Chapter 24 War Potential

TL: Fraiziar

Proofread: Manga Hunter

Authors note:

There is no excuses for the lack of description in the previous story. I add this to supplement in various ways.

It was comment by someone said its troublesome to read once again.

Firstly, Ferme Kings country and Almis village have quite a distance so it isnt realistic to rule. A revolt will happen immediately even if he station a few soldiers. The stationed soldiers will be killed by Almis when running away. There is a possibility for King Rosaiths military to be stationed.

Therefore King Ferme didnt mind putting it under control.

Therefore, he received only tribute and returned. The remark of putting it under control he said is to keep face as the king. It seems to be little hard to understand here.

When Almis said for self govern, by passing the tribute to intercept worries.

Judging from King Ferme viewpoint, he chased after the refugees and found a rich village. I told about food shortage as a pretext to plunder it and return, I dont want to give damage so I make demand for tribute for the time being. It becomes such feeling.

Naturally King Fermes subordinatesoldiers, entering as investigator is useless. Therefore King Ferme didnt enters inside to check the actual harvest, but guessed from the village scale. He intend to come and plunder it, as the make-believe tax was collected more or less as inquire so cheating isnt important, he think whether it is alright. He wants to avoid fight of the possibility of him dying.

There is 80% of it

King Ferme thought the present force was enough to conquer Amiss village. But damage is given. When conquer the village, you must care for the non-soldiers and the refuges in the village. King Ferme thought that the enemy has maximum about 200 from the scale of the village.

Even if all members dont have weapons, he would die from them throwing stone. King Fermes soldiers was drafted, so neither skills or morale is high. There would be few damage and he has to deal with death soldiers.

Then, the idea is that it is better to avoid fight.

In other words, there is more profits if Almis gives 80% quietly than to fight and take it all.

Therefore, he enquired the number 80%

His ideology is that my descendants will have influence so as a ruler I thought that war should be avoid as much as possible.

Have you convinced?

By the way, Almis finally hand over 70%, but in reality it was 50%.

As King Ferme was deceived with two fields system, he accepted 50% with it is roughly so and returned.

It was possible to deceive him simple because the farming technique was different.

Incidentally, I received comment about not understanding the geography so a map is placed in afterword.

Alright! Weve somehow survived! (Almis)

I was relieved.

Even so, when I mentioned the displaying of skeletons, I was surprised that King Fermes face turned stiff.

I guess he was surely empathizing with them.

He wouldnt do something cruel to that extent, huh?

Well, concerning the result it was a success so its fine.

But his impression of me has deteriorated.

While I was taking a breather with Tetra in the house, Ron, Roswald, Gram, Soyon, and Lulu those five people entered.

Well then, Leader. Continuing from earlier, Whats with the sudden marriage? (Ron)

What. Perhaps, dont tell me you wanted to marry me? (Almis)

Youre wrong! (Ron)

Ron shook his head forcefully.

That gives me peace of mind. He was surely too fond of me so his inclination might have warped.

It was discussed a little while ago. (Almis)

As I thought, youin such a flow? (Ron)

When you say that, I am troubled.](Tetra)

Tetra said as she looked at me.

No, Im also troubled you know!

Well, thats fate, huh? (Ron)

I didnt know what I supposed to say.

It became like that.

I dont know when I was brainwashed by Tetra.

For some reason I feel no need to question the marriage whatsoever.

Is it okay to decide to get married so easily like that? (Soyon)

Soyon asked with a complaining face.

Is calling out Please, marry me! with a bouquet in one hand in a beautiful nightscape, your ideal Soyon?

No, I also thought proposing should have been something like that

I dont understand.

Since my last girlfriend was in the third grade back in my previous life,.

I havent fallen in love since that time.

Its a mystery.

Did I embrace the illusion of love too much, or was it that I just didnt realize that this is love?

Could it be that Im falling in love with both Tetra and Julia?

For me to fall in love with two people, Im the lowest.

Though the relationship between me and Tetra was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, I became her real fianc, huh?

Now that I think about it, I have no problems with this flow of events.

I mean, recently we had been sleeping in the same house, always sharing blankets.

Huh? Was that all part of Tetras plan?

Waa My image of ideal love (Lulu)

Lulu held her head in her hands.

I get you, I get you.

I feel the same way.

In the meantime, its a thing to be celebrated so Congratulations. (Roswald)

When Roswald said that, everyone had looks of being caught and mumbled their congratulations.

Stop acting shy.

When I was about to say that, I realized I had actual feelings.

Ah, I see. Im going to marry this person, huh

Embarrassing, huh

Almis Youre blushing too late (Tetra)

Tetra said while also blushing.

Umm, weve still yet to hear the details of what actually happened though (Gram)

Gram asked tactlessly.

That concerns Tetra. (Almis)

As I said so, Tetra stepped forward.

There is something I have to say to everyone. (Tetra)

Tetra began to talk about her circumstances.

H~mm.

Everyone seemed to have a very dull reaction.

How anticlimactic.

I was expecting more of an EEEH?!! or REALLY? reaction you know.

I mean isnt it a bit late to be surprised? And it was a mystery why Tetra had such a good intellect too. (??)

And when we first met Tetra, her hands were like those that had never done farm work before too.(??)

And shes afraid of insects too.(??)

Everyone had guessed.

Though, I did too.

Mmm I thought I was hiding it pretty well. Was I the only one who thought that?(Tetra)

Tetra, you always bathed alone! And also, whenever we accidently ran into each other you would hide your back instead of your breasts. Wasnt it a bit too obvious? (Lulu)

Lulu said while laughing.

In the first place, weve known each other for six years now, How dull would we have to be to not realize? (Roswald)

Roswald said with an amazed face.

Well, this person is also a bit slow in strange places. (Ron)

When Ron begins to laugh, everyone laughed in unison.

Tetra puffed out her cheeks.

Dont sulk, Tetra-chan. By they way, Almis-san. Is your marriage with Tetra a marriage of convenience? I think getting married for a reason like that just doesnt feel right(Lulu?)

Well, yes that was true at the start. But no matter what the merit, I wouldnt marry someone I didnt like. (Almis)

Tetras origin was pressing down on my back.

I knew it was necessary to resolve her feelings at some point.

Whether its politics, or something else its fine. (Tetra)

Tetra clung to me saying so.

Er, well by her repeating such actions, the outer moat has been been filled up, huh?

When are we doing the wedding? (Tetra)

Its good that things have become settled for the time being with King Ferme. (Almis)

It had become a confused mess.

Right now there are a lot of things we should prepare.

First, we need to reinforce our war potential. We were fine this time, but it would be hard on us if they took from our stocks every year. Since we could starve if a famine occurred.(Almis)

Will we fight? (Tetra)

I dont know. But we cannot even negotiate without a weapon. (Almis)

Conflict does not occur unless both sides are at the same level.

When the level of power is too different there is only the dominator and the dominated.

The enemy could enslave us, and its also possible for them to take our provisions by massacring us.

A famine is occurring, its possible they may try to solve it by taking our food from us.(Almis)

What exactly should we do? (Tetra)

Tetra raised her face that had been buried in my body.

I believe there are enough iron spears for everyone? In the meantime we should adjust their lengths. Those are our main weapons. After that is the bow. How many people in the village can handle a bow? (Almis)

I guess about ten decent people, with a possibility of five more. (Gram)

Gram answered.

In other words fifteen people, huh.

Thats not a bad force. The habitual hunting has borne fruit.

Say, Yal. Of your thirty people, how many men are above the age of twelve and below sixty? Are there any sorcerers? (Almis)

Err, there are ten men. As for sorcerers The advanced sorcery soul riding cannot be used, but there are two moderate users. (Yal)

I see. Originally our villages war potential was forty people, and in all we have fifty.

Only three sorcerers in our village can soul ride.

But the other sorcerers of our village are a total of ten.

So a total of twelve, huh. (Note: I think he means 13)

Even so, among all thirty of those people there are only two sorcerers, huh.

Out of our village of a hundred there are thirteen here. Moreover, they are mostly children.

Rather, two out of thirty is in itself an unusually high number. Usually, a village would have only one out of a hundred people. Our village just has too many. (Yal)

Why is there so many? (Almis)

Who knows? Julias a talented teacherThough thats probably wrong. Since magic is 90% talent. (Yal)

No, it looks like its just a coincidence thats too good to be true.

Also if I remember correctly, Fermes King has nine sorcerers that can soul ride under his command. (Yal)

We have three people

A village of 130 people has three capable sorcerers that can soul ride, and a country of a little under thirty thousand has nine.

As I thought, this is absolutely strange.

Dont mind the minor details. Its probably by chance. Perhaps it has something to do with your relationship with Griffon-sama. (Yal)

I see, Griffon, huh.

It could be his influence. Its sufficient.

Anyways, its a welcomed thing. The small difference between our number of sorcerers is a good thing. (Almis)

Now lets go towards a course of action where we dont need to worry about the minor details.

There are thirty-five infantry and fifteen bowmen. Not bad. (Yal)

No, there are only thirty infantry. The remaining five people will be cavalry. (Almis)

Since there are saddles and stirrups, if we practice, we can ride properly.

Its fine because everyones reflexes are good.

I dont expect them to do something advanced like shooting a bow (while riding).

Just throwing a stone while moving is enough to become a threat.

If they can flank their sides and plunge into them, they may be able to break their ranks.

We must not forget the defenses of the village. (Almis)

I think we should dig a palisade. (Ron)

I also think a watch tower is necessary. Youd be able to fire bows from it as well.(Gram)

Though I think stone walls are best, thats impossible isnt it (Roswald)

Ron, Gram, and Roswald said together .

Well, thats gonna take some time so we should make it little by little.

Its also important to do some research on the best way to construct it.

Next is weapons. (Almis)

Can we make those?

During the time I was in junior high I studied the method of their construction. Ah, the indiscretions of youth.

But thats too dangerous.

I look at everyone.

Everyone is going to fight for their lives.

Naturally, Id like to avoid fighting if possible Still, if we dont fight back we could die. No, unless we were incredibly lucky we would definitely die.

This is not the time to be scared.

Lets make it.

Black powder.

Authors afterwords:

As this map may change since it is a provisional ones. And, it may be different from the work description. Please take this in consideration.

King Ebills country and King Belvederes country is schedule in mainly three chapter, as it is important that they make an appearance. Other countries is name as the following,

Thick line is border, the thin line is the territory border. Green is forest of Roman

As Julia said, the north is King Rozel country the mastermind behind the curse.

The ruler is a person from Adernia same as Almis, the ruler is a people who dwell in the north of Adernia Peninsula called Lian.

By the way, the south culture in Adernia Peninsula is under influence of the colonized city of Karishian.

However, Ironware was invented by a northern race, because it was handed down in the past.

The next chapter is about Julia.

Incidentally, black powder chapter is Almis chapter.

I took a liking to a science exam called homework in middle school as I have to look up method of producing black powder as dynamite. What kind of feeling when the teach mark it you though? Oh, by the way, the sciences result was five.

I wonder what kind of middle schooler like bomb?