189 A very small clue
***[Heroine Oscar]***
I was prepared, but the speed of the steppe people was quite fast.
I had just arrived at the border, but I had already moved farther in, passing the barony I had raided before.
After that, I couldn’t find out where it was for a while.
The inspector’s speed seems to be having a hard time keeping up with them.
However, since it is not possible to dispatch investigators to all cities, it seems very difficult to trace the steps of the steppe tribes.
Moreover, even if the investigator finds out the location of the steppe people and sends a call to the ducal family, several days have already passed.
In the meantime, the grassland tribes continued to move, and information was left behind each time.
I let out a small sigh while looking at the report.
This time, the newly discovered location of the steppe people was farther back than I thought.
The report describes the horrors of the castle they passed through.
It is said that all men, soldiers and commoners, were killed, women were violated, and boys who grew up to a certain extent were also killed without exception if caught.
In the place where they passed, it was written that only corpses and living people who had become like corpses remained.
Because of that, it is almost impossible to know how the grassland tribes approached the wall and the exact number.
No one who knew anything was alive.
To women and children, it was said that at some point, all of a sudden, the whole place seemed to be filled with steppe tribes.
I knew it was when Goruka attacked the kingdom, but the Steppe tribes really don’t forgive.
‘Among them, the Silver Moon is said to be a violent and cruel tribe.’
The silver moon is leading the steppe people.
I let out a small breath and put the report down.
On the large desk right next to it is a map of the Kingdom.
Several black stones were placed on the map.
It is to mark the movement of steppe tribes.
The lord of the fortress city and several military officers in the rank of captain were standing around him, staring at the map.
Goruka is also there.
Perhaps it was the first time he had seen such a large and detailed map, he was looking around with admiration.
As I moved towards it and dropped my gaze on the map, the young military officer placed another black stone.
It is a castle that was captured this time.
“Chowonjok are really fast. If it’s our army, they’re still staying over there at best.”
An unrelated person looked at the border of the map in a melancholy voice.
“Certainly…the speed of these is phenomenal, unheard of. I couldn’t believe that many troops left the border in a few days. I thought there was something wrong. I couldn’t imagine it.”
The other military officer nodded and looked at the stones lined up.
The black stones that represent the traces of the steppe tribes were also found in small villages, but also in some places on empty roads.
The investigators sent in a note of the spot where anyone had seen them.
Thanks to this, you can get a rough idea of when and where the grassland tribes were passing through.
Even if you miss the middle, connecting the black stones together is enough to know the way you have passed.
I set my sights on a point close to the border.
Among the black stones, there was only one white stone.
It was a city where steppe tribes came nearby but passed without attacking.
The investigator’s report stated that as soon as they found the steppes, they hurriedly closed the gates, so they seemed to have just passed by.
It must be certain that he met and investigated the lord of the castle and the soldiers.
It is poor, but close to the border, so he knew the fear of the steppe tribes well.
For this reason, the repair of the wall was given priority above all else.
Seongju was borrowing money here and there, and I found out about it and lent the money and a technician.
The lord of the castle there was very grateful, but it’s not free.
I ordered the technicians to investigate the strength and height of the steppe arrows stuck in the castle.
I used it to check how much defense the castle needed to be safe.
The things I learned were applied to our duchy and the castles of the Marquess of Patry and Hoven.
The town on the border was small and poor, so it had minimal maintenance, but the dukedom and the marquess had different surnames.
It was properly repaired and maintained using money and technicians.
If this small city on the border was safe, a well-maintained castle would not be easily defeated even if an army of 100,000 steppe tribes flocked to it.
Knowing that even if the castle is attacked, it is not easily captured, I and the marquis family and other allies feel reassured.
You can fight with all the power you have without worrying too much.
Goruka, who was looking at the map, suddenly opened her mouth.
“Something is strange.”
Goruka looked at the black stone that had just been placed and received a long stick from the military officer.
There is an elongated decoration at the end of the stick to push the stone.
Goruka drew a circle around the castle with a stick.
“Is there nothing around here? Is there just a forest in the back?”
“I’ve never been to that city, but it looks like it on a map.”
When I affirmed, Goruka looked at the map in silence again.
And he quietly opened his mouth.
“You seem to be puzzled by the steppes and think that they have some sort of omnipotent ability, but it’s different.”
Goruka followed the black stone path with a stick.
“No matter how fast the grassland tribes are, if you run through the empty fields like this, you’ll find them in advance in the castle. Of course, you’ll have time to close the door.”
“…Did they go back to the forest and raid it?”
As I said, Goruka nodded.
“I think so. Otherwise, the gates would have been closed, and it would have taken a long time to capture the castle. But to go round and into the woods… that’s the strange thing.”
“ah…!”
I realized what Goruka wanted to say.
The forest is not visible from the direction the grassland tribes are advancing.
“I see. I understand that the grassland tribes do not have guides.”
The military officer who was listening to the conversation between me and Goruka tilted his head.
“I’ve heard that steppe tribes are very good at things like tracking. Did you use a dog to sniff something or, no, is this weird, anyway, didn’t you figure it out through scouting?”
I looked at the black stone on the map once more and shook my head.
“Look at the road that led from the border to this place. It was probably traveling along the highway. But it’s different from here.”
When you look at the map thinking something is strange, you can see that the movement of the steppe tribes is unnatural since before the last city they reported to.
When I pointed the stick at that point, the other military officers also seemed to realize it.
“I see. I’m choosing a path that I wouldn’t normally take, getting away from the biggest road.”
I stared at the spot where the road started to change.
There is a city that is not very big.
Although small, the city has very good transportation.
It wasn’t to the point of being a trading city, but it was at a crossroads where many cities and roads overlapped at least once.
I also stopped by when going to the border.
The lord of a castle like that would have had a fairly large map.
“It looks like the grassland tribes got a map.”
As I muttered, Goruka tilted her head.
“It’s a map… I don’t think so. No, I think so. Even if you don’t know the language of the kingdom, anyone can understand the map.”
Goruka sighed and continued.
“They’ll go faster.”
“I guess so.”
I nodded.
A heavy air settled in the room.
But it’s not all that bad that they got a map.
I pointed out the royal road with a stick.
“Even the Chowon people know that the king rules this country. They probably know that the royal capital is where the king is.”
Maps of this era are different from modern ones.
The maps used by the ducal family are drawn in as much detail as possible, and old or large roads are marked to some extent.
The map here is of the interior of the kingdom, but Eldonnier had an entire continent drawn on it, like a map of the world.
It is too expensive and precious to be brought out recklessly, and this map is also a manuscript.
The original was in the library of Eldoni Mansion.
However, the map owned by the lord of the small city is different from this.
Most of the forests were simple, such as drawing several trees and drawing the shape of a castle for cities.
A duke or marquess would have to have such a detailed map.
And on the map that the steppe tribes obtained, the royal capital was probably drawn very large.
Anyone can see that it is an important place.
The moment you look at the map, even the grassland tribes will be able to recognize that the king who rules this country lives in the royal capital.
“How is it, Goruka?”
When I asked, Goruka nodded.
“Certainly… if it were me, I would have aimed at the capital first. The biggest city has the most food. Even to satisfy other tribes, it is necessary to plunder a big city. Besides, this time the meaning of retaliation is strong, so especially the captain. I’m going to try to hit it quickly.”
Goruka continued with a bitter expression.
“Chowon tribes don’t have the habit of looking at maps. Usually, they listen and memorize words. Because they pass on such knowledge to their children from generation to generation, interaction with other tribes is important.”
But this is not a meadow.
It is a strange kingdom land.
Since they don’t have any knowledge, the steppes will rely on maps.
Knowing that the first map they got in their hands is somewhat accurate and convenient, they will not deviate from the road of the map all the more.
You can predict what path they will take in the future, even a little bit of the path of the steppe tribes.
I turned my head to the aide waiting in the back.
“Tell the investigators to focus on checking the route to the capital. If you look at the map and point out the expected route, you’ll be able to figure out the direction of the steppe people a little easier.”
“All right.”
“Tell the marquis family and other families about this. And…”
I ordered a few more things, but the military officer came inside.
“What’s going on?”
“The shotgun arrows have arrived.”
“okay.”
Without realizing it, I was out of breath.
Scatters are slightly more difficult to make than regular magic bombs.
It wasn’t difficult, but production was extremely low because it was slower to make than magic bombs.
In order to get used to the shot arrow, you have to touch and shoot it several times, but there is not enough material to practice.
Because of that, all the magic stone artisans are hanging there.
“Did you send it to another family?”
“Yes. The quantity is not very large, but Mr. Sven has improved the way of making it. He said that the production speed will be a little faster in the future.”
The military officer grinned.
“The person in charge of bringing the arrows says that Sven is enthusiastic about improving things like never before. He said he is very worried about the Duke.”
Sven isn’t really interested in improving things.
It’s not that I don’t do it at all, but I liked developing something new, something more raucous.
It seems like I’m really worried that Sven is focusing all his attention on improving.
lived anyway
“I should send you a thank-you note.”
As I muttered, the aide behind me tilted his head.
“The Duke’s letter might be a little dangerous. When I received the Duke’s letter last time, everyone said it was difficult because Mr. Sven urged to come here.”
“Did something like that happen?”
“Yes. Sensei Sven’s thoughts are somehow difficult to understand. He seems to have been very excited after receiving the letter last time. I don’t know what it is, but he has been talking about how to use magic for a while.”
“ah….”
Maybe it’s about Robert.
I heard that Robert’s appearance was similar to Igor’s, so I asked him in a letter, wondering if it was because of his magical powers.
Igor doesn’t know it for one person, but if it’s said that the two of them became like that, there must be something in common.
Robert originally didn’t have magical powers, but now he probably looks similar to or close to me, so I thought maybe that’s why his appearance changed.
I thought it was because Mr. Sven also replied that he was not sure, but I guess he was bumping into other people until he wrote that letter.
‘Come to think of it, for a letter from Mr. Sven, it’s quite short and the content is neat.’
Perhaps it was a letter that Benno supervised.
Whenever I wrote useless information, I suddenly remembered the images of Sven and Benno who were rejected, and I smiled lightly.
It’s a very small thing, but I have a clue to chase the whereabouts of the steppe people.
Mass production of shot arrows was also made possible.
My shoulders are still stiff with a lot of strength, but my heart feels a little lighter.
It’s okay, you can catch them.
Only now did I feel that way.