novelbest Chapter 182 : Chapter 182
Chapter 182 : Chapter 182
Chapter 182
“…What?”
Surprised by the sudden news of the Orcs' southward advance, the General jumped up and shouted.
“You mean the fortress has already fallen?! What is the enemy’s scale?”
“The enemy’s scale has not been confirmed yet! The ones scouting near the fortress haven't returned yet…….”
“Damn it.”
The General, letting out a sigh, fell into deep thought.
The fortress falling itself isn't a big problem.
No, to be precise, it’s fortunate.
Since most of the troops Moner had were in the fortress, if the fortress fell, Moner would have lost most of its troops, making it that much easier to trample.
But it’s too fast, way too fast.
‘I thought they could hold out for at least a week…….’
If the fortress couldn't last even a day and fell, the answer is one of two.
Either Moner is terribly weak compared to its reputation, or the enemy is far stronger than the Royal Army expected.
The General’s judgment was cold.
‘Even if Moner isn’t what it used to be…….’
It’s a family where the blood of heroes flows.
A family that has guarded the forest of demonic beasts for an incredibly long time.
If it were a fortress to fall in a day, it wouldn't have lasted through that long time.
‘Does it mean the Orcs are strong enough to destroy Moner’s stronghold?’
Sensing it would be a difficult battle, the General clicked his tongue and shouted to the soldiers.
“Summon the commanders immediately-!”
* * *
The commanders of the Royal Army shouted in unison.
“We must prepare for contingencies!”
“That infamous fortress fell in a day! We must wage a defensive war at Lier!”
“With the enemy’s scale unknown right now, the best choice is defense. Also, even if we occupy Lier, Moner, having lost its main force, won’t be able to resist at all.”
Although they cited the advantages of defense and siege warfare, ultimately, they meant they should occupy Lier.
“Hmm… It would be best if we could occupy Lier, but does it look like Lier will accept the Royal Army?”
The General agreed that occupying Lier was the best option, but there was no justification to enter Lier.
To protect Moner, they should have headed to the fortress.
Unless they were prepared for a siege, the three Counts remaining in Lier wouldn't open the gates themselves. To this, one of the adjutants spoke.
“Don’t they not know the situation of the fortress yet? Let’s use that as a pretext to deploy the Knight Order.”
“The Knight Order? How?”
“With most troops deployed to the fortress, isn't the level of soldiers remaining in Lier obvious?”
“That is true.”
“If we disguise the knights as messengers and deploy them one by one at regular intervals, it will be. It won't be difficult to open the gates even with just a single Knight Order entering.”
“Ho…….”
Lier must also want to know the situation of the fortress.
Send knights disguised as messengers pretending to be generous and infiltrate from the inside.
If Lier has no intention of opening the gates, opening them by force would suffice.
“Good, let’s try it.”
At least a week until the Orcs reach Lier.
He thought that time would be enough to occupy Lier.
* * *
Tehir of the Royal Army’s 1st Knight Order scratched his body with an unpleasant expression.
“Dirty Ranger bastards.”
When was the last time he washed his clothes?
A foul smell rose every time he walked.
To think this was the cleaner one.
“I’ll have to educate them properly when I return.”
Actually, he knew the Rangers weren't at fault.
It was the General who ordered them not to wear new clothes.
He just wanted to vent his anger as a proud knight disguised as a Ranger.
As he ran like a real messenger and arrived at Lier, the Rangers waiting on the wall raised their bows threateningly.
‘To dare point bows at this body, a knight of the Royal Army!’
He wanted to cut off all the arms of those insolent bastards, but an order was an order.
Quickly raising both hands, he shouted.
“Messenger! Messenger! I have brought news of the fortress!”
Certain that stupid Moner would never grasp the Royal Army’s scheme.
‘I am the last one. All the knights must already be gathered inside the walls. Tonight, we open the gates.’
While laughing thinking Moner’s idiots would be shocked to see the wide-open gates, a soldier came out and guided him.
“Thank you for coming. I will guide you this way.”
The moment he entered the gate following a soldier, dozens of soldiers surrounded him as if besieging him.
Tehir, seeing the soldiers’ fierce gazes, intuitively realized something was wrong and shouted.
“What is this rudeness to a messenger bringing news of the fortress!”
“We are just escorting you.”
At the soldier’s cold reply, enraged, he habitually grabbed his sword, but the soldiers just hastened their steps as if they didn't care.
‘Is it a misunderstanding……?’
Well, there’s no way they would suspect him wearing a Ranger’s leather armor and boots.
‘As the General said, it seems they are suspicious of the Royal Army.’
Thinking so, the moment he entered Lier’s inner city.
Count Natasha, leading hundreds of soldiers, shouted.
“Disarm immediately and surrender!”
“Wh, What……!”
“You cunning Royal Army knight who abandoned even honor! If you don't want to die, disarm immediately and surrender!”
The moment he saw hundreds of bows aimed at him.
Tehir realized.
That Moner knew everything from the beginning.
* * *
That night.
The General, looking at the firmly closed gates, opened his mouth.
“Failed.”
The exact situation is unknown.
It could be a situation where the knights infiltrated into Lier found it hard to move, simply bad luck, or their identity as knights was discovered.
What was certain was that the gate that should have opened didn't, and the operation involving a single Knight Order failed.
‘I thought it wouldn't be easy, but…….’
Lier’s walls were silent as a dead mouse.
The lack of commotion meant the infiltrated knights couldn't even attempt anything.
It meant they were wary of the knights disguised as messengers from the start.
“Tsk. Tell the waiting soldiers to rest.”
“Then… what will you do about the deployed knights?”
The General, pondering for a moment, walked towards Lier’s walls and said.
“I will go myself.”
* * *
“I apologize for being late.”
As Natasha entered the reception room more than an hour late and bowed her head, Ked strongly stopped her.
“It is my fault for visiting at such a late hour.”
Since it was clearly his fault for visiting at dawn.
“More than that, I heard you have something urgent to convey…….”
At Natasha’s words, Ked looked into her eyes and asked.
“Because the messengers sent to Lier haven't returned.”
“Yes?”
To the question asking if that was really the reason he came at this hour, Ked continued nonchalantly.
“As one leading the Royal Army, nothing is more important than the soldiers’ safety.”
Ked’s words were practically a threat.
A threat that he would hold her accountable if the knights weren't safe.
“Hmm…….”
Natasha, even at the fierce General’s threat, smirked and said.
“I apologize, but I don't know what you are talking about. No messenger has ever come to Lier.”
“What……?”
“No messenger has ever come to Lier.”
Even at the General’s momentum as if he would draw his sword any moment, Natasha didn't back down.
“Unless they were spies disguised as messengers.”
“Spies, spies you say…….”
Ked, chuckling, looked at her.
“…What do you plan to do with them?”
“Well. According to Kingdom law, shouldn't we cut off the spies’ tongues and heads and display them?”
At Natasha’s nonchalant voice, Ked growled and said.
“Count, the fortress has fallen.”
Until now, the Royal Army had been delivering false information to Lier.
To make Lier let its guard down.
“Even at this moment, tens of thousands of Orcs are marching south targeting Lier. In a few days, they will rush at Lier.”
With eyes asking if she could still be confident at this moment, he continued.
“Do you think you can survive without the Royal Army’s help?”
Ked was certain.
Once she realized the fortress had fallen, Natasha would have no choice.
If Moner were intact, maybe, but with the fortress fallen, the only thing she could rely on was the Royal Army.
“Let’s stop meaningless pranks. Release the knights and open the gates. Then I won't take the lives of Obsol’s residents and yours.”
There’s no way she, the Count of Obsol, feels loyalty to Moner.
Wasn't hers the family that persecuted Moner more than anyone just a year ago?
To survive, she would have no choice but to discard petty honor or whatever.
“Take my hand. I will speak well to His Majesty; who knows, maybe all this land will become yours?”
Of course, that won't happen.
No one among the central nobles acknowledges her, a concubine’s daughter, and even if Natasha helps the Royal Army, he intended to kill everyone including her.
The King’s order to kill everyone in Moner and the three Count families was firm.
Nevertheless, Ked thought Natasha would naturally take his hand.
Because he was the only one who could protect her from the tens of thousands of Orcs that would strike immediately, and save her from the Royal Army’s boots.
However, unlike his thought, what returned was
Cold ridicule.
“We do not need any help.”
“Your confidence is excessive. Or is it loyalty? With the troops remaining here, you won't last a day. Whether the Royal Army or Orcs survive, Lier’s downfall is set.”
“Do you really think so?”
For a moment, Ked, seeing the conviction filling her eyes, flinched.
‘Don’t tell me……?’
Did Lier manipulate information like the Royal Army?
Even knowing the cross-verified information while operating dozens of scout teams couldn't be wrong, he felt conviction strong enough to make him doubt himself.
‘No. That can’t be. The stupid bitch is just dreaming a vain dream.’
With the troops remaining in Lier, they can absolutely never protect Lier.
The only opportunity given to them is the Royal Army.
“The Royal Army will help. If it’s a defensive battle, we can easily block the Orc forces. You can think about what happens after that, after that.”
At the words containing the blatant meaning that they would attack Lier afterward, Natasha calmly shook her head.
“I tell you again, Lier does not need any help. If you wish to help Moner, go to the fortress.”
“Foolish thing! I told you that fortress has fallen!”
As the enraged Ked kicked his seat and stood up, Natasha spoke coldly.
“Unless you intend to insult me right now, it would be better for you to return.”
“Stupid bitch! You will regret today over and over! The Royal Army will give up the siege of Lier and return to Obsol! Do you think you can last even a single day without the Royal Army’s help?!”
Ked huffed and shouted, but Natasha was calm.
“Of course.”
That was conviction, not a guess or hope.
* * *
Humans are not attractive prey to Orcs.
Orcs’ staple food is demonic beasts containing magic power and magic power itself, and humans not blessed with mana were prey worse than demonic beast rabbits.
Nothing to eat, tasteless, and humans wielding armor and weapons are only dangerous.
- Grrrk!
Then why are the Orcs marching south instead of returning to the forest?
- Delicious smell! A delicious smell is coming from the south!
The supplies Lier gave to the Royal Army were not ordinary supplies.
Assuming the worst of the worst, wheat and rice mixed with finely ground magic stones, and even meat marinated deeply in mana solution.
- Hungry!
It was perfect bait to lure the starving Orcs.