Read I Was Reincarnated as a Poor Farmer in a Different World, so I Decided to Make Bricks to Build a Castle

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"Over 500 people?　You're collecting that many?"

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　The old peddler goes to the town and gives them the information he has gathered.

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　As I had expected, the Fontanas had attacked the tax collectors, who were sent by the nobility, and had sent a force against me.

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　But there are more than 500 of them.

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　Usually, the number of conscripts from Barca Village is about fifty at most, but they have prepared ten times that number.

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　This shows the level of commitment.

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"So, what are you going to do, Ars?

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"What do you mean?　I guess if we've come this far, we're going to have to fight."

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"No, I'm not. I've been gathering information, and they've built a huge encampment here. And they even gathered people from the next village. I was wondering if they had some kind of plan.

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　The old peddler asks me a question, and I ponder.

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　Our current strength is over 100 men.

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　In this respect, I think we exceed the Fontanas' expectations.

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　But even so, the difference in numbers is still great.

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　I think I have heard that it would take three times as many men to break down a defender who is using walls.

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　Considering this, no matter how many walls are built and defensive positions are set up here, it will not be enough to withstand the attack.

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　In fact, it is difficult to take the method of siege itself.

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　The only condition that is absolutely necessary for a siege is that reinforcements will come from elsewhere.

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　If you are in a siege without reinforcements, you will not be able to win in the end.

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I guess we'll have to settle this in the field.

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"I agree with you, General. I agree with you, general. We have far too few means of defense here.

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　Vargas, who was listening to the peddler's report with me, agrees with me.

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　He said that Vargas had never been more than a single soldier on the battlefield, but he knew from actual combat experience that it was not a good idea to put up a defensive position here.

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　If this is the case, it would be better to go out fighting instead of staying inside the walls, even though we are overwhelmingly outnumbered 100 to 500.

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　They must think that we are just a bunch of peasants.

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　It's a surprise attack, so to speak.

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　We hit them before they know that we all have access to battle magic, and inflict damage on them.

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　We will win the war before they can take countermeasures.

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　It is harsh to say that this is the only way, but it is the only way.

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　You have only one chance to do so.

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　If we fail to inflict damage in the first round, the people who followed us here will leave me.

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　My body trembles.

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　Sometimes I wonder if what I am doing is really worth it.

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　But I can't turn back now.

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　I have already crossed the line where I can turn back, involving other people.

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　We have come to the point where the only way to survive and to be free is to fight.

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　Thus, I force my mind to calm down as anxiety and fear keep coming to my mind, and think about what to do in the future.

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　I was thinking about the measures I would take in the future.

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　The wind is blowing, the branches and leaves are shaking, and the sound continues to rattle.

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　In the midst of all this, many people are lined up on the plain.

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　There are two groups.

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　One group is made up of many shabbily dressed people in ragged clothes.

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　In contrast, the other group is a bit better dressed.

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　Some of them, especially the more numerous ones, wear metal armor that seems to bounce the sun's rays off of them.

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　There may be more than 30 of them.

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　Based on the information we received from the peddler, we decided to attack Fontana's army.

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　A few hours further from the river where we had set up camp, we came to a flat area.

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　We went there.

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　The peddler's information was accurate.

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　The approximate number of people and their marching schedule were correct.

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　So they met each other at their destination.

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　The two sides are still at a distance from each other, still out of range of arrows.

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　And then, out of Fontana's army came out.

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　A lone figure on a pure white horse, or rather a hornless Valkyrie, came to the front of Fontana's army, just a little ahead of the leader.

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"Attention, inhabitants of the village of Barca! Surrender immediately and lay down your weapons. Surrender immediately and you will be spared.

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　The person stopped, then took a breath and began to speak.

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　Is that it?

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　An ultimatum before battle?

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　Or is it a speech to raise the spirits of the soldiers and weaken our morale?

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　Not knowing what to do, we wait and see.

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"Ars, who lives in the village of Barca, has committed a crime. Not only did he disobey the orders of the nobles, he harmed the tax collector and the soldiers. This is not a problem that can be overlooked. But we do not want to judge all the inhabitants of Barca Village. I promise you that life will return to normal if Ars surrenders now and everyone lays down their weapons. Disarm yourselves quickly."

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　Well, the enemy has a nice voice.

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　Although they have come a little closer to us, they are still at a certain distance from us.

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　And yet, the voice is so clear that all of us can hear it.

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　I wonder if you could call it a voice that can be heard far and wide.

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　Come to think of it, I think I have heard that a good commander has a clear voice on the battlefield.

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　It was when I was thinking about that.

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"Hey, Ars. Are you sure you don't want me to just listen to you?"

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"Dad, what's wrong?"

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"I'm telling you, this is no time to dawdle. It's upsetting to everyone here to hear you say that. We have to say something back."

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"That's right, general. The pre-battle chatter's started. It means the battle has already begun."

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　After my father, even Vargas says so.

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　I see.

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　I guess these things can have a big impact on the war situation if we underestimate them.

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　Then I should say something here.

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　With that in mind, I rode out in front of the group, mounted on my Valkyrie.

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