The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 91

Chapter 91: Growth (Bardle Side)

“Ugh…”

When Bardle woke up, the ceiling of the healing clinic came into view.

As he sat up, he felt no lingering fatigue, and his thoughts were clearer than before he collapsed.

“I am…”

Gradually, he began to remember what had happened to him. After defeating the large creature, he was attacked by Greb and nearly killed…

“That’s right, Serk saved me.”

“Bardle-sama, are you awake?”

Perhaps hearing the noise as he recalled the events, a knight called out from beyond the door. After granting permission to enter, the knight brought water, and Bardle drank it down like a gulp.

“Thank you. What’s the situation?”

“After Bardle-sama collapsed, His Majesty transferred full command of the military to Lord Serk… no, Lord Berg, to receive reinforcements. Currently, preparations for the next attack are underway under the leadership of Lord Berg.”

“Transfer of full command…!?”

Involuntarily surprised, Bardle couldn’t refuse any conditions imposed by the Empire given the current situation. However, demanding command was necessary to protect this country.

But Serk didn’t need to protect this country, and the reason why Serk, who had been exposed to the hostility and malice of this country that would likely perish without doing anything, would do so…

“Because I’m here, huh?”

For some reason, Serk must have known the current situation. Even if Serk had hated this country, Bardle knew that if he asked for help, Serk would come.

That’s why, to avoid involving Serk, Bardle hadn’t sent a letter for reinforcements to the Holy Nation…

“In the end, I’ve been helped.”

With a slightly self-deprecating smile, Bardle got out of bed. He moved his body a bit to check his condition, and everything seemed fine.

“Bardle-sama, it’s better to rest a bit more…”

“It’s okay. Besides, my little brother is working hard; the older brother can’t afford to rest.”

Showing a rather pitiful side and having been helped, that’s why…

“I have to be of help this time.”

Saying that, he left the sickroom.

—

“Amazing…”

The area around the busy defense wall, where soldiers were bustling about, had become something like a makeshift base. Behind the defense wall, various supplies were lined up, and improvements had been made to allow climbing on the wall.

On top of the defense wall, primitive catapults were installed, and each catapult had pots with lids attached to ropes.

“…Could the contents of those pots be oil?”

“Yes, on Lord Berg’s orders, we gathered oil from all over the kingdom. This way, even without magic, it can be an effective means of attack and diversion.”

“Oil pots… Indeed, in the current situation, it’s an effective method.”

Oil pots were used in times of chaos when magic hadn’t yet developed. It was a simple item of filling a pot with oil, setting it on fire, and throwing it, but it wreaked havoc in battles.

As time passed, with the development of magic, various means of defense were created, and its usefulness faded away.

Apart from oil pots and catapults, various other items were prepared. Even though he had slept for a whole day, to prepare all this…

“How did you manage to set up all this equipment?”

“Yes, the artisans in the royal capital made the catapults, and the residents were involved in making the oil pots.”

“The residents!?”

“Since the structure of the oil pot is simple, Lord Berg proposed and executed the idea that once the method was taught, it could be made immediately by the residents. There’s something even those who can’t fight can do.”

It was an eye-opener. He had only seen the citizens of the royal capital as targets to protect, and he hadn’t thought about getting them involved in cooperation.

Moreover, besides the catapults and oil pots, there were various other things. In just a short time, the soldiers must have moved as one for all this to happen.

“…Where is Serk?”

“He’s over here. He’s currently discussing countermeasures against the large creatures with the knight commanders.”

Guided by the knight, Bardle swallowed his saliva. In just this short time, he had come to understand Serk’s greatness.

“He really has become strong… Serk.”

Meeting his younger brother after a long time, Bardle felt a mix of emotions, including anticipation and tension…