Chapter 176: I get the feeling it’s something really crazy again…
“I’ve just talked with my father. Don’t worry though, unlike with Raul, I used a body double this time.”
“…there’s nothing you can’t do anymore, is there?”
“You’re amazing as always, Luke-sama.”
After my consciousness returned to my real body, I told Selen and Millia about my meeting with father.
“So, there’s no doubt about it now: an attack’s coming. This is just an estimate, but I’d say it’s more than likely that they’ll have a force of over 20,000 troops.”
“Wasn’t Raul’s force composed of 5,000?”
Moreover, not only were there more veteran soldiers this time, this army would be led by none other than father.
Meanwhile, we only had a force of about 10,000. And most of them were civilians.
The village might technically have a count of over a hundred thousand, but that number included the population of the North, the Frenco territory, and the Dolz territory.
But then again, a lot of villagers have been training themselves lately, so they might be comparable to regular soldiers now.
“Will Viscount Dolz and Viscount Frenco be lending us aid?”
“I guess I can also threat––err, request help from my father.”
Was Selen going to say threaten just now?
“Well, if possible, I’d like the village to handle it ourselves.”
“Then how about making another labyrinth of walls? We’d be able to shave off a lot of their forces if we do that.”
“Actually, I think I have a better idea this time. From the attacker’s point of view, it might seem downright unfair, fufufu…”
“I don’t know what it is, but I get the feeling it’s something really crazy again…”
◇ ◇ ◇
A week after Luke’s body double has met with Marquis Albert, the Albert forces led by the marquis himself has departed from the territory’s capital.
“Hohoho, 20,000 troops for a single city? Plus bringing 3 of the 4 generals along? Edel-sama is being really cautious this time, isn’t he?”
“Goes to show how much of a threat he thinks the enemy is.”
“…rumor has it…that Raul-sama…led 5,000 soldiers….and lost….”
“Hohoho, is that why he didn’t report anything about the city?”
“Hmm, Raul-sama is still but a child. They might share the same Gift, but as to be expected, he’s not on the same level as Edel-sama. Not yet, at least.”
“…later on…depending on his growth…”
That exchange was by the marquis’s closest aides, the so-called four generals.
They—who have sworn loyalty to the marquis—were deeply trusted and were even authorized to move armies based on their discretion.
Moreover, each one was a mighty fighter.
Each time they descend upon the battlefield, the enemy forces just get trampled.
They were a significant factor in why the Albert territory has expanded so much so quickly.
“……”
Among the 20,000 troops was Raul.
However, the unit he was leading was much smaller than the one he led in his first campaign. Moreover, he was placed in the rear end of the whole army.
This was because he had told the marquis everything when the latter interrogated him.
What angered the marquis was not the fact that Raul didn’t report anything or leading an army without permission. No, what angered the marquis was the fact that Raul lost.
For the marquis who had won each of his battles, losing was the most unforgivable thing.
The marquis would cast aside anyone weak.
Even his own son.
Even a son that had the [Sword Master Techniques] Gift.
“But the fact is that father increased the number of soldiers to 20,000 after hearing my story. Even he is on guard. But then again, my story is full of ridiculous things, like a labyrinth of moving walls and a gigantic Tree Dragon. Who knows how much of that he believes.”
At that moment, the ones in the vanguard began making a commotion.
“Yeah, as expected.”
Raul expected such a commotion would arise ones the soldiers see the labyrinth of walls.
He couldn’t deny that he was looking forward a little bit to how the marquis would overcome such a challenge.
Because of his placement in the army though, Raul arrived in the wasteland later than most soldiers.