Northern Harbert Forest
Joseph's carriage passed through the town smoothly as it had before.
And a bit further north, two carriages and knights riding horses next to them came into view.
“Sorry for being late.”
“What kind of thing is that. Didn't you come earlier than the promised time?”
“Would you like to ride in the carriage?”
“Refusing a kindness is not proper etiquette.”
Davie handed the reins to the servant and immediately got into the carriage.
They headed to the place where they had pitched camp previously.
The private soldiers and mercenaries were watching Davie's every move a little, but he didn't seem to care much about such things.
‘Indeed…… is this a proper knight?’
Davie seemed to have mixed Ogier and Manir just right.
While lightly talking in the carriage, Davie asked.
“But why do you want to exterminate Harbert Forest?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I heard that Master the mage is making artifacts…… Is it for research?”
Mages usually handle mysteries, but they don't directly jump into danger for that.
They are people after all, so they know their own lives are precious.
That's why combat-capable mages particularly piqued Davie's curiosity.
“Well…… it's similar.”
In fact, it was for money, but of course he didn't say it honestly.
“I see. I thought you like fighting so much you'd directly take on extermination.”
Davie said that and laughed heartily.
There was a rumor that combat mages are madmen who roam battlefields, so it made sense.
“Still, when I see a mage, the rumor doesn't seem all that real.”
“Have you met a mage before?”
“There were some who occasionally visited the castle.”
Viscount Favidea didn't hire mages unlike Count Valois.
More accurately, it would be better to say he couldn't.
Hiring mages means supporting their convenience and research as well.
Naturally, one has to pour out the annual fee, but Favidea territory isn't that rich.
“……How were those mages?”
Joseph asked curiously, slipping in a question.
“Um…… those people were exactly the kind that match the rumors.”
“Rumors about mages?”
“Yes. They were more arrogant than knights, people living without fear of the world. Even those with shabby appearances. Well, most of them were fakes who got caught and executed quickly.”
“…….”
Davie puffed up as if it were someone else's matter.
‘He doesn't seem to think badly of mages.’
Hearing about it, one might develop prejudice against mages, but apparently there was none.
Thinking about it, since they were such people, they came to find Joseph.
“Then…… what is your purpose in subjugating the dungeon, Count Davie?”
Davie looked at Joseph's question as if it was strange.
“Why, of course, to raise my name as a knight!”
“Name…… do you mean fame?”
“Yes. A knight must spread his name widely and become a noble recognized by the royal family.”
He seemed to aim to gain fame as a knight and rise to a proper noble through that.
Subjugating the dungeon was a means to gain fame.
“……Then you will go to the battlefield later.”
Suddenly, the war in Valois territory came to mind.
The fire mage led by Count Poner and the knights of Count Valois were still fighting there.
This wandering knight might be aiming for that place like Ogier of the past.
“If it's a just call, then it won't be so.”
He nodded once and turned his gaze to Joseph.
When Joseph looked at him with a puzzled expression, he opened his mouth.
“Master the mage doesn't seem to have any interest in fame at all.”
“……Yes, well, I think it's not necessary right now.”
What he needed was a comfortable life, not spreading his name.
At least for Joseph now, it's not that important.
“Necessary.”
At that, Davie smiled faintly.
“……?”
“Ah, sorry. It seems like my thinking is quite different from that of a knight.”
For nobles, honor is something one must have from birth.
And for knights, honor is something one must protect no matter what happens.
It's not something one can judge like buying and selling goods.
At least, Davie Fabidia was thinking that way.
“It's fortunate that Master the mage's personality matches mine well.”
“……Is that so.”
It was a remark that sounded like it had bones, but Joseph didn't react particularly.
After a day passed, the carriage arrived at the camping site south of Harbert Forest.
They decided to rest there for one more day.
“Moving as soon as the sun rises would be good.”
“Yes. I gave preliminary instructions on that part, so it should be fine.”
Before leaving the estate, Joseph had given rough instructions to the private soldiers.
In fact, the private soldiers had created a separate camping site away from Davie's soldiers.
Watching that, Davie asked.
“Do Master the mage's private soldiers command the mercenaries?”
“Yes. We have been training a bit recently.”
“Are you planning to increase the number of soldiers later?”
“I don't know for now, but when I need to hire mercenaries like now, it would be helpful.”
“Huh…….”
Davie let out a small sigh and looked at the private soldiers.
In his eyes, beyond curiosity, a small possessiveness was rising.
“……They are still young and inexperienced.”
“If they're young, it's even better. There's only growth left.”
It was a remark thrown in as a precaution, but it seemed to please him more.
‘I won't hand over the private soldiers later.’
If that happened, it would be very troublesome.
They were talented people he had painstakingly obtained. No matter how noble, he didn't want to easily hand over soldiers.
For the sake of it, he might need to think of a way to refuse.
After a day, Joseph and Davie moved north as scheduled.
Davie got off the carriage and got back on his horse.
Joseph's carriage: 3, Davie's: 2.
Total 5 carriages and about 20 soldiers.
Unlike before, there was no choice but to move quietly.
“The sound of demonic beasts is heard.”
Upon arriving at the first abandoned camp, the keen-eared mercenary in front said.
“So soon?”
The last time they saw bug monsters was further north.
‘Did they come down since then?’
After moving a bit more, something crawling near the second abandoned camp in the distance came into view.
“It seems like a moth, its wings torn so it can't fly.”
Davie, riding the horse, frowned and said.
The distance was quite far, but it was visible.
‘Not a nomad…….’
Joseph internally clicked his tongue at Davie's physical ability.
“What do you want to do?”
“Um? That's not something I choose. This isn't my subjugation.”
Davie seemed not to intend to interfere with Joseph's judgment.
Rather, he seemed to be expecting what instructions Joseph would give.
‘I see, he's checking my abilities first.’
Joseph nodded and thought.
Probably, Davie would guarantee Joseph's command as much as possible in this subjugation.
And in dungeon subjugation, he would claim his own command conversely.
‘He's a smart person.’
Perhaps when Joseph mentioned subjugating Harbert Forest, he had planned this.
Thinking that was a bit burdensome.
‘No, it's fine. Nothing changes in what needs to be done.’
The subjugation was planned without Davie's help from the start.
Thinking about that now was meaningless.
“Then, can I ask you to handle the soldiers and rear guard?”
“Of course.”
After entrusting the rear to him, Joseph gave instructions to the private soldiers.
“Only one carriage will be pulled.”
Jiren immediately got on the carriage driver's seat, and Derik and Auk stood guarding Joseph.
The camp was like before, with two keen-eared mercenaries in front.
The rest formed a wall with shields behind them.
The human wall moved forward.
Since no rear guard was set, the speed was much faster than before.
“There they are.”
“Yes.”
Soon, the figures of two giant moths came close enough to be clearly seen.
Upon closer look, as Davie said, for some reason, their wings were torn.
Just as Joseph discovered them, the monsters also discovered Joseph and let out ‘kiik-kiik’ sounds.
“Ugh…….”
Joseph made a small face at that.
The creepy-looking monsters, with wings torn, looked like giant caterpillars.
“Prepare the spear thrower.”
Joseph immediately gave the order.
He had no intention of using magic on just two of them.
Since going further north, there might be stronger monsters or even monster groups, wasting mana unnecessarily would be foolish.
Then, Jiren, sitting on the carriage, took out a few wooden spear throwers from the carriage.
One of the second-line mercenaries quickly backed away, lowered his shield, and held the spear thrower.
Among the veteran mercenaries, this one was particularly nicknamed ‘spear thrower’ for some reason.
“Can I hit them?”
“Yes. This should be no problem.”
They took something out of their pockets.
“……What is this?”
“I made this tool. The spear flies faster and farther.”
Joseph's gaze turned to the tool in his hand.
It was a thin wooden rod about a span long.
One end had a shallow groove to hang the spear tip, and the other end had a thick string or leather strap firmly tied as a handle.
Overall, it looked like it was focused only on the throwing action, without patterns or decorations.
‘Where have I seen this before.’
Joseph rummaged through his memories of his previous life.
He didn't remember the name, but he had seen something similar in a documentary-like place.
Anyway, it was the same tool for launching spears faster and farther.
‘Since he says he made it himself, it doesn't seem to be the same thing.’
At least, it seemed he knew why he was called a spear thrower.
Kiik! Kiik!
When he hooked the spear on the tool end, the moth seemed to sense something and cried out louder.
“Finish them quickly. Other ones might come running because of the sound.”
“Understood.”
When the spear was firmly fixed on the spear thrower, he immediately extended his arm back.
Then, the soldiers standing in front extended their shields and crouched.
The spear thrower's arm swung with all his might.
Puuu!
Soon, the sound of cutting the wind as the spear flew towards the moth.
Puk!
The moth, which belatedly tried to move its legs, was pierced from the face by the wooden spear and stopped moving.
Soon, the remaining one was also silenced in the same way.
“……That's surprisingly amazing.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
When Joseph praised him, the mercenary brushed his nose with his finger.