The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 251

‘Truly audacious.’

The master of the Hwarang Guild, Choi Inhyuk, clicked his tongue.

He had anticipated forced marches from the moment the quest recruitment guidelines demanded everyone bring their mounts.

The same was true for the directive to stay logged in for over two weeks. He roughly understood the strategy of marching quickly to strike the enemy.

‘The more time we give them, the larger their forces will grow.’

The Third Prince’s army had marched slowly to allow the forces from surrounding territories and the players to join before the battle.

It was expected that over 200,000 troops would gather by the time they reached the Count’s domain. But to arrive at the enemy’s doorstep within just three days was unexpected.

‘Thanks to that, the enemy’s forces are just around 150,000.’

It was still a large number compared to their own forces, but the burden was significantly reduced. The method that reduced a journey of over ten days to just three.

It was none other than teleportation through portals. This method had been used before when mobilizing players, and many nobles used portals to travel between their territories and the capital.

However, large-scale troop transport using portals in actual military operations was almost unheard of.

First, there were very few mages capable of creating portals. Portal magic required at least a 6th-circle mage.

Even if such mages were available, there was a limit to how many people could be transported at once. To supplement this, magic circles were needed, and maintaining those required mana stones.

In other words, it cost a tremendous amount of mana stones (money).

Thus, even in battles involving entire kingdoms, using portals for troop transport was usually excluded from the strategy.

If portals were used at all, it was usually just to transport a small number of knights.

‘To transport 60,000 troops through portals. How much money do they have?’

Choi Inhyuk could not help but marvel at the financial power of the First Knight Order, which was beyond imagination. No expert had predicted the use of portals in this battle.

The same was likely true for the enemy. Thus, they had not properly organized their formation and were awkwardly deployed.

‘This battle definitely holds a chance of victory!’

Despite facing 150,000 troops, Choi Inhyuk felt no fear.

*

「Form into charge formation!」

Through the guild communication, Raul’s command was conveyed.

Thud, thud, thud.

As they approached the enemy lines, the cavalry, which had been marching at a slow pace, began to speed up and form into ranks.

The 60,000 cavalry split into six groups.

Five smaller wedge-shaped formations took the front in the shape of 「⋀」, with the rear also forming a large wedge formation.

The five front formations each consisted of 1,000 members from the five combat groups of the First Knights.

Leading them at the front were, naturally, Raul and other superhumans and officers.

1st Combat Group Leader/Vice: Dalton / Josh

2nd Combat Group Leader: Homer / McNilan

3rd Combat Group Leader: Davison / Alias

4th Combat Group Leader: Jackie / Omar

5th Combat Group Leader: Ken (Kaylee) / Ransent

Raul led the 1st Combat Group, which was responsible for the very front and center of the formation.

The four masters—Philip, Jake, Pierce, and Kane—led the front of the 2nd to 5th Combat Groups.

And not just Dalton; the other combat group leaders had also recently reached the master level.

「As I mentioned before, we will break through the center of the enemy camp and directly target the enemy leadership! Don’t worry about the rear. The Count’s Knight Commander Hesse and his knights, along with the player units, will handle the cleanup. We will end this battle with a single breakthrough!」

「Yes, Master!」

As Raul’s command finished, the bustling movements of the distant enemies came into view.

Though they were a massive force of 150,000, their numbers made it difficult for them to form an organized formation.

‘Just as expected.’

Unlike Raul’s side, which was entirely mounted, the Third Prince’s punitive force was primarily infantry-based.

Among the 70,000 Ripple Association players, many brought their mounts, but they were not organized into a cavalry unit and were mixed in with the infantry.

“Are you going to send out the cavalry?”

Josh, riding just behind Raul, asked, to which Raul nodded.

“Unless they’re fools, they won’t deploy cavalry here.”

Of the 150,000 troops, at most there were about 5,000 cavalry, which would be difficult to operate independently.

“As expected, they’re putting the players at the front. The central forces and the elite soldiers will likely be forming the anti-cavalry ranks in the second line, right?”

“Probably. Of course, it’s all for naught…”

An anti-cavalry formation was created by driving stakes or wedges into the ground and holding long pikes forward to counter the cavalry.

It would normally offer strong defense and stopping power against typical cavalry, but this time it seemed pointless.

“Ah, seems like a messenger?”

From the enemy side, about ten mounted soldiers appeared to be messengers riding towards them with white flags. However, Raul sneered.

‘What a joke. What could they possibly want to discuss now?’

Why should they perform a courtesy that would only give the enemy time to form up their ranks?

“Double time for the whole army.”

“Double time!”

Raul increased the army’s marching speed.

*

“Ever seen such a lack of manners?”

Favian frowned as he saw his messengers fleeing back to their camp, tails between their legs, overwhelmed by the enemy’s momentum.

“Looks like they’re starting the battle as is. What should we do?”

Master Delo asked.

“It seems their commander knows nothing of military tactics. To charge in without even setting up a defensive position. Smash those idiots to pieces immediately.”

“Yes, commander.”

At Favian’s command, Master Delo led the horse and moved to the second line.

‘This time, Prince Favian’s word is not off. What is the enemy commander thinking?’

It was clear the enemy had been forced to march for days. And now they’re charging into the enemy lines without setting up camp to recover?

There were only two explanations for such behavior:

The commander was a total novice at military tactics.

‘Or they’re confident they can end the battle in one go.’

But no matter how confident they were, their numbers were easily more than double on our side. And even if not entirely reliable, there were 70,000 mercenaries, better than the average soldier.

Their actions were nothing but overconfidence.

‘But why does this feel so unsettling?’

Perhaps because the enemy commander’s troop movements didn’t align at all with his own common sense. Pushing aside the uneasy feeling, Master Delo issued his command.

“Prepare to fire!”

Boom, boom, boom.

The signal was waved, and with the sound of drums, orders were relayed throughout the army. Then, from the middle of the player group at the very front, various mana energies began to swirl.

‘What excessive power.’

The archers were charging their arrows with mana, and a huge number of mages were preparing spells. Looking at each one individually, they were quite the elite forces.

But from a commander’s perspective, they were nothing more than a motley crew. A foreign legion that was lacking in basic soldierly qualities and did not properly follow commands.

Even now, look. Without even an order to fire, many had already begun attacking on their own accord. Of course, it was unlikely to be effective against enemies that weren’t even in range.

‘Well, just the basics should be enough.’

After all, they only need to think of them as cannon fodder or human shields. At that moment, he noticed the enemy cavalry accelerating.

They seemed quite fierce, but could they really pass through thousands of spells and tens of thousands of arrows unscathed?

‘Now, let’s slowly—what?!’

Master Delo’s eyes widened as he was about to issue the firing command. Covering the charging enemy cavalry was a massive mana barrier.

It was the ‘Knight Division’s Charging Curtain’.

A charge barrier so difficult to deploy that even dozens of knights working together would struggle to create it was now enveloping all five wedge formations.

‘Damn. Is that even possible? Are all of them knights?’

Even though it was just a vanguard force of about 5,000, that wasn’t the issue. Five thousand knights.

That meant the knights were at least at the Expert level to be able to generate a charge barrier. Such a large-scale knight division had never been heard of.

Indeed, the entire Third Prince’s army, boasting 500,000 troops, had barely over 2,000 knights. And that included non-Expert knights.

‘It can’t be. They must have used some trick. There‘s no way a Count’s household has 5,000 knights.’

Brushing aside the myriad of thoughts that rushed through his mind, Master Delo shouted angrily.

“All units, commence firing! Destroy that fake barrier!”

“Commence firing!”

“Fire! Don’t let the enemy approach!”

With the command, the player units began their long-range attacks. From the rear line, although few in number, some ballistae (siege weapons that fired sharpened logs) and catapults began firing.

Thud!

Thousands of spells unfolded in front of the units, turning the entire plain into another world.

And amidst this, arrows with high firing angles from longbows covered the sky, while crossbow bolts flew straight across the plain as dark shadows.

Boom! Bang!

Flash. Rumble!

Pat, pat, pat.

Various long-range attacks devastated the area about 300 meters ahead. The light and smoke from the exploding spells and the dust clouded the vision.

“Keep firing without rest!”

“Don’t spare your mana, shoot! As long as we wipe them out, First Knight Order is done for!”

“Let’s show them who the true victors of Connect are!”

Even without orders, the players continued their attacks with all their might.

Everyone knew that this battle was being broadcast in real-time, and with thoughts of the public merits and rewards they would gain by defeating the enemy, they couldn’t stop.

In less than 30 seconds. The result of the furious bombardment of spells and arrows was…

Clip-clop, clip-clop!

“Damn it….”

Boom! Thud!

A golden barrier collided with the frontline of the players armed with spears and shields.

Thwack. Slice!

“Argh!”

“S-spare me… ugh.”

The ones who were at the very front were rather fortunate. They were crushed in a moment without any pain. But there was no mercy for those positioned in the middle.

With flashing lights, their bodies were pierced or some parts were severed, and those who fell were trampled by hooves, their bodies crushed.

Of course, the players who were over level 50 managed to counterattack.

“Die!”

One player wielded a spear imbued with a mana spear, activating his skill. He got lucky, as his spear pierced through a weakened spot in the charge barrier, reaching a knight’s body, but…

Zzzt.

Awaiting the spearhead was yet another barrier.

“Power armor…? Gah.”

Without time to even wonder, his head was split in half.

“Above! Watch out above!”

Before anyone knew it, a legion of weapons hovered above the knights.

The weapons dove from various angles like hawks targeting their prey, exploiting the players’ openings. Many players, distracted by the knights in front of them, collapsed without being able to react.

“What the… What are those? We don’t stand a chance!”

“Move! I’m not dying in a place like this!”

This wasn’t a battle. It was a perfectly one-sided massacre, and the players were in shock. Players who had joined individually turned their backs even before the main enemy forces (the Count’s cavalry and Purple Association players) arrived.

Parties and guilds were thrown into confusion, realizing something was wrong, while those positioned on either side were already mounting their steeds and fleeing in all directions.

*

“Look at those fools!”

Favian cursed vehemently as he watched the player units being swept away by the charge like the parting of the Red Sea.

It would have been better if they had just broken through, but the formation collapsing and players fleeing in all directions in an instant made his blood boil.

Thanks to this, even the allied regular soldiers were shaken, causing the entire formation to waver.

“What are the knights doing? Get out there and stop them now!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Hamart! Where are you?”

At his shout, Master Hamart approached with a nonchalant expression.

“Why did you call me? Weren’t we told to just watch from the rear?”

Annoyed by Hamart’s grinning inquiry, Favian shouted irritably.

“Can’t you see that? Go and stop them immediately!”

“Haha, alright. You just keep watching from the rear.”

Laughing uproariously, Hamart took the taciturn No. 4 and headed toward the battlefield. However, once he turned away from Favian, his face turned stern.

“No. 4. Was the information incorrect?”

“… It seems so. But a few more small fries won’t change anything.”

“Hmph. Intelligence Department really is as useless as ever. I’ll have words with Zero about this once the battle is over.”

“… As you wish.”

No. 4 spoke calmly, but the dark eyes visible through his bronze mask burned coldly.

(To be continued)