Fun Territory Defense Chapter 88 Part 1 (Patreon)

[Another Viewpoint] The Marquis and the King

There was no pursuit, but the citizens' faces were deeply tired.

The distance to the neighboring towns is not so far, about a week by horse-drawn carriage, but it took two weeks in the end.

With this much time, the citadel should have completely functioned as a base for the kingdom of Jiernetta.

Although the roads are not well maintained, there is a base of the Kingdom of Jiernetta at their back, and the frequency and quality of supply and reinforcements would have improved dramatically.

On the other hand, our side is now in a tight spot, and we must move to recapture the citadel with the help of the Capital Knights, the Border Knights, and the senior nobles in the neighborhood.

However, even if they gather a considerable number of troops, it will take several years to capture the citadel.

"We will reorganize the Knights. The commander of the Border Knights has been killed in battle. Have the deputy commander give me the number of casualties and the future troop strength. The rest is supplies. Make the arrangements as soon as possible."

I give the order and my men start running. I arrived at the town and immediately began preparations.

The loss of soldiers and armaments was minor, but morale had dropped dramatically.

That unknown weapon was a bad idea. The soldiers who had lost their comrades without knowing why must have been terrified.

But there were those who opposed the enemy who controlled the unknown weapon.

"I didn't think it was the one who assisted our retreat that time..."

As he muttered this, a large number of knights appeared at the entrance of the town and painted it. At the head of them is Murcia in white armor.

"Father!"

Murcia, who had gathered soldiers from elsewhere under my direction, had finally made it to this town.

"You are late. What are you doing?"

Murcia's face tightened and his back straightened as he said this with anger in his voice.

"Yes, yes!  I am sorry!  I have sent out messengers to gather as many men as possible!  I have divided them into the first and second armies so that we would not be late..."

This excuse made him inexplicably angry.

"You fool...!  You are slow to do anything!  If you are an ordinary person, you learn one thing and know one thing. If you are a person with a good memory, you learn one thing and accumulate knowledge of two or three. But you have learned ten, and now you are only one."

"I am sorry!  I am aware that I am not a good learner, but..."

"If you are aware that you are slow, then think and move faster than others, you idiot!"

I yelled at him, and Murcia shrunk and shriveled up. I appreciate his usual efforts, but this feeble-mindedness and poor memory are unforgivable.

As I stared at Murcia with annoyance, I saw a new group of soldiers, mostly cavalry, coming from the entrance to the town.

"Marquis Jalpa Bull Ati Fertio. A man of your stature, Sir, would not speak in such a manner. The young man has atrophied, has he not?"

At the sound of his voice, he turned and crouched down on one knee at the same time.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to have to ask this..."

It was the voice of my one and only lord, a voice that could not be mistaken. I bowed deeply, feeling my anger and frustration dissipate in the blink of an eye.

I hear the sound of stepping on pebbles up close, and a voice descends from overhead.

"Marquis, you may stand. Explain the situation. How is the war going?"

I was aware of my own face twitching as he said this.

But I must answer.

The fortress city of Scudetto has fallen. But we will surely take it back. We are now making preparations for that..."

"...I understand the situation. Give me the details. Was it already fallen when you arrived?"

A cold sweat runs down my face at the slight irritation in his voice.

"When I arrived, Scudetto was close to falling due to a mysterious attack using wyverns. Completely surrounded and besieged, I attacked from the west, where the road to the city is located, and broke off one side of the siege. However, the enemy threw a strange spherical weapon, and a number of our knights were blown to pieces."

"...What?  A magical tool?"