The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 120

“The vanguard of the offensive reportedly includes a previously unidentified group of monsters.”

“Unidentified monsters?”

“Yes. Their exact nature is unknown, but their appearance differs from that of existing monsters.”

The complaints about the troops abandoning the defense line and retreating subsided. Arguing about what had already happened wouldn’t change the fact that they had retreated. Instead, the conference room buzzed with discussions about countermeasures against the seven-figure monster horde and the mysterious new monsters.

“What should we do?”

“Is that even a question? We must mobilize troops to stop them, of course! How else do you think we acquired this land?”

“Easy for you to say. It’s a million! A million monsters! At that number, we’ll be trampled just by them surging forward!”

“What have you been seeing until now? Before Glory [a period of great victories], monsters were mere pebbles on the road, and even the higher species were nothing more than scarecrows. Are you telling me you’re afraid of some monsters?”

“Who said I was afraid! This is an unprecedented situation, so we need to come up with rational countermeasures! And even if they’re pebbles, a million of them could easily bury someone like you!”

“Are you done talking!”

“Enough! That’s enough from both of you.”

It would be a great misunderstanding to think that all nobles, just because they received higher education, are intelligent and rational. In particular, most of the expeditionary forces were those who wielded swords on the front lines, so many had fiery tempers. Because of this, whenever a meeting was held, the atmosphere quickly heated up after some initial discord, and it always ended with my father-in-law mediating.

“First of all… it would be good to gather detailed information. We need to verify if the reports are exaggerated, confirm their route if they’re true, and identify the unidentified monsters. There is still too much information missing to discuss countermeasures.”

Once the conference room quieted down, the meeting would usually end with me presenting a solution based on the meeting records and my own deliberations. But now, there was no particular solution to offer. In fact, even if the information I mentioned came in, no brilliant countermeasures would emerge.

No matter how good a plan is, it is nothing more than an empty theory if the surrounding environment and situation do not support it. A fire attack requires firewood to burn, a seduction scheme requires a beauty, and a water attack requires water nearby; otherwise, they cannot even be attempted.

The problem was that this place, the Land of Monsters, had nothing that could be used for schemes. The terrain consisted only of low hills, and while there was firewood to use for fire attacks, the monsters could easily escape since the surroundings were open.

Since there was no main base to raid, and it was impossible to surround or feint against such a large number, planning was bound to be difficult. To put it bluntly, the Land of Monsters was a place that did not allow for any tricks other than a direct power struggle.

“First, gather the troops from the other defense lines to District 6. We may have given up District 7, but we must defend District 6.”

District 7 could be given up. It had only been secured for less than a year anyway. The defense line was weak, and development was only under discussion, not even started yet. The blood and sweat shed to acquire that land were regrettable, but conversely, that was all it was.

However, District 6 was different. The moment it was given up, direct losses would occur, as well as damage to the achievements and legends the expeditionary force had been building. Even the attitude of the nobles, who were pouring their wealth into the expedition, only listening to the golden news from the north, would collapse.

“If so, how many troops should we…?”

“If the report is true, the other sectors won’t be the same as usual either. Leave only the minimum defense force. May I have your permission, Your Excellency?”

“So be it. Then who should we entrust with reconnaissance?”

“I will go myself.”

#

All areas of the Safety Zone were put on emergency alert. From Titans [giant humanoid war machines] and knights to mages and ordinary soldiers, all troops except for the minimum number needed to defend the defense lines began to gather towards District 6. Among them was Marquis Pongk, who had recently abandoned his promise to not enter the Safety Zone, claiming that he was bored of wielding his sword against monsters that couldn’t resist, and whose only job was sparring.

“A million? That’s enough to give my sword a taste of blood.”

The one thing he had promised Renil in exchange for the creation of Ruin [Marquis Pongk’s Titan] was to be at the forefront of slaying monsters. However, the validity period of that promise was only a few years. In fact, Renil didn’t think he would keep his promise. Given his personality, it was surprising that he hadn’t returned to the mainland until now.

Nevertheless, Renil had Ruin made for him because there was a need to create a dedicated machine for the Master [a highly skilled warrior], even if it wasn’t for that promise, and the return was greater than the risk, even if he only moved during the early stages of the expedition.

As much as Renil had expected, he didn’t express any particular dissatisfaction even though he was doing odd jobs relatively behind the lines after leaving the front lines. Marquis Pongk had broken his promise first, so it would have been okay to take Ruin back, but Marquis Pongk was aware of this and didn’t go so far as to return to the mainland altogether.

Battles with the strong were always welcome, but battles with mages were one of the battles he avoided because they lacked the feel, and he wanted to avoid not being able to board Ruin again, no matter how the results turned out.

While moving such Marquis Pongk to the front lines, Renil headed to the scene of the incident faster than anyone else. There was so much information to find out. The only information the defense forces had in their hands now was the number of enemies. They were surprisingly ignorant of everything else, such as the composition of the enemy and where they were headed.

‘A power struggle is for amateurs.’

Even if the expeditionary force was gathered as much as possible, it would only amount to two hundred thousand. Perhaps fifteen hundred knights and about two hundred Titans. At least as far as Renil was aware, it was difficult to gather more than this. A sufficient number to wage war against the three kingdoms bordering the southern part of the empire. Nevertheless, a power struggle was the lowest of the low.

‘A million is not just some dog’s name…’

Let’s forget about the 1:5 ratio. Soldiers and monsters who only rely on numbers can put an end to the battle, but they cannot determine the direction. Numbers alone could not overcome the knights, Titans, and higher species. So how would the fight between the higher species and the knights go? Renil could easily guess the result.

‘In the end, one hand cannot block ten hands.’

Even if we count only 1%, that’s ten thousand. On the other hand, the expeditionary force had fifteen hundred troops. The two hundred Titans could face several enemies at the same time, but the thirteen hundred knights also had to face the higher species in groups. Moreover, humans had a fatal weakness that they could never overcome.

Magic power.

The best helper and the worst weakness for humans to fight against monsters. The fact that they can confront monsters because they have magic power also means that they are helpless without magic power.

When a full-scale battle breaks out, the Titans will be able to operate for no more than half a day at most. If they cannot end the battle within that time, the battle will inevitably be a defeat, regardless of the war situation up to that point.

‘It’s absurd.’

Can a battle with a force of over one million, simply in terms of numbers, end in half a day? It was an impossible story, no matter how optimistic the situation was viewed. Besides, who knows what power the unidentified monsters have.

There was no possibility in a direct power battle, but the surrounding situation was forcing a power struggle. If anyone were in Renil’s position in this situation, they would have no choice but to rack their brains. The only hope was that the monsters were even more foolish than expected.

‘I can only hope that the monsters are more stupid than I think.’

#

“I am sorry, Count Hughes. The punishment for deciding to retreat without even fighting…”

“No. If the report is true, it was a wise decision not to push the empire’s soldiers into a battle with no chance of winning.”

The forces of the District 7 defense line were more intact than expected. They were able to quickly grasp the enemy’s movements because they had not neglected reconnaissance, and they minimized losses with quick and wise decisions.

It wouldn’t have been an easy decision. Just looking at the atmosphere of the conference room when the urgent report was received, one could tell. The commander in front of me couldn’t have been unaware of that fact. For a knight, showing his back to the enemy was no different from shame.

Nevertheless, he ran away without looking back. If the contents of the urgent report were true, he must be a truly excellent commander.

“More than that, is the content of the urgent report true?”

“······You can judge it as the excuse of a cowardly man who ran away without even fighting. But please believe me. They were filling the horizon. If anything, there were more, never less.”

“······Are you sure you weren’t deceived or hallucinating?”

Not all monsters are irrational individuals like ogres or trolls. Some individuals among species such as werewolves and vampires are intelligent enough to communicate with people. In particular, species such as vampires may be relatively weak in combat, but they are troublesome enemies because they show greater abilities in non-combat areas, such as deceiving people’s eyes or using unique abilities. My question was whether he had fallen for such a trick.

“That can’t be. My skills may not be outstanding, but I’m not so easily fooled by such evil magic. Furthermore, there are quite a few knights on the District 7 defense line who have reached the Master’s Wall [the peak of martial skill]. There’s no way they all could have been deceived.”

That was not wrong. The higher the level, the higher the magic resistance, and magic of a certain level could not deceive their senses. If an enemy appeared who could use that level of ability, it could be said to be as threatening as a million enemies in some ways.

‘This has become troublesome.’

I was hoping. As the saying goes, ‘maybe’ can catch a person, and if the contents of the urgent report were false, it wouldn’t be too difficult to re-secure the lost District 7. I would have to go up and check it myself, but if he says this much, it would be right to postpone the ‘maybe’ for later.

“Just one more question.”

“You can ask me a hundred more times if it’s something I can answer.”

“I heard in the urgent report that an unidentified monster was at the forefront. Did you confirm its identity?”