Book 5-10.4

Marquis Spotch finished Stearthur’s sentence.

“But if you do that, the enemy could use their numbers of siege weapons to destroy the watchtower. Or, even worse, the watchtower may be taken by the enemy, giving you an even bigger headache.”

“Yes. You are right. That was why we only installed it around the fortress.”

“That was the right decision.”

“We also took into consideration about the situation where a siege weapon manages to make its way in and have created small traps across the road. They are easily visible, but they will end up taking a lot of damage from our archers if they try to fill the traps.”

Marquis Spotch nodded his head.

“That is also very good. You prepared quite a bit.”

“Shouldn’t a knight who is not in the front lines at least make this type of preparations properly? Although this area has now become the front lines.”

Marquis Spotch had a pretty satisfied expression on his face as he started to speak.

“We will use the gate to give those barbarians a significant hit. After that, I will give you the position of vanguard when we go over to reclaim the Fedore region. If we also manage to take back Fedore, come with me to the front lines. I will help you.”

Viscount Stearthur was very happy.

He had managed to take charge of the Henkel Gate because his abilities were respected, but Stearthur thought he did not deserve to be stuck somewhere like this. His battlefield was beyond this gate in his eyes.

If Marquis Spotch, the most respected master of the Empire recommended him and took him to the front lines with him, he would be able to show everything he has had to suppress until now.

“Thank you very much, Marquis Spotch-nim.”

“Good. Now we just have to wait for those barbarians to attack. If we break their morale and counterattack, it is an easy trek to Fedore.”

Spotch Rin Cullery had a look of confidence on his face as he turned to look toward the plains where the enemy was located.

Tom, who was shooting arrows from the first wall of the famous three-walls of Henkel Gate, was thinking that his luck was extremely terrible.

If he was lucky, he would be stationed at the impregnable third wall.

“What the hell are they doing?”

Tom looked out at what was going on in the plains before mumbling in confusion.

At first, he thought they were installing a siege weapon. It was, after all, the most effective weapon to attack the gate that he was defending.

However, believing that the weapon will be destroyed long before it arrived at the gate, and also believing that his luck was not so bad that he would be killed by an unexpected boulder flung toward the gate, Tom was not too worried.

Maybe they were trying to make fun of Tom’s speculation, but it was not a siege weapon. It was not high, but slowly, a wall was being built in front of Henkel Gate.

“I just can’t figure out what those barbarians are thinking.”

Count Shaibong, who had followed to assist Marquis Spotch, started to mumble to himself while watching the wall starting to be built on the other side. Viscount Stearthur answered his question.

“Isn’t it obvious? They don’t dare to hit our gate so they are trying to restrict our movement.”

“So they are building a castle wall in the middle of a war?”

“It is because they know the few situations that would make us open the gate and head out.”

One of the disadvantages and potential weakness of Henkel Gate was that each of the three iron gates of the fortress were tall and heavy beyond comparison. Their size and weight made it take over an hour to close it back once they opened the gate.

Although it was true that they would still be able to defend a good amount of the enemy’s attack even if the gate was opened, it was not a good idea once you thought about the potential crisis that may arise.

“We will need to secure the entrance region.”

As Marquis Spotch coldly answered after looking around, Count Shaibong agreed with him.

“Yes. However, I am worried that we are unable to anticipate any of the enemy’s movement.”

Even if our formation is broken because of the enemy’s counterattack, we just have to come back. We should not need to worry about that.”

Marquis Spotch turned his head to glare at Viscount Stearthur.

“You think I will fall to those barbarians’ attack?”

It was only then that Viscount Stearthur realized his mistake. He could not say something like that as long as Marquis Spotch was the commander.

“Of course not. I am just trying to prepare for all potential situations.”

“Something like that will never happen.”

“Of course not.”

Viscount Stearthur reminded himself to watch his words from now on as he answered. Marquis Spotch gave his order at this time.

“Prepare the knights and the cavalry for battle. Once the two groups start to take control of the area, Count Shaibong will immediately head out and start to surround the area and create a defensive formation. Do not forget that the enemy is very mobile.”

“I will do as you commanded.”

Knowing that the enemy had a cavalry and rode pirmas which were 0.5 times larger than horses,Marquis Spotch decided to forego the infantry and just only the knights and cavalry to secure the area.

“What will you do about the gate defense?”

Spotch thought for a moment after Stearthur’s question.

‘We will not need troops stationed here if we take the area in front of us. Once we secure that area, we will need a lot of heavy armored soldiers to counter their mobility. However, if we can defeat them and push them back to the Fedore region quickly, they might launch a surprise attack on the gate.’

Marquis Spotch weighed the options before finally answering.

“With 5,000 soldiers, you should be able to defend against any surprise attacks even if I am not here. At least until I return that is.”

“That should be enough.”

Marquis Spotch had a satisfied expression after Stearthur’s response and ordered Stearthur to continue to defend the gate as he prepared for his campaign.

‘We will instantly secure this front area and prepare for the enemy’s detached forces.’

Marquis Spotch believed that the barbarians would not be able to hold off an attack of a well-trained knights brigade and cavalry. He was confident. Especially since he, a master of the Empire, was going to be in the front leading them.

***

“They are coming out.”

Yulian started to mumble after seeing dust start to appear by the gate.

“They need to come out.”

Runa started to smile as he answered.

“Didn’t they choose to walk out with their own two feet? Everything will go naturally. And with the enemy commander being a master, he must be full of confidence.”

“I hope the gate’s defense is a small amount of soldiers……”

“If a lot do not come out, we just need to eat up the ones that came out first.”

Yulian had a worried expression on his face after Runa spoke.

He was confident about battling, but in order to take control of the gate’s door and distract the enemy archers, Violet and the Red Storm were going to charge through the gate that had thousands of soldiers with just thirty people. He was worried about Violet and the Red Storm.

“Do not worry too much, Glow. Each of the Red Storm are at the level of the enemy’s masters. Plus, isn’t Violet-nim with them? It is pretty much already decided.”

“True, but it does not change the fact that I am worried.”

“It will go as planned.”

Runa was answering confidently, but secretly, he too was worried.

This one battle would decide whether they take the gate or receive a significant damage to the Red Storm and Violet. They might even lose all of them.

Just one battle.

The curtain started to lift in the battle for the Henkel Gate.

CONTINUED TO THE END