Chapter 44

Chapter 44 - Monsters and Pirates (1)

Count Morad was a lord with good preparation. He had a local clerk called in advance and made him accompany Eugene as a guide.

"Could you tell me in detail about Richwood?"

"Its size is 4,000 acres, and the residents are about 200 households. About 60 cows and 150 donkeys. Two knights are guarding it."

The clerk speaking fluently looked entirely tense. It was because of the weight the title of the Count's proxy evaluator gave.

"It was a territory larger than I imagined. The Count's love for his younger brother is truly great."

4,000 acres is about 16 km². It's 2~3 times the size of an average village.

"The actual ruling area is substantially smaller than that. Because it's a place where timber is the main source of income, it is an area that includes the forest. That is also the reason there are many donkeys."

Donkeys are livestock that boast the best cost-effectiveness in the transport industry. Even though their strength is slightly lacking compared to horses, their endurance is superior.

For the price of one packhorse, one can buy 3~4 donkeys, and for a warhorse, one can even buy 5~9 donkeys.

"What kind of monsters are running rampant?"

"Here is a report. What has been dangerous recently is..."

"I can read it myself, so just give it to me."

"Ah, yes."

The clerk, who took a deep breath, handed over the paper with an embarrassed expression. What was discovered was a chaotic mixture of monsters like kobolds, orcs, and gnolls, to beasts of prey like wolves, bears, and even tigers.

what is this, it's practically the same as every fellow living in the forest popping out.

"That is so. At least they fought amongst themselves, so the damage to the village was small."

Eugene planned to secure the safety of the residents first and clean up the surroundings of the village before entering.

However, against a scale of this magnitude, one is heavily outnumbered. Finding and executing the ones causing trouble inside immediately would likely be the only way.

"Your search ability, Lady Valda, will be desperately needed. I ask of your help."

"I was about to enter the forest to recover my magical power anyway. Roman has too many plains, so it felt like I was getting farther from the secrets of the forest."

"I am always indebted to you."

It is not for naught that lords try to keep magicians by their sides. In a situation that cannot be solved with a sword alone, the existence of a magician is reassurance itself.

For Eugene, he was using a magician, whom even great nobles treat cautiously, for free, so he was merely grateful.

"Since it is also work for myself, do not mind it too much. Because I must make my own return for the respect the Count has shown me."

The status of a Quasi-Noble enjoyed by a magician stems from the goodwill of the nobles. The end of a magician who only received and did not give was not good.

Eugene, reading down the report, discovered an unexpected entity.

"Pirates? Pirates are roaming the river?"

"They struck a civilian house at the river mouth a month ago. It was about 50 people on two ships."

"The scale of the damage?"

"Three people died and two were kidnapped."

For 50 people coming, the damage is at a decent level. Perhaps reading Eugene's expression, the clerk added a supplementary explanation.

"They pillaged another village upstream and stopped by while they were at it. Just like a beast of prey testing its prey. Everyone is fearing that those fellows will come again."

"I have heard rumors of pirates coming down from the inland sea, but to think they would be entangled like this."

At the center of the continent exists an ultra-massive lake. It borders numerous factions, with Roman beneath it, Gord and Barcia to the west, and small kingdoms to the east.

They call it a lake, but there are many large islands, and it is a center of trade where large-scale merchant ships come and go. Sea serpent subspecies and freshwater mermaids also live there, so people simply called it the sea, the inland sea.

Pirates who come down the river branches extending from the inland sea and routinely pillage are a headache for every nation.

"If they are fellows roaming the river, they must be longships, right?"

"Yes. They are small ships with a capacity of 30 people or less. However, since they are skilled warriors and oarsmen, both their combat power and mobility are outstanding."

As small-scale pillagers, they could poke around in an instant and run away nimbly.

"Lord Benjamin also attempted subjugation several times but failed without swinging his sword even once. For they are jackal-like fellows who strike if it seems easy and run away if they think not."

Naval battles in this era basically operate in a manner of fighting hand-to-hand combat on the water by pressing ships against each other. If the pirates come out like that, there is no way to deal with them.

For sedentary people, what is harder to become skilled at than horseback riding is the technique of steering a ship. In some aspects, they are more bothersome than nomadic pillagers.

"I understand why the Count did not mention the pirates."

"Because those fellows are a sort of natural disaster. The Count must have also wished for you to focus on the monster subjugation, Sir."

If the Count had mentioned the pirates even in passing, Eugene could not help but mind them. It must have been his own consideration.

* * *

The Richwood they arrived at was a territory in the form of a Motte and Bailey.

On a high hill by the river, there is a luxurious lord's manor, and core facilities such as a smithy, a clinic, and stables, as well as a wooden palisade, surround it.

It is an expanded structure like a sprawl, with civilian houses closely wrapping around this lord's district.

In the past, Eugene thought that all castles were built with stone, but the reality was this shape. Due to cost issues, there are numerous lords living in wooden castles.

"Even without a magnificent fortress, tis' a place where anyone who visits has their heart warmed. A cozy bed and refreshing morning air, I dare to boast that it is even better than Goldhill."

The clerk's face overflowed with pride. With an ample population and excellent trade routes by both water and land, it is a village with considerable potential.

However, people who looked shabby no matter who looked were seen wandering around and begging.

"Are they refugees from the pillaged village?"

"Yes. This is the safest place in the vicinity, and the territory's monastery is operating a poorhouse."

"I must step forward regarding the forest's problem even if it's tomorrow. But the pirates surely bother me."

Since he had come anyway, Eugene wanted to handle both of the village's headaches perfectly.

"We have also heavily pondered it, but there is no answer. If it were the open sea, we would hire several armed ships and cleanly strike them with a ram. It's an impossible task in such a river."

"...!"

Something flashed in Eugene's mind as he listened to the clerk's words.

"A ram. A ram, huh..."

He felt as if he could see a clue to a solution. It felt like a bit of an absurd method, but if it was him, it seemed possible.

* * *

As they entered the territory, the subordinate troops were guided to nearby houses and inns. Because of the Motte and Bailey structure, many personnel could not be accommodated in the lord's manor.

"Lady Valda, please go in and rest first. I will stop by the smithy before going."

"Are you intending to maintain your equipment?"

"No. I have an item to request."

Seeing that the sound of hammering was coming from the smithy, it was still open for business.

"Sir. Please order everything you need using the name of Morad. We shall cover all the costs."

The clerk, who bowed politely, took Valda and went inside with the maids.

As Eugene and Homi entered the smithy, despite it being autumn, a hot heat pushed in.

"Welcome, Sir Knight."

Behind an old man with a sturdy build despite his age, three blacksmiths stopped their work and came out.

"I came through the introductory of the clerk. I am Eugene Meyer, who has come to subjugate the monsters of the forest as a proxy for the Count's full authority."

"I thank you for your mercy. I am Muto in charge of the smithy. Whatever it is you need, please speak."

Due to the nature of their profession, blacksmiths deal with warriors frequently. Independent of the Count's halo, he intuited that the knight before his eyes was a guest of a different caliber.

"I need a spear-thrower (atlatl)."

"If it is that, we have several types."

At Muto's instructions, a young blacksmith brought several spears and atlatls.

"It's an item not commonly kept in stock, so it seems there's much use for it here?"

"It's a village where daily life and battle are mixed. But we cannot just sell crossbows or bows to anyone either."

Commoners' and serfs' possession of weapons was restricted except in special cases. It is even more strict for bows and crossbows, which become threats during a rebellion.

However, the specialty product of Richwood is timber. As many woodcutters worked, they often stimulated the forest, causing beasts of prey or monsters to run wild.

If it is a dangerous fellow, they request help from the lord's manor, but if it is an easy fellow, the woodcutters must handle it amongst themselves. A javelin is a cheap, easy-to-handle, and powerful means among the weapons the lord turns a blind eye to.

"They are all good items, but they are not what I want. Because it is so special, you fellows will have to make a new one."

Eugene grabbed three thin spears propped nearby at once.

"I need an atlatl that can launch a spear three times thicker than usual. Configure the entire body with iron so it absolutely will not break."

"..."

At the request they heard for the first time in their lives, the blacksmiths' faces changed bizarrely.

'It doesn't have to be rammed with a ship to be a ram. Anyway, wouldn't it be enough if I just make a hole with similar destructive power?'

Eugene recognized his own monstrous strength well. The memory of stopping the battle with a single javelin throw during the subjugation of the bandit pack is vivid.

What if he used an atlatl and a more powerful spear? What if his monstrous strength was added to a tool that amplifies power to two to three times that of a bare-handed throw?

He thought he could sufficiently sink a longship carrying about 20 to 30 people, even if it wasn't a large galley.

Smashing a ship with human arm strength... It seemed like a crazy act to his head, but his instincts kept whispering.

'Because it's possible, just go for it.'

"Is it difficult to make? It should be a simple structure, not a mechanical device like a crossbow."

"Manufacturing it is not difficult. We only need to make it bigger and longer."

"Then please begin immediately."

Muto blinked even while nodding. He seemed puzzled as to why he was being told to make such a bizarre thing.

"Indeed, the efficiency wouldn't come out if you make it in a state of not being able to understand it." Eugene lifted a spear and an atlatl brought as samples one by one.

"Follow me."

Eugene went outside while inserting the spear into the atlatl. As it is a high area, the flowing river and the hills beyond it come into view at once.

Bddrrr.

As Eugene took a stance, the muscles of his arm swelled, and massive power was loaded into the atlatl.

Craaack.

As Eugene's arm moved vigorously, the sound of the thick atlatl breaking was heard.

Swishhh!

A tremendous sound of tearing air shook the surroundings. The spear, which crossed the village, the river, and the grassy field on the opposite side in an instant, hit the hill like a bombardment.

Poo-shwaaak!

Huge dirt dust flew, and a dull sound of collision was heard all the way here. It was not a result that could be produced by human strength.

Thud!

The hammer held in Muto's hand fell to the ground.

"Wh-What on earth is that?!"

"Dear God."

"It's a power that even the ballistas in the capital can't follow."

The blacksmiths were astonished at the sight they couldn't believe even after seeing it with their own eyes.

"Could you look here?"

As Eugene opened his hand, the handle of the atlatl completely crumbled and spilled down. The fixing stand that bites the back of the spear also had a large crack.

"That was made of oak and even reinforced with a coating."

"No wonder it held out better than I thought."

Before Muto, who spoke despondently, Eugene dusted his hands. The broken wood pieces poured out onto the ground.

"Now there shouldn't be any doubts about making the things I mentioned, right? Because they have to be at least that much to fully handle my strength."

"Far from doubts, my curiosity is piqued. I truly wish to see such a monster-like weapon being used at least once."

A blue fire burned in the eyes of the blacksmiths, who had looked tired. Artisans feel the highest pride in making what other artisans cannot make.

This absurd knight using a weapon they made. A sight of using the one and only atlatl in the world. Just imagining it already made their hands itch.

"It is obvious, but I also need a spear suited for the atlatl. If I was going to throw an ordinary spear, I wouldn't have even made the request."

"I will request the carpentry shop and prepare it. It seems it would be more powerful if we reinforce the collision part with a pointed iron cover instead of a spearhead."

"So a sort of armor-piercing shell feel? That is a splendid idea."

"Armor-piercing shell...? What is that?"

"There is such a thing."

Eugene, who smiled broadly, patted the blacksmiths' shoulders. "I leave it to you well. Because I intend to smash the pirate fellows coveting this precious village with it."

"...!"

The momentum of the blacksmiths, who realized the weapon's purpose, became even more robust. Because they remembered the tears of neighbors who lost their families to the pirates.

"I will do my best to make it. I will never disappoint you."

In the heart of Muto, who pounded his chest, a desire for revenge against the pirates and a sense of mission to protect the village were dwelling.