Chapter 82 - Response
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
A few soldiers were strictly guarding the main tent. Those serfs that were fortunate enough to escape had been brought to that tent.
Apart from Knight Philip who was required to maintain order on the outside, the rest of the leaders of the camp were gathered here.
The two injured serfs were placed on a soft cushion because their arms and backs had suffered claw injuries of differing severities. Furthermore, the injuries were corroded by some decaying power; thus, these new injuries had already started to severely fester. It was fortunate that the camp had a druid. Pittman was using a combination of his concocted medicines and druidic magic to cure the wounded. These two unlucky serfs had therefore managed to preserve their lives.
The other two serfs who weren’t injured stood in front of Gawain while trembling. Fear had entrenched in their hearts, and even after they escaped back to the safety of the camp, they were still unable to keep their bodies from shivering.. In any case, they were people who had survived a disaster just a few months ago. They were still able to preserve enough courage to finish speaking.
“After—After entering the mountain and walking west.. At the intersection. Monsters. Those blood-red demons, there were several of them. We merely faced them, and they rushed at us!” One of the serfs trembled as he spoke, “We ran desperately but Tocque was caught by the monster.. and stopped moving in just a few moments.”
Knight Byron who stood beside Gawain was obviously very unhappy with such a disorderly report. He frowned and asked, “What is the exact number of ‘several’? Where exactly is the intersection after walking west? If those monsters were so agile, how were you able to escape?”
When the two serfs were questioned by the ‘lord knight’ in such a stern tone, they got a fright and started panicking. Gawain immediately interrupted, “Don’t ask in that tone. If they get nervous, they won’t be able to speak clearly.. The two of you, relax a little and tell me how you escaped?”
The two serfs took a glance at one another before one of them swallowed his saliva and replied, “In the beginning, those monsters didn’t seem to notice us. They were just—just wandering on the mountain path. When we started running, they suddenly chased us. The mountain path is narrow, and those monsters had been jammed up by the rocks, allowing us to escape..”
“How many monsters did you encounter? Try to be exact.” Heidi followed up with another question.
“Three— no, four.” The other serf put out his fingers. “We only saw three, but when they chased us, there were four.”
“It also means that you only saw a part of the group.” Heidi analyzed while looking at Gawain with a worried expression. “The actual numbers might be more.”
“Wandering..” Gawain pinched his chin while his brows were locked tightly. His heart was viewing the ‘Planet Anomaly Reading’ that was collected by the satellite vision over two days. There wasn’t any increase in alerts on the Planet Anomaly Reading, nor was there any emerging magic phenomenon. Why did those monsters appear? Where did they come from?
At this moment, the little old man Pittman had just finished the spell to heal the injured. He stood up and let out a long breath. “These two individuals are fine now.. After drinking my concocted medicine and using the druid’s Purify spell, what’s left is just self-recuperation. As long as they don’t get infected again, they will be fine after a few days.”
This fellow might normally be freeloading in the camp, tricking people with fortune-telling, and selling a bunch of useless medicines, but his druid skills were genuine. Especially at such a time, Gawain was glad that this fellow was around, so he gave a sincere nod and said, “Thank you for the trouble.”
“Don’t say that. We have a friendship of wages. Saying that it is trouble will be hurtful to the money.” Pittman waved his hand and added, “But I need to inform you that I can cure these two individuals’ injuries, but I cannot do anything about the panicking hearts of the eight hundred individuals on the outside. These four had cried out for their fathers and mothers when they were running back. These two injured individuals shouted even louder. Right now, the entire camp might already know of this matter..”
Gawain took a deep glance at this seemingly unreliable old man and couldn’t help but thank him again.
Pittman didn’t need to remind him of this matter.
“Heidi, go and make arrangements. All scouting and harvesting work outside the camp will be suspended. Those operations within the camp will continue as normal. Food will also be distributed as normal. Maintaining order is the first priority. Knight Byron, lead your men and strengthen the patrols.. Polish the armors and weapons brighter, and also inform Knight Philip to equip the newly recruited militia too.”
After giving the instructions to the camp, Gawain turned to look at Amber. “You..”
Amber didn’t wait for Gawain to speak and already made a ruckus. “If I said I wasn’t going, would you use your large sword and slam me to the wall?”
“Yes, and I will do it to the extent that you will never fall off the wall.”
Amber curled her lips and said, “Alright, then I shall go.”
“I’m not finished yet.” Gawain then stood up and said, “I’ll go with you.”
Amber widened her eyes in surprise, while Heidi quickly said, “Ancestor, you should be staying in the camp.. If you hastily go and investigate those monsters, wouldn’t it be it too—”
“Too what?” Gawain turned to look at Heidi and commented, “Is it because I have been drawing diagrams here for too long that all of you forgot what I did seven hundred years ago?”
Everyone in the tent winced before they suddenly recalled this ancestor’s combat strength..
During this period of time, Gawain had been sheltered in the tent, drawing designs and plans, and researching the strange ‘alchemy formula’. They had almost forgotten this ferocious person’s profession back then.. He was a professional at fighting monsters at the kingdom’s borders!
It was fortunate that Gawain didn’t tell anyone the truth about his ‘decline’. Right now, it had an effect.. as long as Gawain stood up, the people by the side would somehow be filled with a kind of confidence..
“If there are only three or four roaming aberrations in the mountains, I will be able to take them out without trouble. If it is a large group, then I and Amber will still be able to escape unscathed. We will then be in time to arrange the defenses.. or retreat with everyone.” Gawain revealed an expression that stated: Don’t panic, everything is a technical adjustment. Believe me, I am correct. At the worst, this Ancestor will just open my max-level account and carry all of you. While Gawain was explaining, he looked at the two standing serfs and said to them, “As for the two of you.. I will need you to lead the way.”
When the two serfs heard the request, they nearly collapsed from fright. They even started to cry bitterly, “My lord, my lord, please don’t! We don’t wish to die! Those monsters will eat us!”
Those who personally experienced the disaster in the Cecil lands would be more fearful to face those monsters than those who only heard the rumors.
Furthermore, they had just escaped death today.
But Gawain had to make them face those monsters again.. In fact, if it was necessary, he wanted to let the whole camp face those monsters again.
“Stand up. You have to lead the way. This is an order from your lord.” Gawain used an unquestionable tone and said, “Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about your safety. I will fulfill my duty as a noble and protect you until you return safely.”
The two serfs looked at one another. They naturally knew what Gawain said when he mentioned ‘duty as a noble’. It was something those noble lords would brag about every day. They might flaunt it, but did any of them truly meant it? When it was at the crucial moment of life or death, how could the cheap lives of commoners be more precious than the noble lord’s life?!
But even if that was the case.. defying the orders of a lord seemed like a path towards death too.
Seeing their hesitation, Gawain said starkly, “I am Gawain Cecil, the legend that slew hundreds of thousands of monsters from the Dark Wave over seven hundred years ago. Do you think there are hundreds of thousands of monsters in the mountains to claim your lives? You should know that if the monsters are really here, you will be safest with me.”
Gawain had a rather simple thought: Since no one can beat me here, I can boast however much I wish to.
These uneducated serfs found themselves believing Gawain’s boastful words. After all, the legendary story of Gawain Cecil was known throughout the kingdom. After hearing the living legend (that just revived) guaranteeing their lives in such firm words, they instantly realized that even if they really encountered monsters, this lord in front of them wouldn’t have any trouble protecting them.
Since there was no trouble, then it should be fine.
As such, they finally nodded in agreement.
Heidi called two soldiers to enter and bring the four serfs to have a rest and eat some food. She then said to Gawain, “Ancestor, you don’t actually need to say so much to those serfs. To them, obeying orders is only natural.”
“But making them obey of their own initiative is better than unilaterally forcing them.” Gawain waved his hand and looked at Rebecca. “How’s progress going on the ‘art’?”
To Gawain, this was the current matter of utmost importance.
Rebecca hesitated before reporting factually, “The crystals are still in production, and the quantity is increasing. Right now, there is already a huge pile accumulated. The explosion magic circle and the corresponding rune triggers have also been done a little. But the delayed explosion.. is still not making progress, and there isn’t a finished product yet.”
Heidi knew what Gawain was thinking, so she spoke with concern on her face, “If those monsters really head this way, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have the chance to use those ‘arts’.”
“No.. delayed explosion is just one of the uses, but not all,” Gawain muttered for a short while before shaking his head. “Rebecca, go and find some craftsmen who know how to create hunting traps. I will then tell you what to do.”
Rebecca didn’t hesitate and nodded. “Yes!”
It was at this moment that Knight Byron couldn’t help but ask, “Is my lord planning to let the camp fight those monsters?”
“It is just an alternative. As for the exact plan, it will need to wait until Amber and I find out the real situation with those monsters,” Gawain replied while thinking of what to do now. “That’s right! Byron, write a notice.. Mm, just mention that aberrations were discovered in the mountain, and we already know their whereabouts. Due to Duke Gawain Cecil’s ample experiences in dealing with aberrations, such monsters are nothing to worry about. Ask everyone to work at ease. Be it to stay or to retreat, they just need to wait for new orders. Also, find two literate soldiers to announce the notice.”
Byron acknowledged the orders, while Heidi looked at Gawain with surprised eyes. “Ancestor, you’re just going to tell the commoners — let them know that aberrations truly exist?!”
“They already know.” Gawain took a glance at Heidi and said, “When those four serfs came back shouting everything, there was no keeping it a secret anymore.. But they’re still uncertain and don’t know the full facts.”
Heidi was a little hesitant. “Then, if you give them all the facts..”historical
“They wouldn’t have to continue guessing, and they wouldn’t start to guess towards the worst and gravest direction,” Gawain said. “The clearer and firmer we are, the sooner they stop panicking or guessing. It would actually be worse to conceal it now.”
Heidi nodded helplessly. “Yes, Ancestor is right.”
“Amber, go and prepare.” Gawain took a deep breath. “Later on, we will take a look together to see where those monsters come from.”