I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 250

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 250
Fire
“If the Two Empires wish to see this through to the end, we must stop the war.”
-Is such a thing possible?
Kalis’s response to Ellen’s words showed his difficulty in understanding.
If the war could have been stopped, it would have been halted long ago.
“Looking at the current state of war, the Raikane Empire holds a slight advantage, but the military strength of the Two Empires isn’t so vastly different.”
-That is true.
“In this situation, if our Kingdom Alliance stands united, I believe we can sufficiently play the role of a restraining force.”
-The wrath of the Two Empires may turn toward us.
War is fundamentally a struggle over justification.
If the Kingdom Alliance intervenes, the Two Empires could suddenly change their direction.
“We must walk that line carefully to prevent such an outcome. To explain in greater detail….”
Ellen laid out her carefully devised plan, explaining it methodically piece by piece.
When all explanations concluded, the Alliance’s collective will had become one.
-It seems sound. I am in favor.
-I too support this. I hope this will ease the stranglehold we’ve been under.
.
.
Beginning with King Kalis Loton, all voted in favor.
Since Ellen was the architect of this plan, she took the lead and began moving forward.
* * *
“Looking at the enemy’s defenses, it seems as though they were waiting for us.”
Louis, having surveyed Adman Castle, stroked his chin.
“Indeed. It appears they anticipated an attack.”
“There is something rather predictable about it, I must admit.”
Louis nodded at the words of Vice Commander Dein.
“We assault the castle the moment the sun completely sets. No need to delay.”
“Yes, sir!”
In war, speed is everything, and the longer one drags things out, the exponentially greater the chance that unforeseen variables will emerge.
‘I must achieve victory here once more, without fail.’
Two days prior, I had received news of victory from the Iron Bridge demolition operation.
Momentum favors the Lycans, and if I reclaim Adman Castle here, the entire picture becomes perfect.
“Exhale.”
Returning to the barracks, Louis released a breath heavy with tension.
‘This is the most critical moment. Stay sharp.’
Having felt keenly in the previous Belzium Castle battle how vital tactics were.
I spent the remaining time conducting final checks down to the last minute before stepping onto the stage.
“Our valiant army sent tens of thousands of enemy soldiers plummeting off the cliffs at Belzium Castle just two days ago!”
With experience now accumulated, Louis raised his voice with practiced ease.
“Now it is our turn! Let us inherit their efforts, their sacrifice, and their valor—and reclaim the lands we have lost!”
Shing!
Louis drew his sword from his belt and pointed it toward Adman Castle.
“Do not falter! His Majesty the Emperor and I shall stand with you until the very end! All forces! Prepare for battle!”
“Yes!!!!”
A sharp, unified response.
Tension transformed into exhilaration as the cold night air ignited with heat and fervor.
And the catalyst was—
“Fire!!!!”
“Fire!”
“Fire!”
Boom! Boom!
Mana shells screamed through the air and hammered against the city wall with ear-splitting force.
“Hold your positions! These walls will not crumble from mere mana shells!”
“Target the enemy artillery and await my command!”
Orders crackled across the ramparts of Adman Castle as the Aditz Army moved with practiced urgency.
They were right—a few mana shells alone would not bring down these fortifications.
Yet Adman Castle was not as brutishly impregnable as Belzium Castle.
And no one knew this better than the Lycan Empire Army, who had ruled these walls mere days before.
“Keep the barrage relentless, and prepare the assault! We scale the walls!”
“Yes!!!”
Everything thus far had unfolded according to plan.
Over ten thousand Lycan infantry seized their ladders and rushed forward to launch the assault.
Boom! Boom!
Mana shells streaked down without pause, embedding themselves in stone and flesh alike.
The Aditz Army attempted to return fire.
But they were hopelessly outmatched by the Lycans’ overwhelming firepower.
“Hold the line!”
“Damn it! Where are they all coming from?!”
As the Aditz soldiers atop the walls began to waver,
Dein raised his sword.
“The momentum is ours! Scale the walls! All forces—charge!”
“Aaaahhhhh!!!”
“Forward!!!”
“Victory is ours!!!”
The infantry surged forward like a tidal wave.
From his vantage point atop Adman Castle, Director Biant watched the scene unfold—and it was a nightmare.
“Damn it all.”
The sheer number of enemy soldiers was overwhelming enough.
But their artillery advantage was nearly twofold.
“Commander! Should we target the enemy forces, or continue targeting their cannons? Please give your orders!”
I had to choose one or the other.
Director Biant couldn’t open his mouth carelessly.
If I targeted the cannons, the enemy would definitely scale the city wall.
But if I said to target the enemy forces below instead, their cannons would keep flying and eventually breach the city wall anyway.
‘I need to buy time somehow.’
And from the perspective of holding out, the most crucial thing was still not surrendering the city wall.
“Concentrate fire on the enemy forces approaching the city wall, and have only our best marksmen target their cannons.”
“Yes, sir!!”
Director Biant issued a reasonably sound order in the brief moment available.
However, no matter how excellent the command, it couldn’t bridge the vast disparity in military strength.
Before dawn broke, the Lycan Army set foot upon the city wall.
Whoosh!
“Push forward!!! Seize the city wall!”
The Special Forces at the vanguard cut down their enemies with devastating precision.
Their overwhelming martial prowess gave courage to the soldiers.
“Kill them all! These pathetic bastards!”
“How did you like it when we were shooting from above?!!!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The battle situation had reached a point where victory was merely a matter of time.
The barracks should naturally have been in a festive mood, but reality was entirely different.
“G-Geshud Castle has been surrounded by a massive enemy force.”
* * *
“Commander-in-Chief, the situation at Adman Castle is reportedly unfavorable.”
Seto Count nodded at Robin’s report.
“It doesn’t matter. Once we take this place and reclaim Adman Castle, that’s all that matters.”
Strategically speaking, if I seize Geshud Castle, Adman Castle would have no options left.
“Hold out as long as possible, let the enemy damage the city wall, and have the key personnel retreat and join us here.”
“Yes, sir!”
If I had intended to defend Adman Castle, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.
Seto Count harbored no expectations of victory.
“The numbers look distinctly sparse, wouldn’t you say?”
Seto Count asked Robin after surveying Geshud Castle’s defenses.
“Yes, since Adman Castle isn’t an easy place to capture, they likely brought everyone with them.”
“Indeed. The young Crown Prince would have wanted to increase the odds by any means necessary.”
Of course, even if it hadn’t been the Crown Prince, most would have made the same judgment.
Siege warfare victories were simply not easy to achieve.
“Commander-in-Chief, may we begin battle preparations immediately?”
Patek, the 4th Legion Commander, approached Seto Count and asked.
“How is the soldiers’ fatigue level?”
“I’m somewhat fatigued, but not to the point where I cannot engage in combat.”
“Then prepare immediately. We must secure the fortress and reorganize our formations before the enemy can regroup.”
“Yes, sir!”
Seto Count always pursued peak condition.
But today was different.
‘We must take the fortress before sunset, at the very least.’
Of course, even without rushing, it should be entirely feasible.
The Aditz Army now numbered thirty thousand, while the enemy forces appeared to fall short of ten thousand even if they scraped together every last soul.
‘At least the situation can be salvaged this way.’
By claiming Geshud Castle, territorial expansion would ultimately be achieved.
It had been a grueling campaign.
‘I’ll need to reconsider Belzium Castle carefully.’
Since the Mana Stone Mine wasn’t going anywhere, there was no urgency.
And what mattered most now was restoring order to this battered army.
“War is truly a difficult endeavor.”
When I first took command as Commander-in-Chief and seized Adman Castle, I thought victory would come swiftly.
But complications began arising at points I couldn’t quite comprehend.
And now, here we are.
“In the end, our Empire will claim victory.”
“It must be so. No—it will be so. Let us return.”
After Seto Count conducted a final review of the plan, he stood before the thirty thousand troops prepared for the assault.
“I won’t waste words.”
His voice carried the weight one might expect in a war council.
Rather than rally morale, it seemed designed to instill vigilance.
“We must look toward a greater future. Do not fall or die in a mere skirmish like this.”
Victory was inevitable, and yet Seto Count was already concerned for casualties and wounded.
This was no baseless confidence or empty bravado.
They were essentially marching to strike an undefended position.
“Do you understand!”
“Yes!!!!!!!!!”
The soldiers answered with vigor.
They too could not help but feel elated at such an easy victory.
“Excellent! I trust in you all! Without prolonging this further, the entire army….”
As Seto Count pointed toward Geshud Castle to issue the final command.
“Commander-in-Chief, sir!”
Belotin, the Signal Battalion commander, suddenly rushed onto the stage.
“What is the meaning of this.”
An interruption at the most critical moment.
Before Seto Count could even speak, Patek furrowed his brow in displeasure.
Yet Belotin had reason for an action that could well end his military career.
“I-I apologize. The urgency of the situation… I am Belotin, Lieutenant Commander of the Signal Battalion.”
“Speak.”
Upon hearing his rank and name, Seto Count granted him permission to continue.
Belotin swallowed hard, then uttered the words that would change everything.
“A…a ceasefire has been declared.”
“What?!”
Seto Count’s brow furrowed in disbelief as he demanded clarification.
“Effective immediately, all combat operations are to cease. The Commander-in-Chief is ordered by imperial decree to return to the Capital.”
“Th-this cannot be…”
One more step and Geshud Castle would have been theirs, yet now came word of a ceasefire.
Though I heard it clearly with my own ears, I could not bring myself to believe it.
“Is this truly an imperial decree? Have you verified it properly?”
At Patek’s harsh inquiry, Belotin took a step backward and bowed his head.
“Yes, sir. This message just arrived from the Imperial Court.”
“I must hear this directly. Connect me with His Majesty the Emperor at once. All forces are to stand by.”
Seto Count proceeded toward the communications center with Belotin.
After hearing the full circumstances from the Emperor, Seto Count had no choice but to abandon Geshud Castle and turn his forces around.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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