Merchant Noble is out (4/4 chapters for today)
Security
(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
“Captain Kario, it’s time for the shift change.” (Subordinate)
The time for the shift change had arrived. Today, too, the day ended without incident.
“Understood. As I always say, if anything’s going to happen, it’ll be at night. Stay extra vigilant.” (Kario)
Kario, the captain of the royal guard in charge of the Lureid Kingdom’s palace security, sighed with relief but also tightened the resolve of his subordinates heading for the night watch.
“Understood! I’ll relay that to everyone as usual.” (Subordinate)
As Kario was heading back, he saw Minister Boris approaching from the far end of the long corridor. It seemed he was also on his way home.
I should have shifted the timing.
Kario inwardly clicked his tongue but bowed and greeted him.
“Minister Boris. Thank you for your hard work.” (Kario)
As usual, the minister ignored him.
Being a staunch noble supremacist, the minister apparently couldn’t bring himself to exchange words with Kario, a commoner-turned-guard captain. Although Kario was used to having his greetings ignored, it didn’t make it any less unpleasant. He glared resentfully at the minister’s round back, which was strikingly similar to the king’s.
“Guard Captain, working hard as always, I see.” (??)
Suddenly, someone addressed him.
Hearing the voice, Kario hurriedly bowed.
“Count Ludwig. Are you heading home?” (Kario)
“Indeed. Today’s government affairs were exhausting.” (Ludwig)
Count Ludwig was one of the few who understood Kario, who had risen from the common class.
It was also the count who had recommended him for the position of Guard Captain.
“It’s already a hectic time, and now this unnecessary trouble with the Laplace Kingdom. Oh, oops, that was a slip of the tongue.” (Ludwig)
The count covered his mouth in jest.
Despite nearing his fiftieth year, he had aged gracefully, with jokes that suited him.
“How are the captives?” (Ludwig)
“Yes, two guards are stationed there and keeping watch over the dungeon.” (Kario)
Hearing Kario’s report, the count’s expression grew slightly more serious.
“I see. Make sure they don’t escape. Those two are important hostages. If they flee, the Laplace Kingdom will launch a massive assault.” (Ludwig)
“The palace dungeon is impregnable. The guards are highly motivated and vigilant.” (Kario)
“Good. Be careful.” (Ludwig)
The count patted Kario’s shoulder and left.
Kario, despite being the Guard Captain, did not have his own house. Like the other soldiers, he stayed in the barracks adjacent to the palace. That was why his response was swift when the attack came.
“Captain! We’re under attack! Their likely goal is to rescue the hostages.” (Subordinate)
“I heard.” (Kario)
When the subordinate burst into his room, it was already midnight, but Kario was already dressed in his uniform.
“Wake up everyone who’s off-duty or sleeping. Get them to the courtyard immediately.” (Kario)
Leading the roused subordinates outside, Kario found the palace garden obscured.
The torches had been extinguished, and a thick, white smoke hung everywhere.
“What happened?” (Kario)
Catching a confused soldier, Kario questioned him. The soldier, coughing, answered.
“They threw two small bombs over the wall. Then they tossed what seems to be smoke bombs.” (Soldier)
“Damn it. That’s why we can’t see anything.” (Kario)
This made it impossible to tell where the intrusion was happening.
“Head to the dungeon for now.” (Kario)
After directing the confused soldiers to stick to their assigned posts, Kario led his subordinates, running across the garden toward the palace. The staircase leading to the dungeon at the far end of the palace was pitch black.
“Why is it so dark…? The candles have been put out.” (Kario)
“I’ll bring replacement torches immediately.” (Subordinate)
A subordinate ran off to the storeroom in the barracks. The time it would take for him to make the round trip was frustrating. However, the thought that intruders might still be lurking in the dungeon’s darkness made entering recklessly unwise.
“I’ll light the torch.” (Subordinate)
“Give it to me.” (Kario)
When the subordinate returned, drenched in sweat, Kario snatched the torch.
“Proceed with caution.” (Kario)
Kario and his men entered, spears at the ready. With the torch lit, visibility improved.
“Hey! Hang in there!” (Kario)
Two guards stationed at the dungeon’s entrance were found collapsed at the bottom of the stairs. They were uninjured but unconscious.
“Clear! No enemies present.” (Subordinate)
The dungeon wasn’t very large. A subordinate reported after checking every corner.
“Good. Are the captives still there?” (Kario)
Kario asked nervously.
It would be a complete disgrace if they had escaped on the very day Count Ludwig had encouraged him.
“Please, let them be there.” (Kario)
Praying silently, Kario brought the torch closer. The light didn’t reach all the way to the back.
“We’ve come to check for safety! Please respond!” (Kario)
He called out, but there was no reply.
Straining his eyes, he could barely make out anything in the darkness.
“The iron bars… haven’t been damaged. There’s no sign the lock’s been tampered with.” (Kario)
Bringing the flame closer, he confirmed the bars were intact.
“I think they’re still inside…” (Kario)
“Unlock it and confirm.” (Subordinate)
Unlocking the cell was risky, but it was the only option.
Kario took out the key and slowly opened the iron-barred cell. A subordinate entered.
“They’re here! Both of them! They’re asleep.” (Subordinate)
“They’re there? Thank goodness…” (Kario)
Kario and his subordinates heaved a collective sigh of relief.
“Still, to sleep so soundly despite all this commotion…” (Subordinate)
“Maybe they’re hard of hearing because they’re old?” (Subordinate)
The tension broke, and laughter echoed among Kario and his men.
At least the hostages hadn’t been taken. Stepping out of the dungeon for a breather, they saw the two unconscious guards in the corridor being treated. The sight of them jolted Kario. He rushed back into the dungeon.
“Captain?” (Subordinate)
“I’m reopening the cell. Stay on watch.” (Kario)
Kario unlocked the cell and entered. The couple lay on their beds, just as his subordinate had said. But something seemed off. Rather than sleeping, they appeared collapsed. Checking their pulse and pupils, Kario confirmed the truth.
“They’re not sleeping. They’ve been knocked out, just like the guards!” (Kario)
“Captain, what does that mean?” (Subordinate)
A confused subordinate asked.
“In other words, the attackers never entered the dungeon.” (Kario)
Kario pointed to the ceiling of the cell.
“See that vent? They probably used it to release some kind of sleeping gas.” (Kario)
“So, the intruders weren’t trying to rescue the old couple?” (Subordinate)
“Exactly. If they wanted to rescue them, they wouldn’t knock them out. That would only slow them down.” (Kario)
“Then, why did they attack?” (Subordinate)
It was a valid question. Provoking the guards without a clear goal would only tighten security further. Kario couldn’t understand the attackers’ intentions.
“Maybe it was just a show of force—to pressure us psychologically by asserting their presence.” (Kario)
Kario made a simplistic guess.
I’ll think about the complicated stuff tomorrow.
Exhausted from the disrupted sleep and intense tension, Kario’s body was crying for rest, his brain utterly drained.
“Well, at any rate, the hostages are safe. I’ll get some sleep.” (Kario)
He ordered his men to disperse and returned to the barracks.
Even after crawling into bed, the excitement made it hard to sleep, but as dawn approached, he finally began to drift off. At that moment, a night watchman burst in.
“Captain! Captain!” (Night Watchman)
“What is it? Another attack?” (Kario)
Kario opened his bloodshot eyes, fatigued to the core. Perhaps the attackers were aiming to exhaust the guards by launching unceasing assaults.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Alice has been kidnapped!” (Night Watchman)
“Impossible!” (Kario)
Hearing something so unexpected, Kario was stunned.
(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
Please consider supporting Bayabusco Translation @
bayabuscotranslation 