Chapter 46 - Chapter 17: I Shall Capture Them Alive
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
Currently, Keeb is visiting the Guild with the counterfeit black gold coins.
And tomorrow, the counterfeit coins will be handed over from the Guild to the soldiers acting as messengers for the Royal Family.
……My job is to beat those soldiers half to death and seize the black gold coins!
「……Young lady, you can actually move while wearing full-plate armor……」
「Naturally. I am a daughter of Fortesia!」
I am joining the unit that will ambush the soldiers, but it would be troublesome if it were discovered that I, who was just standing on the execution platform, was there. I am participating in the battle wearing full-face full-plate armor.
「That said, well, it has been properly lightened in various places. It is not that heavy. Using a bow on horseback is no problem at all.」
「Even so, isn't that armor thick enough to completely hide your body shape?」
「I have been training!」
The Fortesia family motto is to acquire enough martial prowess so that a guard is unnecessary! This much is only natural!
Now that my outfit is ready, I shall move quickly.
The soldiers' location is already known. Giovan has gathered a certain amount of information.
In Elsemarin, there is a security force managed by the Guild, but aside from that, soldiers are often dispatched from the Royal Capital. Well, it is a town close to the capital, a large town, and a town where many nobles reside…… no, a town where many nobles used to reside.
Therefore, there is a soldier garrison in Elsemarin. Right now, all the soldiers are either there or, if they are out, they are within the town. If I pass through the underground tunnels and emerge near the hollowed-out noble district, then leave the town from that direction, I can almost certainly leave without encountering any soldiers!
This time, the unit ambushing the black gold coin transport squad consists of me and fifteen bandits. Additionally, there are five adventurers, along with Doran and Chesta.
I am disguised as a knight in full-plate armor, and Chesta is in similar attire. In Chesta's case, it serves to hide his face, but more importantly, it disguises the prosthetic on his left arm. His prosthetic is quite distinctive.
And as for Doran…… well, he has his height. Whether he wears armor or not, it honestly hardly counts as a disguise! There are not many other muscle bastards like him around.
Furthermore, regarding the five adventurers, they seem to be acquaintances of Doran. I have only seen them a few times at the Guild. In short, they are shady adventurers who have one foot or more in the world of villainy.
They are also cooperating for the sake of the New Elsemarin. ……Therefore, they are also in full-plate armor. By having them wear helmets and armor of the same design as mine and Chesta's, the goal is to make our true identities even harder to discern.
By the way, the eight of us—me, Doran, Chesta, and the five adventurers—will be on horseback. Conversely, the bandits will be on foot as they have no horses. I have provided them with a decent amount of equipment, but since they are originally bandits with no proper combat training, I cannot expect much from them as a fighting force.
Well, it is no problem. After all, this is a surprise attack. The advantage lies with us, does it not?
Now then. The place we moved to is a mountain slope overlooking the highway leading from Elsemarin to the Royal Capital.
This is the perfect spot to attack those traveling along the highway. ……In short, it is a classic ambush spot favored by bandits.
Here, the bandits have a certain degree of geographical advantage, and I believe we can put up a fairly good fight.
……We decided to hold our breath here and wait patiently for the soldiers' transport squad to pass.
It was probably past noon when it happened.
「Boss! A line of soldiers is coming from the direction of Elsemarin!」
「It seems they have arrived.」
One of the bandits sent out for scouting seems to have spotted the line of soldiers.
Now then…… it is finally time to run wild.
I notched an arrow to my bow and took aim. With blood seeping into the arrowhead, it was a stance for a certain kill.
And my target is, naturally…… the lead horse!
The moment they were within range, I loosed the arrow.
My arrow reached them first, striking the horse of the soldier leading the way. The horse went wild the moment the arrow pierced it, throwing the soldier off, and then died after several convulsions.
And because the front had stopped like that, the line became congested. The line of soldiers halted in confusion. They were perfect prey.
「All units, engage!」
At the same time I issued the command, seven horses galloped out, charging into the line of soldiers all at once!
The soldiers, of course, were not such fools as to simply wait to be attacked. As expected.
From the moment they realized they were under attack, they each readied their weapons and began to fight back.
……However, well, I would appreciate it if they did not underestimate our fighting strength.
The first to move was Doran. As expected, he is a monster.
After all, just when I thought he was charging in with the horse's momentum, he leapt off the horse and began fighting right in the middle of the enemy.
Using the carriage as a shield or a weapon, he is fighting several soldiers simultaneously. His idiotic strength is as consistent as ever. What is the meaning of breaking the ribs of a soldier through their armor with a bare-handed punch, honestly?
On the other hand, Chesta's way of fighting is a bit more decent. It is a strange thing to call a junkie decent, but at least his way of fighting is more human than Doran's.
While remaining on horseback, he used a slender spear to thrust through soldiers or target their horses.
When the horse Chesta was riding was taken down, he quickly leapt off, and from there, while maintaining a moderate distance, he began fighting as if his weapons were disposable, seizing them from the soldiers.
……And the five adventurers are also each fighting back. Well, there is nothing particularly noteworthy. There is a difference between those who stayed on horseback and those who quickly dismounted, but that is about it.
By the way, I am also assisting with my bow. I have confidence in long-range attacks. My prey always dies in one hit! I aim for the head, the heart, or perhaps the throat!
……As we fought ruthlessly like that, the soldiers began to scatter and flee.
Yes. The soldiers fled.
「As I thought, this unit was a decoy.」
Even when I searched inside the carriage, the small box of black gold coins was not there.
Well, it was obvious. To form a line and transport it in such an easy-to-understand manner is practically asking to be targeted.
Every person in Elsemarin knows that the Royal Family ordered the Guild to pay a fine.
Naturally, the Royal Family's side would also be aware that it is known. In other words, if there were such an obvious transport squad, it would be like saying, 『We are carrying the black gold coins!』.
……Therefore, the opponent was also cautious. To the point of using a decoy like this.
「But it is futile.」
I would be troubled if they underestimated the time I spent in the bandit business.
The shortcuts and side roads from Elsemarin to the Royal Capital, and the points where one might encounter bandits…… I have a general idea of all of them, you know?
「Then, I shall head toward the destination! The bandits should be handling the stragglers appropriately, but do check on them as you see fit!」
「Got it.」
After calling out to Doran, I galloped my horse gallantly and began to advance. I am used to mountain paths. While deceiving the horse with illusion magic, I realized a run that no one else could imitate, jumping over cliffs and making great leaps as I pleased.
Oh, and along the way, I was satisfied to confirm that the soldiers who fled from the earlier transport squad were being attacked by bandits lying in wait in the mountains.
As expected, rather than having bandits mount horses to launch a surprise attack, they are better suited for being hidden in the mountains to hunt down the remnants who fled in all directions. The right person for the right place!
As I went along checking several roads I had predicted…… as expected, I came across several soldiers disguised as ordinary adventurers who were being held up by bandits.
「If you want to pass through here, leave all your money behind!」
While saying a line that could be called a stylistic beauty, a group of thirty ruffians—fifteen bandits and fifteen adventurers I had stationed here—were standing against the 『Genuine Black Gold Coin Transport Squad』!
……There, while still on horseback, I readied my bow…… and loosed an arrow at the member of the transport squad who turned around at the sound of hooves!
「How disappointing.」
For the time being, after I killed one person with my arrow, the opponent's coordination crumbled miserably from there. Yes. To the extent that thirty ruffians surrounding and beating them could manage.
I killed one more person myself, and since it was originally a small squad that took care not to stand out, suppressing them was easy.
「Ah, here it is.」
When I searched the corpses of the man who had the air of a leader and the small woman who looked like a newcomer and seemed unimportant, as expected, the small female soldier was the one carrying the box of black gold coins. And the leader-like man was the one carrying the key.
Fufufu, I thought they would split the roles like this: the one to 『guard the key』 and the one to 『carry the coin box without being noticed』! It was completely transparent!
「Now, we retreat.」
「Boss! Don't we need to finish these guys off?」
「There's a woman! She's still alive!」
「Leave them! Right now, retreating quickly is the priority! We have obtained what we came for. I have no further use for these people!」
Now then. After this, it is simple.
……While leaving horse hoof prints appropriately, I head toward the bandits' hideout (though it is currently empty since I harvested all the bandits who were there).
If the surviving soldiers follow us, they will surely "reclaim" the box of black gold coins there. I believe they will give up on the key.
……And so!
「There was no key to begin with.」
The key to the black gold coin box safely became food for a wild slime!
Traveling leisurely through the mountains, I arrived at the bandits' hideout.
Since the traces left behind are quite clear, it is only a matter of time before the soldiers arrive here.
……Now then.
「So you were here first.」
「My. You all took quite a bit of time.」
I smiled brightly upon seeing Doran and the others arrive.
「I captured two suitable ones.」
The ones Doran is carrying under both arms are soldiers. They are alive. I have captured them alive.
「Excellent work. ……Now, shall we hear what these gentlemen have to say?」
Now, I wonder how they will act from here on? It would be helpful if these two soldiers here could tell me. Ohohohohoho.