Chapter 62 - Chapter 61: The Eve of War
The person who brought the first report to the Arqvist territory was an unexpected individual.
"Noein-sama! Excuse me!"
Saying this, Pence knocked violently on the door of the lord's office and entered.
Seeing his behavior, which carried an uncharacteristic sense of urgency, and his pale face, Noein stood up with a grim expression.
"Don't tell me the bandits have already attacked!?"
"No, it's only notice of their approach... but there isn't much time left. Philip the traveling merchant came to deliver the information. We need to prepare to intercept them immediately."
Relieved for the moment to hear that the bandits had not yet arrived, Noein looked surprised by Pence's report.
"Philip-san came to notify us? All the way to our territory?"
"Yes, please hear what he has to say."
Noein asked Matilda to summon the retainers, then left the mansion with Pence and headed toward the town square.
As Pence had said, Philip was waiting there. He had no carriage, and seeing his exhausted face, it seemed he had ridden his horse in haste solely to deliver the news of the bandits' approach.
"Philip-san."
"Noein-sama, information reached Retovik that a bandit group entered the Viscount Koenitz territory today. That is why I hurried here to notify you... The bandits are heading straight west, likely aiming for the Arqvist territory. They will arrive here tomorrow!"
"Thank you. Thanks to you, we can prepare to intercept them quickly. I don't know how to thank you..."
"No, don't worry about me. More importantly, please notify the people of the territory immediately."
"I am grateful. For now, please rest at my mansion. Your horse will need rest as well. After that... it would be dangerous to return to Retovik alone right now, so perhaps it would be better to stay here in the capital, Noeina?"
"Then, I will take you up on your kind offer and stay."
When Noein returned to the mansion with Philip, Matilda had already returned as well.
"Noein-sama, the summons are complete. Everyone is in the retainers' office. I have also gathered the prominent figures among the commoners; I hope that was acceptable?"
"Thank you, Matilda. That's for the best, it helps a lot."
Entering the retainers' office, which served as a meeting room, the gathered retainers and the leaders of the commoners all stood up at once and bowed their heads to Noein.
"Sit. Make yourselves comfortable."
The group sat down following Noein's instructions. Their expressions varied.
The retainers who were former mercenaries, such as Yuri, Pence, Radley, and Bart, appeared calm, but Edgar, Anna, and the commoners were clearly nervous.
Drawing their attention, Noein began to speak, striving to remain calm.
"As you have all heard, a bandit group is approaching the Arqvist territory. Their scale is just under 200 people."
At Noein's words, those who were not combat-class retainers stirred slightly. It was only natural.
"However, fortunately, we have a one-day grace period before the bandits arrive. The reason we were able to learn of their approach so early is thanks to Philip-san, the traveling merchant you all know well. Because he rode his horse to notify us, we can intercept the bandits in full readiness."
Hearing that there was still time, those who had been somewhat flighty seemed to regain their composure.
"...I believe we can win this fight. I believe we can annihilate the bandit group, not just drive them away. We have the Crossbows. I have my golems. The bandits do not know this."
As he spoke, Noein smiled slightly. At the lord's composed manner of speaking, the expressions of those in the office brightened a little.
"The plan to intercept the bandits is as we discussed previously. In terms of weapons and preparations, we have the advantage. All that's left is the spirit... as long as we do not fear the enemy, we can win. So, let us win. Let us all win and survive."
.....
The wooden fences that served as city walls surrounding Noeina, the capital of the Arqvist territory. Inside them, preparations to intercept the bandit group were being carried out throughout the night.
Barricades made of logs were built at both ends of the gates, narrowing the path so that a large number of enemies could not attack all at once even if they reached the gates.
Additionally, scaffolding was erected inside the wooden fences, allowing Crossbow bolts to be fired from atop the fences.
The number of Crossbows manufactured in time for this day was 47. There were over 1,500 bolts. Although labor had been concentrated on Crossbow production regardless of the impact on agriculture and land reclamation, it was an astonishing number considering the initial mass-production plan of "10 units by winter."
Crossbow firing training for the people of the territory had also been conducted intensively over the past few weeks, so everyone could handle them without issue.
A strategy utilizing the geographical advantage had also been devised.
"We've done all the preparations we can. Now we just wait... Are the evacuation preparations for the women and children complete?"
"Yeah. We're about to send them toward the riverbank. As the lord, please give them a few words."
Urged by Yuri, Noein headed toward the women and children gathered in the square. There, each was exchanging words with the husbands and fathers who were about to face battle.
They would be a hindrance in combat, and if the Arqvist territory lost the battle, it was obvious they would suffer a fate worse than mere death.
Therefore, Noein had ordered them to evacuate to the southwestern riverbank, so that in the event of an emergency—should the men be defeated—they could flee along the river to the Viscount Koenitz territory.
"Noein-sama, after all, I too should fight..."
"I'm sorry, but I cannot grant that request, Edgar."
Even if the women and children were being evacuated, the number of men protecting them could not be zero. Noein had assigned that role to Edgar and several other men.
"But... I no longer wish to abandon my comrades and flee."
Edgar had a past where he abandoned the village of his birth and drifted to the Arqvist territory with the surviving villagers. He likely remembered that time because of the role he had been given.
"Edgar. You were born into the village head's family and are skilled at leading many people. That is precisely why I am entrusting you with this role. You are not abandoning your comrades. You are keeping your comrades alive by preparing for the worst-case scenario. I want to entrust the lives of the women and children to you."
"...I understand. I promise I will definitely protect the women and children."
"Thank you. One more thing, if I die, I want you to release Christy from slavery. You are the witness."
When Noein said this, Edgar nodded, saying, "I have certainly received your request," but Christy, who had been listening nearby, turned pale and clung to Noein.
"Noein-sama! P-please do not say such sad things! I hate the idea of being released because Noein-sama has passed away! If that's how it's going to be, I would rather remain a slave forever!"
Noein gently stroked the head of the sobbing Christy and looked at her with an expression full of affection.
"Christy. You are clever. If the worst happens, once you are released from slavery, rely on Viscount Koenitz. You have the potatoes and soybeans, right? In an emergency, your role is to convey and spread their usefulness. You will leave behind what I have achieved here as the lord."
"N-no... Noein-sama, please come back alive..."
"Of course that is my intention. However, it is also my duty to prepare for the unlikely. To leave no regrets, I am entrusting the proof that I lived as a lord to you. Because it is you, Christy, I want to entrust this to you."
"Uuu... I understand. No matter what happens, I will absolutely convey this. But please come back. Please let me work under you more."
Lightly hugging Christy, who spoke while becoming a mess of tears and mucus, Noein asked Edgar to take her away and entrusted her to him.
Next, Anna approached.
"Noein-sama... what I want to say is the same as everyone else. Please live, and win."
"Thank you. I have the responsibility of having brought you to migrate here. I intend to survive properly and continue to let you enjoy the life of reclamation."
"Oh, I migrated of my own will, so it's my own responsibility, isn't it?"
"Actually, since I found out you were interested in our territory, I was gradually guiding you psychologically so that you would decide to migrate. I wanted an excellent retainer for administrative work."
"Was that so? Ufufu, as expected of Noein-sama, you are twisted. I'm satisfied with my current life, so it's fine though."
To Noein, who smiled mischievously, Anna responded with a chuckle.
"...I've got someone reliable, right? I'm counting on you in an emergency."
"Yes. In that case, I will use this money to create a place for all the survivors to go."
Noein had entrusted all his assets as a lord to Anna. If only the women and children survived, he intended for this money to be distributed to the survivors as sustenance for their subsequent lives.
"Also, in that case, I ask a message to be delivered to Viscount Koenitz."
"Yes, what shall I tell him?"
"Tell him, 'I'll come back as a ghost and destroy the House of Viscount Koenitz.'"
"Fufu, is it really okay to say such a thing?"
"Yeah, once you're dead, you have nothing to fear."
Noein declared this while laughing airily.
"...I, and my husband Edgar, wish to work as Noein-sama's retainers forever. So please win."
"I know."
Finally, he exchanged words with Anna with a serious expression.
Meanwhile, the men were finishing their farewells with their respective partners and families.
"Yuri..."
"It's okay, I'll win and survive... but if the worst happens, I'm counting on you with the children."
Saying this, Yuri hugged his wife, Mai.
"Bart-san, we've only just met..."
"Don't cry, Michelle. There's no way I'll die, right? A fight like this will be over soon. Then we'll spend happy days again."
Bart also embraced his new wife, Michelle, and gave her a firm kiss.
"Radley-san, please be safe."
"Hehe, I'm as sturdy as an orc, there's no way I'll be killed by some bandits. I'll win quickly, and by tomorrow noon, I'll eat your home cooking again."
"Hahaha, you're right. It'll definitely be okay... waaaaah, please stay alive."
"Idiot, don't cry."
To the clinging, crying Gina, Radley spoke while acting embarrassed.
"...Pence."
"Hmph, I'm a loner anyway."
When Noein called out to Pence, who was standing awkwardly, Pence muttered as if slightly sulking.
"The women and children should probably go soon. Let's meet again later."
Yuri called out, and while feeling the reluctance, the men parted from their families. While swearing in their hearts that they would definitely reunite.
While seeing off the women and children walking toward the riverbank, Noein asked Matilda, who was attending beside him.
"...Matilda, I'll ask one last time, but you won't evacuate with the other women, will you?"
"I am terribly sorry. That is the only instruction I cannot follow. Please let me protect you by your side."
"The enemy are bandits. If I'm captured, I'll just be killed, but you—"
"I possess a magic tool for ignition. In that event, I will bite off my tongue and set myself on fire. Every single hair, every piece of skin, every drop of blood of mine is Noein-sama's property. Moreover, if Noein-sama were to pass away, there would be no meaning in my living."
"...I understand. I am grateful for your resolve and loyalty, Matilda."
"It is my honor, Noein-sama."
Noein, who smiled while making firm eye contact with Matilda, told the men, "Let's prepare for battle."