Chapter 127
Translator: Raizu
Editor: Shirayuki
Chapter 127 – Fort Troia
[I’ll stay here for a while to build ourselves a proper unit of Aryans . ]
Darius told Ares . It was the day after the Aryans were successfully suppressed .
[Seeing Milord’s White Legion, I feel the urge to create a unit with similarly strong soldiers . ]
The Aryans were certainly strong by nature . However, they’re very lacking in terms of military specifications .
But… what if they were taught proper tactics? What if their immense individual power was consolidated into a united group?
Therefore, Darius said that he would do just that .
He’s certainly qualified for the task . His wife is the chief’s sister and he has the overwhelming valor needed to make the Aryans obey him .
In any case, the Aryans didn’t really know what they’re signing for . Thus Ares needed someone to guide them… at least until he can do so himself .
Darius was certainly qualified . But there was one problem .
His power is needed elsewhere . They still have to deal with the Northern Barbarians after all .
[Well, I’ll rejoin with Milord back after the matter with the northern barbarians had been resolved . There are already Sigurd and Shion, surely they can still make do even without me?]
[… . . you’re being too carefree of a person there…]
Ares sighed . If Darius already made up his mind, then there is probably nothing Ares can do to change it .
In the end, Ares allowed Darius to stay for at most a year’s time .
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After parting with Darius and dispersing the White Legion, Ares rode alone to the north . Toward Fort Troia to be exact .
After Ares decided that the place would be a key point in dealing with the northern barbarians a year ago, a fort was hastily built there .
The fort would not only serve as a defensive line against the barbarians, but also as a deterrent for the northern invaders .
But since then, there was barely any major battle occuring . The fort… had apparently become a small town, thanks to the travelling merchants interacting with the soldiers that were stationed there .
[Alright then… with Sigurd and Shion, I doubt that it’s going to be that hard… and what do we have here?]
Along the way, Ares saw traces of battle . Not only that, many of the northern villages had been burnt down . But strangely there was no sign of looting or strewn corpses around . Then, what’s the point in burning down the village?
[Shion wouldn’t do something like this, would he…? I’ll just have to ask him what is this all about…]
While Ares muttered to himself, his beloved horse also chimed in .
〈You know, I could also use some rest…〉
[What are you talking about? A Kirin of all horses shouldn’t say something like that . Come on now, it’s just a little bit more until the fort . Just one last push…]
〈… . . My master really is a slavedriver…ah, never mind . Here I go . 〉
Ares arrived at Fort Troia before sundown . He checked the fort’s condition, and was thoroughly surprised .
[Isn’t this fort… a little too big?]
It was only a year since Ares declared this place as the key point and dispatched the troops here . Each corps would send their members to guard the fort in a shift . Everytime the guard changes, the fort would either be repaired, renovated, and sometimes he heard that they also gradually enlarged it…
[Shion… you’ve really done it this time . This is now a bonafide fortress . ]
And another surprising part, there was a town surrounding the fort . Suffice to say that Heinz was ready for anything… but nobody will say it’s easy . Still, the small town was there, complete with houses and shops .
Why did a lot of people gather here? Of course because there are a lot of soldiers standing guard in the fort . People can trade with these soldiers after all . That’s why many merchants, street vendors and even prostitutes flocked to this place .
Moreover, it’s pretty much the safest place in the entire north at the moment with the fort protecting it . Therefore many villagers from surrounding villages also migrated to this place, in the end forming a large town .
While looking at such a scene around him, Ares entered the fort .
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Once the news of Ares’ arrival spread, a military council was held immediately .
[Welcome, Milord . ]
The first to welcome Ares was Shion .
[Yeah, you too . And thank you for the hard work, everyone . ]
Starting with Roland on the left, all military officers serving to guard the area were here .
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Then a bit at the back… Ares noticed one of his long time confidants, who responded to his gaze with a nod .
[And Sigurd too . ]
[I’ve been waiting for Ares-sama to arrive here everyday . ]
Sigurd replied with a refreshing smile .
[Everyone, please have a seat . ]
[Thank you . ]
Once Ares sat down, the others also followed suit .
[Well then, can you please tell us the current situation? And also about those burned villages?]
Shion stood back up to those words, unfurling a map of the northern area .
[There have been two skirmishes so far . ]
Shion reported as he pointed his war fan to the grassland north of Troia Fort on the map .
[The enemy was 20,000 strong cavalry . We fielded an equal amount from the second corps, led by Sigurd . As for what happened, I’ll let Sigurd himself explain . ]
Shion paused there, giving Sigurd a chance to speak .
[It’s like they are gauging us . They only clashed with us for a while, retreating before things got too bloody . ]
Shion then took over from there, pointing his fan to the northeast .
[The second skirmish happened here, northeast of Fort Troia . This time the attacker had more numbers than before at 30,000 strong . ]
Then the war fan moved to the location where the burned villages were .
[The difficult part in fighting them off is to predict their movement . We managed to evacuate the villagers in advance, thankfully… but the barbarians still burned down the villages . What Milord saw was the ruins of those villages . ]
[Ah… that’s why… there was no sign of looting and killing . ]
[It’s a diversion… I should say that in advance . And to prevent them from looting the people . ]
Shion then moved his fan to Troia .
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[And so, they tried to storm Fort Troia . ]
[!? They suddenly raided this place?]
[Yes . It’s pretty much their biggest target . Not only does this place serve as our base of operations, but they could also loot the town that surrounds this fort . ]
Then Shion grinned .
[But this time, not only were they up against the second corps, but there were also the third corps… and the dragon rider knights . ]
[So you made use of the dragon knights in this clash… how’s the result?]
[Although they were caught off guard by the aerial attack, they were also quick to regroup their scattered troops and counter-attacked . ]
Ares was surprised upon hearing Shion’s report . He thought that the barbarian would be defeated due to the confusion .
[Their greater number was probably meant to exchange one of their soldiers for one of ours . In the end we’ll end up losing… But probably sensing something amiss, they immediately left like the wind after a short clash… truly a good move they had there . ]
Shion praised someone, which is unusual . Sigurd then made a follow up .
[The barbarians were doing good… no, rather, it’s their leader who was good… even I can say so as well . ]
[Hee . Is there really someone among the barbarians who deserved to be praised by Shion and Sigurd like this?]
[There are . Two of them in fact . ]
Sigurd continued on .
[One of them is the chief of one of the northern barbarian tribes . His fearlessness and outstanding leadership could possibly bring the many tribes together . I have a feeling that he is the commander of these invading forces . ]
After a short pause, Sigurd continued almost excitedly .
[But… even better than him was the foreigner who accompanied him . ]
[Foreigner?]
[Yes . I believe Ares-sama has told me about them before… that man dressed like a warrior from the far east . ]
[……… . ]
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Ares was intrigued by Sigurd’s story . So he asked the latter for more details .
[I underestimated them, thinking that the battle would end quicker if I took their general’s head… so I aimed at the barbarian chief’s head, but the foreigner was able to prevent me from doing so . ]
Sigurd’s eyes stared to the distance as he recalled the skirmish .
[I knew from a single glance that this foreigner is a warrior . It was quite obvious from the number of spears he brought . This foreigner… if I have to make an estimation, he’s probably on par with me or Darius . ]
Everyone in the room turned silent . Each of them recognized the valor of both Sigurd and Darius . That’s why it was quite shocking to hear Sigurd’s estimation .
Shion was the one to break the silence .
[His commanding ability is also good . Probably as good as the tribe chief… or maybe better . ]
Ares pondered for a while after hearing the report, then called out a name .
[Zekka . ]
[Yes, Milord . I’m here . ]
A shadow rose from beside Ares, gradually revealing the form of a man . But no one was surprised at the scene . Everyone simply watched silently .
[I want you to thoroughly investigate the identity of these two people who led the attack to Troia Fort . ]
[As you wish . ]
Zekka then disappeared back into the shadow just like how he appeared .
[So… a barbarian tribe chief and a foreigner . I’m actually glad that there is someone like this tribe chief among the barbarians]
After murmuring the last part to himself, Ares continued on .
[What worries me is actually this foreign warrior that Sigurd spoke about . Just what kind of man…]
Ares unconsciously grinned when he said that . Seeing this, both Sigurd and Shion sighed, well aware of what’s going on when their lord had that kind of smile .
Yes, it has begun, once again .
[I want… I want to recruit that foreigner . But first I have to understand just what kind of man he is…]
Ares chuckled as muttered to himself .