Fun Territory Defense Chapter 197 (Patreon)

Fortress Murcia

There is a shortage of manpower. And it is overwhelmingly so.

With this in mind, I watch Dee's defense training.

"Left! Your judgment is slow! You don't know exactly what the enemy's effective range is! If you can attack at a distance equal to ours, the only thing left is to aim with precision and speed! Think of speed and precision as the key!"

"Ha!"

I appointed Murcia as the deputy of the base, but I couldn't just leave him in charge of the Seat Village Knights, whom he had never commanded before.

Therefore, Dee and Arv stayed behind to help maintain the knighthood for a while. Incidentally, among the knights training now are the knights of the Marquise family, Murcia's men, who number about a hundred. There are about a hundred of them. It is a wonder that even the adventurers who came along as escorts are being trained by Dee.

Rango is looking around with a curious look on his face, completely transformed into a tourist.

"Well, are we done bringing in the supplies?"

Rango turned around with a start.

"Oh, yes. As you said, we have delivered ten wagons' worth of supplies, including preserved food, seasonings, and alcohol. We also have clothes, so I think you will have no problem with food and clothing. However, we do not have weapons or armor, are you okay with that?"

"I made them while we were waiting. We also have a lot of arrows for the ballista, so I think we'll be okay in that area."

"That's a good point."

Rango nodded with a wry smile at my answer.

Then, as if remembering, Rango pointed to the floor and opened his mouth.

"Oh, by the way...Van-sama, congratulations on your new territory."

I gave a wry smile to Rango, who had forgotten to say the greeting that should have been first on his lips, and made an expression of annoyance, thinking that if Bell found out about it, he would get angry again.

"That's all well and good, but the trouble is, we're short on people. I think Seat Village probably has more than 3,000 residents, but I was thinking that we need at least 1,000 people here too... We want 1,000 to 2,000 knights alone because they are the key to our defense, but we can only deploy about 300 people as it is now. On the other hand, we can't lower the defense of Seat Village."

I racked my brains as to what to do.

Then Rango answered as if it was nothing.

"As I recall, we increased the number of slaves by another 500 while Van-sama was away, but that's still not enough at all. If you need more urgently, how about buying more slaves again? If they can work in Seat Village, they will be happier than if they were bought anywhere else. And I'm sure the slaves would appreciate it."

"Oh, really? Isn't there a rumor going around that I'm the slave-loving Van? A person who buys a lot of slaves doesn't seem to have a very good image."

I try to give my honest opinion. Rango smiled vaguely and waved one hand from side to side.

"No, no, it was quite common a few years ago, when the Scuderia Kingdom was expanding its territory, there were many war slaves, orphans, and debt slaves, and at the same time, there were many places where there were not enough workers due to the expansion of the territory. In those places, it was common practice to buy slaves and use them as labor."

"Isn't that exactly what I'm doing now? Oh? So is the number of slaves increasing because of the war against the Jiernetta Kingdom? Or are there more slaves because of the war against the Jiernetta Kingdom?

What is the situation of slaves these days? Rango tilted his head with a difficult expression.

"...Yes, that's right. This time, the recapture of Scudetto and the defensive battle in Count Ferdinand's territory seems to have increased the number of slaves to a certain extent, but those war slaves are not recommended; both Seat Village and this base will be the front line to fight Jiernetta Kingdom in the future, and considering the betrayal, etc. It is better not to buy them. So I think it would be better to consider for those who have been kidnapped by debt slaves, bandits, bandits, etc."

"I see...I'll let you choose a slave who seems like a good person then. Also, if there are any peddlers who can travel between Seat Village and this Fortress Murcia, can you call out to them?"

"Okay...by the way, the name of this base Fortress Murcia correct? If I am not mistaken, there is a family member of Van-sama named Murcia-sama..."

"Yes, Big Brother Murcia is the chief of this place, and we are in the process of building the Order of Murcia as well."

Rango nodded delicately as he answered the question. At the same time, a cough is heard behind him.

"Huh?"

I turn around to see Murcia standing there with a complicated expression on her face.

"...Aside from the Murcia Knights, I don't believe I heard about this place being named Fortress Murcia, though."

Murcia mutters this with a dissatisfied expression and voice.

This is not good. He might get mad at me.

I decided that on a whim, but he immediately raise his eyebrows at me, his cute youngest brother, Van-kun.

"What? Big Brother Murcia, you didn't like it...? I'm sorry...I thought the legend of Big Brother Murcia was about to begin, so I took the liberty of choosing his name...but I was trying to make Big Brother Murcia happy..."

When I sadly uttered that excuse, Murcia looked a little flustered and waved his hands.

"Oh, no, I'm not that angry...I was just a little embarrassed..."

"Really? So you're saying that you can officially recognize Fortress Murcia and the Order of Murcia?"

"Yes, yes? No, but I'm not sure..."

"Thank you, Big Brother Murcia!"

I thanked Murcia, who was at a loss for words, in a tone of voice that was irresistible. The kind-hearted Murcia couldn't help but smile with a tight expression on her face.

Incidentally, Till later commented that he felt sorry for me.