BXBX NOVEL Chapter 54: Second Battle [1]
"Is there any news yet?"
"Not yet. It looks like something happened at Hilfin Castle."
In response to Catherine, Carl clenched his fists.
A long time has passed since the messenger sent to Hilfin Castle returned.
If the messenger arrived safely and the request for assistance was successful, the messenger would have mounted the horse again and delivered the news.
However, since there has been no news yet, something must have happened at Hilfin Castle.
\'Could it be that Maldin has already left with his troops? No, if that were the case, he would have had a messenger come back and give me the news.\'
Carl barely restrained himself from biting his lip as he glared at the darkening forest.
\'Unless I remain in Hilfin Castle and are still exerting influence, I will not understand this situation. However, there is no reason to remain in the castle after being caught deceiving the prince... .\'
\'No matter how hard I try, I just can\'t figure out the situation. At times like this, I desperately miss the cell phone in Lucas Voss memory.\'
"Don\'t worry too much."
Catherine speaks cautiously. Carl knew why she said that.
"I know that there is no point in worrying. But I can\'t help feeling nervous."
"Last night\'s battle was Lord Carl\'s first battle. In the first battle, it was a field battle, and you led the unfavorable battle until the end and did not collapse. Lord Carl is already doing impossibly well."
Carl smiles faintly at Catherine\'s words.
He was a little happy to know that her high praise is not empty words but sincere, and he feel bitter because that praise doesn\'t really help him right now.
Carl muttered softly as if he was chewing and spitting it out as he pointed at the wooden fence that had been replaced with a new log.
"… If we had come just one day earlier... Or, if I only had one more day…"
Carl was keenly aware of the importance of each day.
If the punitive force had arrived a day earlier, they would not have suffered so many losses in last night\'s battle.
And if tonight passed without incident, Catherine would have been able to \'build\' the small Fortress she had originally planned next to the wooden fence in stacked Log Village.
\'Even in such small things, a day is worth more than a thousand gold, so when it comes to big things, I can buy the world in one day!\'
Carl ended up dying because of that \'day\' here, so it was a lesson he learned as if it were engraved in his bones.
"Don\'t dwell too much on things that have already happened. Once you have learned your lesson, it is right to throw it away."
"…Thank you. Lady Catherine."
Carl smiled at Catherine, who was teaching him very actively.
Catherine\'s change in attitude is quite important to Carol.
At least he had a little faith that Catherine wouldn\'t abandon or betray him when the time came.
"Light the torch!"
As the sun sets in the western forest, Corbin scurries around on the fence and orders the lights to be turned on.
They were running out of oil, but fortunately, the supplies Carl brought included oil, so they were able to turn on the fire safely today as well.
In the meantime, Carol had to do his best not to frown when told that he had obtained oil by preparing the remaining gnoll corpses.
He don\'t think human corpses would have been buried respectfully in this cruel battlefield. Anything that could be burned would have been burned.
Fire spreads over the wooden fence. To prevent fire from spreading to the wooden fence, containers filled with water are placed here and there.
—Water, yes, water!
Finding water is also work. There is a well, but it is not enough to feed the soldiers who move with terrible brutality, so the well is nothing more than a small amount of stagnant water lapping at the bottom. Even water had to be risked by going out to get it.
\'Water wizards aren\'t precious for nothing.\'
Carl realized the reason why water wizards were \'recruited\' at the noble or national level.
They treat them with the best treatment and take them in, but strictly manage them so that others do not have them.
With just one water wizard, they can drastically reduce the supply, and they can also drink clean water with confidence at any time.
Since it is free from disease and dehydration, it becomes easier to operate troops, and of course it should be managed as a strategic material.
"… … ."
There is a suffocating silence.
Torches flutter wildly in the chilly wind of the autumn night, and shadows tremble like the maw of a monster.
Carl led Catherine and the imperial soldiers, the strongest troops he could currently operate, and took a position directly facing the western forest.
If they hold strong here, other soldiers of lower level will be able to fight with ease.
"It\'s a shame Bilford isn\'t there."
"Tomorrow you will be able to move again, although not as much as before."
Catherine responded to Carl\'s small complaint and glanced at Carl.
It was a heated battle to the point where even Bilford was knocked out, but Carl was just fine. It\'s obviously suspicious.
Carl even used his spare time to learn how to use a spear from Catherine. Surprisingly, Carl\'s strength seemed to have improved despite yesterday\'s battle and fainting.
Catherine slightly lowered her head and whispered softly in Carl\'s ear.
"Since this is a battle between wooden fences, there is no need for Lord Carl to participate in the battle like yesterday. It is enough to just show his soldiers that Lord Carl is here and keep his place."
Carl shook his head slightly at Catherine\'s words.
"It is efficient for me, who recovers quickly, to keep moving. It will help morale, and from a practical standpoint, it\'s better than nothing."
Catherine seemed to have nothing to say in response to Carl\'s calm words. Carl smiled slightly and said to her.
"Thank you for your concern. But I came to lead the punitive force and subdue the gnolls, not to have fun and be protected."
"…Sorry. I said something presumptuous."
"No, you are right to be concerned. I will be careful not to put myself in a dangerous situation."
If Carl were to be seriously injured or even die, the soldiers would immediately disintegrate as a result of their soaring morale. Such situations must be avoided.
Carl and Catherine closed their mouths and quietly looked at the western forest.
The sound of Corbin carrying a spear frantically moving around on the wooden fence and encouraging the soldiers tickles my ears.
And at some point, Carl felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Master Carl."
Catherine, who was glaring into the darkness, calls out to Carl.
Although her pupils were constricted due to the fire lighting up the wooden fence and she could not see the forest, Catherine could feel alive.
And the same was true for Carl, who had a survival instinct like a wild animal.
"Ready for battle!"
"Attack!"
Chuck! Chuck!
The imperial soldiers responded with loud shouts, raising their spears and putting them on the wooden fence, in response to a loud cry that could not be believed to have come from Carl\'s small body.
"Ready for battle! Ready for battle!"
Corbin follows suit, giving orders, and the tension of battle begins to build up above the fence.