Raviara and I made a "triumphant" return to the fort.


    It seemed that the enemy had been wiped out at the fort, and the atmosphere was no longer so deadly.


    We drove the Minerians away!　Even the foot of the fort is full of enemy corpses!"


    As I raised my sword, a loud voice rang out.


    A loud cheer. Hearing that voice, I felt like I could finally catch my breath.


    Well, I can''t take too much time. I have to talk with General Sivik about the future. Technically, I am the current general, but it''s easier to call me "General".


    The general salutes me and then comes toward me.


    I will inform the Viscount of Castle Nevre of your success immediately. The witnesses are all the soldiers of the fort!


    "No, I don''t know what would have happened to me alone. It''s a victory for everyone."


    "The enemy was indeed annihilated. We are now dumping the bodies in the river outside. They will decompose if we leave them there.


    The back of the fort is a bluff leading down to the river, so that is convenient.


    "Thank you, General, I was just thinking we should discuss the future."


    "The general is Mr. Arsrod. Please call me Sivik.


    "Okay, Sivik. Let''s open the war council.


    In a room at the far end of the fort, the three of us, me, Siviq, and Raviara, talk.


    "We were able to defend ourselves this time, but to be honest, we were only defending ourselves. We haven''t solved the problem essentially yet. It''s rather tough if we can''t do something to take away the enemy''s land.


    There is a long river running horizontally between our territory of Navre and the enemy''s territory of Minelia. The river itself does not flow very fast, but the eastern side where our fort is located is a large terrace. The hills on the other side are not so high and gentle.


    "The enemy also has a fort on the other side of the river. It will be difficult to turn the situation around unless the enemy retreats from this fort. ......"


    Sivik drops his finger on the map. This man is a veteran general. This man has fought many battles.


    It is true that with a considerable number of troops on the other side of the river, there will always be danger.


    Laviala looked puzzled and stared at the map of the river. He must be thinking of a plan. Laviala had always liked to plan.


    "Shall we attack by night from here?　The river is still flowing at night, so the sound of the marching footsteps will be muffled.


    I see. It is true that the river muffles sound. We can do to them what they have done to us. But...


    "We don''t have enough troops to take down the enemy''s besieged fort. ......"


    They have built a fort to protect it, too. It''s not that big, so it doesn''t seem to hold all of their troops, but it is still a part of their long-term offensive thanks to their strongholds.


    The troops that are not fully contained in the fort, so to speak, are the ones they have recruited additionally for the offensive.


    "I hope we can hit them or create an inconvenient situation for them. ....... Raviara can''t come up with that: ......"


    Even Raviara''s mind can''t seem to come up with a good idea.


    But then again, I thought I heard a voice in my head.


    --Don''t worry. You have the power to share the High King''s experience.


    Intuitively, I came up with an ingenious plan.


    I don''t know how feasible it is, but it might be possible with a certain number of operatives.


    "Hey, I''ve got a great idea.


    I took one look at each of Laviala and Sivik''s faces in turn.


    "Listen to me. I''m going to make something that''s going to get in the enemy''s throat."


    The response to the story was better than expected. I expected to be told that it was impossible or that it could not be done.


    I thought they would say it was impossible or impossible, but they said, "We''ll have to do something as unexpected as that to overturn the tide of the war. Let''s do it!


    ●


    It was two nights later.


    We crossed the river at a time when the enemy was probably already asleep.


    If we tried to raid the fort, they would notice immediately, but we would not do so.


    Our goal is the hill to the north of the enemy fort.


    We arrive there safely without being attacked.


    Now, we dig the soil.


    Especially the south side, which is the direction from which the enemy will attack, is made like a wall so that it cannot be attacked.


    If they attacked us, we planned to attack them from the high ground with archers, but there seems to be no movement.


    "Okay, guys!　It''s a race against time!　If it''s not somewhat done by the time morning comes, we''ve got nothing to talk about!　All instructions will be given by me!　Now I want you to leave everything to me!"


    The soldiers worked as hard as they could.


    To be honest, they are taking this more seriously than I thought they would.


    Maybe it''s because I was the only one on the front lines. The soldiers that are left are willing to die for me.


    The only person I''ve ever been able to call a trusted comrade was Laviala, who I grew up with. From my brother.


    They didn''t even give me a decent army.


    But that seems to have changed a bit since I came to this fort.


    Maybe I have a gift for handling soldiers and generals.


    Or is it because of this mysterious profession of Oda Nobunaga?　If Odanobunaga is the name of a hero, he may have heroic charisma.


    Soon the dawn breaks and the sky begins to lighten.


    "Thank you, everyone. We made it just in time."


    Overnight, our earthen fortress had been built on the north side of the enemy''s fort.


    Yes, this was my plan.


    With a fort so close to the enemy, we could garrison our troops there.


    They can''t do anything careless, and moreover, we have a fort on their land. We cannot leave them alone.


    However, we still have to be on our guard. The enemy may attack soon. Besides, this is an emergency fort. We built it in such a way that we can target the invading enemies with bows and arrows and spears, but there are still many unfinished parts, so we have to keep working on it even in the morning.


    --Well done! This is the strategy of the High King. Building a fortress in the enemy''s lands in a day will discourage them and create chaos. Use this power to your advantage!


    I hear voices again.


    Let''s listen to it for our own sake.


    Hey, are you a hero, Odanobunaga?


    --How can Odanobunaga be the name of a High King? But it''s only a professional name now. I''m only lending you my power as an occupant because you have the qualities to take over the High King''s position. Rest assured that I have neither the power nor the right to control you.


    What kind of a profession allows communication?　Irregular is irregular, but you can believe it. If you doubt, there is no way to eliminate the right profession. If it were a demon, there would be no way to deal with it.


    --The High King was mocked as a fool in his youth. And yet he became a famous hero. You can do it too.


    I''ll take your word for it.


    A soldier rushed to contact us.


    "The enemy is attacking!"


    So far, so predictable.


    "All right, let''s defend ourselves, people!　The enemy is on the move!　We have a chance to win!"