The Extra Wants To Live

After hearing Corbin's detailed explanation, Carl was at a loss.

The remaining troops barely exceed 100, including Carl's punitive force.

Half of them were woodcutters and farmers, so the actual number of soldiers was only about 50, and about 20 of them were Hilfin soldiers who were not properly trained.

The number of gnolls is completely unknown.

According to Corbin, the number of gnolls killed so far may be in the thousands.

Even if we consider that it is exaggerated, it is probably not that small. It is said that the number of gnolls killed in yesterday's battle is well over 200.

"What did you do with so many corpses?"

"There are hardly any bodies left. The gnolls take whatever bodies they find and throw them away."

"…."

Carl had to calm down for a moment after hearing that the people from the stacked log village he had conscripted did not even leave behind any bodies. But he didn't last long.

"Are they taking not only human corpses but also gnoll corpses?"

"yes."

"They're not doing that to eat, are they?"

"I don't know about that."

In the first place, this situation itself makes no sense. Above all, the autumn forest is full of food.

Carl doesn't think it's because of food.

Then why?

"Master Carl, Lady Catherine has returned."

At that time, one of the imperial soldiers speaks cautiously during a break in conversation.

"Please call her in."

Carl immediately called Catherine.

He heard that after last night's battle, she cleaned up after the war and left early in the morning, so Carl like to give her some rest.

But he can't afford that.

"Lord Carl."

Catherine came straight in, stood in front of Carl, and bowed her head modestly.

Carl feels reassured by the sight of her being as strong as a superhuman who does not feel fatigue.

"Lady Catherine, thank you for your hard work."

"I'm just doing my job."

"That alone makes me envious of you. If it weren't for you, I would have been dead already."

"… This is a victory achieved thanks to Lord Carl's hard work."

Catherine pursed her lips with that rock-like face, as if she was very unfamiliar. And she was at a loss for words to reply, so she gave the credit to Carl and shut her mouth.

Corbin watched the scene from a little distance with narrowed eyes.

Corbin, who was driven to death by the words of abandonment due to the wonderful relationship between a lord and a knight, like in an old knight's tale, could not raise his head.

"How is the situation?"

"Not good. If we attack on the same scale as yesterday, we won't be able to stop it this time."

Catherine answers Carl's question immediately.

"The play is breaking down the wooden fence with an axe. The western wooden fence was completely destroyed to the point where the logs had to be completely replaced, and other areas also need repairs due to accumulated damage."

"… Repairs to the western fence were completed in the morning. This is a village of woodcutter. It's not that difficult."

Corbin interrupts Catherine's words.

"We couldn't have repaired all the other places either. Lord Corbin, if we can't repair all the fences by this evening, it's no different from repairing them."

"… "

Corbin could not refute Catherine's correct opinion.

No matter how much manpower is invested, there is a limit. It is impossible to repair all the wooden fences that are high and strong enough to block gnolls in one day.

"Lady Catherine, do you have Hilfin's support yet?"

"We found no contact or traces."

"Send someone to Hilfin Castle... No, I will write the letter."

"I'm sorry. I have already sent a messenger in Lord Carl's name."

"Ah, good job."

Indeed, it is Catherine. It looks like everything has already been taken care of.

However, it seems that Catherine was caught arbitrarily sending a messenger in Carl's name without his orders while Carl was unconscious.

Carl didn't pay any attention to it, praised it, and then moved on.

"…So, what can we do now?"

After thinking for a moment, Carl asked Catherine that question. In front of Catherine, the flawless commander, country knights like Corbin were no longer even considered.

"The only thing you can do is to either abandon the heal pin and retreat, or wait for support and defend."

"… "

Carl slowly rubbed his forehead.

There is no answer. In the first place, it would be right to retreat.

"If the sound of the ax village falls, the gnolls will leave the forest and roam the entire territory!"

Corbin became impatient and approached Carl, shouting loudly. However, when Catherine stepped forward and glared, Corbin had no choice but to stop.

Corbin was two spans taller than Catherine, but Corbin, a country knight who couldn't even use mana in front of an imperial knight selected for her skills alone, was no different from an ordinary soldier.

"Stop, I have no intention of retreating."

Carl cut off this unnecessary dispute with a firm voice.

"There is no retreat for the punitive force sent out under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. We will subdue the gnolls here and protect the subjects of the empire."

"Yes, Lord Carl."

Catherine spoke calmly and took a step back.

Corbin was mesmerized.

Even though he said he should not retreat, Corbin knew that retreat was the right thing to do.

And he couldn't even imagine that the small and sickly looking 4th prince would advocate for the fight so confidently.

…No, the 4th Prince Carl, in this sickly state last night, brandished his sword, encouraged the soldiers, and killed the gnoll.

Corbin's suspicions are unjustified. Carl has already shown his will.

"Let's come up with a more specific tactic. Oh, before that."

Carl said as if he had finally remembered it.

"What about the casualties?"

"Minor injuries and exhaustion are all. There were no deaths."

In response to Carl's question, Catherine reported it casually. Conscripts were not even considered soldiers.

Carl didn't complain at his words either and just nodded once.

"How's Bilford doing?"

Even though he knew that Bilford was included in the casualty report, Carl had no choice but to ask one more time.

The dizzying moment of not being able to do anything even after seeing Bilford screaming while surrounded by gnolls passes before his eyes.

"All injuries have been treated. But he bleeding profusely and he is very exhausted and need some rest."

Treating a wound does not return the lost blood. It was impossible for Bilford, who had almost every joint in his body pierced and torn by the gnoll's claws, to get up and fight.

"All right."

Carl slowly took a breath and spoke quietly, keeping it from turning into a sigh.

He don't have time to be like this.

'We must prepare for battle again.'