The Magic Academy's Physicist -
Chapter 285: Locking The Door After The Horse Is Gone (7)
Chapter 285: Locking The Door After The Horse Is Gone (7)
0% Compared to the north, the eastern terrains of the Empire was peaceful.
Plains, plains, and more plains.
Half the Empire’s granaries were here.
The land being flat meant that it was easy to construct large magic circles.
“Done.”
Huu–Rosemary let out a sigh and finished her work.
‘Tichione’, the estate of the former Duke Blanton.
A 10-km magic circle was completed over several days in one of the wheat fields here.
The so-called ‘mystery circle’ technique.
It was a trick that only she, who had a natural talent for scrolls and magic circles, could pull off.
After building the magic circle connecting to the south, Rosemary returned to the northern front and went straight to the Hasfeldt’s tent.
“I’m done. Get ready to retreat.”
“Understood.”
The escape route of the northern army was simple:
Pull away from the north to the northeast, then go south from there and withdraw to the east.
From there they would use the teleportation circle that Rosemary constructed and get to the Thyrims River in the south.
Eventually, they’d join the western troops, cross the river, and flee to elf country.
The teleportation circle consumed the caster’s mana in proportion to distance and number of people, so this was Rosemary’s limit.
“Give me the situation.”
Exhausted to the limit, Rosemary asked in a drained voice.
“The Demon Army’s attack is getting worse.”
“They must know that you’re here. They’re targeting this side specifically.”
Of course they would. It was the Demon King, after all.
Since Aether had betrayed him, Rosemary, who had been under her, was also a target to purge.
And now that she had helped humans as well, she couldn’t return to the Demon Army.
Rosemary hardened her resolve.
Whatever happens, happens.
No, was it resolve...?
Anyway, the Hasfeldts and Rosemary steadily prepared for their retreat as the clock was ticking.
The bad news came around dawn.
“It’s a surprise attack─!!”
The Demon Army’s detachment had crossed the peaks and struck from the side.
They were small in number so they managed to hold them off, but they suffered heavy losses.
“Three of our supply warehouses have burned down.”
“Commander, it seems we’ll need to withdraw earlier.”
Everyone would have seen the warehouses on fire.
Decrease in morale was inevitable.
“The number of deserters is increasing due to this raid.”
“It can’t be helped. Execute anyone who flees on spot.”
It was the best thing to do in order to restore the troop’s discipline. They couldn’t afford to have any more deserters.
Afterwards, the screams of people sounded for hours in the camp.
After dealing with all the fleeing soldiers, they were able to restore the military spirit, but the unfavorable situation wasn’t changing at all.
In fact, if it weren’t for Rosemary, they would have collapsed immediately.
If I run away, then it’d be the end for the north, and they’d catch up to me soon enough.
Then there was a strong possibility that she’d die without getting to see sis.
She absolutely didn’t want that to happen.
“Hey, today’s the day. Hurry up and get ready.”
Half-forced to be in this life-or-death situation with the Imperial Army, Rosemary ordered the retreat.
From the officers’ perspectives, they were disgusted by having to receive orders from a Beast, but they didn’t have any decent strategies and so had to follow in the end.
And so the withdrawal to the east had begun.
And as expected, the Demon Army executed a massive pursuit.
The Great Mechas Sextus and Tertius.
And amongst them was the elite army of Pasmo, one of the four Heavens.
A horde of nearly 5 million Beasts fought to chase after the retreating Imperial army.
- Argh!
Don’t push!
Help! Save me!!
The Imperial army who hadn’t eaten properly due to their food supply burning.
On the other hand, the monsters who could chase them anywhere as long as there was fuel.
The retreat procession was falling apart in order from the rear.
“Miss Rosemary! Is there anything we can do?”
“I have to cast several large-scale magics when we get to the east so how can I help them? Stop with the pity and move quickly!”
- Aaaaagh!!
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
The casualties grew by the day.
The reasons for death were varied.
Trampled by Beasts, eaten by them, death by starvation, dehydration, or bleeding, from plagues, falling off cliffs, shot down by flying creatures, taking their own lives because it was just too much.
The bodies formed hills, and thick blood formed rivers.
The weak fell, and the strong stood up again.
A fortnight’s march.
The northern army, which had been in the millions, was down to only 300 000 by the time they reached the east.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
“Rosemary─!!”
Among the pursuing Beasts was one that spoke human language.
The Great Nine Mecha Tertius, Wilhelm von Schudelgeiger.
“The King has commanded us to capture you! How could you cut ties with your allies and side with a lowly race!!”
It was a clear provocation.
But oops.
All 300 000 of them were already inside the large magic circle.
“Where are you going when the King is waiting for you! Return immediately and receive your due punishment according to military law!!”
After doing her best to make sure that there was no one left behind, Rosemary screamed before activating the magic circle.
“Fuck you─!! I’m going to Aether!!”
Renawill led the few remaining troops and reached the Thyrims River.
“The soldiers are exhausted.”
“They haven’t eaten properly. And they nearly died a moment ago, so.......”
With them retreating, they had expected to be attacked by the Demon Army.
But it had been a fiercer assault than they had imagined.
An offensive that seemed more about annihilating every one of the Imperial army rather than winning the war.
“...They’re for sure trying to kill me.”
The unexpected answer came from Rosemary’s mouth.
The army of 300 000 had teleported from the east to the south here, which was the result of Rosemary having used all of the mana she accumulated.
And so she was completely drained.
“Thank you. I will reward you on Hasfeldt’s honor.”
“Just, be quiet, please.......”
Rosemary wheezed, unable to stay upright.
She had used up too much mana. If it were now, she wouldn’t even be able to fight back against the humans.
But the humans had no reason nor ability to counter.
Their morale had hit rock bottom, and the Demon Army had spread wider and wider, taking over the capital and all of the east.
Now the only territory left in the Empire was the south and Duchess Totzfel’s estate.
“Meri!”
“Klais!”
Fortunately, the western army had finished retreating with relatively fewer losses compared to the northern army.
“What happened? You weren’t chased?”
“Uh, no.... Strangely enough, they didn’t chase us all the way. Oh, right. This isn’t what’s important.”
After Meriga Heerlein and Klais shared a tight hug, they quickly made plans for their exile.
Thyrims River, and the headwater of Bruglium River.
They had to cross these two rivers in order to get to Kaurelia.
The Thyrims River especially was known to be very deep and wide from its headwater.
It was so wide that it almost could be called a small sea.
The lower course of the river was connected to a sea called ‘Kirel’, and if they went around this way, they’d find a trading city of Kaurelia.
Anyway.
A retreating army wouldn’t have the equipment to cross it.
“It’s not a place you can swim across.”
“What do we do now?”
The gazes of the Hasfeldt sisters affected Rosemary. Their expressions were begging her for an idea.
“...Ah.”
But Rosemary hadn’t any suitable ideas, either.
“Right, you guys can’t cross a river like this.”
“Were you thinking from your standard?”
“What if I did.”
Rosemary always came up with plans that were missing something.
“Then shouldn’t we have just teleported beyond the Thyrims in the first place?”
“I told you, I didn’t have the mana or the time for that. Don’t expect too much from a poor little girl like me.”
They should appreciate that she even did this much. Tsking, Rosemary closed her eyes.
“We’ll have to find a way ourselves.”
They couldn’t die here. The mages did their best to find a way.
They could cut down the trees around them and make a raft, but that would take time.
Flying magic? It wasn’t bad, but there were too few Air Mages who could cast this magic.
In the end, they couldn’t transfer everyone across the river no matter what they tried.
Besides.
“Report! The Demon Army has entered the southern territory!”
Having caught on, the Demon Army had gotten to the vicinity of Thyrims River.
“......It looks like we’ll have to decide who lives and who dies.”
“No, Father, we can’t give up like this.”
“I will stay.”
“Dad!!”
“You two should cross the river with the help of the Air Mages. I will set up camp
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.
Report