Chapter 368
My Villains Episode 368
61. art of war(10)
The place where I work as the central defense commander is the castle tower of High Castle, the inner city..
High- rise buildings are rare in this world, so this spire, which is over 10 meters tall, is a very strange structure. Not only is it tall, but it is also built quite thickly for protection.
The magnificence was so great.
This castle tower, which is the starting point of the city of High Castle, is located on a particularly high point among the nearby terrain where the land is highly elevated. Thanks to this, when I stood on the top floor of this castle tower, it felt like I was looking down in all directions from above the clouds..
Of course the reason I'm here is because of those damn wyverns. This is the best place to fire a javelin and counterattack when the young dragon knights get upset..
“Ah, it's cold..”
The cold wind of late winter or early spring causes large foresight (節眼; Every time I wash my face, the chill seeps into my bones as it comes through the arrow hole..
I blew my nose in the icy groundwater in a large basin..
“Ha, the water is full and my head is pounding. Why don’t you warm it up a bit?.”
“……You're kidding me, Nari.?”
When Chojang and Golman looked fed up, I shrugged my shoulders and asked back..
“It's like a joke?”
“no. It seems like you're sincere, so it's a bit weird.
I'm sorry.”
“If you understand, float in warm water from now on..”
Goleman, who was sweating profusely despite the cold weather, pursed his lips as if he were dumbfounded. Then he started to express his resentment..
“No, Nari. Why do you always say that you will wash in this castle tower, especially at the top? You can just wash up at your accommodation and come back..”
“Because I don't have time to wash..”
“That's why I'm asking you to cough a little earlier... … . Moreover, you are not asked to fetch water just once, but rather you are told to fetch water separately, starting with water for washing your hair, water for rinsing your hair, water for wiping your feet, water for brushing your teeth, and water for washing your face.,”
“Oh, stop. Thank goodness I'm not telling you to scoop up the bath water..”
“Also, you work for your boss and even train yourself, so why are you so dissatisfied??”
“It's training?”
“uh. Climbing up and down while washing your face is quite a bit of exercise. I gain strength every day
Doesn't it seem like?”
When Gollman closed his mouth with a sullen expression on his face, I wiped away the moisture with a towel and flopped down on the command chair..
“I don't show my expression?”
“Yes, yep.”
“When they ask me if I’m coming, it’s just… … . Why are there so many complaints? You messed up, I'll tell Fritz when he comes.?”
As soon as Fritz's name was mentioned, Golemann's face turned pale as if it were a conditioned reflex..
“Yeah? no… … When will I
Did you break it to Lee??”
“Isn’t what I’ve done so far a mess??”
“Absolutely not. I'm just curious about Nari's meaning.……
“I'm curious... … . Get rid of this quickly.”
As I tapped the basin with flowing water with my toe, Goleman's shoulders slumped..
Contrary to his downcast attitude, he lifted the large basin very easily. The wooden basin full of water weighed over 50 kilograms and its center of gravity was unstable, but I didn't feel any of that burden..
“……Couldn't you just throw it out of the tower??”
“Are you going to pour it out here? If someone gets hit?”
“When no one is watching and passing by,”
“Well, that's right. And if the prince gets hit, it won't end with you dying..”
“……I'll be back.”
As Gollman, carrying the basin on his shoulder, disappeared down the stairs, the man who was quietly sitting at a table with the old man stuck out his tongue..
“Even though he acts harshly, his steps are light. I say this every time, this boy has incredible strength..”
The man's name is Bran..
He was a small nobleman who owned a small river somewhere in Antrum, along its banks, and a castle nearby. He was a young man in his mid to late 20s with a pleasant disposition and a good personality..
Although his dancing skills are not that great, he is good at using a longbow and has a capable wizard under his command. Thanks to that, he is assisting me in the role of my adjutant, or to be more precise, as the head of the central defense..
“Even on the first day, I felt sorry for myself just by looking at him whining because he had to carry a basin up the stairs... … . It looks like you've gotten used to it now. Or maybe the first time I just acted harshly.?”
“He's not a guy who knows how to use harsh words. I just got stronger.”
“In just one week??”
“In the first place, grasshoppers have that much potential..”
“……“You’re saying something I don’t know.” Lord Bran tilted his head and asked a question..
“Come to think of it, I heard that the Lord has not brought in any seeds yet. If you have that much muscle, it would be okay to use it as a seed.?”
“Seed... … . Well, I'm not sure if that's really necessary..”
“You probably feel that way because that boy and the other subordinates are already doing the servant work.?”
“Uh, well, that might be the case. But I never asked him if he wanted to become a knight or something..”
“……It's like an article.”
Lord Bran smiled bitterly..
“Those are just enviable words for me to hear, as I was never able to get a knighthood and am only serving as a magistrate..”
“Well, I didn't mean it that way..”
“Heh, I know. I was just joking..”
“……Just kidding?”
““If not at a time like this, when would I ever joke around with a knight as famous as Sir Foy Nix?” While Bran, the mayor, was laughing like an idiot after telling a joke that didn't even seem like a joke, the old man sitting across from him opened his mouth..
“Are you reluctant because you don't know the identity??”
“yes‘?”
“That boy.”
The name of the old man with a white beard that extends to the solar plexus is Ogshlizo. He was said to be the most powerful wizard in Antrum..
He was an old man who could use his breath to perform strange spells, and he was a magician whom great nobles, including the Marquis Eavon, wanted to hire even at a cost of thousands of dollars..
He is currently entrusted to Lord Bran, and I heard that he is helping this young nobleman because he has some kind of connection with his uncle..
“identity… … If you say?”
“I'm talking about bloodline. He seemed to know something.”
“……It seems the mage has noticed something..”
Ogshlizo stroked his beard thoughtfully and opened his mouth..
“Nothing special. I just assumed that the eyes and temperament were different and that the blood of a different race would flow..”
I said it wasn't a big deal, but in fact, what I knew didn't go far from what Ogshlizo said..
When I talked to the priests in Lianwell, I only guessed that Gollman's ancestors were of a different race..
“I heard you're Antrum's greatest wizard, and you have a really sharp eye..”
I asked the two of them with a bitter smile..
“Please keep this a secret. Humans born with the blood of a different race... … I heard that it attracts unnecessary attention from the public..”
“That's correct. Because people with a perverse sense of inquiry are very common in this land. I won't tell you anything about the boy..”
“Uh, I don't know what it is, but we'll keep it a secret..”
“Still, I can't hide my curiosity. What kind of lineage does that boy named Golman come from??”
In response to the old mage's question, I showed both palms..
“I don't know exactly either. However, I am testing various things because I heard that new characteristics will be revealed in the near future..”
“It's a new trait. If you look closely, it looks like that's strength.?”
“ Maybe.”
I don't know if the timing was just right, or if he continued to exert force and was stimulated to develop a new trait, but Goleman's strength had been rapidly growing stronger for the past few days..
Previously, he was strong for his age, but now he is at a level where he walks the line between a normal person and a superhuman. In terms of ability score, it would be around 18 or 19 points. It was roughly similar to the strength I had right after falling into this world. In short, I am as strong as any knight..
“According to the priest I have with me, there is a high possibility that they are descendants of the beast people. Now that we have confirmed strong muscles, we can further narrow down the candidates..”
“Hmm, well.”
Ogshlizo thought for a moment and shook his head..
“My thoughts are a little different..”
“yes? Those words are,”
“That boy must be the descendant of a giant.
Not the beast people.”
“……A giant? Well, of course giants are famous for their strength, but there are many species of beastmen who are also strong..”
“Like werewolves, Anupad, and the Minotaur Ros??”
“For example.”
“But that boy didn't go crazy looking at the moon, he wasn't furry, and he didn't grow horns..”
“It's not as big as a giant..”
“Except for that, everything is similar..”
“……hmm. Giants don't necessarily look like humans..”
The old mage continued speaking with a cautious expression..
“Low- ranking and ferocious creatures like hill giants and sea giants look quite different from humans. However, higher beings such as sun giants, shadow giants, and cloud giants are not like that. Because it looks exactly like a human.”
“……Is that so??”
“That's right. Well, it's just a story told in mythology..”
Around that time, Gollman, the main character of the story, returned. It seems that it only took a few minutes at most to dump the water into the moat outside the inner castle..
“••••••Hmm.”
I glanced at the goal again..
On the outside, he looks just like an ordinary, big kid. If we continue to grow at this rate, will we one day evolve into a giant??
Sounds fun.
Goleman must have suddenly felt a chill from my gaze, and the corners of his eyes trembled..
“Why, why are you doing this, Nari? I threw away the water well..”
“……no, nothing.”
I stood up and spoke to Lord Bran and the wizard Ogshlizo..
“Please hold my seat for a moment. I'll take a look around the lower and inner walls..”
“As you wish, Lord Phoenix..”
“That's right.”
As I walked down the stairs, Gollman, who was wiping the sweat from his steaming face, quickly followed me and asked with a rotten look on his face..
“……You're coming down, sir.?”
“uh. I should take a quick look around.”
“Well, it would have been okay if you washed up on the way down..”
“Then you can't discipline yourself..”
“expression.”
“I solved it, I solved it.”
I smiled and ruffled the hair of the future sun giant - well, it might be a monster like a shadow giant or a labyrinth giant..
“Come on, let's go.”
‘I can't help but smile when I think of the majestic, high-class giants I occasionally encountered in 'Expedition'..
……As expected, my insight is accurate. I knew it would turn out like this from the moment it was called Chojang.!
My main purpose for being in this castle tower is to form an anti-aircraft fire network in preparation for the assault of the Dragoons. However, his nominal job is to be the head of the central defense anyway..
Thanks to this, a total of a little less than 200 troops, including the soldiers guarding High Castle and the units operating the old artillery installed at each element, are under my ‘official’ command..
Of course, I don't manage all of those soldiers. After all, there is no way I could command more than 200 troops since I never even wore epaulettes during my time in the military. Even under my command, I'm actually leaving it to veterans like Conguire and heavy soldiers dervishes..
The 30 soldiers guarding Prince Ulkar are under the command of Lord Gisella, and the 120 old artillery units stationed in places other than High Castle, the inner city, are effectively commanded by Sir Lyam, the general manager of the border. All I have to worry about is fifty people..
Fifty is not a small number, but with the help of Lord Sabran and Ulcar's capable sergeants, there was no great difficulty..
So what I mainly do while patrolling the castle tower and inner castle is…….
“Ah, boss..”
“……The captain still sounds like a cow
It stands out. Is everything okay??”
“Yep, no problem.”
“okay. I want to try this?”
“Uh, what is it??”
“It's made with oat flour and fried with honey. It's so delicious..”
Yes, I go around packing snacks and handing them out to the soldiers..
It's not something I do with any particular intention, I'm just imitating what the Chambing Inspector used to do. I started without thinking much, but the soldiers' reaction wasn't bad, so I'm continuing this..
““It’s cooled down a bit, right?” “Still, it’s quite amazing, sir..”
“Was this also made by a girl named Rowen??”
“Because she's not a lady, she's a married woman.”
“Hey, I saw her before and she seemed like a perfect girl..”
“you're right. I heard you don't have any kids yet, so you're a girl..”
“These crazy bastards.”
Of course, flirting with archers who are on guard while eating snacks is not a particularly desirable behavior... … . Well, I'm the boss so who can say anything?.
There is no need to worry about military discipline being disturbed. Because the sergeant that the prince assigned him was a very tough man. He often beats up his subordinates to enforce discipline, so much so that the soldiers can't even make eye contact with him..
In such a situation, I felt like I had to make myself at least comfortable so that the soldiers could breathe easier. Well, for me, it's difficult to be a villain, but it's easy to pretend to be good..
After looking around the castle tower and its surroundings, I climbed the inner wall. There were three or four long-established stores scattered about with their ends pointed toward the sky..
“lily!”
As soon as they saw me, the ones who came running in a huff were Burnt Donell and Yukson Mittelman..
Donell and Mittelman were the duo that followed me from Modos. Donnell, who had hideous burn marks on his left cheek and chin, was a large and foul-tempered man, but surprisingly meticulous, and Mittelman, who had an extra thumb on his left hand, was a man of small stature but good at using a crossbow..
“I didn't see you this morning. Did you sleep here??”
“yes. Well, there's an empty room under the bastion..”
“Under the bastion? It's cold there?”
“That's right, but it's a waste of time to go back and forth to the rose field..”
“Instead of doing that, sleep at your accommodation. I sleep on the stone floor for no reason..”
Donell and Mittelman both shook their heads at my words..
“We're okay, Nari..”
“yes. You have entrusted me with the responsibility, but is it a big deal to keep your mouth shut?.”
“......flaw”
That •
I think I'm overdoing it a bit.…….
Well, if you work hard, I'll be grateful..
Donnell was entrusted with the task of operating the old artillery here..
Originally, this was a task that could have been left to Confire and Dervish, but the main soldiers were away to recruit troops or attend to other missions. Thanks to this, this role went to Donnell, who was next in ‘rank’..
Mittelman was asked to help Donnell and was entrusted with the 'Dead Man's Crossbow'..
The Dead Man's Crossbow was originally a weapon that was intended to be given to the crossbowman Gidon, but the fanatic hated it, saying it was an evil and ominous object, so it ended up rotting in a cart..
However, Mittelman, who had only one finger and could not attend church properly, seemed unconcerned by such ominous events. It is almost certain to see that as soon as he receives the crossbow, he goes to the butcher shop to get bones to use as bullets, and whenever he gets the chance, he is carving those bones into the shape of crossbow meat..
In any case, Donnell, who received a new position, and Mittelman, who received new equipment, looked visibly motivated. Whatever their intentions, it was quite rewarding for me..
I was coming down after inspecting the ballast and flirting with my two subordinates, when a group of people came walking in from the castle gate. When I saw the happy face at the forefront, I quickly raised my hand..
“majesty!”
“Ah, Lord Phoenics..”
“Did you sleep well last night??”
“It wasn't that bad... … As I approached with a smiling face, Prince Ulkar also burst into laughter..
“The light is always bright. It's hard to believe that he's one of the busiest men in the city heading into battle..”
“In the first place, unhappiness and happiness are relative, right? I have the illusion that I have just become happy because I met someone higher in rank than me..”
“Ranking??”
“uh… … . There is such a thing.”
“……As expected, I can't figure out the situation..”
Behind Ulkar, who was shaking his head with a smile, Sir Gisella, the ‘Bird Hawk Knight’, was scolding me..
“Sir Phoenix, now is the time to keep saying white things.?”
“why? What else is going on??”
“Assassins came last night. I haven't heard from you?”
“Oh, I heard that.……
The assassin had to come once or twice to be surprised or angry..
Just as Sir Gisella was about to frown, as if reading my expression, Ulkar pointed to the castle tower and invited me..
“Let’s not do this here and go in. Lord Phoenics, please follow me..”
“yes? Where are you talking about??”
“In the dungeon. They say the night guest has woken up..”
I stood blankly for a moment and then opened my eyes..
“You captured the assassins alive.?”
“There's only one, but yeah.”
“no… … . They say those guys are poisonous bastards who will bite you if you get offended..
How did you catch it??”
“I used the holy medicine I got from Lemeric. I was lucky enough to save one person..”
I narrowed my eyebrows at the nuance in the prince's words..
“Your Majesty caught it yourself.?”
“So it happened. I was lucky because I was awake at that moment..”
Only then did I realize the dark light of Lord Gisella's scythe and the reason why knights and soldiers were crowded around the prince..
“……I heard there was an assassination attempt, but I had no idea it was such a dangerous situation..”
“Because I intentionally kept it quiet.”
Ulkar covered his mouth, yawned, and then continued..
“Come on, let's go.”
Even though he was talking about almost losing his life, he only looked a little tired and was completely calm..
“It is said that Master Epoz and Madaz have put in the effort, so you will probably hear something useful..”
As the prince walked very briskly, I followed him while laughing..
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