Prepared, Forgotten Land (7)
“… … .”
“No, my God… … !”
As if announcing the appearance of the citadel, the vibrations that resonated with the heavens and earth stopped.
Even after seeing the unbelievable sight with their own two eyes, people couldn’t move a single step from where they were standing.
… … Think about it.
This scene of three castles that came down from the sky.
Eventually, this situation where there was no fuss as if nothing had happened.
Can the general public really understand it?
Even George, who has seen the transfer of the archmage several times, can’t believe it either. I couldn’t even imagine how great the shock the soldiers were receiving.
Naturally, George was the first to come to his senses.
“If those forts came here through space movement, the barbarians inside might have arrived as well.”
“… … Oh, yes. There is only one stronghold we have organized.”
To George’s cold-hearted analysis, Roder gave a sloppy answer.
A total of three forts. In two of them, there will surely be barbarians who have not been dealt with.
In response, George quickly instructed.
“Sun Knights, please clean up the stronghold over there. I will lead my troops and block other forts in preparation for a siege.”
“Ah, I see. I will move as quickly as possible.”
Roder’s expression hardened.
If there were more than a thousand troops on both sides of the fort, there was a high possibility that the damage would be too great to block with only the troops they had led.
The fate of the soldiers depends on how quickly the Sun Knights clear a stronghold.
“All knights, get on your horses! Now, when they are panicking, this is your chance!”
“insect!”
However, the Sun Knights hurriedly moved to the designated fortress.
All they could see in front of them was the inside of the fort and the corpse of a barbarian warrior who had been mercilessly shot.
The knights shouted with a white expression.
From noble mtl dot com.
“Oh, how can it be!”
“Could this be the citadel we organized?!”
… … It was a mistake!
The appearance of the three forts was similar, so it could have been mistaken.
If so, it was even more of a problem. Esteban’s soldiers had to bear the brunt of the remaining barbarians in the other two places.
‘Even in the state of being surrounded by them… … .’
It was the worst thing I could have feared.
Roder gritted his teeth and shouted.
“The Sun Knights are returning at full speed! We must save the soldiers!”
“insect!”
“Move fast!”
Doo doo doo doo-!
Only the sound of horses’ hooves echoed in the heavy silence.
By the time they reached the front of the next fort, an indescribable tension was rising.
Suddenly, Roder, who was running at the forefront, felt something strange.
‘… … Why are you quiet?’
Even if division has already occurred, it should have been greatly affected.
However, no sound could be heard from the nearby fortress, and even the common dust was not rising.
‘Could it be that it’s already too late… … !’
It was at that moment that an unknown harmony was continuing.
“Oh! me, there… … !”
“Soldiers are coming out!”
Esteban’s soldiers were coming out of the citadel they were heading to.
And that too, with very urgent and swift steps.
“… … Sun Knights?”
In the distance, he could see George’s eyes widening as he led the troops.
There was not a single small scratch on their bodies.
“… … .”
“… … .”
It was the moment when the two commanders’ expressions spread to absurdity.
* * *
“I like it.”
I nodded my head in satisfaction as I looked at the forts listed while maintaining my distance.
Even from the looks of it, there was a hint of haste, and the shock of the space movement made it look distorted here and there.
But it was better than putting up a line of defense where there was none. At least if there was something to call it a castle wall, it was clear that the defense would be easier.
‘With the help of the dwarves, it will be quickly restored and will be able to faithfully play its role as a castle wall.’
Besides, even its location was perfect for calling it a new frontier. Perhaps the barbarians will no longer be able to cross Esteban’s land.
It was the same even after the war with the Federation Empire was over.
In order to invade Esteban, you will have to break through those forts built on hills, avoiding the obstacles of various landmarks.
The plan to build a defensive line in the land of the barbarians has been perfected thanks to their stronghold.
“It’s really fortunate that Your Highness is satisfied.”
Of course, unfortunately, the magic tower that made it possible was fading away.
Even if he was a great wizard, it would be difficult to move three holy bodies of this size.
“… … It’s like looking at slime, a creation of the Mage Tower.”
“Heh heh, that is a very embarrassing joke for a wizard to hear. Slime is close to a shapeless liquid, so how can it be similar to humans?”
“… … .”
… … It’s true.
I swallowed the words behind him and avoided his gaze.
Around such a magic tower pillar, artificial magic stones that had exhausted their strength were piled up like a mountain.
“Thanks to that, they have sufficiently proved their usefulness.”
“It took a long time to prepare, but it was a good income to prove that it can replace the lack of mana.”
“Good job.”
“Didn’t Your Highness take over two forts with your own hands? It would have been an impossible operation if His Highness hadn’t done a great job.”
“Right.”
I accepted it with a shrug.
To be honest, I didn’t think it was a big deal because it wasn’t once or twice that I had a battle like this.
However, from the perspective of the owner of the mage tower, it must have been nothing but a surprise.
“Since you obtained the power of that element, it seems that your personal power has become stronger. Are you used to it already?”
“It is being put to good use. Being able to assist with speed was useful in its own way.”
“hahahaha. I’m glad that this also helped Your Highness.”
I responded by waving my hand to the Mage’s blind loyalty.
It doesn’t matter if you like yourself, but there were times when it was too burdensome.
… … like now.
“Do you have any mana left to cast teleport?”
“If it’s close, I think it’s possible at least once.”
“Go to the citadel.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Whoa!
As soon as I felt that my body was floating, my vision suddenly changed.
It was a familiar feeling by now. I nodded as I slowly walked out of the halo.
“You arrived at the right timing.”
“… … You are here.”
“majesty?!”
George, Lauder, and the margrave’s retainers were having a serious talk with the Eucharist in the middle.
As soon as I appeared, Roder ran over and started asking about the situation.
“Hey, Your Highness, what the hell is this?!”
“what.”
“What is this fort… … More than that, what happened to the corpses of the barbarians inside the fort?”
“Killed.”
“Lord, you killed me… … .”
You mean that many numbers?
Roder and the Margrave’s vassals were astonished.
Even if the number of barbarians found in the two forts was well over 1,000.
In such a situation, it seemed surprising to say that he killed him in such a light tone.
Either that or not, I smiled heartily at the fort.
“It would be good to use everything that is available. Divide the soldiers and tell them to organize the other two forts as well.”
“That, like that… … .”
“From now on, this will be Esteban’s new frontier.”
“… … .”
Could occupation be so easily achieved?
It felt like the war they knew, and the concept of an occupation war, were collapsing.
Already, the northern territories were conscripting additional troops necessary to build and hold on to the defensive line, and the royal family was also providing support for this.
But now those things are useless.
As those forts stood up, more than half of the plan had already been completed before it even started.
‘Well, though I can’t fully protect this vast land yet.’
George approached me thinking so and said.
“For now, I will entrust the repair of the fortress to the Dwarves, and divide the troops and knights into each fortress.”
“Let it be like that for the time being. We will need the strength of the Sun Knights until the next force arrives.”
“All right.”
It was said that he only had to endure a few attacks without grasping the situation.
When the development of the northern part begins in earnest, this place will one day be equipped with perfect defense.
“But we haven’t been able to deal with all the barbarians roaming the north yet.”
“Let’s leave that part to the second team.”
“Because there are only remnants left anyway?”
“okay.”
I nodded and agreed.
Reinforced troops are pushing up to the north, and you have to deal with the remaining remnants.
It was simple.
‘Well, if I send a message, he’ll take care of it.’
I didn’t have to worry about that part anymore. You just need to know how to defend yourself.
But there was one thing that remained unresolved.
“Oh, and call the soldiers back then.”
“As for the soldiers of that time… … .”
One of the margrave’s vassals asked.
I looked at him and pulled the corners of my mouth.
“The quick-footed soldiers.”
* * *
“… … What did you mean by that?”
Marquis Romeert could not hide his doubts about the news he had heard.
It was a few days ago that I heard the news of a battle with barbarians. However, the news that came after that was so absurd and absurd that it didn’t make sense.
“Did you mean that Your Highness built the defenses in just a few days?”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
The embarrassing thing was the same with the grandson of the Marquis.
But what? That was all the news that really came in… … .
The Marquis raised his senile body and accepted the report himself.
“Huh… … !”
Then he let out a deep sigh.
Indeed, all that was written in the report was the news that the occupation of the north was over.
Neither the process nor the contents were written, but the instructions given to them were clear.
“Surely, Your Highness is asking for the remnants of the barbarians to be wiped out.”
“That’s right.”
“Hey, how can this be… … .”
It was an unbelievable story, but I had to believe it.
Because it was Prince 1 himself who sent this message, not anyone else.
“Even if you calculate the pure movement time of the troops, it would have taken several days. But to say that you’ve already built a defense line… … .”
“Probably using a method we don’t know about.”
“Okay, I wonder how you did it.”
Nothing comes to mind, so it’s just a question.
Marquis Romeert thought about it for a long time before speaking.
“… … If Your Highness has indeed built a defensive line in the north, there will be no reason to leave troops in the border area anymore.”
“If that is true, this will not be a border area.”
“You are right.”
In that case, there was no need to hasten the recruitment of troops.
It was because all he had to do was to drag all the troops he had left in the border area in preparation for the odds.
‘… … It means that there is no reason to shed blood on this land anymore.’
The old fate of the Romert family.
If that could really be done, it was reason enough to advance north with all the troops.
Marquis Baek’s wrinkled face hardened resolutely.
“I will lead the troops myself.”
“Yes, I will prepare to dispatch troops quickly.”
Thus, the great task of conquest of the north was progressing rapidly.
Progress was faster than anyone expected.
… … same time.
“Bar, I found it!”
A soldier rushed into the fort and shouted.
He seemed so hurried that he didn’t even notice that his hair was flying.
I threw my gaze at the approaching soldier, and the soldier hurriedly reported without a moment to catch his breath.
“Well, there really was a building that looked like a ruin!”
A search of the gorge conducted separately by culling soldiers.
The long-awaited fruit has finally arrived to me.
“… … Not bad.”
At that, I put down the teacup I had been enjoying for a while and stood up.
So, shall we call him soon?