Chapter 192 - Episode 186: The Conclusion of the Battle and the Defense Plan
"—And so, the 2,500-man invasion force from the Kingdom of Roadberg entered the territory of the Kingdom of Lancel and either destroyed or burned down the enemy military facilities, which had poor defenses. After that, they withdrew before the enemy could gather for a counterattack. There were almost no casualties on our side."
Late April. Immediately after Radley, who had accompanied the counter-invasion into the Kingdom of Lancel, returned, Noein received the report from him.
Yuri, the Chief Squire, was also present to hear the report, and Jeremy, who had accompanied the counter-invasion alongside Radley, had also been summoned.
"I see, good work... Still, isn't the Kingdom of Lancel quite careless? It's been several weeks since the enemy's royal expedition failed, yet that's when we launched our counter-invasion. They hadn't prepared any defenses."
"According to the enemy soldiers we captured alive, it seems it's becoming difficult for them to gather mercenaries and the private armies of nobles. On top of the royal expedition failing, King Cadne's both legs have become paralyzed, and an atmosphere is starting to spread that they can't stand to stick with an incompetent, wounded king."
Hearing this, Noein exchanged a look with Yuri.
"...It's pretty much the development I expected."
"Yeah. Well, it's only natural. King Cadne acted recklessly and failed to produce results. The number of nobles and mercenaries who feel dissatisfied, feeling they've been made to suffer losses until now, will likely increase."
"...For that reason, the enemy's forts and field encampments were in a terrible state. There was no coordination between bases whatsoever, so we were able to easily defeat them individually without receiving any decent resistance. Jeremy was quite useful as well."
"I was performing courier duties for a time... so I knew the locations of many enemy bases, and I believe I was able to help attack them efficiently."
Jeremy spoke of his achievements in a modest tone. The way he naturally referred to the Kingdom of Lancel as "the enemy" showed that he was now completely one of their own.
"That's good. As your lord, I'm happy... Radley, what is your evaluation of Jeremy so far? And you too, Yuri. I want to hear your honest impressions of him. I've already made up my mind, but it's better to make these kinds of evaluations from multiple perspectives."
When Noein asked Radley and Yuri, Jeremy's face stiffened. It was only natural, as the final result of whether he had been able to demonstrate his loyalty through action was about to be announced.
Radley glanced sideways at Jeremy. Jeremy swallowed hard.
"...He can be trusted. I believe this guy is undoubtedly on our side now. I wouldn't mind entrusting my back to him in battle."
"I'm of the same opinion. We can consider Jeremy a person of the Arqvist territory now."
Upon hearing their words, Jeremy's face looked blank for a moment, and then his expression brightened.
"I see. If you two say so, there's no mistake... Jeremy, I believe in you too. I won't forget that action where you risked your life to protect me during the battle with the invasion force. From today, you are officially a member of this territory. I, as the lord, recognize you as such."
"...I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Lord Arqvist."
Jeremy dropped to one knee, placed his right hand over his left chest, and bowed his head to Noein. Noein stood up from his chair and stood before him.
"Jeremy, lift your head."
Following those words, Jeremy looked up at Noein.
"As the lord, I want you to live happily here from now on. I want you to work here, have a home, make friends, and... even if it's difficult right now, I want you to eventually find a new encounter and start a family. This is your new hometown."
Being spoken to in such a way, Jeremy answered with tears welling in his eyes.
"...From now on, I will surely prove myself useful to your lordship. I swear my unchanging loyalty to you."
Noein directed an expression full of benevolence toward Jeremy. With this, there should be no worry about him changing his heart again.
Jeremy would remain a member of the territorial army. His knowledge of the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Lancel and his abilities as a former courier and scout should continue to be useful on the border front.
.....
One day, as the season shifted to May. Today, as always, Noein was chased by administrative duties.
The counter-invasion from the Kingdom of Roadberg's side had settled down, and while there was no worry of the Kingdom of Lancel attacking again for the time being, he could not leave the defense of the invasion route—or rather, the Bezel Great Forest Road—which had become the new border, unsecured. He had been holding frequent meetings and repeated discussions with the executives of the garrison force.
Furthermore, Noein had to prepare for his elevation in rank. He also had to summarize the concepts and requests to convey to King Oscar in order to expand the territory's population and the scale of the territorial army. Busy days continued.
"So, after this, it was a discussion about the garrison force... right?"
After receiving a work report from Yuri in the lord's office, Noein muttered.
"Yes, with the Commander of the Kingdom Army's Ninth Legion and Marquis Bechtolsheim."
"The generals of the garrison force... that's heavy."
"It seems the nobles of the northwest have finally reached an agreement on which period and how much military force each territory will station in the Arqvist territory. Based on that, they wish to establish a medium-to-long-term defense plan."
The Kingdom Army's elite First Legion handled mobile operations, the Second Legion defended the royal capital, and the Tenth Legion handled the background work such as supplies and material management, while the Third through Ninth Legions were deployed throughout the country. The Ninth Legion was stationed in the ducal territory at the northern tip of the kingdom, and currently, a part of it had come to the Arqvist territory as reinforcements.
"Which means, once that discussion is over, the talk about securing the defense of the Great Forest Road will be settled for a while."
"Yes, then Noein-sama's work will likely become a bit easier. Just one more push."
"Yeees. Then I'll have to get fired up."
Saying so, Noein stood up, stretched lightly, left the office, and headed for the conference room. Matilda, his guard and adjutant, and Yuri, his close aide, followed behind.
In the conference room, the Commander of the Ninth Legion and Marquis Bechtolsheim were already waiting.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Noein took his seat, feeling slightly flustered. He was still merely a Baronet, yet he had appeared after making a high noble who was a faction leader and a Kingdom Legion Commander wait.
"It matters not. You must be a very busy man. The hero of the Battle of Bezel."
Marquis Bechtolsheim answered with a laugh. Noein returned a strained smile.
The previous battle with the invasion force had become established under the name "Battle of Bezel," and Noein was now a rumor in noble society as the hero who protected the kingdom. Though, the Marquis's current address likely contained a hint of teasing.
"Then, let us immediately begin the discussion regarding the future defense plan."
The one who began speaking was the Ninth Legion Commander. He was said to be around 30 years old and the eldest son of a certain Earl's house known as a prestigious military family.
"First, regarding our Kingdom Army Ninth Legion... for the time being, we will station half of the legion, a total of 500 men."
Marquis Bechtolsheim did not interrupt the Commander's proposal. The two of them had likely already reached an agreement.
"Next, the northwestern nobles... we intend to organize a coalition force of 500 men and place them at the front-line base. The core will be my Bechtolsheim Marquisate army, the Marcel Earldom army, the Shuvalov Earldom army, and the Koenitz Viscountcy army. Other noble territories will also contribute military force. Personnel will be rotated periodically, but the number of 500 soldiers will be maintained."
Marquis Bechtolsheim continued his proposal. The Commander raised no objection to this either.
"Therefore, a combined force of 1,000 men, the scale of one legion, will be stationed in the Arqvist territory. The costs for our side will be borne by the Kingdom Army, and the Northern Noble Coalition Army will be self-funded by each territorial army, so there will be no burden on Lord Arqvist. How does that sound?"
To the questioning Commander, Noein nodded and answered.
"That is no problem on my end. However, I would also like to send personnel from the Arqvist territorial army to the front-line base. It is a scale that doesn't even come close to the garrison force... but we cannot let it be that we shed no sweat at all for the defense of my territory, my homeland. Both I and my soldiers have our pride."
"As expected of Lord Arqvist, the hero; you are a paragon of the kingdom's nobility. I shall gladly accept."
While conveying "I am grateful" to the Commander, who nodded with an impressed expression, Noein showed a fake smile.
While there were certainly issues of pride and appearances, Noein also aimed to blend in his own people to monitor the garrison force.
He was welcoming a force of 1,000 men from outside the territory. Setting aside the disciplined Kingdom Army, the quality of noble territorial armies varied wildly. It would be troublesome if soldiers with low training, barely a step above thugs, behaved as they pleased near the territorial capital.
"Then, let us say the immediate defense plan is settled... we must also consider the long term."
"Yes... I believe the construction of a fort is essential."
When Marquis Bechtolsheim brought up the topic, the Commander responded thus.
"If we are to construct a fort, would it be at the current location of the front-line base?"
"That would be best. Since it was originally a campsite where the enemy placed 3,000 troops, sufficient open land has been secured. Besides, I hear the monsters in that area were all slaughtered by the enemy. Strong monsters rarely change their territories, so it can be said that it is safe now."
Marquis Bechtolsheim nodded to the inquiring Noein.
As the Marquis said, the area starting from where the front-line base was located was almost where the "depths of the Great Forest" were called, but there were still few strong monsters in that area, and humans could somehow enter. Moreover, the dangerous monsters within approximately several kilometers of that area had all been eliminated by the Kingdom of Lancel army, lured in by blood during the recent battle.
"Fortunately, the enemy likely won't take action for the time being, so we can simply use the soldiers of the garrison force for the construction of the fort. It would be a waste to just let them stand by and play... However, the construction costs will be the burden of the House of Arqvist. I want you to understand this."
"Of course, I don't mind. I understand."
To the Commander's words, Noein nodded immediately.
National defense is the duty of the kingdom's nobility. It is precisely because nobles protect the country at their own expense that they are granted administrative, judicial, and taxing rights in their territories by the royal family. The construction costs for facilities necessary for defense are, basically, borne by the lord of the land where the facility is placed.
The reason King Oscar promised Noein an elevation in rank and assistance was precisely because he expected Noein to eventually be able to handle border defense on his own. The construction of the fort could be called the first stage toward that.
That said, paying out of pocket to build a fort wasn't entirely a bad thing. Since he was paying the costs and building it within his own territory, the fort would become Noein's, and Noein would hold the command authority there. Furthermore, in this case, it was a profitable deal to be able to build the fort with only the actual costs of construction materials by using the garrison force as laborers.
"Regarding the fort, I would like the design to be matched to the combat power of the Arqvist territorial army. The equipment and military strength of my army have some slightly specialized parts."
"Ah, that's true... Lord Arqvist. How do you intend to aim for the reinforcement of your territorial army in the future? We must determine the long-term defense plan based on those details."
"I will explain my current concept. First, centering on the Ballista, which will serve as powerful defensive firepower—"
The discussion regarding border defense continued after that.