24 – Territory Expansion
＜Chapter 24 – Territory Expansion＞
Autumn has come.
I planted winter wheat in a total of 13 farmlands.
I harvested ripe barley.
After exchanging the harvested barley for monster materials, I sell them on the continent.
With the money I earned, I will buy slaves.
And expand the farmland again.
“Russell, well done.”
“Don’t worry, master.”
The cart filled with barley left the river.
“Gather Private Hans.”
“Yes!”
“Uncle, please gather the hunters too.”
“I understand.”
As I watched my uncle’s back, memories of that summer came flooding back.
Grandfather works as a hunting instructor and headmaster at the school.
Is that why?
Perhaps old memories have resurfaced a lot.
To think he would make such a proposal to me.
On that day, he was removing the magpies from the cultivated land as usual.
“Grandfather? Why did you come to Sori Village?”
“If the kids learn hunting skills, wouldn’t they become hunters?”
“That’s true.”
“So, I want to create a hunter team.”
“Like in the old days?”
The hunter team that Grandfather created in his younger years.
With Grandfather’s outstanding hunting skills and charisma, the hunter team grew rapidly.
In scale, it could be compared to a large mercenary group.
“hahahaha. The old days. Yes, back then, I created a hunter team. But now, I can’t.”
Grandfather pretended to hunch over weakly.
But due to his sturdy muscles, it ended up looking oddly shaped.
“There shouldn’t be any problem even now, right?”
Bang! Bang!
“hahahaha! It’s difficult for me to do it now. That’s why I’m saying this.”
Grandfather recommended his son.
A person who is also my uncle.
“Uncle Miller?”
“Yeah, when I was young, I often took him hunting. He taught me a lot. I subtly asked you and it seems like you’re interested.”
It wasn’t a bad suggestion for me either.
To expand our territory, we need many hunters.
If my uncle forms a hunter team for me, it would be helpful.
Together with grandfather, I went to find Uncle Miller and received a positive response.
That’s how the hunter team started.
In the beginning, it was composed of people from the River tribe.
There were those who made a living as hunters,
And especially when the news spread that Uncle Miller, grandfather’s son, was forming a hunter team, many people joined.
As time went by, the rumors spread throughout Monster Island.
And as a result, hunters from other regions also joined the team.
.
.
The grounds of Seriver.
Many people gathered there.
Hans led 1,200 slave soldiers.
Uncle Miller leads Hunter Team 150.
It’s a large-scale suppression operation mobilizing a total of 1,350 people.
During this period, defense was entrusted to the remaining slaves.
With an additional 200 soldiers sent by Alencia, there’s no need to worry about defense.
“All forces. Move forward!”
The main force of 1,200 slaves set out.
The Hunter Team scattered in all directions.
They would be the eyes and ears of the allies.
.
.
“This way is fine.”
“Indeed.”
The hunter pointed in a direction.
Then, he checked the map once again.
The purpose of this expedition is not just to reduce the number of monsters.
Territory must be secured.
For that, defensive structures are crucial.
‘Luckily, there seems to be such facilities.’
The Frontier Territory had expanded and contracted repeatedly.
During its heyday, humans lived beyond the river, across the city.
Those facilities are planned to be restored.
“All forces, move.”
They set off westward once again.
More precisely, towards the place where the past defense facilities existed.
Black goblins encountered during the move were thoroughly exterminated.
The battle was overwhelming.
With over 1,000 allies and improved armaments, the goblins couldn’t penetrate the phalanx formation of the Falangks division and fell futilely.
And so, they arrived at the first defense facility, which would also serve as an outpost.
“You can call it a small fortress.”
Hans said, tapping the castle wall.
The defense facility exceeded expectations.
It wasn’t just a simple outpost; in reality, it was more than that.
The walls were made of stone, not wood.
Thanks to that, the structure had endured over time.
“There’s no need for repairs on the walls. We just need to clean up.”
Hans examined the defense facility, listening to his own words.
At that moment,
Screech.
The sound of metal scraping echoed, and the castle gate opened.
The hunter who crossed the city wall opened the door.
“I guess the city gate needs repairs.”
“Yes, it does.”
They went inside through the city gate.
Unlike the city wall, most of the interior was in ruins.
It couldn’t withstand the test of time as it was made of wood, not stone.
“It’s quite spacious.”
“Yes, it is.”
The word “small castle” that Hans used was not wrong.
Our ancestors turned this place into a real castle.
I walked slowly inside.
Underneath the ruined houses, there were several rusty weapons.
In other places, I could see utensils that people used in the past.
“You fought fiercely against monsters back then.”
“170 years ago. It was a time when the frontier power was stronger than now and aggressively expanding its territory.”
“I see.”
“Lord So Young reclaimed the territory 170 years ago.”
Not only me, but Hans also became quite sentimental.
Because we saw traces of our ancestors’ lives.
“It’s still difficult. Maybe the kids who go to school will grow up to become knights or wizards.”
The only monsters I can deal with are goblins and orcs at most.
With this power, compared to the past glory, it was so pitiful.
“Children grow up quickly. It will be possible within 30 years!”
Hans looked at me when I mentioned 30 years.
It was a serious expression, not a joke.
30 years.
It’s too long.
To say 30 years to a fast-paced Korean.
“It’s too long.”
“What!?”
“It’s too long. If you’re going to do it, do it faster. At least within 10 years.”
“Sir So Youngju, that’s a bit…”
I know it too.
That it’s a physically impossible time.
The swordsmanship teacher and the magic teacher selected talented children.
8 students with swordsmanship talent.
1 student with magic talent.
The student with magic talent was sent to the gray tower.
The students with swordsmanship talent are being taught at the school.
Even if those children become knights, it will take at least 10 years.
That, too, is the minimum time required to match the skills of a knight’s chin-up.
Some may not even reach the level of an expert in the end.
He shifted his focus away from negative thoughts.
“Let’s save the discussion for ten years later and concentrate on the restoration for now.”
.
.
He began the actual restoration work.
Clearing away the rotten wood, organizing various buried equipment below.
Through one gate, they continued to bring in wood.
Through another gate, people went outside.
As one or two days passed,
Gradually, the buildings took shape.
‘Restoration of the land.’
The castle courtyard.
They plan to create farmland in one-third of the internal area.
The specialized soldiers Hans mentioned.
I cannot afford to consider their opinions.
Instead, I plan to adjust the balance between farming and training.
If it used to be ‘Farming 8: Training 2,’ now, the frontline base slaves will be adjusted to a ‘Farming 3: Training 7’ ratio.
That way, with the application of the respected farmer skill,
They can cultivate excellent soldiers.
It didn’t take long to remove the magic because the area was small.
The basic building was almost complete.
“How many soldiers should we leave behind?”
“100 should be enough.”
“What about the defensive facilities?”
“They are functioning properly.”
“After two days, we’ll move to the next checkpoint.”
“Understood.”
They departed from Seryver and moved straight to this forward base.
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They had annihilated the monsters they encountered during the journey, but there were probably many more monsters left.
However, there was a reason they only left 100 people here.
“The 100 are the defense personnel. The monster extermination…”
While the soldiers were building the buildings, they saw the hunters resting in one place.
Currently, Uncle’s hunter team consists of 150 members.
However, the number of personnel continues to increase as hunters from each region join.
The soldiers will take care of the massive group of monsters, but everything else will be left to the hunters.
After two days,
They left the first small-scale forward base.
There were 100 slave soldiers and 50 hunters left there.
They will take care of the surrounding monsters.
“Advance north in formation!”
The next destination lies to the north.
170 years ago, the Frontier Guild expanded its territory.
And erected several castles along the borders.
I plan to secure two of those castles to the south.
There are more castles to the north, but I’ve given up on those.
Trolls start appearing from that point.
Arrived at the second forward base.
It was similar in scale to the first one.
A modest castle.
Soldiers scattered, organizing the interior.
Divided the area into residential, military, and farming zones.
Constructed living facilities in the residential zone, barracks and training grounds in the military zone.
And in the farming zone, used land restoration skills to eliminate magical impurities.
As the maintenance of the second forward base neared completion,
“Lord Soyung! Lord Soyung!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Please have a look at this!”
Hans came running, holding an undoubtedly sophisticated staff.
“A magic staff?”
Hans pushed the handle of his cane right up to his eyes.
“Look here. Look at this.”
The handle was engraved with the words “Karyan Frontier.”
“If it’s Karyan Frontier…”
“Yes! That’s him. The former lord who led the golden age of the Frontier Territory…”
170 years ago. The lord who led the heyday of the Frontier Territory.
He obtained the lord’s cane from an abandoned castle.
He carefully held onto the cane and prepared to leave.
There was work to be done.
“Hans, how many people are we leaving behind here?”
“There are 200 people. The hunters decided to leave 50.”
“Alright. We’ll depart as soon as day breaks tomorrow.”
“Understood! Lord So!”
The next day.
“Advance eastward, all troops!”
He unfolded the map.
Two outposts in the western direction had been secured.
Now, two outposts in the northern direction needed to be built.
Unlike before, it was not about securing, but about construction.
Up until now, they had moved along the borders of the old Frontier. But this time, the defense line was determined by me.
Crossing the defense line through the orc territory.
Originally, the frontier zone had an elongated elliptical shape from north to south.
I am annexing new territory to the southwest.
I must defend the western and northern parts of that territory.
“If I secure the area now, will Father acknowledge it?”
“Of course. Lady Soyoung, you have reclaimed a vast territory.”
When my plan is completed, the frontier zone will expand by 15%.
It’s a result vastly different from dealing with the Frostbears, who are not even 1%.
“But still…”
“Do not worry. The Lord will be proud of Lady Soyoung.”
I dispelled my anxious thoughts.
Not just 1%, but 15%.
If I reclaim and securely protect this region, Father will surely acknowledge it.
‘That’s what should happen…’
