Ichiya Fort / Overnight Fort

Raviara and I made our 「triumphant return」 to the fort.

Since the enemy in the fort had been totally destroyed, the thirst of blood had already disappeared.

「We have succeeded in repelling Mineria's invaders! Even up to the fort's base is replete with enemy's bodies!」

A deep voice sounded when I lifted my sword.

It was followed by a great shouts of joy. Upon hearing their voices, I had a hunch that I finally could take a break.

Even so, I can't take it easy for so long. I must have a conversation with the general s.h.i.+vik about what we will do from now on. Although strictly speaking I'm the current general, but it is easier for me to call s.h.i.+vik as general than for his name.

After the general gave a respectful greeting, he came to me.

「I will inform the viscount immediately about how you played a great role in this victory. The witnesses are all the soldiers in this fortress!」

「No, if it were for me, I don't know how everything would have ended. It's everyone's victory」

「The enemy was certainly wiped out. Currently, the bodies of the enemy are being thrown into the river outside of the fortress. Since they will rot if you let them be」

At the back of the fort there is a cliff that connects to a river, so at that point is something very useful.

「Thanks, general. I was just thinking of consulting with you about our next steps」

「This fortress general is Alsrod-sama. Please call me s.h.i.+vik」

「Okay, s.h.i.+vik. Let's call a war council」

At the innermost room in the fortress, three people were talking, s.h.i.+vik, Raviara and me.

「Although we were able to defend the fortress, in all honesty, we were on the defensive. And being on the defensive won't solve anything. Rather, it's just as difficult as not being able to steal enemy's lands」

There is a long river flowing between Neville Territory and Mineria Territory,  The stream of the river itself is not rapid, but there is a large benchland on the east side of the fortress. There is hill on the other side but it's not big and its slope is low.

「The enemy is building a fortress in the opposite sh.o.r.e. If we can't make the enemy give up this fortress, it will be difficult to reverse our situation...」

s.h.i.+vik drops his finger on the map. This general has been on active duty for a long time. If this person says it, it's good enough for me.

Certainly we will not be able to completely escape of this crisis since there are a large number of enemies stationed in the opposite sh.o.r.e.

Raviara was staring with troubled look at the area around the river near where s.h.i.+vik had pointed on the map. I'm sure she is thinking of some strategy to escape this predicament. Since Raviara liked to develop strategies from a long time ago.

「Do you want to initiate a night attack from our side? Since the river flows even at night, the noise of the river will camouflage the steps of our march」

I see. Certainly the noise will be erased by the river. It means giving back what the enemy have done to us. Butー

「The problem is that we don't have enough soldiers to conquer a fortress...」

Even the enemy will defend the fort they built. It doesn't seem to be huge so it's unlikely they have placed all their soldiers inside, but still, since they have taken over that location they can do a long term attack.

Those soldiers who couldn't enter the fortress given the size will surely be recruited for the moment they are going to attack.

「If only we could strike the enemy or at least create an unfavorable situation for them... Raviara can not think of anything...」

It seems that even the intelligent Raviara can't think of anything...

But again, I felt as if I could hear a voice in my head.

ーーThere is nothing to worry about. You have the power to see the experiences of the Monarch.

Intuitively, I came up with an strange plan.

I don't know how much feasibility this plan will have, and it may even fail if there are not enough builders soldiers.

「Hey, I've thought of a good idea or rather a plan」

I glanced at Raviara and then s.h.i.+vik.

「Listen to me. I will build something that it will disturb the enemy」

The reaction to my plan was much better than I expected. I thought they would tell me things like it's impossible or give up.

「If we don't do something unexpected like that at least, surely it will be impossible for us to turn the state of the war around. Let's do it!」

●

The plan was carried out two days later at dusk.

We crossed the river when the enemy was already asleep.

If we were to attack the enemy's fortress, the enemy would notice us immediately and I would never do something like that.

What I'm aiming to is a hill that lies in north side of the enemy's fortress.

I have been able to reach my target without being attacked.

Now all we have to do is dig hard.

I will make sure that the enemy can't attack us in the only direction that they may come.

If they tried that, I had planned to receive them with archers but it seems that there is no movement.

「Listen well, guys! It's a race against time! It won't be a joke what will happen to us if we don't finish before dawn! All the orders will be issued by me! I want everyone to put their trust in me!」

The soldiers began to work at full speed.

Truly, they were working more serious than what I had thought.

It must surely be because I came on my own to the front lines. The soldiers who stayed behind are probably thinking that if it is for me they can die.

So far the only person I could call as a friend was only the person I grew up with, Raviara. As for my older brother, he didn't even grant me a decent military force.

But I have the feeling that something changed when I came to this fortress.

I, perhaps, possess the qualities to command soldiers and generals.

Or this is also due to the mysterious Job called Oda n.o.bunaga? If this Oda n.o.bunaga was the name of a hero, then perhaps this hero possessed a charismatic character.

Finally the evening was ending and the sky was beginning to light.

「Thank you, everyone. We did it somehow」

In just one night we were able to build a fortress of dirt at the north side of the enemy's fortress.

That's right, this was my strategy.

With a fortress right next to the enemy, we can station our soldiers.

By having a fortress the other side can't be careless, and more than anything, our fortress is in the enemy's territory. They will not be able to neglect it.

Although I say this, we can't take it easy either. Since the enemy could attack us immediately. Besides, the fortress was built in a hurry. The fortress was built in such a way that it can be defended with arrows and spears, but even so, there are many parts that are incomplete, so we have no choice but to continue building it even during the day.

ーーWell done. This is indeed, the plan of a Monarch. By creating a fortress in just one day, the enemy will lose their spirit, inducing chaos among them. Use this power to your heart's content.

I heard that voice again.

I'll try to talk to him from my side.

Hey, are you, Oda n.o.bunaga, a hero?

ーーIndeed, Oda n.o.bunaga is the name of a Monarch. But now it's nothing more than a Job. However, since you possess the qualities to succeed the Job of the Monarch,  I'm only lending you my power as a Job. I don't possess the power or the privilege to control you, so rest a.s.sured.

Are there even Jobs you can communicate with? Although this is an irregular Job, can I believe it? No matter if I doubt it, there is no way to erase Jobs. If this is a demon, then it's already too late to deal with it.

ーーEven the monarch was ridiculed as a fool in his youth. Even so, he became a famous hero. Even you can do that.

Those words, let me believe those words.

In panic, a soldier came to relay a message.

「The enemy is attacking!」

So far everything goes as planned.

「Okay, everyone, to defend until death! The enemy is agitated! There is possibility of victory!」