Volume 4 Chapter 31 (1/2)
Chapter 4 Episode 31
Editor: Starbuck11
All started a few days before the time the Ortomea army led by Sardina, withdrew in a hurry.
A huge fort standing tall above flat ground.
It was a stone-made fortress, something that wouldn't fall from a half-baked attack.
Inside the fortress, several thousands soldiers were stationed.
And within the warehouses of the fortress, abundant foods and weapons collected from various locations in Ortomea Empire were being stored.
.
If one was to choose to attack the fortress from the front, one needed to prepare tens of thousands of soldiers, siege weapons and be ready to spend months of time.
”That is Notiz fort, huh? Certainly, such a great fortress...”
While being swayed by the horse's back, the man lifted his helmet's face cover and gazed at the fortress.
This fort that had been built on the western end of Notiz plain and had since continued to exist as a defense base against the Zalda Kingdom.
For Ortomea Empire, the Notiz fort was similar to that of Us.h.i.+as fort for the Zalda Kingdom.
”Indeed, certainly that is magnificent...”
A beautiful voice comes out from someone who followed the man.
Her chest presented a rich curve.
One can't see her face because she didn't lift her helmet's face cover like the man did, but spilling out from the gap of the helmet, one could see silky s.h.i.+ny silver hair swayed by the wind.
The man shrugged his shoulders when he heard the lady's words.
”Well, because of that we have prepared extensively... If we fail here, then we won't be able to show our face...”
It might be difficult to bring down Notiz fort by using a frontal attack.
However, it was not necessarily impossible if one were to choose the means.
For that reason, he had prepared many things.
And finally, it was the time for him to attack...
”I'm sorry for making you wait. It took me some time to do the explanation, but they have agreed for us to enter the fortress...”
The knight who reported such news breathed out a heavily .
Looking back, the man gazed at the long lines of soldier formations that were behind him.
(We've finished all of our preparations ... Everything has gone according to plan...)
Although his expression looked calm, inside the man's heart he could feel raging anxiety and frustration.
Because the fate of three countries lay heavily on his shoulders.
If he was just an ordinary man, he might shrink from the responsibility and be unable to properly move.
However, inside the man's heart, an earnest desire to fight could not be forgotten. He also felt the joy of being given the opportunity to demonstrate his power, mixed among various other emotions.
(This is fine... Everything should go well... It's no different compared to that time...)
He lifted the corner of his lips, tension and excitement began to rule.
The scene from a few years ago resurfaced inside his mind.
He remembered the times when he was desperately trying to protect his life and pride as a human being...
”Here we come!”
Following the man's words, the others nodded their head.
The troops slowly advanced towards Notiz plain.
Sounds of countless horses and wheels of the carriages.
In the dark night, the light of torches illuminated the silver armors.
They looked like the messengers of the G.o.d of death, that had come out from the realm of the dead.
The stage was the Notiz fort located on the border between Ortomea Empire and the Zalda Kingdom. Everything will end at the place where everything began, at the Notiz plain where General Belharres met his honorable end.
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”Finally, next is the transport unit, huh? Their escort is around 2,000 men... Fumu, it seems like I can breathe a sigh of relief for now...”
Such words can be heard inside one of the offices inside the Notiz fort.
Along with a deep sigh, Greg Moore smokes a high grade cigar, a product of the central continent, as he tried to calm his heart. He had been appointed as the Notiz fort defense commanding officer to replace Rolf, and was also responsible for providing support to the front line troops.
”Indeed, finally we've finished carrying the foods and weapons from the imperial capital...”
Moore then put the cigar on the ashtray and received the doc.u.ments his adjutant presented him with.
It was an official doc.u.ment with Ortomea Empire’s seal on it.
”Still... Isn't this number a bit too much?”
”Yes... I think they made it this way in antic.i.p.ation of the possibility that the enemy performed a surprise attack...”
Hearing those words, Moore’s temple twitched.
”Joshua Belharres, huh?”
Unkempt appearance with short blonde hair.
St.u.r.dy physique.
And the characteristic aura of a warrior that had survived many battlefields.
Wound marks on his face made him look very intimidating.
His belly might be slightly bulging because of age, but he was without a doubt a seasoned warrior.
And more than that, it was because of his abilities that he was appointed as the commanding officer of the Notiz fort.
Moore unconsciously rubbed his right thigh.
It was a wound he suffered during the battle against the Zalda Kingdom during the battle of Notiz plain.
His right leg was supposed to be amputated after getting crushed by a horseshoe.
Using expensive secret medicine and high-rank healing magic arts, they finally managed to regenerate the crushed foot but he still feels some discomfort from it.
Although there was no problems to perform with daily life.
However, when he wore armors and wielded his sword, it felt like his foot wouldn't move properly.
It might not be much of a problem if he fights against an ordinary opponent. But it would be an issue if he had to fight against someone very experienced.
It might be only a small little discomfort.
But such discomfort might be fatal during battles.
(Had this wound not leave this kind of feeling... I would've gone to the frontline...)
He had no intention of making light of his defense mission, but for Moore who was a warrior that was used to the front line, the situation was something worth to contemplate.