The Extra Wants To Live

The circumstances up to this point were actually known precisely only to Carl, who had gathered information through the Bloody Ring Finger.

However, Hardion's commanders were no fools, and they could easily deduce the situation.

The infantry was to be commanded by Badouane, while the left-wing cavalry was placed under Govan, the Marquis of Davron, who had been liberated from the surrendered Zhihan. According to custom, the supreme commander, Carl, took charge of the right-wing cavalry.

The right-wing cavalry commander was usually the highest-ranking officer, as this position was the most likely to make a significant contribution in battle. The previous two battles had special circumstances, so such formalities were unnecessary, but now, command had to be strictly divided according to rank.

The morale of the Hardion army continued to soar to new heights. The Laurel Division and the 1st Expeditionary Force had confidence in victory based on experience, while the 2nd Expeditionary Force underestimated the enemy.

There was, however, one variable—Siana. Because of her, all the high-ranking commanders had retreated to the rear.

This was somewhat unsettling for the infantry and the left-wing cavalry, but not so much for the right-wing cavalry under Carl's command.

The right-wing cavalry consisted of the Laurel Troops, who had been with Carl since the beginning of the war, and the 1st Expeditionary Force, which had fought in the Battle of the Tishal Mountains. They naturally expected Carl to ride at the front as before, mounted on a dazzling white horse and wearing a red cape that fluttered like a comet's tail.

But with Siana present, Carl could not step forward, and these expectations were met with disappointment.

Like any normal commander, Carl would stand behind the ranks, assessing the situation and giving orders through drums, trumpets, and flags. However, he still wore full plate armor and his signature red cloak, ensuring that his cavalrymen, who occasionally glanced back in anxiety, could see he was still there.

To reassure them and boost morale, Carl positioned himself in an open area without shade, letting the sunlight gleam off his armor.

No one else could endure the desert heat during the day as he could. His strong presence reassured his soldiers.

It took almost an hour just to prepare for the battle. With just over two hours left until sunset, if they advanced slowly against Siana's army—now forming ranks in the distance—the battle would likely last until dusk, around two hours.

I don't know if we can actually see the outcome in just two hours, though.

Phew!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The trumpets and drums resounded, delivering the powerful command to advance.

The soldiers formed a line and began their slow march forward.

There was no pre-battle dialogue.

They were wary of Siana, and more importantly, they did not respect her enough to engage in such formalities.

In the distance, Siana's army also began to move.

Unlike Hardion's infantry, who struggled to maintain an orderly formation, Siana's troops formed a dense infantry line, stretching straight across the battlefield.

It may have seemed simplistic and crude, but when vastly outnumbering the enemy, nothing was more effective.

In war, the side with more troops usually won, and to ensure this, strategy and politics had to take priority. Often, a battle's outcome could be decided before it even began.

As seen in the Battle of the Tishal Mountains and now with Siana, proper formation, cavalry maneuvers, and tactical positioning were key to victory.

If a battle required desperate maneuvers akin to twisting one's entire body, it was already a lost cause—one that should have been avoided in the first place.

Yet, the morale of the Hardion army was too high.

This was a reckless battle that everyone wanted to fight before Carl.

If I'm not careful, something terrible could happen.

The experienced veterans, Badouane and Govan, sensed impending disaster.

But at this point, avoiding battle was no longer an option. They had no choice but to fight.

Political elements such as conflicts of interest and vested power dynamics played a role, but beyond that, Carl was the only one capable of commanding a retreat. However, even he was being subtly led into this battle, as if secretly hoping for it.

If they could kill or capture Siana, it would be ideal.

But the wiser course was to withdraw.

Why is Carl hiding his charisma in the first place?

Badouane, lacking political sense, could not understand, but Govan, who had already aligned himself with Carl, understood well.

Unlike the 1st Expeditionary Force, composed entirely of military personnel from the central command, the 2nd Expeditionary Force included individuals from various factions with complex, intertwined interests.

If Carl revealed his full charisma here, the nobles returning to the capital would spread rumors about the dangerous power of Archduke Carl.

His charisma was so overwhelming that, if merely described, one might laugh it off as exaggeration.

Among those who had served under Carl for a long time, his legend was already established. Even if they spoke of it, few outside their ranks would believe them, dismissing it as the glorification of a commander hailed for his victories.

At most, it would raise suspicions, leading to heightened vigilance.

Phew! Phew!

Boom! Boom!

Before anyone realized it, the two armies had drawn close.

Orders were issued simultaneously, and the cavalry charged ahead of the infantry.

Doo doo doo doo!

A total of 30,000 cavalrymen were present on both sides.

Of course, not all were deployed immediately.

With the possibility of a prolonged battle, reserves had to be maintained to prevent being overrun at a critical moment.

A total of 23,000 cavalrymen were deployed immediately—10,000 from Hardion's side and 13,000 from Siana's.

Siana's cavalry outnumbered them, but it had been hastily assembled from the remnants of men left behind in castles, cities, and villages that had already been dangerously drained by conscription.

As a result, their skill level was pitifully low.

However, in battle, sheer numbers equated to raw violence, power, and an absolute advantage.

…

For the first time in his life, Carl sat quietly in the rear, commanding like a 'normal' general, gazing at the battlefield, which was difficult to see due to the thick clouds of sand and dust.

Yes, numbers were absolute.

However, to counterbalance that, the first and most important discipline mankind had ever developed was military strategy.

Politics disrupted strategy.

Strategy disrupted tactics.

Tactics disrupted the disadvantage of being outnumbered.

Soon, the cavalry of both sides clashed.

Carl, positioned at the rear, could barely see it through the haze of dust. The sounds of battle were distant and muffled.

To those seated in front of the chessboard, war often felt indifferent.

Everyone commanding here shared that same detachment.

The only thing that set Carl apart was that he normally fought at the front yet still viewed everything as mere pieces on a board.

The battle had begun.

Very quiet and leisurely—almost with a sense of boredom and lethargy.