116 – dark clouds
Although the number of people residing in Whitewood is not large, it is a strategic point because it is in contact with the haunts of immigrants.
Thanks to that, the defense of the castle is also quite thorough, and the soldiers and residents who guard this place always live in preparation for battles with aliens.
“It is said that unidentified groups have been found in the northwest direction!”
“You came too soon. As long as the beggars are unnecessarily quick on their feet.”
That’s why the contact system can be so fast and accurate so that you can be prepared in case of an ambush.
“Did it get caught in the forest?”
“Yes! It looks like that from the direction. They say they haven’t reached the forest yet!”
To the northwest of Whitewood lies dense coniferous forest.
It is basically a land of severe winter, so conifers grow more than other areas, but the reason why I heard the name WhiteWood is because these conifers grow thickly.
“I should have sent the soldiers in advance. damn.”
Melvik, the man in charge of Whitewood’s chief of security, looked around from the top of the castle at the adjutant’s report, and gritted his teeth.
Yulken has arrived here now, but in a wartime situation, his job is to keep this Whitewood safe rather than the chain of command.
Considering this, when I was told to be on high alert, I had to voluntarily send soldiers to the coniferous forest in advance, but I couldn’t even think of that.
“Has it already been reported to His Highness?”
“That’s right!”
“Then you can ease your worries a little. Maybe the soldiers who went out earlier were for that, I don’t know.”
Melvik was also a person who had a lot of matches with Yulken on the battlefield while protecting Whitewood.
That’s why he knew better than anyone how wide a man named Yulken was looking at the battlefield.
There’s no way that Yulken didn’t keep in mind the part where he went crazy.
The reason why a large number of soldiers left the castle just before was not reported to him was likely because it was an urgent situation every minute and every second.
‘If I just take control of that place, my chances of winning are no different.’
The reason coniferous forests are considered a strategic location in Whitewood is simple.
There was no good place to hide in this empty field, and unlike other regions, the fact that this was a cold northern region also contributed.
There is no way that a fireworker will be eaten in such a snow field, and even if it is available, it is possible to extinguish the fire quickly.
In addition, the area was quite large, so even if you knew there were enemies there, if you couldn’t figure out the number, it was easy to be attacked, so it was great that you couldn’t recklessly enter.
“Did you say the number of enemies is estimated?”
“About five hundred.”
“Strange. There are too few of them.”
At the unexpected news, Melvik twitched his eyebrows and spat out a questionable voice.
Considering that there will not be a big error as it is information brought by intelligence, the number is quite small.
Assuming that there are many cancers, it would not exceed one thousand.
Basically, the immigrants are more of a militia driven by numbers.
It is because everyone is given the duty as a warrior from the time they are born, so they can participate in battle regardless of gender or age, and they are basically a type that has no fear of war.
The reason why he was able to harass the elite soldiers of the empire was because he preferred the way to cause battles in various places with the numbers at the forefront, and the fact that he was basically familiar with the geography of the north also played a part.
But why is the number so small this time?
Since they haven’t been through a lot of big battles lately, there’s not much power they can equip.
Melvik felt a great sense of incongruity in that respect.
“For now, I will report directly to Her Highness. The ones said to be found in the northwest are most likely decoys.”
“Yes, I will keep my seat.”
“Yes, please.”
Melvik left his seat and went down the castle.
The feeling was very strange. You just have to hope for the best, but only cowards always survive on the battlefield.
So, he rushed to meet Yulken in person.
* * * * * * *
Today was the day when a reply was supposed to come from Whitewood.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in Loveheim Castle was like walking on thin ice.
Ariel was sitting around a long table with her retainers and talking.
I bit my lip when I heard from Gail that there was still no contact from the intelligence sent to Whitewood.
It was the first time she had ever shown such anxiety, and I could see that Edgar, who was watching from the side, felt sorry for her.
“Are you prepared?”
Breaking the silence, Ariel asked Gail, who was supposed to send a letter a while ago, to confirm.
Here, Chaebi spoke of the reinforcements that will depart as soon as there is no reply today.
“Yes, lady. If we don’t hear back after midnight, we’ll be on the field right away.”
“It’s late at night, are you okay?”
“It’s rather a good thing. There are many cases where Your Highness also appeared at a late hour to blind the enemy, so don’t worry.”
If it was assumed that things had gone awry at Whitewood, it was most likely due to surprise, in Gale’s eyes.
In that case, the letter would also have been fabricated to somehow delay the reinforcements.
That’s why they deliberately participated in the early morning hours at night when their contact system would not be smooth.
Even if it’s a one-time surprise attack, in the information battle that follows, this side will have an overwhelming advantage.
Even if they are proficient in the geography of the North, they do not have a well-kept information network, so they had to dig into that point.
“Sir Gail, may I ask you one question?”
“of course.”
In the middle of the conversation between the two, Edgar raised his hand cautiously with a question in mind.
It is rare for him to speak directly in a meeting, so Gail nodded willingly, though puzzled.
Everyone in the castle already knew that he would be placed in the position of the next aide while being Ariel’s lover.
“Have they ever tried to cover their eyes so meticulously?”
“Well… there wouldn’t have been In the first place, foreign peoples are accustomed to war, and they are not good at tricks and brain fights.”
In the first place, the battles with the aliens are not always on a large scale, but rather resemble small and large guerrilla battles in many places.
Since it is not a formal army, it is not easy to catch the eye, so it is said that hit-and-run battles that use that point to quickly surprise and then plunder are mainly used.
However, there is not enough energy to systematically continue the head fight throughout this process.
That’s why there are quite a lot of times when you use the advantage of being able to surprise, attacking blindly by stabbing ten places and trying to succeed in only two or three places.
From that point of view, this case was rather unusual.
It was not like them to focus on one small and large attack rather than attacking another place while focusing attention by revealing a disturbing movement in advance.
“Well, that is also strange. Although I don’t know much about them, I asked because it’s somewhat different from what I heard from Your Highness… … .”
In response to Gail’s confirmation, Edgar lowered his head and let out a drool.
The words Yulken said and the words Gale had just uttered were almost in line with each other.
Certainly, their targets were always food and slaves, starting with plunder, and rarely attacked in a way to destroy the city itself.
However, this Whitewood gun had a strong feeling that it was aimed at the city itself or a larger target.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to falsify the correspondence and go to great lengths to keep information inside Whitewood from leaking out.
“Does Prince Edgar think that their purpose is somewhere else?”
“That’s right. Even if it points to something… … ?”
“It’s not to the point where I’m going to say it, but I talked to a few people yesterday and there were some similar opinions. However, there is no way to know what the purpose is… … .”
purpose. If you figure it out, you’ll get a little confused, but in other words, it’s hard to predict their next move unless you know their purpose.
Anyway, one thing’s for sure is that the battle in Whitewood must be won, but if even that was just for blindfolding, it would mean nothing in the end.
Just as everyone inside the venue was in silence, the door hurriedly opened with a rattling sound and someone came inside.
“Who dares to enter without permission!”
“Sin, sorry! However, because it is urgent… … !”
“This is my subordinate that I sent to Whitewood. Instead of rudeness, I apologize.”
Among the retainers, an old man with a shaggy beard scolded him in a serious voice.
“A blitz has begun on Whitewood! Huh, but a large number of soldiers were ambushed and the castle was difficult to withstand… … !”
bang!
Before the man could even finish talking, one of them hit the table with such force that he gnashed his teeth.
It’s none other than Ariel.
The news was more urgent than expected, and she immediately ordered Gail to do so.
“Gail, tell me to go to war immediately. I will follow.”
“Oh no! Please reconsider that, lady!”
“you’re right! If something happens to Her Highness, the young lady must keep her seat all the more!”
The words of Ariel, who had not yet experienced the battlefield, that she would come together was enough to create a big wave.
Even if she had never left the battlefield in the first place, the vassals would have been extremely dissuaded from this issue.
Since this situation was truly unexpected, we did not know what variables would arise in the future.
At times like this, it is the right choice for Ariel to protect the castle and maintain it firmly in preparation for emergencies.
“Ariel, calm down.”
“I am cold. So, you can make that choice.”
“I’ve been watching you for almost 20 years. Would you believe that nonsense?”
“It’s okay, get out of the way, Ed. Amman, I won’t forgive you if you stop saying you’re going to rescue my father.”
The bloodline is so scary.
To the point that even she, who had always been generous with Edgar, would lose her eyesight.
Even the vassals around her kept their mouth shut at the frost-like coldness she exhaled, but Edgar, who was facing her at the closest distance, was calm.
It was after I had prepared my mind as much as possible in case a report like this came in.
“I’m not saying don’t go. It’s just that you have no experience on the battlefield. In cases like this, it’s best to leave it to those who have experience, and you should first figure out the situation before moving.”
“They say Whitewood is on the verge of collapsing. Do you want me to watch more?”
“It means that Whitewood is on the verge of collapsing, so keep an eye on it. I would have sent you if it had been considered a little safer.”
The fact that the soldiers were suddenly taken by surprise, whether tricked or otherwise, meant that they were outnumbered anyway.
Even though Yulken is out on the field, it would be realistically difficult for Ariel to come out at this level.
Now, sending reinforcements first, it was appropriate to focus on reliable vassals and elites.
In any case, in the current situation, she had to remain in the castle as she was the one who had the final say.
dump.
Ariel, who was dazed for a moment at Edgar’s cold reply, sat down as if she had lost strength in her chair.
Gail, who was watching this, made eye contact with Edgar and opened his mouth.
“… First of all, we will proceed without the lady accompanying us.”
“Thank you, Sir Gail. You’ve caused trouble.”
“Rather, since you dried the lady, I should thank you. Even so, I’m a good body on the battlefield, so I’ll bring you good news.”
Gail said that she would participate in the battle herself and stood up with the subordinate who had just entered.
The rest of the vassals also got up to do their duty as it was an emergency situation, and Edgar headed to the room holding Ariel, who was weak.
Apparently, for dinner tonight, the amount of lamb she ate whenever she was in a bad mood didn’t seem to be a compromise.