My Villains Episode 368
61. The Art of War (10)
The place where I work as the head of the central garrison is the castle tower of the inner castle High Castle.
High-rise buildings are rare in this world, so this spire, which is over 10 meters high, is a very strange structure. It wasn’t just tall, it was built quite thick for protection, so its magnificence
was great.
This castle tower, which is like the starting point of a city called High Castle, is located on a particularly high ground even among the nearby topography where the land is raised to the fullest. Thanks to this, standing on the top floor of this castle tower, it was like looking down in all directions from above the clouds.
I’m here because of the damn wyverns, of course. When the young dragon knights flinch, this is the best place to throw a javelin and counterattack.
“Oh, it’s cold.”
The cold wind of late winter or early spring blows the front of the eyes. Every time I wash my face in the barrel that comes in through the arrow hole), a chill creeps into my bones.
I blew my nose into the icy underground water in a large basin.
“I have a headache because the water is full. Couldn’t you warm it up a bit?”
“…Are you kidding, sir?”
When Chojang Golman made a tired expression, I shrugged my shoulders and asked back.
“Is this like a joke?”
“no. It’s a bit scary because you seem to be serious
.”
“If you understand, float with warm water.”
Gollman, who was sweating profusely despite the cold weather, licked his lips as if he was dumbfounded. Then it was to express resentment.
“No Nari. Why do you always say to wash at the top of this castle tower? You should wash up at the dorm.”
“Because I don’t have time to wash.”
“That’s why I ask you to cough a little earlier… Besides, you don’t ask me to bring water just once. ”
“Oh stop. I’m glad I didn’t ask for bath water.”
“Also, while working for your boss, you are even training, so why are you so dissatisfied?”
“Training?”
“uh. It’s washing water and going up and down is quite a workout. Doesn’t it seem like
you’re gaining strength every day ?”
Gollman kept his mouth shut with a sullen look on his face, and I sank into the commander’s chair, wiping off the water with a towel.
“Aren’t you going to let go of your expression?”
“Yes, yes.”
“They say yes or no, so it’s just… if you’re going to say it, you’re saying it. Why do you have so many complaints? Are you going to tell me everything when Fritz comes?”
As soon as he mentioned the name of the ponytail Fritz, Gollmann’s face turned pale as if it were a conditioned reflex.
“Yes? No… When did I
get beaten up by me?”
“Isn’t everything you’ve done so far good?”
“Absolutely not. I was just curious about Nari’s meaning…
“I’m curious, but damn… get rid of this quickly.”
Tapping the splashing basin with the tip of his toe, Gollman’s shoulders drooped.
Contrary to his downcast attitude, he lifted the large basin very easily. The wooden basin full of water was over 50 kilos, and the center of gravity was unstable, but I didn’t feel that kind of pressure at all.
“…Can’t we just throw it out of the tower?”
“Are you going to pour it here? What if someone gets hit?”
“When there is no one passing by”
“What are you doing? And if the prince gets hit, it won’t end with you dying.”
“…I’m coming.”
As Golman, carrying a basin on his shoulder, disappeared down the stairs, the man who had been sitting quietly at a table with an old man hung out his tongue.
“Your steps are light for being rude. As I always say, he is a very strong boy.”
The man’s name is Hyangsa Bran.
He was a young man in his mid-to-late 20s who had a pleasant disposition and was friendly with a small nobleman who owned a small river and a castle somewhere along the river in Antrum.
His dance isn’t that great, but he handles the longbow well and has a talented wizard under his command. Thanks to that, he served as my lieutenant, so to be precise, he was assisting me as the head of the central garrison.
“On the first day, it was almost heartbreaking just to see him struggling to climb the stairs with a basin on his back, but… he seems to have gotten used to it now. Or was it just being rude at first?”
“I’m not a guy who knows how to act like a motherfucker. It just got stronger.”
“In just a week?”
“Originally, grasshoppers have that much potential.”
“…You’re saying things I don’t know.” Sir Bran tilted his head and asked a question.
“Come to think of it, I heard that you haven’t brought in seeds yet. If you’re that muscular, would it be all right to have you as a seed?”
“Seeds…. Well, I’m not sure that’s really necessary.”
“Isn’t that how you feel because that boy and the other subordinates are already doing seed work?”
“Oh, what could it be? But I never asked him if he wanted to be a knight or something.”
“…it’s like a knight.”
Sir Bran smiled bitterly.
“To me, who has not been able to get a knighthood in the end and is serving as a courtier, these words are just enviable to me.”
“Well, I didn’t mean that.”
“Oh, I know. It was just a joke.”
“…are you kidding?”
“When else am I going to crack a joke with a famous knight like Sir Phoynix?” While Bran, the housekeeper, who had made a joke that wasn’t even a joke, was babbling like an idiot, the old man sitting across from him opened his mouth.
“Are you reluctant because you don’t know your identity?”
“yes’?”
“That boy.”
The name of the old man with a white beard that reached the top of his stomach was Ogshlizo. He was said to be the most powerful wizard in Antrum.
He was an old man who could cast bizarre spells using his breath. He was a mage that great nobles, including the Marquis Eavon, wanted to enshrine, even at the cost of a thousand gold.
Now he entrusted himself to Sir Bran, but it was said that he was helping this young nobleman because he had some kind of connection with his uncle.
“What if you say identity…?”
“About the lineage. He seemed to know something.”
“…It seems that Mage-nim noticed something.”
Oggschlizo carefully stroked his beard and opened his mouth.
“Nothing. I just guessed that the blood of the different races flowed because the eyes and temperament were different.”
It was said to be no big deal, but in fact, what I knew did not deviate much from what Oghshlizo had said.
Even when we gathered the clergy in Lianwell and talked about it, all we could have guessed was that there was a different race among Goleman’s ancestors.
“I heard you’re Antrum’s first wizard, so you have a good eye.”
I asked the two of them with a wry smile.
“Please keep this a secret. I heard that a human born with a bloodline of a different race… will attract unnecessary attention from the public.”
“You are right. People with perverted inquisitive minds are very common in this land. Say no to the boy.”
“I don’t know what it is either, but I’ll keep it a secret.”
“I can’t hide my curiosity though. What kind of lineage does that boy named Golman come from?”
In response to the old mage’s question, I showed both palms.
“I don’t know exactly. It’s just that new traits will be revealed in the near future, so we’re testing this and that.”
“It’s a new trait. Looking at it, I guess that’s strength?”
“Maybe.”
I don’t know if the timing was right by chance or if the constant use of strength was stimulated by this and a new characteristic was manifested – but Golman’s muscular strength has been rapidly increasing over the past few days.
Previously, he was strong for his age, but now he is at the level of going back and forth between a criminal and a superman. In terms of ability points, it would be around 18 or 19 points. It was roughly similar to the strength I had right after I fell into this world. In a word, it is said that I am as strong as a moderate knight.
“According to the priest I have, there is a high possibility that he is descended from the Beast Tribe. Now that we have confirmed strong strength, we can further narrow down the candidates.”
“Hmm well.”
Oggschlizo pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
“I think a little differently.”
“yes? That said”
“That boy must be a descendant of a giant.
Not beastmen.”
“…a giant? Of course, giants are famous for being strong, but there are many strong races among beastmen.”
“Like a werewolf or anupad minotaur?”
“For example.”
“But that boy didn’t go crazy looking at the moon, he wasn’t furry, he didn’t grow horns.”
“It’s not even as big as a giant.”
“Except for that, everything is identical.”
“…hmm. Giants don’t necessarily look like humans.”
The old mage continued with a cautious expression.
“Low and ferocious guys like hill giants and sea giants look quite different from humans. However, higher beings such as the sun giant, the shadow giant, or the cloud giant are not like that. They are just like humans.”
“…Is that so?”
“Because it is. Well, it’s just a story told in mythology.”
Around that time, Golman, the protagonist of the story, returned. It seems that it took at least a few minutes to dump the water into the moat outside the castle.
“……Hmm.”
I glanced over the goal again.
On the outside, he’s just a normal, oversized kid. If you grow up with this trend, will you evolve like a giant someday?
It should be fun.
Golman’s eyes trembled as if he suddenly felt a chill in my gaze.
“Why are you like that, sir? I threw away the water well.”
“…nothing.”
I stood up and spoke to Sir Bran and the mage, Oghshlizo.
“Please hold your seat for a moment. I will come after looking around the lower part and the inner wall.”
“Do as you wish, Sir Phoenix.”
“I will.”
As I moved down the stairs, Golman, who was wiping the sweat from his steaming face, quickly caught up and asked with a rotting face.
“…You’re going down, sir?”
“uh. I’ll have to take a look around.”
“Then it would have been okay if you had washed it while you were going down.”
“Then you can’t train.”
“expression.”
“I solved it, I solved it.”
I smiled and tousled the hair of the future solar giant–maybe a monster like a shadow giant or labyrinth giant.
“Let’s go.”
I smile when I think of the majestic high-class giants I encountered in ‘Expedition’ or from time to time.
…As expected, my eyesight is correct. I knew it would turn out like this from the time it was called Chojang!
The main purpose of my being in this castle tower is to construct an anti-aircraft fire network in preparation for an assault by the Dragon Knights. However, his nominal duty is the central garrison commander anyway.
Thanks to this, a little less than 200 troops, including the soldiers guarding the inner high castle and the units that operate the old guns installed in each element, are under my ‘official’ command.
Of course, I’m not in charge of all those soldiers. That’s also true, there’s no way I, who couldn’t wear epaulettes during my military days, could command over 200 troops. Even my subordinates are in a situation where they are actually entrusted to guys like veteran conjurers and heavy-duty dervish.
The 30 self-propelled soldiers escorting Prince Ulkar are Sir Gisela, and the 120 long-armed troops deployed outside the inner High Castle are actually commanded by Sir Layam, who is in charge of the vigilance. All I have to worry about is fifty people.
Fifty is not a small number, but there was no great difficulty because Lord Sabran and a competent sergeant in Ulkar were helping.
So, what I mainly do while patrolling the castle tower and fortress is…
“Oops, Captain.”
“…That captain’s voice still
gives me goosebumps. Are you all right?”
“Yep, nothing more.”
“okay. Would you like to try this?”
“What is it?”
“It’s fried oatmeal with honey, and it’s so delicious.”
Yes, pack snacks and go around and distribute them to the soldiers.
It’s not that I’m doing it with a specific intention, I’m just copying what Mr. Jjamking did. I started without much thought, but the response of the soldiers was not bad, so I keep doing this.
“Are you a little cold?” “Still, it’s really amazing, Captain.”
“Did this also be made by that lady named Rowen?”
“Because I’m not a young lady, but a married woman.”
“Ah, I saw her before, she seemed like a perfect lady.”
“you’re right. I heard you haven’t had any kids yet, so you’re a young lady.”
“These crazy bastards.”
Of course, flirting with the archers on alert and snacking on them isn’t particularly desirable, but… well, I’m the leader, so who’s to say what?
You don’t have to worry about losing your discipline. It’s because the sergeant assigned by the prince is a very tough man. He often beats his subordinates and enforces discipline, to the point that the soldiers can’t even see him.
In such a situation, it seemed that the soldiers would be able to breathe more easily if I at least made them comfortable. Even for me, it’s difficult to be a villain, but it’s easy to pretend to be nice.
After looking around the castle tower and its vicinity, I climbed the inner wall. There were three or four long-established stores with their flesh points toward the sky.
“lily!”
As soon as they found me, it was the burnt Donnel and the six-year-old Mitelman who came running in full gasp.
Donnell and Mittelman were the duo that followed me from Modos. Donnell, with hideous burn marks on his left cheek and chin, was a big man with a bad temper, but surprisingly meticulous;
“I didn’t see you this morning, did you sleep here?”
“yes. There is an empty room under the bulwark over there.”
“Under the bulwark? Is it cold there?”
“That’s true, but the time to go to the rose garden should be a waste of time.”
“Don’t do that, sleep at the dorm. Sleep on the stone floor and go back to your mouth.”
At my words, Donnell and Mittelman shook their heads at the same time.
“We are fine sir.”
“yes. I’ve entrusted you with a heavy duty, but wouldn’t it be a big deal to keep your mouth shut?”
“……Huh”
The .
It seems like I’m overdoing it a bit…
but if you work hard, I’ll be grateful.
Donell was entrusted with the task of operating the long-established stores here.
Originally, it was something that could be entrusted to confire and dervish, but the main soldiers were away for troop recruitment or other missions. Thanks to that, this role went to Donnel, who was next in the ‘rank’.
Mittelman was entrusted with the ‘dead man’s crossbow’ while assisting Donnell.
The dead man’s crossbow was originally intended to be given to Gidon, the crossbow, but it was an evil and sinister object.
However, Mittelman, who couldn’t even go to church because he had a lot of fingers, didn’t seem to care about the bad luck. It is almost certain to see him going around the butcher’s shop to get bones for bullets as soon as he received the crossbow and shaving the bones into crossbow flesh whenever he had a chance.
In any case, Donnell, who was given a new position, and Mittelman, who was given new equipment, were noticeably motivated. Whatever their intentions were, it was quite rewarding for me.
I inspected the old gun and came down while flirting moderately with my two subordinates when a group of people walked in from the side of the castle gate. I raised my hand when I saw a happy face in the lead.
“majesty!”
“Ah, Sir Phoenix.”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“It wasn’t too bad… As I approached with a smile on my face, Prince Ulkar let out a chuckle as well.
“Kyung is always bright. It’s hard to believe he’s one of the busiest people in the city ahead of battle.”
“Originally, both unhappiness and happiness are relative, aren’t they? Seeing someone higher in rank than me gives me the illusion that I just became happy.”
“Ranking?”
“Uh… there is something like that.”
“…As expected, I can’t get my head around you.”
Behind Ulkar, who smiled and shook his head, Sir Gisella, the ‘Bird Hawk’, bruised me.
“Lord Phoenix, is this the situation where White Sound is always going to be?”
“why? What else are you doing?”
“The assassins came last night. Didn’t you hear?”
“Ah, I heard that…
It must have been once or twice that an assassin came, whether it be surprised or angry.
Sir Gisela was about to frown as if he had read my intentions, but Ulkar pointed to the castle tower and invited me.
“Let’s not do this here, let’s go in. Sir Phoenix, please follow me.”
“yes? Where are you talking about?”
“In the dungeon. The night guest has woken up.”
I stood there blankly for a moment, then opened my eyes.
“You captured the assassins alive?”
“There’s only one, but that’s it.”
“No… I heard that those bastards are poisonous bastards who bite deadly poison if they are wrong.
How did you catch it?”
“I used the covenant I got from Remeric. I was lucky enough to save one.”
I narrowed my eyebrows at the nuance I felt from the prince’s words.
“Your Highness caught it yourself?”
“That’s right. I was lucky enough to be awake.”
Only then did I realize why Sir Gisela’s dark scythe and the prince’s surroundings were teeming with knights and friendly soldiers.
“…I heard that there was an assassination attempt, but I didn’t know it was such a dangerous situation.”
“Because I deliberately kept quiet.”
Ulkar covered his mouth and yawned before continuing.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Even though he was talking about the risk of losing his life, he showed a slightly tired expression, but he was unmatched.
“Since Master Epos and Madaz have written their hands, you can probably hear a useful story.”
When the prince took a very light step, I followed him while laughing.
