Chapter 9: First Battle

Chapter 9: First Battle

After rallying our forces we had about five-thousand ships on our side.

Even if we had a total of eight-thousand ships, many of them were unoperationable because of problems that had arisen during maintenance.

However, even if we were only able to gather this many, things should still be fine.

On one of the space battleships bridges, I was sitting down in a specially prepared chair.

The bridge was currently in a frenzy, there were over a hundred people scrambling to do their jobs.

Because it was also the flagship I personally boarded, more personnel were assigned to it than normal.

While I looked over all those hard-working people,

Are we ready for departure yet?

The militants looked slightly peeved, but they couldnt go against me, their lord.

This was a normal relationship dynamic seen in the Empire.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Were still getting some last-minute preparations done, and my lord, are you sure about this?

I looked at the concerned expression of the commander, and I couldnt help but feel how pitiful he was.

This war was a joke.

Our victory was a matter of course.

I alone smiled with this knowledge.

The treasures and bounties possessed by the pirates were within my grasp.

More importantly, do those pirates have a lot of money?

The soldiers turned to look at each other.

Well they do.

And to think all of that is going to be mine soon- I cant wait.

The soldiers all stared at me while I laughed.

Goazs Fleet.

As you wouldve expected, the biggest ship was Goazs personal flagship.

Ever since he used it to destroy an entire star-country, it became his favourite ship of all.

It was remodeled to the point that you could barely make out its original appearance.

Relaxing at the bridge, Goaz was laughing as he placed on his forehead.

Theyre coming out to meet us? Looks like the kid has some fight in him.

The surrounding pirates joined in on the laughter.

Goazs pirate fleet has never lost.

He thought theyd surrender, as most small frontier houses with limited forces normally did.

I have to admit, they have spirit. Let the men know if they capture the brat alive, Ill double their share. I want that kid as my next toy.

The adjutant was smilling.

You truly are charismatic, Boss.

Well, its interesting to have an immature brat as my opponent for once. Once this is over, I wonder how we should enjoy the people who had just lost their last line of defense.

Goaz still hasnt had enough.

He was a man who has lost count of how many lives he has taken over the decades.

All of this was due to the golden box that he owned- the [Alchemy Box].

Simply put, it was an artifact capable of producing gold from any substance except for living organisms.

It was a piece of lost technology that was impossible to recreate.

In addition to gold, it was even capable of producing mithril and adamantium.

It was an artifact of dreams.

Now then, how about we teach what true war is to a boy who knows nothing?

The pirates believed that victory was assured.

Anybody would think that.

They outnumbered their enemy six-fold.

Even if they didnt plan anything, theyd be sure to win in a head-on fight.

Only a few days had passed before we were set to collide with the pirates.

I listened to the commanders orders as I relaxed in my chair.

I could barely hear him now.

The chair I sat on was comfortable to a frightening degree.

No matter how I sat, my back didnt hurt at all.

I could totally sleep there if I wanted too.

The moment I closed my eyes, my lights would be out.

Over the last several days we had worked out our plans and formations.

Everyone was assigned to the role they were most suited to, so I left it all to the military personnel while I just watched.

Just by looking at things as they were, it didnt look like the battle was going to begin anytime soon.

I understood that everyone thought that this was a last-ditch struggle of resistance due to the difference in numbers.

I called out to a soldier who was stationed nearby.

When will it start?

My lord, it has already started. Once battles reach scales this large, you cant just run recklessly into the blackness of space- were already struggling enough as it is.

I cant even see the enemy.

When considering the size of the universe, please imagine that the distance the enemy is at could already be considered fairly close.

Come to think of it, its true that I never really learned anything about war.

While I did study many things in the educational capsules, I did neglect a military education.

Even while knowing that, the soldier explained how ignorant I was without remorse.

He really didnt mince his words, but I did like how honestly he spoke.

Because he was working for my sake, Ill allow him at least that much.

It looks like the two forces were slowly reducing the distance as they repositioned the armies to counter each other.

It seems that checking the radars and instruments for the enemy was considered part of the battle as well.

With that said, how many days was this supposed to go on?

The commander was scowling.

With forces that large, the number of soldiers the enemy has is nothing to scoff at.

Understood, Boss.

The naively-trained ships of lesser nobility were bound to desert a disadvantageous battle.

Because they lacked discipline.

The Banfield houses forces only seemed like they were fighting together.

The pirates assault continued.

As the battle progressed, the two noticed that something was wrong as they got closer.

Goaz stood up from his chair.

what?

Displayed on the monitor was the enemy fleet still fighting at maximum strength.

What he saw was an enemy whos fleet didnt collapse none of them had run.

For some reason, they still havent lost the will to fight.

The adjutant was also surprised.

They havent run yet? No, they even closed the distance!

Goaz shouted at his amazed aide,

Send out the mobile knights! Break their formation!

The distance was reduced to the point in which humanoid weapons could participate in the battle.

As if to ridicule his order, the enemy was already dispatching knights to attack their vanguard.

Youre just a boney little brat, dont get full of yourself. Ill catch you and make you my toy.

Goaz felt frustrated with Liam for the first time this battle.

At the bridge, officers who stood near the commander were issuing instructions one after another.

Staff members were also issued orders after confirming the current state of the battle.

In anycase, things were pretty hectic.

One soldier- the man who stood near Liam turned towards the now empty chair.

He really sortied.

this puzzled him.

He was assigned to the flagship to be Liams aide, but Liam himself said that he was going to join the battle in his mobile knight.

He ordered the commander to charge, and left to join the battlefield.

As such, now the commander and the surrounding staff were in a panic.

Send some knights out immediately! Dont let anyone harm the lord!

The escort knights are still being prepped for launch!

What the hell are you doing?!

The bridge was in a state of disarray because of Liam.

The soldiers looked up at the monitor and took in the sight of Avid that was projected there.

Thats a knight?

The special existence known as knights are different from the usual military officer.

In laymans terms, they have almost superhuman abilities.

Knights were the result of many years of physical and mental strengthening from education capsules from an early age, which general soldiers didnt have access to.Even basic movements would be different if the two piloted the same machine.

If they fought, itd be impossible for the general soldier to make up the difference in ability and win.

Projected in the monitor, Avid was dual-wielding a bazooka in its left hand and a sword in its right.

After slicing through a pirate knight who approached with its sword, it proceeded to destroy a pirate ship with its bazooka.

After throwing away its bazooka, Avid stretched its arm into a magic circle nearby and pulled out a new armament.

It was space magic, where a large-number of weapons had been pre-stored.

Weapons were pulled out and used one-after-another as it went wild.

Liams voice could be heard mixed in amongst the noise.

AHAHAHAHAHA!!! Just try and stop me!

The soldier wiped the sweat that fell by his cheek as he watched the figure of Liam cutting down enemies and sinking pirate ships without hesitation.

Just what kind of life did he live?

Liam, who still hasnt had his coming of age ceremony, was still only a child in this universes perception.

Such a child was fighting pirates with glee.

The commander who overheard this approached the soldier.

Does he scare you?

C-commander, please excuse me!

The commander sat down in his chair saying Dont bother, to the soldier who had suddenly stretched his back, stiff.

if he wasnt born a nobleman, would he have been an ordinary child?

What do you mean?

The commander whispered,

When he was only five years of age, he was abandoned by his parents and forced to rule a territory that was on the brink of collapse on the frontier. Somehow, he managed to develop the devastated land, only for him to be forced to do battle with pirates to protect it. I really want to see how this kid will grow up in the future.

The commander started to grumble, I want my children to serve this lord as well.

Many former imperial soldiers were forced into Liams territory.

Lots of them were inflexible and stubborn people.

People too serious were relegated there.

People too virtuous were relegated there.

People who refused bribes were relegated there.

Simply put, there were many kinds of serious people gathered there.

The reason why is because the guide wanted to gather people who would oppose Liam, who was aiming to be an evil lord.

From the perspective of one of such individuals, the lord named Liam was-

After I was expelled from the army I was regretting my life, but look at things now. I didnt think I would find a lord worth serving all the way out here.

The surrounding soldiers agreed.

Yes, hes truly a virtuous ruler indeed.

The figure of the person who stood at the frontlines and fought.

To the soldiers standing behind it, it was truly an inspiring sight to see.

It was inefficient for the leader to spearhead the charge in battle.

However, it raised morale and instilled the idea that as long as we follow this person, we can win.

Liam had shown them this form without even realizing it.