Chapter 596 - Chapter Eleven: To the Duchy of Naonent ⑤
Among the three who disappeared, the first to return was Hermit-sama.
(Good work. Did you find out anything?)
(The church was not involved. There is no particular movement in either church.)
(Hmm. Then it's not heathen exclusionists.)
Good. That alone was something I really hated. I'm not saying mercenaries are fine, but compared to a conflict between churches, being kidnapped by mercenaries is much better.
(By the way, by Sianya-sama's judgment, it's been decided to strike from our side.)
For a moment, Hermit-sama's movement stopped. There is no change in his expression.
(I've told Henry and the others. They said they'd do it with both hands raised.)
(Understood. Then, how?)
(It would be good if we knew the enemy's location.)
(Let's wait for the return of the Wetlands Priestess and Fiona.)
The next to return was Fiona.
(The beggars both went to the back door of a tavern on the western edge of town. There, they told a young man who came out from inside that the guests had safely gone to sleep. The exchange was only that, and the beggars received money. After the beggars went somewhere, the man went to a room in the back of the tavern and told the elderly man thought to be the boss exactly what the beggars told him.)
"That's good. Since the knight guards are also here, we can be at ease until tomorrow morning. I'll go to sleep too."
The man thought to be the boss apparently replied with a smile. After receiving the young man's report, one man who was with the boss stood up. That man apparently left the room, saying he was going home to sleep.
Just hearing that, instead of an attack, it feels like they are secretly protecting us from outside enemies.
However, Fiona's story didn't end there. When she and the Wetlands Priestess followed that man, instead of going home, after entering an alley, he apparently walked toward the forest north of the town through a place with no road. Tonight is close to a new moon. Even if he's walking, he won't be easily seen.
(The Wetlands Priestess is following him. Since she said she wouldn't go deep into the forest, I think she'll be back soon.)
Hmm. Quite suspicious. A room in the back of a tavern is something I've experienced at Mary's regular inn in Primordia. In other words, there's a reason. Of course, the Primordia one is something the Royal Palace is involved in and is not illegal. I think.
Next, the Wetlands Priestess returned. By then, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama had also come up. Edward-sama didn't come up, perhaps because he was too large. Probably because the roof might break.
(It's bad. They intend to snatch Jeanne.)
That's the worst. That is.
According to the Wetlands Priestess, the man who was with the boss was having a meeting with several men wearing chain mail in a place a little into the forest. According to the content of the talk, they apparently thought to snatch me, confine me, and make a killing by making magic water. After earning a certain amount, they'll squeeze the Duke of Naonent for ransom. If he doesn't pay, they said there'd surely be a country that would buy me. They are treating me completely as a slave.
(Are they going to demand ransom from the Duke of Naonent, not our country?)
(Seems so. Jeanne is a celebrity, right? If that celebrity is kidnapped within his territory, it's a great shame. They probably think he'll manage somehow if he pays the money and then pretends nothing happened on the surface.)
Diplomatically, it would become a grudge between the two countries. However, it's good that it doesn't seem to be related to war.
The Priestess says that the words used by the men in chain mail are Sertogne words. Moreover, they apparently used the old White Island pronunciation. The ancestors of the people of Sertogne were on the White Island. Now they use West Liber-style pronunciation, but the base is the old White Island language they've dragged along like an accent among the local commoners. This might be something the Priestess, who was a person of old times, understood. In other words, they are likely mercenaries based within Sertogne.
(Then they are petty scoundrels. Well now, shall we go and punish them?)
Harold-sama said, and Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama agreed.
(Wouldn't it be better to talk to the knight guards and have the Duke of Naonent cooperate?)
The more allies, the better. Besides, it would also prevent recurrence. Thinking so, I tried saying it to Harold-sama.
(There is no time. Besides, it's a bit inconvenient to talk to the knights or the Duke of Naonent.)
Inconvenient? What is that?
(No, actually, I haven't told His Majesty that I'm coming here. If it becomes public, I'll be scolded by His Majesty. If my wife finds out, my dinner will be reduced for a while. Since the two of us are living in the countryside now. If that happens, it'll be a disaster.)
Hey, old guy. Exactly what are you thinking?
(That won't do. We have to consider Harold's position.)
(Right. Let's solve it secretly by ourselves.)
The old couple said. Sianya, who heard that, is laughing.
In short, you guys are also incognito.
In the end, considering the positions of the three delinquent old people, we ended up solving it secretly. The opponent is a mercenary group. The number of people is unknown. Weapons are unknown. The location is apparently in the forest. I wonder if it can really be solved with this.
The ones joyfully thinking of a plan are the three delinquent old people and the Wetlands Priestess. I have no choice but to leave it to these battle maniacs.
The policy was decided. First, we turned on the lights in the room we were staying in. As a result, the beggar watcher hurriedly ran away. This should be able to stall them for now.
After driving away the watcher, everyone climbed down using the rope hung along the wall. Sianya and I, and Harris-sama who is afraid of heights, clung to the loop at the end of the rope and were lowered.
With the Wetlands Priestess as the lead, we head toward the edge of town in the darkness. Sianya and I were fine even at night because we were merged with the two ghosts. The other people were walking without any particular problem. As expected.
When we get near the forest, we undo the merger. From here, it's the turn of the two ghosts.
As a result of the scouting by the Priestess and Fiona, we were able to identify the place where the mercenaries were hanging out in the forest.
The number of people is about fifty, ten horses, about twenty bows. No silver weapons. I don't know about magic, but everyone has chain mail and swords or spears. Probably, there are no mages.
Once the location and troop strength are known, the operation begins. The opponent is a battle-hardened mercenary group. We mustn't be careless.
As a result of the scouting, the opponent had tried to set out once but was on standby. Probably because the lights in the room came on. To prevent a commotion from becoming large or them escaping when they are awake, they seem to be waiting for them to fall asleep. They are in a fully armed state, but it's not like they were assuming a relaxed state. We decided to act according to the plan the four battle maniacs thought of.
First is the elimination of the lookouts. We know there are five. A single opponent is no match. The two ghosts hit their heads with wooden sticks, and Harold-sama and Hermit-sama tied them up. Forty-five remain. We basically don't kill the opponents even if we inflict some minor wounds. It's based on the judgment that it's better to leave them alive. We'll leave them alive after having captured them when we could have killed them at any time. The opponents who were let go will spread rumors in the underworld on their own. If a reputation that they are no match is established, it will prevent recurrence.
Once the lookouts are eliminated, we disperse in four directions. The Wetlands Priestess, Fiona, the three scouts, and then the remaining six were divided.
Since it's still March, even the sounds of insects cannot be heard. While walking slowly through the quiet forest while lighting only our feet with two Fireflies, there are several bright spots, perhaps bonfires, and from there, the voices of men can be heard intermittently.
Suddenly, the neighing of horses was heard. I think it was two at first, but the number kept increasing. Probably, ten at once. They are continuing to neigh as if frightened by something. The angry shouts of men echoed.
It's started.
Since a commotion has occurred, there's no need for hesitation. I quickened my pace to the extent of not falling and approached all at once. Watching from the thicket, men in chain mail are trying to soothe the rampaging horses. The two ghosts are merging with the horses one after another and raising voices that echo directly in their heads. Horses that have fallen into a state of panic will not calm down easily.
Observing the situation, they had made a roof by tying several tents to tree branches. Under the tents, the ground can be seen as if the grass had been cut, and bonfires can be seen.
(The third tent from the right. There are five people by the bonfire. The second man from the right, the one furthest back. That guy is probably the head.)
(Hmm. Understood.)
Henry-sama, replying to Eleanor-sama's words, notched an arrow to his bow. He drew it back and aimed sufficiently. With a 'hyun,' he released it, and the arrow struck the cheek of the man who was shouting something toward the direction of the horses... that is, to the left from here. Blood splattered, and the man rolled over. The arrow pierced the cheek, with the arrowhead side sticking out from the right cheek while his mouth was open, and the fletching side sticking out from the left cheek. Probably several teeth were broken. He won't die, but the appearance is gruesome. It's enough to give the opponent fear.
"Wh-who is it! Come out!"
After a moment's pause, the men nearby stood up, and one of them shouted toward the direction the arrow flew from... that is, toward us. He has already drawn his sword.
With three successive dull 'bogu' sounds, stones the size of a fist hit the heads of three men. Even though they are wearing chain mail, it seemed effective. All three collapsed just like that.
"Wh-who is it!"
The remaining one raises his voice while looking around. By that time, the men from other tents who noticed the anomaly had rushed over.
"You lot, do you think you'll get away with laying a hand on Jeanne of the White Island?"
A woman's voice echoes in the forest. The Wetlands Priestess appeared. She's in the disguise of the old woman from some time ago, floating in the air. Since she's clad in pale blue flames, she'll be fine even if she takes a basic-level Holy. As soon as the Priestess raised her right hand, Will released a throwing knife from the shadow of the bushes into the cheek of one of the men.
"Higu!"
The man, raising a voiceless scream, crouched down with two black knives growing from his cheek.
Just like the arrows, we aren't using silver. To prevent reuse by the opponent, the projectiles are only steel.
"Hi! G-ghost!"
When the Priestess raised both hands and then swung them down, more stones flew, arrows were released, and knives were thrown. The stones target the head, and the arrows and knives target the cheek, shoulder, or leg. This is a countermeasure against chain mail.
"Hohohoho."
Fiona, clad in pale blue flames like the Priestess and with scary-style makeup, is flying around in the air with three mini-Fionas of the same type. The men are screaming while swinging their drawn swords recklessly, but there's no way they'll hit. She's passing through the men's bodies and making them scream.
Fiona and the mini-Fionas are appearing and disappearing ahead of those trying to escape, repeating appearing and flying around while laughing and then disappearing, and they started to drive the mercenaries into one place.
The strings of the bows held by the archers are being cut one after another. It's Wilson-san's Wind Cutter. Simultaneously, Edward-sama with scary-style makeup charged toward the horses. He has several arrows with the arrowheads removed stuck into the chain mail he's wearing, and the places where they are stuck are painted red like blood. He started to beat with a wooden stick those who were trying to calm the horses and escape. After all, he's huge and strong. Every time he swings it, one or two people are blown away. Those blown away are knocked out in one hit.
The mercenaries gave up on the horses and gathered in one place. The fact that they are forming a circle while using trees as shields must be because they are used to fighting. But we are aiming from multiple directions. We target and knock them down one by one in order.
When Eleanor-sama flew several Fire Balls to light up the opponent, a situation where we could attack unilaterally was created.
"You lot, you intend to kill Jeanne of the White Island."
The Wetlands Priestess is full of impact. She's drifting the mist of Dark in her highly raised right hand.
"N-no! We don't intend to kill her!"
"Then, do you intend to snatch her? It's the same thing. It seems a harsh punishment is necessary."
Every time Fiona raises her voice with a 'hoho' and swings her arm, stones, arrows, and knives fly, and the number of those crouching increases. The production effect is perfect. I want Paul-san the director to see this.
"I-it's the head! The bad one is surely the head! I don't know anything!"
"Th-that's right! We are just listening to what the head says! H-help me!"
Finally, the cowards appeared. In groups that rely on numbers, such people are usually mixed in. They only act big and shout when allies are present. It's because they know reinforcements will come even if they are at a disadvantage. Once this kind of person appears, it'll be one more push.
The Priestess flies one Dark mist each to the two cowards. The two fight back by swinging their swords, but the mist stops the blade halfway whether they thrust or cut. Unlike a wall of light, it doesn't bounce back. It's as if they are slashing at a lump of clay. The mist reached right in front of them. The two backed away, but because they were cowering, they both fell over. They throw their swords, but the swords that hit the mist stop without a sound and just fall 'clatter' to the ground. This in itself is quite scary. The people around are also just watching. Their legs might be frozen and they can't move. As the mist approached further, the two instinctively shielded their heads with their hands, but the moment the mist touched them, those hands were scorched.
"Ugyaaaaaa!"
The two, seeing their own arms which had become as if they had suffered great burns, raised screams. The mist attacks them further while they are sitting on their backs. This time it's the face.
After a moment, the two men who had become a miserable sight to behold fainted while foaming at the mouth. Their bodies are twitching.
The attack with Dark was effective, and the mercenaries turned pale and started to tremble.
Honestly, I started to feel a bit sorry for them. Even though I can fix them with Heal, it's about time.
When I looked at Eleanor-sama, she gave me a wink. It's the right time. Let's give a surrender recommendation and treat them.
I stood up straight. I lit up my upper body from the solar plexus with the Firefly in my hand so I would stand out.
"Gya! There's still more!"
"H-h-help me~! Enough, spare me!"
"D-don't kill me! I-I have a family!"
Several people foamed at the mouth when they saw me. Others threw away their weapons and prostrated themselves.
Even though I'm going to treat their wounds, what rude guys they are to my true face. Shall I just leave them like this?
"As expected of Jeanne. The opponent surrendered just by you showing your face. Look, some have even fainted."
"Hmm, magnificent."
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama are making grand victory fist pumps, but... what is this sense of defeat...