Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki

Book 3: Chapter 13-1: Where Did I Go Wrong?

*From the perspective of Imperial Commander Lurvish

Where did I go wrong?

I asked myself for what felt like the hundredth time.

Its been four days since we sent for reinforcements and resupply. Has the supply troop really not reached us yet?

No, they havent.

Have any of the messengers returned?

.they have not.

I had asked the second question with some hope, but the answer didnt change despite my hope.

We had expected a distance of about five days from the supply base, so I had ordered us to bring 8 days worth of food so we could have some leeway, but its already been a week since we left the Empires borders.

Yet, we had not seen a sign of the resupply even after all this time.

At this rate we would starve before the resupply reached us.

In order to prevent this, I had sent out the request for resupply the day after the first Elf attack. If there were no issues, then the message would reach the base within two days, and in another two days the supply carts would reach our army. The messengers were also ordered to return immediately after informing the Empire of our situation.

Despite thatnone of them had come back, meaning trouble had definitely befallen them.

Damn Elven cowards. This is all because of their foul tricks and cowardly attacks.

Uncivilized savages! Not even knowing the conduct of a war!

Absolutely, I agree Baron Lurvish.

War was a beautiful thing. Designating a time and place for both sides to show their full power and wage battle against each other. Lining our troops against the other, nominating representatives, and finally waiting for the signal to begin.

As the sun sets so does the fighting, recognizing each others strength, establishing rules for prisoner exchange, reparations, and possession rights. The rules are necessary because it is a battlefield. If not then things would become a mindless slaughter.

Despite all that they hide in the bushes and only do surprise attacks.

I heaved a sigh as I looked at our soldiers in the vanguard.

Their eyes were surrounded by dark circles as they glanced around fearfully even though there were no enemies. They turned their heads fitfully as they hid as much of their bodies behind their great shields as they could. I couldnt feel a bit of fighting spirit from them.

In the first place these shields had been prepared as measures to counter their bows. Those terrifying bows that had the power to pierce metal armor. They would still be able to pierce these shields, however they would stop short of their bodies. We planned to use these shields to charge them in an instant and settle the battle.

I hadnt brought them the last time because they took time to make and equip, but this time I had brought them.

I had thought that they were lucky the last time. That we could oppose their bows.but that thought was naive.

How slowis our army a turtle?

Even in the night those bastards would attack constantly not allowing us to sleep. Our endurance dropped, we had to maintain caution while moving forward during the day causing our nerves to fray, and they had to carry heavy shields. The soldiers couldnt move even half their normal speed.

Furthermore.

Those bastards! Theyre here!

Block it! Hide behind your shields!

GYAAAAAAAA owwwww. IT HURTS

The Elves attacked over and over.

As usual we couldnt even see them. They were shooting from an unbelievable distance, hiding behind cover without letting us see even a hint of them.

At first the soldiers had gotten fired up and chased them into the forest to take revenge, but those who entered only ended up screaming and crying on the ground.

They had eventually given up on such things. Even if we chased them into the forest they would escape. Even worse, if we entered too far we would get shot. Now, if they werent ordered otherwise, the soldiers would endure the Elven attacks by squatting down and hiding behind shields.

The arrows continued to rain down. Many of them were blocked by the great shields, but not everyone had one. Only soldiers on the outside of the formation who were likely to be shot carried shields.

Those without shields would be shot in the shoulders and legsalmost never was a fatal shot given. Those arrows were dipped in poison causing them to scream.

that poison gave them constant never ending pain. No one in our corps wants to be hit by such a thing. Seeing the effects it was clear how fiendish that poison was.

I had thought that it was coincidence that no fatal shots were givenbut as things went on I thought more logically.

Rather than killingsthis is more advantageous for them.

Id rather they killed them. Injuries were simply a huge burden. Burden of treatment, transport, and provisions. Even worse, their constant screams lowered the morale of the rest of the army.

Many times I had considered killing the injured soldiers and putting them out of their misery.

But this situation did not allow for it.

Factions. This army had factions within it. If it were regular soldiers who had fully pledged their lives to the Empires service then I would unhesitatingly end their suffering and lower our burdens. However, most of the injured soldiers were those from different factions that would turn against us if I killed their soldiers.

Even without that, their were suspicions that the Imperial Army had been using them as shields since our regular troops didnt have nearly as many casualties. If I killed them in this situation I would have a full on insurrection on my hands.

After them! Theyre over there!

A little while later a small captain gave orders to chase in the direction of their arrows.

Its useless anyways. Was the feeling I got from his voice.

Their speed was faster than ours and they would not hesitate to escape.

Far from catching them, our soldiers hadnt managed to catch sight of them.

However, if we didnt chase them, they would continue to fire arrows until we did. Before I realized it, the orders to catch or kill them, had turned into orders meant to drive them away. I want to cry