Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"Absurd!"
"How dare he say that?"
Inside the grand tent, the generals and lords present were filled with righteous indignation, all angrily rebuking Diet Evans.
"What an impudent fellow!"
Monterlit sprang to his feet, hand on his sword, his eyes almost shooting fire.
He looked at Catherine.
"We should cut off this arrogant fool's head and send it back with his followers to show their prairie warriors."
Catherine shook her head and gestured for him to sit down.
"Ambassador, you entered Aldor's land without our king's permission and conspired with our traitors to seize the Watcher Fortress, killing our commanders and soldiers. There is so much hatred between us now, so please, stop making unrealistic demands."
Under Catherine's stern blue gaze, the orc ambassador slightly bowed.
"Oh... that is truly regrettable, noble Princess Catherine," Evans said, his expression changing from its earlier frivolous and provocative nature to one of solemnity, as if on a pilgrimage.
"I know that those present here grew up in a civilized world and view us as uncivilized barbarians. You feel a great superiority over us orcs—let me make it clear, I am not mocking you. In fact, I sincerely agree with part of your perception. Yes, in previous times, compared to southern humans, orcs were indeed backward. Even our chieftain, Abal, knew this. But—"
His tone took a sharp turn.
"Since Chief Abal established the new generation of the orc kingdom, everything has changed. I can proudly say that we orcs are no longer the uncivilized barbarians you once knew. We now have our own national system, our own civilization, and from now on, we will engage with human nations on an equal footing."
"Tch!"
Dempsey made a dismissive sound.
"So the orcs' so-called exchange is invading other nations' lands and slaughtering their people?"
This sarcastic remark was sharp, but Dempsey quickly faced a counterattack.
"Don't act so innocent, sir," Evans said, lifting his chin. "For a long time—before even the founding of the Kingdom of Aldor—the human troops stationed at Watcher Fortress weren't doing the same things?"
"Humans, like a sandstorm, swept across the plains, inciting infighting among tribes, driving orcs away from their grazing lands, even setting entire sections of the prairie on fire, making our livestock starve to death in large numbers. Without our livestock, we orcs could only starve. Fortunately, the prairie environment isn't suitable for farming, so the orcs have at least had a place to survive. Otherwise, my people would have long been lost to history."
"Bullshit!"
The younger generals, like Monterlit, were furious.
"How dare you slander Aldor's warriors! We have never committed such unjust acts!"
"Oh?"
Evans narrowed his eyes, surveying the older men in the tent one by one before his gaze finally landed on Duke Alambre.
"Lord, I'm sure with your life experience, you can confirm that I am not lying, right?"
Duke Alambre hadn't expected the orc to ask him directly.
"Ahem!" he awkwardly cleared his throat. "Even in the human world, neighboring countries often have their own grievances. Who can sort out all the enmities?"
The duke tried to avoid the issue.
Evans chuckled coldly: "It was the kingdom's decline that forced you to stop such behavior. It wasn't that you didn't want to, but that you couldn't."
He reached into his chest and pulled out a rolled parchment.
"This is a challenge letter from Chief Abal to the Kingdom of Aldor. It was supposed to be delivered to the Crystal Glare Court, but since I've met Princess Catherine here, I think there's no need to travel so far."
A servant walked up to Evans and took the scroll, presenting it to Catherine's desk.
Catherine unfolded it and read it carefully, her brows furrowing deeper with each line.
She looked up at Evans, "Please tell Chief Abal that the Kingdom of Aldor accepts his challenge."
"Very well, then I will take my leave!"
Evans bowed and turned, leaving the tent.
Two days later, the orc army finally arrived near Sunset Valley by evening and set up camp not far from the kingdom's army.
That night, Catherine rode out to inspect her camp, engaging in final discussions with her officers about the impending battle.
By around four in the morning the next day, before the sun had risen, the entire camp was bustling with activity. Everyone had risen early, knights receiving assistance to don their armor and check their weapons, while soldiers prepared fires for cooking, replenishing their strength.
As time ticked on, the kingdom's army began to form up.
By sunrise, the kingdom's army had completed its formation.
The army was divided into four parts: the central formation, made up of a large number of foot knights and soldiers, about twenty thousand strong; the left wing, composed of knights, their attendants, and regular cavalry from the various territories of Blackstone Plains, about ten thousand strong; the right wing, consisting of the Royal Cavalry Corps from the capital, about seven thousand strong; and an additional three thousand archers positioned at the front in three rows. These archers would fire on the approaching enemy but would retreat to the rear once the enemy was within close range.
With the sound of horns, the kingdom's army began to advance. But not far into their march, the orderly formation began to fall into chaos, gradually losing the neatness it once had.
At that moment, in the distance, a line of figures appeared, silhouetted against the sun.
It was the orc army.
Many of the soldiers began to feel nervous. Only recently, they had been toiling in the fields with hoes, and now they were expected to pick up swords and fight the orcs?
The officers reassured them, stressing that the orcs were not as fearsome as they seemed, and with a good thrust of the spear, they would fall.
Following Princess Catherine's command, the advancing kingdom's army halted.
The orc army also stopped about 200 meters away from them.
Catherine raised the telescope Paul had given her and carefully observed the orc forces.
Her first impression was the sheer number of cavalry.
The orc cavalry included both heavy and light cavalry.
The heavy cavalry, like human knights, were fully armored, and even their steeds wore armor.
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (FF) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c837. [+2]
Early Access at $5.
Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words.