Game Mind of a Medieval Modern Person - Chapter 244



Only Noblemtl

244. Goblin Sightings

10 thousand.

If they were local people, they would have just thought, “That’s quite a lot of effort.”

But for anyone living in the morning system, it was a number that would make them stick out their tongue.

Until just over ten years ago, Yubas, known as the strongest in the morning system, was of that size.

Even during the heyday of the Yubas, there was no case of an army of 10,000 men moving together as one unit.

This is because Yubas was a thoroughgoing nepotism that selected only the capable among the blood relatives, and by encouraging competition among them, they made them keep each other in check.

This was in preparation for the unlikely event that the commander in command of the military would harbor rebellious thoughts.

Yubas established a more stable absolute monarchy through a process in which commanders in charge of different units coveted each other’s military achievements and checked each other.

However, a deformed system that only pursues the stability of the regime is bound to cause problems in practice.

Such was the series of events that took place in the Duchy of Penrad.

Yubas’s 10,000-strong army was only 10,000 strong in name, and the commanders were too wary and cautious of each other to properly combine their forces.

There is also this background to the fact that Aryaba, who swings his sword four times, was able to defeat Yubas’s great army with only a small group of people.

Then what about the 10,000 strong army raised by the Duchy of Powis?

Bishop Narva, the chancellor and de facto head of the Duchy of Powis, made a choice that was in contrast to Jubas.

He delegates all authority to the commander leading the 10,000-strong army without any checks or supervision, and then trusts him completely.

It was something that should not normally be done.

There is a saying, “Seeing something is like learning something new.”

This means that even the most upright and honest person will hesitate if you keep showing them weaknesses, so be careful from the beginning.

Nevertheless, Narva had complete confidence in the commander-in-chief of the crusading army, in his brother, and in Terveer.

He showed his unconditional trust in Terveer and declared that he would procure all the materials needed on site.

The countless risk factors that the Holy War army had to endure on long-distance expeditions have disappeared.

After Bishop Narva, even that was not enough and he was preparing several follow-up measures.

Naturally, the measures Narva prepared had in mind not only the future of Tervær’s crusading army, but also the future of the Duchy of Powis.

“The Ordo Sanctus Illenio will take over the role of the local parishes that have effectively lost their functions. The local monastic orders that have been liberated will be incorporated into the Ordo Sanctus Illenio, and this measure will continue until the parishes are stabilized.”

He sends forth the Ordo Sanctus Ilenio to purify the local parishes that have fallen into the hands of pagans.

And then one day, when enough time has passed.

Narva intended to seize control of the entire Church of the Morning Star by assuming the office of head of the Ordo Sanctus Illenio.

By doing so, in the long run, the superiority of the Diocese of Powis will be made known to all, and henceforth it will be perceived that only the Diocese of Powis can crown the rightful king of the Morning Isles.

To do that, we must achieve results in this temple.

This judgment was also behind Narva’s full support of Terveer.

Of course, it was a problem that most of the support measures were superficial.

Tinkle tinkle-.

After the temple was opened, priests appeared all over the streets, ringing bells.

They all shouted in unison.

“Those who wish to forgive sins, those who wish for the complete end of this world, those who claim innocence! All must dedicate themselves and contribute to the temple!”

Everyone commits sins and lives.

Everyone hopes for an end to Ise filled with danger.

Everyone hopes for a safe and prosperous future.

People who were honest about their desires began to gather one by one, lured by the priest’s loud cries.

“Are you really going to get a pardon if you buy this piece of paper?”

“Oh, it’s not just a piece of paper. It’s a certificate that will guarantee your devotion in front of the stars of Inse!”

“Eek. I’m the less educated one… Hehe…”

“Devotion has nothing to do with the depth of learning! Brother, how is your devotion?”

“Whew. If I were you, I would have made a vow and lived. …Good. It’s not being used for anything else, it’s being used for the temple!”

While citizens gathered on the street after hearing the bell ringing and donated money, merchants dressed in fancy clothes also welcomed the priest.

There was only one reason the priest came.

“Are you saying that you can get that much loot from this temple?”

Money and profit.

Rather than making a weak appeal to religious causes, he promised to share the spoils of this crusade.

The merchants who were faithful to their profits and losses immediately started calculating on their abacuses in their heads.

All it took was one word to move the hearts of those merchants.

“The rights to the land will be greatly influenced by the Bishop’s subordinates.”

“Ugh… haa. I can’t help it.”

The only person who can plan and command this crusade, as well as formulate and implement various policies.

After the bishopric, Narva’s will is there.

Regardless of one’s personal preferences, Narva’s influence could not be denied.

In the end, merchants often jumped into gambling with a sigh and a faint sense of anticipation.

“I’ll try to raise money by contacting people around me.”

“Your decision for royalty will shine for a long time.”

Yes, that’s right.

Bishop Narva was learning from the excellent example and putting it into practice.

How to issue war bonds, obtain loans, and extort donations by appealing to patriotism and religious sentiment.

Ironically, the reason people were convinced was because of Narva’s integrity.

Be honest.

It was a fact that even those who hated the bishop reluctantly acknowledged.

That is to say, he was the person who was the furthest from corruption.

This time it was the same.

“Prepare the soldiers’ salaries and food. Issue a draft order to the pioneer villages in advance. We will prepare follow-up units.”

As soon as the war funds were prepared, Narva called in the Colonial Office’s chief of staff, John Min-muri, and gave him calm instructions.

Min-Muri John was startled by those words and asked back.

“Yes? How do we get more troops here?”

The Duchy of Powis has already raised an army of 10,000 men.

We have barely mobilized more soldiers than the economy can afford for the cause of the holy war, and there is no way we can sustain it even if we recruit more soldiers.

It was such a clear truth that even John the Baptist refuted it on the spot.

But honestly, Narva was the same.

“I felt it after hearing the report about the White-Eyed Toryon. Their instantaneous penetration ability is perfect for trampling the rear and supply lines.”

I have prepared my own defenses.

If there had been even a little delay in sending Terveir, the entire Duchy of Powis might have been destroyed.

Narva frowned and thought about the sense of crisis he felt at that time.

“The follow-up unit being formed now will serve as a reserve force. The purpose is not to engage the enemy directly, but to maintain a standoff with the enemy and hold them back, so we don’t need a large number.”

“But… all the knights have volunteered for the temple right now?”

“I will take command of the follow-up force. It will be sufficient to gather up to five hundred men. Use the remaining funds to secure supplies for the mainland.”

John had to keep his lips together.

What could be argued against Narva himself taking on the role of firefighter and taking command?

Instead, the only thing he could do was narrow his eyes and grumble a little.

“Ugh. Looks like I’ll be the one getting cursed at.”

“The one who gets cursed at usually lives long. I put you there so that you can live long, so don’t worry.”

“I think there’s something wrong with your consideration.”

***

Meanwhile, the momentum of the crusading army, backed by the full support and assistance of Bishop Narva, grew day by day.

Especially among the free knights, the empty check thrown by Narva had been a hot topic of discussion for a long time.

The free knights, huddled around the campfire in the barracks, were busy chewing over the official document.

Looking at each other with sparkling eyes beyond the face shields.

“A knight who has achieved great merits worthy of recognition by Commander-in-Chief Sir Tervere.”

“Would you like to suggest to the Saints a chance to order a full-body plate armor?”

“Furthermore, the cost is borne by the Diocese of Powis, nearly half of it…”

Full body plate armor.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is every knight’s dream.

There are knights who would sell their achievements and estates but not their full plate armor.

Because of its high price, not everyone can afford it, and even if they have the means to pay, they cannot purchase it unless they are recognized by the church.

Using the Saint Idea’s arsenal was a very special privilege.

But if Bishop Narva had such a right.

“Everyone is going to be in chaos.”

The free knights swallowed dry saliva and began to dream.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a treasure far more valuable than a title.

The method was also very simple.

All you have to do is kill the pagans you hate so much.

It wasn’t just the freelance journalists who were looking for opportunities.

Even real knights who already had a title kept their private soldiers under strict control and watched for an opportunity.

But the opportunities they wanted did not come easily.

July 29, 1226.

About a month had passed since the Holy War army began its expedition.

The Holy Army finally succeeded in entering the southern part of the Duchy of Nevar.

Although it was a small village without any fences, it was known to be under the protection of Lord Nevar.

But the expected fierce resistance was nowhere to be found.

There were no envoys attempting to negotiate, nor any suicide squads trying to stop the advance.

The only people who greeted the ten thousand strong holy army were serfs who ran out onto the roadside, shedding tears of joy.

The serfs would just sit down or lie face down and cry loudly.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Nari!”

“Long live the Duchy of Powis, long live the Bishopric of Powis!”

They looked as if they were finally hoping to be freed from their fears.

A few of the more sympathetic ones simply waved at the jubilant serfs and laughed.

“This is it. If this isn’t the reason for participating in the temple, then what else is there?”

“Peace be with you, serfs, for we have come to protect you.”

But knights with considerable experience.

In particular, Terveer and his fellow knights, who had directly encountered Ise’s strength, began to harden their faces.

Sir Herset, who served as adjutant, even made an ominous prediction.

“I’m worried that even the lord won’t come.”

“Hmm.”

Terveer nodded, drooling.

“It looks like things are worse than expected.”

***

The advance of the Holy Army stopped in this small village.

This place, named Underhill because it was a village at the bottom of a hill, had long since lost its vitality.

All over the town, there were abandoned houses that had long since disappeared from sight.

Here’s where things got weird.

The moment Terveer tried to use the empty houses as a camp, the village serfs were greatly surprised and tried to stop him.

“Nari, you can’t! You’ll get cursed if you stay there!”

Because the ripping was so desperate, Terve also had to change his mind.

Only then did the Holy Army notice something unusual and immediately began a meeting.

Tervere gathered Lord Herset and several commanders together and questioned the serfs.

“When I tried to put soldiers in an empty house, they were very surprised and stopped me. Is it related to the people leaving?”

Then the serfs asked back with their eyes wide open.

“Seo… Are you sure you don’t know anything?!”

“T, tsk! That’s why I told you to pack in advance!”

It was an instant that the song spread.

Most of the knights frowned at the sight of the serfs making a fuss.

“Quiet, quiet! Just answer the questions I ask you!”

“Tsk. You guys are restless. Your faith is shaken by Ise’s cheap tricks.”

That was when.

“No, Nari! A monster has appeared!”

The oldest among the serfs fell to his knees and shouted.

“Every time the fog rolls in, a gray giant appears out of the fog!”

“A giant?”

“Yes, yes! A gray giant! As big as two people, it catches people, tears them apart, and sucks the thigh meat like it’s sucking a chicken leg!”

“Hmm. If it’s beyond the fog, then you’re not seeing things wrong?”

“Nari, please, you have to believe me!”

“Huh. Do you think we’re cowards like you? Don’t worry. Our knights are here to protect cowards like you.”

Most of the articles ridiculed and mocked the serf’s rambling testimony.

However, a knight who has already encountered Ise’s transfer.

“…the gray giant in the fog.”

Terveerman began to ponder the old serf’s testimony.