Fun Territory Defense Chapter 190 (Patreon)

Banquet with Murcia at the Castle

Whether I was convinced or not, Murcia agreed to have dinner with me to hear my story.

"What the heck, this is the first time you and Big Brother are having dinner together, isn't it?"

"Oh, yeah...and the place...it seems a little too awesome, though."

With a complicated expression on her face, Murcia shifted her gaze outside the keep. The sunset sky was beautiful, and the ridge edges were bright orange lines. Because we were looking from the top of the high castle, the area below us was also broad and reddish, and the lights on the castle walls in the foreground were evenly spaced, adding a modest amount of color to the view.

The view was spectacular, to say the least.

"It's a very nice view, isn't it?"

"...Yes, it is. I'm sure it is."

And for some reason, the conversation turned out to be like that of two lovers. Tyll arrived with the next dish. Let's get down to business.

With that in mind, I turned to Murcia. She was sitting on a cushion in a Japanese-style room, even though it was boarded up, and surrounded by a large round traditional japanese table, which I personally found to be a very relaxing space. Well, Murcia may not feel at home, but he will get used to it if he lives there.

"If Big Brother Murcia can help me, I would like to talk again about our future plans. Would you be willing to be the lord of this castle?"

When I told him this, Murcia gulped and straightened his back. She looked at me for a while without moving, but eventually opened her mouth as if in contemplation.

"...Of course, I've been ordered to assist Van. However, please help me as much as you can, okay?"

Murcia smiles as she says this. He seems to have agreed to help, albeit reluctantly. I feel at ease and decide to divulge the details of my plans for the future.

"Thank you, Big Brother! Then, first of all, I want you to protect this fortress city for one year! After that, as soon as our forces are ready, we plan to take the territory of Jiernetta Kingdom! We will take the territory in the direction of the sea, and finally we will have a port that connects to the central continent! At that time, Big Brother Murcia will be the lord of at least three citadel cities, so I want His Majesty to give him a title and put deputies in each city! So, from among those who come to this citadel in the future, I would like you to select and train 6 to 10 people each who can be knight commanders or deputies! It may be difficult to do this in one year, but I intend to send people with the highest aptitude possible, so I'll see what I can do..."

"Wait a minute! You're talking out loud with your crazy plan, are you sure about this?"

Murcia's eyes went black and white when he heard my grand plan of action. But we would never get the precious spices and ingredients we needed if we hesitated. We must gain a foothold on the central continent at all costs.

"Big Brother Murcia, if we can make inroads into Jiernetta Kingdom's territory, we will eventually be able to obtain the black jade. If that happens, no enemy will be worth fearing. You have nothing to worry about."

He looked Murcia straight in the eye and told her so. At this, Murcia's expression changed to one of surprise. Then she narrowed her eyes somewhat sadly.

I think I understand why Van, a child, was able to achieve such great accomplishments.

Murcia prefaces her words with this, and then she stands up.

"...So this magnificent fortress city will be my home from now on. Protecting this place is my mission...I understand, Van, that my strength may not be enough in some areas, but I will do my best to fulfill my role."

As he said this, Murcia walked out into the outer corridor of the keep and looked around, moving only his face. Finally, he turns toward us and opens his mouth.

"Well, then, I look forward to working with you from now on, Ba-ron-Va-n."

I stood up and bowed to Murcia, who smiled at me.

"Thank you! Big Brother Murcia!"

I thanked him, and Murcia laughed a little as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I feel like we're on opposite sides of the table, Van."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

I apologized and laughed, too, as if caught in the act. It was like having a family conversation for the first time in a long time, and I was happy.

However, our family time was cut short by a surprise attack.

"It's the enemy! Jiernetta Army is attacking!"

I hear a member of the knighthood yelling above the city walls and rush to stand next to Murcia in the outer corridor. Looking to the ground, he sees that fire arrows are just about to fly toward the castle walls one after another. However, fire arrows have no effect at all on the strongest walls, which Van-sama has painstakingly restored. It was firmly blocked by the Japanese-style roof and walls that Van-sama had retrofitted.

The more important question is how that good-eyed member of the Seat Village Knights did not notice the surprise attack. Could it be that there is a way to approach this base other than the city road?

Thinking so, I immediately order them to check the surroundings.

"Do you know where Jiernetta's army is coming from?"

I asked loudly to no one in particular. A couple of exchanges take place on the ramparts, and soon each of us is on the move. One by one, they split up to the left and right and moved over the ramparts, while the others stuck to the defensive ballistas. Furthermore, the members of the group who heard the message gathered one after another on the ramparts and turrets.

One of the group members headed for the right side of the ramparts turned around and shouted, "Van-sama!

"Van-sama! Jiernetta Army is coming out of the woods!"

"Eh? Was it hard to see them from this high up?"

"Yes! We had to be on the lookout for them all the time to be able to see them!"

"I see! Then, please take care of the defense!"

"Yes!"

After sharing information with the group members like that, we once again looked at Jiernetta's army forming a line behind the castle wall. Indeed, it seems that soldiers are joining the ranks one after another from the far right side. I mean, I can't believe the way they are forming up right in front of the opponent's base.

"...Maybe it's my imagination, but I don't feel much tension. I don't think it would be easy to stay calm when so many knights are attacking you..."

Murcia looks at me with a dumbfounded expression, and I open my mouth, shaking my head lightly from side to side.

"Well, I'm just trying to stay calm. But still, they came back so quickly after their last defeat. It's, definitely strange to come back so quickly, considering that they had lost an important defensive base"

"What? What do you mean? Why? Won't they consider that the city walls are being repaired, and it's only natural that they'd come and take it back in a hurry, right?"

Murcia tilted her head curiously. I nodded in reply.

"Well, I guess, that can be considered. Maybe I'm overthinking it... but a strong defensive base fell so quickly. On top of that, you wouldn't expect the Army of Scuderia, which showed up after breaking through the Wolfsburg Mountains, to have immediately reversed course and gone home. Why did you think there were only a few people left in this base?"

"...Perhaps."

Murcia wrinkled his brow and gulped, as if anticipating my guess. Perhaps we had arrived at the same prediction.

So I nodded my head in agreement.

"I see. That means that there is someone from Scuderia Kingdom who is spying on us, but that's just a guess on my part."