As for the second measure, he ordered the laborers and craftsmen to begin setting up various large pits and barricade walls outside the castle.
This also included all sorts of offensive structures, such as bunkers, arrow towers, and firing positions for Siege Crossbows.
And as the lord, he held absolute authority over the territory, so even though he had been making such a massive fuss and ordering these arrangements over the past few days, there was no need to explain anything to his subordinates or the serfs.
The laborers and craftsmen worked with great vigor as well. Even in this bitter winter blanketed in thick snow, they did not slack off in the slightest. Before long, deep trenches and wooden palisades began appearing outside the castle.
Just when Nalant thought he could peacefully wait for the day the Dark Creature tide arrived, something unusual happened with five days remaining.
"My lord, following your orders, I led the laborers to set up a temporary camp on the grasslands capable of housing ten thousand people. But these past two days, something unusual seems to have happened. I'm worried there may be some accident, so I came to report it to you!"
That morning, just as Nalant had finished breakfast and was preparing to cultivate his Battle Qi, Mario hurried to the castle to make his report.
"What's unusual about it?" Nalant frowned. Five days later would be the day the Dark Creatures invaded, and he did not want any other accidents cropping up at such a critical juncture.
"My lord, all the serfs and laborers working on the grasslands recently reported that many beast tracks have appeared around the camp. Some of the traces were very likely left by Magic Beasts. For something like this to happen in winter seems rather unusual."