The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 115
Prepared Work, Forgotten Land (2)
“The inauguration ceremony is approaching! Wake up and get ready for training!”
“insect!”
“Even though spring has arrived, the cold in the north will not stop! Don’t forget to prepare thoroughly for the extreme cold!”
“Yes! I understand!”
No one could fail to notice the dark clouds gathering over the North.
Soldiers preparing to go on a campaign and supply wagons moving without rest. The people of the North were already anticipating the coming war.
But no one was worried.
Not only had the first prince arrived in the North, but those who had been guarding the border area were also quickly gathering.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
“It’s been a while.”
“All members of the Sun Knights report that they have arrived here with a new mission: the Northern Expedition.”
“hmm.”
Roder Calver, Vice-Captain of the Sun Knights.
I nodded slightly in greeting.
The Knights of the Sun have completed their long mission to protect the Galder Plains and have headed north.
The construction of the wall was in full swing and the monsters in the surrounding area had been subdued, so there was no longer any need to place them there.
The manpower of the Sun Knights, who could use Aura, was too great a force to be wasted.
… … but.
“You seem to have grown more.”
“Haha, is that so?”
When I met Roder again after a long time, I felt that his prayers had changed significantly.
I said, looking at him scratching his head awkwardly.
“It seems that in addition to handling Aura, you have also gained insight into basic swordsmanship.”
“It seems that I cannot hide anything from His Majesty. That is true.”
“Did it help you deal with the monsters in the mountains?”
“It is precisely because I kept in mind what Your Majesty taught me.”
Roder replied with a look of admiration.
It couldn’t be otherwise. Even though it was a short time, the Sun Knights were the ones who received teachings from me, the so-called Sword King.
Moreover, I advised them on how to use it in a more correct way, which is what they will eventually do in the future, so it was inevitable that their skills would improve.
Of course, it was natural to feel satisfied after seeing the results directly.
‘… … Not bad.’
War was never fought alone by a knight. It was not a one-on-one battle where auras were used indiscriminately, and the enemy would not wait for auras to recover.
So, even if you were a knight who could use Aura, it was clearly necessary to value swordsmanship.
And I thought about it and taught them.
They were talented individuals who would be of great use in the war against the Federal Empire, so this growth was significant for Esteban.
‘Nothing goes wrong with the plan.’
It was a design without a single inch of error.
After finishing his conversation with me, Roder exchanged greetings with the Count who had been waiting for us.
“Is your Majesty well?”
“Long time no see.”
The Knights of the Sun, who helped protect the North from barbarian raids, were no different from benefactors to the Count.
So their participation in the expedition would have been more credible.
“I am grateful that the morale of the soldiers has risen thanks to the joining of the Sun Knights. Please lead the soldiers of the North with me this time as well.”
“No. How could that be thanks to us?”
Roder looked at me and continued speaking.
“His Highness the Prince persuaded His Highness the King to send us, so it must have been entirely His Highness’s doing.”
“I see.”
Count Romert nodded in agreement.
Of course, it is true that this would have been impossible if they had not been able to accommodate their busy schedules.
But now that the expedition was imminent, there was no reason to waste time on petty humility.
“Your Majesty, would you like to talk to your subjects?”
“Bring it quickly.”
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
Then, not long after, the vassals of the Count arrived one by one.
Perhaps it was because the war was approaching, or perhaps it was because he was facing the First Prince. His expression was clearly tense.
“As you have heard, Esteban’s army will occupy the lands of the northern barbarians and establish a defensive line.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The vassals of the Count nodded while looking at the map.
The flags placed at each point clearly indicated the area they were to cover.
‘The forbidden land that I still can’t reach… It’s really wide.’
‘If this is over, will it be possible for the spirits to gain so much territory?’
The area shown, although open, was a whopping one-fifth of the current Esteban territory.
I first spoke to the person in charge of managing the supplies.
“Even if we build checkpoints only at key points, it will be a defensive line that will easily be tens of kilometers long. Do you have the materials needed to build it ready?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Okay. There shouldn’t be any difficulties in the process.”
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But the moment he said that and turned his gaze, the expression on the face of the vassal in charge of managing the supplies became noticeably cautious.
“Your Majesty, there is something I would like to ask you.”
“what?”
“I understand that the reason for occupying the northern lands is to more easily repel attacks by barbarians. But why do you want to occupy such a large area?”
The other vassals also nodded at those words.
That was true. Up until now, the only thing that had prevented the barbarian raids was the northern border area.
But as long as the battle continues, the damage to the North will continue to accumulate.
Therefore, I tried to resolve it by waging war itself in the lands of the barbarians outside.
‘Even if the damage is somehow repaired, the land where war took place is bound to become weak.’
But if that were all, there would be no need to control that wide area as the vassal said.
Rather, it will only become more difficult to manage and defenses will become weaker.
… … But that was only what the people who had gone saw.
“Let me check the map.”
“yes?”
“Here, what do you think might be in the area marked as the planned defensive line?”
I pointed to a certain spot with my finger. Then the vassals looked at each other and exchanged bewildered glances.
“I, I don’t know about that.”
“In the first place, the land of the barbarians is a place that continental people have never set foot on, so isn’t it true that nothing is known about it?”
“Of course, it’s not marked on the map… … .”
In the end, the answer they gave was that they didn’t know.
It was a natural thing. I nodded and drew my finger on the map.
“There is a huge valley between here and there. In fact, it is an area where we don’t need to deploy troops.”
“… … Yes? Are you saying that such a long canyon exists?”
“And look here.”
Swish-
My gaze was once again focused on where my fingers had touched.
There was no clear explanation, but everyone seemed focused on the new information.
“This is… … .”
“The elevation difference here is extremely steep even in the land of the barbarians. If we occupy this high ground and build a strong defense line, they will never come here.”
“her……!”
“If that’s true, then this is… … .”
Border areas were usually created based on topographic features such as mountain ranges or rivers.
And this is also the case with the defense line I have marked.
It was said that the areas to be occupied were not selected without any reason.
The corners of my mouth went up slightly.
‘At this point, I’m the only one who knows the terrain of the northern outback.’
In a future where walls have been built and defenses have been established by captured dwarves.
I knew the terrain that made the expeditionary force formed to break that power so difficult.
Elements such as canyons and rugged terrain were already incorporated into my blueprint.
Also, the meaning of occupying the place in advance and establishing a defensive line was different.
“If we make good use of the terrain that poses obstacles, we could stop them with fewer troops than we did defending Esteban’s northern border.”
“Certainly… … even if the land expands, its scope will be very limited… … .”
“And if I could have that much territory… … .”
“okay.”
No matter what, a large land and a large number of people equal national power.
This time, the land among them.
Esteban was to gain the power of a wider country.
“But where did you get this information… … .”
“These are the things we have confirmed through previous expeditions.”
“Is that so?”
The attendants nodded their heads in agreement.
Of course it was a lie. It was just a convenient excuse.
However, the route the expedition force took was kept completely secret to hide the dwarves’ traces, so there was no room for them to be suspicious.
“Are you ready for the visit to Korea?”
“We have acquired a large quantity of fur clothing for the soldiers to wear.”
“Enough.”
I moved on to the last point with sharp eyes.
“The expedition will take place in four days.”
“hmm!”
“her……!”
Those words made even the Margrave Romert sigh, as the schedule was earlier than expected.
But there was no reversal.
“There is no reason to delay. We have already made sufficient preparations.”
“… … .”
“Are you not confident?”
“… … .”
One by one. These were words spoken while meeting the gazes of each and every person present.
“If not, do you still have the lingering feeling that everything you’ve done so far has been a wasted effort?”
“……no.”
“I guess so.”
We already had the Sun Knights who had been on an expedition, numerous soldiers, and archmages to assist them, as well as supplies prepared.
No matter how much I thought about it, I had no shortage of power, so of course I couldn’t be confident.
Still, if that’s the reason they were drooling.
It’s probably just the fear of the barbarians that has continued for so long, and the vagueness about starting something new in a place where no one has ever set foot before.
So I said.
“Don’t worry.”
“… … .”
Experienced northern soldiers will help ensure that your plans do not go awry.
And the one leading it was none other than me.
That fact alone was enough.
“That place is by no means a demonic realm. It’s just a barren land with a bit of a hard time living there. They’re not immortal either.”
thud!
The table vibrated strongly at the tip of my finger that was lowered down. The servants flinched for a moment, and I asked softly.
“Was there anything lacking in the preparations you had made?”
“……no!”
“Then, have you been lazy since that day?”
“no!”
The place we had to go next was laid out on the map that seemed to be pierced by the tip of my finger that I had just touched.
“Then there’s no problem. If you just did as I told you in advance. That means you can already do it.”
“……yes!”
All you need is confidence, that’s all.
That’s why I say it firmly.
“The schedule will not change. I will complete the final inspection within two days at the latest. I will personally check it before the inauguration ceremony begins.”
“yes.”
“I will obey your orders.”
I nodded slightly as I watched the attendants each moving busily to prepare.
* * *
thud-!
The sound of drums rang out loudly in time with the beat of the heart.
Every time the drums of battle sounded, the expressions of the northern lords would show a feeling of faith, and their clenched hands would become determined.
And the same goes for soldiers.
Boom-! Boom-!!
“… … .”
Yet the soldiers listed did not move an inch while the drums rang.
There was also not the slightest disturbance, not even the slightest disturbance.
He simply stared at the man in front of him, revealing his sharpened spirit.
Clank-
And then suddenly, the sound of armor clashing was heard.
It was clearly just a noise that could not be heard amidst the loud drumbeat, but the scene seemed to be vividly drawn in the minds of the soldiers who were already concentrating all their attention.
“The barbarians are weaker now than ever.”
The drumbeat stopped and the magically amplified voice reached the ears of the lined up soldiers. A deathly silence descended.
Now I could actually hear the sound of armor rustling.
“… … But that doesn’t mean this expedition will proceed easily.”
There will be countless trials and countless amounts of blood will be shed throughout the land.
And soldiers will know this fact better than anyone else.
But the man swore to them.
“Still, I will not let their blood become worthless deaths.”
“The blood they shed in the wilderness will become the nourishment for the future, and their corpses will become the rock.”
“I will make sure that happens.”
thud!
The soldiers responded by stamping their feet in unison.
The huge sound was more magnificent than the drums that were ringing in my ears, and it penetrated my heart even more.
So the man raised his sword.
visor!
A cerulean flash of light extended from her waist.
“From today onwards, we will be completely free from the threat of the barbarians.”
The sword in his hand sank.
And the direction slowly changed and headed north.
“Let’s go.”
A burning fighting spirit flashed in his bloodshot eyes.
