Chapter 163 : Siege of Mediolanum (1)

"It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍is a miracle! Look! Rush forth at once and repel them!"

"Wooooooooh! ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Follow the Knight of Miracles!"

"God ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is with us."

Accompanied ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by Mage Agpiel's thunderous voice, which was unlike that of a typical mage, the mercenaries whose morale soared into the heavens were charging like madmen.

'Sigh, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what on earth is Mage Agpiel thinking?'

Shatien ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was flabbergasted by the sight of Mage Agpiel shamelessly lying about it being a miracle when he clearly knew it was thanks to the protective charm he had given.

However, Shatien was forced to keep his mouth shut.

It was because he saw signs of internal strife among the enemies beyond.

'Did Mage Agpiel's lie work brilliantly?'

Absurdly, it looked as if the knights and the Doge were arguing and bickering.

"D-Doge. What should we do?"

"He possesses a miracle. Should we not turn back immediately?"

"What kind of nonsense is that! Fight right now! I said fight!"

"We cannot do that. Did you not see it clearly with your own eyes just now? This is the answer God has given us."

"That is right, Doge. The price of excommunication is being paid right now. How can we dare to reject God's will!"

The Doge of Mediolanum was speechless at the words of the knights.

Since when were these bastards so faithful?

Furthermore, a miracle?

Ah, well... It looked like a miracle, but the Doge of Mediolanum suspected it was something like magic rather than a miracle.

However, seeing those cold gazes, he did not dare let that thought out of his mouth.

'If I say the wrong thing, I will be captured and offered up immediately.'

To maintain the position of Doge amidst the interests of countless cities, one had to be sensitive to the situation.

"F-Fine! Let us retreat immediately."

In the end, the Doge of Mediolanum had to retreat as if fleeing after suffering massive damage, despite having raised such an immense army.

It was a very lame result.

* * *

"Pursue them! You must not let them return as they are!"

"Kiyooooooh! Just trust us, Sir!"

At Shatien's command, the elf knights were full of excitement as they led their squires and chased after the retreating forces of Mediolanum.

Significant military achievements usually occur when pursuing a fleeing enemy.

Although the scale of the fleeing enemy was much larger, the elf knights were not intimidated and began to run excitedly.

After all, they had seen the miracle(?) with their own eyes, and God had notarized(?) that this battle would be a victory, so there was no reason to avoid danger.

"Hmm, I must catch that mage bastard. Miles! I ask you to take care of the mercenary company once more..."

"Not a chance!"

Mage Agpiel shouted at Shatien's action.

"Is now the time for you to be moving? The protective charm protected you, but it did not absorb the entire aftermath. It must have given a great shock to your body."

"Therefore, should we not catch that court mage bastard who wields such magic at all costs?"

Shatien had heard many stories about magic being dangerous, but after experiencing actual offensive magic for the first time, his sense of alarm reached its peak.

Shatien wanted to deal with the court mage who manifested that monstrous magic by any means.

However, Mage Agpiel clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"It is alright. Magic of that level cannot be used repeatedly. He will likely have to recuperate for several days, no, a full month."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. So leave the pursuit of those bastards to the pointed-ear friends, and you should recover your body while tending to the troops."

"Ugh..."

There was not a single point he could refute.

Shatien became like a mute who had eaten honey.

"And do you not have something else to do now?"

"Pardon? Something to do?"

"Yes."

Mage Agpiel said so, raising one corner of his mouth.

It was a very mischievous expression.

Shatien felt a sense of foreboding.

Had he not already made things very difficult by saying strange things earlier?

Well, he supposed he had won the battle very easily thanks to that.

At that moment, Mage Agpiel raised one of Shatien's hands high and shouted.

"Behold! The knight who performed a miracle is here!"

"Wooooooooah!"

"How is this any different from God declaring our victory? The walls of Mediolanum shall not dare to block you!"

The mercenaries cheered loudly in response to Mage Agpiel's words.

For mercenaries, the best commander was not just one who provided money, but one who brought guaranteed victory.

"Shatien, the Knight of Miracles!"

"Let us follow the captain beloved by God!"

"What are you doing? Come, come. Wave your hand with a bright smile to your subordinates. Do they not like it so much? Hahaha."

"......"

Of course, it was not to Shatien's liking at all.

Shatien felt the future was bleak, wondering how he should explain this.

* * *

As a result, the pursuit by the elf knights was very successful.

At first, the knights of Mediolanum resisted somewhat systematically, but soon that organizational power vanished, and they began to scatter in all directions.

Thus began the elf knights' hunt for achievements.

The elf knights brought back approximately fifty knights as prisoners, and fewer than a hundred knights returned to the city with the Doge of Mediolanum.

In the process of retreating, more than half of the mobilized force disappeared, suffering truly catastrophic damage.

"Hmm, I am sorry, Sir. We could not catch that mage bastard."

"He was so quick that he fled frantically."

The elf knights spoke with their ears drooping and wearing pitiful expressions.

"It is alright. That alone is an immense achievement. I will surely deliver this great feat to the Church."

Shatien consoled them by waving his hands urgently.

It was a pity they were not caught, but he simply could not stand looking at the sulking expressions of those fierce-looking elf knights.

It felt like cognitive dissonance was setting in.

"Is that true, Sir? As expected, we could always count on you."

Fortunately, the elf knights were simple-minded, so they brightened up at that single word of praise.

What a relief.

While thinking so, the army led by Shatien began to advance rapidly and without hesitation.

They had already crushed the interception force led by the Doge of Mediolanum once.

The outcome of the battle had long since spread throughout the surroundings, and the small cities and villages nearby did not dare to think of attacking the army led by Shatien.

No, it was actually the opposite.

"I-I greet the faithful Commander-in-Chief, Sir Shatien. Here is the ledger containing the personal details of our village."

"Praise be to God! Sir Shatien, the knight beloved by God. Our city has absolutely no intention of resisting the Church's events. Our Council has decided to support the supplies needed to suppress the heretics. Please, accept them gladly."

Now, beyond turning their backs, they began to actively cling to the Church.

They testified to how deep their faith was, and simultaneously condemned the excommunicated Doge of Mediolanum while praising Shatien.

At first, Shatien was bewildered, wondering what was happening, but before long, he was able to understand why they were acting like that.

"Um... Sir Shatien? Could I perhaps hold your hand?"

"?"

"How dare you ask for his hand! Doing such an impious thing to the knight protected by God... huh? I would be fine with just touching the hem of his clothes. May I be excused for a moment?"

"???????"

Indeed.

The knights of Mediolanum who had lost the battle and fled in all directions had gone around talking about the miracle(?) Shatien had performed.

'Seriously, are these loose-lipped bastards playing with me?'

If they fled, they should have gone around quietly with their heads down, but they had to go and spread rumors about it?

It was simply astounding.

"Hehehe. How is it? To have suddenly become a messenger of God."

"Ugh... Do not tease me, Mage Agpiel. Is this not all because of you?"

"Ahem. 'Because of me'? Speak properly. You should say 'thanks to me'. Hahaha."

"......"

Shatien simply remained silent at the sight of Mage Agpiel, who would not lose a single word.

Anyway, since it turned out like this, there was no choice.

Shatien tried to make the most of it with a deep sigh.

"Send messengers to the surrounding cities and villages. Say that God has already made a judgment. Those who help Mediolanum will be considered the same kind of heretics and will receive divine punishment."

"Understood!"

Since a miracle commotion had broken out once again, they would not dare to ignore it now.

And Shatien's thought became clearer when they arrived before the walls of Mediolanum.

"Blessings to the performer of miracles!"

"Praise God! The twenty villages in the vicinity of Mediolanum welcome the Church's Commander-in-Chief, Sir Shatien!"

"Here is the map of Mediolanum. If you need it, I will tell you about the structure of the walls. Please speak at any time."

All the hinterland villages supporting the city of Mediolanum had turned their backs and joined Shatien.

* * *

"All the nearby villages have joined the Church!"

"Dammit. What on earth did the Doge do! How could he lead those knights out and lose!"

The betrayal spread within the city immediately.

No, it could not fail to spread.

It was because the village heads of the hinterland villages were too clearly seen pledging loyalty on the plains beyond the walls.

Thanks to that, the city was turned upside down.

From the paupers of the lowest class to the council members in the assembly hall.

The control of the Doge of Mediolanum was effectively vanishing.

"Calm down! Even so, their army is not very large. A force of only four thousand is insufficient to occupy our city!"

Mediolanum was essentially one massive kingdom.

As a large city with more than 300,000 people, it was not weak enough to fall to a force of only 4,000.

Its walls were also immense.

However, those words of the Doge were refuted before long.

"Enemy forces have appeared on the trade network of the Northern Empire!"

"......?"

"The number is approximately three thousand! I repeat. Three thousand mercenaries have descended via the northern road. Doge!"

"......"

The gazes of the council members were cold.

It felt as if a rebellion would break out at any moment.

The Doge shouted urgently.

"The walls of Mediolanum are very strong! Do not worry. Furthermore, we can receive supplies from the satellite cities via the river. As long as our hinterland is solid..."

-Bang!

"Doge! We have a disaster. The satellite cities are being pillaged. They say they are being destroyed and burned wherever they are seen."

"......"

How could everything he said turn out to be wrong?

'Shit.'

A curse involuntarily escaped the Doge's mouth.

* * *

Even the long-awaited mercenary company arrived.

Now, Shatien had a grand force of 7,000 prepared, consisting of the 4,000 troops given by the Church and 3,000 direct mercenaries.

It was still burdensome to conduct a siege, but it was now worth trying to knock on those thick walls.

"Huh? Why would you bother with a siege?"

However, his teacher Joachim, who had joined them, clicked his tongue and said so.

"They will collapse on their own. Just wait patiently."

It was as if he were prophesying.