Preparation for the Defense

The Third Infantry Battalion encountered a group of routed soldiers.

"Commander, the orc army is rapidly closing in. We have to keep retreating."

"But my orders are to hold Silver Moon Fort."

"Silver Moon Fort? You mean that pile of rotten bricks? It can't be held."

Joyce, the Battalion Commander of the Third Infantry Battalion, had just finished arguing with Sir Henkel, whom they had encountered moments earlier.

He had originally been a local lord of the Black Stone Plain.

In theory, Sir Henkel should have been the commander of this group of routed soldiers, but in reality, so many of the soldiers were living in constant panic that few still obeyed his orders.

Only those he had brought from his own territory still followed him.

"The Royal Capital Knights? They might still be behind me. Or perhaps... they've already been wiped out. They may also have retreated to safety in the west. I don't know where they are. The orcs split us apart, and we lost contact with one another."

"The orcs are right on our heels. Until Crystal Radiance sends stronger reinforcements, I refuse to fight them."

After pouring out a stream of pessimistic words, Henkel mounted his horse and hurried away.

Joyce was very disappointed. He had thought he could use Henkel's status to gather more routed soldiers and assist with the battle ahead.

But now he could only rely on himself.

The Third Infantry Battalion set up a checkpoint at the crossroads to gather the routed soldiers. By dusk that day, including the Kingdom Army troops who had originally been stationed at Silver Moon Fort, the battalion had gathered nearly two thousand men.

To ensure the soldiers had enough to eat, Joyce "borrowed" a supply of grain from the surrounding villages and towns.

However, the quartermasters