Clash at Bazelan's Gates
Grrr. Bene, sitting in the driver's seat gripping the chain reins, slowly pulled back as she spotted a soldier running toward them from ahead. The drake halted its steps as if annoyed, and soon after, the soldier stopped a short distance from the drake and addressed her.
"Lady Bene. You've found a suitable spot for camp, so it might be best to set up early tonight and depart at dawn tomorrow."
Bene didn't reply. Instead, she gave a single nod. The soldier saluted politely and dashed forward to relay Bene's response to Kernax.
Only after the soldier was completely out of sight did Bene turn her head slightly and slide the glass window inward. Inside sat her protectee, the red adventurer plastered to his side, and the bow-wielding woman who'd been keeping her distance for the past few days. As Bene slid the glass open, the eyes of those inside focused on her. She spoke curtly.
"We're camping nearby. If we leave at dawn, we'll reach Bazelan by lunchtime tomorrow."
With that, Bene closed the window again. She lightly tapped the chain reins, following the resuming soldiers. Near a clear lake, the soldiers pitched tents and gathered nearby weeds into piles. Only once the ground was leveled did they light fires or hang lanterns around the area.
Clack. At the sound of the carriage door opening, Bene glanced back. Her protectee descended with the adventurer he'd brought along. It seemed they planned to dine with Kernax as usual.
"Lady Bene."
Bene turned at the voice calling her. A soldier stood there, as always, bringing her meal. It was soup with dried bread and jerky.
For the soldier who couldn't approach due to the drake, Bene stepped down from the driver's seat.
"Thanks."
"Heh heh, no problem."
The soldier scratched his head sheepishly and returned to his tent. Watching his retreating back, Bene thought.
His name was Rina, right?
For her, who wasn't used to memorizing faces and names, recalling someone's name was a rare occurrence. It had started the day after joining Kernax's soldiers. Without being asked or needed, he brought meals every time. Ignoring such goodwill went against knightly honor, so Bene had simply accepted them since then.
Bene carried the bowl full of soup and slowly walked to a secluded spot out of sight. Only after reaching a deep area where even torchlight, lantern glow, and moonlight barely reached did she plop down under a nearby tree. She lifted her stuffy visor. Her blonde hair sparkled faintly in the dim moonlight.
As she scooped soup with the spoon in her bowl, Bene closed her visor. She looked up at the tree diagonally across from her. A pair of orange lights glimmered.
"Something to say?"
Bene addressed the owner of the orange glow. The orange lights stared at Bene silently for a long moment. A brief silence followed.
"The tails following us changed direction."
"Tomorrow we reach our destination. No more protection needed."
"Is that all?"
"...It won't cause issues for the protectee."
"I see."
The orange lights blinked, then dropped down in an instant. They approached slowly, halting in the faint moonlight. Giena, in human form, looked down at Bene with emotionless eyes.
"Don't cause trouble."
"I'll try."
Giena stared at Bene's slight nod for a moment, then leaped lightly and vanished up the tree. Once out of the moonlight, she watched Bene a bit longer with her signature orange eyes before disappearing completely into the darkness.
Bene gazed at her slightly cooled soup, then raised her visor again.
"Taking it out on me, huh."
Since joining Kernax's soldiers, the red adventurer and Kernax seemed to be giving her quite the hard time, and it felt like she was venting that frustration on Bene.
"Adventurers these days are scary."
She only sensed the presence when they were right in front of her. If it had been a knight like herself, she could have reacted somehow. But the opponent was an archer.
"Hmph. No idea."
No matter how she thought about it, the archer looking down at her puzzled Bene. Someone who casually threatened even her, stronger than those two, was somehow getting hassled by the much weaker pair? Bene finished her cold soup without finding an answer.
* * *
"Yaaawn~"
"Dumbass. If you're sleepy, sleep more."
"Maybe..."
Having gone to bed early last night and set out early, I was still drowsy. Inside the carriage rumbling along the bluish pre-dawn road, I let out a long yawn and laid my head on Siron's thigh.
Siron, who'd been subtly avoiding me, eventually relented after a few days of me clinging in the carriage and allowed me back into her lap like old times. I was curious why she'd avoided me, but I didn't ask. It felt like prying would make things awkward again.
Siron's thigh was far softer and squishier than the luxury carriage seat, smelled like flowers, and was overwhelmingly superior in every way. I rubbed my cheek against it.
"Dumbass. Stay still."
"Yeah."
Siron stroked my head. Feeling good, I murmured as she petted me.
"Man, we're pretty lucky though."
"What bullshit now."
"No, hear me out. I figured even if not bandits, some blind monster or beast would charge us at least once, but nothing's happened."
"......"
"W-Why?"
I flinched under Siron's suddenly pitiful gaze. Had I said something stupid again? After staring at me for a long while, Siron let out a short sigh.
"Dumbass. Don't go around saying you were a receptionist anywhere."
Siron shook her head. Giena, sitting opposite, spoke up.
"Mr. Smith. Whether dumb or smart, monsters only move if there's profit in it. No sane monster would attack a group that's just a string of women, no matter how blinded by greed. Plus, the drake pulling the carriage is strong enough to smash most beasts' skulls with one tail swipe."
"Oh......"
"Oh my ass? If your head's really that empty, you need to study."
I quietly shut my mouth and nodded. I'd seen goblin subjugation requests often enough to think monsters attacked humans on whims, but apparently, monsters here were pickier and smarter than I'd imagined.
"Anyway, quit the nonsense and sleep. I'll wake you when we arrive."
"Yeah, okay."
I let out another long yawn as Siron said and closed my eyes comfortably. Her gentle head rubs made sleep come easy.
"Dumbass. Wake up."
"Snh...?"
My eyes snapped open at Siron's voice and the poking on my cheek. Looking down at me, she blinked her red eyes.
"We're here, so get up."
"...Already?"
"Already? It's already lunchtime."
"Oh."
What? It felt like I'd just closed my eyes, but it's lunchtime already. Siron's thighs are something else. They just whisked me away. Such a seductive pair. I'll knead them hard later.
I rubbed my cheek one last time on her soft thigh and sat up. Peering out the window, I saw roads lined with buildings taller and fancier than anything in Molingta—a whole head taller, packed densely.
"Whoa......"
So this is the city of Bazelan. It was just impressive. Molingta's most developed east street felt like a backwater compared to these uniformly tall, luxurious structures. The people around wore classy clothes too, and men—rare sights in Molingta—were common.
"Dumbass. You look like a country bumpkin, so close your mouth."
"Yeah."
I shut my mouth as Siron said. I hadn't even realized it was open. Anyway, this new city after four years felt fresh and shocking.
"But where are we headed? Isn't the guard post inside?"
"...Jeez."
Siron sighed at me with an "I knew it" look.
"Dumbass. Molingta's just a backwater, and Count Filoria's weird, but normally each city has an administrator or vassal from the lord, and their inner castle's in the city. Got it?"
"Wait, why's there a castle in the city?"
"Fuck if I know, shithead. Just accept it."
"Okay."
I nodded, figuring one more question would earn me a knuckle. In short, we were heading to the inner castle in this city.
"Whoa, a real castle."
Through the glass connecting to the driver's seat, I saw tall walls and even taller buildings beyond.
"Wow... What? Are they coming out to welcome us or something?"
Right as we entered, a massive number of soldiers came into view. They surrounded us left and right, more soldiers and knights appearing continuously.
"Siron, the vibe feels kinda off."
The encircling soldiers smirked annoyingly often—clear sneers. But what made me say it was odd was the ones beside them glaring disapprovingly at the sneering soldiers and knights.
"Yeah. Looks like there are a lot of crazy bitches."
"Right?"
Siron nodded. Then the carriage stopped. The driver's window slid open.
"Don't get out until I open the door."
Lady Bene said that and stepped down, closing the window. Siron grabbed my shoulder and forced me back into the seat.
"Don't show your face outside."
I nodded silently, seeing her hardened expression instead of replying. Something had gone a bit wrong. The problem was I had no clue what or how.
Or could this even go wrong? We were the count's—great lord's—soldiers, and those smirking bitches were from some rich baron's troop. We were allies who'd traveled far to help, even if fewer in number.
I gave up thinking and meekly sank into the seat, staying quiet. How long had I been buried there when Siron beside me and Giena in front stood, shielding me as they stepped forward.
Clack. The carriage door opened.
"Hahaha, Lady Bene. Looks like the count's house is struggling. Treating lowly adventurers like this."
A surprisingly low voice for a woman flowed in from the wide-open door.
"Sister. Mind your words. Didn't Lady Kernax explain they're silver-rank adventurers?"
"Shut it. What's so great about silver-rank that you're bitching?"
Ah. I got it. I recalled my talk with Millia before leaving the city. Baron Biorin's eldest daughter was a total menace, and the aid request was likely due to her mess. The mystery was why both sisters were here when the second managed Bazelan.
"I don't know how precious the guest is, but I've ordered a banquet, so how about showing your face?"
Probably talking to me. I pondered how to respond.
"Shy? Or inconvenienced? If so, I'll carry you inside myself."
Creak. The carriage shook slightly. The presumed eldest had probably stepped onto it. Then Siron stepped further forward.
"Fuck off."
"Huh?"
If I wasn't hearing wrong, Kernax's sigh came from outside.
"Did I hear wrong?"
"Nah, bitch. Sounds like you heard it crystal clear."
"...Ha."
The presumed eldest scoffed dismissively. I swallowed hard myself.
"Lady Bene. My memory's poor, but did the count's house hire these two?"
"They're from the adventurer's guild."
"I see. So killing them here won't sour things with the count's house?"
"Sister!!"
"Shut up!!"
The carriage shook hard. The eldest had probably withdrawn her foot after it got bitten or something.
"Lady Bene. Answer."
"No issue. But damaging the carriage is another matter."
"If it breaks, I'll gift a new one."
"Don't make me repeat. Don't damage the carriage."
"...Lady Bene. I hate repeating too. I'll say it again: I'll gift better than that junk, so remember it."
I gulped dryly. The atmosphere was so vicious, stepping out might be the best way to defuse it.
"Guest inside. The carriage'll shake hard, but I won't hurt you, so stay seated quietly. If you move and get hurt, it's on you."
I didn't know exactly, but the menace bitch was about to do something.
"Rip the carriage apart!!"
"—Yes!!"
At her order, the surrounding soldiers roared and iron boot clangs went wild.
"Stop!!"
Kernax's shout echoed loudly. The area fell silent instantly.
"...What the hell."
The rude bitch spoke down to Kernax.
"This carriage is the symbol of Count Filoria. Touching it, separate from the adventurers inside, I can't just watch."
Thud thud thud!! Right after Kernax spoke, Molingta soldiers who'd come with us surrounded the carriage.
"Ha. Lady Bene. How should I take this?"
Lady Bene didn't answer the bitch's question. It felt damn good.
"Sister, enough..."
Slap—!! I jumped at the sound alone.
"You lowly thing. Know your place."
"......"
The area went quiet for a different reason.
"Lady Bene. How low does the count see our barony to send not knights, but guards from some backwater—mere three hundred as 'support'? But fine. To a count monster-hunting at the border, our barony making money off trade must seem plenty lowly. I get it. However."
Thud—!! The carriage shook ever so slightly. All noise, no impact. The rude bitch had probably kicked it.
"I can't tolerate lowly adventurers looking down on me. Today, I'll cut those two bitches' heads and hang them at the gate, so don't try to stop me. If you do, I'll take you as enemies, not support."
Silence fell again as the menace finished. No one responded.
"Why hesitate!! Rip the carriage now!! Anyone interfering..."
"L-Lady Lenia!!"
A desperately urgent shout cut off the menace.
"What!!"
"Th-The s-sup..."
"Speak properly!!"
"The... support troops ha-have arr-ived."
"What?"
The squad leader bitch looked slightly flustered.
"Support? What bullshit is..."
She cut off mid-sentence. The area went dead silent.
Clop clop. Clop clop. Clop clop.
Hoofbeats approached. Not one set. But they sounded like one. They stopped nearby. Into my bated breath came a clear, familiar woman's voice.
"For a mock battle, the atmosphere is quite hostile."