Magic Industry Empire
Duke Macalose, commander of the Candel Empire's expeditionary army, looked down at the battle report in his hands. His already dark complexion seemed as black as the overcast sky outside, deepened by his grim expression.
The atmosphere in the command tent seemed frozen in time. Everyone held their breath, scarcely daring to make a sound for fear of attracting Duke Macalose's attention and setting off this volcano.
Yet... a volcano did not refrain from erupting simply because no one wanted to set it off.
After a while, Duke Macalose put down the battle report. His narrowed eyes swept over the faces of the other expeditionary officers in the tent, forcing every one of them to lower his head. Then he gave a muffled snort.
The other officers in the tent shuddered involuntarily.
Within the Candel Empire's Military Department, Duke Macalose held the highest position and greatest prestige after the imperial marshal, Grand Duke Campbell Sudiman.
The Military Department's decision to have him personally lead the expedition against the Rulson Kingdom undoubtedly showed how much importance it attached to this campaign.
Yet the expeditionary army had suffered a crushing blow at the very first step.
The six field armies advancing into the Rulson Kingdom from six different directions had all suffered devastating defeats within three days.
The Saint Joan Legion of the Fourth Field Army had suffered the fewest losses, yet even it had lost more than four thousand men outright in an ambush by the Rulson Kingdom's army. Its wounded, both lightly and severely injured, numbered more than ten thousand. In a single battle, the Saint Joan Legion, whose total strength had originally been nearly thirty thousand, had lost almost half its fighting power.
The Golden Eagle Knight Corps and the Crimson Sun Legion of the Third