Chapter 223 - A Return Journey Full of Thoughts
The conversation with the enemy has gone well enough. Let’s wrap this up, shall we?
It seemed the prince was thinking along the same lines, muttering to himself.
"Did you hear that? Don’t let a word of this conversation slip. We’re pulling back to the fortress with the entire force."
I wasn’t sure what he was talking about at first, but then it clicked. He must have been addressing the communication mage.
I thought it was a private discussion between the two of us, but someone was eavesdropping. If I didn’t notice, it must have been a direct connection spell between the mage and the prince. And if it didn’t affect me, there was no way to guard against it. I’ll have to be more careful in the future.
Time to go. I turned my back on the prince, who was still talking, and quickly left. The prince’s attendants were crowding around, and I didn’t want to be in the way any longer.
At least the mission is complete.
We’ve dealt a major blow to the Empire’s eastern expeditionary force and succeeded in destroying their supplies. The damage is substantial and should significantly hinder their ambitions. Even if they don’t abandon their advance, this delay will buy us valuable time.
As an added bonus, we managed to turn the Second Prince, who seemed to be the overall commander of the expeditionary force, into a pacifist. He appears to be a serious, devout type who won’t break his promises easily.
We also demonstrated our strength to the enemy. No matter how large their army, they now know it won’t be an easy fight. This should provide the pacifists with a strong argument.
Of course, the Kingdom of Brenark can’t afford to let its guard down.
While our ambush was successful, it doesn’t guarantee our safety. The Duke Oversta and the Royal Family will likely strengthen their unity, bolster their military, and intensify their diplomatic efforts with other nations. We’ve bought them the time to do so. With the results exceeding expectations, Rosmerta and the kingdom owe us a significant favor.
But let’s put thoughts of the future aside for now.
“Ah, that was fun.”
It was a satisfying battle. I’ll reflect on it later. For now, I’ll savor the sense of fulfillment.
As I walked back to the others, the Empire’s soldiers began to move. They were getting into their vehicles. It was going to be chaotic, so I needed to move quickly.
Reaching the others, who had been waiting, we ran back to the hill where the Young Master was waiting.
“Well done, everyone. You were all amazing.”
“It was a reckless charge, but for some reason, I didn’t feel anxious. When we return to Exembra, I’ll make sure to tell the story of this battle!”
Amazing, huh? When you’re in the thick of it, you’re in a state of flow. Once you’re on the battlefield, you just keep swinging your weapon until the enemies are gone. The details don’t matter.
It’s different when you’re in a command position, but for this mission, I fought as an individual. Everyone else worked as a team, each displaying their full combat prowess and crushing the enemy. It must have been quite a spectacle.
The Young Master is excited, but we have a lot to reflect on.
Charging in with such enthusiasm isn’t appropriate for our position, and there were better strategies we could have used. If we find ourselves in a similar situation again, we might do the same, but it’s something to think about.
Let’s save the reflection for when we get back. If the Kikyo Society learns about this, they’ll be furious.
“Looks like they’re pulling back too.”
“I didn’t expect them to come to our aid. I have a newfound respect for them.”
The Crimson Knights were moving out with high morale.
“You know, they were supposed to be the main act, and we were supposed to be the support. If we had kept going, we would have lost face.”
“Ah, right. It was a surprise attack, but the Crimson Knights were supposed to take down the enemies, while we destroyed the supplies in the background.”
There were various reasons for this, I suppose. Pride, rivalry, and respect for Rosmerta, our leader. I was too focused on my own fight to notice how well the Crimson Knights performed. I should ask the Young Master for details later.
The Crimson Knights were moving as a group, probably heading to where they had hidden their vehicles.
On the way back, we planned to travel with the Crimson Knights. We’ll leave the heavy lifting to them and enjoy the ride. That was the plan all along.
When we returned to the vehicles we had hidden at the base of the hill, we found an extra one, bringing the total to four.
“What’s this?”
We looked at the Young Master in confusion.
“The enemy’s camp was deserted, so I took a quick detour.”
“I was observing the battlefield and figured I’d do a little extra work.”
In simpler terms, he had some free time and decided to grab an extra vehicle.
The hill where we were hiding was originally an Empire camp. We had destroyed most of their supplies, but not everything. The Young Master found a suitable vehicle and even loaded it with food.
We had already secured enough supplies for the return trip, but it was always better to have more.
“The speed limiter is also disabled, so we should have no problem making a quick getaway if needed.”
He’s thorough. No wonder he’s a member of the Combat Support Unit.
Even military vehicles are limited in speed by a magical device. We had modified our vehicles to bypass this restriction, and he had done the same for the new one.
I hope we don’t need to run away again, but it’s good to be prepared. His attention to detail and opportunism are impressive.
The sense of accomplishment and relief at finishing the job made me laugh, and everyone else joined in, praising the Young Master’s work.
We started moving, watching the Empire’s forces retreat. As we approached the town we had come from, I remembered something.
The town had been attacked by the Rebel Army, which had clashed with the local lord’s forces. The Empire had sent about two thousand troops to support the town. I hadn’t seen those troops return to the camp.
It was unlikely that a mere seven hundred rebels could defeat two thousand regular soldiers. Unless there was a particularly powerful individual, which I hadn’t seen.
As we neared the town, the gates were still closed. The gates we had broken to escape had been repaired, and there was no sign of the damage. Impressive work.
We had no intention of stopping, so we passed by the town.
The Empire’s forces were likely still in the town. The prince had probably used communication magic to ensure they didn’t interfere. They wouldn’t let suspicious outsiders pass without checking. The guards on the walls were clearly Empire soldiers, not the town’s original guards or the poorly equipped rebels.
The rebels must have been wiped out. It was a shame, considering the benefits their existence provided to other nations. There was nothing we could have done, so we moved on.
Our retreat plan was already set.
In case of unexpected events or failure, we were to retreat individually, but otherwise, we were to regroup. The meeting point was a bit inside the Forest of the Underworld. We had taken an unexpected route, but we knew the landmarks well enough. We would arrive before the Crimson Knights, so we’d wait for them there.
The prince seemed to be honoring his word, so the Crimson Knights shouldn’t face any pursuit. Even if they did, they were elite and could handle it.
With the sense of accomplishment and relief of finally heading home, we pushed forward. We had plenty of supplies, so we wouldn’t need to stop along the way. We would camp in the wilderness when we needed to rest.
We avoided the dreary towns and villages, determined to stay out of trouble.
As we traveled, we detected a large group of people with a strong magical presence. It wasn’t the Empire, and we had dealt significant damage to the local lord’s forces. So, who could it be?
The answer was clear. They appeared without hiding, watching us from a distance.
Their shabby equipment was familiar to Ophelia, and they were likely the rebels who had attacked the town.
They seemed to have retreated without fighting the Empire. They had probably rescued their hostages and left.
Their magical presence suggested they hadn’t lost many fighters. Their commander must have made a good decision to retreat.
While an enemy of the enemy isn’t always an ally, they were still useful. Even if they couldn’t provide major support, they could cause enough trouble. Feeling generous, I decided to leave them a parting gift.
I pulled a burlap sack from under my seat and filled it with mithril ingots.
I tossed the heavy sack from the moving jeep. Those watching us would notice something had fallen and investigate.
The rebels would likely think it was loot. They might wonder why someone would throw away valuable materials, but they wouldn’t leave it behind.
They could sell it for funds or use it for their own equipment. It was a small token of support from me.
They might disband and live normal lives, but given the presence of local warlords and barbarians, they would probably maintain their organization to protect the people. In this frontier, there are no guardians for the common folk, only those who exploit them. Even a small rebel force could fight a guerrilla war effectively.
There would be many challenges, but I didn’t care about that. I had low expectations and just hoped they would do their best.
Valeria, sitting next to me, looked curious, but I didn’t explain and started a different conversation to pass the time.
We drove through the western continent and then turned east onto the Abandoned Road. Despite its name, the road was well-maintained thanks to the Crimson Knights.
The forest on either side grew denser as we traveled, and after a day, we reached a clearing just before what seemed to be the edge of the Forest of the Underworld. This was likely our meeting point.
We parked in a place only used by Exembra for the return trip and took a break.
The tension from the mission had eased, but the proximity to the Forest of the Underworld brought back memories of the previous journey, making everyone a bit more cautious.
I wondered if we’d encounter undead dragons again, or if we’d face any other challenges from the liches, who had caused us trouble before.
“What do we do now? The Crimson Knights will be late, but we could return ahead of them.”
Ophelia’s suggestion was more of a check than a serious proposal. We were quick, but the Crimson Knights, being a large force, would take at least a day longer to arrive.
“I think we’ll be fine. We’re taking a different route, but we still have to pass through the Forest of the Underworld. It’s safer to rely on the well-equipped and numerous Crimson Knights.”
“True. Even if they don’t have anti-lich equipment, their numbers could provide some protection.”
“Indeed. Let’s wait for them as planned.”
No one objected. After finishing a meal, Mia and Valeria, along with Graylease, who had been tasked with gathering information, set out to explore the forest.
There was something on my mind, though I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone.
Before our confrontation with the Empire, during the meeting with the Crimson Knights and the Clad Family, it seemed we were the only ones facing the undead threat. I hadn’t asked about it then, but we were about to discover if the route ahead led to the dark world.