Chapter 85. Consecrator of the Beast Hide (1)
It's the rainy season.
The rain is drizzling down.
The streets of Wolfskrig have turned to mud.
Since the sewage system is under maintenance, parts of the city are subrged in ankle-deep water.
Gush gush gush-
“……”
A part of the old rcenary band headquarters, the new barracks building, also suffered flood damage.
Water had filled the first floor to a splashing level.
Fortunately, in this world, there is the mystery of magic.
[[Warrior’s Insight] is deployed.]
[Skills have been acquired.]
[Stream Formation (Level 1)]
[Water Droplet Throw (Level 1)]
[Freeze (Level 2)]
Mages from the Blue Magic Tower manipulated the water currents with truly magical spells or froze the water to shovel it out.
anwhile, the artisans sent by Count Maenenwood temporarily dug ditches around the barracks building to drain the water.
Swoooosh….
It was resolved quickly.
That's a relief.
I thought we would be held back by sothing like this on the day the punitive force was leaving.
“The rainfall isn't that heavy. We'll just take temporary asures in the severe areas, and once the sewage system maintenance is finished, it will drain well. We'll finish it by the ti you return from the punitive expedition.”
“I’ll be counting on you.”
The artisan bowed his head.
The personnel sent by Count Maenenwood were all competent.
Their contract period was one year, and after this period, they would decide whether to return after receiving the remaining paynt from the count or to stay.
It would be best to keep them if possible.
To do that, I must develop the city.
The larger the city, the more work there is for artisans.
Therefore, skilled artisans who want to receive high wages tend to prefer large cities or rapidly growing cities.
For this, we must resolve the threat of the beastn that has co to our doorstep.
Puuuooo-
The punitive force departed with the sound of a trumpet echoing through the rain.
The total number of the punitive force was two thousand.
1,500 of the 2,500 private soldiers were selected.
So were also drafted from the Imperial army stationed in Wolfskrig.
The military system of the Empire is a semi-centralized feudal system.
While the lords' private soldiers exist, a centralized army is scattered throughout the regions, protecting the Empire and maintaining security according to the Emperor's command.
They do not participate in the private affairs of the lords, such as fief wars.
However, they can be mobilized for any task that protects the citizens of the Empire, such as the beastn subjugation.
About one thousand five hundred Imperial soldiers are stationed in Wolfskrig.
Five hundred of them were mobilized.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The march was sowhat slow.
This was because all the roads except for the main roads had turned to mud.
It was also due to the slow-moving artillery corps accompanying us.
Waterproof tarps were carefully draped over the total of thirty-six mortars.
Gunpowder was a problem, but William solved it.
“It will be fine as long as it's not completely subrged in water.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, well. This much is bearable. The new shells should be fine too.”
I don’t know if Luark also watches over necromancers who are skilled at acting like paladins, but at least I can't deny that William was a piece of good fortune that ca at the perfect ti.
He is a priest, but he is a versatile talent who can professionally handle various work tools and even gunpowder.
I heard he ca after taking a leave of absence from the church.
“Should I say I beca disillusioned? The count passed away, and the factions split and fought, so our bishop passed away too.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it. May Luark watch over the bishop’s soul.”
“May Luark watch over him. Anyway, with the bishop who believed in gone, I grew tired of church life. It may be presumptuous of to say, but my faith had also faded sowhat.”
William stared blankly at the rain for a mont.
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Maybe I should have left sooner. I feel relieved now.”
“You do?”
“Yes, rather, after leaving the priesthood, I feel my faith has recovered to so extent.”
His expression certainly does look relieved.
His way of speaking is not as stiff as before either.
However, one flaw has erged.
This friend has also beco talkative.
“Co to think of it, it's strange. You and I have both t when beastn were causing trouble.”
“Removing all the double crosses in the city was truly an unforgettable mory. To be honest, I was on pins and needles for about a week, wondering if divine punishnt would fall.”
“If it had rained then like it is now, would there have been fewer casualties in the city? Since we could have electrocuted more beastn at once….”
“No, we both would have been roasted along with the beastn gathered in the square.”
“Ahaha, I suppose so.”
Still, perhaps because of the rain.
The chatter, half-buried in the sound of the rain, was moderately bearable.
Or maybe I’ve developed so tolerance for talkativeness thanks to the crazy mage I t in the underground ruins of Berenburg.
At least William doesn’t whip his head around when he talks.
“Rest!”
“Set up temporary tents, clean yourselves, and rest!”
“Mages, please light a fire so we can dry ourselves.”
As the weather and road conditions were not good, we marched while taking frequent breaks.
For bad weather, morale is not bad.
In fact, it's close to its peak.
Half of it is the result of my fa stat.
I’m not boasting, but my standing in Wolfskrig is quite high.
The mont I pierced Count Calvenia’s chest with a sword imbued with a holy aura during the vampire subjugation war is a scene that is still often talked about.
An artist even painted that scene and presented it to , and it is hung at the entrance of the lord’s castle.
It was burdenso, and I wanted to just throw it in the warehouse, but I had to hang it up due to the requests of those around .
‘Don't deceive yourself, master. Didn't you look at the painting every night and smile with satisfaction?’
“……”
The reason for the other half would be Wolfskrig itself.
A fight to protect one’s ho is a great motivation for soldiers.
The reason a fief is the army’s backbone is not just because of supplies.
The fact that there is a ho to return to.
The responsibility to protect that ho.
This alone is enough to boost the soldiers' morale.
As Viscount Pewin said, a person with sothing to protect becos stronger.
How much further did we walk like that?
“It’s the forest.”
We arrived at the entrance of the forest.
The forest where the search party had fought.
“Prepare for battle. Do not let your guard down.”
I lightly alerted the soldiers.
According to the search party’s battle report, there should be a beastn fortress deep inside the forest.
Although it’s just a half-finished one that hasn’t been fully built yet….
A fortress that moves and lives on its own.
***
“I will be waiting at the designated location.”
I parted ways with William.
It’s true on flat ground, but if we match the speed of the artillery in the forest, the advance becos too slow.
Besides, in the plan I made, the place for the artillery was not the battlefield where the fight would take place.
“Reconnaissance company. Secure the path.”
“Yes, Your Lordship.”
The vanguard is the reconnaissance company led by Karen.
All mbers of the company are rangers.
Although we suffered so losses from the beastn’s attack before, a large number still remained.
[The reconnaissance company deploys [Ranger’s Step].]
[The reconnaissance company deploys [Forest Vision].]
This was because a large number of forr ranger rcenaries had also joined after the civil war.
The catalyst was when the exploits of the rangers in the Battle of Elcanto Forest and the Berenburg infiltration operation beca known.
How should I put it?
Should I say that people attracted people?
It was a feeling like, ‘There must be a reason why there are so many rangers in that rcenary band,’ or ‘He must be a commander who creates conditions for rangers to be active.’
‘Co to think of it, the reason the rangers joined when I first created the rcenary band in Wolfskrig was because of Karen.’
It could be said that the snowball that started with recruiting Karen had rolled this far.
Hmm.
Then in the end, is it thanks to old man Brol?
[[Battlefield-Overlooking Gaze] is deployed.]
I shook off the idle thoughts.
It was ti to concentrate.
I used the new trait I had acquired.
It was the reward for clearing the civil war scenario, which I got after defeating the marquis.
[Battlefield-Overlooking Gaze]
[You see in 3D. You can look down on the battlefield in a top-view format. However, you can only see where the vision of your troops reaches.]
In the ga, it was not a great trait.
This was because the command screen itself was a top-down view of the battlefield.
There was no need to use it unless it was a special spell that obstructed the command view, but most of those spells blocked vision, so it was ambiguous to use.
However, now that it has beco reality, it is worthy of being ranked among the overpowered traits.
‘The west is clear. There’s a trace to the southeast. Excrent. They’re not far.’
I can see everything.
The entire field of vision of over two thousand troops.
It feels like I have a minimap in my head, created by combining the visual information of all the troops.
Moreover, I can look at it with a wide view and then zoom in at any ti to see it in more detail.
The most important thing would be that I can grasp the situation even before receiving a reconnaissance report.
That ans I can make faster and more accurate judgnts and orders.
“Brol, spearn to the anti-beast formation. Randal, send the halberdiers to the right of the formation. Olif, lead the knights to the left rear. Riflen, crossbown, load.”
Thanks to reconnaissance and the trait, we cautiously advanced through the forest.
Before long, enemies appeared on the minimap in my head.
Beastn.
Their number was about two thousand.
They were gathered in a wide clearing in the middle of the forest.
On the other side of the clearing, it was hard to see clearly, but a part of a structure that looked like it was woven from trees and vines was wriggling.
Then, one of them walked forward from the group.
A Minotaur holding a staff and an axe.
Their ruler.
The Consecrator of the Beast Hide, Grok-Tau.
He was waving a crude flag made of cloth tied to the end of his staff.
A white flag.
“Human Warchief!!”
Outside my line of sight.
A voice that resounded through the forest even from hundreds of ters away.
I can feel the bodies of the tense soldiers flinch.
I drew my sword.
“Do not be swayed! Prepare for battle!”
[[Lord’s Unyielding Mind] is deployed.]
[[Commander’s Roar] is deployed.]
I cald the soldiers who were startled by the sudden shout.
As planned, I sent a few rangers with a ssage.
In the anti, the soldiers quickly ford a battle formation and finished preparing to strike the enemy.
[The halberdiers deploy [Spear Wall].]
[The swordsn deploy [Shield Wall].]
[The greatswordsn deploy [Breach Formation]….]
[The Imperial spearn….]
The training paid off.
The formation was deployed in an instant.
Spears and halberds created a sharp breakwater, and the knights and greatswordsn prepared for a flanking attack.
Crossbows, bows, and rifles were aid in the direction the voice ca from, ready to pour out rciless firepower as soon as the enemy showed themselves.
The air grows cold.
Rough breaths escape between the raindrops that fall thickly, filtered once by the forest canopy.
The silence itself carries a killing intent.
Regardless, the beastn hero continued to speak his mind in a loud voice.
“You have trespassed on the territory of the White Palm tribe! But I understand! To you, we are the invaders!”
Beastn who speak human language are rare but exist.
Especially among legendary heroes, it’s no exaggeration to say that almost all of them do.
The Beastpriest of the Full Moon also spoke human language.
I have already instructed the soldiers.
Not to be srized by the beast’s voice.
There is only one thing for us to do here.
To hold out against the enemies for enough ti.
“You and I are both Warchiefs! Let’s spare the lives of our warriors!”
Through the vision secured by the rangers hidden in the trees, I could see him spreading his fingers.
“Send three warriors! We will also send three!”
The number of fingers he spread was three.
“One on one! Let’s fight three tis to decide the victor!”
I feel this every ti, but you can’t predict everything in the world.
A sudden request for a duel.
This isn’t the Three Kingdoms.
Normally, I wouldn’t have accepted a beastman’s request for a duel.
However….
“Viscount, is it a fight?”
…It just so happens that we have a barbarian warrior on our side who could rival Lu Bu.
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