Chapter 18 : The Road to Loren Castle (2)

Chapter 18: The Road to Loren Castle (2)

-Whish.

Shatien and the rest of the unit scrambled out of the pit in a hurry.

‘Oh, damn. Why now…?’

He had figured that if they got caught, it would be by Centurion Jacri at worst. Why was Captain Mordo here?

Cold sweat ran down Shatien’s back.

His vision seemed to go dark.

From Mordo’s point of view, it had to look ridiculous, since they were hotly working on something nobody ordered.

‘Uh… how do I explain this? Do I call it a drainage ditch? Who would look at this and think it’s a drainage ditch though.’

He racked his brains for a quick fix, but no good idea came.

“Captain, ahahaha. Good evening. So… this is… um….”

Miles tried to swagger forward and buy time, but he sank almost immediately.

His stammering only deepened Captain Mordo’s suspicions.

‘Ugh, that idiot!’

Shatien clicked his tongue inwardly.

Then he spun his thoughts fast, trying to decide what to say.

It seemed best to base it on the truth…

Then, suddenly,

-Flap.

A flag fluttering in the distance caught his eye.

It was the standard of the overall commander leading the Holy Empire Imperial Army.

‘Ah…! Right. That will do. How did I forget this?’

Shatien clicked his tongue at the thought that flashed through his mind. Forgetting it had been foolish.

“I thought the enemy might attempt a surprise attack, so we were preparing against it.”

At that, Captain Mordo furrowed his brow.

“A surprise attack? What kind of nonsense is that.”

It was not like Shatien was some god who could read the opposing commander’s mind.

‘People keep saying this kid is good, and now he is acting too freely, isn’t he…?’

Had praise and a string of victories made him arrogant?

Mordo’s expression hardened.

He felt he needed to give a sharp rebuke. It would be better for the man’s future as well.

Captain Mordo wanted this young talent to grow into a pillar of the Black Ravens Mercenary Corps.

That would not happen if he kept acting like this.

But Shatien’s next words froze Mordo in place.

“The overall commander of the Holy Empire Imperial Army is Count Heinrich.”

“…Hm?”

Mordo’s eyebrow twitched.

He, at least, was the sort who would know that much. He had some connections with the noble world.

But this newcomer…

‘I promoted him fast, but it has not even been a year, has it?’

Where was he getting information like that?

Thinking maybe the man was spouting something he had just heard somewhere, Mordo asked again.

“How do you know that?”

“The flag. I knew from the flag.”

Shatien answered at once, as if waiting for the question.

If he had fought in the Holy Empire’s civil war for twenty years and did not know, that would be stupidity. After seeing the banners of the great houses dozens or hundreds of times, you memorized them whether you wanted to or not.

“Oh…?”

At this point in time, that was surprisingly fresh.

“Mm. Fine. So what about Heinrich?”

-Gulp.

Shatien swallowed.

He had to answer properly now. If not, Mordo might think that he had tried to deceive him.

“Captain Mordo, Count Heinrich is infamous for being sly and for using any means necessary to win.”

Mordo knit his brows.

“Is that so? I have only heard the name. I did not know his nature.”

“Ah. Perhaps thirty years ago, no, wait.”

Damn it. He slipped because he was nervous. Shatien hurried on before Mordo noticed anything odd.

“Do you remember the Battle of Coquelin from ten years ago?”

“How could I not? Is that not the battle where Baron Coquelin won by ambushing Baron Balud? Deeply dishonorable.”

It was famous because a noble who prided himself on honor had won by a cowardly ambush. The result had even coined a new insult among nobles, “a Coquelin like bastard.”

But what did that have to do with now?

Sensing Mordo’s thoughts, Shatien gave a bitter smile and spoke.

“Count Heinrich once served as a squire under Baron Coquelin. He learned from him, became a knight, and that is how he became the Heinrich he is now.”

“Mm?”

Only then did Mordo waver.

A squire learned and inherited everything from his knightly master. If Heinrich had been Coquelin’s squire, it meant he had learned all of Coquelin’s ways.

Not only swordsmanship and tactics, but even values and moral views. Of course, there were exceptions between master and disciple, but they were rare.

The problem was whether to believe this or not.

Mordo felt slightly conflicted. Shatien spoke too confidently to dismiss it out of hand.

“You keep circling back to the same point. How do you know that?”

Shatien shrugged and answered.

“My father emphasized learning early on. He traveled all over the continent and passed on to me the knowledge and experience he gained.”

“Oh ho. Is that so.”

So that was why he felt different from the usual farmer born mercenaries.

“Besides, if you know a noble in the Holy Empire, you can confirm it anytime.”

“That is true. Serving as a squire is not something one particularly hides.”

At Shatien’s continued explanation, Mordo let out a brief laugh.

This fellow did know how to use his head.

‘He is indeed solid.’

Mordo liked Shatien’s common sense beyond a peasant’s and his steady poise.

“Then why did you not report this important matter up the chain?”

“Mm… I intended to report it, of course.”

“But?”

“Before a battle, it felt like I would only create needless worry, so we handled it quietly among ourselves. I thought we could secure enough defense at this level. Besides, it is still only my supposition, and it might be wrong, so there was no need to kick up dust. I am sorry, Captain Mordo.”

“H, Hahaha….”

So in case, he prepared. That was the gist.

Most would have shrugged, said it was a hassle, and slept until orders came from above.

It was commendable, in its way.

This young man.

‘He is worth grooming, for sure…’

You could say he had talent from the sprout.

He had been promoted to senior recently, but Mordo already felt he should grant him a centurion’s post to give him more autonomy.

When he saw potential for growth, Mordo’s heart inclined that way by nature.

“Hmm. If that was your reasoning, I will let it go this time. But if you have such doubts again, speak to Centurion Jacri and make a report first. Understood?”

“Yes. Understood, Captain.”

Then Mordo peered down into the pit and gave a thin smile.

“But this trap is much too shallow, isn’t it? At this depth, will the Holy Empire Imperial Army suffer at all?”

“It is not finished. We were going to plant sharp stakes.”

Mordo shook his head.

“That alone is not enough. What about coating it with pine resin?”

Shatien was shocked.

Pine resin, used on fire arrows.

‘He wants to go that far?’

If they did that, the Holy Empire Imperial Army who fell in would experience a hell of fire.

“If you are going to do it, you should do it thoroughly, should you not? And bring more men. Work under canvas and such, so they cannot see you digging. They might notice the traps otherwise. I will make sure of it.”

“Thank you! Captain. We will make a proper trap. We will roast them to a crisp—!”

It was unreserved support.

Thanks to that, Shatien could answer with confidence.

* * *

Count Bellua frowned at the outrageous proposal.

“…You want to dig traps?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Captain Mordo spoke.

“Mm. I appreciate the call for caution, but our soldiers have come a long way. This is the time to conserve their strength. What will you do if the battle comes tomorrow?”

“First, we need our heads still attached if we want to fight, do we not?”

-!

‘How dare a mere mercenary!’

At Mordo’s words, Count Bellua was deeply displeased.

He had already found Mordo vexing for opposing him at every meeting, and today it broke the surface.

Until now he had endured because the man’s points had had some merit, but today he had gone too far.

“Mm. That makes it sound as if you wish the count’s army to be ambushed and die.”

“…My apologies, Your Excellency.”

Mordo realized his mistake too late and began to sweat.

‘It cannot be helped…’

Count Bellua’s status was what it was, no matter how young he was. As a mercenary captain, Mordo was not in a position to speak freely.

Even so, Count Bellua was not a fool who would ignore an opponent just because he was angry.

“Well... I do understand your concern. However, I believe recovering our strength takes priority. I will not interfere with your unit digging ditches. But, I will accept your concern and increase the number of sentries.”

That was not bad.

He regretted that only his own side would have defensive moats, but at least the sentries would increase, right?

Even if there was an ambush, they would react faster.

“That’s a good decision, Your Excellency.”

So Mordo bowed his head and said so.

* * *

A late night when the moonlight hid behind clouds.

-Skrr. Ssskk.

Shapes moved quickly through the dark grass.

It was a raiding party led by Baron Jalcha, a deputy commander of the Holy Empire Imperial Army.

Roughly three hundred men.

All of them had blackened their faces with soot and were slipping toward Count Bellua’s camp.

‘Fools. To be so unprepared like that.’

Whoever commanded them must have had no sense. Baron Jalcha had no doubt this raid would succeed.

There were no sentries on the watchtowers, and no bright fires lit around the perimeter.

At this level, pulling off a surprise attack would be easy as porridge.

He almost regretted not bringing cavalry.

‘Well, it is true that this is the exact opposite direction. But we should not get careless.’

-Waaaaaaah!

Far away, a thunderous cheer rose from the direction opposite Count Bellua’s encampment.

It was the signal that another raiding party had struck successfully. The enemy would be thrown into chaos now.

-Shing.

Baron Jalcha drew his sword.

“Good. We go in too.”

Only about thirty meters remained to Count Bellua’s lines.

At a sprint, they would arrive in moments.

“Men, chaaaaarge—!”

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

–Dududududu!

At his command, the soldiers of the Holy Empire Imperial Army who had been crouched in the grass sprang up and charged.

A rush launched right under their noses.

In an instant, the tents where Count Bellua’s men stayed loomed close.

“Hahaha. This is easy. Easy!”

Baron Jalcha swelled with pride.

There was no way they were sleeping in this chaos. He was sure they had fled in fear.

“Overrun them and burn their tents. Especially the granary. That must be burned, no matter what.”

Exultant, Baron Jalcha shouted. Victory was practically settled before his eyes.

But when only a few meters remained,

-Rrrrumbbbbble!

A strange sound rose, and the ground began to cave in.

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