Chapter 5: The Marshal’s Worry
Bright-Half, 3th month, 3th day, Noon, not that the 『Nameless Kingdom』 follows the Midsea calender practice...
A certain beared gentleman stands atop of a certain Golden Wall, looking at the scene of carnage below through the parapet opening. He was wearing an ornate English Edwardian-era butler uniform, his shoulder armoured in a one piece pauldrons, its golden luster give off a glow of golden particles. His name – granted by a high ranked High Lord – is Jin.
He was told that the meaning of his name is "Dedication to Another, To use your body and soul for another's sake". So truthful to his name, even in the long absence since the High Lords departed from the mortal realm, Jin loyally protects the 『Holy Land』 from foreign forces just like in the past.
The enemy army was already routed and retreated, and just like usual, after the last enemy soldier reach a certain distance, the Thick White Fog start to gather and fall down like an advancing dividing curtain. Touching this fog is fatal, therefore Jin gave order to the『Gate Knights』 to stop pursuit the enemy, evacuate the casualties and retreat to safe distance. The Fog soon engulfed the whole top wall and the front gate plaza but for some strange reason cannot go behind or inside the wall, so with the other 『Gate Knights』, Jin withdraw to the Inner Gate Room.
Inside, three Knights clad in Golden Armor stand before him, giving him the latest situation report. The enemy previously sends about 100,000 soldiers to attack the West Gate as a diversion. While the entire『Gate Knights』 are preoccupied by this, they receive spirit message that the enemy had sends its much larger main army to breach the South Gate. Leaving only 200 Knights and 2 『Guardian』 to defend the West Gate, Jin and the rest of the Knight went to reinforce South Gate in hurry. Luckily the enemy is very weak unlike the other High Lords' Holy Knights that attacked in the past. The enemy's equipment and skills are also very poor, it's almost equivalent to that of an animal. Even without the Heaven Lords presence, he is confident that the 『Gate Knights』 can repel the enemy just like the six previous attacks with minimal casualties.
"We surmised the total enemy is about 1,000,000 soldiers. We decimated about 400,000 soldiers before the enemy ranks break and routed. The damage received by the wall is insignificant but the Gate durability is reaching its limit. If the enemy attacks the South Gate again we can't guarantee it won't be breached by the enemy."
One of the Golden Knights, Commander Fuchsburg reported.
"If those cursed White Fogs are just not there, we can pursue and completely destroy the enemy's rear rank and prevent subsequent enemy attacks."
The other Golden Knights, Commander Rosenheim yell angrily.
"We must still be vigilant. Even though the enemy member is weak, but their numbers is huge. We mustn't underestimate the enemy, or we will end engulfed by them and brought ruin to ourselves."
The last Golden Knight, Commander Rodrigo calms his comrade.
"I give you three the freedom to act as your discretion gives. Keep up the good work to protect the 『Holy Land』."
Jin accept the Commander's reports and thoughts. They are veteran that had seen countless battles far more horrible than the last battle.
"Give me the casualties report."
This is the one aspect of these tiresome invasion that gives Jin a hard time.
"We lost 105 Knight's lives, 35 Knights is gravely injured, and 354 Knight is lightly injured."
Rodrigo gives his report, he is glad that the casualties are this small since the enemy outnumbered their knight corps by 1:500. However, hearing this make Jin frowned. It is not that he naively believed he can win battle without sacrifices, but because these sacrifices themselves are heavily significant and irreplaceable. The original 2,000 strong 『Gate Knights』 now only had 1567 active members left, but with the new 494 casualties, their current ready to musters is only 1073 or half of its original strength. This is bad in case the enemy decided to attack again, this war of attrition is unsustainable for the current『Gate Knights』numbers.
Without the High Lord's Holy Blessing, no new 『Gate Knights』 can be recruited, since the Holy Blessing gives the 『Gate Knights』 their great physical and magical ability. If the number decreased further, defending the gate will be difficult with depleted 『Gate Knights』 capability. The last resort is to defy the Holy Principle and draft the Common People to take upon arms and help fighting the enemy.
However, Jin had doubts about their battle performance. However, If he could, he wants to keep the Common People daily lives undisturbed, they already had their hands full since the shutdown of World Servers throw the entire economy and livelihood out of windows.
How long can he protect the 『Holy Land』? This makes Jin's has tense headache every day. Nonetheless, this is his holy duty and he will carry it out until his last breath.
"We will conduct the Glorious Fallen formal funeral tomorrow. Please give the Castle's Condolence and appropriate material compensation to the bereaved families. Send the wounded to get treated by the Healers, any knights deemed fit for duty to quickly return to his post. Keep a state of high alert for spirit message about further enemy attack."
Jin gave his order as he look out the window.
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