Prepared, Forgotten Land (2)
“The launching ceremony is approaching! Stay alert and start training!”
“insect!”
“Even if spring came, the cold in the north would not have stopped! Prepare thoroughly without forgetting to prepare for the severe cold!”
“yes! All right!”
There was no one who did not notice the war clouds hanging over the north.
Soldiers preparing to go out and supply wagons constantly moving. Already the people of the North were anticipating the coming war.
But no one was worried.
Not only did the first prince arrive in the northern part of the country, but those who had worked hard to protect the border area were also gathering one after another.
“long time no see. Your Highness the 1st Prince.”
“Long time no see.”
“I report that all members of the Sun Knights have arrived here with a new mission, the Northern Expedition.”
“hmm.”
Vice-captain of the Sun Knights, Roder Calver.
Receiving his greeting, I nodded slightly.
The Sun Knights set foot in the north after completing their long mission of defending the plains of Galderd.
The construction of the castle walls was in full swing, and the monsters around were also fairly subdued, so there was no need to place them there anymore.
The manpower of the Sun Knights, where everyone could use Auras, was too much power to waste.
… … Together.
“You seem to have grown more.”
“hahahaha, is that so?”
Roder, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, was very different from the prayer he felt.
I said looking at him awkwardly scratching his head.
“In addition to dealing with auras, it seems that you have realized basic swordsmanship.”
“As expected, it seems you can’t hide it from Your Highness. That’s right.”
“Was it helpful to deal with the monsters in the mountains?”
“Precisely, it is thanks to keeping in mind the things Your Highness has taught me.”
Roder replied with an envious look.
It has to be. No matter how short the time was, it was the Sun Knights who were taught by me, who was called the Sword King.
Moreover, since I gave them advice on how to use them in a more correct way, which would eventually go to them in the future, it was inevitable that their skills would improve.
Of course, seeing the results in person, it was natural to feel satisfied.
‘… … Not bad.’
War was never fought by a single knight. It wasn’t even a one-on-one battle in which Auras were thrown indiscriminately, and the enemies wouldn’t wait for their Auras to recover.
So, even for a knight who could use an aura, it was definitely necessary to value swordsmanship.
And with that in mind, I taught them.
They were talents that would come in handy in the war against the Commonwealth Empire, so it was said that this growth was significant for Esteban.
‘There is no deviation from all plans.’
From noble mtl dot com.
It was a design without any errors.
After finishing my conversation like that, Roder said hello to the Marquis who was waiting for us.
“Is the Marquis at peace, too?”
“It’s been a while.”
The Sun Knights, who helped protect the north from barbarian raids, were no different from benefactors to the margrave.
So their participation in the expedition would have been more reliable.
“Thanks to the joining of the Sun Knights, I am grateful that the morale of the soldiers is increasing. Please lead the northern soldiers with me this time as well.”
“no. How can that be thanks to us?”
Roder looked at me and continued.
“First, His Highness the Prince persuaded the King to send us, so it must have been completely accomplished by His Highness.”
“I guess so.”
Marquis Romeert nodded like that.
Of course, it was true that it would have been impossible if they hadn’t digested their busy schedules.
However, with the campaign ahead, there was no reason to waste time with trivial humility.
“Your Highness, would you like to talk to your vassals soon?”
“Call me quickly.”
“Yes, please wait.”
Soon after, the Margrave’s vassals arrived one by one.
Maybe it’s because the war is getting closer, or it’s because I’m facing the first prince. A look of nervousness was evident.
“As you may have already heard, Esteban’s army will occupy the land of the northern barbarians and establish a defensive line.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Margrave’s vassals looked at the map and nodded.
The flags picked up at each point clearly showed the area they had to digest.
‘A ban that has not yet been reached… … It’s spacious.’
‘If this is over, is it possible for the spirits to acquire that many territories?’
Although the displayed area was open, it was the size of one-fifth of Esteban’s current territory.
I first talked to the person in charge of managing the supplies.
“Even if you build gateways only at key points, it will be a defense line that spans dozens of kilometers. Are the materials needed to build it ready?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“good. There should be no difficulties in the process.”
However, the moment he said that and looked away, the expression of the vassal in charge of managing the supplies became visibly cautious.
“Your Highness, there is something I want to ask you.”
“what?”
“I understand that the reason for occupying the northern land is to prevent barbarian attacks more easily. But why do you want to occupy such a large area?”
At that, the other vassals also nodded.
It was as it was said. So far, barbarian attacks have been prevented from happening in the northern border area.
However, as long as the battle continues, the damage in the north will continue to accumulate.
Therefore, I tried to solve the war itself by fighting it in the land of barbarians outside.
‘Even if the damage is repaired somehow, the land where the war broke out will be weakened.’
However, if it was just that, there was no need to seize that large area as the vassal said.
On the contrary, it only makes it more difficult to manage and makes your defenses weaker.
… … However, that was the way it was in the eyes of the vassals.
“Let’s check the map.”
“yes?”
“Here, what do you think might be in the area marked as a planned defense line construction area?”
I touched a point with my finger. Then the vassals looked at each other’s faces and exchanged puzzled glances.
“I-I don’t know that much.”
“In the first place, since the land of the barbarians was a place where no continental people had visited, nothing was known about it, right?”
“Anyway, there is nothing marked on the map as a matter of course… … .”
In the end, the vassals gave the answer that they did not know.
It was natural. I nodded and ran my finger across the map.
“From this side to this side, there is a huge canyon in between. In fact, it is an area that does not require troops to be deployed.”
“… … yes? Are you saying that such a long canyon exists?”
“And look here.”
Swoop-
My gaze focused again on the place where my fingers had landed.
There was no clear explanation, but everyone seemed to be concentrating on the new information.
“here is… … .”
“The height difference here is very steep even in the barbarian land. If we occupy this hill and build a solid defense line, they will never come here.”
“her… … !”
“If that’s true, this… … .”
Borderlands were usually built on the basis of topography such as mountains or rivers.
And this is also the line of defense I marked.
It was just that the area to be occupied was not selected for no reason.
The corner of my mouth went up a little.
‘At this point, I’m the only one who knows the topography of the northern outback.’
In a future where walls were built and defenses were built by captive dwarves.
I knew the terrain that made the expeditionary force organized to defeat its power more difficult than anything else.
Elements such as canyons and rugged terrain were already put together in my blueprint.
Also, the meaning of occupying the place in advance and establishing a defense line was unique.
“If you make good use of the terrain that will be an obstacle, it will take fewer troops to stop them than defending Esteban’s northern borders.”
“surely… … Even if the land expands, its scope will be very limited… … .”
“Besides, if you can have that much occupied territory… … .”
“okay.”
No matter what, a large land and many people are the national strength.
This time on the ground.
Esteban would have the power of a wider country.
“But where did you get this information from? … .”
“These are the things confirmed through the previous expedition.”
“Is that so?”
The retainers nodded their heads and agreed.
It was a lie, of course. It was just a good excuse to use.
However, the route the expeditionary force moved was thoroughly closed to hide the traces of the Dwarves, so they had no doubts.
“The preparations for the visit to Korea are complete, right?”
“I have obtained a large quantity of furs for the soldiers to wear.”
“Suffice.”
I moved on to the last point with a sharp glint in my eyes.
“The departure will be in four days.”
“hmm!”
“her… … !”
At those words, not only his vassals, but even Marquis Romert drool. This is because the schedule was earlier than expected.
But there was no turnaround.
“There is no reason to delay. We are already fully prepared.”
“… … .”
“Aren’t you confident?”
“… … .”
one by one. It was the words he said while meeting the eyes of those present.
“If not, do you still have the anxiety that all your efforts so far have been in vain?”
“… … no.”
“I guess so.”
The Sun Knights and numerous soldiers who have already gone through expeditions to us. And there were archmages and prepared supplies to assist with this.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no lack of power, of course there was no way I wasn’t confident.
Even so, if that’s the reason they drool.
It must be just the fear of barbarians that has continued so far and the vagueness about new things to start in a space where no one has ever been before.
So I said
“do not worry.”
“… … .”
The seasoned northern soldiers will help keep your plans from going awry.
And it was none other than me who led it.
That fact alone was enough.
“That place is by no means a demonic realm. It’s just barren, a little hard land to live in. They, too, are not immortals who do not die.”
thud!
The table vibrated violently at the tip of my finger that swung down. The vassals flinch at the moment. I asked quietly.
“Was there anything lacking in the preparations you ordered?”
“… … no!”
“Then, have you been idle since that day?”
“no!”
The fingertips I had just swiped down, on the map that looked like it had been dug, lay where we were supposed to go in the future.
“Then no problem. If only I had done what I had previously commanded. It means you can already do it.”
“… … yes!”
All you need is certainty, that’s all.
So say it emphatically.
“The schedule does not change. Please complete the final inspection within at least two days. I will check it myself before the launching ceremony begins.”
“yes.”
“I will follow your orders.”
I nodded my head slightly as I watched each of my vassals hurrying to get ready.
* * *
thud-!
The sound of drums resonated loudly to the beat of the heart.
Every time the drums of the battlefield resounded, the emotion of faith appeared on the faces of the northern lords, and their clasped hands were even resolute.
And the same goes for soldiers.
thud-! thud-!!
“… … .”
Even so, the soldiers listed did not even move while the drums were beating.
Also, there was no disturbance in the slightest, and there was not even a slight commotion.
He only looked at the man in front of him, revealing his sharpened spirit.
clap-
And suddenly, there was the sound of armor clashing.
It was obviously only a noise that could not be heard buried by the sound of a huge drum, but the scene seemed to be clearly drawn in the minds of the soldiers who had already concentrated all their nerves.
“The barbarians are now weaker than ever.”
The sound of the drums stopped and a voice amplified by magic reached the ears of the soldiers lined up. Silence fell as if a mouse had died.
I didn’t know if I could really hear the rustling of armor now.
“… … But that doesn’t mean this expedition will go smoothly.”
There will be countless trials and countless blood will be shed in remote areas.
And the soldiers know that better than anyone else.
Just a man swore to them.
“Nevertheless, I will never let their blood die an unworthy death.”
“The blood they shed in the wilderness will feed the future, and their corpses will become the rock.”
“I will definitely make it happen.”
thud!
The soldiers responded by rolling their feet in unison.
That huge sound was grander than the sound of drums that lingered around my ears, and it reached my heart more.
So the man raised his sword.
visor!
A turquoise light flashed from the waistband.
“Starting today, we will be completely free from the barbarian threat.”
The sword in his hand sank.
And the direction slowly turned to the North.
“Going out.”
The fire fighting spirit flashed in the blood-red eyes.