43: The Incompetent Crown Prince’s Battle Cry
It was a clear day. The cloudless sky made it hard to believe that a battle was about to take place.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, we are ready.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I turned to look at Romero, who had ridden up to me on horseback, and beyond him, I saw two thousand two hundred and twenty soldiers and mercenaries lined up in formation.
I wondered how they had managed to keep from running away. Perhaps they were afraid of being called cowards and running away, even if they wanted to.
In the Kingdom of Arleigh, there is a famous saying: “Do not cherish your life, cherish your name. Do not cherish your name, cherish your honor.”
This means “Do not disgrace yourself by being afraid of your own life. Do not give up victory for the sake of your own pride.”
To put it more simply, “Do not run away from battle in fear. Even if you have to drink muddy water, defeat the enemy.”
In this country, where strength is highly valued, this saying is ingrained in the hearts of everyone involved in “fighting,” from royalty and nobles to knights and soldiers, adventurers and mercenaries. And even the people of the country who are not involved in fighting are influenced by this idea.
If I were to run away from this battle in fear, as I said I would, my entire family would be ostracized from the country, and they would not be able to live in this country anymore.
This applies to all royalty and nobles. Nobles would be stripped of their titles and exiled from the country. Apparently, there have been nobles who have been treated this way in the past. And none of those nobles have managed to leave the country safely.
That’s why I was called incompetent, even though I couldn’t even fight.
I turned my gaze to the enemy lines and said to Romero.
“Wait here for a moment. I’m going to say hello.”
“Yes, sir. Shall I accompany you?”
“No need. But if I am killed, retreat while shouting that a coward killed the Crown Prince with a cowardly hand.”
“Then I shall shout until my lungs burst.”
I rode my horse forward alone. In front of me, enemy soldiers three times our number were lined up in formation. It was not a special formation, so it seemed that they were going to fight a head-on.
As I rode forward, a man on horseback approached from the enemy lines. Judging from the impressive armor he was wearing, he might have been a commander.
The two of us stopped with some distance between us and stared at each other for a while.
In such cases, it is said that the lower-ranking person should greet first, but this is not a war of words before a decisive battle… or is it? It is literally just a greeting. Then it should be fine.
“I am Car-Mine, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Arlay.”
“I am Duke Valzar of the Kingdom of Naaz.”
He was a bigger shot than I had expected.
“I thank you for accepting this decisive battle.”
“hahahaha, I too am of warrior blood. If I am called a coward, I have no choice but to face you head-on.”
“Then my plan has succeeded.”
“What, it was just as well for me. If you had been so closely guarded, I would have been wondering if there was something else going on.”
“Do you know my nickname?”
“Ah, it seems you are called the Incompetent Crown Prince. I would like to say out loud, where is that?”
“It is because I am incompetent that I have been able to do nothing but hide in my shell and defend myself.”
“Then next time, I will bring a giant iron hammer.”
“Let us pray to God that there will be no next time. By the way, I am the God of Gold.”
“I see, I am the God of Fire. I would like to talk about that later.”
“Indeed.”
We stare at each other in silence for a while.
“Well then, good luck.”
“Likewise.”
With that, the two of us turn our horses around. Then, after riding for a while, we stop our horses and turn around.
“Ah, Duke Valzar.”
“What is it?”
“I have one thing to say. You are by no means a coward. It’s just that I’m a coward. If I run away in fear, please let me go.”
“hahahaha, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You are not a coward. However, I am not a coward, but I would like you to let me go if I have to run away.”
With smiles on their faces as if they were lying about killing each other, they returned to their own camps.
Now, my job as the Incompetent Crown Prince is over.
“I am glad you are safe.”
“Maybe there was no point in cutting it.”
With that, he looked around at the soldiers and mercenaries who had been waiting. It may be inevitable, but most of them have faces stained with anxiety. That is true even for the nobles who lead them and the rough mercenaries who have joined the army .
I don’t mean to make fun of them. It is because of their desperate efforts that we are here today. That is something to be proud of.
However, I know something that they have endured even more. That’s why I won’t allow them to tremble and cower. This is my selfishness.
“I am Car-Mine, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Arlay! Everyone, you have endured well until today! The fact that more than two thousand soldiers are alive today is undoubtedly your achievement. Be proud!”
There was a slight stir.
I am an incompetent crown prince, but I am undoubtedly a direct descendant of the king. The praise from the one who inherited the king’s blood is very valuable just for that reason. The slightly tense atmosphere eased, and smiles spread across the scene.
However, I throw a stone into it.
“But I have something to say to everyone. You are the ones who have endured, but… you are cowards!!”
The atmosphere changed in a different way than before. All I could see were expressions of confusion.
“Do you know what kind of expression you have on your face right now? Look next to you! There is your pathetic face!”
I continued to them as they looked at each other and became even more confused.
“I’ll tell you why! You are now dominated by anxiety! You are afraid of losing to an enemy army that is far more numerous than you!”
I raise my voice.
“I’ll say it again and again! You are all cowards! You are pathetic beings who can only tremble in fear and pray to God for your safety!”
As I said this, someone finally showed anger on their face.
That’s good. That’s exactly what I wanted.
“I’ll tell you why! I’m not afraid at all!”
After all, I’m the one who’s angry.
So, I let my anger spread to everyone.
“Some of you may know! What am I called in the shadows! Yes, incompetent! Everyone calls me the incompetent crown prince! Let me tell you! My ability level is all 1! My attribute level is all 0!”
The soldiers were shocked. Was it because I, the person in question, had uttered the derogatory term that everyone knew but hesitated to say, or was it because they were surprised by the low ability value?
“But! But! I’m not afraid! I’m not trembling! I don’t have a shred of anxiety! Because I’m sure of victory! That’s why I’m telling you! You are cowards! Why are you afraid! What are you afraid of! What is there to be afraid of now that I, who have been called the incompetent crown prince, am sure of victory!”
I drew the sword from my waist.
“I ask you! Are you all pathetic beings who can only tremble in fear!”
Here and there, small voices of negation came out.
“Are you all cowards who can only cower in fear!!”
Voices of negation echoed from everywhere.
“Are you all just wooden puppets who can only make a fool of yourselves!!!”
Now, the voices of negation, negation, negation spread throughout the entire group.
“Are you all cowards who will run away from the enemy soldiers!!!!”
‘No!!!!’
The voices of the soldiers and mercenaries came back as one. Among them, there must have been the voices of those nobles.
I raised my sword to the sky.
“Then draw your swords and raise your spears! We are the army of the Kingdom of Arley! There is no reason to be afraid of an enemy that is only three times our size!!”
A war cry resounded. The two thousand two hundred and twenty voices overlapped and spread as if they were going to swallow the world.
I lowered my sword and waited for everyone’s voices to subside before shouting from the bottom of my stomach.
“Very well! Then follow me! The first to run is the incompetent crown prince!! Know that those who follow me are even more incompetent than that!! Show your bravery now!!! The whole army–“
I turned my horse’s head forward, raised my sword, and swung it down with a rip.
“Chargeee!!!!!”
‘Ooooooooooeee!!!!”
As I declared, I charged first. Behind me, the guards and then the direct army must have followed. Some of them were on horseback. If I continued like this, I would be completely isolated.
But that’s fine. That’s why it makes sense.
“Your Highness! Your Highness! Fall back!”
“I haven’t come close enough to fall back yet! Run now! The path I take is the path the soldiers take! If I stop here now, the soldiers won’t know where to go!”
“But!”
I ignored Romero’s voice and increased the speed of my horse. I’m sorry for Romero and the others, who must be used to riding horses for many years, but my horsemanship skills have long since surpassed those of a skilled soldier. I can understand what the best moves are just from the memories of riding as a child and riding two or three times.
Furthermore, the horse I’m riding now is my father’s favorite horse, which was given to me as a farewell gift. The basic strength is different from the beginning.
In front of my eyes, I can see the figure of a knight riding a horse and charging. He is large in stature, and although I can’t see him in his armor, he must have a well-trained body.
For some reason, I accelerate my horse even more towards the knight who is charging alone like me.
“I’ll take the general’s head!!!”
He charges with a roar, pointing his spear at me. The knight’s spear, inviting me to death.
His aim is slowly reflected in my pupils. So I dodged it by slightly shifting my body and swung my sword at the moment we passed each other, evering his neck.
The sword I was given when I left the castle was incredibly sharp. Is this without reinforcement? Maybe I should buy a proper sword for Jasper next time.
Before me, kneeling and standing enemy soldiers came into view. Their hands, raised like castle walls, held crossbows, all aimed at me.
This was one of the main reasons our army had suffered so many casualties. The soldiers of the Nard Kingdom were using crossbows at an alarming rate.
There were probably more crossbowmen waiting in ambush, beyond my sight. If they all fired at once, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
But it didn’t matter.
“Can I still run?” I asked myself, urging my horse to go even faster. As expected of a horse bred for the king, it snorted and kicked up its powerful legs as if to say, “Not fast enough.”
Then, I saw the commander-like figure in the distance open his mouth. My enhanced vision, granted by [Vision Enhancement (Sap)], allowed me to see the enemy soldier’s finger move on the crossbow’s trigger.
“Fire!”
As the word left his mouth, my horse leaped into the air. The enemy’s arrows flew harmlessly beneath it, as it jumped to a height that would normally be impossible. I smiled slightly and, as soon as we landed, I urged my horse to run again.
Silent, yet smiling, I charged my massive warhorse towards them, who were now baring their fangs at me.
“Cowards! Will you not retreat?!”
They fumbled to load their next arrows, and some even dropped their crossbows in their haste to avoid my charge. Without hesitation, I rode my horse into their midst.
Enemy soldiers flew through the air. At that moment, I smiled at the commander-like figure.
Then, I plunged into the heart of the enemy, urging my horse to keep running. If I stopped, I would be surrounded in an instant, and there was no other way. There was no point in charging all the way to the enemy general , so I turned my horse around at a point where there was some space and headed back the way I came.
In this way, I intimidated my surroundings to prevent myself from being attacked, and I simply waited for my soldiers to arrive.
Even though I had done it myself, I was the most targeted because I was the isolated general in the lead. I wondered when the others would arrive.
I had returned to my original position to some extent, and thanks to the chaos I had caused in the enemy ranks, I was able to stop my horse in a temporarily empty space.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Your Highness!”
Just as I was catching my breath, Romero finally arrived. I think my excessive movement may have slowed him down.
“Your Highness! Fall back! It’s too dangerous here!”
I knew that very well. But I had to stay here a little longer.
I glared at Romero intentionally.
“What nonsense are you spouting?! If I advance, the soldiers will follow, and if I retreat, they will retreat. My advance is the path to victory!”
“But!”
“Then protect me! Cut down and scatter the rabble that swarm around me, and dye the ground with their corpses! If you say I am in danger, then you must destroy all danger! Don’t tell me you can’t do it , Romero Plum!”
“――As you command!”
After that, Romero went on a rampage, tearing through enemy soldiers and knights alike. I think Romero could easily have killed a hundred men, like he joked about with Eldred.
I felt a little sorry for them. When I was a child, I used to wonder if the Royal Guards were really that strong. I wanted to tell my younger self that the Royal Guards were incredibly strong.
While this was happening, Eldred and his personal army, who looked just as fearsome as Romero, arrived and began to crush the enemy’s front line. The carnage that followed was almost pitiful.
Occasionally, the enemy would have a strong knight who would give Romero and Eldred some trouble. However, the Royal Guards and personal soldiers would swarm them, ignoring the code of chivalry, and beat them to the ground.
In some cases, they would pick up the spears dropped by the enemy soldiers they had killed and throw them at the mounted knights or cavalry. Their eyes were sharp and piercing like those of a beast, and their killing intent seemed to be wearing human skin .
The mercenaries were the same. The nobles were the same. Even the direct and territorial soldiers were all marching forward, their only goal to kill the enemy soldiers and cut off their heads.
How the fierce mercenaries were. They mowed down enemy soldiers with their incredible strength. Occasionally, an enemy soldier would stab one of them in the stomach with a spear, but they would grab the spear, pull it out, and stab it back into the enemy’s face, continuing to fight as if nothing had happened.
Even more impressive were the nobles who had once groveled at my feet. They were now displaying their true colors, their valor shining brightly on horseback. They were the warriors of Arley, who revered martial prowess, and their sharp swordplay and thrusts seemed to embody that. With each of their attacks, an enemy soldier’s head would fly off, and their bodies would fall to the ground. The waves of their souls were so powerful that the enemy soldiers couldn’t even approach them.
At this rate, we might win.
I held my sword loosely in my hand as I thought this. For now, I was just watching the battle from my horse. The Royal Guards were around me, so the enemy couldn’t get close.
There was nothing else for me to do.
All I could do now was watch the outcome.
*
No matter how much encouragement a soldier receives, they will not suddenly become stronger.
However, an army can become the strongest with just a word from its general.
Even a coward who can’t face the enemy can transform into an unyielding warrior who won’t bend their knees no matter how many times they are cut down.
That spirit engulfs the entire army and strikes terror into the enemy soldiers.
People call it “morale.”
With morale, an army becomes strong, and without it, it becomes weak.
Right now, the morale of the Arleigh Kingdom’s army was undeniably dominating the battlefield.
*
“Well, I guess it would be different if there were some outstanding individuals.”
I muttered to myself as I watched the ongoing battle.
The outcome was already decided. Our army, which was only a third of the enemy’s size, continued to scatter the enemy forces that were three times our size. It was obvious to see. Enemy soldiers were fleeing from all sides. The battle would soon turn into a war of annihilation or a pursuit.
“Ah, I’m tired. I’m not doing this anymore.”
“You have done well, Your Highness the Crown Prince. This Kurta Pipin will treasure the sight of Your Highness’s bravery for the rest of his life.”
The guard who had been riding beside me as a bodyguard said as he brought his horse closer. As I looked around, I saw that everyone was looking at me with a gaze that they had never given to the incompetent Crown Prince before.
I snorted.
“Forget it. It’s just an incompetent show-off.”
Anyway, this is the end of my battle as Crown Prince. Once this is over, I’ll be gone.
…Wait? Could I have won this?
Even though it was to raise the morale of the soldiers, it was a sole charge with the intention of dying as Crown Prince. In fact, I only used the power I had awakened during the battle with the first knight and when I dodged the crossbow volley. All I did was ride my horse.
At the time, I thought I would just disappear if I had been seen as being killed.
Romero and Eldred were too strong.
…Oh, I’m starting to feel like I’m in danger in a different way.
With a sigh, I gave the order not to pursue the retreating enemy soldiers. We didn’t have the margin or the manpower to pursue them, and more importantly, I wanted to keep the promise I had made to Duke Valzar, whom I had seen leaving with my [Enhanced Vision].