Merchant Noble is out (4/4 chapters for today)
The Beginning
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Near the border between the Laplace Kingdom and the Kali Kingdom.
This area had become a supply base for transporting goods and food to the soldiers fighting at the front lines. The management was handled by the adventurer group led by Mia. Since it had turned into a siege, there was no need to send new weapons or supplies, but food was still required as usual.
Today, Mia was motivating the adventurers.
“Good morning, everyone! Alright, today is the day for food transport. We will deliver food for five thousand people to General Randal and Laika’s troops fighting in the east. We will also deliver food for five thousand people to General Tyr and General Hal’s troops in the center. Let’s get prepared!” (Mia)
As it was a long-term battle, the adventurers responsible for transporting food were quite fatigued. Mia, as the leader, was briskly commanding the adventurer group to ensure they did not slack off.
“Good morning. Mia-san.” (Marie)
When Mia turned around at the voice from behind, she saw Marie.
“Huh? Oh! This is quite a surprise, Marie-sama. Good morning!” (Mia)
“The adventurers are quite energetic from the morning.” (Marie)
“This is our job! We adventurers take on various requests daily, such as hunting, guarding, and gathering. To finish these requests within the day, early to bed, early to rise, and breakfast are essential. There are no adventurers who cannot wake up early!” (Mia)
“I see. I see.” (Marie)
Marie listened to Mia’s lengthy talk with a smile, just as usual.
“Marie-sama, you seem rather free.” (Mia)
This time, Marie was running a medical team with over ten sisters and university students. However, since there had been hardly any fighting, her field hospital was in a state of being open but not in use.
“Yes. Well, it is a good thing that the nursing team is not busy. That means there are fewer injured people.” (Marie)
Marie glanced at the empty beds and said gently.
“I overheard a bit when I went to transport food last time, but it seems the enemy army, having faced consecutive defeats, has completely lost their will to fight and is holed up in their fort. Thus, it seems we are in a peaceful state of war with few casualties.” (Marie)
“I see. Does that mean this battle will be over soon?” (Mia)
Even at the front lines, the feeling of war weariness was spreading. Moreover, the rear support team, including Mia, was completely convinced of victory and had started to relax while still giving warnings to those who were slacking off.
“Marie-sama, you came all the way out to this remote area, but if there is no fighting, it seems your nursing team will end up having little to do.” (Mia)
“That would be the best scenario.” (Marie)
If there were hardly any casualties, there would be nothing better than that. While the two were talking, one adventurer rushed over in a flustered manner.
“Commander! Commander Mia!” (??)
“Marie-sama, I apologize, but what is happening?” (Mia)
Mia bowed her head to Marie, then turned to the adventurer, who was clearly anxious.
“There’s a dust cloud approaching from the north.” (Adventurer)
“Huh?” (Mia)
To confirm, Mia and several adventurers climbed up a nearby hill and strained their eyes.
Indeed, they could see a dust cloud coming towards them from a distance. It was a considerable number of cavalry. Mia tilted her head in confusion.
“Could it be reinforcements? I can faintly see the flag of the Laplace Kingdom, and it’s impossible for the enemy to be flanking us. However, I haven’t received any reports about reinforcements coming…” (Mia)
*Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo*
While she was saying that, the dust cloud was getting closer and closer. A rumbling sound like the earth shaking reached them.
“That dust cloud… there are about 10,000 of them, right?” (Adventurer)
The adventurers began to stir uneasily. They were frightened by the unidentified large army.
“Is there a communication error? An unknown unit is rushing in. I need to ask Tyr-sama about this later.” (Mia)
As she murmured that, a dazzling light shone in Mia’s eyes, and she squinted at the brightness. The moment she realized that the brightness was the reflection of drawn swords from the unidentified unit, Mia’s judgment was swift.
“Retreat!” (Mia)
“What?”
She shouted loudly to the adventurers, who were slow to react.
“Run, run, run! That’s the enemy!” (Mia)
“But they are flying the kingdom flag…” (Adventurer)
“Retreatーーーー！！！！” (Mia)
She shouted from the hilltop so that everyone in the working adventurer group below could hear her. To drown out her voice, the large army of cavalry, having drawn their swords, charged in with a war cry.
Leading the army was someone recognizable to the adventurers. It was Jeanne, the 2nd Unit of Casablanca’s Royal Guards.
Jeanne declared loudly.
“This is Royal Guard Jeanne and General Runowar! General Tyr and his faction are conspiring with the Kali Kingdom to overthrow the state. Therefore, a dispatch order has been issued here from Her Majesty Queen Casablanca. Everyone, lay down your weapons and surrender immediately. Otherwise, we will kill you all.” (Jeanne)
Despite Jeanne speaking, the adventurers did not listen to her words until the end and started to flee like scattering spiders. With their simple minds, they could not comprehend what was happening. They instinctively sensed that their lives were in danger.
“Surrender… they didn’t hear anything!” (Jeanne)
Jeanne shouted in dissatisfaction from atop her horse, and beside her, Renoir calmly interjected.
“Jeanne-sama. Our priority is to strike Tyr. Let’s ignore these adventurers.” (Renoir)
“That’s right. Leave two thousand soldiers here to capture the adventurers. The remaining eight thousand will continue the advance!” (Jeanne)
Having quickly scattered the adventurers, Jeanne started advancing again.
“Wait!” (Marie)
A figure jumped out in front of the advancing army.
“Stop!” (Jeanne)
As Jeanne recognized the person, she hurriedly stopped her horse.
“Ah! Marie-sama, you look well.” (Jeanne)
Jeanne clearly had an awkward expression on her face, and instead of dismounting, she bowed from atop her horse.
Standing in front of the army, Marie, with a stern face, loudly questioned them.
“Jeanne, what is the meaning of this? Are we not allies serving the Laplace Kingdom?” (Marie)
“This is… well…” (Jeanne)
Stammering, Jeanne hesitated to respond, and instead, Renoir opened his mouth.
“Tyr is plotting to overthrow the Laplace Kingdom. The Warden Household is a traitor to the kingdom. We must eliminate them here.” (Renoir)
“That’s a ridiculous claim! It’s impossible!!” (Marie)
Marie was enraged by Renoir’s careless statement. The horses backed away as they were frightened by her imposing stance.
“Ah, this is troublesome.” (Jeanne)
After holding her head for a while, Jeanne eventually ordered her subordinates.
“Protect Marie-sama. We will take her to the royal capital.” (Jeanne)
In response to that command, the soldiers seized Marie.
On the surface, they treated her politely, but they forced her along with strong grips that left no room for argument.
“How rude! Let go of me! Let go! Jeanne! Jeanne!!” (Marie)
While being taken away, Marie desperately screamed, but Jeanne ignored her voice and continued to advance.
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