244 – Battle of Visby (6)
Five blue fireballs rose into the sky.
When an unfamiliar signal came up, like a blue will-o’-the-wisp that is often seen near graves, everyone started to get nervous.
“What on earth is that?”
One of the soldiers under Baron Dilt asked the senior officer next to him in a worried voice.
“Shut up! “How do I know that!”
The senior soldier lost his temper and at the same time killed the enemy soldier running towards him.
While everyone was fighting and focusing on the battle unfolding in front of them, Baron Dilt was showing a slightly different and nervous look.
It was because the time had come for him to make a decision.
Will you betray like this, or will you continue to fight on the side of the second prince?
If you are going to betray, you should do it clearly and quickly rather than dragging it out and being vague, but human beings are inherently in a situation where they have to take risks and make decisions.
No matter who they are, they are fragile beings who have no choice but to hesitate.
It is also a problem that involves not only oneself, but also the vassals who follow oneself and thousands of soldiers.
Dilt’s shoulders were as heavy as if an elephant were sitting on them.
“What should I do?”
Baron Dilt muttered to himself.
Will you stand on the side of the 2nd prince, who is slightly behind, and contribute to turning the tide of the war, or will you join in completely reversing the war and stand on the side of the 4th prince?
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When I started to think about which option would be more beneficial to me, I started to feel like my head was going to explode.
“Luther! “How is the situation now?”
He decided to ask his subordinates below him and judge which way his fortunes were leaning.
“I don’t know the exact situation, but Viscount Chelster’s forces have just been annihilated! “If we look at the current situation, the Fourth Prince’s faction is considered to have the advantage.”
The scales in Baron Dilt’s mind naturally tilted a little more towards the 4th Prince.
If he loses this battle, not only will he be successful, he will lose not only the territory inherited from his ancestors, but also his family, property, and vassals.
My mind was tilted toward the side that had a slightly higher chance of keeping it.
“So, Baron, you must go into battle more boldly and turn this trend in our army’s favor. “Wouldn’t you be able to enhance the honor of the late Baron by making a big contribution?”
When Baron Dilt heard those words, he thought of his father.
His father, who was slightly different from the authoritarian nobles of the empire, taught him to prioritize his own survival over his territory or honor.
Others who heard this laughed at his father, calling him a petty man, but his son, Baron Dilt, never thought that way, and only thought of him as an extremely wise man who should be imitated.
He must not lose his honor or territory, but above all, he must survive so that he can continue to enjoy the daily happiness he is enjoying now.
I am so proud that my son has awakened to become an Auror, and fortunately, the daughter I gave birth to from my original wife did not resemble my original wife’s face and grew up to be a very beautiful daughter, so I am hopeful that she will be able to have a beautiful daughter in the future.
A life of suffering under a pile of work, but at the same time enjoying alcohol and power over women.
I used to think that continuing to enjoy it was a privilege enjoyed only by those who survived.
‘It is better to continue living as a cowardly baron than to die honorably loyal.’
If he survives, he will be able to see his only son grow up to become a baron and watch his daughter live a beautiful life thanks to marrying into a good family.
“Baron Martin would certainly want you to fight honorably, achieve a great victory, receive great rewards, and rise in the world! “Give me the order, I, Luther, will stand in the vanguard and cut off Baron Cologne’s head and bring it to you.”
Dilt sighed after hearing that story.
His father took the son of a low-ranking knight and raised him from a young age because he seemed to have a lot of grit, and he was a different person all the way up to expert beginner at a young age.
He was extremely sincere, so he treated him with utmost respect since he was young, made him a knight of the royal guard, and took good care of him.
But even though he is a beginner, how could he possibly cut off the head of Baron Cologne? I am sure that it would be absolutely impossible.
In addition, the true family motto of the Baron Dilt family is ‘Let us survive in any situation rather than fear the glory of an honorable death.’
“Don’t talk nonsense. “I’m not in danger, and how can you, an expert beginner, kill that crazy wolf?”
Dilt, without hesitation, shattered his dream of becoming a knight.
“Don’t do such a dangerous thing. “Shouldn’t you marry my sister soon?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Even though she was her younger sister, she was the eldest daughter of the previous Baron Dilt’s concubine, so she had just turned 20.
However, because he was very friendly and showed no signs of participating in power struggles, Dilt was also a child who showered him with sincere love.
“Are you planning to make that child a widow? She said she was going to marry Laura, but she was only an expert in swinging a sword by the time she was 25, and she was going to die before even making it through the first night. That’s right! “You stuffy bastard!”
This was something he could say because he was the head of a baronial family that valued survival rather than honor, even though it was an aristocratic family that had been around for over 200 years.
“Unless your family’s life is at stake, don’t engage in a needless fight to the death. Honor is something you have to live to enjoy.”
Luther was so moved by those words that his eyes became red.
And Dilt seriously began to think again about what he should do in this situation.
The current situation is favorable to the 4th Prince’s faction, and it seems difficult to reverse this situation.
Therefore, no matter what choice he makes, the Fourth Prince will win.
Then, in order for the Baron Dilt family to survive here, they must escape from this ruined Second Prince faction and join the strong one.
And if you hesitate any longer, you will lose the opportunity to change.
Baron Dilt made the decision of his life.
“Rather than an honorable victory, survive even if you feel like a dog. However, if you are going to throw away your honor, you must take a clear practical advantage.”
Baron Dilt spoke in a voice so low that only Luther could hear.
“Luther, you have to survive first. And what loyalty do we have to serve His Highness the Second Prince? “I was just swept along by the nobles around me and ended up swearing allegiance.”
Dilt persuaded his closest vassal to rationalize his betrayal.
Then he summoned a messenger with a gesture.
“Messenger! Contact all mercenaries belonging to Baron Dilt’s unit! From now on, the entire unit will turn its sword and fight against the nobles belonging to the Second Prince’s faction!”
The eyes of Luther and others widened.
No, it was because I thought that committing betrayal in the middle of a battle was like the sound of my dead uncle opening the coffin lid and jumping out.
However, Dilt had no intention of overturning the order.
“I, Baron Dilt, have agreed in advance! Anyone who resists will have his head cut off according to military law! Hurry!”
When Dilt shouted that, they had no choice but to completely give up their thoughts of protesting and obey.
The order to betray was suddenly given, but if he disobeyed it, it would mean a knife would be stabbed in his throat.
“f*ck it, change the formation right now!”
The mercenary captains and knights hurriedly gave orders.
“What on earth is going on?”
“We were allies until just now!”
“If you don’t want to be fooled, listen to orders!”
The soldiers under his command were puzzled, but had no choice but to follow orders.
In an instant, Baron Dilt switched from the 2nd prince’s faction to the 4th prince’s faction.
It was a betrayal on the battlefield that no noble should ever do, but he does not feel any guilt.
Because Dilt never received anything from the second prince in the first place, so he never felt that he had a favor to repay.
Honor can be given away to a passing dog if necessary, but he is filled with only the desire to take care of the lives and property of himself, his family, and his vassals.
“Luther! How long are you going to be a lowly knight? Everything is good, so just pick two articles! Then, I will make you a mid-level knight even if it means taking away my direct command!”
Dilt shouted, hitting Luther hard on the back.
“Yes, yes!”
Luther answered vigorously and ran out.
Then, Baron Dilt’s troops lowered the flag symbolizing the 2nd Prince’s side and instead raised the flag representing the 4th Prince’s side.
“It is a type of betrayal done in order to survive. However, history will record me, Dilt, as an honorable traitor who sided with the victor in the civil war.”
Unless he fought very honorably, the loser is recorded as a fool, but if he is on the winner’s side, he is generally recorded as honorable.
“I must survive and become an honorable traitor.”
**
This news was immediately delivered to the second prince.
“Here’s a report! Baron Dilt betrays Viscount Eugen! “Our lines are collapsing!”
A messenger came running and delivered a shocking report to the prince.
“Baron Allen’s unit has been attacked by Baron Dilt and other enemy units and is on the verge of annihilation!”
Another messenger delivered a more shocking report.
The Second Prince felt the back of his neck being pulled.
“Send the reserves to stop it!”
He gave the orders he had to give anyway.
It was a situation that was judged to be sufficiently preventable if the reserve forces were sent out, so I was hopeful that it would somehow be resolved now…
But this war was cruel to him.
“Here’s a report! The Baron of Brussels’ troops are destroyed! “Our right wing is collapsing!!!”
After hearing those words, the Second Prince took off his helmet and threw it on the floor.
“f*ck!!!”
Anyone could see that it was the single cry of someone who had been screwed over.