chapter 35
35 – 7. Recapture the City
There are no plans to invade the walled city alone.
Without further thought, it is suicide. Even if the saint’s protection is with you.
It may be possible to carry Licia by her side and sweep around her battlefield, but how can you rush in knowing that a blind arrow will come from somewhere?
The violence of numbers is not something to be taken lightly. No matter how strong a person is, he or she will eventually get tired.
So wait until additional troops arrive.
This matter will be handled by the Bishop, the Count of Villach, and the nearby lords who are in a hurry to settle the matter.
The priest said he would inform us about this matter later when the detailed schedule is decided.
Now that the issue of my whereabouts is over, the story has moved elsewhere.
“Then what will you do with the child? Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to the cities around the Vatican for a while? “The church will be greatly impressed by your faithfulness and will take good care of your child.”
“Oh, I decided to just take him. “I don’t feel safe leaving it somewhere else.”
“… Yes?”
This time, the bride couldn’t hide the expression on her face that asked, “What are you really doing?”
Well, it would be impossible to determine how much of the words that were being flipped around like pancakes just now were sincere and how much was false.
“If you are talking about my mistake a while ago… ….”
“I’m not joking, I’m serious.”
“Uh… ….”
I could see a fierce clash between the bride’s emotions, which demanded to know where on earth she was taking the child, and her reason, which told her not to worry because the driver who came to help her would take care of it anyway.
As an intellectual, the winner of that fight was reason. The priest gave an uneasy look and said nothing more about this.
As we ran out of things to talk about and continued to have a meaningless conversation on trivial topics, a villager came up and told the priest that the cleaning was finished.
After hearing that, the priest sent the villager away and told me.
“We sent someone in advance to prepare a larger room. Let’s rest there before we go on a mission.”
“Thank you. “Okay then, I’ll go get ready before I leave.”
“Yes, may God protect your future.”
When the business talk was over and I stepped out of front of the bride, I felt hungry, so it seemed like it was almost time for dinner.
Sure enough, the day was still bright, but the edge of the sky was glowing scarlet.
I entered the church after making sure that Sancho was still hanging by the door.
Licia, who had been told to go back to the church and rest after hearing the pledge, was located further inside the church, in a room that looked freshly cleaned.
The bed looked softer and the room itself was almost twice the size. This is why it is said that a place makes a person.
When I entered the room pretending to be popular, the girl raised her head and asked.
“Did you finish talking about work well?”
“Okay. It looks like the church definitely has a lot of money saved up. Rather, let’s prepare dinner slowly now. “I’ll tell you later the story I had with the priest.”
“Yes.”
It was a big contract that took a long time to secure, so I didn’t want to be stingy.
After a hearty meal of meat-based dishes at a city restaurant, I explained everything to Lisia until the sun completely set, and then fell asleep like a sword.
After waking up early the next day, I prepared to go to battle.
It takes a few days for people to gather. Originally, that time would have been the time to inspect the equipment for the last time and look for rust or broken parts, but when Lisia intervened, a slightly unusual procedure was added.
Close the window and cover it with a cloth so that the outside cannot see inside.
You can’t lock the door, but at least keep it closed tightly. The only person who would come anyway was the priest, and he would knock before coming in, so it didn’t matter.
Once the room is sealed like this, the secret work begins.
“I’ll try again.”
“Aren’t you tired? “Maybe I should get some rest.”
“I think it’s still okay.”
There will be no secrets between us anyway.
Twinkle, light burst from the girl’s fingertips and my armor glowed. And it turned off right away.
As for the process of making a holy relic, there was nothing special about it.
I just had to cast a day and night blessing until the effect remained semi-permanently.
Of course, it cannot be created simply by casting a blessing; usually, it had to be created in a form that would make it more susceptible to the effects of magic.
Relic relic production is a subject taught even in universities. This means that it is not a simple task that can be summarized in a few words.
I have no direct experience of going there, so according to the stories I picked up by ear, it seems that they mainly teach appropriate geometric shapes, metal refining methods, and detailed control of blessings.
Don’t you think it’s not easy to achieve great achievements since you have to be skilled in many fields? Moreover, you don’t even know when you will become a holy relic and you have to endlessly try using the prayer meta.
But this is the story of priests who study and train normally.
“Yay!”
-Paaat!
“Oh, it shines. “I think it’s done?”
The production methods taught in universities were not very necessary knowledge for a saint who gave blessings through ignorant printing.
That is why the houses where adults stayed and the clothes they wore during their lifetime have the highest value. How many blessings must it have received during its lifetime and become a sacred relic?
I lifted my sword and placed it in front of my eyes. If it was shining softly like a luminous light before, what should I say about this?
The colors change quickly with five brilliant lights, similar to soap bubbles. But the bubble sword is so shabby that I think there might be a more appropriate name.
“… Gaming sword?”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
Disappointingly, the sword that shone with iridescent light soon went out.
Instead, the armor seemed to have had a weak protective effect in the process of being soaked in blessings. However, Lisia said with a slightly disappointed expression, as if she was still not satisfied.
“I think we just need to do a little more… ….”
“Well, since I got some armor, I guess that’s it. This is enough for me. Anyway, thank you.”
“If I can’t fight directly, this is the only thing I can do for you.”
Since I had nothing to do before departure, I spent some time watching the girl give blessings or telling her old stories.
And when the sun rose and set five times, the priest finally came to see us.
*****
Count Philach issued a summons to the barons under him.
Some of the barons who heard about the world of bandits pretending to be the owners of the city gathered dozens of hunters and soldiers from their lands and sent them out.
Clerics who can use combat or healing magic also gathered. This was due to the bishop’s desperate efforts to avoid being accused of turning Count Villach into an enemy of the Pope.
But the important thing on the battlefield is the knights, not the soldiers who will act as meat shields.
Of course, a siege would have to be waged, but from the Count’s point of view, as the castle walls were so strong, the thing he most wanted to avoid was completely destroying them.
So, whether it was sneaking in with a small group of elites and opening the door from the inside, or breaking through the castle gate and switching to hand-to-hand combat, the knights who sacrificed their lives for battle were important.
Humans are slaves to gold, but they cannot choose the goose that lays golden eggs. To bring back the goose called the city, the count sprinkled gold generously.
At this time, it was obvious that they were the ones who gathered around after smelling money.
“War? War? War?”
“Are you a new mercenary? Take a close look. “The War Pavilion is still alive.”
Nearby mercenaries who have not yet converted to bandits.
Of course, there were also those who snooped around and did not decide on a side, as if there was nothing left to eat.
“Come and raise your family’s honor. “His Excellency the Count and His Holiness are also keeping an eye on you, so you don’t have a single bit of shame.”
“I understand my duties and responsibilities well. “I will definitely come back with the brightest glory.”
The baron’s children have nothing left to inherit.
They needed to build up their reputation in advance for when they became independent later, so every opportunity like this was precious.
“The convocation has been completed. The hunters in this village will guide you as you depart together. “Do you need more preparation?”
“No, I don’t need anything more. Let’s go.”
Lastly, free knights like me.
I put on my armor and climbed on the horse.
It was originally prohibited to walk around wearing armor within the city, but it was possible with the permission of the mayor who wanted to publicize the fact that he was going on a campaign.
After passing along the road and promoting myself one more time, giving lip service to the fact that this city is safe and that Villach will soon be safe as well, I headed back the way I came.
With the girl riding in front, about a dozen soldiers were tied to the back.