Chapter 219 : Chapter 219
Chapter 219. That’s Enough, Isn’t It? (2)
As the saying goes, rice cakes should be left to the rice cake shop.
It means there is an expert for everything.
Patrick had hastily raised the outer wall by deploying high-end manpower in a brutish manner, but that was just a temporary measure.
On the contrary, being a novice, he could make absurd mistakes.
For example….
“There is no gate?”
“…Huh?”
“Then how do people get in and out?”
“……”
Come to think of it….
At the words of the Elbador Merchant Guild’s architect, Patrick just stared blankly at a distant mountain.
Harsh criticism poured on him from his surroundings.
“Wow. Come to think of it, he built a house without a door.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, he has no common sense. No common sense.”
“And a lack of thought…”
“This kind of problem happens when you try to do everything quickly.”
Patrick remained silent.
This time, he had a mouth but nothing to say.
But….
“Big Brother. You’re dumber than I thought… Kuwek!”
“You of all people shouldn’t be saying that, you green-green bastard!”
A guy who couldn’t even learn the Five Tiger Severing Gate Blade even when I taught it to him….
Patrick kicked Tutan away and looked at the expert with narrowed eyes, saying.
“So what? Do we tear it all down? Build it all over again?”
“No. There’s no need for that.”
Why were the eyes of someone who was supposedly a knight-aspirant so murderous?
The innocent architect deliberately averted his gaze and said.
“Fortunately, you did not raise a wall on the river side. We can build a gate while raising the wall there and construct a drawbridge on the opposite side.”
“What? There was a way. Why did you make me feel embarrassed when there was a way?”
“However, if we are to build a large drawbridge considering the future expansion of the Moana River into a waterway, the construction funds will increase that much. I am telling you this so that you are aware…”
“We just need to break the wall, right? Wait a moment.”
“Grab him! Grab him!”
“He’s really going to do it! Stop him!”
“Uwaaaah! No, you demon!”
The soldiers and Orcs desperately held back Patrick, who was trying to destroy the wall he had painstakingly built to save construction costs.
In the end, he did stop at the architect’s words that constructing a drawbridge on the river side would be more advantageous for the future defense of the wall.
“Kuuuh. I can’t help it. So now we begin the full-scale city construction, right?”
“Yes. Now that it has been confirmed that we can continue to procure supplies through the waterway, the construction will proceed smoothly.”
“How long will the city construction take?”
“It will take at least three years of investment to have a proper city form.”
“Too long. Let’s make it three months.”
The architect gave Patrick a look that said, ‘What did you just blabber, you novice bastard?’
But Patrick didn’t back down at all and spoke.
He said with a serious face.
“I’m not saying to mobilize only ordinary laborers. Let’s hurry the construction by mobilizing the knights and Orc warriors here, and even the mages. That way, please finish the construction somehow before this winter.”
“Umm…. If the mages cooperate…”
The architect pondered.
If the knights and Orc warriors were just strong laborers, the mages were a much more versatile and all-purpose tool.
With their full cooperation, it might be possible to speed up the construction by several tens of times.
But….
“Is there a need to hurry?”
“Winter will begin soon. And from my experience, this Great Forest is at its most docile in winter.”
At those words, the surrounding knights and Orcs nodded as if in agreement.
“Winter is certainly the quietest.”
“Because many monsters go into hibernation.”
“But then, even more annoying bastards come out to play.”
“Like Ice Trolls.”
“There are Cold Wyverns too, right?”
“Ugh…. Not that.”
“Let’s not cross the line.”
A large flying monster that flies through the sky and breathes out ice.
That was the Cold Wyvern.
In the history of the Schneider fief, it had attacked twice, and both times it resulted in a three-digit number of deaths.
And they didn’t even defeat it.
The beast just went back after eating its fill.
In fact, if something like that came, a wall would be useless.
What use was a wall against a flying monster?
The knights became anxious as they talked.
‘Is this really possible?’
‘If a national disaster-level monster attacks several times, the wall might not be of much use.’
‘We’re following because it’s something the Young Master is doing, but…’
Whether he knew of the soldiers’ anxiety or not, Patrick gave a few more instructions to the architect.
And then….
“Sanson.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I will be away for a while. During that time, you are in charge of this city’s defense.”
“Me?”
“The wall is only partially built, but the mages and elves will help, so it will be fine. Then…”
And Patrick’s body flew off somewhere before Sanson had a chance to stop him.
* * *
Patrick running with all his might using a movement technique.
His movements were so light and nimble that even the elves, who moved freely in the forest, would marvel.
Flying Over Grass.
Patrick, who was running swiftly forward, stepping not on branches but on leaves, soon moved far away from the pioneer city and was alone….
“Where are you going, Young Master?”
“Whoa!”
Patrick, momentarily flustered by the voice that suddenly came from his side, was startled and missed his step.
Kuuung!
Patrick fell straight down.
And a peerless beauty landed gracefully next to him.
“Apriiiiil!”
“Did you call, Young Master?”
“You… you, how many times have I told you to make your presence known?”
“I am sorry, Young Master.”
“Kuuuh. I almost had a heart attack.”
Patrick grumbled.
And he spoke to April again.
“Why did you follow me?”
“I followed because the Young Master was heading somewhere.”
“Right. I see. Then will you go back now?”
“I will not.”
“She’s not listening again. Again! Again!”
“I am sorry.”
She was usually obedient and listened well, but she defied him at important moments.
As Patrick grumbled, April said.
“I do not know what the Young Master’s purpose is, but moving alone in this Great Forest is certainly a dangerous thing.”
“……”
“Therefore, even if it is the Young Master’s command, I cannot send you alone.”
“Tsk.”
Patrick clicked his tongue and looked at April with a displeased expression.
In fact, when it came to this, she was unreasonable.
Even if he tried to send her back by force, she would resist.
If she resisted, he could of course beat her down….
‘Mother will go crazy.’
Just imagining it made his body tremble.
Ava had raised April like her own daughter.
He couldn’t even imagine what form her anger would take the moment Patrick beat April down.
“I have no choice.”
Right.
With her, at least she wouldn’t hold him back.
Just as he was thinking that….
“I will join you as well.”
When he turned his head to where the voice came from, there was a peerless beauty with the wind spirit wrapped around her body.
“Elione? How did you get here?”
“I tracked Patrick’s scen… presence.”
“……”
What was that?
I feel like a word I can’t just let slide was about to come out.
Elione cleared her throat and managed her expression to be cool and said.
“Ahem, as someone who can guess what Patrick is about to do, I cannot just send you alone.”
“What am I about to do?”
“Territory organization.”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
She knows better than I thought.
So I was an easier man to read than I thought.
Patrick scratched his head.
So, the plan was this.
In fact, no matter how high the wall was built and how strong the defense was, this Great Forest was not a neighborhood to be trifled with, thinking one could ensure safety by relying on that alone.
People cannot live in a city where safety cannot be maintained, and a residential area where people cannot live cannot be called a city.
So, what Patrick was trying to do was to catch and beat down all the major demonic beasts in this vicinity.
The so-called Tiger in the Mountain.
I am the tiger of this mountain.
So, everyone, get lost.
Operation.
“You figured that out quite well.”
“Because we elves do it too.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. Did you find any traces of monsters when you came to Evergreen?”
“No, there weren’t any.”
Forget trolls or ogres, it was hard to see even a single goblin.
He hadn’t seen any monsters besides wild animals.
In that vast forest.
Wait, then that means….
“It wasn’t like that from the beginning. It’s the result of us elves constantly scouting and repelling monsters.”
“Woooow….”
Who was it?
Who called the elves a race of peace?
This is just a species that disrupts the ecosystem.
It’s called monster extermination.
It means they changed the very structure of the forest’s ecosystem to secure a place for themselves to live.
And Elione said.
“If you want to organize the monsters’ territories, you have to catch the big ones first. But can you find them?”
“Of course.”
Patrick puffed out his chest.
Since yesterday, he had already singled out a few particularly defiant ones.
Even when he released his aura, they didn’t flinch and instead exuded killing intent.
If he could just sense those guys….
“Then is it possible to track monsters that run away without fighting back?”
“Uh oh….”
That’s a bit.
If it were one or two, maybe, but tracking several at the same time would be difficult.
Moreover, monsters and demonic beasts are ultimately wild animals.
When a strong enemy appears, they are more likely to run away than fight, and to chase and track each and every one of them is….
“It would be difficult.”
“That’s right. But it’s a different story for us elves.”
In the hands of Elione who said so, the wind spirit was playing.
Spirit arts allowed for precise scouting over a much wider range than Patrick’s senses.
‘So they used such a wicked method to find and wipe out every last monster in Evergreen.’
It really wasn’t something a race of peace would do.
But to put it another way….
‘It means the effect is certain.’
Patrick nodded his head.
“Then I’ll ask you to assist with the reconnaissance.”
“Understood.”
“And, I’m asking just in case, but. You can protect your own body, right?”
At Patrick’s words, Elione chuckled.
“Have you forgotten? I am an Elven Knight.”
“I know that. I know, but…”
“And now, it is possible for me to display my true skills.”
Elione said so and showed him the vine ring on her finger.
Putting aside why the ring was on her left ring finger….
“Hmm, the true skills of an Elven Knight…”
“It is a good opportunity. I will show you the true power of our elven race.”
Her smile as she said so was full of confidence.
* * *
The first time Patrick saw Elione was at Arcana.
At that time, she had to fight in Arcana using only her pure physical movements, and in the end, she could not defeat the novice holy knight.
The next time he saw her fight was in Evergreen.
Although she fought hard against the Dark Elves, her skills without using spirits until the end were miserable.
On the contrary, her younger brother, Kirioth, who fought bravely with aura wrapped around his spear, was more conspicuous.
In other words, she had never once shown Patrick her skills as an Elven Knight.
Until now, that is.
“Sigil.”
The highest-level spirit of the wind.
A light green spirit in the form of a beautiful woman in an elegant dress appeared, and when she stretched out her hand, beads of wind scattered from her fingertips like snowflakes.
And the moment it reached the target….
“Explode!”
With Elione’s one word, the beads of wind exploded with a loud bang.
Pang! Paaang! Pang pang!
Each of the dozens of wind beads she had sent flying was a highly concentrated air bullet.
The moment it was released, the shockwave that erupted unfolded a miserable hell for the hundreds of hobgoblins.
“How about it?”
Goblin Mage, Goblin Rider, Goblin Knight….
Hundreds of a goblin horde full of high-ranking species were annihilated by her one attack.
And looking at the proudly smiling Elione, Patrick said.
“You were a scary woman.”
In many ways.
Patrick had confirmed that her combat power easily surpassed that of a 7-star knight.
With this level of skill, she would have been more than enough to defeat the Dark Elves.
“Are all Elven Knights as strong as you, Elione?”
“No. Among the Elven Knights, there is no one stronger than me.”
The condition for being an Elven Knight was to be an elf who could summon two or more high-level spirits.
But among the existing Elven Knights, the only one who could summon a highest-level spirit was Elione herself.
In other words, the woman smiling with a flushed face in front of Patrick now was the strongest warrior of the elven race.
She smiled brightly and approached Patrick.
Then she took his hand and brought it to her cheek, saying.
“I can be of help to you.”
“……”
“I hope you will recognize that.”
“I get it. I get it, so…”
Patrick pulled his hand away.
This bewitching thing.
Did she think anyone would like it if she let them touch her soft and moist cheek like that?
Did she think anyone would want to touch it again?
“Ahem, can you guide me to the next monster?”
“Understood.”
And she used the wind spirit to conduct a wide-area reconnaissance over a large area, and guided Patrick to the nearest monster group she caught.
The hunt for full-scale territory organization had begun.
Patrick, April, and Elione….
They were only three, but it was enough to turn the inside of the Great Forest upside down.
The Cockatrice, born with the curse of petrification.
The King Ogre, which Patrick had struggled with in his childhood.
The ferocious one-eyed giant, the Cyclops, that threw giant boulders.
Each one was a terrifying monster, but they were no match for these three.
– Moooooo!
“Shut up, cow-head!”
A giant Minotaur, covered in white fur, swung its club at Patrick.
Patrick dodged the club and ducked inside.
And just after Aura Blades soared from Patrick’s twin swords….
Chwaaak! Chwaak!
A flashing light in the shape of a cross (十) accurately split the enemy into four pieces.
The White Minotaur thus collapsed to the ground without even leaving a final scream.
Patrick sheathed his sword and said.
“What’s this one? It was much bigger and stronger than a normal Minotaur.”
At that, Elione, who had approached his side, answered.
“Perhaps it’s a variant that has changed after living a long life?”
“It changes as it lives long?”
“It’s a common occurrence for monsters.”
Monsters are beings that live in a fierce struggle.
It is common to see them evolve to increase their chances of survival even a little.
This White Minotaur must have been a similar case.
“There are sometimes monsters like that. Isn’t that why it was leading such a large pack?”
Elione said, pointing to the surroundings where dozens of a Minotaur pack were lying down.
They were all monsters from the pack led by this White Minotaur.
These ones were also much stronger than normal Minotaurs.
Each one was a powerful foe, strong enough that it would be difficult for a 5-star human knight to win against.
This White Minotaur, which had been fighting while leading dozens of such creatures, was a rather tricky enemy.
“Anyway. There’s really no end to it.”
“Still, we’ve stirred things up quite a bit. All the enemies that could be a threat within a 20-kilometer radius of the pioneer city have been… Ah, another one just came in. It seems to be a large one.”
“Haaah…. I’m going crazy. I’m going crazy.”
Patrick went to a nearby tree and banged his forehead against it.
This felt like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
No matter how many monsters he dealt with and how much territory he secured, other monsters would come in from outside the territory and aim for the spot.
Should it be called the Great Forest, indeed?
“Can we really organize it this way?”
“We can. My ancestors said it was difficult when they first settled in Evergreen, but they eventually did it.”
“Right. It needs time… wait, ancestors?”
Patrick flinched.
If an elf like Elione was referring to ancestors, just how long a period of time did that mean?
Patrick said cautiously.
“Elione. I have one thing to ask…”
“Please speak.”
“How long did it take for you elves to stabilize Evergreen in this way?”
“I heard it took about 700 years.”
“Ah… right. I see.”
700 years for Evergreen.
Then this Great Forest, which is several tens of times larger than Evergreen….
“Haha… hahaha….”
Patrick’s motivation suddenly plummeted.
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