The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 93

In addition to the Dimensional Protection Barrier Stone, Gray also gifted a small magical communication device. It was Gray’s thoughtful consideration, foreseeing the path Raul was about to take.

With the outbreak of Gate Emergencies, every territory was in a state of emergency. A majority of Academy students were anxious about news from their hometowns.

Under the judgement of the chancellor and the faculty that continuing academic pursuits was impractical, the academy decided to suspend classes indefinitely.

Given that both Raul and Gray would often need to travel out of the capital, the communication device was essential.

“Please avoid any rash actions. Now that you’ve been exposed to the Imperial Hounds, you’ll need to move more cautiously. Should you require assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.”

“Thank you. Should I discover any clues regarding them, you’ll be the first to know.”

After concluding his meeting with Gray, Raul returned to his estate and pondered on future plans.

‘Now that the matters in the capital are more or less settled…’

The time was nearing for activities beyond the fences of the capital city, Thurium. Soon, substantial news was likely to arrive.

If utilized well, this could lay at least the minimal foundation needed for the future.

Player Guilds.

And amongst them, interacting with the massive guilds poised at the top would demand preparatory efforts beyond measure. Because they weren’t simply a congregation of players.

Corporations, politicians, even governments.

Facing those backed by monumental forces, as an ordinary citizen, necessitated a background and force of corresponding or greater strength on this side as well.

‘Don’t you think things will go your way this time.’

Raul firmly resolved, his golden eyes shimmering. It didn’t take long for the awaited news to arrive. At dusk, Kane, who had come to Raul’s office, reported,

“I’ve compiled the information that has reached the royal family and the various noble houses.”

The Ruben Kingdom roughly consisted of 170 territories. The information on most of these territories had only been fully gathered by today.

“For the most part, baronies and higher-ranked territories are managing to resolve the Gate Outbreaks on their own. At least officially, no house has requested support.”

“That figures. After all, it’s said that not even rotten wood loses its strength. Baronies are bound to have their own knight orders, at the least.”

For some reason, the Gates that appeared this time seemed graded and numbered based on population density.

While 60 Gates, up to E-Grade, emerged in the capital, which had a population of over a million, small baronial castle towns with lesser populations didn’t even witness the appearance of a single Gate.

As even soldiers, not just knights, could handle up to D-Grade Gates, it was assumed that baronies with their knight orders, despite potential damages, wouldn’t be incapable of managing.

“The problem lies with the baronies. Out of 120 baronial territories, nearly half have sought salvation from the royal family or influential houses. About 20 of those in dire situations have abandoned their territories and fled through portals. Moreover, more than ten territories have gone completely silent…”

The monsters spilling from the Gates were nearly cataclysmic for the smaller baronial territories. Most lacked standing soldiers, and it was commonplace for them to have fewer than ten knights.

If a Gate appeared outside the castle walls, there was at least a chance to hold off by utilizing the walls. However, for those where Gates appeared within, responding was nearly impossible.

“What has been the royal response?”

“They are aware of the severity but express difficulties in deploying forces externally. As you know, while the city’s interior has been sorted out, nearly no efforts have been made for the Gates that appeared beyond the city walls.”

Neither the royal family nor the significant houses could afford to spare resources at the moment. If the gate is not completely cleared, it becomes fixed in place and turns into a dungeon.

Even if the monsters that pour out are dealt with, since it’s not certain when new monsters might emerge, troops must be constantly stationed to manage the dungeon.

Therefore, it might be difficult to focus on other areas while stabilizing the domain for the next few months.

The nobles who fled to the capital might wish to reclaim their domains, but immediate assistance would be hard to come by.

Even if they wanted to hire mercenaries, the supply in the capital had dried up since the outbreak of the gate crisis, with every noble family hastily enlisting even the lowest rank of mercenaries.

Naturally, Raul had hired the most mercenaries. This was because he extended contracts with those he had temporarily hired when the situation arose.

Thus, the forces Raul could command in the capital numbered over 5,000, including 200 knights, approximately 2,000 regular troops, and 3,000 mercenaries.

If things went as Raul expected, soon many would come seeking him.

“Where should we start?”

Raul pondered, spreading a map of the kingdom on the table. The conditions of each domain were briefly marked on it according to Kane’s information. While he was deep in thought, Bernard entered the office with a knock.

“Master, Baron Gilatien has arrived. What should we do?”

‘The first bite is coming.’ Raul smiled and spoke.

“Let’s welcome him to the reception room.”

The time for a real harvest was approaching.

* * *

Shhing.

The cold wind bit through the thin leather clothes.

‘Is it already December?’

Vince, the captain of Medini village’s militia, climbed onto the palisade, rubbing his shivering body, surveying the surroundings.

Nearly six months had passed since that cursed day when monsters poured out of the gate. Luckily, the gate appeared far in the forest away from Medini village.

So, the villagers spent a peaceful night, unaware that such an event had occurred until dawn. However, not long after the villagers went out of the palisade to work, the creatures revealed themselves.

Monstrous monkeys. Their claws and toenails were about 30 centimeters long, shaped like a sickle, and their muzzles protruded like a wolf’s, bristling with sharp fangs.

Cunningly, the creatures hidden in the forest only struck in a surprise attack once the villagers were far away from the palisade.

That day, about 300 villagers of Medini lost their lives. The 500 villagers who were fortunate enough to survive locked up the palisade tightly and hunkered down.

Now, 6 months later, only 200 remained in the village.

‘Those devilish creatures.’

The monstrous monkeys stationed in the forest hardly ever showed themselves during the day. Despite their appearance, their combat strength wasn’t very high.

A well-trained adult could handle one easily enough. Thus, centered around the militia, the villagers managed to keep the creatures at bay and somehow procure food. The issue was the night.

As dusk approached, those who took advantage of the darkness approached the palisade, climbing over with their hook-like claws and assaulting the residents.

Even with watchfires lit atop the palisade and guards set meticulously, damages occurred.

Moreover, they were cunning enough to detect and avoid traps as if they could sense them, saving themselves.

As their numbers dwindled bit by bit, the current dire situation had unfolded.

“Sigh. How much longer can we hold out?”

Food supplies were still plentiful. For some reason, the crops had grown faster than in previous years, and the yield had significantly increased.

But with only 200 people, adequately defending the palisade was challenging.

They seemed to have caught on to that fact, as there had been an increase in them loitering around the palisade even during the day.

It had been a long time since a plea for help was sent to the lord’s castle, but it was difficult to harbor much hope.

The survivors from the outside they had managed to save informed them of the desperate reality – the lord’s castle was also besieged by monsters, and the entire domain was swarming with them.

If the forest’s monstrous monkeys decided to launch a full-scale attack even today, it was doubtful whether they could repel it.

“No, we must persevere to the very end.”

His wife and son were still in the village. As the head of the family, he had a duty to protect them until the end.

Vince gripped his spear tightly, reaffirming his resolve, as the sun slowly set.

Thump. Thump.

The watchfires on the palisade sparked and flared, while the torch-bearing vigilantes patrolled, casting erratic shadows across the top.

Vince stared blankly into the dark plain. Clouds inconveniently obscured the moonlight, deepening the darkness.

Rustle rustle.

“Hmm?”

Among the sound of the wind-blown grass, a foreign noise seemed to be present.

Vince, alert at once, swiftly grabbed a log from the watchfire and threw it down below the palisade.

Whoosh.

Near the small burning log, dark figures were seen creeping on the ground.

“It’s the enemy!”

Following his shout, the arrow Vince launched whistled through the air, piercing through a monster monkey’s body.

“Screeeeech!”

And then, a dark wave began to surge toward the palisade.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

The emergency bell awakened the village.

“Secure the visibility!”

“Fire the arrows!”

The vigilantes atop the palisade hurriedly threw burning torches and log piles outside, while shooting arrows and hurling stones.

Whoosh.

The thrown log piles covered the monster monkeys as they lit up the area below the palisade brightly.

“Oh dear.”

The self-defense warriors unknowingly drooled in anticipation.

Beneath the palisades, monster monkeys had filled the area in no time. It seemed as though monkeys had covered all directions, swarming the place.

Usually, a small group approached silently, launching a surprise attack and then quickly fleeing. But today, it seemed they were totally committed to their cause.

“Damn it. How many of them are there?”

Vince despaired at the sheer number of them, impossible to count, but he clenched his teeth and shouted.

“Pull yourselves together! We must hold on until the reinforcements arrive!”

“Shit, if we’re going to die, we might as well!”

“The damn bastards, all of you die!”

The self-defense warriors, feeling cornered and poisoned with determination, began thrusting their spears and swinging their axes, engaging in combat with the monster monkeys.

Vince thrust his spear, piercing the head of a monkey clinging to the palisade, and swung the shaft, knocking the clinging ones off.

However, the sickening creatures kept climbing the palisades endlessly, and in no time, the 4-meter high palisades were covered with the dark figures of monster monkeys.

“Chitter!”

Finally, a monster monkey climbed over the palisades and pounced, embedding its claws into the neck of a self-defense warrior.

Squish.

“Aargh!”

Blood spurted, and the warrior screamed, trying to tear the monkey off…

Crunch.

The monster monkey brutally bit into his face.

Vince’s axe split the monkey’s skull too late, the self-defense warrior was already dead.

“Aaagh!”

“Ah!”

Screams from the warriors continued atop the palisades. People and waiting soldiers from the village were running towards them, but it seemed only a matter of time before the palisades were overrun.

“You bastards! You won’t get past here!”

Vince, a seasoned soldier with over a decade of military service, wielded a spear in one hand and an axe in the other, frantically stabbing and slashing at the monkeys.

Around him, the bodies of monkeys piled up one by one.

But there were far too many of them. Some had already leaped into the village.

‘Is this really the end!’

Wrapped in despair, Vince was desperately thrusting his spear when, all at once.

Swish, swish, sputter!

Whoosh~ Boom!!

“Screech!”

A volley of arrows from somewhere pierced through the monster monkeys, and a fireball the size of a head continuously exploded beneath the palisades, demolishing the monkey horde.

“Leave no one alive!”

Over the plain, knights in white armor riding white horses split the moonlight as they charged.

Emblazoned on their armors was the golden eagle.

The First Knight Order had appeared on the battlefield.

(To be continued)