Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Captured Intruder
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Ash, who had been about to step forward at Als's appearance, had to hurriedly retreat.
'No way Wade would show up here. A miscalculation...!'
Standing beside that Wade was a woman emanating an extraordinary aura. Though her face was hidden by a helmet, her identity was easily discernible.
'Eonia Mirabel!'
Ash gauged their respective skills.
'In a one-on-one, Lisitea could probably buy enough time to escape...'
But this was right in the heart of the enemy camp. If they tried that, both would get caught.
Ash decided to watch for now.
Als had stopped the guard who had been about to assault Lisitea.
The guard was breaking out in a cold sweat. He figured he'd be punished for laying hands on someone who might be a high-ranking prisoner.
But Als's action was the opposite.
"First, buckle your belt back up. Your pants are about to fall down."
"Yes, sir!"
Once the guard had refastened his belt, Als spoke.
"Do you have family?"
"Y-Yes. My widowed mother and two younger brothers..."
"That accent... It's from Albad. When did you cross over to Crossing?"
"Five years ago. I surrendered to Crossing after being captured in battle. With my superior's help, I brought my family over from Albad too."
"Then you're no slave."
It was one of Crossing's strategies. If a captured soldier brought his family over to Crossing, they weren't enslaved but treated as citizens right away and given a settlement.
"Don't you miss Albad?"
"Not at all. Crossing has treated my family so well... My homeland is Crossing now!"
"Well, good."
Als patted his shoulder.
"I get why you were angry, but don't be too quick to hate them. These prisoners could become Crossing citizens just like you. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"I'll write you a pass. Go back and rest with your family."
"N-No, sir! I haven't done anything to deserve a reward..."
"Who said anything about a reward? You're no help managing prisoners right now. And I can't assign you other duties either, so I'm just sending you off. Understand?"
"...Yes, sir. I won't make a fool of myself like this again. Thank you, Sir Wade."
The guard left with a conflicted yet joyful expression.
Ash was inwardly impressed by Wade's handling of the situation.
He would have thought poorly of Als if he'd executed or punished the guard. No matter how valuable high-ranking prisoners were, a general who treated his soldiers carelessly couldn't be trusted.
Als had pointed out the guard's mistake while gently admonishing him. That guard would probably be more diligent from now on.
"Hmm."
Als let out a small groan as he looked at Lisitea.
"I see why she's hard to handle. She reeks of noble young lady... No, since she hasn't stated her status, is she a princess or something?"
"Mercenary Wade...!"
Lisitea gritted her teeth.
"You bat-like bastard. Sucking up to Caliper before, and now back to Crossing!"
"No, watch your words. Caliper and Crossing are the ones sucking up to me."
"What...!?"
Having sophistically refuted her, Als lifted Lisitea's chin.
"If you're going to reveal your status, do it now. If Juras handles the interrogation, you'll end up in a much worse spot."
He meant it sincerely.
There was no way Juras wouldn't uncover Lisitea's identity.
Als couldn't even begin to imagine what scheme Juras would cook up once he knew.
"You'd better speak before that guy gets back."
"Hmph!"
Ptoo! Lisitea's spit landed on Als's helmet.
In that instant, a terrifying killing intent permeated the surroundings.
"You dare...!!"
Eonia, furious to the tips of her hair, raised her spear.
Reacting to the piercing killing intent, Ash instinctively drew his dagger.
"Stop it, Eo. This stuff wipes off."
"But...!"
"I'm grateful you got mad for me, so calm down."
"Yes..."
Even Lisitea wavered at this magnanimity.
She even thought for a moment that it might be okay to reveal her status to Als.
But a situation that would dispel such thoughts unfolded immediately.
Als turned his head toward where Ash was. He'd sensed Ash reacting to Eonia's killing intent.
Ash flinched but quickly adopted a nonchalant expression and looked elsewhere.
Als chuckled.
"Hmm, oh ho, haha..."
There's no way he noticed. As Ash thought that, Als delivered a death sentence.
"A rat snuck in, huh?"
"...!"
Even Lisitea gaped in shock.
She reflexively shouted.
"Run!"
"Urk...!"
But Ash couldn't move. Eonia, sensing something amiss, had blocked his escape route. The guards, grasping the situation, formed an encirclement.
Als spoke.
"One question. Did you kill any of our soldiers during your infiltration? If you did, I won't forgive you."
"...I didn't kill anyone. I just knocked one out and borrowed his uniform for a bit."
"I hope that's true. So, what now? No way out anyway. If you don't want to get hurt, surrender quietly."
"Guess I have no choice."
There was no hope in resisting, so Ash obediently disarmed.
Als locked him in the cell with Lisitea.
A mid-level officer present whispered.
"What should we do, sir? He's attempted a prisoner rescue, so we could execute him under military law instead of treating him as a POW."
Hearing this, Lisitea cried out.
"Do whatever you want to me! But please... please don't kill this man!"
"You spat on the general earlier, and now you say that!"
"I-If you want an apology, I'll apologize! So please...!"
"Then reveal your identities! All of you!"
"That's..."
Lisitea hung her head. Ash seemed about to speak, resolved, but Als stopped him.
"If you don't want to talk, you don't have to. Just pay the price for it."
With that, Als told the officer in charge of the prisoners.
"I'll take these prisoners. I'll square it with the commander, so don't worry."
"Y-Yes, sir! Understood!"
Als smiled in satisfaction.
'The spoils have come wrapped up neatly.'
If handled well, he might even recruit Ash.
Als pondered their disposition as he took Ash and Lisitea and left the POW camp.
*
*
*
Ash and Lisitea were handed to Olaf for later delivery.
Olaf had to stay on the battlefield for a while to handle the Rainpole soldiers' withdrawal.
I prepared to return to Rainpole first with Eo, Ymir, and Anton.
Anton should have stayed with the Crossing army for cleanup, but with his master's due date approaching, Juras let him go home early.
Who knew if it was genuine consideration or a ploy to indebt Anton, but anyway.
"Man. I thought I'd go back alone, but in the end, we're all heading home together."
My attempt at independence felt meaningless.
"Still, it doesn't seem like we achieved nothing."
It was Anton's words.
"Your aura has grown even sharper than last time."
"You think so? After brushing death, I feel like I've gained some insights."
Numerically, my martial prowess rose from 2 to about 3.
Plus, I gained all sorts of miscellaneous experience. Things I couldn't feel with retainers around, I experienced fully this time.
The effect of going solo.
"That said, I don't want to do it twice. I'd rather train my martial arts harder."
"That should be enough now. What you've realized once won't fade easily. You've broken through the wall blocking your path this time, Sir Als. Just keep refining until the next one appears."
"Coming from you, that puts me at ease. Alright, let's head back to Rainpole."
Right now, all I wanted was to go home and rest.
I was about to board the carriage, but Eo widened her eyes.
"But Sir Als, we haven't done the merit awards yet... You plan to do it in the carriage?"
"Merit awards? For that?"
I almost blurted out, 'Was there merit to award?' but her serious eyes showed she meant it.
Her earnestness overwhelmed me a bit.
"R-Right. Let's do it then."
"Yes, sir!"
I'd bought gifts in Arandal for commendations, but planned to use them later. There wasn't much merit to award this time anyway.
If anything, it was Eonia.
'She suggested it knowing that.'
Eo had her sly side too.
"I'll just announce the top 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. For 3rd... Olaf."
Olaf had abandoned the internal affairs I left him, but that cunning move ultimately saved my life. And in the final battle, he'd coordinated well with Sophia Veron and commanded the soldiers adeptly.
"So, 3rd place. But since he ditched internal affairs, his merits are plus-minus zero. No reward. Next, 2nd."
Eo swallowed hard. She glanced at Anton, probably thinking they were vying for 1st and 2nd.
"You, Eo."
"...!?"
"You saved my life at a crucial moment and helped in the final battle too. Ah, don't make that face. 1st isn't Anton."
"Huh?"
"Anton earned his merits in Crossing. He'll get his commendation from them."
"Then 1st is..."
"Me."
This time, I wanted to praise myself.
"It was really tough..."
The Kesper guys pulled stunts, then Sophia Veron took the baton with her troll antics. In that forced Delston Mountains battle, I had a desperate fight with the monster Fisher Partin. Even in the final battle, I had to back up Juras.
"Oh, and to add, me, Aegert, and Dilas take 1st."
Normally, Eo would glare at the 1st place with resentment, but she never did that to me.
Instead, she clapped with a refreshed expression. Treating me as an exception, she figured she was effectively 1st.
"You mean the guys who escaped with you back then, Aegert and Dilas?"
"Yeah."
I pulled a sword from my luggage.
"Anton, pass this to that Aegert guy. Ask Dilas, Olaf's subordinate, who he is."
"I know Aegert."
"You do?"
How?
"Yes, the kid you showed mercy to in the Chimera War, right? I arranged for him to live as a slave in Rainpole. So he could repay you someday."
"I showed him mercy..."
"Unbelievable! You don't remember."
"Guess I forgot."
There were so many shocking events back then, I forgot the minor ones.
Anton burst into hearty laughter.
"This is all thanks to your virtue, Sir Als. I'll deliver the sword personally."
"And give Dilas a generous reward too."
"Yes, sir."
Anton carefully wrapped the sheathed sword in cloth.
Eo eyed the sword enviously, then stared at me.
"Ah, the reward."
Not having thought of anything specific, I gave her something suitable from my luggage.
A sapphire from Arandal's workshop. Unpolished, so not expensive, but Eo bugged her eyes.
"Th-This, this, this...!"
"A bit much? Yeah, not that useful. I'll give you something else."
"No! I'll cherish it forever!"
Eo clutched the gem preciously, as if she'd never let it go.
Wondering if there was special meaning to receiving a gem, but with merit awards done, exhaustion hit hard, so I ignored it and boarded the carriage.