Chapter 135
Chapter 135
Translator: “Hakou” Editor: “Weasalopes”
Countless stars are lighting up the dark blue sky.
Under that starry sky, there was a place where lights gathered.
The place was Landbarn, which has become the central city of a new margraviate of the Empire.
And from Land barn to the west, countless spots of lights formed a line, all the way into the mountain range which was the former border of the Empire.
It was the expeditionary forces departing from the Empire’s mainland and heading to Land barn.
Eventually, the head of those spots of lights disappeared into the western gate of Land barn.
「Your excellency, they have arrived」
A room in the confiscated government office
The margrave, who heard such a report from a soldier, had a displeased look since a while ago.
He could tell that a horde of Knights of the expeditionary force was arriving, without having to hear any reports.
The vibrations coming from the movement of humanoid heavy objects continuously shook the ground of Land barn.
「Let them in」
He erased his displeased expression and told him so.
Then, after the soldier left the room, he muttered with a sigh towards the handlebar mustache who was his aide.
「Why they have to arrived so late at night, even though it’s better to come the next morning」
He had received a notice that they would arrive at night, this afternoon. And since he had received it, he had no choice but to wait for them.
If only he knew that it was going to be so late at night, he would’ve wanted them to come tomorrow morning instead.
Those who had to respond to them surely wouldn’t be able to get a rest tonight.
Also, the residents too wouldn’t be able to have a good sleep because of the shaking.
To tell the truth, he thought that it was very annoying.
「They must have feel that it would be regrettable to waste even half a day」
The handlebar mustache replied.
The one who arrived was the marquis.
He’s the commander of the expeditionary force that was organized to advance the troops further into the Kingdom’s territory. Naturally, he was also a powerful rival of the margrave in a race to raise in career.
Unable to stay calm after hearing the margrave’s achievement, he must have rushed here with the expeditionary forces on his back.
There, a knocking sound was heard.
Guided by the soldier, was a silver gray haired gentleman with a tall stature.
「It’s been a long time, Margrave-dono. I am very sorry for intruding upon you in this late of a night」
「Likewise, it’s been a while, Marquis-dono. I thank you for your concern, but we are on good terms. Please, you don’t have to worry over such a thing」
They shook hands accompanied with an insincere smile.
「I have heard about your great achievement this time around」
He was smiling, but the inside of his eyes was cold.
The same was true of the margrave who answered with a smile.
The margrave’s lordship rank is actually one rank higher than the others because he ruled the frontier.
In other words, his rank is the same as the marquis, and there is no way to say which is higher.
It’s just that the margrave was allowed to have his own knight order to deal with border disputes. In exchange, his territory is always away from the Imperial City.
「I see that you’re accompanied by the Imperial knight order」
The margrave sees the emblem on the collar of the woman who stood behind the marquis. She’s a beautiful woman with a dignified atmosphere.
Further to the back was a handsome man with soft, wavy hair.
「Well, unlike margrave-dono, I do not have my own knight order after all」
It was about the frontier knight order.
By the way, Count Rosehip and his Rose Knights weren’t his subordinate because they were a force lent by His Majesty the Emperor.
But in reality, they have become a part of the force with the margrave leading them and the Emperor also has given his consent about it.
After the greetings, the margrave and the marquis parted with a smile.
「Good grief… I might be the one saying this, but with the way things are, I wish the Kingdom to do their best」
He returned the expression he was making and shrugged his shoulders.
One head taller. Silver gray colored hair that remained rich. And looks that attract many women like a philanderer.
He disliked every bit about him since forever.
「Count Rosehip didn’t pursue the enemy at the battle of Land barn. He must have been mindful for the expeditionary forces」
At those words, the margrave nodded.
「Right, count Rosehip did the right thing」
It’s not the case where yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
It should be fine to support the Kingdom in my heart.
「I guess I should give my subordinates some words of encouragement. Tell the kitchen to prepare diner」
***
Land barn, where the light never fades even after night. The city greets the morning without any sleep.
The works to welcome the expeditionary force continued until noon the next day
Now the stage moves from Land barn to the east, where the Royal capital is.
In the large building of the merchant guild facing the central square. There were several people in the guild master office on the third floor.
「The Empire’s reinforcement, is it?」
I said that after hearing the story from the guild master.
Apparently the Empire wouldn’t stop their invasion at Land barn, and would invade further.
To be precise, Awoke was their next target.
(Good grief…)
The time is late afternoon.
After visiting the herbivore mechanic’s house, I came to the guild master to report on how he’s doing. Then, I was being told to stay, which leads to the present.
By the way, the herbivore mechanic would go back to work tomorrow, according to his mother.
I’m just glad that it wasn’t as long as last time.
「They sure move fast, aren’t they?」
The vice guild master stroked his white and long beard that looks like santa claus beard.
Right now, there is the guild master, the vice guild master, the tough looking chief, and myself, these four people inside the guild master’s office.
There was a new movement from the Empire’s side, so they gathered here to exchange opinions.
「We can only do all we could for now」
The vice guild master continued and prompted the tough looking chief.
The tough looking chief then took the material documents and started explaining.
「As shown in the table, supplies are being distributed and accumulated in various places. Regarding the distribution route, we have verified the detours for each city, assuming the case where the highway is inaccessible」
He continued without stopping.
「Therefore, there is currently no single lifeline. For details, please see the attached map」
I didn’t know about this, but it seems that the guild master and the others were doing several preparations in anticipation of this.
As expected from the higher ups of the merchant guild. Everyone is excellent.
「Then, Tauro-kun. We probably going to go all out this time」
The guild master was looking up at me from the sofa.
It would always end up looking like that because of his small stature.
「The merchant guild, adventurer guild, blacksmith guild. They will mobilize every Knights to confront the Empire」
I frowned at that prediction.
(Hmmm…. There’s the promise with Imosuke and I don’t want to leave the house unattended for a long time too)
I’m sorry but that’s more important than the survival of this country.
(As I thought there’s no choice but to do that huh)
If I got incorporated into the knight order, a long-term mission is inevitable.
I’m talking about when they only glared at each other for days at the battle of Land barn.
(…Sniping down the Empire’s A-class Knights)
A-class Knights that have a big impact on the situation of a war.
No matter if it was the Empire, they shouldn’t be able to send a lot of them.
(I might be able to stop the invasion if I can crush those A-class Knights)
That’s what I thought.
「I understand. However, if possible I want to be put as a separate mobile unit」
I won’t be able to utilize my only advantages if I’m going to be put in a formation and charge directly at the enemy.
In order to avoid troublesome things, it’s necessary for me to act alone.
「Certainly, that would be better for Tauro-kun. I will tell the prime minister about it」
According to the guild master, there’s a high chance they will accept the idea because of my achievements in the northern country.
(Starting tomorrow, let’s use monster subjugation as pretense to scout the Imperial army)
I thought while stroking my chest again thinking the herbivore mechanic will get back to work tomorrow.
***
Exiting the merchant guild building, heading north on the big street stretching from the square, is the royal castle.
Further north of the royal castle, was a solid, rugged light honey colored stone building.
It was the headquarters of the knight order of the Kingdom.
In a room in the knight order headquarters are newly recruited pilots that have completed their training. There were four of them.
The knight commander handed them the certificate of the completion of their training and the emblem of the knight knight order.
After the emblem awarding had ended, they had a chat while preparing to go home.
「We also have to take part this time, aren’t we?」
A stern looking girl said as her ponytail swaying left and right.
「Certainly, we have undergone training but… I wonder if we could really do well in an actual battle」
In response to that, the girl next to her replied worryingly. Her shell-shaped big breasts push up her shirt to the point the button on her chest looks like it was about to take off at any moment.
「Like hell we could. The likes of C-class Knights is useless on a battlefield」
An old man in his forties butted in while stroking his stubble beard.
Another old man who was around the same age as him nodded while knitting his eyebrows.
「What C-class? The one we will ride is B-class Knight, right?」
Ponytail snarled at him.
The old man snorted at that.
「That thing? They only tweaked the appearance a bit and made it looks like a B-class Knight while the inside was actually C-class Knight」
「How do you know that?」
「I can tell that much. Because I’ve been riding B-class Knight in the adventurer’s guild. Listen here, you ladies might be unaware of this, but the difference between B-class and C-class Knights are completely different」
「Just how is it different? Their appearance is not that different between ours and our senior’s」
Ponytail folded her arms and looked at the old man with doubtful eyes.
「They deliberately made it similar. The appearance that is. Look, the thing called B-class Knight is, if it goes zaam! the enemy would zoom! It’s something like that」
「What are you saying, really?」
He brings his eyebrows together while making a convincing expression.
Busty-chan next to her nodded in agreement.
「My point is, it is waayyy different than the C-class Knights」
Given up on the explanation, he leaned his back on the chair and stretched his body greatly.
「Haa… Why would I, who rode B-class Knight in the adventurer guild had to ride C-class Knight after joining the knight order」
「Then just give up and leave」
Ponytail mercilessly snarled at him after that complaint leaked out of his mouth.
「No way, like hell I would」
「Then quit complaining all the time. It’s disgraceful」
Seeing ponytail with a much more manly behavior, the old man frowned and swallowed his words.
The other old man just tapped his shoulder, telling him to give up.
The ponytail and busty-chan pair left the room with their luggage.
「……Because my family would be delighted if I entered the knight order」
While looking at those retreating figures, the frustrated looking old man muttered in a low voice that couldn’t be heard.
After all, the job called knight order is seen as a respectable job.
「Riding the likes of C-class, we’ll instantly die if they put us in the forefront facing the enemy. Just where would the higher ups mean to put us?」
Maybe because it’s his personality, the old man kept muttering his complaints alone.