#348
The Archduke’s eyes, looking down at Ian, trembled for a moment. It was very brief. The Archduke loosened his clenched fists and a smile appeared on his lips.
“What would be a waste for the warriors who sacrifice their lives to fight for the North? But unfortunately… .”
He wanted to say it loudly, but it seemed inevitable that his voice would become slightly hoarse.
“We don’t have enough inventory here to arm an entire army. “Do you mind though, Margrave?”
Ian nodded his head as if trying.
“Of course. There are a lot of guards here….”
He concluded his speech by looking around the room closely.
“I would like to receive their help as well. “I think it would be a lot for me to move alone.”
The helmets of the guards who received Ian’s gaze slightly moved. They must have nodded.
The Archduke, who was watching them with the determination to cooperate as much as possible, finally grabbed his feet and spoke out.
“Take the weapon, Count. But do not forget that it has made Travelga vulnerable.”
A voice that feels merciful. However, the sincerity is probably contained in the hand that grips the armrest as if it will be crushed.
“So I hope you will definitely defend Caringion. Just like Carha, without ever backing down.”
You’re saying that you won’t tolerate retreat?
Ian, without avoiding the Archduke’s sunken eyes, raised the corners of his lips and bowed his head politely.
“I will do my best.”
In any case, retreat was a non-existent option for him.
***
Ian on his red horse came out of the city gate.
It was the warhorse I had traded for the guy who had been riding here.
That wasn’t all that changed.
Clank- Clank-
Behind him were three large military wagons, each drawn by four horses.
Inside was enough weaponry to arm as many as three hundred and fifty people. They were even all made of imperial steel. All the spare parts left in the armory were swept away. Twelve horses and a sturdy carriage were bonuses. The intention was to send the soldiers driving the wagons back on foot.
But Ian’s expression as he looked back at the carriages was not entirely bright.
‘It’s not enough.’
Because it was a smaller amount than he expected. In any case, the Archduke also did not have a lot of energy.
Of course, just the amount they had brought so far was enough to arm the regular army of a decent territory.
It was also true that time was saved thanks to the strangely enthusiastic cooperation of the guards.
Their eyes looking at Ian were not just full of awe, but full of heartfelt respect.
‘… but. There are so many people who treat soldiers like the lives of flies.’
This is what is called a relative fairy.
Ian, thinking of the Archduke who seemed to hear his head rolling, let out a low snort. Thanks to this, things became easier. Because he was unintentionally caught off guard.
Now that you know the exact size of the Count’s legions, it might keep you up at night for a while.
‘Maybe they’re hoping that they’ll all die fighting.’
It wasn’t an exaggerated guess.
Even if Ian unified the snowfield, the savages would not meekly follow the Grand Duke’s orders.
They would rather scatter across the snowy fields like before, just as they abandoned the settlements they had worked so hard to build.
Of course, I had no intention of making it that way or making it happen as the Archduke wished.
‘If we add up all the things we gathered while coming here, we can roughly arm ourselves with 550 more weapons. Since half of the former mercenaries are already heavily armed, the remaining members… .’
Ian slowly organized his thoughts.
At this level, the remaining personnel would be able to be sufficiently armed upon arrival at Caringion. It was unclear how much extra equipment would be left in the fortress after that.
“Oh my goodness. It really is. The Northern Superman… .”
“Please protect the North… .”
Soft sighs followed.
Before I knew it, many residents of Trabel Street were flocking to the left and right of the street.
It seemed like the rumor that Ian was here had spread. Everyone bowed their heads towards Ian, but not a single person blocked his way.
‘I guess you could say it’s northern.’
Ian, who was thinking in his mind and looking at the procession that stretched far into the distance, suddenly stopped.
“… … ?”
Not everyone was clearing the way.
There were carriages coming out of the fork in the road ahead. As the carriages entered the main street and turned towards the west gate, familiar faces stood blocking the road as if to control them.
The corners of Ian’s mouth curled up as he looked at their faces.
“… “It definitely wasn’t there before.”
He motioned for the driver of the carriage behind him to follow along, then swung the reins. The warhorse galloped down the street lined with residents.
Dagdak- dagdak-
Familiar faces drew closer in an instant. While they each greeted each other in their own way, Ian, pulling on the reins, skillfully turned his horse’s head to the side and stopped.
“I didn’t expect you to come in person. Nice to meet you. Sobriety.”
Pael, the leader of the Hexagonal Alliance and the leader of the Ark’s upper echelon, answered with his characteristically good-natured laugh.
“I am also glad that you came running to greet me. Your Excellency the Holy One. No, should I now treat you as His Excellency the Count?”
“As convenient as possible. As expected, it looks like you are the support from my home country that I was waiting for.”
Ian, who spoke with the corners of his lips curled up, glanced at the carriages lined up in front of the west gate.
Pael nodded immediately.
“Of course. I came running after receiving a call from Her Highness the Princess. Here, with Joyce Danju from the top of the windmill.”
He spread his palm to the left.
Ian looked at those standing half a step behind Pael.
Bor, Fael’s bodyguard. And a rather nervous-looking imperial man, and his bodyguard, another northerner mercenary. It was a face everyone knew.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“It’s a long way, but thank you for coming all this way. Danju.”
“A distinguished guest of the Federation has asked for help, so I must be willing to step forward.”
Joyce knelt down again. As his guard snorted, Fael added:
“I was quite embarrassed when I received a call from Her Highness the Princess. There was an extreme lack of time and materials. She started heading uphill and stopped by the top of the windmill that was located along the road. Fortunately, I had something. “She was even willing to follow along.”
“What are you willing to do?”
Joyce’s bodyguard clicked his tongue again and muttered. Joyce glared at him, then licked her lips and added.
“… I actually hesitated. But this guy said that if I didn’t go, he would split my head open with an axe right there.”
“okay…?”
While Bor nodded as if it was obvious, Ian looked at Joyce’s bodyguard.
He was a survivor from when the Hexagonal Alliance was formed, wielding a single-edged axe and a gauntlet that glowed with lightning.
“I owe you a debt. Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name yet.”
“This is Regin. Superhuman. “You have already saved not only my life but also my hometown, so don’t think of it as a debt.”
“I feel the same way. Daejeon Temple.”
Borga added. He seemed to have fully recovered his health, and was larger than before. He was not as shabby as when we first met, but he was no different from when he was skinny.
“I was really lucky.”
Fael smiled, showing his teeth, and started talking.
“When I entered Travelga, I was worried that I would have to go all the way to the front line if I was late. But, the Holy Spirit just happened to pass by here!”
He added, clapping his hands as if he was surprised even by his own thoughts.
“So I was waiting for you to leave together.”
“Thank goodness we didn’t get in trouble.”
“yes. It must have been guided by the goddess. I was curious as to what you were talking about with His Highness the Archduke… .”
He smiled as he watched the carriage approaching behind Ian.
“The mystery has been solved. We were too late, so you were struggling alone.”
“It’s not too late. It was very timely. “Your efforts have not been meaningless.”
“Thank you.”
While Pael was answering, the guards from above approached with four horses. While the two guards and the guards saddled up, Ian also rode again.
As he followed him to the west gate, Pael asked.
“How many troops do you have under your command?”
“More than one thousand one hundred.”
“A thousand…?! N, that’s the size of a legion. Did you recruit them all from the snowy region?”
“Not all. “It is true that the wild people were united.”
“her…!”
Pael let out a gasp as Borwa Regin turned to look at Ian. He had been to the snowfields often, so he knew exactly what that meant.
Only Joyce’s expression became a little more serious.
“As expected, you are the great warrior of the North. I thought it was almost impossible. You always exceed my expectations. Anyway… .”
Pael, who checked Joyce’s expression as he spoke, moistened his lips with his tongue.
“Then the supplies we brought may not be of much help.”
“It can’t be possible.”
Ian spoke clearly and added while looking at the carriages in front of him.
“How much did you bring?”
“The items on top of the windmill are enough to arm about 100 to 30 people. Acting saint.”
Joyce was the first to answer. He continued, sweeping his curly hair back and pulling a thick hood down over his head.
“We were gathering weapons from the moment the black wall started to attack. As the imperial order was issued, most of them had to be handed over to the imperial army. “Those are the items I secretly hid back then.”
Disobeying the imperial order. You have more guts than you look. Ian muttered with a laugh.
“Then I guess I should pay the right price.”
“Ahem…!”
“greatness!”
Bor and Regin cleared their throats at the same time and glared at Joyce. Joyce’s brow eventually furrowed.
“Even if my head breaks into twelve pieces, I can’t just give it to you. In the first place, even if you’re a golden guest, I’m giving it to you at the cheapest price…! It’s not free!”
He spat out annoyed words and quickly turned to look at Regin.
“I heard that the saintly minister also gives it to you! “Aren’t you rolling your eyes?”
“… … .”
While Regin was twitching the bridge of his nose, Ian joined in in a calm voice.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay the price. Just do whatever you want. I understand how you feel.”
The two Northern guards immediately lowered their gaze. Next, Pael, who received Ian’s gaze, opened his mouth.
“At most, we can arm around fifty people. “I’m sorry I couldn’t prepare more.”
“I said it wouldn’t be like that. Plus, all the items at the top are of good quality.”
Ian answered blandly. Aren’t these people you only get to meet if you’re lucky in the game?
Besides, unless Seras herself were to take action in the palace, it was impossible to obtain the quantity he desired from the start.
“I am confident in the quality. All of the items are high-quality items made from imperial steel, and there are also some magical weapons mixed in. furthermore… .”
Pael’s voice became quiet for a moment.
“I also brought the items that Acting Seongja asked for. I’m embarrassed to say it with my own mouth, but I had a hard time getting it. “It was over budget, so I added my own money.”
“… “You really met the deadline.”
“For merchants, trust is life. Of course, sensitivity is important. “I’m really bad at that part, aren’t I?”
You’ve grown up.
While Ian was thinking about it, Pael added with a grin.
“I hope you like it.”
“Let’s go back and see about that. As you may know, there isn’t much time left. “Please push yourself a little harder.”
“For one day, everyone will have to muster up all their strength to hold on.”
“That’s great.”
Ian nodded and turned his horse to take the lead.
He knew better than anyone else that there was no better way to maintain the pace of march than by leading by example.
***
A thin layer of snow fell.
Dark clouds were rolling in like waves toward the southeast. When I looked up at the sky, it felt like I was going against the current.
A blizzard was probably raging in the snowy area by now. The snowflakes that now hit Ian’s cheeks are probably just the aftereffects.
‘I really don’t think there’s much left now.’
Ian’s eyes, which had been staring at the sky, naturally lowered.
Along the curved uphill slope, a wooden fence hidden by the trees of the forest was revealed.
Polygonal- polygonal-
I can see my destination. There was no response as expected.
This is because the two drivers immediately following Ian were dozing off while sitting in the saddle.
Unlike Joyce, who was nodding her head, Fael remained motionless, his head hanging down under his hood.
It was the aftermath of the movement that continued all night.
The reason they didn’t fall off the saddle was probably because of the gentle uphill climb.
Of course, there was no need to worry about falling off the horse. Bor and Regin on the left and right were watching their respective sobriety. Although both of them looked pitiful.
“The Great Warrior has returned!”
It was then that horns and shouts erupted like echoes.
The procession must have been discovered by the wildling warriors standing on the watchtower.
“… … !?”
The two merchant owners suddenly raised their heads. Pael, who blinked her eyes somewhat blankly, eventually wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and muttered.
“Hey, you finally arrived.”
… Neither of them opened their mouths.
Ian nodded after checking the faces of Fael and Joyce.
“As I said, I hope you will consider the things you brought from Travelga as the upper class items and distribute them well.”
“Of course. But….”
Pael, who secretly exchanged a look with Joyce, added.
“Are you sure you don’t mind leaving it to us? “Can we afford it?”
It seemed that he had no confidence in controlling hundreds of savage warriors.
Well, it might have felt like they were jumping into a school of piranhas, especially since the noise from the settlement could be heard all the way here.
“Just make sure to clearly state the precautions. They will take care of keeping order.”
Pael and Joyce nodded at Ian’s answer. Rather than believing Ian’s words, his eyes seemed to show determination. As if I was about to embark on a very dangerous journey.
In the meantime, the commotion behind the fence gradually subsided. The main gate was not far away.
“Follow me slowly.”
Ian added, shaking the reins and going ahead. The gate opened as if it had been watching.
Kkieeeeee-
As the two wildling warriors pushed open one side of the gate and came out, Ian passed them calmly.
The two upper class men, who had been following him, only looking at his back, soon turned their gazes back to him.
“her….”
Surprise spread across both their faces almost simultaneously.
Because all the wild warriors and mercenaries were waiting in the square. Contrary to expectations, they were led by the white generals, and they were even matched with the five and ten men.
fantasy,
