Chapter 35: Stacked Log Village [1]
Carl left the room, leaving the shocked Harmon.
After Carl leaves, Bilford quietly closes the door and leads Carl's way, listening carefully with his hand on the hilt of the sword.
'What does this mean!'
Contrary to his cool-headed appearance, Bilford's mind was confused.
Carl was acting without hesitation, like a burning fire.
It feels like he's become a different person, and Bilford break out in a cold sweat. He feel like he was possessed by the devil.
"Lady Catherine."
" Lord Carl, we are ready."
Carl, who had bowed out, nodded to Catherine, who was waiting, and headed to the dormitory where the soldiers were resting.
They were ready to go because Catherine suddenly showed up late at night. Thanks to this, the soldiers, whose dissatisfaction reached a peak, saw the armed Carl approaching with great strides and gritted their teeth.
However, the moment they met Carl's eyes, which were filled with a strange atmosphere that could not be described in words, their dissatisfaction disappeared as if they was shocked.
The image of Carl staggering onto the carriage with Harman's help was a lie, as he quickly climbed onto his large white horse without anyone's help.
Catherine and Bilford also got on the horse, but Carl did not leave immediately and looked quietly at the unexpected guest.
"This is my mission."
Milton spoke calmly as he mounted his horse.
Milton, the imperial physician, prepared himself without a second thought in response to the words of Catherine, who suddenly visited him.
Carl nodded and put on a helmet with red tassels.
In fact, it was awkward and frustrating because he had only worn the helmet once before going on the campaign trail, but he couldn't put his head on the battlefield without wearing a helmet.
Carl has no intention of doing something foolish and dying after being hit on the head by a blind attack.
Carl took a slow breath, fumbled with his visor, and spoke in a low, firm voice.
"I'm heading out."
And then he starts running, leading the horse in front.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Catherine running behind him on the right and adjusted his speed, with the soldiers running behind him.
"What is this…?"
"Get out of the way!"
Hilfin's soldiers, shocked by the commotion, ran towards them, but they had no choice but to retreat in confusion at the shouts of Carl, who was running at the front with a bright red cape waving even under the moonlight.
"Open the door! Are you planning to intercept the punitive force ordered by His Majesty the Emperor?"
No one could understand how such a loud sound could come out of that thin body.
Everyone thought that the voice was not Carl's.
The soldiers, frightened by the sharp shout, opened the door without realizing it, and Carl ran through the gate without stopping.
The imperial soldiers, whose morale had been at low even before the expedition, came to their senses and felt warm even though it was late at night and the air was cold.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
30 imperial soldiers run in step with their cloaks flapping and their spears held tightly.
The military uniform and shield on his back are as light as a lie.
"What the hell is going on!"
Maldin, who had been drinking a lot while serving Carl, came out in a huff in his pajamas.
"Shit! What the fuck is going on?"
And when he heard that Carl was leading his soldiers toward the west, he shouted while holding his tangled hair.
He thought he had fooled Carl well, but even that was completely fooled.
Carl has already left Hilfin Castle with his soldiers, and there is no way to catch him now.
***
Barony Hilfin is a small fiefdom. Additionally, the physical strength of the imperial soldiers cannot be ignored.
They ran for over 30 minutes even though they were wearing heavy armor and carrying military uniforms and shields. Carl climbed over the rolling hills several times.
Thanks to this, they were able to safely arrive at the 'Stacked Log Village', the midpoint between the western forest and Hilfin Castle, before Maldin did anything.
As its name suggests, the village was protected by a thick and sturdy fence thanks to the abundant resources coming from the forest, and on top of it was a vigilante carrying a torch, keeping a tight guard.
When Carl saw that, he slowly slowed down and approached, and cheers were heard from above the wooden fence.
Carl immediately realized that the situation that occurred in Baron Hilfin was more serious than he thought.
It's late at night and they can't even recognize who the other person is. However, when people come running in line with each other, they are happy without even checking.
"This is an imperial subjugation team that has come to subdue monsters under orders from His Majesty the Emperor! Open the door!"
"Duren!"
"Thank you for the mercy shown by His Majesty the Emperor!"
Some were looking for God, while others were shouting out to the emperor with respect and love.
The door of the wooden fence opens wide as if it were natural.
As Carl entered the fence, riding a dazzling white horse and flapping a red cloak embroidered with the imperial family's emblem, cheers filled with hope erupted.
They are followed by Catherine, Bilford, and Milton on horseback, and then the soldiers enter in a majestic manner.
Although there were only 34 people, the fact that they were a punitive force dispatched under the orders of the emperor made them look like they were thousands of soldiers.
"Lady Catherine, let the soldiers rest for a moment."
"Yes, Lord Carl."
Catherine orders the soldiers to rest.
The soldiers stood tall and orderly, putting down their military uniforms and slowly catching their breath, holding on to their large shields and spears, without any trace of the dissatisfied look they had shown until daytime.
Even rest is not spread out haphazardly. They're heart feels relieved to see him come to his senses and be filled with discipline.
"Who is in charge!"
"Yeah! That's me!"
As Carl shouted in a loud voice, an old man with pure white hair rushed out from among the people.
He immediately fell down in front of Carl and bowed his head.
Dark night. Riding on a large, pure white horse, wearing a helmet with red tassels, and fluttering the imperial cloak, Carl looked like a majestic general as his dwarf shoulders and frail face were not visible.
He can't even believe it, seeing how such a loud voice and confident spirit come out of such a small body.
"Provide drinking water and food to the soldiers."
"Yes! Of Course!"
First, Carl took care of the soldiers who followed him without saying a word even though they were unconscious from sleep.
He was completely different from the way he appeared all the way here.
"Are you the village chief?"