Turning Chapter 1134

Chapter 1134

'An earthquake?'

Yuder and Nathan Zuckerman simultaneously straightened their postures and swiftly turned their heads. The long ground tremor stopped after a moment, but Yuder didn't relax his tension and tried to grasp the edge of the sensation he had just felt.

'Towards Peletta? No. No. This seems to have occurred in a different direction, not that way. If the ground tremor felt here is this much, at the starting point...'

"It seems we need to go out and assess the situation."

Nathan Zuckerman muttered as he placed his hand on his sword hilt, staring in the same direction.

"I'm sorry, but we'll have to postpone visiting the Northern Branch together for a bit."

"That's fine, but..."

"Sir Zuckerman! Are you here!"

However, before Nathan Zuckerman could leave, someone came running in quickly. A young knight whose face was slightly familiar from seeing him a few times while in Peletta opened his mouth, panting.

"An urgent message has come that monsters have appeared in Jilbang!"

'Jilbang? That name is certainly...'

The stack of official documents of Duke Peletta that Yuder had seen recently in Kishiar's office flashed through his mind. The very first and oldest document among them. It was the territory that had become the first customer of the monster subjugation by proxy business that Kishiar had reportedly tried first after coming to Peletta.

'I think it was said to be located near Peletta.'

While Yuder was recalling his memory, Nathan Zuckerman asked with a stern face.

"The timing is a bit early, but shouldn't the dispatched members be able to handle the monsters that appear in Jilbang sufficiently on their own?"

"Yes. We thought so, but it seems something different from usual has occurred. News came together that Sir Brugg, who was commanding the dispatched personnel, has been injured."

"Brugg?..."

Nathan Zuckerman's expression sank seriously. The young knight's face, who had become sweaty from rushing here, also didn't look good.

"The last signal sent from Sir Brugg's side was '5', they say. Currently, Captain Welliven is also preparing to go out personally."

"I understand. I'll go right away."

"What does the signal '5' mean?"

At Yuder's words, who had been listening silently, the young knight who had been reporting frantically raised his head with a startled gasp. It seemed he hadn't noticed that there was another person on the stairs due to the urgency of his report.

"Wh-when did you..."

"It's the tactical number of the Peletta Knights. The Duke created it himself. Number 5 refers to a decoy strategy used in cooperation with reinforcements, implemented when it's judged difficult to handle enemies while protecting the rear with current manpower."

Regardless of whether the knight was clutching his startled chest or not, Nathan Zuckerman calmly answered. Several tactics from tactical games flashed through Yuder's mind instantly.

"So in other words, it means they'll lure the enemy out and make them move as far away from Jilbang as possible while support from Peletta's side goes out for a coordinated attack. Seeing that numbers have been assigned, it seems the location for using the decoy strategy has also been predetermined..."

The topographical map of the northern area near Peletta that he had looked around and remained in his mind overlapped with the tactical board in his head. He couldn't remember the exact location of Jilbang, but thinking based on the direction from which the ground tremor was just felt, a certain place came to mind.

'The basin-like terrain with many rocks visible when facing northeast with your back to the sea from Peletta Castle.'

The ground tremor was felt from the northeast.

The northeast of Peletta was a desolate place with hardly any grass or trees visible, mostly filled with rough rocks. Some parts were sunken compared to other lands, and the range was quite wide, looking like a small basin when seen from afar. It was probably a place that had a pond or lake long ago, but now there was nothing.

If they could lure the enemy into there, it seemed like the optimal formation could be deployed to trap and annihilate them at once.

"Is it perhaps the rocky basin in the northeast?"

"How did you..."

"Yes. That's correct."

The young knight and Nathan Zuckerman simultaneously gave answers with the same meaning but different reactions.

Nathan Zuckerman continued speaking with a face that showed no surprise at all.

"It's a place called the Sleeping Water Fairy's Tomb here. It's located about halfway between Jilbang and Peletta, and since it can be approached downhill from Jilbang's side, it's convenient for luring and dragging enemies. It's also good for observing and grasping the situation from the castle."

"I already know that from seeing it."

It's not yet clear exactly what kind of monsters have appeared and in what numbers to injure even the commanding knight. However, the fact that they decided to use a decoy strategy from there allowed at least a few things to be guessed.

'First. The monsters that have appeared now are likely individuals with stronger hunting instincts that chase visible enemies rather than indiscriminate aggression. If so, they might be difficult to deal with but easy to lure. Second. In my experience, such creatures tend to prefer hunting humans in packs. Third. The ground tremor that occurred earlier was only once, and hasn't occurred again since. Therefore, the enemy is probably not something excessively large or with the ability to dig into the ground.'

Considering all factors, the most likely type of monster that came to mind was one.

"It's likely to be something that flies."

"Pardon?"

"I mean the monsters being lured here now. I think there's a high possibility they're winged creatures with habits similar to carnivorous birds of prey. But it's not just one. You've probably encountered various creatures enough to create a monster encyclopedia in the Peletta Knights, so you should know, but the reason such creatures are tricky is..."

Nathan Zuckerman's face, which had been blinking while listening to the casually continuing words, hardened.

"...because they attack from above where defense is difficult."

"Yes. In other words, even if they can be lured, they're not creatures that are good to deal with in that terrain."

In fact, it was closer to being a bad match beyond just not being good.

'We're in a desolate land with nothing to hide behind, while the opponent is in the sky, so it becomes three times trickier.'

Even the Cavalry members in his previous life had the most trouble dealing with flying monsters. Someone like Elpkins who could fly had to join without fail, and when such a person wasn't available, they often suffered more damage compared to their strength.

'But Nathan Zuckerman is here now.'

A swordmaster who can fly his aura can easily ignore the compatibility of the fighting terrain. However, that's only for once or twice. Unless aura is a technique that can be used infinitely, a method to achieve maximum effect with minimum power had to be considered.

'That's exactly what tactics are for.'

"No, how on earth did you... If this is true, shouldn't we first report to the Duke?"

The young knight's face turned pale. At those words, Yuder recalled the face of the man who would be sleeping upstairs now.

What would Kishiar have done?

The advantage of a location where observation is possible from the top of the castle. The characteristics of the relevant topographical features. What could be done without waking Kishiar sleeping here and without leaving his side. And the existence of Nathan Zuckerman as an outstanding piece.

A way to protect both Peletta and Jilbang while resolving quickly...

'...It's not that there isn't one. It would need some cooperation though.'

Yuder raised his eyes from his contemplation and looked at Nathan Zuckerman. While Yuder had been lost in thought, the knight had just stood still as if waiting for orders without asking anything.

"Sir Zuckerman."

"Yes."

"I think I'll have to make another request similar to earlier, would that be alright?"

"Please speak."

"For a quick resolution, I'd like us to cooperate a bit with you outside and me here."

"..."

Only the young knight who couldn't guess what that meant opened his mouth. Nathan Zuckerman slowly looked down at the floor and then raised his eyes again, lifting his hand.

It was the same salute of the Peletta Knights as before.

"If you've judged that to be the best course of action, I'll follow. Please explain."

It must have been words difficult to understand readily, but he didn't even ask about the intention. A light thrill ran down Yuder's back. He swallowed the sharply rising excitement he hadn't felt in a very long time and raised the corners of his lips.