The Extra Wants To Live

Chapter 53: Prepare For Battle Again [2]

Carl looked around the village of Ax Sound and encouraged the soldiers.

His short stature and dwarf body were not even covered by the cloak.

However, for those who were losing hope, the presence of Carl, the 4th prince and commander of the punitive force who showed great performance last night, became more powerful than expected.

"Prince! Please bless us!"

"… … ."

They are asking for blessing, Carl isn't even a priest.

Carl hesitated, then placed his hand on the head of a man who looked to be about thirty, who was kneeling in front of him, and muttered softly.

"Durenne, who looks over all things, loves those who work hard. Remember that even in the darkness where you cannot see the path ahead, Duren has already arranged your path ahead."

He was just saying this roughly, remembering Lilly's earnest prayer when Carl was still sick.

However, the man who heard those words with Carl's small hand on his head shed tears as if he had truly been saved and prayed to Duren while muttering incessantly.

To commoners, nobles are from another world. This is because of constant brainwashing to ensure smooth rule.

And speaking of the royal family, and even the prince, they are almost like gods to commoners.

However, the noble Carl placed his hand on the dirty woodcutter's head and blessed him in the name of God. To him, it truly felt like God had reached out a hand of salvation.

Ignorant and simple country residents flocked to Carl, wanting to receive his blessing.

Carl couldn't ignore the sight of people who were much taller and stronger than him, looking at him earnestly, like a son hoping for his father's help.

Carl also felt guilty for thinking that he had to complete his mission even if it meant sending them all to death.

But more than anything, he decided that if he could get them to fight bravely with just a few simple words, he should definitely do that.

Carl placed his hands on the heads of each of those kneeling in front of him and gave them a blessing.

Ironically, people clung to him even more passionately because he was Carl, who worked incredibly hard and achieved great achievements despite his small and insignificant body.

The person who fought so hard to save them last night was this small child?

He must truly be a messenger sent by God for salvation.

Thanks to this, the battered soldiers of a shabby village without a single priest were able to build an indomitable wall with strong faith.

They will never back down and fight valiantly as long as Carl is there.

However, one unexpected situation arose: even the imperial soldiers quietly approached and waited for Carl to give his blessing.

Even to those who guard the imperial palace and know full well that the royal family is not gods, what Carl showed last night was truly unusual.

No, rather, because they knew about the 4th prince Carl, the imperial soldiers clung to Carl even more.

Last night, Carl, who went into his first battle and led with a voice as loud as a brass trumpet, was hot as fire, cold as ice, and hard as steel.

There is no doubt that Duren is keeping an eye on this sickly prince.

Thanks to this, Carl was exhausted from blessing all 100 soldiers until the midday sun set in the west.

Nevertheless, it was not a bad achievement as it filled up the crumbling morale.

"We must brace our defenses until the sun sets. Get moving quickly."

"yes!"

Countless people move enthusiastically at a single word from Carl.

Carl traveled around the Ax Sound Village with Catherine, encouraging the soldiers, and also learned tactical knowledge about Mercury from Catherine.

The soldiers gritted their teeth and did their best to get a word of praise from Carl.

Although they were not able to repair all the fences, they were able to finish repairing all the parts that were immediately at risk.

In addition, the spear and other weapons were quickly repaired, and everyone had a hearty meal with the supplies Carol brought last night.

In particular, the soldiers were very satisfied with the meals, because when Carl was conscripting from the log village, they took all the food they could find, so although it was cheap, they had plenty of things to enjoy, such as beer, wine, and dried fruit.

Carl knows very well how diverse and delicious meals have a great impact on the morale of soldiers.

Thanks to this, even though he was a member of the royal family who was taking command for the first time, Carl knew very well about the soldiers' difficulties.

Carl probably doesn't know how surprised Catherine was by seeing Carl pay close attention to things that even field commanders who have experienced actual combat tend to overlook.

Carl even checked each dirty toilet and even ordered a new drainage ditch to be dug!

'If I neglect drainage just because the weather seems nice, I will end up in big trouble.'

From a soldier's point of view, digging a ditch is a really shitty thing to do. It was the same for Carl.

However, since it rained during training and the tent collapsed and floated away, Carl was well aware of the importance of drainage ditches.

Since it was a village, drainage channels were naturally well dug, but as it was a dry autumn and the rain was not frequent, and the fighting continued, maintenance was neglected and many drainage channels were blocked.

If it rains like this, the entire village could be submerged.

After preparing for the battle so meticulously, Karl finally went to see Bilford.

"Ka-Ka-sama...."

"… … ."

Bilford, who was lying in a hospital bed, jumps up and stumbles. Still, Billford, who held on with all his strength, lowered his head.

Billford's eyes, which were completely white because he had lost too much blood, are turning red, and the watery corners of his eyes are swollen.

He must have cried lot.

"Bilford, how is your condition?"

"it's okay."

"It doesn't seem very good."

"It's really okay. I can fight right now…"

Unlike his confident answer to Carl's words, the ending of Bilford's words became increasingly blurred.

Carl grabbed Bilford's shoulders and sat him down on the bed.

Bilford, who couldn't be defeated even if 10 people attacked him, sits down helplessly, lowering his head and panting.

Because he woke up suddenly after losing so much blood, his blood pressure dropped so much that he almost passed out.

"Ka-Ka-sama... … ."

Before Bilford, whose eyesight had turned completely white due to anemia, could pant heavily and say anything, Carl left him behind.

"… shit… ."

Bilford, who had finally recovered, remained alone in the room, crouching and swearing.

'I am so angry that I keep crying. I can't raise my head because I'm embarrassed.'

He barely survived after putting his lord, whom he was supposed to protect, in danger.

'If only I were a little stronger... !'

Bilford always did his best.

However, there are some things that cannot be done even if you try your best.

So, in the future, Bilford will go beyond the limits of what he can do and will whip himself even harder.

First, eat well, rest well, and let his body recover.

Since he can't sit around for that long, he focus on building up the mana he barely

beginning to feel with Catherine's help.

Bilford lay down on the bed again, biting his teeth hard at all the thoughts that were tormenting him.

'If only I had mana!'

Those angry thoughts were short-lived.

Bilford fell into meditation and immersed himself in mana.

The sun will set soon.

And the darkness is not human.

Gnoll will come back again.

They're going to have a terrible time tonight too.