking through the siege laid by the demon army, numbering over a hundred thousand, that surrounded the fortress city, they also had to contend with a separate unit led by the Orc King, which suddenly appeared from within the city.

There seemed to be no way to win. Thus, Elliot quickly played one of his trump cards.

While dealing with the Orc King’s assault with elite troops, they managed to gather the non-combatants and, with the entire army in assault formation, barely broke through the enemy’s encirclement outside the city. At this point, the casualty rate of the 9th Legion had already reached nearly ten percent.

Disregarding the damage, they somehow managed to evacuate from within the fortress city and proceeded to activate the set tactical-grade self-destruct magic embedded in the fortress city walls a little distance away from the walls.

Looking back at Bastiona with an indescribable expression, Elliot shook his head to dispel any lingering attachments and exercised the right granted to him as the legion commander entrusted with the frontline city.

“O ancient guardian, our shield. I command thee with this barrier. When our walls are breached by the enemy, let every stone return to the heavens. Cliffs, shatter, and ascend to the heavens, taking the enemy with you. Extraterritorial Magic: ‘Barrier of Cliff Demolition.’ Unleash your power now!”

Elliot’s previously registered magical power remotely activated the explosives embedded in the walls of the fortress through the authentication key.

Simultaneously, with a deafening roar, the walls of Bastiona exploded. Stones flew in all directions, attacking the demon army, which had been completely confident of victory. The resulting flying debris and raging inferno caused significant damage to the demon army deployed around Bastiona.

Similar self-destruct magic was embedded in the walls of all frontline cities of the Tashman Kingdom. This was a countermeasure implemented based on the lesson learned from history: when a fortress city fell to demons, its base became a nest of demons, and the human side suffered heavy losses in reclaiming it.

By destroying the sturdy walls that made up the fortress city, its strategic value was nullified, and damage was inflicted upon the enemy army. Truly, it was a suicidal magic.

Although Elliot had resorted to the final measure early on, its power was not in vain. Seizing this opportunity, the 9th Legion and the non-combatants began their retreat towards Kohane at full speed. However, as expected, the enemy did not let them escape easily.

Elliot, who had somehow managed to break through the enemy encirclement around Bastiona with momentum, deployed himself along with 500 soldiers he led to defend the road. He resolved to become a shield to buy time for his comrades to escape.

“The command of the 9th Legion and the citizens of Bastiona beyond this point shall be transferred from Commander Elliot Crane to Lieutenant Colonel Maria Valenti of the 3rd Regiment! Maria, I’m counting on you!”

Hearing Elliot’s declaration full of determination, Maria and the members of the 9th Legion succeeded him with expressions suppressing their pain, sorrow, and frustration.

Swallowing all her emotions, Maria responded, “Commander Elliot! This Maria Valenti will safely escort the citizens and the 9th Legion to Kohane! …Good luck!!”

Having recovered from the confusion caused by the exploding walls, the enemy’s vast army approached one after another. Maria turned on her heel and headed towards Kohane. At this point, the 9th Legion, under Maria’s command, had been reduced to around 3,500 members.

“Hurry! Don’t waste Commander Elliot’s intentions!”

…

“Well, let’s go.”

His subordinates, whom he had nurtured with care, had acted decisively after swallowing all their emotions.

Feeling a mixture of joy and sentimentality, Elliot was interrupted as he was about to say something by his adjutant, Alex.

“Commander Elliot, no need for sentimentality.”

All nodded at Alex’s words. Surprised, Elliot widened his eyes and then resolved himself once again. He would uphold the ideal image of a commander that everyone believed in until the end.

“Thank you, Alex… Now, my comrades, Bastiona is lost to us. Before us, an enemy army of nearly a hundred thousand approaches. In contrast, we are merely five hundred.”

The 500 rearguard soldiers of the 9th Legion listened silently to Elliot’s rallying cry. Elliot looked at each of their faces before declaring, “So what? Who are we? That’s right, we are the protectors of humanity, the pioneers, the citizens of the Tashman Kingdom, serving as the shield of the human nation-states. And among them, we are the strongest corner of the shield defending the frontline, the 9th Legion. That’s who we are.”

As Elliot spoke, both his fervor and the heat of the soldiers listening gradually intensified.

“So, what’s the plan? We don’t settle for half-measures. We’ll annihilate all hundred thousand of them. Business as usual… Full assault formation, draw your swords!!”

Five hundred swords glittering in the sun were directed towards the massive army of a hundred thousand.

“Well, if we win, no one will complain.”

With a smirk on his face, Elliot swung down his sword.

“Full charge, everyone!!”