Chapter 329
My Villains Episode 329
57. Preface(10)
The marching ranks quickly became busy. This is because the order to prepare camp was given just as dusk was approaching..
The soldiers found a flat surface near the road, shoveled snow, unloaded tents from carts, and climbed the hill in search of firewood..
“This way.”
As I followed the messenger through the chaotic crowd of soldiers, I suddenly asked a question..
“……Hey, messenger..”
“please speak.”
“Speaking of which, why are you taking this person with you??”
Next to me, a beautiful woman, Princess Theodora, was walking with a confident stance. She too had been called to the meeting..
“Although the princess is accompanying me, she is not a party participating in this war. But does it make sense to call a military doctor??”
“I'm sorry, but I'm just a messenger, Sir. Let's go and ask the general himself..”
“……It doesn't sound like you're very sorry.?”
Theodora stopped me with a smile when I was about to tease him..
“That won't happen, sir. “How strange is it for a commander to ask his Majesty to accompany him?” “I am not the Marquis’ subordinate, so there is no need for you to respond to the call..”
“I'm really fine, so please don't mind. And what do you mean ‘a place like this’? It's an army of faithful Gwangmyeong believers..”
Theodora who spoke like that was dressed in a robe over shiny scale armor..
If it had been up to that point, it would have been the typical appearance of a Calandari paladin, but just taking off the heavy full helm and putting it on the side made the picture quite different..
This is because her light blonde hair and shining features are clearly visible. Even though everything is gloomy, you can't help but attract attention as you show off your refreshing colors..
“••••••Hiya.”
“Who is that? Are you a person??”
The soldiers who were setting up the tent were distracted by Theodora's strong and captivating figure..
Some of the dogs showed a disrespectful attitude, such as licking their lips or casting a sinister look in their eyes. However, Theodora seemed to be unconcerned and instead glanced around and made eye contact with the thronging crowd..
Eyes that seem arrogant at first glance.
At least the light green eyes with softness made it look like arrogance instead of arrogance..
“Me, princess. Princess? hey?”
“……ah. What did you say??”
“It's this way. Command post..”
“Um, I see..”
As the soldiers scattered at the command of a non-commissioned officer, Theodora swept her hair with a look of regret on her face..
“Let's go, sir..”
……This girl, are you looking at other people’s eyes?
Is this a style you enjoy?.
“Welcome, princess. And Lord Poynix.”
“General McNeil.”
McNeil was a man who appeared to be in his mid to late 40s. Except for the dirty beard, he looks very ordinary..
He was said to be a man of great standing who started his military career as a conscript and rose to the position of general, but on the outside he seemed to be just a small man..
General McNeil, who saluted Theodora and me, looked around the tent with calm eyes and urged his men..
“Hurry up. Are you all waiting?.”
Excluding the officers who laid out maps on the central table, the soldiers who brought in small stoves and firewood, and the servants who brought chairs from somewhere, there seemed to be about a dozen people who could be called 'command'..
As I was looking at that aspect, someone spoke to me..
“It's late, knight-errant..”
It was Baron Lujan, a handsome boy with red-brown eyes that seemed to contain fire..
Unlike a few days ago, he was wearing a chain vest and thick cloak over his leather clothes..
Well, he still doesn't look like a lord. A thirteen-year-old kid with a mercenary vibe.…….
I swallowed a bitter smile and sat down next to Rujan with Theodora..
“You came first..”
“of course.”
“I heard it from my subordinate. I heard you hired some mercenaries.?”
“…… however? Are you planning on reprimanding me?” “Is that possible?” When Conwyr and some of his men were gathering mercenaries in Lianwell, he ordered them to select only 20 mercenaries based on their skills..
Since the only way to test one's skills in the middle of the city was through direct competition, Conqueror called the applicants to the entrance of the square and had a sparring match with them..
And it is said that at the end of the test, Baron Lujan appeared from somewhere and recruited all those who failed the test..
“Well, the Baron didn't do anything bad. Rather, I think it was a smart move..”
“No, it was an act of trying to get praise from the Lord. And in the first place, you are not in a position to criticize or praise me..”
“That's right. Because I'm just a knight.”
“okay. You're smart..”
When I saw the boy pretending to cross his legs, I touched the corners of my mouth to hide my smile. Then he looked at the others and lowered his voice..
“It looks like all the lords are gathering too.?”
“no. “Only the seven men with the largest number of troops attended.” Lu Yan also glanced around and lowered his voice..
“For your information, I can say that I am the one with the highest rank among these..”
“You mean Baron Lujan??”
“Of the seven, two are not lords but knights representing him, and four are barons like me, but their troops are smaller than mine..”
He said, ‘Good job filling the hundred at Lianwell…’ … ' He muttered and shrugged his shoulders..
“Anyway, I'm the highest ranking.”
“……I think Baron Toseth over there is about four times older than Baron Lujan.?”
“None of that matters. Just because the day of death is near doesn't mean you become more noble..”
Did this little boy not receive home education??
…… Well, they said that their father was executed and their mother went crazy, so that could be the case. I need you to understand.
Lu Yan's wide eyebrows furrowed slightly as if he noticed my pitiful look..
Just as he was about to open his mouth to say something, he heard General Mac Neill's voice..
“It seems like everything has come together, so I'll start military service..”
I looked inside the tent again and held up both palms..
“……Everyone gathered together? Count Os isn't there.?”
“Perhaps you are a little tired, so you are taking a break, Sir Phoenix. If you would allow me, I would like to preside over the meeting on behalf of my little lord..”
General McNeil is nominally Count Orth's adjutant, but he is the actual leader of this army. Everyone here knew it.
After receiving everyone's silence and agreement, McNeil cleared his throat and began to speak..
“If we leave early tomorrow morning, we will arrive at the plateau around noon. Entering the battlefield.”
The general pointed to the border between Antrum and the Highlands on the map..
“The main battle line is centered around High Castle, a major castle on the west side of the plateau. The 3rd Prince and most of his main troops are gathered here..”
“Then you can relax until you get to the border. All we need to do is secure the supply route and move forward leisurely..”
When the elderly lord, Baron Toseth, said that, Ruyan laughed..
“It's too early to let down your guard.”
“……what does that mean?”
“A friend out west told me the news. Just as Prince Silver gained us, the enemy also gained new reinforcements..”
The eyes of lords, knights, and officers focused on the boy lord..
It might have seemed like a burden, but Lu Yan just rested her chin on the armrest and tapped her feet..
“‘The ‘Bloodmane Mercenaries’ have arrived..”
“what? Is it true??”
General McNeil, receiving the old baron's gaze, rubbed his forehead and said yes..
“This is information I also obtained while preparing for deployment. Baron Lujan personally told me about it..”
As all eyes gathered again, the boy lord waved his hand with a naturally virtuous face and said, ‘Thank you, you’re welcome.’.
“It wasn't solid intelligence, so I just reported it to the Marquis, but I just received a letter. They say a fleet came into the Bay of Blades and unleashed a bunch of damn bandits. They took advantage of the moment when the fishmen's activities became less active..”
“……Oh, Lord. When??”
“It was seven days ago. I think Avilambus or Burcard have hired them in advance..”
“Lord.”
Some people, including Baron Thoses, had pale complexions, but the rest, including me, just had blank eyes with bewildered expressions..
McNeil noticed this and added an explanation..
“‘The 'Bloodmane Mercenaries' is a large mercenary group of the Mitergeland Empire. They are the ones who made their fortune by plundering the southern colonies of the Amir Allied Powers..”
“These guys are dangerous.?”
“In many ways, yes. First of all, it is about 3,000 people in size, and all of them are cavalrymen..”
“……Three thousand cavalry corps?”
“yes. In fact, they are close to warlords..”
The knight who led the soldiers on behalf of a certain lord opened his mouth as if he could not believe it. As the atmosphere in the tent calmed down, General McNeil hurriedly added:.
“Of course, it is unlikely that all of the Blood Mane mercenaries came. These guys are really expensive..”
“well? Don't the electors of the Mitergeland Empire have a lot of money??”
The one who burst out in sarcasm like that was the boy spirit, Zhou Ruyan. When people shook their heads, McNeil retorted with an expressionless face..
“These are the guys who receive 5,000 gold coins per fight. It's not just a few pennies..”
“The combat allowance must have been made up for by something like the right to plunder. Like the general said, they are the same as thieves..”
“The plateau is the poorest land in the kingdom. You can't buy a band of bloody mane mercenaries with the right to pillage a place like that..”
Even with those decisive words, Lu Yan’s cynicism did not stop..
“Just because you have nothing doesn't mean you have nothing to lose. Women are especially like that.”
“The other person is an expert in murder, arson, and rape, and a prominent slave trader. They are real bastards who will get their employer's back if they don't suit up well. And the plateau is poor? Then we could target the rich land beyond. Our beloved hometown, Antrum..”
The atmosphere in the tent froze as the thirteen-year-old kid poured out harsh words..
……but. They are numerous, cavalrymen, and of poor quality. Definitely your worst enemy.
“The fort won't be of much use either. If I take advantage of the fact that I am a cavalryman and take a detour, even the Silver Prince will be desperate to chase after me..”
Lu Yan got up from the chair, looked around at the people, and pointed out a certain part of the map. People's eyes focused on the boy's fingers, which were long and thin but full of scars..
“It might be better to set up camp on this side of the road. To prevent cruel mercenaries from trampling on Antrum. “Instead of wiping the silver prince’s heels, I will protect my precious land, our hometown.” The lords and knights made eye contact at the powerful eloquence. Half of them looked confused, the rest seemed to agree.…….
“stop. stop speaking.”
As the atmosphere became strange, McNeil knocked on the table as if knocking. Lu Yan, who was persuading people, crumpled the statue of a warlock..
“stop?”
Red-brown eyes turned to General McNeil with a fierce look..
“Are you giving me an order now? A general, a commoner, to me, a lord.?”
“yes it is.”
“under. dare-”
The moment Lujan was about to yell, MacNeill pulled out a knife..
visor!
The lords and knights who were whispering among themselves gasped in surprise, and the boy stiffened in shock and then blushed with anger..
“……What are you doing?.”
“The Marquis appointed Count Ost as commander of this army, and the Count entrusted me with military service.” MacNeill held up a sword emitting white light..
“This sword is the proof.”
At first glance, it seemed like an unusual item, so I raised my magic power and looked at it, and it seemed to be a precious magic sword filled with about four or five spells. A lord said, ‘Hogar…’ … ' I muttered. That seems to be the name of that treasured sword..
“In short, I am now representing the Marquis of Eavon..”
General MacNeill clucked at Hogar, a treasured sword that emits light, as if he was somehow annoyed..
“Let me speak in his name. shut up and sit down.”
“……This is cheeky-”
The boy lord gritted his teeth and tried to lash out, but I quickly stretched out my hand and pressed his shoulder..
“Baron.”
Lu Yan slumped down in her seat and glared at me, and I glared at her. Soon the boy lord kept his mouth shut and lost his anger..
General McNeil retrieved Hogar and gave me a grateful glance. Then he looked around the audience and opened his mouth..
“I'm telling you that some people seem to have forgotten for a moment, but the army here is less than 30% of Antrum's strength..”
The nobles shut up and listened to the words of the commoner representing the great lord..
“Your fiefs and manors are under the guardianship of the Marquis. So please focus on the assigned mission. Supporting the 3rd Prince.”
The lords and knights remained silent, and General McNeil continued the meeting with a calm expression..
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