Fun Territory Defense Chapter 235

[Another Viewpoint] Preparing to Sacrifice One's Life

[Targa]

With the help of the Marquis de Fertio, Centenna was able to prolong its life slightly. The bombardment from the cliffs on either side had obviously decreased, and even the wyverns had disappeared from the sky. No doubt it was all due to the Marquis' fearsome magical powers.

"We cannot let this opportunity pass us by. After we send out our scouts, we will be ready to move immediately."

"Wait. That may be a foolish idea."

"But even if we fortify our defenses, we can't expect reinforcements. We will have to go out there..."

Even as they argue, the earth shakes beneath their feet and small pieces of debris fall from the ceiling. There is only a short time left. Even under such circumstances, the meeting was still unable to come up with an answer.

I can see that everyone is on tenterhooks in a battlefield that is different from the usual one.

"...There is no way out of this situation. I think I have no choice but to turn to attack."

With that, I look at the man sitting in front of me. The Marquis Fertio, who was asked to speak, opened his mouth in an uninterested manner.

"...It's a boring story, but I guess that's what happens when you think about it rationally."

Muttering this with a sigh, the Marquis Fertio looked at everyone glaring at him and opened his mouth again.

"It's probably only a week before we have to defend ourselves in this situation to cage the castle and make the other side retreat. They can't keep that many people in logistics for that many days either. But this Centenna will definitely fall tomorrow if things continue as they are."

The Marquis of Fertio said this as if to throw up. With these words, a heavy atmosphere flowed through the room.

This fortress, Centenna, is the key to national defense. If this land is surrendered, tens of thousands of enemies will be able to move freely across the wide plains of the Marquis of Fertio's domain. The roads could be blocked, cutting off supplies to Scudetto and the village of Seat.

If this Centenna were taken, His Majesty would retreat before a pincer attack for fear of a deadly war. If this happens, it will be difficult to stop the invasion of the Kingdom of Jiernetta and the Shelbia Confederacy. It is truly a crisis of the destruction of the Kingdom of Scuderia. The responsibility for this cannot be laid solely on my head.

I am sure that everyone present here has imagined such a situation.

"What should we do... it's not like we're even being held responsible..."

"In the first place, if we cannot defend ourselves, there will be no place to return to."

"Immediately, call on the neighboring Lords and mercenaries for reinforcements...!"

Was Marquis Fertio's speculation so convincing? Some of the commanders, sons of noble families, began to panic. It was a clear crisis that could threaten not only their own careers but also their lives. I can understand their feelings to some extent.

However, the fact that he was a knight was more important than anything else. I felt this more clearly when I saw those who were foolishly panicking for their own safety.

"...After all, there will only be one way to rise and fall. Your Excellency."

He muttered, then turned to the Marquis Fertio, watching as the Marquis Fertio's stern face frowned even more, and opened his mouth to tell his own strategy.

"I am sorry, Your Excellency, but I would like to ask you to cover us from the rear. I would like you to counterattack with magic against the cannon fire that will be coming from the surrounding area."

After informing him of this, the Marquis Fertio crossed his arms and roared.

"...You mean, you're going to charge head-on and draw the enemy's attention? What then? Organize a second or third assault force? Or do you climb the cliff and outwit the enemy while you are creating a diversion?"

The Marquis Fertio looked at me as if he could see right through me and said something like that. I lightly shake my head to the left and right to deny it.

"No, we will form a column mainly of cavalry and break through the enemy lines at once."

"Isn't that just crushing the enemy by the balls?"

The Marquis of Fertio looked stunned at my words and said so. But I had no intention of doing so. I shook my head again.

"It is dangerous, but I believe it is possible. From what I have seen so far, cannons have a poor hit rate and cannot be used at short intervals. Then I can guess that they are not good at opponents who move quickly in small groups of a few dozen or so."

"...I see. If that's the case, they can certainly move before being attacked by the cannon. However, I must say that it is a foolish decision. The enemy is not stupid. Do you think there is nothing beyond that road?"

"Of course, they will be waiting for us with a large army. But we still have to do it."

I look back at the Marquis Fertio with a stronger tone. Then the Marquis Fertio let out a long breath with an uninterested expression on his face.

"...I am getting old to want something that is not here."

A small voice muttered something out of context, and I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows and tilt my head. With a cluck of his tongue at that, the Marquis Fertio opened his mouth.

"Never mind, I'm talking to myself. If you're prepared to go in with all guns blazing, you might as well do it with all your might. I'll cooperate with you."