Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: A Fledgling Leaves the Nest (2)
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The movement of our forces was textbook to a fault.
From troop deployment to operational tactics.
Agile light infantry constantly moved between the main force and the surrounding area on reconnaissance, while the main body marched at a proper interval to keep the formation from stretching out too thin.
They rested at set intervals, never once neglecting their perimeter watch.
And this was before we had even entered the territory where the enemy was active.
A model military operation, the kind you’d only see in a manual.
The problem was the marching speed.
“Slow…”
Our pace was not just slow; it was agonizingly so.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
Aside from the thirty-odd light cavalry in charge of communication and scouting, our entire force was composed of infantry.
It would have been stranger if we were moving quickly.
And then there was the situation at the front.
All allied forces deployed on the plains had been annihilated, and the foremost fortress was under siege.
It was safe to say we had completely lost our influence over the front line.
In times like these, the best course of action was to act like a blind man, fumbling along even a familiar path.
If we needlessly increased our pace and the column stretched out, we would be serving ourselves up on a platter for the enemy to carve up.
Furthermore, the enemies we had to face were inhuman species skilled in small-scale guerrilla warfare.
They were masters at carving human armies to pieces.
We had to be careful, and then be careful again.
No one was unaware of this fact.
At least, not among the members of the 13th Legion.
“There they go again.”
At Senior Soldier Quentin’s words, I lifted my head and looked ahead.
There were two pairs of heavily armored horsemen, a breed apart from our own light cavalry, and another two pairs, who, while not as formidable, were still armed to a degree that made the light cavalry look like nothing.
They were the knights and their squires, hastily summoned from the rear by the Millenion in preparation for a potential encounter with an Elder-class inhuman.
“…!”
“…”
“…!”
“…!”
Every time the knights opened their mouths, the Millenion and the Centurions grew flustered.
They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying, but I didn’t need to be close to guess the content of their conversation.
“Are they that eager for a fight?”
“I knew knights were belligerent, but this is more than I expected.”
It wasn’t just once or twice that the hot-headed knights had voiced their complaints about the unit’s sluggish pace.
“It’s reassuring to have them around, but…”
The Third-rank Infantrymen trailed off, glancing at me.
They meant that while it was good to have a countermeasure against Elder-class inhumans, the knights’ arrogance was a pain to watch.
I couldn’t disagree.
After all, I knew better than anyone how self-centered knights could be.
“But are you sure you don’t need to go and greet them…?”
“Can’t you see the Centurions have aged years in a single day? Why should I get involved in that?”
“I think they’d be quite pleased if you revealed your original affiliation and status as an Over-ten.”
I scoffed.
Would those self-aggrandizing knights treat me any differently just because they knew my affiliation?
I was still just a worthless squire who hadn’t even taken the Oath.
And what would change even if they did?
Either way, there was nothing to be gained from dealing with them.
It would only be exhausting.
“A piece of friendly advice: don’t get involved with knights.”
My firm words made the Third-rank Infantrymen’s eyes widen.
They seemed to find it strange for a squire to speak of knights in such a way.
“If you don’t believe me, you can test it out for yourselves later.”
“There’s nothing to believe or disbelieve. When would mere soldiers like us ever get the chance to meet a knight, sir?”
Senior Soldier Quentin shrugged.
In fact, that was the norm.
My line of work meant I often got entangled with knights, but the reality for ordinary people was that they could go their whole lives without ever seeing one.
Compared to the vast territory of the Empire, knights were exceedingly rare.
Even for these Third-rank Infantrymen, who had spent over twenty years on the front lines, the number of times they’d seen a knight could be counted on one hand. That said it all.
“Oh. Looks like they’ve managed to smooth things over again.”
While we were talking, the knights had stopped their commotion.
Though it was obvious that after a short while, they would be back to nagging the commanders as if nothing had happened.
“We make camp here!”
Our forces, having stopped their march at nightfall to make camp, resumed their advance the next day.
Just like the day before, their pace was as slow as a turtle’s.
“Here we go again.”
The knights started whining again, and the Centurions in the command group broke into a cold sweat trying to appease them.
“Rest!”
“Rest easy, but stay armed!”
After covering a certain distance, we took a short break.
“No sign of the enemy ahead!”
The light infantry and light cavalry on scouting duty diligently moved back and forth from the main force.
The same routine repeated itself.
A change occurred not long after we entered the plains.
“From this point on, we move separately.”
Centurion Bravos announced, his face having aged terribly in just a few days.
This was unscheduled.
It was also a decision that deviated from our forces’ cautious approach up until now.
The current number of our troops on the plains was about nineteen hundred, combining two thousand-man units.
That was the total number including both combat and support personnel.
It wasn’t a small number, but considering the scale of the enemy operating on the plains, our strength was precarious.
“Why the sudden change, sir?”
In response to a Decurion’s question, Centurion Bravos glanced ahead.
Following his gaze, I turned my head to see the knights shaking hands amongst themselves.
The moment I saw their triumphant faces, I understood.
It seemed the self-aggrandizing knights had badgered the Centurions until they finally split the force in two.
“They said they’d handle everything even if the worst came to pass, so we’ll have to trust them.”
At Centurion Bravos’s words, I couldn’t help but ask.
Just how important were they to be able to sway a military operation?
If they were simply knights invited to deal with Elder-class inhumans, they wouldn’t be getting dragged around like this.
“For now, all you need to know is that they’re from the mainland.”
Instead of giving a clear answer, Centurion Bravos was evasive.
“Hmm…”
Something felt off.
The knights I had seen from a distance bore no special crests or emblems.
I had assumed it was because they were unaffiliated.
But seeing Centurion Bravos’s attitude now, it seemed less like they were unaffiliated and more like they were hiding their affiliation.
That was what made me uneasy.
Knights who lived and died by honor, serving in a war without revealing their names or affiliations.
The knights I knew would never do such a thing.
“Anyway, that’s the situation. Everyone, prepare. If our forces split, the enemy will surely make a move.”
Centurion Bravos hastily added an explanation to reassure the Decurions.
In short, the story was that we were splitting our forces to lure out and annihilate the enemy.
It was a plausible excuse, in its own way.
Plausible enough for even the battle-hardened Decurions to nod along.
“That is all.”
The Centurion gave the order to dismiss, and the Decurions returned to their respective ten-man squads.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
When I remained in place after everyone else had left, the Centurion asked, puzzled.
I frankly expressed the sense of unease I had felt during the meeting.
“When it comes to their kind, an Over-ten would know better than I. If you say so, then it must be so.”
Fortunately, Centurion Bravos didn’t dismiss my words.
“At this point, I’d like to lay it all out on the table too. But the truth is, I don’t know anything. Knights from the mainland. That’s all I know about them.”
It was getting more and more absurd.
An identity that couldn’t be revealed even to the Centurions who were actually commanding the army.
“I’ll try to sound out the Millenion. Don’t get your hopes up, though. Despite his appearance, he’s a rather tight-lipped fellow.”
For now, I could only hope the Centurion would find out the knights’ identities.
If that didn’t work, I’d have to try something else.
“Ugh. Taking risks on the battlefield is a bit much.”
After fiddling with my eyepatch for a moment, I returned to the ranks.
“Are we splitting off from them, sir?”
In response to the Third-rank Infantryman, who had an uncanny knack for sensing the unit’s unsettled mood, I relayed my conversation with the Centurion and gave a few additional orders.
“We’ll do as you say for now, but this could cause problems later.”
“I’ll take responsibility, so don’t worry and hurry up. I have a bad feeling about this.”
The Third-rank Infantrymen dispersed.
I stood there quietly, watching the bustling unit.
Then, suddenly feeling a gaze upon me, I turned my head.
The Millenion’s eyes brushed past me for a moment.
Given the circumstances, even such a trivial action now seemed suspicious.
***
Immediately after the unit split in two, the sky darkened as if on cue.
The sky, thick with dark clouds, looked as if it would pour rain at any moment.
*Plink. Plonk.*
And before long, the rain began to fall.
“Rain at this time of year. How unusual.”
The soldiers weren’t greatly disturbed by the sudden downpour.
They grumbled for a moment, but that was all.
“Well, it’ll probably stop soon.”
They all seemed to think it would stop before long anyway.
But contrary to the soldiers’ expectations, the rain did not let up easily.
The raindrops grew heavier with each passing moment.
*Rumble, crash.*
Thunder roared and lightning flashed.
The drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour.
“Aaargh! What is all this, all of a sudden!”
“Just our luck! What a rotten situation!”
The soldiers cried out as they scrambled to prepare for camp.
Everyone was in a frenzy due to the sudden storm.
The soldiers under my command were just as frantic, though for a different reason.
“The Over-ten was right…”
“It’s really raining…”
The expressions on the Third-rank Infantrymen’s faces as they looked at me were as if they were seeing a ghost.
Regardless, I urged them on and confirmed my instructions.
“You gave the quartermaster a heads-up, right?”
“…Yes, sir. I even had to pretend to be a farmer, something I’ve never done. They were skeptical, but those guys are naturally sensitive about rain, so they probably made preparations on their own.”
“Still, go and check, just in case.”
At my words, one of the Third-rank Infantrymen scurried off somewhere and returned.
“Thanks to you, they covered everything that needed covering and closed everything that needed closing. They said thanks, and that they’ll set aside some special rations for us later.”
“Forget the special rations. What about the items I requested?”
“They said they can’t get everything, but they’ll try their best. I’ll take the men later to pick them up. But sir, how on earth did you know it was going to rain?”
I shrugged at Senior Soldier Quentin’s question.
[Curious Idler] Noooo~~~ It was just getting interesting~~~ Dark clouds~~~
[The Emperor Who Abandoned His Country] Visibility is poor. Lost interest. I’m going to sleep. Wake me when the rain stops.
[The Elegant Southpaw] Ah, my eyes hurt. I really can’t see well.
I couldn’t very well tell them that high up in the sky, somewhere on its fringes, there were stars looking down on me, and that I had been listening to them complain about how the dark clouds were obscuring their view of the world below.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
I ordered the soldiers to prepare the camp and went to Centurion Bravos.
“The Over-ten wants to stand watch today?”
“Yes.”
The Centurion, who was directing the camp preparations in the rain, looked puzzled but readily accepted my request.
“Ah, right. That thing we talked about earlier… no luck.”
It seemed he hadn’t been able to get any information about the knights from the Millenion after all.
“I’ll look into it myself.”
“Do you have a way?”
“Yes.”
Instead of prying into my methods, the Centurion just asked me to let him know if I found anything.
I agreed and returned to my post immediately.
As I was looking around, Trainee Bella happened to walk by.
“Come stand here for a second.”
The trainee, though confused, stood before me as instructed.
“Perfect.”
“What is, sir?”
“Wear this. Give me yours.”
On the spot, I swapped helmets with the trainee.
While I was at it, I took the epaulet from my shoulder and attached it to the trainee’s.
“Huh? Huh? No, sir. I can’t do this.”
“Just stay put. This is all for a reason.”
I forced the fussing trainee to calm down and took a few steps back to observe her.
“Same build. At a glance, no one would know.”
“S-So, why are you suddenly doing this, sir?”
“From now until I return, you stand right here. Until I get back, you are Over-ten Yan.”
I placed Trainee Bella in a conspicuous spot and left her with the Third-rank Infantrymen.
Experienced soldiers like them would know what I wanted without me having to spell it out.
“You don’t have to do anything special, just stand there.”
“Looks like the Over-ten is going off to rest for a bit.”
I heard the voices of the Third-rank Infantrymen behind me.
There was a slight misunderstanding, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Busy, busy.”
I headed back toward the command post.
A tent stood out, its quality a world away from the drab ones the soldiers used.
Seeing the boy guarding the entrance, standing ramrod straight even in the pouring rain, I knew I had found the right tent.
“Carefully, now.”
I closed my right eye and carefully removed my eyepatch.
After a short, deep breath, I scurried toward the boy standing guard at the tent entrance—my colleague, so to speak.
“…?”
“I’ve come to see to the Knight’s bed.”
The boy looked me up and down, then stepped aside.
“Thanks.”
I passed him with a suitably bustling gait.
I pushed aside the waterproof flap and entered the tent.
In the center of the interior, which was so well-organized it was hard to believe it had been pitched in a hurry amidst a downpour.
There stood the master of the tent.
It was the knight from the mainland that Centurion Bravos had mentioned.
Still clad in steel plate as he had been during the march, the knight, with only his visor slightly raised, looked my way.
For a moment, I flinched.
Even the part of his face that was visible was incredibly handsome.
“What is it?”
His voice, too, was a rare, beautiful tone.
“Master, it seems they’ve sent a boy to attend to you.”
At the squire’s timely words, the knight’s gaze softened.
“I see.”
That was it.
The knight paid me no more attention.
In the meantime, I tidied the knight’s bedding.
*Pat, pat.*
It was only for a moment, but I did my best.
Damn this professional habit.
Belatedly coming to my senses, I opened my closed right eye without stopping my hands.
*Zzzzzzing.*
Without fail, a bizarre sensation and excruciating pain washed over me.
*Hhhp.*
I clenched my teeth against the pain, which felt as if my eye was being gouged out.
I desperately turned my head.
And took in the master of the tent with my eyes.
As if it had been waiting, a cluster of letters floated up in the air.
[□□□ □□□ is a serv□ (☆☆☆☆☆)]
Just as with the Master of the Rose Garden, the only thing I could properly make out was the knight’s rank.
For now, it was enough to have learned that my opponent was a real knight, and a high-ranking one at that.
At least we wouldn’t be wiped out by the inhumans for trusting a fraud.
As I was about to close my wide-open eye, having reached the limit of my ability to swallow my screams.
*Flick.*
The letters floating in the air flipped over.
[□□□□ Judg□(★★★★★)]
And became something else entirely.