Chapter 610 - 609: Amateur Soldier

Chapter 610: Chapter 609: Amateur Soldier

Colin listened for a moment.

The bulk of the meeting was about simple assignments: which nobles would be positioned where in the formation, who would be responsible for scouting, who would treat the wounded, and so on.

The Dwarves and Elves who had come to provide support also detailed their numbers and the tasks they could perform.

The Church also played a rather important role here.

This wasn’t just because they wielded Divine Arts. The Church’s Priests also controlled vast tracts of land, from which they could conscript a significant number of soldiers.

Moreover, the very presence of the Priests lent legitimacy to the war. It signified that the Gods they represented approved of this conflict, a matter of considerable importance to the people of this world.

All in all, the meeting was quite boring.

And from Colin’s perspective, a meeting like this was far too inefficient.

Sometimes, after Albert assigned a task, other nobles actually had room to refuse or negotiate. Although their tone was extremely respectful during these discussions, Colin still found it very strange.

After all, he imagined that in a war, everyone should obey a single commander’s orders, not engage in this kind of back-and-forth discussion and compromise.

Then again, the political structure of the Northern Lands was decentralized on the whole, so this sort of thing wasn’t really all that strange.

Fortunately, since this was a fight against the Orcs, the atmosphere in the meeting was fairly positive. Most people wouldn’t deliberately hold back at a time like this.

The meeting finally concluded after more than two hours. The most useful piece of information Colin gleaned was that they would likely set out in three days for a castle further to the front.

「The next day.」

Colin opened his eyes and gazed at the patterns carved into the canopy above him—the crest of the Weston Family and scenes from Legendary tales. Judging by the equipment and clothing on the figures, the bed was probably many years old.

He felt the soft down mattress beneath him.

The bed was too soft; his back felt a little sore after a full night’s sleep.

Colin let out a long breath, got up, and began to don the Armor that was placed by his bed.

Dorn’s and Kase’s beds were already empty. He figured those two had probably already gone to breakfast.

After washing up and putting on his Armor, he pushed open the door.

Ale, who lived in the room across the hall, happened to open her door at the same time. The two of them headed to the great hall in silent accord, where, just as they’d expected, the others were already eating breakfast.

Colin and Ale quickly ordered some food to appease their protesting stomachs.

After a while, Albert used a piece of bread to wipe up the last of the sauce on his plate. He popped the sauce-stained brown bread into his mouth, then looked at the others and asked, "Are we ready to depart?"

Having finished his meal, Colin glanced at his companions waiting for him and quickly replied, "Yes, we’re ready."

Albert nodded and led the group to the main keep’s bailey.

Mikhailo had been waiting there for some time.

Next to him, several Grooms were holding the reins of Big Hoof Treasure, a few strong Warhorses, and a... goat.

The goat had an exaggerated pair of argali-like horns and looked completely different from a normal goat. It was much stockier, almost like a pig that had grown curly hair and horns.

"This is a mountain argali we borrowed from the Dwarves. They’re probably well-suited for riding this sort of thing," Albert said as he took the reins from a Groom and swung himself onto his horse.

"Hmph, hmph." Dorn took the goat’s reins. "I have to say, I’m starting to like you, human boy. You’re completely different from certain impolite individuals."

The others mounted their horses, turning a deaf ear to Dorn’s words.

Drawing on his recent experience, Colin managed to climb onto his horse and follow the others down the mountain.

The narrow mountain path was annoyingly long. The gates along the way were tall and sturdy; Colin wondered just how many people it would take to attack such a fortress.

"A long time ago, when the ancestors of the Weston Clan first pioneered the Northern Lands, this fortress was their core stronghold."

Noticing the group looking around, Albert explained, "Back then, this place was teeming with wandering Orcs and Barbarian Tribes. So when they built the castle, they had no time to consider convenience. All they cared about was making it defensible. That’s why it ended up like this."

"I can see that. The castle’s Defense is certainly impressive," Colin said.

The group chatted as they rode, eventually arriving at the army camp below the castle.

When they reached the area marked by the Weston Clan’s banner, Mikhailo strode into the camp. He found several men who looked like Knights and brought them to the center of the encampment.

Through their efforts, the soldiers here quickly assembled.

It was obvious at a glance that these were freshly levied Recruits.

Some of them wore filth-caked Cotton Armor and patched little leather caps, carrying crude weapons like Short Spears, Cleavers, and pitchforks.

Seeing them, Colin was inexplicably reminded of the time he and Kase had fought for their lives.

But these men weren’t as bold as the two of them had been. The eyes of most were filled with obvious confusion and fear.

Another group of Recruits looked much better.

They wore Leather Armor or Chain Armor and carried Long Spears over three meters long or Heavy Crossbows. Their morale seemed relatively higher, too. They were probably soldiers conscripted from the cities.

Among the seven hundred assembled soldiers, only about sixty were Knights in fine Armor, mounted on tall horses.

They appeared to be land-holding Manor Knights and their Attendants.

"We’re heading to Iron Throat Castle at the front! Stow any unnecessary equipment on the wagons. We move out in ten minutes!" Albert shouted.

The Manor Knights and their followers immediately shouted the order, relaying it down the ranks.

After hearing the command, the Recruits began to move sluggishly. The city Recruits were slightly better, but the soldiers from the countryside were much slower to act.

They took off the Armor they were wearing, placing it and their heavier weapons onto the wagons.

A good while later—Colin was certain it had been well over ten minutes—the column finally began to march out of the camp.

Albert, Mikhailo, Colin, and the others rode their Warhorses at the very front of the column.

Colin’s Warhorse was reasonably obedient.

He only gave the reins an occasional tug, letting it do its own thing the rest of the time.

"Didn’t they say there were tens of thousands?" Kase asked from his horse, looking back at the crowd. "It doesn’t feel like that many to me."

"I counted. There really are tens of thousands," Dorn said with a wicked grin.

Kase leaned over and patted the Dwarf’s bald head. Dorn tried to retaliate, but due to his height, he could only hit Kase’s shin, which made the attempt feel somewhat pathetic.

Colin looked toward Albert up ahead, expecting him to offer an explanation.

But Albert was also looking at him, as if waiting to see what he would say. Then Ale and Orelia, along with the little owl Orelia was holding, all turned to stare at him too, sending a shiver down Colin’s spine.