"There is no chance if not now. We have to win the ga before this guy's head grows bigger."
Catherine hesitated, unable to easily respond to Carl's words. What Carl said was 100% right.
The gnolls do not have to fight the Ax Sound Village and the punitive force but can just circle around, leave the forest, and attack the defenseless Hilfin territory.
Before the gnoll commander thinks too far, before he grows any further, Carl must decide the outco in a short decisive battle.
However, Catherine was feeling great resistance to having to go into the forest where Carl was thinking. There were too many variables in a forest. It was the enemy's ho ground, and the terrain was also unfavorable to humans.
Knowing Catherine's concerns, Carl smiled softly and spoke. "Lady Catherine, what have I to fear when I have you?"
"... … ."
Catherine gasped in embarrassnt at what Carl said with a smile. Carl knew that Catherine did not fully trust and follow him and that she regarded him as a weak child.
Nevertheless, he smiled casually and showed unwavering trust in Catherine and Bilford.
Before the knight, she felt ashad as a person. As if truly possessed by God, Carl had achieved incredible, unbelievable things. Nevertheless, Catherine was suspicious and distrustful simply because Carl was sick.
"If you disperse your troops to protect , your chances of victory will only decrease, so it would be right for to join the punitive force and gather our strength as one."
Carl once again clearly pointed out that the decision was made based on tactical judgnt rather than personal reasons. Catherine slowly lowered her head and spoke in a heavy voice.
"Yes. I will protect Carl and subdue the gnolls. ... … certainly."
"Haha, I'll leave it to Bilford to protect . It would be a loss if you were tied to ."
"... … ."
Catherine pursed her lips in embarrassnt. That's true, but...that…That's not what she ant...
Carl looked up at Catherine with a relaxed smile even though his heart was burning with tension and anxiety.
"Still, it may be dangerous, so please teach so sword skills before going out."
"… Yes, Lord Carl."
Carl gritted his teeth secretly as he went outside with Catherine.
Sohow, even if there is no specific reason, He can sohow figure it out. Carl will not be able to secure victory and safely retreat. Like an animal that slls blood, he can instinctively know it.
If he make a mistake, he will die here. So, Carl need to stay alert and do everything he can.
***
The punitive force had completed all preparations. It was only noon now, so there was plenty of ti. The soldiers were gathered in a small square in the center of Ax Sound Village.
Even including the reinforcents that arrived today, there were less than 150 people. Still, Bordeaux was quite strong thanks to the fact that they brought in two noble knights.
Carl was supposed to give a speech before heading out, but because he was so short, he had to bring a table and climb on top of it.
'It looks funny.'
Carl scolded himself and lightly climbed onto the table. Carl looked down at the soldiers with his helt on his side, as if he were buried in his cloak.
Carl looked down at the soldiers with his helt on his side, as if he were buried in his cloak. There were so many people who would go into that dark forest without knowing what was lurking in every word he said.
Feeling frustrated that his clothes had beco smaller in just a few days, Carl pulled the collar that ca up over his breastplate.
Now that he saw it, the sleeves were short, so his wrists were exposed. Isn't this a really ridiculous look? It looks like a clown.
"Ha ha ha."
Carl tilted his head and let out a low laugh. However, Carl's impression was very different from before.
The fact that his face, which used to look soft, looked a little sharper and stockier wasn't just because Carl's body had grown.
The mont a young animal bites its enemy with its claws and teeth and tastes its blood, it finally becos a beast.
Carl's leisurely smiling face suddenly stiffened, and his helt covered his face, which was still young but full of dignity. Under the noon sun, Carl stood tall, waving his red tassels, as if receiving the sun's protection.
The red cloak swaying in the cool autumn wind was like the wings of an eagle on the scales of the empire. Or, it may have been the red tail of the cot that raced furiously in front of everyone on the day of the first battle.
Carl's mouth, which was hard to see because of the shadow of his helt, moved. "Never trust anyone else to carry your burden."
The breath that filled his chest flowed out with a sound so loud that they couldn't believe it ca from a small body.
"Do not trust that soone else will save you."
It may have been inappropriate for the commander of a punitive force about to go on a campaign to say such things. And he may have been speaking too quietly and softly.
However, even with the red tassels on his helt and red cloak still fluttering, Carl looked down at everyone without wavering and spoke calmly.
The shadowed face was not visible, so it seed as if sothing non-human was speaking.
"I am just one person fighting to survive, just like you all."
These were not words that should co out of the mouth of the most dignified royal family in the empire, even a prince.
"I fight for myself. Don't trust to solve anything."
A small murmur spread around Carl's words. However, everyone had no choice but to keep their mouths shut at the words that followed.
"It is you, not , who have protected this small village from countless gnolls until now. This is your fight for your life, your family, and your neighbors. So win your victory, not mine. It's all yours."
The credit for victory belongs to the commander. Of course, no matter how hard commoner soldiers, especially conscripts, fight or die, no one cares.
But now 4th Prince Carl was saying that victory was not his. He said that the lowly commoner conscripts were the main players in the victory and that they achieved it.
Carl did not say any more unnecessary words. He just jumped down from the table and said a few words.
"I'm heading out."
Carl began to walk silently at the front, leading Catherine and Bilford.
The sight of that small body walking proudly, with the red tassels on its helt and red cape fluttering, sohow made everyone feel out of breath.
As the commander of the royal family, he acted in front of everyone else and gave credit for the victory to his soldiers.
Everyone saw Carl fighting without hesitation. They saw him moving around non-stop, encouraging and praising his soldiers, checking on even the smallest details, and even learning martial arts in his spare ti.
They were confident that if they followed the tail of that red cot, they would definitely win.
How could they doubt it?
As they entered the forest, where countless gnolls lurked, all the soldiers of the punitive force walked in silence, with their chests proudly stretched out. They would rember this until they died and tell it to their children and grandchildren.
They would never forget the mont they ran along the cot racing in front of them at the highest point.
There was no fear.
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