The Northern-Style Change of Address (2)
The veteran soldier froze in place.
It wasn’t just the veteran. All of the Lontes soldiers dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling, hoping the knight’s wrath would not reach them.
To the Northerners, it was a truly pathetic sight.
It was ironic how they found it so easy to draw their swords against their own, yet had been so hesitant when the swarm of rats appeared.
“Because you failed to fulfill your duties, the Finance Officer was dragged away by monsters and met his end! The crime of failing to protect your superior is a grave sin worthy of summary execution! I shall purge you and appease the soul of the departed Finance Officer!”
Flash.
The sword the knight held high reflected the sunlight.
The soldiers, convinced this was the end for the veteran who had led them, swallowed their groans and squeezed their eyes shut.
Their fists trembled, but there was nothing they could do; a knight who knew how to channel mana was a being that even dozens of soldiers like them couldn't hope to challenge.
“Brother!”
Just one. The youngest, who had followed the veteran like a father, didn't turn away and lunged at the knight.
Of course, he didn't think he could actually defeat the knight. He simply intended to grab his ankle and beg for mercy.
“I was worried not a single one would step up, but this is fortunate.”
CRACK—!
And then, a miracle occurred.
The sword the knight swung down was blocked by something heavy. No, to be precise, it wasn't just blocked—it was shattered.
“……!”
The knight’s eyes widened. It was a sword imbued with mana, meant to make an example of the soldiers. Yet, because it was blocked by his opponent’s club, it had shattered, leaving only the hilt in his hand.
The one who had blocked him wasn't even a knight. It was the large barbarian who had introduced himself as the Northern adjutant.
“Th-this is a matter for our Lontes military camp! An outsider has no right to interfere…!”
“That Finance Officer of yours—is he dead? Are you certain?”
“The monsters dragged him away, so of course…!”
“The knight of Lontes makes such a bold claim without even trying to find his superior. Perhaps you threw the Finance Officer as bait on purpose? Do you, by any chance, harbor a grudge against him?”
“Wh-what kind of nonsense is that!”
“Isn't it? If not, why didn't you protect the carriage he was in? Wasn't your mission to protect the Finance Officer?”
“That is…!”
“Furthermore, right now, every single soldier is a precious asset to rescue the Finance Officer. Why are you killing your own men and breaking their morale?”
As Jamie pressed him, the knight couldn't say a word, only sweating profusely and backing away. The pressure radiating from this so-called adjutant was no ordinary thing. His pride as a knight stirred deep within his dantien, but considering his sword was completely shattered, he couldn't dare to talk back. He could tell at a glance that this opponent was stronger than him.
Moreover, the situation was dire. Because that damn barbarian was blocking him, the vermin-like soldiers were looking at him as if he were their sworn enemy.
“The Northern adjutant is correct, Sir Taph. Our priority now is to find a way to rescue the Finance Officer. We can settle who is right and wrong afterward.”
Roland, the Lontes adjutant who had been cowering in a corner, finally seemed to regain his senses and stepped forward. Unlike the Finance Officer, he had jumped out of the carriage as soon as the monsters attacked and had even grabbed a sword to help. It was laughable to see him holding a sword without even knowing the proper grip, but he was earnest.
‘Oh?’
A glint of interest appeared in Jamie’s eyes. He thought that perhaps there was one useful person among the rotten officials of Lontes.
‘First, I need to get rid of that knight.’
The Administrative Officer had ordered him to send back the trash. It was obvious he’d only get cursed if he brought a guy like that along, so what should he do?
‘Should I just say the wolves took him? Ah, no. He did say to avoid casualties as much as possible.’
Our Administrative Officer is too soft-hearted for his own good. A guy like this, who can’t even shoot an arrow at a monster but goes around trying to behead his own subordinates, deserves a ‘wolf-dinner’ ending.
“Can you track the swarm of monster rats? We must at least confirm if the Finance Officer is alive.”
At Roland’s words, Jamie nodded.
“Can we depart immediately?”
“Please.”
The tracking began. If they hadn't brought it up first, he had intended to suggest it himself, so it seemed things were going to be easy.
“Ugh, ugh…”
Meanwhile, inside the abandoned carriage, the Finance Officer was trembling, his teeth chattering, unable to even think of stepping out.
First, he was told monster rats were surrounding them, and then the entire carriage was kidnapped by the swarm. Hundreds, thousands of monster rats crying out from all sides, the carriage—having lost its horses and driver—rolling here and there. It was a miracle he was still sane.
But at some point, the terrifying cries of the rats had stopped.
‘Should I go out…?’
His whole body was still shaking like a leaf, but he couldn't just starve to death in this carriage. Besides, the rats, which had shown enough strength to move the entire carriage, hadn't actually entered it. Perhaps…
‘Maybe they thought this carriage was something they couldn't eat!’
If they had just abandoned it and gone elsewhere, then he had survived, hadn't he!
“Heh… heh.”
A laugh that sounded like he’d lost his mind leaked out. Hope was such an important thing. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to open the door and step outside immediately. Just as a person with a fear of heights wouldn't just jump off a bungee platform, the Finance Officer knew in his heart he had to open the door, but he lacked the courage to do so.
And so, time slipped away helplessly.
“Meow. Why isn't that human coming out?”
“I don't know. Strange human.”
The Cat-folk, who had been watching the carriage from afar, were slowly losing interest.
“How long do we have to watch?”
“It’s about time they arrived.”
It was Aiden who appeared beside the Cat-folk. Even though it was already getting dark, he had his robe pulled deep over his head.
Squeak! Squeak!
“Ah, you startled me!”
“Don't be so surprised. You’ll scare our cuties!”
“They’re a bit… much to call ‘cuties’.”
“Cuties, don't listen to him! You are cute! You are lovely!”
“…….”
Aiden shuddered as he watched the monster rat in front of him rub its head against the Cat-folk’s leg, acting all adorable. No matter how many times he saw it, it was a sight he couldn't get used to.
‘A cat raising a rat instead of eating it—does that even make sense?’
He had been able to plan this operation because others had also said they’d never heard of Cat-folk raising Giant Rats. Since the Northerners who lived among monsters didn't know, people from other regions wouldn't know either.
“Oh, they say they’ve arrived. Shall we start now?”
“Let’s prepare.”
With the news brought by the monster rats, the preparations were set. Now it was time to take the next step.
“By the way, Administrative Officer.”
“Yes.”
“Is it really necessary to go to such lengths just to get a few dozen soldiers?”
“Why do you think it’s just a few dozen?”
“Pardon?”
“If you add up the families and relatives of fifty soldiers, that’s five hundred. If you add up the neighbors and acquaintances of those five hundred, that’s five thousand. Once the rumors of those five thousand spread, we won't have to worry about labor shortages anymore. Don't you think?”
Kalisa quietly shut her mouth after hearing Aiden’s words. Her superior was always like this. Someone who always looked at the much bigger picture.
‘I have no choice but to follow.’
So what could she do? She just had to work until her body broke.
“It looks like it’s starting.”
In the distance, they could see the door of the carriage carrying the Finance Officer opening. Aiden and Kalisa held their breath and disappeared into the grass. From now on, they couldn't afford to have their identities revealed.
“Ugh, heh… I, I survived! I survived! I survived…!”
The Lontes Finance Officer, who had finally stepped out of the carriage, raised his hands high toward the sky and shouted at the top of his lungs. He vowed never to come to this wretched North again, celebrating the fact that he had survived.
Soon, a familiar voice was heard from afar.
“Finance Officer!”
“Sir Taph?”
He could see dozens of soldiers running toward him with weapons in hand. So, those idiots had tracked him after all. Of course, he had survived on his own.
“To be safe like this! The Goddess must have helped you!”
“It seems you didn't move inside the carriage. That’s fortunate. Giant Rats don't attack things that don't move.”
The Northern barbarian standing behind Sir Taph looked at the carriage and the Finance Officer, then nodded.
“Still, we must be careful. Judging by the traces, I don't think they’ve gone far. Let’s move carefully.”
“Y-you mean those things might be nearby?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll just stay inside the carriage again…”
“Being alone is not a very good choice. Giant Rats always attack individuals separated from the herd. Well, there are exceptions, though.”
“Exceptions?”
“They go crazy for the smell of blood. Even if the side smelling of blood is a group in a tight formation, monster rats that have lost their minds will lose their reason and swarm them.”
“I see.”
Squeak, squeak! Squeak, squeak!
Squeeeak!
Suddenly, the moonlight was hidden by clouds, and hundreds, thousands of pairs of blood-red eyes appeared in the surrounding grass.
The Giant Rats were busy emitting a fierce aura in accordance with the Cat-folk’s instructions.
“Damn it! Everyone, quickly form a circle! The bastards have appeared again!”
Jamie’s shouting could be heard vividly from far away.
‘He’s a good actor, isn't he?’
Aiden and Kalisa nodded at each other and gave a thumbs up. They had discovered an unexpected talent.
And not long after,
“Aaaargh!”
A scream erupted from within the circular formation.
“My arm, my arm! Aaaargh!”
The youngest Lontes soldier suddenly collapsed, clutching his arm. His arm was covered in a long laceration.
“What is the meaning of this!”
“My most important mission is to protect the Finance Officer at all costs!”
“Is that something to say right now…!”
Jamie gnashed his teeth and growled, but the knight tilted his head with a nonchalant face and mocked him.
“Do you have time to shout at me right now?”
“What did you say?”
“Didn't you say it yourself earlier? That those rats get excited when they see blood.”
“……!”
“You’ll have to be the bait, barbarian.”
Squeeeeeak—!
Scritch-scratch!
As if the knight’s words were a signal, the red eyes of the rat swarm began to dart wildly through the bushes.
Just before the attack,
Neigh—!
The Finance Officer and the knight were on the horse that should have been pulling the carriage. The two of them began to run away, leisurely moving away from the direction the rats were swarming.
The death of the soldiers?
That wasn't even something worth worrying about in the first place.
“Damn it!”
“Grrr!”
“I could chew them up and still not be satisfied…!”
The Lontes soldiers were so furious that the veins in their eyes were about to burst. Even if they had lived their lives bowing to the strong, they couldn't have expected such a futile end.
Squeeeeeak—!
“Heh… To think my companion to the afterlife would be a monster rat.”
Just then,
“Ah, is it all over? Oh my, my shoulders are so stiff from tensing up.”
“Heh. Indeed, Adjutant.”
The Northern soldiers lowered their weapons. And then, didn't they act as if they had given up on life?
“Don't give up! We… We! We will fight and die!”
“Oh, you fellow, if you’re going to fight, you should win—why are you talking about dying while fighting?”
“Is this a time for jokes…!”
“I’m here, meow!”
Squeak.
Emerging from the grass were the Cat-folk. And their pet rats.
“Hello, everyone.”
And appearing as he took off his robe,
“…The Northern Administrative Officer?”
It was Aiden.
“Opportunities like this don't come every day. A chance to escape the quagmire of exploitation and extortion and live like a human being! With just one change of address, I’ll help you start a clean, new life!”
Since the Northern census register was created from nothing, it wasn't particularly difficult anyway.