Chapter : 14

“Hmm….”

I swallowed a groan.

Captain Konrad's words weren't just about subjugation. He was taking it a step further, suggesting we build a fortress while we were at it.

Of course, it made sense.

Because if you go further up from the current pioneering area, two great mountain ranges that cut through the Great Forest appear.

Crossing these steep, cliff-like mountain ranges is next to impossible.

Therefore, if we build a fortress at the point where the two mountain ranges meet, the area below it can be safe from monster attacks.

“Indeed. You are right, Captain Konrad.”

It was a pretty good idea.

I coveted Captain Konrad's strategic insight.

“What do you think, Chamberlain Hamil? Isn’t it worth a try?”

“Hmm…. That is true, but….”

“But?”

Chamberlain Hamil spoke to me in a worried tone.

“We could end up losing many soldiers if the battles increase. Will that be alright?”

Soldiers weren't something you could make just by having money.

Just putting a spear and armor on someone didn’t make them a soldier. If it did, any lord would have just conscripted their domain's residents and used them as soldiers.

To become a soldier, one needed the bold courage to hold one's ground against man and beast charging at them, the strong stamina to fight all day in heavy armor, and the martial skills to kill people efficiently.

Therefore, creating a single soldier was an extremely difficult and time-consuming task.

There was a reason they were hired and paid a hefty sum every month.

“That is certainly a valid concern.”

I nodded at Hamil's concern.

“But can’t we proceed in a way that doesn’t cause great harm to the soldiers?”

“Is there such a way?”

Chamberlain Hamil asked back. Captain Konrad next to him also seemed half in doubt.

I looked at them and shrugged.

“Can’t we just burn it all down? It's a forest, so there's plenty to burn anyway. Let's just set it ablaze.”

* * *

-Dum, dum, dum!

The soldiers marched to the beat of the drums. Each of them held a torch in their hands. The carts at the rear were loaded with oil.

My army was headed for the Kruk settlement beyond the hill.

It was the first Kruk horde we encountered in the newly revised subjugation area after listening to Captain Konrad.

“Will this really be alright, my Lord? To set a fire like this….”

Chamberlain Hamil, who was following beside me, asked cautiously.

The plan I came up with was completely outrageous.

Wherever there was a Kruk settlement, we would burn the forest down and wipe it out. It was a truly crude method, but it worked in its own way.

As long as the conditions were right, the forest was the perfect environment for a fire.

However, it was something that most nobles would never do.

“Human Lord. Isn't the Bollinwood from this forest your domain's specialty? But is it really okay to burn it?”

“It could take decades to restore the destroyed forest, my Lord. Ahem.”

“Meeeh~. A huge amount of money is vanishing into thin air.”

Even though the concept of environmental protection didn't exist in this era, they weren't ignorant of the importance of forests.

Good quality wood was a prime material used in everything from construction to various goods, and the forest was also a valuable resource for obtaining medicinal herbs, mushrooms, and various animals.

There was a reason they had a position called Gamekeeper to manage the forest separately.

But now, I was saying I would burn such a forest, and a major source of the domain's specialty product at that.

“Isn’t it a place we have to reclaim anyway? On the contrary, if we burn it all down, it will be good for the soil's fertility and make reclamation easier, so it’s fine.”

In the first place, even if we burned it, it was an extremely small part when looking at the Great Forest as a whole.

Rather, my worry was the fire spreading uncontrollably in all directions.

‘If the fire spreads because we set it wrong, it will be a real catastrophe.’

Even in modern times, they struggle to extinguish forest fires, so it goes without saying for the medieval era. We would have to prepare thoroughly in advance before setting the fire.

“Ugh…. Understood.”

In the end, at my calm words, they all just sighed and followed my orders. They hurriedly urged the soldiers to prepare to set the fire.

And a short while later, when all preparations were complete and even the wind was on our side.

“Now. Let’s try some Kruk hunting.”

I took the torch handed to me by a soldier.

And I threw the torch towards the prepared underbrush.

-Whoooosh!

The incredibly humid Great Forest blazed up as if it were a pile of tinder-dry firewood. It was all thanks to the oil spread around.

The fierce flames traveled along the trail of oil and quickly spread beyond the hill.

The Kruk horde’s settlement was there.

“Krrraaaaaarrrr-!”

The sudden rain of fire threw the Kruks into confusion. The flames engulfed their settlement before they could do anything.

Acrid black smoke billowed up, and Kruks with their entire bodies on fire came running out in all directions.

But what greeted them were armed humans.

“Stab them-! Don’t let a single one live!”

Chamberlain Hamil shouted.

It was a pity, but there was no turning back once the fire was set. Chamberlain Hamil came to his senses and commanded the soldiers.

And soon, they met the Kruks who were frightened out of their wits by the flames.

Kwajijik!

The sound of flesh tearing filled the air. The Kruks ran onto the tightly packed spearheads and became skewers.

Despite this catastrophe, the Kruks at the back followed suit and died.

Where had the ferocity they showed before gone? Like terrified conscripts, they only ran.

“Gwahahaha! They’ve become a flock of meek sheep-!”

Seeing that, Captain Konrad laughed heartily and swung his halberd.

Thwack!

The incredibly hard skull of a Kruk split in half.

Crunch!

And before its body could even fall, it was bent, broken, and smashed. The excited Captain Konrad charged towards the Kruks, swinging his halberd.

Limbs flew through the air, and jets of green blood shot up into the sky.

“Waaaaaaaaah-!”

Soon after, the Blackrock Mercenary Company followed their captain into the blazing Kruk settlement.

A feast of slaughter unfolded everywhere.

“Don’t let a single one escape-!”

I shouted, having climbed onto a high mound. It was a place where I could see the entire battlefield at a glance.

The Kruk settlement had been devoured by the surrounding flames and had become a sea of fire.

-Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh!

-Whoooosh!

Lest the fire go out, wherever the flames weakened, I encouraged the soldiers to send a volley of fire arrows.

Thanks to that, the fire did not die down and continued to grow in size.

“Kill-!”

Kwajijijik!

“Krruuuaaarrrrraaaak-!”

Crunch!

Amidst the flickering flames, only the death shrieks of the Kruks filled the air.

The corpses of the Kruks piled up like mountains around the encirclement.

Along with the acrid smell of burning flesh, the ground became slick with green blood.

Soon, not long after, the battle, no, the massacre came to an end.

“Hah, hah. It’s a great victory! My Lord.”

“What are the casualties! Hamil.”

I yelled out on the still-chaotic battlefield. At that, Captain Konrad came up beside me and shouted.

“Gwahaha! If there were any deaths in a battle like this, they’d be a complete idiot-! Human Lord.”

Captain Konrad's face was flushed red with excitement.

Indeed, the number of Kruks he had killed with his own hands was in the dozens, just from a glance. He had achieved a martial feat that would last a lifetime.

He must be prouder of this situation than ever before.

“Still, check for any wounded just in case, Captain Konrad. The safety of my soldiers is more important to me than the heads of Kruks.”

“Now this is a human I really like! Don't you worry, Human Lord. I’ll check thoroughly.”

At my words, Captain Konrad thumped his chest and waddled off somewhere.

And a moment later.

I was able to hear the definite battle results.

0 dead. 0 severely wounded. 5 with minor injuries. 860 Kruks killed. It was truly an enormous victory.

* * *

From that day on, it was a series of crushing victories.

My army swept through all of the newly planned subjugation areas.

The scout’s report that there were only two Kruk hordes in the northern region was incorrect.

In fact, we encountered a total of five Kruk settlements during our advance.

Thanks to that, we had to fight more battles than we had expected.

Without the fire attack, we would have suffered great losses. But we actively burned the forest, and thanks to that, we were able to subjugate the Kruk hordes without any significant casualties.

The number of Kruks dealt with in this way was about 4,000.

Including other monsters, the number went over almost 5,000.

In effect, we had annihilated all the monsters within the secured territory.

“The reclaimed land seems to have almost stabilized now, Human Lord.”

Captain Konrad, on his horse, said to me.

Right now, Captain Konrad and I were returning to the fortress after finishing a patrol of the outskirts of the reclaimed land.

We had wiped out the Kruk hordes, but a few other monsters still survived.

Occasionally, they would come down to the reclaimed land and attack the domain's residents.

That’s why occasional patrols of the outskirts like this were necessary.

“It is thanks to you, Captain Konrad. I will not forget the help of the Blackrock Mercenary Company.”

“Haha. I appreciate the sentiment, Human Lord. I’d be grateful if you could give my men a small plot of land later!”

What did he mean, a small plot.

Given the prowess shown by the Blackrock Dwarf Mercenary Company, I felt like creating a whole manor for them.

No, if they were to bring other Dwarf clans to settle, I could even give them a whole village.

‘Besides, I know that Dwarves were a race with many talents in [Pangea Universalise].’

Dwarves of dexterity.

Dwarves of inquiry.

Dwarves of technology.

Thinking of the nicknames they were called by, they would surely be helpful.

They would be able to make all sorts of things I hadn’t even dared to try making yet. Thanks to that, my mouth watered hearing his words.

“What do you mean, a small plot. If you wish, I shall grant you an entire village wherever you want. Hahaha.”

“Haha. Human Lord, you jest well.”

But as I stared at him silently, Captain Konrad seemed to quickly realize it was true.

“R-…Really?”

“Of course. If you bring a Dwarf clan, I will welcome them with open arms. My land is vast, and there is much to reclaim.

Especially the land we have reclaimed now, it is empty without an owner. If you wish, I will gladly support you in building a village.”

At that, Captain Konrad’s jaw dropped.

He had said it just to be polite, and this was the response!

Of course, he couldn't take the words of a greedy lord at face value, but the lord Captain Konrad had seen so far wasn't that kind of person.

“Ah. I fully understand your suspicion. After all, you were only ever welcomed in free cities at best.

But I have no aversion to other races. I will gladly give you land and accept you.”

Of course, they would have to diligently display their race's unique dexterity under me. I hid these dark inner thoughts of mine and smiled brightly.

“So speak freely. Ah, of course. It’s a sudden offer, so you won’t be able to decide right away. So take your time and think it over.”

“Uh…. Well….”

“But since we’re on the subject. How about checking out the land first anyway? Come on, this way.”