Preparedness, Forgotten Land (1)
A land in the north where several months have passed since the barbarians’ massive raid.
Even if they were able to somehow prevent the land from being overrun with the quick help of the Sun Knights and the royal family, the damage was not negligible.
On the contrary, the scale of the attack in the beginning was a different level of raid than the previous year, so the damage was huge.
However, restoration has been steadily progressing.
The northern lords gradually returned to their homeland, and now they can lead a normal life.
Of course, that too would have been possible with the support of the royal family, but above all, it would have been difficult without proper command.
And the one in charge of all that command was the Romert family, which had the status of a Margrave.
“Now we have enough supplies.”
said the young man, the grandson of the Marquis.
He was working hard to restore the damage in the north on behalf of the Romert family.
Taking on a big job at a young age might not be reliable as a vassal, but the Marquess said that he was better than other northern lords, and there was no noise.
However, as if saying that it was really better was not in vain, he successfully led the restoration of the north by fully demonstrating his ability.
It was a law that a dog could not fly under a lion.
“Good job.”
The decrepit margrave nodded and received the report.
“And, did you tell the other lords about it?”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
“Now, all we have to do is check the troops and monitor barbarian raids.”
The Marquis’ expression softened.
In particular, the border area suffered so much damage that it could be said to be catastrophic, but I couldn’t help but say that it was fortunate to hear that even that had been restored.
“But don’t let your mind sit like this, you have to be prepared. You have to be able to move at any time.”
“You mean to wait for him to contact you?”
“okay. A call will arrive soon.”
Marquis Romert had had one wish for a long time.
He hoped that Esteban’s land would no longer be threatened by barbarian attacks.
… … That impossible but ideal wish.
That’s why I clearly remembered the ‘that’ contact sent by Prince 1 one day.
To be able to obey his will at any time. So that we can run for hope without the slightest delay.
“hmm?”
That was the moment.
As he continued his conversation with his grandson and looked out the window, he began to see a familiar carriage with his eyes.
“… … I guess I won’t have to wait long.”
“yes?”
A faint smile formed on the lips of the marquis muttering.
It was a faint smile that I couldn’t even see. But the grandson could notice it.
“The time has finally come.”
“It looks like that.”
Flutter-!
From noble mtl dot com.
The Marquis’s thick cloak followed the movement. It was a step to greet guests from the royal castle.
“I need to inform the vassals of this fact right now and prepare them. Time is urgent, so move as quickly as possible.”
“All right.”
The grandson lowered his head, and the faint smile that had crossed the Marquis’ mouth disappeared.
And what was left was an infinitely serious look.
Just like the time when I defended the castle wall with the Sun Knights.
* * *
“Your Highness, an urgent messenger is here!”
Such an urgent movement was by no means common. Especially if it happened in the king’s office.
The king put down the document he was reading at the aristocrat’s voice that hurriedly entered and answered.
“Marquis Baltaire, what the hell is going on?”
“I heard that the soldiers in the north are arming themselves and preparing for war! Judging from the request for supplies, this is unmistakably true!”
“North. That must mean the northern part of Esteban.”
“Yes, yes!”
Of course, it was possible for the North, which had some control over the operation of troops, to raise the army or something.
The threat of the barbarians always lurks, and the northern troops were always lacking.
However, the story of gathering supplies and preparing for war was different.
“Because of the war with the Federation Empire, barbarian raids must have decreased! And now the northern part should be working hard on repairing the damage, so why are you raising troops?”
There will be a reason. There is no reason to raise troops for no reason.
But why is it the same time as now?
it’s like… … like a rebellion… … .
“I checked to see if there was any news coming in, but there was no communication from the North.”
“Right.”
However, the expression on the King’s face did not change.
“It must mean that the preparations are already finished.”
“… … yes?”
Suddenly, the Marquis’ expression went blank when he heard such an incomprehensible answer. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had already sent a communication to the north.
But the king did not do that. Rather, he believed that there must be a reason for his actions, and was subconsciously preoccupied with guesses.
This series of processes has been seen frequently… … It was a very familiar flow.
smart-
It was then.
The king and the marquis turned their heads at the sound of knocking on the office door.
The king asked in a low voice.
“Who are you?”
“That’s me.”
“hmm.”
It usually takes time to notice the person who says ‘me’.
However, it was decided who could say that to the king of a country.
‘Has His Highness the 1st Prince heard the news… … !’
He must have come to talk about it.
The Marquis was delighted with the permission to have an audience from the king. However, I had no choice but to harden my eyes at the figure of someone who was with me behind that familiar face.
“Are you?”
It was a familiar but very rare face.
Aged but firm lips. A long white beard.
surprisingly. He, who couldn’t be in the capital, was entering this place with the first prince.
“Greetings to His Highness the King, who is a milestone for many knights and leads the Esteban kingdom.”
“… … Marquis Romeert.”
The great lord of the north who confronts the barbarians head-on.
And he was the main character of this northern troop management commotion, and the man who was leading the restoration of the northern part.
* * *
‘It just went well.’
I looked at the marquis in my father’s office and nodded.
war and goods. And the budget was an inseparable relationship. In addition, my plan would have needed a sufficient budget, so the story would be quick if he was there.
“As you may have already heard, preparations for the Northern soldiers are over.”
“Not yet. Preparations for supply are not over now.”
“It is not too late to do it later.”
Tumble- Tumble-
“Because we have the power of being the Archmage.”
“hmm!”
Father’s solemn voice echoed in the office. The Marquis’ spirit returned only after that.
However, it was because he hadn’t grasped the situation yet, so he was dumbfounded.
“Me, Your Highness? Disembarkation or supply, what do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
“Soldiers will advance to the North.”
“… … yes?”
“Esteban means sending a second expedition to the land of barbarians.”
“… … !”
The Marquis’ body stiffened.
It was a story I had never heard before.
The eyes looking at my father seemed to be asking for an explanation, but likewise, my father didn’t seem to care.
Chew-!
Of course, neither do I.
I put the question behind and opened the map. Already on the map, small marked lines were drawn in a row.
My father must have known what it meant, but it was necessary to point it out at least once.
“This is the route of the northern expedition last summer.”
“Although it is limited, we divided the advance team and the second team to tour as many places as possible.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded and continued.
“We have already figured out the internal structure of the land of barbarians. Also, as expected, the defenses of the Federation Empire have also been breached by barbarians.”
“It must mean that now is such a good opportunity.”
“Yes, if that adds to the experience gained from previous raids, things will be different from last year.”
“However, dissemination using space movement is not an easy task. Even a great wizard would not be able to digest that amount.”
My father’s sharp question penetrated the conversation.
The amount of objects that can be teleported was fixed. Also, since the amount of mana that can be used is fixed, it is impossible to supply it indefinitely.
After all, it is not a problem that can be solved in a day or two.
And the answer came through a decrepit voice, not mine.
“It doesn’t matter. Most supplies have been prepared in the North.”
“… … Were you already prepared in the North?”
“Yes, Your Highness. That was several months ago.”
“her.”
My curiously curved eyes looked straight at my father.
The plan to send the second expeditionary force had already been piled up for a long time.
Because I wasn’t satisfied with just saving a dwarf.
“Now, please wait!”
At that time, the Marquis, who was in a cold sweat, jumped up from his seat and looked at me.
“An expeditionary force… … Where else can things happen so suddenly? I don’t remember ever hearing it!”
“It is not sudden at all. Since the conversation with my father has already ended.”
“Ha, isn’t it even more strange?!”
It was an expeditionary force entering the land of barbarians. It was clear that it was a topic that should have been discussed with the royal family first, more than anywhere else.
But I replied with a grin, as if telling me not to worry.
“The troops in the north recognize the discretion of the operation. Even if it is an expeditionary force, there will be no problem since it will proceed only with the northern troops, and there is no reason to discuss it with the royal family.”
“Uh, what is that… … .”
“Precisely, it means that it is an individual battle in Romert’s territory, not the royal expeditionary force.”
“… … !”
The Marquis’s eyes widened beyond measure.
He licked his lips again, as if he had a lot to say, but no further refutation came out.
of the kingdom… … And it was because there was no problem at all with the laws of the continent.
“The land of barbarians is not a recognized country on the continent. It’s just that it’s called ‘Forbidden’ because of its danger.”
“that… … .”
Barbarians who forcibly occupied the land without an owner.
There was no problem in invading the land, even if it was subjugation at the territory level.
The reason they haven’t done it so far is simply because they’re too strong.
‘Well, it’s a shortcut using some kind of speciality.’
Especially since it was Romert’s territory, which was in contact with barbarians, no one would say anything about invading that land.
Because it was using the right given to them.
… … However, it was still lacking.
Clear. And without a clearer purpose, the expedition was nothing more than a self-inflicted attack.
Rather, it means that it may overshadow previous successes.
‘Well, it’s not that it has no value at all.’
I shrugged and drew a line on the map.
A line that stretched from Esteban’s border to the north, as if it had expanded the country.
“… … Your Highness, what is this?”
“This is the place that will newly become Esteban’s territory.”
“That, that word… … !”
The Marquis stuttered, unable to hide his embarrassment.
On the contrary, my eyes were gradually curved like half moons.
Yes, this expedition won’t bring only half success like the previous one.
It would show a movement worthy of the name of the expeditionary force, and it would achieve more perfect results.
“We will expand Esteban’s territory and build a more secure defense line.”
That’s why I’ve been waiting for this day.
Now, when a situation has come where no one can interfere with Esteban.