Irregular Curved
Chapter 4: More than Chain Bonding

Srak.

Srak.

Srak.

The cold air blew, the mouths of the workers let out white breaths every time they spoke. Some complained that others were holding their teeth because of the cold northern plains of the empire, as evidenced by the sound of shovels still ringing in some places outside the walls of the fortress.

Along with his subordinate officers, Light oversaw their work from a monitoring post at one corner of the fort's defensive wall.

His eyes were steep, he was not sure if he could withstand the main army of the enemy alone. Light knew that imperial reinforcements would not arrive on time, but it was hypocritical to say that he did not expect that to happen.

That was how pessimistic his sense of defeat that was certain to occur to his troops on the battlefield to come.

"Gennes, try to tell me, why did Arcadia attack the imperial border just before winter arrived?" Against Eld's words, Light decided only to hear in silence.

Even though he knew the answer to the question, Light felt he had to go down because his experience on the battlefield was still far below the two old men standing behind him.

"Seriously? Why are you asking me such an easy thing?" gennes replied astonishedly.

"Jawab only," Eld chimed indifferently.

"Well, isn't it just because Arcadia has amassed such an abundant supply of food that they can't let it rot?"

"..."

Huh huh?

Not only Eld, even Light was amazed by the answer that was thrown at the two.

Light could only be speechless with a shocked expression, his brain momentarily halted from being unable to digest the situation. Eld found Light surprised, he hid his small laugh with his right hand, amused at the reaction Light gave.

"Gennes... Do you know? Winter is a time when large-scale armies cannot move. In terms of troop movements, the conditions passed will be increasingly heavy. Not only from the bad terrain, but the condition of the soldiers is weakened. In addition, due to the slow movement of troops, the time they travel will be longer which affects the supplies that will certainly run out quickly."

"O—ooh..." Gennes. To be honest, even though Gennes was also a veteran, but he was also from among the commoners. Gennes had no knowledge of the strategy of war like a noble and the knights of their house.

"As a result of Arcadia moving just before winter arrived, Corthia was unlikely to be able to respond by moving the troops quickly because it was blocked by the terrain. If in fact Corthia was able to gather a large army in three weeks, just because of winter, Corthia's move in response would be delayed by up to three months. Here's the advantage of moving your army right before it snows."

Light decides not to take part in the parents' conversation, letting the two refute each other because each of them feels better than the interlocutor.

Apparently, hearing the rantings of the old men was not so bad.

Both Light's eyes narrowed. A sight that was out of place had caught his attention.

"I'm going for a minute, Eld." Light moved towards the door and down the stone steps of the fort walls.

"Where are you going, Young Master?" asked Eld confusedly.

"For a moment, I don't want to be followed." Eld grimly, unsure if he should obey Light's orders, "After all, you can see me from this place."

"Well, if you say so..."

Sure, Light's safety is a priority. Light was not a fool who would bring himself into danger. The guarantee came from the chain necklaces of the slaves who had restraint magic and bondage magic.

The slaves would feel excruciating pain if they tried to attack the master and disobeyed orders.

The slaves who worked heavily consisted mostly of the demi-human race, some dwarves were also seen working among them because the dwarves had been famous for their skill in the design of a construction.

"Abigail." Green lizards with large postures among other demi-humans who are shoveling for a moment stop their work.

Abigail simply fell silent, she really did not want to answer her master's call. If given what the slave group he had been through, Abigail would have hated Corthia who had robbed her of her freedom and erased the existence of her tribe. Even so, it did not mean that he had any particular hostility towards a Light self.

Abigail had wisdom because she knew that the terrible circumstances that were afflicting her right now were purely not the fault that Light had caused.

"Yes, what can I do for you, my lord?" With a slight delay, Abigail turned around and slightly lowered her head to Light who was standing behind her.

"Get some other slaves with you. I want to uproot some trees in the forest and use their trunks and branches as traps. I will hand over the details to the dwarves so that you only need to follow their directions."

"... good, My lord. Please allow me to continue my work." Abigail momentarily fell silent before replying with a bow.

It would be a lie if Abigail had no objection to the orders given to her. Naturally, setting up traps meant that the slaves had a high possibility of encountering enemy spies. In the end, Abigail could only be subdued obediently because she was unable to withstand the torture inflicted by the slave seal coiled around her neck.

Srak.

Srak.

Light did not leave immediately, he saw the rough work that Abigail and the other slaves were doing.

Even though the snow-white streaks had descended, Light seemed to have paid him no attention at all. His attention remained on his slaves who were still working.

Silence, there was only the sound of shovel shuffling. If Eld was in between, perhaps this silence could really kill his entire senses.

"Freedom, I can give it." Light's words seemed not the least attractive to Abigail, but her hand was once again cut off from her work after she heard the follow-up of Light's words, "Of course, it also included the freedom of your son and wife."

Abigail frantically turned towards Light, who was just staring at her emotionlessly. She was completely terrified with Light's hand that had control over her little family's life and death.

The words of man are unbelievable.

That assumption was firmly in Abigail's mind. Even so, that hope was really in the mind. Abigail has a small desire to at least be able to live happily with her small family in peace, even if it only lasts for one day.

If Light plays with his words and endangers the safety of his family, Abigail has decided to avenge him, even if his actions disconnect his neck.

"Tell me." Hearing that, one corner of Light's lips rose.

Light said something with just a lip gesture. However, that gesture Abigail really understood. Light didn't play around and say nonsense to him.

After a few years of imprisonment, Abigail saw a light where the gates of freedom were wide open for her and her family.

......................