The Lord: In Another World, I Have a Summoning Card !-Chapter 31 :The Night of Bloodshed (2)

Arthur contemplated the box before him for a moment, then leaned slightly forward, extending his hand to feel it.

It was made of heavy metal with a cold texture, adorned with engravings of various animals and beasts.

There was no visible lock, leading him to wonder if the lock itself was a hidden mechanism.

Arthur was no stranger to magical artifacts.

As the son of the viscount, albeit of lesser standing compared to his siblings, he received a good education and appropriate care.

He had seen many magical tools owned by his father. Although he couldn’t use them, he understood their value.

He knew that a precious magical artifact isn’t merely crafted; it requires a talented enchanter, significant investment of resources, and professional training from an early age to surpass the threshold of loss and achieve gains.

Once a magician begins to succeed, the wealth they acquire is substantial. Even without owning lands like the nobility, their annual income could surpass that of nobles.

Of course, this is also unlikely, because anyone discovered to have a talent for sensing elements, indicating their potential to become a magician, would be intensively trained to become an "official magician" within the magician’s system, equivalent to the rank of iron knight in the system of extraordinary knights.

This grants them a title and land directly, without the need to risk their lives or serve under nobles or in the kingdom’s army to prove their worth, then wait in line as the iron knight does.

t’s not always that simple, as it may require paying more or having a strong network of connections to ensure you don’t get stuck in line or get overtaken by others.

This approach may seem illogical, but we must understand that, unlike the path of extraordinary knights, who have a low threshold for promotion, a magician desperately needs the talent to sense elemental energies—a talent that is extremely rare, found in only one out of every 10,000 people.

Furthermore, magicians are not limited to the profession of crafting magical weapons; there are also other paths such as healing magic,

magical beast taming, spirit summoning, and more. Then, there is the field of alchemy, which produces miraculous potions that aid knights in their advancement.

One could say that every magician is not only a hidden treasure or a walking miracle factory but also a military and economic pillar of the kingdom.

Once an individual possesses the talent to sense elements, even if they are born into a low-status background, as long as they follow the planned path, they can acquire resources and wealth that reward their efforts across generations, just like nobles.

In fact, if they are more qualified and fortunate enough to become a high-ranking magician, they can attain a status equal to that of the great nobles who have ruled for thousands of years.

Now, Arthur hadn’t expected that the first magical artifact he would obtain would be a box he didn’t even know how to open.

More importantly, it came from the orcs.

"I remember from the cultural lessons I was taught in my family’s education that other races also have the ability to walk the path of magic, including orcs, who have a different name for magicians—perhaps they call them shamans."

However, due to their racial traits, the likelihood of orcs possessing elemental talent is lower than that of humans. Given their history, the development of this path is significantly behind human civilization.

However, looking at this ancient box, it seems I underestimated the orcs. They indeed have a sufficient level in this field, which means they might hold surprises in other areas as well.

"I must quickly rid myself of my preconceived notions, which were influenced by novels and movies in my previous life about non-human intelligent creatures. After all, this is no joke. Any race or civilization that has survived multiple threats of extinction or annihilation must possess its own means and an invaluable heritage."

"The contents of the box can’t be ordinary," Arthur thought as his hand touched its cold surface.

"The problem is that moving or opening it might require more than just physical strength. Perhaps there is a specific spell or ritual that needs to be performed."

"Is this the object you fought for?" Arthur asked, his eyes fixed on the box.

Fenris nodded and replied, "Yes, sir. This is what they were trying to protect with all their might. It seemed to hold great significance for them."

Arthur turned to Gabriel, who had been silently observing the situation. "What do you think?"

Gabriel stepped forward, his eyes scanning the symbols engraved on the surface. "These engravings are unfamiliar, but they are not mere decorations. They might be related to some form of magic or an advanced technique. We should proceed with caution."

"Do you agree, Victor?" Arthur turned to the military commander standing beside him.

Victor sighed and replied, "Whatever is inside this box, it was worth fighting for in the eyes of the orcs. We can’t open it here without knowing the risks, but we also can’t leave it unchecked. I suggest moving it to one of the private rooms in the castle and conducting tests on it."

Arthur was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright, we will take every precaution. For now, no one is to approach the box or attempt to open it without my direct permission."

He issued orders to his guards outside the room to carefully transport it to one of the fortified chambers beneath the castle.

These chambers were often used to punish disobedient soldiers or those attempting to escape.

Baron Edric had used them frequently when he was here, to the point that the stains of dried blood were still visible.

Then, turning to Fenris, he raised his voice for the rest of his aides to hear: "You’ve done well, but this isn’t over. If this box is of great value to the orcs, there’s a high chance they will try to reclaim it. We must be prepared."

He then added firmly, "Double the guards around the castle and send out scouting patrols to ensure no suspicious movements occur around the fortress walls regularly. We don’t want to be caught off guard by an unexpected attack."

He had barely finished speaking when an alert sounded from the fortress’s regional map—the same map he had last used to track down spies from Gerom. Over time, it had evolved into a virtual display that he frequently summoned to monitor and analyze regional information, or it would appear on its own when necessary.

Arthur’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the floating virtual screen. On the map, red dots were multiplying at an alarming rate, rapidly spreading across vast areas and extending ominously beyond the region’s borders.

These dots were converging toward the castle, forming a long, menacing line that amplified the threat.

This could only mean one thing... "It seems the box is truly important to them. They’re coming straight for us without delay... and in great numbers. Perhaps this is their entire remaining army," Arthur murmured coldly, his mind rapidly processing the situation.

His gaze didn’t just linger on the map—it also swept across the details of the crowded war room, filled with soldiers.

In a decisive moment, he slowly lifted his gaze toward the horizon within the command hall, then waved his hand firmly. "Send a message to all forces for full combat readiness!" Arthur’s words carried unwavering resolve, allowing no room for argument.

The soldiers who had been in the hall as service staff had already arrived, their primary task being to carry the box.

They hurried with their work so they could begin preparing as well. Fenris, who was still in a kneeling position, immediately moved in response to Arthur’s orders and returned to his post among the fortress forces.

"Activate the defense systems. Deploy soldiers on the walls. Ensure all arrows are ready, and crossbows are in place." Arthur’s commands echoed through the hall, and both Victor and Gabriel each took their respective roles in the room.

At that moment, the actual preparations to face the invaders began, while Arthur continued issuing orders at an increasing pace.

This did not mean Arthur had become a true military commander—rather, he was merely implementing the fundamental strategies he had learned in this period.

As for the finer details, adapting to changing circumstances, and practical application, he would leave that to the true leaders before him, fitting into a decentralized framework of power.

Arthur pondered for a moment before issuing his next instruction: "Reallocate some troops from the western side to the north. And don’t forget to provide support from the archers."

Gabriel and Victor immediately relayed the message to the summoned soldiers.

"Understood," came the firm response from Victor, the commander of the summoned troops, his voice filled with unwavering seriousness.

He quickly led the soldiers to carry out Arthur’s orders, moving swiftly through the dark corridors of the castle, carrying commands that could not afford delay.

They rushed in different directions to execute their leader’s commands.

Soldiers flooded into their positions, heading for the walls and the castle’s outskirts, ready to confront any impending threat. The fortress buzzed with activity, and soon, the message spread among all: an attack was imminent.

Outside, the castle’s soldiers donned their heavy armor, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. The sounds of battle preparations grew—heavy footsteps resounded, weapons whispered as they were sharpened in the air.

The war clock’s rhythmic beats intensified, and with every passing moment, the tension in the castle thickened.

In a short span, thirty or forty fires were lit among the fortress buildings, illuminating the stronghold as the defenders braced for the battle ahead.

Fires were lit within the fortress gates and along the concrete walls, forming rings of glowing light amidst the thickening darkness. The torches, carefully distributed throughout the stronghold, flickered with the cold night breeze, casting shifting shadows on the walls and floors as if mirroring the anticipation filling the air.

The summoned soldiers spread out across their positions, holding their torches like weapons against the darkness, forming a vast security network that covered every corner and critical point in the fortress.

They moved swiftly and in perfect coordination, adhering to clear orders, ready to respond to any emergency. The dim light emitted by the torches created an eerie aura around them, reinforcing the gravity of the moment and solidifying their battle readiness.

Arthur stood at the entrance of the castle hall, observing the scene before him with careful scrutiny.

The flickering flames reflected off the soldiers’ armor and drawn swords, while the firelight illuminated their determined faces, resolute in their will to achieve victory.

He gave a slight nod, satisfied with the arrangements that had been made.

Everything was in place.

However, what reassured him the most were the soldiers stationed at the northwestern gate, the direction from which the invaders were expected to arrive.

More than a thousand troops had gathered there, prepared to face the approaching enemy.

Within a short time, the preparations to confront the enemy were complete. The large crossbow units had finished setting up their platforms on the fortress walls.

Only a few had been used in the initial skirmish against the Orc’s spies, allowing them to preserve sufficient strength for the upcoming battle.

Additionally, over thirty summoned soldiers with the combat prowess of trainee knights and expert archery skills had been selected.

These soldiers were capable of eliminating any intruder within 250 meters of the fortress. Furthermore, one hundred and fifty newly trained soldiers, recruited from the local farmers, had been formed into a supporting archer unit, intended to become the core of a future archery battalion.

They were under the supervision of summoned sergeants, carefully chosen by Victor and approved by Arthur after receiving detailed reports from Gabriel.

Now, just minutes before the enemy appeared on the horizon, Arthur reached his final position.

He stood at the side of the fortress wall tower, catching his heavy breaths in preparation for what was to come, ready for a storm of brutality that would not be easy.

In the distant horizon, where the bleak night met absolute darkness, a strange cry began to form, slicing through the silence like a dagger. Then, as time passed, the sound emerged.

A faint roar... something like a deep moan rising from an enraged presence, as if coming from the depths of the earth itself.

Then... massive numbers of creatures began moving swiftly through the darkness, heading directly toward the fortress. Their shapes were obscure, as if they were seeping out from the shadows themselves.

"Humans..." The word echoed through the darkness, dripping with disdain and hatred. This was followed by arrogant laughter, filled with confidence and savagery, shaking the ground beneath him.

"Hahahahaha!"

Suddenly, dozens—no, hundreds—of dark red lights burst forth.

The Orc Army.