Chapter 312 - Second Story: Bandit Extermination②
First, we had to create a base to monitor the hut. We had the high-level mage Beatrix work hard.
We dug a horizontal hole in a cliff about half an hour's bowl ride from the hut with Clump Sand. We found stones to serve as walls and a ceiling and fitted them in with Clump Stone. Since there aren't many flat stones, there are protrusions and it takes up space, but we just need to make the hole larger for that. In short, we just need a place where four people can fit.
After that, if we cover it with tree branches and grass and apply Camouflage and Magic Reflection, the secret base is complete.
"How is it? The rocks are a bit in the way, but doesn't it look somewhat like a hideout?"
"Yes. The level of completion is mediocre, but it's a good job for a first attempt."
A voice fell from the sky.
Looking up, Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san are riding in a bowl that has deactivated its Camouflage.
What are you doing?
"How can royalty not participate in such an interest... no, such an important matter concerning the future of the Kingdom of Northern Gram?"
Didn't you say it's not appropriate for royalty of other countries to be involved?
"It's alright. I'm just a peddler, so there's no problem."
You just said 'royalty' just now, didn't you?
Wilson-san is shrugging his shoulders.
At any rate, being able to use a high-speed bowl is attractive.
Since Eleanor-sama said she doesn't need a reward and won't interfere, so just let her watch, we decided to add her to our companions.
Since Bonnie is here, self-sufficiency is possible in the forest. We ride in a hidden bowl to deliver Fiona and have her scout for about two hours, three times a day. After doing this for a week, we've grasped the general situation. We also found out the layout of the hut and the number of people.
"They're exchanging letters using small magic circles. The destinations are two. One is likely a forward base. The other is the headquarters. The content is information on merchants and escorts passing through the highway and result reports from the mountain bandits. In the meetings, that noble's name occasionally comes up."
The letters are apparently burned after being read by the person considered the leader.
The leader is called 'the Boss,' but he seems to be calling the suspected noble with '-sama.'
The image of mountain bandits is that they drink wine and get drunk every night, but they are maintaining temperance. Their food is also plentiful; despite hardly going hunting, they eat bread and cheese every day, and even fresh meat and fish.
No matter how you think about it, they aren't just mountain bandits.
Leaving Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san, who shouldn't be there, to look after the place, we go to meet Saxburg at the villa. We're reporting what we've found out so far. Since Saxburg had been gathering information on the actual damage situation, we exchanged information.
"The bandits seem to appear on the highway from the area around the capital toward the former Septanaquila territory. If you don't resist, they just steal your money and goods. Even if you resist, it's only to the extent of getting injured, and they don't take lives. No one has been killed so far."
It's quite brilliant. If they see the escort is strong, they withdraw; if they see it's weak, they attack. They stop the movement of the escort with bows and arrows and magic, and surround them all at once. Moreover, it seems they don't steal everything. It's apparently about two-thirds at most.
"Hmph. They seem to be quite skilled."
Beatrix crosses her arms.
"That's right. According to those who suffered damage, they might be mercenaries or former regular army, or those with such experience."
It seems only merchants returning from the former Septanaquila territory to the capital are being targeted. In other words, former Septanaquila people are not targeted. If anything, Northern Gram, where trade with the continent is flourishing, has more wealthy merchants. Now, although it's the same country, it seems those people are monopolizing the products of the continent. With the vigor of a victorious nation, their attitude is bad. For the merchants of former Septanaquila, they probably feel like 'serves them right.'
"There's a strange rumor that on the day after the mountain bandits appear, money is thrown into the houses of poor serfs."
It's just like a chivalrous thief in a fairy tale.
"And the name of the noble Fiona said was behind them is a noble from former Septanaquila."
"Yes."
This is the point. During the war, looting occurred in that noble's territory.
Of course, it happens in every country. The only exception is Sertoria. It's because they invade other countries. Transporting supplies requires personnel and is targeted by the enemy. In fact, Regnentes tormented the Engrio army with that tactic and finally drove them away. It's easier to loot in the occupied enemy territory. Will says that food is basically procured locally... either bought or stolen.
In the recent war, James-sama and Gwyn-sama listened to my opinion, and the Medioland and Finis armies didn't do unnecessary looting, but normally it's not like that.
The army Eowyn-sama was leading did the same looting as before. As a result, the difference became highlighted, and they apparently lost quite a bit of reputation.
Is this mountain bandit a retaliation for that?
"If that's the case, the people of former Septanaquila might shelter the mountain bandits. For example, by giving them food, or providing a place to rest or information. Naturally. It feels more satisfying that way."
At Beatrix's merciless way of saying it, Saxburg's expression clouds.
For a sheltered princess, it must have been unexpected that the people would defy the royal family.
Currently, the noble whose territory is around where the mountain bandits appear was apparently scolded at the royal palace. It would mean that the maintenance of public order is not being done. That noble is apparently telling those close to him that the noble from former Septanaquila whom Fiona named is suspicious.
"I wonder about that. Isn't it too easy to understand?"
Will is tilting her head.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Based on the information so far, it's a group of people with experience in the army or as mercenaries, and they only attack merchants coming from the capital. And they distribute the stolen money to the people of former Septanaquila. No matter who thinks about it, it's retaliation. If a noble is in the background, the target for subjugation is too clear."
She says it might be a fabrication to hide the true culprit.
"Then who is the true culprit?"
"It might be that soldiers expelled by the war are just using the noble's name and manipulating subordinates and the people. If a noble is behind it, it's likely the person who would profit most after that noble from former Septanaquila is subjugated."
"In short, who?"
"I don't know."
Beatrix crosses her arms again, saying "hmm."
"Let's investigate."
It's Bonnie.
"Bonnie, what are we going to investigate?"
"That noble who's being treated as the culprit."
Confirming the location of the suspected noble's mansion, moving the hideout, and so on took some time, but a week later, we were able to report to Saxburg.
"It's white. The information on the disguised merchant's movement that we had Saxburg leak was sent from that base to the forward base. But the report that it was a miss wasn't received by the suspected noble."
Through Fiona, we got the cooperation of the two ghosts at the border. It's the result of placing the Queen at the midway base and Fiona at the fortress. In addition, as a result of Fiona talking with the ghost living in the fortress, it was found that the suspected noble was not involved. Since he is a timid person who surrendered easily without much of a fight, it seems he wouldn't have the guts to plot against his new master. He apparently guaranteed his innocence. It's not a very honorable thing, but it's better to be treated as a timid person than to be executed for treason.
"I've analyzed the magic circle for sending letters. I've found out the general location."
As expected of the Queen. Apparently, the center of the plot is the capital. There are many nobles in the capital, but the suspected noble is in his local area. On the contrary, he doesn't have a mansion in the capital yet. His innocence has been completely proven.
Next, the location of the forward base was also found. After having the Queen tell them the general location, Beatrix and Bonnie, who set out in the high-speed bowl operated by Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san, pinpointed it.
"It's subjugation! Since there's no noble in the background, there's no need to hold back!"
Saxburg stood up.
After she finished speaking, she's flushing her cheeks as if still leaving a lingering scent.
"It's still too early. That noble's innocence has been proven, but it's not evidence that other nobles are not involved. There's no point in crushing the forward base."
"We should just capture them and interrogate them."
"If they're mercenaries, they might not know the background."
"Then we'll capture the leader."
"The leader might not know everything."
"Then what should we do?"
She's dejected after being opposed by everyone, but it's cute how she honestly listens to everyone's opinions.
"Hmm, well. I heard something interesting before."
It's Bonnie. She must have heard it from Paul-san.
"To crush an enemy's fortress, first attack the food storehouse. For example, if the food storehouse catches fire, emergency transport will start, right? Attack there."
I see. It makes sense. Bonnie fought against Margrave Mortimer's army that invaded Sertoria together with Paul-san and the Paratroop Jaegers. She says she heard it, but she might have actually done it.
"That's good. If a noble is behind them, if the food at the relay point is gone, they might try to resupply. If we can confirm who is doing the resupply, we can grasp who is behind them."
Will summarized it, and the plan was decided.
How to burn the food storehouse. Moreover, a forced attack is meaningless. It must be made to look like an accident. If possible, it would be even better if the bandits' own mistake was the cause.
"Oh, it's easy. They'll be using torches or lanterns at night anyway, right? If the person holding it drops it for some reason, it's already a fire."
The Queen says it so easily.
'For some reason' apparently means, for example, stepping on a log lying at their feet, falling, and losing consciousness.
"Just punch them and knock them out, then roll a log at their feet. After that, you can do whatever you want."
It's a false accusation, but the opponent is a criminal. There should be no need to hold back.
Since we were at it, we all decided to watch. After the sun went down, we boarded Beatrix's bowl, which had hidden its presence, and went above the fortress. We saw off the Queen and Fiona, applied Mute, and waited for a while.
"Nothing's happening."
"Come to think of it, it's the middle of the night. No one might be eating."
"Hmm. I wonder if it was a failure."
It's summer now. The days are long. When it gets dark, it's near midnight if it were winter. They must have finished their meal long ago.
"Hmm? Did a flame go up?"
Wilson-san found it with his sharp eyes. Did it go well?
"No, the fire is small. It's only to the extent that I saw the inside of the room get bright through the window when the door was opened... hmm? It's gone out."
Just as I thought it was a failure, a scream echoed. Dosun-batan, sounds are made. Finally, shouts are heard mixed with the screams. A thunderous roar echoes, and flames that seem to be torches surrounded the food storehouse. Various magical lights are flashing. The white light of Holy magic can also be seen.
Did it fail? Could it be that a high-ranking stray priest was mixed in?
"Let's charge in! We should rescue the two of them!"
I have Fiona's stone, of course. The Queen came by possessing a part of the tombstone from before it was rebuilt. I have both of them. If they flee into the stones, even Holy magic has no effect.
If we approach with Beatrix's Wind Barrier while hidden with Camouflage and Mute, we can make a complete surprise attack. We destroy the hut with Eleanor-sama's or Wilson-san's magic. We recover the two and flee at ultra-high speed. It'll never be found out.
"Wait!"
Beatrix stopped me.
"But!"
When I look at Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san, they are directing sharp gazes at the hut. They must have the same thought as me.
We should do it!
"Baa!"
"Uwaaaa!"
Suddenly the Queen appeared right in front of me. She's so close her face is right before mine.
"Oh? How rude! I was moved because you were worried about me and was going to say thank you, but I'll stop!"
She passes through my body. For a moment, I felt a chill.
Who was the one who startled me with 'Baa!'!
"Jeanne. You were worried about me. Thank you."
Fiona clung to me.
"Um, were you alright?"
When I asked Fiona, Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san burst out laughing.
If they knew, they could have told me.
The two of them apparently appeared right behind the bowl. Since the Queen had her index finger to her lips, everyone seemed to have kept quiet. I was too busy looking at the state of the hut and unfortunately didn't notice.
"What did you do?"
Beatrix is smirking.
Damn it! Will and Bonnie are also laughing. Everyone was in on it. They must have intended to surprise me on the way back from the start.
The Queen laughed with a 'ho-ho-ho' and merged with me, sticking only her head out from my right shoulder. In appearance, it's like a new species of monster.
"It seems those guys finished their dinner, and there was no sign of them going to the food storehouse. So, Fiona and I made noises in the food storehouse to lure them out."
The Queen's head starts explaining by the side of my face.
After that, she apparently used her specialty, illusion magic, to make a mysterious ghost appear.
"I won't lose no matter how powerful a Holy mage is there. Because it's an illusion."
The Queen, who has toyed with many high-ranking priests, is triumphant with a 'ho-ho-ho.'
In the hut, they are still doing dosun-batan, perhaps still fighting the illusion.
"Those guys are holding torches. There was an oil jar, so I dropped it on the floor. Now, it wouldn't be strange if a fire broke out even if they dropped a torch by some chance."
At the Queen's words, Beatrix made a decision and set out in the bowl.
"Bonnie? Can you aim?"
"I can go."
Bonnie is swinging her sling. She intends to aim for the hand holding the torch through the window.
When she threw the stone with a 'ya!', it hit perfectly! The torch fell onto the floor of the hut with a porori. It catches fire from the oil Fiona had spilled.
"You idiot! What are you doing!"
"S-Sorry. It must be the ghost's doing."
"E-Extinguish it! Water magic!"
"The ghost is in the way!"
"Use Holy magic!"
"This guy is hard to hit!"
"Is it an evil spirit!"
They are making a fuss, but the fire's intensity is not weakening, but rather raging.
"We won't make it! Run!"
After they came out in droves, it became a field battle. In the meantime, the movement of the evil spirit was stopped by a barrage of Holy, and finally, it was finished off with a silver sword. Or so the opponent thinks.
The fire was eventually extinguished, but the bandits seem to have lost most of their food.
The operation is a success.
"I should ask the Headmistress to teach the three of us how to release magic from our mouths."
On the way back, I, who had three heads after Fiona also merged, was teased mercilessly by Beatrix.