Soudouki Vol 1 Chapter 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 2 – Visitor From the East

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Part 1

「──Displeasing, this is the most displeasing.」

The one who spat out that mutter was the leading figure of Haurelia  Kingdom’s western part with territory that faced Cornelius territory,  Marquis Selvi, Andrei.

This Marquis Selvi’s house was the one that was dealt the greatest damage in the previous war.

Facing Ignis and Maggot──the two who could only be described as  monster, he was defeated even after preparing a force that was four  times bigger than the opposition. Not only he suffered an enormous loss,  he also lost his reputation within the kingdom.

Naturally he then devoted himself in preparing to take revenge. He was constantly alert of any movement in Cornelius territory.

「The idiotIgnis whose only redeeming feature is in warring is awakened to governing ability at this late hour. What is the meaning of this?」

Andre questioned Dorun(ドルン), the man who had served as his confidant for many years.

「No, there is no sign of Count Ignis interfering with the development  in Cornelius territory. Everything started when a small company called  Savaran Compay suddenly began to build up their strength.」

「Can’t we recruit that company into our territory?」

「We can’t grasp the company’s source of procurement. Most likely it will be difficult……」

Savaran Company’s current main commodity was sugar.

It was reputed that the sugar didn’t come from refining sugarcane. In  fact it also had different flavor. The method of this sugar creation  was still not known even now.

They had found out that a type of potato that was cultivated in  Cornelius territory was the raw materials for that sugar, but what kind  of potato it was and how it was refined were still wrapped in mystery.

In addition, there was also the Gothe Collection, the golden artworks  that recently also became popular even in Haurelia Kingdom.

Extravagant gold artwork that was thought to be affordable only for  great nobles could be obtained with less than ten gold coins. There was  no end to people who wished to obtain such thing.

Unfortunately only around ten-odd artworks would be released each  month, so there were even some people who would resale the artwork with  price five or ten times higher.

Furthermore they heard that there was also some kind of seasoning called “mayonnaise” that was developed recently.

If Cornelius territory continued to develop at this rate, an opponent  that already owned a troublesome fighting strength even at its current  situation would also obtain a financial foundation.

If that happened, it might be them who got invaded instead──.

「It will be difficult to achieve our country’s dearest wish if  Cornelius territory keep developing like this……that general wannabe is  truly annoying!」

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Cornelius House was originally a family of military men who rose in the world by their achievement in battlefield.

They produced excellent military men for generations and continued to  rise in the world from the rank of baron until they were entrusted with  their current Cornelius territory as a count that had the role of being  the cornerstone of the national border.

The territory wasn’t only located on the shortest course from Marquis  Selvi’s territory to Mauricia Kingdom’s royal capital, there was also a  grain-producing region behind it. If Haurelia Kingdom force managed to  breakthrough this territory, there wouldn’t be any serious defensive  establishment until the capital. That was why Cornelius territory had  been targeted many times.

Looking at the situation geopolitically, there was Morgan(モルガン)  mountain range at the north of Haurelia Kingdom and Toledo(トレド) River at  the south. They became large obstacles for Haurelia Kingdom to expand  its territory.

Therefore, their gaze was naturally directed toward Cornelius territory.

Conveniently Cornelius House was financially destitute. The amount of  soldier they could mobilize was also few even among the great noble  houses of Mauricia Kingdom.

In Haurelia Kingdom’s effort to invade Mauricia, the biggest hurdle  at the beginning was how to subdue Cornelius territory before enemy  reinforcement arrived. But if that prerequisite was overturned, it might  shake Haurelia Kingdom’s tactic on the whole.

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「We can’t be picky at this point. Grasp the trick behind this  development no matter what the cost. Depending on the situation I don’t  mind even if you use a tough measure.」

「Your will be done.」

Dorun bowed reverently and accepted that order.

The development of Cornelius territory recently had surpassed their expectation.

There was no doubt that there was an alien element at play here that  was never in the reports until now. It would be impossible to form an  effective countermeasure without identifying that alien element first.

「……As I thought there is no other way except taking a peek at behind the scene.」

Dorun made up his mind that there was no way except carrying out an illegal and forced reconnaissance.

Even if he had to shoulder a political risk because of that, the  choice of just watching the development of Cornelius House without doing  anything wasn’t available for Selvi House.

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Part 2

A strange female mercenary visited Cornelius territory. It was a happening of just several days ago.

She was a robust looking woman with red hair, golden eyes, and height  that surpassed 180 cm. She was too big that made her seemed somewhat  scary, but if one looked carefully then they would notice that she could  be said as a beauty.

When asked, she said that she was a war buddy of Maggot who now had become the wife of the count here.

「And so, I want you to give my message to big sis Maggot.」

「Be careful with your mouth. You’re being insolent toward the countess!」

「Big sis won’t care at all about that kind of thing though.」

Unfortunately Maggot was out to patrol the border. The gate guard was  a vassal whose family had served Cornelius House for successive  generations, so he was also displeased with Maggot’s affable attitude  that he thought as frivolous for a noble.

Although even if that opinion of his toward Maggot wasn’t taken into  account, it was also a fact that the attitude of this female mercenary  had crossed a line as a guest visiting the mansion of a count.

「The mistress will return the day after tomorrow. You can come back to ask again at that itme!」

「Aa, I see. Then tell big sis for me that Zirco of Rondel(ロンデル) came visiting.」

That female mercenary then walked toward the city with the same easygoing attitude just like when she came.

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「……Perhaps I was also a bit too rash.」

Zirco continued drinking beer in a popular inn called Fire Colt Pavilion at the castle town.

The beer was lukewarm, but the flavor of wheat that was fermented properly passed down the throat nicely.

「Puhaaa!」

She drank several glasses of beer, all in one sitting before she wiped her mouth in a good mood.

The hearty way Zirco drank made the inn’s proprietor to call out to her in admiration.

「You look strong dear guest.」

「I’m not gonna be able to do mercenary work if I got drunk with just this much.」

「Hee……dear guest, you are a mercenary?」

「Right now I’m just a jobless mercenary without any income  though……whoops, no worry, I got quite a lot of saving even though I look  like this.」

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It wasn’t just Zirco, many mercenaries lost their work after the war  between Haurelia Kingdom and Mauricia Kingdom came to an end.

Even after the war ended, there were still works from participating  in the skirmishes at the border and taking care of the remnant soldiers  who turned into banditry. Even so now after nearly ten years had passed  since peace came, there were only few remaining battlefields here.

There was Trystovy(トリストヴィー) Dukedom at the southern part of the  continent where a civil war was going on. There was also an information  that at the north Nordland(ノルトランド) Empire and Gartlake(ガルトレイク) Kingdom’s  relationship was worsening. But as someone who was used to the mild  climate and product of the center of the continent, she wasn’t too eager  to go to those places unless the pay was really good.

Having said that she had to work in order to eat. Among her comrades  there were also some who were reduced to be bandits, but Zirco had no  intention of straying away from the correct path.

Then what should she do……it was then she planned to ask Maggot who  was in the same mercenary group with her previously to introduce her to  some jobs.

Perhaps it was somewhat shameless of her, but Zirco’s instinct was  also telling her that something interesting was going to happen at  Cornelius territory.

(If it’s big sis, I thought she would also sense the same thing like me though……)

Although it wasn’t like there was any basis to her instinct.  Furthermore Zirco was also aware enough that this kind of instinct  wasn’t a hundred percent accurate.

After all the animal called human often misunderstood their own desire as a hunch.

(As I thought, it might be better that I don’t meet big sis here……)

The notorious female mercenary who she idolized in the past, the  Silver Light Maggot. Zirco didn’t want to imagine her being degraded  into a wife of a noble.

Zirco knew that among their mercenary comrades there were those who thought of Maggot’s marriage as betrayal.

Even now Zirco still vividly remembered Maggot’s godly skill where it was as though she really turned into a silver light.

Her spear technique that had been polished to the extreme until it reached godspeed.

She was the conqueror of the battlefield who reaped the head of more than ten people in the blink of eye.

Yes, she was truly a conqueror at that time.

Zirco didn’t want to see such great figure buttering up a noble. That was her honest feeling.

Perhaps she had never gone to meet Maggot during these ten years were  also because of such feeling of avoidance working subconsciously in her  mind.

The name of “Silver Light” was being passed down among the mercenaries as a legend.

Her silver hair would look like it turned into a streak of light, and  then right at that moment enemies would be falling down. That was the  origin of the nickname.

Zilco continued to fight at the battlefield even after Maggot  retired, even so she still didn’t feel like she could win against Maggot  at her current state. Maggot was in a domain that couldn’t be imitated  by human.

The silver light that rushed through battlefield like thunder roaring in broad daylight.

And yet Maggot was more beautiful than any royalty or noble without  allowing any male to approach her. Zirco and other female mercenaries  idolized her very much.

Most likely even if Maggot walked the path as an actress instead of  being a wife, a lot of regular audiences from all across the continent  would flood into the theater for her.

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「──Before I introduced myself as Margriet(マルグリット). But I had discarded that name a long time ago.」

If her memory served her right, Maggot once muttered such thing while drinking at the camp when the war was at the climax.

Zirco who was nothing more than a mercenary who idolized Maggot  didn’t go as far as asking the reason why Maggot discarded her name, but  as someone who also similarly carried a wound hidden inside her heart,  she at least understood that Maggot had abandoned her life in the past.

(No good, staying here make my head completely filled with nothing but big sis.)

And yet she was unable to leave even though she was thinking that. As  expected it must be because she was attracted toward that person.

A voice of a boy that still sounded a little childish pulled Zirco back from such foolish thought into reality at that timing.

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「Miss, are you a mercenary?」

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The boy who talked to Zirco looked like he had only just turned ten.

He had a magnificent silver hair and clever looking marine blue eyes.  He was a handsome boy who would surely grow even more handsome in the  future.

But, the instinct that Zirco had cultivated for many years in the  battlefield told her that this body was definitely not as he appeared to  be.

「Boy……who in the world are you?」

「Nice to meet you. My name is Baldr Cornelius. I’m also the son of this territory’s lord.」

「You’re lying right? So you’re big sis’s kid boy!?」

Now that he mentioned it, this boy’s magnificent silver hair was certainly inherited from his mother.

Rather if this boy was Maggot’s son, then she could completely understand about the bizarreness of this boy’s bearing.

The way he distributed his body weight so he could always move  carefully in battle. And then his dominating aura that was hiding  killing intent in it, something that could only be emitted by someone  who was familiar with battle.

It was abnormal for a noble boy to be clad in such aura, but if it was Maggot’s son…….

「I’m surprised……so big sis is still big sis even now huh.」

「Do you know mother?」

「Well, we once fought together in the battlefield for quite long.」

However, this boy was really strange the more she observed him.

He wasn’t just well-trained. Zirco also sensed that Baldr had experienced killing human.

Even so, it wasn’t like he was ac complete vagabond like Maggot. He  was also properly endowed with noble dignity that was backed by  intelligence.

By any chance this might be the birth of a terrifying thoroughbred specimen.

「Could it be you come here to meet with mother?」

「Yeah, unfortunately big sis is away from home though.」

「Is it alright if I ask what is your business with mother?」

「Boy, a son of a count like you don’t need to talk politely like that with me y’know?」

「Aa, perhaps because I had been trained really hard by various  teachers since I was little, the way I speak will naturally become like  this when talking to someone older than me.」

Baldr scratched his head awkwardly.

Fundamentally a lot of martial arts practitioners were fussy about  manners, so this had become a habit of his before he realized it.

It wasn’t a praiseworthy habit for a son of a noble. Baldr himself  was also aware of that. His mother paid no attention to such thing  though.

「Guess it’s big sis’s blood in you……well, I think you’ve heard but,  there aren’t many mercenary work in this country right now. But, my  instinct tell me a little that there is something here.」

Zirco didn’t miss it when Baldr’s eyes quietly narrowed after she said that.

His expression looked very similar with Magot when she appraised her prey.

(Craap! This guy is definitely big sis’s son!)

Zirco was assaulted with the sense that Baldr might cut her down at the next moment, but she stopped her muscles from tensing.

At the same time she also realized that Baldr was a formidable enemy  that she mustn’t let her guard down against if they fought seriously.

His eyes──they were eyes that seemed as though they were looking at  another world somewhere, completely disregarding whether he and his  opponent would live or die.

She never expected that she would see this kind of eyes that had seen many battlefields at this kind of place.

(This ain’t a joke! This guy is a corpse. A man who can throw away  his lives like they were paper waste in the battlefield. The hell big  sis, what kind of son have you raised!?)

It felt like she was going to be swallowed by Baldr’s pressure just  like this. Zirco desperately put her strength into her guts and pushed  back.

「──I see, Zirco-san’s instinct might be accurate. Actually right now Cornelius territory is in a tricky situation.」

Zirco didn’t know what part of her words struck a chord inside Baldr,  but he started talking indifferently. There was no doubt about it, he  was holding something that would call the spark of war in the future.

Zirco felt fear from the bottom of her heart.

She never felt this much fear no matter how strong the enemy she encountered in the battlefield.

This was the so called fear toward the unknown. Furthermore it felt  even worse for her as someone who was familiar with how inhuman Maggot  was.

「Actually I’m walking around searching for mercenaries who can become  bodyguard. Zirco-san, won’t you work at my place for a while as a  bodyguard to ascertain whether your instinct is correct or not? I also  promise that I won’t make it unprofitable for you.」

Just when she was planning to ask Maggot to introduce her to a job, she received offer from Maggot’s son instead.

It was an offer that she was grateful for, but her pride would be wounded if she just accepted this offer right away.

Zirco grinned boldly and glared back at Baldr.

「I am Zirco the Gale. Don’t think that you can hire me cheaply.」

A mercenary was just a ruffian without their trade that was war. And  then there should be something in Baldr’s offer this time that most  likely would become a spark of war.

It was an attractive offer that she wanted to accept at all costs,  but as expected a mercenary had their own honor as mercenary. And if war  was really going to occur soon, Zirco also had the saving to hold out  until that time came.

Zirco didn’t intend to be so softhearted that a mere boy could hire her with his pocket money.

「How about three gold coins per month?」

「You don’t know how capable I am boy……I believe that I’m worth five gold coins at least.」

「Very well, five gold coins then. In exchange, please introduce several people you can trust to me.」

「……Oi oi, are you serious?」

Baldr agreed so easily that Zirco spontaneously asked.

It might be bad to say this, but the unfavorable financial situation  of Cornelius was known by all mercenaries who fought here at the time of  war.

Also Zirco was certainly worth five gold coins as a mercenary, but if  it was for short-term bodyguard job then three gold coins was somewhat  too expensive. Two and a half gold coins should be the appropriate  price.

(Is this boy really alright?)

Sometimes there would be a genius army commander who was completely  stupid when it came to economy. The stupidity in that area could drag  down their own ally.

Zirco became suspicious that perhaps Baldr was just a green young  master who didn’t know about the financial condition of his territory  despite being a capable warrior.

「There’s no problem. I can cover that much with my pocket money. Also  please gather around five of your friends, those who are worth three  gold coins per person if possible. I don’t mind paying five gold coins  if they are really capable but……I want Zirco-san to act as their  commander.」

「You, what are you planning to make me do……?」

There was no doubt that this wouldn’t be a normal bodyguard job to protect this boy from bandit and the like.

Zirco was convinced that depending on the situation a dangerous duty that surpassed mere mercenary work would be pushed on her.

Besides if she gathered five more mercenaries, the cost would reach  20 gold coins per month. It wasn’t an amount that could be paid with the  pocket money of the heir of a destitute count.

「Recently the amount of peepers loitering around here is increasing.  Not just that, I’m worried that soon there might even be some thugs  getting sent here.」

「Is your money coming from that secret?」

「I have too many secrets so I can’t tell you where the money come  from but, one thing for sure that it’ll be easier to earn money if the  secrets can be protected.」

(Aa, this boy is a completely different type from big sis but, he is undoubtedly a monster too.)

Atypical human definitely existed.

Even if they looked kind, generous, and affable, but at the inside they were fundamentally different from other human.

Most likely Baldr could be trusted as a comrade. He might also be  trusty as a superior, but he was still fundamentally different compared  to an ordinary person like her.

Zirco was able to understand that because she had seen several of such atypical human in the battlefield.

At the same time, a hot excitement that she never felt before pierced through her whole body.

(Interesting!)

Most mercenaries were follower of realism principle. There was no  place for ideal or dream to enter in the battlefield, but they were also  a type of romanticist that pursued other thing than money to fight for.

Even if their life was a worthless one that would someday die a dog’s  death, they wanted some kind of reason that was worthy for them to risk  their life for.

For the sake of their comrade, for the sake of a superior they  respected, for the sake of their birthplace, although there were many  reasons, the mercenaries were choosing the battlefield they fought at  based on those reasons.

Something that seemed interesting could become good enough reason just like those reasons.

「I got the feeling that you chief are going to show me something  interesting. Hope you’ll really give me one hell of a good time.」

Zirco’s way of speaking hadn’t changed, but the way she called Baldr  had changed from “boy” to “chief”. That seemed to be the way Zirco was  paying her respect in her own way.

(To think that the day I’ll get hired by Maggot’s son will come──you  really don’t know what’ll happen in life, that’s why it’s interesting!)

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Part 3

「Aah! Baldr-sama!」

「We’ve been waiting!」

Margo and Tyros quickly saw Baldr and others who visited to inspect the sugar beet field and ran toward them.

As always the way they acted looked like dogs running around their owners energetically.

「Who is that big woman over theere?」

「She’s a strong soldier who is going to protect this farm from now.」

「So she’s really strong even though she’s a woman. She’s just like the mistressMaggot!」

Margo stared at Zirco with a honest respect in her eyes.

Zirco seemed to be unfamiliar with this kind of gaze and rubbed her nose awkwardly. She pulled at Baldr’s sleeve.

「Oi, chief! Are you seriously planning to make me guard this kind of kiddy field?」

「Well, you’ll understand the reason in a minute.」

Baldr was staring at Zirco like someone who was having fun toying with a small animal.

Zirco who wasn’t really worldly wise despite being a battle  enthusiast had touched a part that must not be touched. The person  herself didn’t even notice that though.

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「Is the camouflage progressing well?」

「Yes. The outer edge of the farm is already planted with clover. The  inner part also has turnip and potato mixed in among the crops. With  this it will be hard to easily judge the crops here.」

「Has there been any interference from outsider?」

「There isn’t really any for now. It looks like there are some  travelers going around asking about the gold artisan or sugar’s farm,  but this place only looks like a playing ground for kids.」

「Contact me right away if it’s something that you can’t handle.」

Tyros was more reliable than Baldr thought. Now he was acting as the leader of the children.

Sometimes he would even foresight what Baldr was thinking. He was an  outstanding talent that Baldr would definitely recruit at the future as  his close aide.

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As expected they couldn’t gather sugar beet in the amount that could  cover all the arable plant, so they also planted grass and hardy plants  like potato for camouflage and also for giving the soil fertility some  rest.

At the same time Baldr also started bringing in livestock. The goats  and cows that were rare in Cornelius territory were gathering  overwhelming popularity from the children.

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At the surface this farm was the children’s playing ground and also a practice ground for farming work.

Of course most of the children’s families were aware that it was  nothing more than a cover, but the salary that the children received  from Baldr couldn’t be made light of, so most people favorably decided  to remain as spectator.

The population in Cornelius territory wasn’t that many even at the  castle town, to say nothing of the rural area at the vicinity. Most  people there almost never even come into contact with traveler often.

In addition, Cornelius was a territory that formed a standing army in  a somewhat larger quantity. It was the soldiers’ duty to patrol the  city at the peace time when there was no war.

Most of the soldiers came from the local area. They were mostly acquainted with the citizens.

Because of that the public order in Cornelius territory was extremely  good. If there was anyone who caused troubled then the culprit was  usually the outsiders. Naturally the soldiers’ wariness was focused  toward the people who they didn’t know.

It went without saying that carrying out spying activity in such situation was extremely difficult.

Satsuma domain at the end of Edo era was said to be an extremely  difficult place for spying activity because of its geographical trait,  but this Cornelius territory also didn’t lose to there in difficulty.

Furthermore Baldr and Selina had limited the flow of information and  also mixed in fake information, because of that the mystery of Cornelius  territory that was starting to attract the attention of not only the  big company in the royal capital, but even the foreign countries was  still wrapped in darkness even now.

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「Baldr-sama look! Mr. potato has grown this big!」

「When will be able to eat it?」

「I’ll give it to you guys when it’s ripe enough for eating along with your wage, so look forward to it.」

「Hoorayyyyy!」

The children danced around in happiness. Baldr looked fondly toward  them while guiding Zirco toward a barely sufficient hut that was built  at the corner of the farm.

That hut was dreary with only a table and some chairs in it. Zirco sniffed while sitting heavily on a chair.

Her eyes were filled with anger and dissatisfaction. They were  telling Baldr that she wouldn’t let him off lightly depending on the  situation.

「You seems like in a bad mood.」

「I was filled with expectation, and yet my workplace is just some  brats’ playground! Don’t you dare tell me that this place really is just  a playground!」

「Of course this place is not just as it look like. After all this farm is producing sugar.」

「What……did you say……?」

Zirco’s mind was in disorder thinking of how to interpret the words that Baldr spoke out so casually.

Sugar was sweetener that was made from sugar cane at the south. It was a product that couldn’t be produced in Mauricia Kingdom.

From what she saw, there wasn’t any sign of this place cultivating  any sugar cane. Then, perhaps it was something else that was acting as  the source of sugar here.

「Right now, it’s not just this country but the whole continent that  is getting desperate. Many people are trying to investigate the new way  to refine sugar. Although most of these people are merchants whose nose  is sharp.」

To repeat, Baldr and Selina were giving a lot of effort in this half a year in order to keep the information secret.

Other than sugar they were also shipping out product like mayonnaise and game like Othello to act as smoke screen.

However, the only thing that they couldn’t hide was that the focal point was located in this Cornelius territory.

The number of travelers who visited this Cornelius territory that  didn’t have any tourist attractions at all had reached the double of the  average year. That fact had told everything.

In this kind of situation, merchants could obtain profit with  negotiation or intermediation, but there was other force that didn’t  have the time to take such way.

「They cannot reach the heart of the matter even after all their  attempts to obtain the information. What will those who don’t wish for  Cornelius House to develop will do at such time?」

It would be possible to take countermeasure if the trick was exposed.  However a situation where the true state of affairs kept being wrapped  in the darkness was scarier than a known situation.

That was especially the case for the force that was in opposition against Cornelius House from the beginning.

「Don’t tell me that Haurelia Kingdom is going to make a move?」

「I believe that the possibility of Selvi House running out of patience soon is high.」

(Good grief……I’m not simply miscalculating here, I’ve really drawn the short straw instead.)

「In other words, you’re telling me to face an irregular force from Haurelia Kingdom?」

「I think that their force won’t be more than a dozen but……I believe  that the enemy force will come before long without any doubt. Marquis  Selvi is someone who will choose to charge instead of retreating when  the battlefield is in stalemate. Zirco-san must know that better than  me.」

「Well, we mercenaries called that guy Selvi the Boar because of that.」

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In the previous war, Marquis Selvi who hated protracted war was famous for proactively sending out his force.

That was the reason why the damage from the protracted war in  Cornelius territory that had high defensive power geographically was so  high.

Cornelius army was forced to into great exhaustion by the fierce  attacks day after day. It reached to the point where they almost broke,  but in the end what broke the equilibrium wasn’t the reinforcement of  Marquis Selvi, but the charge of the Silver Light Maggot.

The marquis’s army was repelled in the worst way possible when their  offensive was at the breaking point. They were forced to flee while  paying it with a sacrifice so great that even counting the damage made  them felt sick.

It was well known that this retreat became the impetus for the peace movement between the two countries to move.

「If they still cannot understand even after investigating it, then  their only remaining choice is by taking it with force. Most likely they  will send a force pretending to be bandits to plunder and kidnap──right  at this place.」

Zirco felt the clear killing intent emitted from Baldr’s words and realized that her instinct wasn’t mistaken.

「Looks like I got to hurry and call my old friends if it’s like  this……by the way chief, you don’t mind if I include you in my  calculation of our fighting strength?」

「Obviously not. Even if it’s the king himself, I won’t give any mercy to anyone who try to take a cut of my pie.」

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However it often happened, when an outstanding character was indifferent toward their own value.

Baldr’s miscalculation here was that Marquis Selvi’s greatest concern  wasn’t the secret of the sugar production, but who was the mastermind  behind the series of the industry developments in Cornelius territory.

If Marquis Selvi learned that it was Baldr alone who carried that  out, it would be Baldr’s life that would be in the most danger without  any doubt.

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Part 4

「DELISHHHHHHHHHHHH!」

On the way back from the farm.

In the greatly popular restaurant One Horn at the castle town, Zirco  who ate the standard lunch menu opened her mouth widely and screamed  without any care of how she looked like.

「E-err……Zirco-san. Please pay a little bit more attention to your surrounding……」

「What’s with this flavoring!? It looks like it’s using egg but, what  in the world is done to it so it can have this kind of taste!?」

「I’m begging you please calm down!」

Zirco continued to chew while frequently nodding. She looked like a big schoolchild who had missed lunch time.

Perhaps Zirco’s true nature was even more childish than he thought.

「It pleases me that you like it that much. Are you a guest of the young master?」

The poster girl of One Horn restaurant Saphir(サフィール) poured water into Zirco’s cup with a splendid business smile.

She was a beauty with sleek black hair and large and bright eyes. She  boasted a high popularity without any regard of man or woman.

「Yes, she’s Zirco-san, a mercenary who will work here for a while.」

「Take care of me cos’ I’m going to keep coming here from here on too.」

Zirco swallowed her food in one gulp with reluctance in her  expression and then she took Saphir’s hand with a speed that couldn’t be  followed by eyes.

「It was super tasty! Also how did you guys make this sauce? Tell me, please!」

Saphir found it a bit hard to maintain her smile when a female  mercenary with height more than 180 cm was peppering her with questions  vigorously. She could just barely answer.

「I’m sorry. We can’t publicize the recipe because of the contract. In  exchange we’ll prepare you the food every time you come here, so pardon  with me that okay?」

「……I see. That means this isn’t an original recipe of this restaurant huh.」

「What are you saying! The original inventor is your employer, the young master here!」

Zirco’s eyes let out a strange glint *kyupiiiin* and locked on at Baldr.

With an aura like a hunter who had discovered her prey at the battlefield, she gripped Baldr’s hand tightly this time.

「C-c-c-c-chief. It’s fine even if you don’t pay me, in exchange please tell me the recipe ──」

「Wait! Calm down! What are you saying that you don’t need any reward, you mayo lover!」

Baldr couldn’t hide his bewilderment at this unexpected side of the veteran mercenary Zirco.

(This fellow, she’s going to get ruined by food in the future like this……)

「B-b-b-by that, do you mean that you’re going to tell me chief? Or you won’t tell me?」

Baldr groaned with Zirco holding his shoulders like a vise with bloodshot eyes.

「Calm down for now! I’ll tell you if you fulfill the requirements……please, calm down!」

「I see! So you will tell me chief!」

Zirco’s eyes moistened and she clasped her hands together with a deeply emotional look.

「I’ll follow you chief. I’ll follow you forever!」

「……Your character change too much.」

After that Zirco roared emotionally again when a new dish using salsa sauce came out after the mayonnaise.

She finally recovered her composure only thirty minutes later after she ate her fill.

Baldr was really at his wits’ end dealing with her that he wanted to hold his head in his hands.

.

「So, what is the requirements so that you will tell me the recipe chief?」

「First is to not leak this information to anybody else, no exception.  One day someone else will surely succeed in imitating these things, but  you mustn’t share this information to anyone at least until these  things has spread out to a certain degree.」

「No problem. It’s not like I’m going to do business with them anyway.」

Baldr let out a deep sigh seeing Zirco breathing roughly.

He could just imagine in his mind Zirco making mayonnaise by herself and eating all her meals with it every day.

Should he explain how much calorie mayonnaise contained?

He didn’t want to see Zirco turning rotund while living in Cornelius.

「Come to think of it Zirco, you were in the same unit with Kaa-san weren’t you?」

「We were always together since my first campaign at Rondel until big  sis retired. I was still like a helpless chick at that time.」

Zirco’s eyes squinted in nostalgia and she laughed.

The days that she spent together with Maggot was something to be proud of for her.

The influence that Maggot gave Zirco as the target that she should  learn from, starting from the way to survive in the battlefield until  the manners in battle was big.

.

『What’s this, you a newcomer?』

『Yes-! My name is Zirco, from Rondel!』

.

Zirco still remembered like ti was only yesterday the day she who was  still fifteen years old was addressed by Maggot who was already famous.

There were only few females in the mercenary group, so Zirco and Maggot often talked with each other even after that.

Although Maggot almost never talked about herself.

Baldr was very interested with this chance to learn about his mother’s past that he could rarely hear.

「What kind of person Kaa-san was?」

「She was nice, strong, pretty. She was also quite caring toward the  rookies……anyway she was someone we admire. To be honest, I was shocked  when I heard she was going to become a count’s wife.」

There was rumor that Maggot got her eyes blinded by money and  influence. Even though she knew that there was no way that was the case,  she hated it just from hearing the rumor.

「Is it just as I thought, that she has been an Ssadist since the past?」

「Haa? S!? What do you mean S!?」

Zirco’s face went red and she got flustered at Baldr’s unexpected words.

「No, from how she trained me, I thought that she absolutely has the S fetish though……」

A normal mother wouldn’t toy with her son using the butt of a spear with a joyful grin.

「No no no, big sis was a kind person instead. She often got into  quarrel too, but she never fought in the way that torment the opponent.」

(Kaa-san, it looks like we need to have a serious talk at least once in regard of what you’re thinking about your son.)

Baldr thought for a while before he quietly opened his mouth.

「There’s one more requirement that I thought up just now. I’ll give  you the recipe if you can tell me something that can become Kaa-san’s  weakness.」

「Oi oi, is that really a question a son would ask!?」

「Children has to surpass their parent one day.」

Baldr looked down and chuckled ‘fufufu’. Zirco renewed her  realization 「As I thought, this guy is really big sis’s son」 seeing  that.

.

「Weakness……big sis’s weakness huh. No one will have it hard if such thing exist……hm?」

Zirco suddenly put her right hand on her chin and fell into thought as though she suddenly recalled something.

When it came to martial arts, something that could be called as Maggot’s weakness didn’t exist.

If there was any then it would be only something stupid like her daily life’s propensity.

「……Now that you mention it chief, big sis strangely hated cave cricket.」

「Cave cricket?」

「That’s right. I forgot when, but big sis once screamed like a  village girl and rampaged. She turned our lodging house into ruin.」

Maggot slaughtered the cave cricket with a very ghastly face. She was  unable to ask her just why she hated the cave cricket so much.

「Other than that, that person wasn’t good with bitter thing. Well,  even if you ask me something like big sis’s weakness, there is only this  kind of trifle.」

「Seems……so.」

Even such trivial things were enough information for Baldr.

Zirco missed the wicked smile that Baldr sported at this time. It would become her regret later on.

.

Part 5

「Kaa-sama, this is the day I’m going to land a hit on you!」

「Hou……I wonder since when my son become someone who babble something  that he can’t possibly do? I’ll have to rethink the way I raise you from  tomorrow.」

Maggot spoke something disquieting, so Baldr hurriedly made an  explanation. He was desperate because if he was unlucky this would  endanger his life.

「N-no no no no! I’m only expressing my resolve just now, so Kaa-sama  don’t need to be that considerate I’m begging you! But, there is one  thing that I want to ask from Kaa-sama at the dawn of my success in  landing a hit on Kaa-sama!」

「Easy task. But that’s only if you really can land a hit on me though-」

.

With those words as the signal, Maggot’s spear approached with a speed that even eye couldn’t follow.

Speed, angle, step……everything was perfect in this Silver Light’s attack.

Maggot believed that only her husband Ignis could dodge this attack in this Cornelius territory.

However Baldr somehow succeeded in barely dodging it using his instinct that had experienced this attack many times.

「You’ve grown cheeky aren’t you……」

Maggot stared fondly and swiftly thrust her spear again.

She pulled back her spear so fast that it didn’t left any opening for Baldr to take advantage of.

Just when he thought that he dodged the spear, the spear had been  pulled back into Maggot’s hand. Like this he would be aimed at the  moment he moved.

This always happened every time, but Baldr had an objective this time.

(──Dodge it as close to my body as possible!)

He could only do that if he wanted to get closer to Maggot.

Maggot’s spear was gradually grazing Baldr’s body. Red scratches were engraved on his body.

Maggot sensed her son’s resolve and her lips twisted in scorn.

(Looks like he isn’t necessarily joking when he said that he will land a hit……)

When facing an enemy with a long reach, a great courage was necessary  just for taking a small step forward. It was even more so when dodging  the attack in just a hair’s breadth difference, it would become an  extremely heavy burden mentally.

How many soldiers in this Cornelius territory who could be this daring in the end?

「Then how about this?」

.

Maggot suddenly switched from a thrust into a mowing attack.

The spear bent like a twig with fierce centrifugal force. It was  moving sideways with the sound of slicing through wind *buun* to blow  away Baldr’s body.

Baldr jumped to dodge it just barely.

「Naïve!」

Baldr had no more way to dodge attack with him in midair like this.

Maggot intended to chide the shallowness of her son who chose to escape to the air with a sharp rebuke.

However──.

Baldr thrust his hand into his pocket at the same time with his jump. He took out his secret weapon.

Of course it was that cave cricket.

Maggot was dumbfounded. Baldr used his falling momentum to land a slash with all his strength.

「YOU’RE OPENNNNNNNNNNNNNN!」

His wooden sword hit Maggot’s soldier with a definite impact.

He finally managed to land a hit on his overly mighty mother.

.

「UGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」

.

Maggot raised a scream as though it was the end of the world at the same time.

「Crush crush crush crush crush……」

「Eh……? Okaa-sama……could it be you’re losing your sanity?」

「Are you──are you also that monster’s comrade?」

「C-c-c-calm down, let’s talk it out. I’m begging you Okaa-sama, return to your senses!」

「CRUSHHHHHHHHHHHH!」

「NOOOOOOOOOO!?」

Baldr was hit by a serious attack from Maggot on the stomach. He was  sent flying for ten meter until he crashed on a tree in the garden and  lost consciousness.

That was the instant he swore in his heart that he wouldn’t prank Maggot like this anymore.

.

──Several hours later.

「Do you have any excuse, stupid son?」

「Err~, Okaa-sama, do you remember your words that you will listen to a request of mine if I manage to land a hit?」

「Now that you mention it I said something like that.」

「I wish to use that request to ask you to treat this matter as though it never happened……」

Baldr scratched his head and made an ingratiating smile with his  whole heart praying to somehow escape from Maggot who was making a smile  like a guard dog from hell.

His whole body was drenched with cold sweat.

He had felt his life in danger many times before this, but this time his life was genuinely in danger.

Even Ignis who came rushing when he heard that Baldr was injured and scurried back in the blink of eye.

Right now he was shivering at the corner of a room while muttering  「He’s really foolish to seriously anger Maggot like that」 from start to  end.

(No good, water is spilling from my eyes──)

「But I refuse.」

「NO WAYYYYYYY!」

.

It was said that human sometimes would erase the memory of experience that was too painful.

The memory of the time after that until the next morning was lost from Baldr’s memory for eternity.

.

Part 6

Six men and women gathered in the inner parlor of Fire Colt Pavilion.

All of them were wearing simple armor. It could be seen that they were mercenary or something close from their appearance.

Unexpectedly all of them were youthful people with nice appearance,  so the city girls at that age were sending them interested glances.

「It has been a long time isn’t it? Haven’t you become fatter, Zirco?」

「None of your business. If you say that one more time, I’ll twist off your head from its neck.」

The people gathered here were Zirco’s mercenary comrades.

The one who spoke to Zirco just now was even bigger than the tall  Zirco. A giant who looked like he would pierce the cloud, his name was  Glymur(グリムル).

His hairline had become a bit desolate, but his steely muscled body  that was overflowing with vitality displayed that he was still barely in  this twenty.

「Ooh, scary, but really be careful okay? I had tried the food too last night, but the food here is really earth-shattering.」

(I’m the one who know such thing the best here!)

Zirco hit the table repeatedly in annoyance. Actually she was really starting to worry about her waistline.

She thought that she had to restrain herself, but the food was too  delicious that she would eat too much against her better judgment.

As the result, her cheeks had become chubbier than when she first  arrived here, and her stomach also felt like they had become somewhat  flabbier.

If she couldn’t decrease her amount of eating, she had to increase  the amount of her workout……Zirco resolved herself. A soft voice gave a  follow up for Zirco at that timing.

「Now now, Zirco look better with how she look like right now.」

The one who said that was a female mercenary like her, Miranda(ミランダ).

She specialized in bow which was unusual for a mercenary. She took the role of long range support fire.

If asked why it was unusual, it was because it was hard for one’s accomplishment in battlefield to be recognized using bow.

To say nothing of those archers with poor skill. They often caused  friendly fire with their ally, so an archer mercenary would be disliked  unless they were really skilled.

For Miranda to be relied on by her comrades in such environment was  greatly influenced by her personality and her skill with bow.

.

「Even so, who the hell are you planning to go to war with? You gathered this lineup here……」

The tall swordsman with twin swords and glum look was Jamqa(ジャムカ).

His two-sword style that freely manipulated maneuverable short swords was feared as first-class even among the mercenaries.

In fact if he managed to leap into her bosom, then even Zirco wasn’t confident that she would be able to win.

.

「Certainly, with the fighting strength here make me want to suspect that perhaps you want to form a bandit group Zirco.」

The one who said that with a cynical grin was the knife user Cell(セル).

He was the lady-killer among these six. His cold almond eyes and jet  black hair were attracting the interest from the females around them  since some time ago.

Knife’s range was short for close-quarter combat, but he excelled in  knife-throwing skill. He would display his strength tremendously when  fighting while hiding in urban warfare or similar battlefield.

.

「Now now, I’m thankful that thanks to this I won’t need to go to Nordland with its chilling cold.」

This one was an orthodox warrior who used a large shield and a spear.  The large scar that ran from his left cheek to his lips gave a striking  impression. His name was Mistol(ミストル).

He had wide shoulder width and thick limbs, but his height was  relatively short in comparison. From afar he would look like a large  round lump.

He also originated from Rondel like Zirco. For Zirco he was a childhood friend who she had gotten along with the longest.

.

「Thank god everyone still haven’t gone far. After all there’s no way  I’ll be able to call back someone who has gotten to other country.」

Zirco had also called several more people other than these five, but  they were already departing to a new battlefield, so they couldn’t make  it to the meeting this time.

However even these five who had gathered here were first class  mercenaries who Zirco could entrust her back to in the battlefield.

If she was told to do a delaying battle with these five, depending on  the situation she had the confidence that she would be able to hold  back around an average company of troop.

「And? Just what are you planning to make us do here?」

Glymur asked Zirco as the five’s representative.

「The task is simple, it’s guarding a certain farm. The reward is three gold coins per person just for dealing with amateurs.」

「That’s cheap! Prepare five gold coins at least.」

「Now, don’t be hasty. There is the saying that your earning will lessen if you’re in a hurry or something isn’t it?」

It was true that even though two gold coins were the appropriate  price for bodyguard work like this, three gold coins were too cheap  considering this lineup’s strength.

However, there was enough reason that justified Zirco gathering this kind of lineup that could be thought as overkill.

「About this farm you see, it actually hide a funny secret. It’s a  place that is gathering attention not only within Mauricia, but also  from all the coastal countries like a joke.」

「Oi oi, don’t exaggerate too much even if you’re talking big.」

「Then, what if I tell you……that this farm is producing sugar behind the scene?」

「What kind of joke is that──you’re joking right?」

The jovial Glymur reflexively looked around and lowered his voice.

Of course there were only jovial voices from all the noises inside  this bar. There wasn’t anyone who was eavesdropping at their  conversation.

「Not at all, this isn’t a joke. That’s why right now a lot of people  are searching for information here in frenzy. And then the one who is in  the most frenzy, is naturally that lord boarSelvi.」

「You’re saying……that guy will run out of patience and go wild?」

「The client said that possibility is high. It’ll be ten gold coins if  we beat up Selvi’s soldiers, and twenty coins if we catch them alive.  There’ll also be separate thirty gold coins for the success reward.」

「Hee, that’s mighty generous. Just who is it? This client-sama you mentioned……」

「This is the kicker. The clinet is a brat who only turned twelve not  long ago. What’s more he’s the son of Silver Light Maggot. Can you  believe it?」

The five’s jaws fell down with no words coming out.

They who had known Zirco for long knew just from a glance that she wasn’t joking.

.

Part 7

Dorun who was serving as Selvi House’s chief retainer was making a grimace.

None of the many spies he sent had brought back useful information.

It didn’t start only just now. That Cornelius territory had been a  place that was difficult for information gathering since the start.

The only thing he had learned after much difficulty was that there  was a glimpse of Ignis’s son in the shadow of Savaran Company.

Even so, Ignis’s son had only turned twelve. No matter what there was no way he was the mastermind.

Then was it Ignis himself? No, that was also impossible. That muscle brain wasn’t someone who could comprehend economy.

Even then it was also unthinkable that Savaran Company had achieved their rapid growth by their own strength.

Two and half a year had passed since the company’s leadership  changed. There wasn’t any growth during that time. The father was a  capable peddler with many personal connections, but in the end he was  nothing but former peddler. This information was already widely known.

There should be someone providing idea to that company.

After sugar there was seasoning like mayonnaise and salsa sauce, then  there was also Gothe Collection that was starting to become the synonym  of Cornelius territory right now. Those were things that were  impossible to be thought up just by a single company.

Most likely the ideas of those things originated from someone who  wasn’t raised in normal way, someone who was atypical from birth.

Considering that, the heir of the count wasn’t an existence that could be ignored by any means.

After all it was rumored that son had been trained so hard by that Silver Light Maggot until he vomited blood.

The favorable development of Cornelius territory was fanning up Marquis Selvi’s irritation lately.

As his retainer, Dorun was pressed with the need to produce some kind of result soon.

「Call Torus.」

Dorun ordered a servant to summon a skilled knight.

There was no other way except using force anymore.

At the very least they couldn’t hope to obtain ground-breaking result  by only using the same intelligence gathering method so far.

Fortunately they had pinpointed the farm where Ignis’s son was often  seen coming and going from. They could just kidnap someone from there to  interrogate.

.

「I have come in respond to my lord’s call.」

「Good.」

Torus Reinbard(トーラス・ラインバルド) who showed up was known as a skilled  knight even among Selvi House. He was considered as a candidate to be  the knight order captain in the future.

He was a youth who was skilled in horse-riding since he was little  and also highly loyal. Dorun himself also held great hope for his  future.

He was tall with a lean body that contained no useless flesh. Coupled  with his handsome face, he brought great agitation into the chests of  the women in the castle.

.

「Actually I have a request to you sir.」

「Please don’t word it as request, order me to do anything.」

「Umu……even if it’s a dirty work that I’m going to ask from you?」

「I have resolved myself for that since Dorun-sama summoned me here.」

Torus spoke as though he had guessed everything. It made Dorun felt  anguished whether it would be alright to risk losing this youth in this  dangerous duty.

Wouldn’t the time where he was really needed was the coming battle again Cornelius territory?

However──.

「We can’t possibly overlook Cornelius House’s growth more than this.  Fortunately the farm that our spies had pinpointed isn’t that far from  the border. Attack that place and snatch away the crops there as well as  someone related. Bring back someone who seem to be in a high position  if possible to be source of information.」

「I shall accomplish this mission no matter what, even if it’s at the cost of my life.」

「I believe you already understand but, a peace is formed between our  country and Mauricia Kingdom under the name of his majesty the king. If  fighting broke out within Cornelius territory, Marquis Selvi might be  treated as rebel. Because of that you have to dress as bandit so that  your identity won’t be discovered.」

In his position Dorun had to give that order even knowing that it would harm Torus’s pride as a knight.

Mauricia Kingdom was historically an enemy country, but in reality  the number of nobles who were wishing for war within Haurelia Kingdom  right now was few.

The serious wound that was dealt to them from the previous war still hadn’t recovered fully.

Selvi House was the one who received the most damage in the war, but  there were also a lot of other nobles who bore enormous loss.

There were even some people among them who still harbored unjustified  resentment toward Selvi House that proactively spearheaded the movement  for invasion.

It was a fact that if they moved carelessly then the continuation of  Selvi House itself would be at risk──they could just ignore Cornelius  House if it was like that, but their grudge toward Cornelius House ran  too deep for that.

The house head Andrei lost two sons who he put his expectations on in the war.

Taking revenge for that was his dream that he absolutely had to accomplish while he was still alive.

「Even if you and your men are captured, there won’t be any rescue from the kingdom. Failure mean death.」

「I will bring my platoon with me. Even if I only gather those who are  still unmarried, I’ll be able to gather around ten men somehow.」

Torus accepted Dorun’s cold-hearted proclamation as though it was only natural.

There was only death for knight who failed in the battlefield. From  the beginning Torus had no intention to return back shamefully if he  failed.

「I’ve asked something unreasonable from you……」

「I shall return the debt of our house to the lord here for keeping us on his payroll until now.」

Besides, Torus wasn’t simply indebted to the marquis house.

Torus himself also lost his big brother and direct superior from the  previous war. For him this too was a revenge that he had to accomplish  one day.

Even now after more than ten years had passed, the ill will that had  gnawed at the two countries hadn’t been gone, instead it was rooting  into the ground deeply instead.

If he could speak honestly, he had the desire to fall gloriously in the battlefield.

However if his capability could become the cornerstone for his  homeland’s victory, it was enough for Torus to risk his life even if no  one would praise him for it.

.

Part 8

「──Hey, do you really think they’ll come?」

One week had passed since Zirco and her friends started guarding the farm.

Perhaps this job would end without anything happening?

Jamqa asked Baldr with such implication.

「How many times do you think Selvi House has directly appealed to the  king of Haurelia Kingdom to start a war in these ten years? They  appealed three times even after going through that kind of bitter  experience you know? Do you think they will just wait quietly without  doing anything now? Impossible.」

「For me the way you think is far more impossible though.」

Jamqa let out an exasperated voice.

Certainly, it was strange for a twelve years old boy to calmly talk about politic in front of a mercenary.

「The security of our Cornelius territory isn’t lax by all means.  After all we have been exposed to the flame of war many times until now.  That’s why, there is only one way for them to get close to this place.  By sneaking through the forest with few people.」

.

Both Ignis and Maggot had also used a lot of manpower to proactively  maintain the public order of Cornelius territory with border  reconnaissance until city patrol where they even participated themselves  in them.

The fact that Cornelius army had never received any ambush even once  until now spoke of the result from their effort more eloquently than  anything.

In other words it was impossible from a large force of Selvi to pass  through Cornelius territory undetected. However, half of Cornelius  territory was covered with forests and hills.

Especially the northern part that was connecting to the mountain mass  Felbre(フェルブル) with its high elevation. Almost no one would enter there  except the hunters. It was the ideal terrain for few people to  infiltrate.

Baldr himself was estimating that nine out of ten, the enemy would infiltrate from the north.

.

「……Even so, who can guess that sugar can be extracted from this kind of potato.」

Mistol took a sugar beet that had entered its harvest season and stared at it with an impressed look.

Mistol too had known from before that sugar beet existed.

He heard that it wasn’t suited for eating and so he held no interest  toward it, but if only he noticed its potential, then it was possible he  would be rich right now.

「I think that this secret will get exposed one day. Although I plan  to earn as much money as possible before that happen, and I also have no  intention of letting the secret get exposed that easily.」

Sugar beet itself wasn’t a crop that was hard to cultivate. The  difficulty level of refining sugar was also not high that even an  ordinary household could do it.

One day someone who imitated them would surely appear and the sugar price would drop drastically.

Rather it was the gold plating technology that couldn’t be imitated  by anyone that would contribute to Baldr’s profit for the long-term. But  Baldr had no intention to sit quietly waiting for that to happen.

「However chief, it’ll be a bit hard to protect the kids while taking on those guys y’know?」

Zirco who was appointed as the leader of the guards made a serious face.

She wouldn’t be this worried if the protection target was at least important people who were used to being guarded.

Because those people could correctly discern the situation where their life was being protected.

But protecting amateur who didn’t have such awareness or experience would give the guards a large burden.

「……As expected I think that capturing children will be the enemy’s  last resort. After all what they need isn’t the human but the  information. But if the worst happen, I’ll take them on.」

「That’s the thing that I don’t get. Just how useful you gonna be at that kinda situation?」

「Oi! Jamqa!」

Jamqa folded his arms with a cynical gaze. He was showing his distrust at Baldr’s capability. Zirco tried to stop him in panic.

Jamqa was still underestimating Baldr as a kid, but Baldr wasn’t a normal twelve years old in every sense.

Baldr moved before Jamqa could say anything further.

Against this kind of man, it would be quicker to teach his body  rather than persuading him with words. Baldr was aware of that from  Sanai’s experience.

Baldr finished strengthening his body in an instant and turned into a gust of wind that approached Jamqa.

However there was just no way his transparent punch would work against the veteran Jamqa.

Jamqa’s ability in one-on-one battle might be number one or number  two among the five. There was a reason why he got a haughty attitude.

But, Jamqa was sweating coldly in his heart at the fact that he had  to use body strengthening too in order to block Baldr’s punch.

「Is that all boy?」

Jamqa didn’t show his agitation at the slightest and laughed cynically instead.

「Say that after you look at your armor, Jamqa.」

「What did you say……?」

Jamqa fearfully looked down. There the hard leather that he was  wearing under his armor had been lightly stabbed with a skewer that was  on the plate before.

The archer Miranda saw it. How Baldr shot the skewer at Jamqa from the fist’s blind spot.

She was able to witness that decisive moment because she was far enough from the two.

「The young master there didn’t use body strengthening for throwing that skewer……you understand don’t you?」

Jamqa shook his head with an astonished feeling from the bottom of his heart.

「Don’t say anything more. Good grief, to be able to use hidden weapon at this age……I’ll never think of you as a brat anymore.」

Obviously.

In which world there would be a noble brat who used hidden weapon when facing against mercenary?

Hidden weapon would only be used at a battle where both sides were  trying to kill each other with their life on the line. It wasn’t  something that would be used at training or normal match by all means.

That was because such weapon would only be limited just to that moment. It wouldn’t be effective anymore after it got seen once.

That was even more the case for noble. It wasn’t something that noble should use because they ought to be fair and square.

It made Jamqa felt tired to even think just how many lines between  life and death this young boy who could easily handle that kind of  weapon had crossed.

.

Suddely the voices of girls arguing reached the ears of Baldr and others, interrupting their conversation.

「I’m only coming to have Baldr try the trial product that he asked me to make! So ya get outta my way!」

「There’s no need for you yourself expressly coming here for that isn’t it?」

「I won’t be able to calm down unless I ascertain the guest’s reaction  with my own eyes (I want to meet with Baldr quickly! Don’t ya get in my  way!)」

「And yet you left everything else to Rorona-san when it come to other  customers aren’t you? (I won’t let a vixen like you getting even closer  than this to young master Baldr!)」

It was Seyruun who was trying to push back Selina who was trying to advance while ignoring her.

The two were beautiful girls who looked conspicuous even from afar.  They two of them looked like they were frolicking with each other when  they approached this way while struggling against each other.

「What’s the matter Selina?」

「Aa, ya got a nice timing Baldr! I finished the thing that ya asked the other day!」

「Kuh……a failure! I can’t stop her.」

Selina smiled like a flower when she saw Baldr. In contrast Seyruun was scowling in frustration.

「Here! Look really delicious ain’t it?」

Selina said that and took out something to show. It was like a golden  sponge with browned surface that had sweet smell drifting from it. It  was a rectangular baked sweets that stimulated the appetite.

It was the standard sweets for the modern Japanese that was in Masaharu’s memory.

The way to create it was relatively simple and it also boasted a  deeply-rooted popularity among the adults and also the children──it was  the reproduction of castella.

Because the skill of beekeeping hadn’t been established in this  world, honey was still something precious, but it was possible for  anyone to create this as long as a little bit of honey, egg, hard flour,  and sugar were available.

It also possessed versatility with how it could have other taste added into it by kneading tea or cacao into the mix.

Masaharu who disliked thick fresh cream loved this simple castella.

Baldr who was also seeing his favorite food the castella after so long smiled happily toward Selina.

「It’s baked well. You’re better in cooking than I thought, Selina.」

「Ya shouldn’t underestimate me! Just leave something like this it to me!」

(Yossha! I can show him the appeal of older girl nicely with this!)

Selina made a reserved guts pose. In contrast Seyruun’s shoulders slumped in dejection seeing that.

(Uuh……it’s s failure……I also want to be taught how to cook but……)

Seyruun who was hired to be a maid in Cornelius House couldn’t really  ask the head chef there to be taught how to cook because it wasn’t her  work domain.

Even if she wasn’t good in cooking, a noble like Baldr could ask his  servant to cook for him, so this wasn’t a problem that shouldn’t bother  her so much.

However her pride of woman felt a sense of defeat against Selina.

.

「I-is that a new dish?」

Zirco got between the three while breathing roughly. She was peering onto the castella with a fierce glint in her eyes.

Zirco had become the prisoner of various dishes that Baldr  experimented with. She couldn’t help but react in this kind of time no  matter what.

「It’s called castella, a sweets that I’m planning to sell in the future. Let’s test eating it first with everyone……」

Baldr cut the castella with the knife on his waist.

Zirco and the others accepted their piece and put it inside their mouth with high expectation. And then they froze completely.

「T, TOO TASTYYYYYYYYYY!」

.

Zirco let out her mysterious yell for who knew how many times with this.

Miranda was also putting her hand on her cheek in astonishment. Her face looked as though her soul had left her body.

As expected the males’ reaction wasn’t as exaggerated as the females,  but the elegant sweetness and the soft spongy texture made all of them  showed expression of surprise.

「It feels like we’ll only look like idiot if we keep getting surprised every single time by this chief……」

It seemed Jamqa had completely took off his hat against Baldr and called him “chief” for the first time.

.

Baldr recalled Masaharu’s memory and immersed himself in nostalgia.  When he finished enjoying the taste of castella after so long, he turned  back toward Selina and thanked her.

「It was delicious. Thank you.」

「Ehehe……I’m also glad that it’s worth the effort of making it.」

「By the way, sorry to say this even though both of you have come this far but──」

Baldr continued with a strict expression that he rarely showed to the two.

「Can I ask you two to not approach this farm for around a week? I think this place will be a bit dangerous.」

「Eeh!? What do you mean by that young master?」

Seyruun protested as Baldr’s maid who was ordered to constantly stay on his side.

It was a request that she couldn’t accept unless there was an extraordinary reason behind it.

「……There might be a lot of wild dogs that goes down from the mountain  before long. I’m planning to exterminate them with Zirco and others  after this.」

「But young master doesn’t need to go yourself for that……」

「Yeah! Ya can just ask the city guards aren’t ya?」

「I need to bring skilled help with me so that the wild dogs won’t get away.」

The two of them still looked dissatisfied even after Baldr said that,  even so they were aware that they were amateur when it came to matter  of battle.

「Please don’t do anything reckless no matter what okay?」

「After ya finish with that, show yourself in my shop right away.」

Seyruun reacted to that.

「That one is rejected.」

「What the hell!?」

The two of them instantly started quarreling once more. Zirco threw them an amused gaze.

There wasn’t even any need to intentionally say out loud who their  target of affection was, even so she should at least say this much.

「You’re really loved huh, chief.」

──In the next instant, a shrill flute sound resounded from the north forest.

.

Part 9

「……This is unpleasant.」

Maggot was near the Midas(ミダス) River that separated Cornelius  territory from Marquis Selvi’s territory. Her hand was pressing on her  lustrous silver hair that was fluttering due to the wind blowing from  the west.

Lately Maggot’s sixth sense was ringing her alarm bell frequently toward Haurelia Kingdom.

That was why she personally rode to the border for scouting several times since last month.

The air that came from the territory of Marquis Selvi was undoubtedly  disquieting and there was also sign of them gathering soldiers, and yet  there was no killing intent that an army should possess if they would  start launching an attack soon.

From the smoke of the soldiers cooking meal near the castle, Maggot  estimated that their number was around a hundred, but strangely there  wasn’t any change that her eyes could perceive no matter how much time  passed.

Perhaps this was a camouflage to pretend they would march here? Or perhaps they were planning to assassinate someone important?

Maggot delayed her plan to return home by a day and continued  scouting together with her trusted retainers, even so there wasn’t any  contact from Selvi territory in the end.

「……Looks like my nose has grown dull after leaving the battlefield for a while.」

However not long in the future Maggot would look to the sky to lament  her declining sixth sense after listening to the course of events that  happened outside her expectation.

.

Part 10

The alarm that came from the forest came from Glymur or Celss who went out scouting.

Baldr was assaulted with the vexation at the attack that happened far earlier than he expected.

(Shit! For the attack to happen when Selina and Seyruun are here of all things!)

「Miranda, Jamqa, Mistol, we’re meeting them at the outskirt! Chief, evacuate the brats quickly!」

Baldr returned to his senses at Zirco’s call.

「Got it. Buy us a little bit of time, I’m counting on you guys.」

「Leave it to us.」

After exchanging words shortly, Zirco blew at a short whistle.

Then from the direction of the forest, *pipipipi-*, similar whistle sound in short staccato replied back.

That was the code that Zirco and others had decided beforehand.

「Hmph……just twelve huh. They’re underestimating us.」

Half a month since she visited Cornelius, the chance of real battle  that finally came changed Zirco’s face into that of a mercenary who was  greedily coveting her prey.

.

Actually there was a reason why Torus and his men arrived this quickly.

It was because Maggot was going out for scouting the front line.

The strongest fighting strength of Cornelius leaving the castle was  an unparalleled good news for the soldiers who would infiltrate.

Maggot was undeniably the worst god of pestilence for those who lived in the territory of Marquis Selvi.

It could be said that the mental burden on the soldiers would be greatly affected by whether she was present or not.

In order to accomplish their infiltration before Maggot came back,  Torus and his men crossed the border until they reached the north forest  area without sleeping.

Even so marching through forest area was extremely difficult for formal knights like Thorus and his men.

Even for extraordinarily capable knight like Torus, traversing  through an unfamiliar sea of trees without getting lost until they  reached their destination was a herculean task.

Even though he believed that they had made enough preparation  beforehand, the food and water that was decreasing day by day and the  stress that was brought from their decreasing stamina due to sleeping  outdoors were weighing Torus and his men as a heavy pressure.

「We’re close. Do your best.」

Torus gave a fierce encouragement that was also half persuading  himself. He noticed that the forest was gradually opening up with the  increase of the sunlight shining down on them.

As he thought his calculation wasn’t mistaken. The farm that was their objective was right nearby from here.

Should they attack right away, or should they took a break first before beginning their mission when the time was ripe?

His mind was leaning on resting his body first due to their heavy  exhaustion. It was then a grating whistle sound echoed inside the quiet  forest.

.

The one who discovered Torus and his men first was Cell who was on guard from above a tree.

Even though they were dressing themselves like bandits, their  movement that was unique to the Haurelia Knight couldn’t vanish  completely. Cell who had fought them many times before noticed that.

These guys were undoubtedly the advance detachment of Marquis Selvi that Baldr mentioned.

Cell made a faint grin without making any voice at the figures of his  Haurelia knights that he had crossed sword with many times before.

(Hihihi! Then I’ll earn a bit of money first.)

It would be ten gold coins if he defeated an enemy, no matter if they  were dead or alive. That amount wasn’t bad. Right now Cell’s head was  having a mercenary thinking of snatching the delicious prey ahead of his  comrades.

And then, he pulled out knives from his waist and aimed at the back  of the enemies who were agitated by the sudden whistle sound. And he  threw.

.

*Kin!*

.

Two of the three knives that were thrown toward the enemies’ defenseless backs were knocked down by a dry metallic sound.

It was the work of Torus who reflexively pulled out his sword and intercepted the knives.

「Over there!?」

「Tsk! That damn guy is more skilled than I thought!」

Celss jumped from branch to branch and chose to hide for the time being.

The knife user Celss wasn’t good with group battle at the plain with  no place to hide, but accidental engagement in a forest like this was  the area he excelled in the most.

「──Besides, I’ve gotten ten gold coins for now.」

.

The enemy hid himself, at the same time the knight who was hit on the shoulder by a knife fell on his knees and collapsed.

The knife was coated with paralyzing poison that worked immediately.

「Dammit!」

Torus spat out a curse before he swung down his sword at the collapsed knight without a shred of hesitation.

They weren’t permitted to become prisoner in this mission.

The ally would definitely finish off those who became unable to fight──that was their oath that they had sworn beforehand.

The man’s throat was cut together with a dull sound of tearing flesh.  With a cough, flesh blood spilled out from the knight’s mouth and he  expired.

「Let’s go. We can’t retreat after coming this far.」

If possible he wanted them to rest and recovered their stamina, then  they would scout first to select their target. However now that they had  been discovered like this, retreating would mean the failure of their  mission.

The soldiers nodded wordlessly and followed behind Torus. They dashed toward the farm as though flying.

With their body strengthening, they really became like a gust of wind. The leaves in the forest were all whirled up.

.

「We won’t make it……!」

Baldr was panicking.

The children were already starting to evacuate to the hut the moment the first whistle rang out.

Lately they also used that whistle for the signal of snack time. The children were finishing their evacuation in the ideal time.

However Baldr’s only miscalculation was the presence of Seyruun and Selina here.

The children working in the farm had been trained how to evacuate  without they themselves being aware of it, but Seyruun and Selina didn’t  know what they should do in this time of emergency.

Furthermore Seyruun didn’t want to part from Baldr. Because of that they lost the precious time for the evacuation.

Baldr cursed himself who was too lax for not giving Seyruun any explanation beforehand.

.

「Miranda! Give us cover fire!」

「Count on me!」

Miranda responded to Zirco’s request and started firing arrows with a speed that couldn’t be followed with eyes.

Her technique was accomplished with body strengthening that was  specialized for archery. A human who could fire arrow that possessed  both this much speed and power, even if they searched the whole Mauricia  Kingdom they wouldn’t find five of such human.

For Torus and his men who usually wore full body armor as knight,  this indirect attack was a troublesome attack that was extremely  troubling to deal with.

Normally they would deflect the arrows by making it hit a thick part  of their armor, but they couldn’t do it right now because they were  dressed lightly to pretend as bandits.

Of course Torus and his men had enough training to be able to fight  above average level, but it was just that their opponents were bad this  time.

One knight made the wrong judgment in an instant to dodge in a way he  was unfamiliar with. He was heavily injured. Then another one got  lightly injured.

It was a damage that was too painful for Torus, but Zirco herself  wanted to click her tongue seeing that an archer at Miranda’s level  could only take down one of the enemies.

(They’re even more skilled than I thought. It’s a blessing that there’s no monster at big sis’s level among them though.)

「Jamqa, Mistol, we’re going to stop them here! Hold your ground until the others in the forest can attack their flanks!」

Zirco tried exaggerating the existence of reinforcement with a loud voice, but Torus and his men didn’t show any agitation.

Far from that, their sight caught Baldr, Seyruun, and Selina. They fixed their aim to them and sped up further.

The village children wouldn’t be useful as information source no  matter how many of them they captured, but Baldr and the two girls  looked like they had a high status from their appearance. It was natural  that they gathered attention.

Although late, Glymur and Cell arrived from behind and participated  in the fighting, but the handicap of six versus ten was greater than  Zirco assumed.

If they fought with hit-and-away method, then she was confident her  group would be able to throw the enemy into disarray no matter how tough  they were. But their distance with Baldr and the two girls were too  close to fight like that.

.

「Uwah!」

One of the knights pitched forward and fell.

It was like he had fallen into a pitfall. His foot was sinking into the ground until his shin.

Torus judged that it was a pitfall that had been prepared beforehand, but Zirco noticed that it was Baldr’s magic.

「Yosh! We’re pushing them back here!」

Zirco was swinging around her heavy great sword like it was a twig.  She was unleashing an arm strength that was worthy for the name of “The  Gale”.

As expected the knights also stopped advancing against that. They had to focus to defense.

Zirco’s attack had a heaviness that left an impact to their whole  body even though they only blocked it for a moment. It showed that  Zirco’s strength was the real thing.

In addition Jamqa’s twin swords were also gleaming under the sun. He  was holding back two knights at the same time within his range.

Mistol was cornering one knight with consecutive attack that was  backed with brute force. Cell and Miranda were showering the knights  with long range shooting that threw the enemies into chaos.

When Glymur who had a superior body size was kicking down a knight  and making him unable to fight anymore, it looked like the battle was  going to enter a deadlock.

However, Zirco realized that it was just their delusion.

.

「Good luck.」

「Let’s exchange drink again in that world, my friend.」

Each of the knights pretended to be in a stalemate against Zirco and  the others. They held back the six of them so they couldn’t do anything  against Torus.

Torus slipped out of the encirclement and became free to act. Zirco couldn’t stop him who was the strongest among the enemies.

The knights worked together while putting their life on the line. They surpassed the veteran mercenaries.

「Tsk! So this is the aim from the start!?」

Even in the worst case that Torus became the only survivor, it  wouldn’t matter as long as he got home with a prisoner and information  with him.

The knights had resolved themselves from a long time ago to die in this foreign land as a mere disposable pawn.

The group of cool headed soldiers who were prepared to die was completely focused on capturing Baldr and the two girls.

「Sorry chief! Try to hold out over there somehow!」

Torus who obtained this much support from his subordinates shouldn’t  be an easy enemy by all means. Zirco was aware of that better than  anybody else.

However, even so she had no other way except focusing on the enemy in front of her.

.

Baldr sensed that Torus was a first class knight just from a glance.

Marquis Selvi wanted to learn about the secret of Cornelius territory  that he even sent someone this dangerous here. Baldr realized that he  had been underestimating Marquis Selvi’s obsession until now.

(I messed up. Everything is my responsibility!)

This man must be a capable person who was a central figure even within the knight order of Selvi House.

Baldr never even dreamed that the other side would appoint this kind  of precious personnel for this dangerous mission where he would be  treated as a simple disposable pawn.

In Baldr’s prediction, he thought that the other side would only send some skilled mercenaries at best.

He was careless in his estimation of the enemy’s fighting strength.  Now that carelessness was causing two girls who were irreplaceable to  him into danger.

This was truly an unforgivable blunder.

Seyruun would obediently run away if the enemy was really just some wild dogs.

However the genuine panic that Baldr showed made her refused to evacuate.

If she knew that the enemies wouldn’t be wild dogs but genuine hounds  that Marquis Selvi released, she would run straight to Ignis to warn  him no matter what Baldr said.

In the end Baldr’s self-conceit that he would be able to control the  situation caused this blunder where Seyruun couldn’t escape and also the  mansion staying uninformed about this emergency.

That was exactly why he had to put his life on the line here in order to protect the two of them.

Baldr silently prepared himself for the worst and drew out his sword.

He also blundered for not carrying any spear in order to avoid being standing out.

Torus wasn’t carrying any spear with him. If only he had his spear  with him, there was no doubt that the advantage in range would become a  reassuring ally for Baldr.

.

「Come with me obediently if you don’t want to die.」

.

「Hih!」

Seyruun and Selina instinctually felt scared toward Torus’s words that resounded heavily in the air. Their body shivered.

Torus didn’t attack Seyruun and Selina right away because his instinct was perceiving Baldr as a strong enemy.

His rational mind insisted to him that Baldr was just a single boy,  but Torus knew that in the battlefield, there were situations where you  had to prioritize your instinct first rather than logic.

Furthermore, such instinct would occasionally be correct.

Besides, the young boy whose face could be mistaken as a girl was  emitting a killing intent that was rivaling a skilled mercenary. He was  at least sure of that.

Torus closed the distance without the slightest carelessness. It made Baldr wanted to click his tongue.

It was because Baldr was hoping that Torus would let his guard down seeing that he was a kid.

It was said that a lion would give its all even when just hunting a  rabbit. Torus too was a man who wouldn’t spare any effort if it was for  the sake of his mission.

.

「──You won’t lay your hand on them, even if it cost me my life.」

.

That sentence that Baldr inadvertently said made Torus realized that  the boy before him wouldn’t give up no matter what until he died.

This was surprising.

Few humans could resolve to die even while fearing death.

Torus himself could only find ten people who could such thing as the  result of his personnel selection for this infiltration squad. That  number was lower than he expected.

He could only barely gathered the required number after receiving  three more people who were Dorun’s subordinate as reinforcement.

This boy who was only around ten years old could make the same  resolve like those subordinates who were his pride. Torus couldn’t help  but feeling a fresh surprise.

At the same time, Torus also knew better than anyone that a soldier  with this kind of resolve would turn into an unyielding warrior who  would never give up by any means no matter how despairing the situation  was.

.

「Then I only need to defeat you and take them away!」

.

Even if his opponent was just a kid, Torus recognized him as a  formidable enemy that had to be defeated. He accelerated right away and  closed the distance to Baldr.

Baldr threw a stone with a quick movement that couldn’t be followed by eyes as though he had seen through Torus’s movement.

The stone throw could easily kill if the opponent was only at the  level of a bandit, but for a warrior at Torus’s level, this attack was  too upfront.

However, when Torus was about to dodge the stone calmly, the stone  that was as big as a child’s fist broke apart into small pieces right in  front of his eyes.

「Break!」

「Unuh!?」

The stone that was transformed into sand particles entered Torus’s eyes, blocking his sight.

Against a proper magic, Torus would be able to neutralize it  instantly, but as expected he couldn’t dispel the magic when it was  targeted toward an inorganic object in front of his eyes rather than  toward himself.

(This child……as I thought, he has to be killed.)

Torus gave up recovering his eyesight and closed his eyes while straining up his nerves.

Torus didn’t know that Baldr was the heir of Cornelius House.

He thought that it would be useful if he captured this boy, but Torus  instinctually decided that it would be too dangerous to fight him while  holding back.

Baldr made use of his small body and crouched so low on the ground while aiming at Torus’s shin.

Torus had to return back until Marquis Selvi’s territory. It would be fatal for him even if he only got his leg injured.

Torus sensed Baldr’s presence without relying on his sight. He could  perceive Baldr’s sharp sword tip like the back of his own hand.

Indeed, it was a splendid attack. He wouldn’t make it in time to block it with his sword.

But, in the end it was still just an attack of a boy.

Torus dodged Baldr’s sword without any panic at all. He then  attempted to step on the sword from above with his foot to neutralize  the opponent instead.

The slash that should be unleashed with the best timing wasn’t only  dodged easily, his sword would immediately get held in place. Baldr let  go of his sword without even an instant of hesitation.

Seeing how he easily let go of his only weapon, it could be seen that  Baldr’s instinct was far removed from the average standard just as  Torus expected.

Even a warrior at Torus’s level was unintentionally taken aback by Baldr’s action.

Considering the boy’s fighting skill, losing his sword was the same like telling him ‘please kill me’.

The foot that he swung down with the force to knock off the sword from Baldr’s hand couldn’t be stopped anymore.

The instant Torus’s foot struck the ground, Baldr took out a knife  from his pocket that he stabbed deeply into the back of Torus’s foot.

.

There was the saying of letting your flesh be cut to sever the enemy’s bone.

Torus understood to a painful degree that his body mustn’t be  seriously injured for the sake of the mission, but when he judged that  he couldn’t dodge this attack, he accepted it as a necessary sacrifice  with a readiness that was befitting a warrior.

And then conversely, the boy sacrificed his sword in order to inflict a wound that wasn’t fatal on him.

Most likely this boy had never been in a battle against someone  stronger than him where they were seriously trying to take each other’s  life.

And then his talent as a commander was essentially better than his talent as an individual fighter.

If the boy sought what to be ultimately a victory for his ally as a  commander, then it was a right decision for the boy to wound him here.

But right now the boy was a warrior before he was a commander, and his opponent was this him──.

.

Torus’s mind was running like that within the time of an instant where everything looked like they were in slow motion.

And then he prayed for the safe passing of the enemy he respected to  the next world while his sword smoothly struck toward Baldr’s neck  without any mercy.

.

*Gaki-!!*

.

Baldr reflexively raised his right hand was due to his instinct that  he cultivated through the training with Maggot. That was the only way he  could explain it.

His right hand had let go of his sword while his left hand was holding the knife that was stabbed into Torus’s foot.

Because of that he made it in time to block the sword using his right  hand that was wearing a protector on the back of his hand. If he used  his left hand, then Baldr’s head would already be flying together with  his arm.

However the body weight and physical strength between the two of them  were too different. Baldr’s right arm was snapped together with his  defense. His small body was sent flying until more than ten meters.

His body bounced on the ground three times, engraving countless lacerations on his skin that was like a jade.

As for his broken arm, there were white bones jutting out at the opposite side of his hand protector.

Baldr was barely alive, but it was obvious to anyone’s eyes that he didn’t have any strength remaining to stand up again.

Even so Torus couldn’t help but feeling admiration.

(Was it his true strength that enabled him to defend in that instant?  Or was it the will of heaven? Either way this boy is a terrifying  fighter.)

.

「Young master Baldr!」

「Baldr!?」

Selina and Seyruun let out a shrill scream and tried to run toward Baldr, but Torus wordlessly held them in his left arm.

The weight of Seyruun and Selina’s slender bodies was light enough for Torus to carry them in one hand.

「NOOOO! LET GO! YOUNG MASTER BALDR!」

「LET GO! LET GO I SAY! YA DAMN OAF!」

The two desperately mustered their strength to struggle, but that  resistance was completely in vain against the overwhelming strength of a  veteran knight.

.

「Tsk-!」

Zirco had witnessed Torus defeating Baldr when she glanced over there. She clicked her tongue loudly.

ZIrco and the others’ fight was progressing nicely. They had been  injuring their opponents, but they still hadn’t managed to reduce their  number.

If Torus joined the fight here, it was clear they would be the one who got cornered into disadvantage.

(He is still far away from big sis’s level, but there’s no doubt that guyTorus is also in the monster category……)

From Baldr’s battle, Zirco had sensed that Torus possessed the highest battle strength than anyone here.

In this world, there were monsters who were living in a domain that  even humans who were called first class couldn’t reach no matter how  hard they worked.

The action that a mercenary would take when they encountered such monster in the battlefield was only one.

When their ally looked like they would win, they would do their best  as long as it didn’t endanger their lives. But they would run away if it  was a losing battle.

(Chief, you’re really a good commander, but you’ve no luck.)

Zirco’s mind was about to decide to abandon the battle and escape.

It was too bad she wouldn’t get the success reward, but with their  employer in that state, it wasn’t likely that they would get paid.

Her emotion wanted to save Baldr, but her instinct as mercenary was  demanding her to escape from a battle that had no prospect of victory.

.

「Please, help! Young master! Young masterrrr!」

「Baldr! This is a lie right? Stand, stand up!」

(Their screams sounds far away.)

Baldr’s awareness was turning faint as though he was slowly getting  pulled into a bottomless bog. Baldr was thinking such thing within his  fading consciousness.

He was still conscious even after receiving such strong impact and didn’t faint was already a miracle.

He couldn’t feel anything from his left elbow below. It was like his arm had been cut off from the root.

The inside of his mouth was filled with the rusty taste of blood. He  wanted to spit it out right away. However he couldn’t even do that in  his current state.

(Sey-nee, Selina……don’t cry like that)

『Because I’ll protect you two.』

He wanted to say that to the two girls who were more important to him  than anyone while listening to their unceasing wails, but he noticed  that he had no way to do that.

There was no feeling in his arm even if he tried to swing a sword.

He couldn’t put any strength into his legs even though he tried to stand.

Perhaps because his head was hit, his semicircular canals were shaken  and he felt a hallucination like the earth and sky had been reversed.

How was he going to protect those two from such terrifying enemy?

Losing Seyruun?

Losing Selina?

The two who had continued to watch over Baldr since he was little  were going to be kidnapped right at this moment. And it was because of  the blunder of none other than himself.

What are you doing sleeping here?

Can’t you hear those two’s voices?

Baldr, what are you doing over there?

.

I want……I want strength.

I want strength right now.

I don’t care even if I have offer this life of mine for that.

How can I just sleep leisurely like this while my important girls are going to get taken away.

.

Damn straight, how can ye not fight when there is such an amazing samurai before ye.

The war that I desired from the bottom of my soul is in front of me right now.

What’s more it’s a losing battle.

Right now is the time for yer heart to tremble as a warrior──.

.

The ferocious impulse sleeping inside Baldr swelled up and before he knew it his thought was swallowed into that torrent.

And then, the man who was known as a daring warrior, who survived  till old age even though he had gone through many losing battles in his  whole life, was opening his eyes after a very long silence. It was as  though he was sniffing the thick smell of battle.

『This brat who don’t even know the etiquette of battlefield, pushing this kinda troublesome thing to this old geezer.』

His tone was scathing, but Baldr’s mouth that was faintly grinning was eloquently indicating the joy that man was feeling.

Baldr’s heavily injured body stood up like a revenant.

Even though anyone who saw him would definitely say that he wasn’t in  a state for fighting, he spat out the blood that was pooling inside his  mouth to the ground with his broken right arm dangling limply.

『A nice wind.』

The old warrior filled his lungs with the air of battle after so long and laughed in satisfaction.

『──How about ye return my women over there eh?』

.

Oka Sanai died inside Inawashiro Castle at that day together with the  coming of the dawn. He thought that his life was already concluded with  that.

A died human who kept throwing his weight around no matter how much  time passed would be nothing but a nuisance to the living human.

Not to mention Sanai’s existence right now was nothing but a memory.  The only one who had to live in the present was the boy, Baldr Cornelius  alone.

With that as the case, he believed that it was only logical for him to return to his sleep once more.

Ultimately his memory was from a world that was different from this  world, and Oka Masaharu, the memory of the other person was his own  descendant. The two of them in the end were alien elements for Baldr’s  life. Understanding that, Sanai went to sleep deep inside Baldr’s  consciousness.

He was determined to keep sleeping forever until Baldr’s life came to an end.

However the person called Sanai loved battle more than anything else. He was a warrior through and through.

Even when his age had gone past seventy and he spent all day lying on  his bed, he was a trueborn general who still tried to fight at Osaka’s  campaign. There was no way he wouldn’t react to this thick scent of  battle.

Sanai loved money. He left behind his name through accumulating a  great amount of money, but that money for him was funds for war. The  principle that was governing his conduct was purely oriented toward war.

No matter how powerful the samurai that he faced, he had the  self-confidence that his martial art wouldn’t be outdone no matter what  in the battlefield. His overwhelming pride from cutting open his path in  life with his spear didn’t allow Baldr’s life to end like this.

『To be able to stand on the battlefield once more like this……this old man is really no match against the god.』

He didn’t know what kind of mischief destiny was toying him with, but  he decided that he would rejoice for being able to encounter a battle  like this once more.

Sanai unconsciously bared his canines with a fiendish grin.

That was the face of a predator in a hunt for his prey in the battlefield.

.

「……You’re still standing even after that?」

Even though it was already shocking that the boy was still alive  after getting hit by Torus’s full strength attack, Baldr went even  further and stood up once more with the intend to fight. Torus couldn’t  help but feeling an emotion that was like fear.

.

「Young master! Please escape! Don’t mind us!」

「Baldr, don’t force yerself!」

.

Seyruun and Selina screamed seeing Baldr’s injured state.

Baldr’s state couldn’t be said as alright by any standard.

His right arm’s bone was broken and jutting out of the skin. His  forehead was cut when he was sent flying and Baldr’s beautiful silver  hair was dyed with blood. Blood was trickling until his chin.

It was stranger that he could still stand in such state.

.

But, Sanai was laughing joyfully.

『Battle is really great isn’t it, youngster.』

The last time he stood on a battlefield was when he fought Date Masamune at Fukushima.

Sanai still remembered even now how it felt when he crossed spear with that extraordinary eccentric.

The sensation of his spear handle firmly landing on Masamune’s  helmet, the sensation of Sanai’s battle surcoat tearing apart on the  back when they passed each other.

It was the height of his regret for his whole life for not being able  to take down Masamune there, but Sanai was thoroughly aware from his  experience that war was something that wouldn’t go following your  expectation.

Sanai inhaled the air that was filled with killing intent that  penetrated into his whole body. Right now he was enjoying the atmosphere  of the battlefield after so very long.

To be in the losing side while facing a powerful foe by relying on his own skill.

This was truly the cherished desire of any warrior.

.

『Come』

Sanai said that and leisurely gestured with his hand toward Torus.

It was an unbelievable attitude coming from someone who was in the verge of death’s door just now.

He acted as though he was the stronger one here who would kindly give him a pointer about fighting.

.

Torus’s rational mind was telling him that this boy didn’t have any  more strength remaining. However his instinct was ringing the alarm bell  loudly.

He couldn’t imagine that boy would be able to defeat him at this  point with only a knife, but perhaps he still had some kind of way to  deal one last blow before he died.

The boy was provoking him with that hand gesture must be because he  had exhausted his stamina that it was difficult to even step forward.

He had the choice to ignore this boy and returned home without doing  anything. But in front of this provocation that the boy was staking his  life into, Torus’s pride as knight didn’t allow him to leave without  giving anything back.

「……Tell me your name.」

『Oka Sanai Sadatoshi.』

「Oka, huh. That name is different from the name these girls are saying but……I’ll remember it.」

And then Torus casually rendered Seyruun and Selina unconscious.

In a glance it looked like he was only caressing their necks gently,  but the two had their carotid artery pressured for an instant and  fainted without comprehending what had just happened.

Torus slowly put down Seyruun and Selina, then he faced Sanai once more.

This boy wasn’t that lenient of an opponent that he could face him while still carrying the two.

Sanai too never considered taking advantage of the opening when Torus carefully put down the girls.

「Here I come.」

Torus started running while drawing his sword.

Perhaps the boy would use another magic like with the stone throw  before, but in the end it was nothing more than a child’s play.

Seeing it another way, the boy using such trick was like saying that  he recognized he wasn’t his match in a head-on confrontation.

Torus’s skill wasn’t so shallow that he would be defeated by such cheap trick.

In contrast Sanai only stood still without any movement.

If they only compared their body strengthening, then Torus was superior to a ludicrous degree.

Sanai’s only hope of winning this by the skin of his teeth was only  by making use of his overwhelming amount of battlefield experience and  his fighting skill that he cultivated there.

That was why, Sanai had to keep enduring against Torus’s attacks until that timing for victory arrived.

.

*Kin!*

.

The sword’s blade slid down the knife’s blade with a dry sound. Sanai parried Torus’s slash only barely.

And then the sword swung horizontally toward Sanai’s torso in a flash. This time he dodged by rotating behind.

Those were splendid attacks that didn’t hold back at all even against a seriously injured opponent.

Even though Torus could simply run away while ignoring Sanai, he  rushed forward like this instead to choke the life out of him. Sanai was  feeling a great joy from Torus’s manly decision.

This was truly a samurai who was worthy for him to stake his life against.

(He is like a completely different person than before……)

Sanai was suddenly showing a polished movement. Torus couldn’t help but feeling bewildered by this sudden showing of skill.

Certainly there were times when a warrior instantly grew just from  one battle, but he had never heard about something like this when the  person’s fighting style changed completely.

Baldr before this was like the archetype of someone talented but thinking too much.

He was thinking too much with his head, how to hold out until his  allies came to help, how to injure the opponent to obstruct him from  running away, how to rescue the hostage, etc. Because of that his body’s  reaction speed was decreased.

It was the bad habit that was often found in a talented but inexperienced youth.

But then what about the boy right now?

He was calmly running his brain while smoothly handling his knife  with a logical movement that went through the shortest route every time.

The proof was how he was enduring Torus’s fierce attacks completely even with the handicap of his right arm being useless.

If he was grasping a sword in a perfect condition, it was unknown how this match would end up.

(──But, I’ll win without a doubt in this current situation.)

No matter how excellent the defensive battle that the boy displayed  was, it didn’t change the fact that the boy’s situation was gradually  worsening.

The weapon’s reach, physical strength, stamina──Torus were greatly  superior in all those aspects. It was obvious that this exchange would  eventually concluded with a fatal wound to Sanai.

And yet Sanai was making a face like a kid who got a toy for the first time.

『What a good feeling……』

Sanai was feeling how the cage of his heart was getting opened up  instead in this desperate battle where even a single instant of wrong  decision would lead to an instant death.

He thought that he had no more regret when he died after disposing  all of his wealth and exposing the ugliness of old age where he couldn’t  even get up from his bed anymore.

There was no more place for an old soldier to belong in the era that was welcoming peace.

The survivor of the Warring States era, the warrior who lost his  place to die in battlefield was fated to vanish from the street corner  that had become peaceful, like a dog that was chased away from the  street.

Even the general who staked his whole life for battle lost the  battlefield that was his place to belong. He became nothing more than an  ornament with a vanity that was just for show.

Indeed, peace was certainly precious. From the perspective of the  citizens who were able to escape from the fear of the soldiers’  pillaging, there was nothing better than having no war.

However, Sanai was unable to forget it, the clash of human’s true  nature that could only be comprehended in an extreme situation, the  exultation of the heart when competing in martial art with their whole  soul into it for the sake of victory.

A warrior would become like the dead before standing in the  battlefield that they decided, but it didn’t mean that they had  abandoned their will to live by any means. A warrior’s long-cherished  desire was to throw away their fear of death and sublimated their own  life in the battlefield.

The will to “live” and the resolve to “die” that couldn’t be  experienced at all in a peaceful world. Sanai──any warrior was standing  on the battlefield in order to experience that nirvana.

Betting on death that would only happen once in the life of an instant, that pride was also the warrior etiquette.

That’s right. Those who lived in peace wouldn’t understand.

To fight, to live, to die, are really fun.

『Ye really make me have fun, youngster.』

.

Blades clashed.

Exchanges of offense and defense that were mixed with advanced feint  were unfolding there. The average soldiers wouldn’t be able to even  imagine anything like this.

When Torus noticed, he realized that he was smiling.

He wondered when was the last time he was feeling this kind of  exaltation, this sense of fulfillment that was hard to be compared with  anything else.

Was it when he was appointed to be a knight at the start? Or perhaps when he first defeated an enemy in the battlefield?

「This is my first time feeling that a battle can be this fun──it even make me feel reluctant to win and end this.」

The boy too was smiling in joy from the bottom of his heart all this time since they first crossed blades.

Most likely he was feeling the same like him.

The tension of being in a struggle to the death against a formidable  opponent that he could throw his whole body and soul against without  holding back anything was hopelessly fun.

It even made him thought that it would be nice if they could continue fighting just like this for eternity.

.

But, the demise would definitely arrive in the end no matter how fun the time was.

Sanai began to use even the protector on his broken right hand in order to block Torus’s sword.

He couldn’t handle all the attacks with just knife because the distance had become close.

However the broken right hand that couldn’t feel anything was pushed back by Torus’s physical strength for just an instant.

At this rate he would be split into two along with his arm.

Sanai tilted his balance forward to force this back.

But with such posture, although he would be able to move to left or  right immediately, it would slow his reaction to front or back.

「It’s the end with this.」

Torus’s horizontal slash attacked Sanai.

He wouldn’t make it in time even if he crouched down jumped up.

Torus could imagine Sanai’s small body bisected into two with this slash.

──However, this was a result that Sanai lured him into. A horizontal  slash with the blade’s side exposed fully was none other than the moment  that Sanai had been waiting for until now.

『NamiuchiWave Strike』

For a general of the Warring States period, destroying the opponent’s  weapon was also one of the necessary martial art techniques.

No matter how fast and powerful someone could become using body  strengthening magic, their strengthening wouldn’t reach until their  sword.

Sanai threw away his knife, then his magically strengthened palm  struck down with an angle that was nearly ninety degree on the blade’s  flat side, which was structurally the weakest part of the sword.

*Pakiri* A dry sound rang out. The thick and solid knight sword was broken from its base too easily.

「What–!?」

He could still understand if this was caused by sword clashing  against sword, but Torus never even dreamed that something like this  would happen from a mere palm strike. He was hesitating for an instant  seeing his sword that had lost its utility as a weapon.

Most of his training as a knight was spent for learning how to use  spear, sword, and armor. It wasn’t like he was completely useless in  unarmed fighting, but it was still outside his area of expertise.

Torus reflexively questioned himself, whether he would be able to win against the boy or not without the advantage of a sword.

.

『How green』

.

Sanai regretted Torus’s momentary hesitation.

For a warrior, one should constantly prepare a method of fighting  without weapon. If they had none, then they had to choose the option of  running away without any hesitation.

Sanai grabbed the tip of the broken sword with bare hand and stabbed  it into Torus’s throat with all his strength without any care of the  blood that spurted out from his fingers.

When he saw Sanai threw away his knife, Torus became focused to  unarmed fighting. His reaction was slowed by the action of stealing the  enemy’s broken sword that was outside of common sense.

A veteran warrior wouldn’t be so lenient that they would overlook such fatal opening.

The instant Sanai’s left arm reached the end of its swinging  movement, blood spurted out like fountain water from the severed carotid  artery in Torus’s neck.

(I see, so from the start……he was waiting for the chance to break my weapon and for me to be shaken from that……)

He was too careless from trusting his advantage in weaponry.

To think that his opponent was planning to make use of his weapon──what a wonderful idea.

「Ma……magnificent, boy.」

『Tis’ a good battle. As I thought war is really great……youngster.』

There was no way Torus could understand Sanai’s words but, he certainly understood Sanai’s meaning and smiled joyfully.

He was certainly regretful for failing his mission and dying in a  foreign land, but this enemy was certainly more than enough for him to  fight and die against as a knight.

「……It was, a good time.」

『Me too.』

After exchanging those words with each other, Torus fell on the ground loudly like a puppet that had its strings cut.

At the same time, numbing intense pain assaulted Sanai’s brain from  his left hand’s fingers that were almost torn off from gripping a blade  tightly and his broken right arm. The pain came all at once as though to  compensate for everything until now.

(This is no good. I can only leave everything else to those youngsters.)

Even so, this was a very fun “match” for Sanai.

If he could enjoy this kind of deathly match, then this world wasn’t  bad at all──Sanai let himself sunk deep into Baldr’s consciousness once  more along with such great satisfaction.

.

The death of Torus who was the greatest fighting strength that  supported the knight order as its pillar crushed the morale of his  remaining comrades decisively.

Even if they died, there would be no problem as long as they  accomplished their mission. However with Torus’s death, the possibility  they could accomplish their mission became nonexistent.

The only thing left for them was to die splendidly in battle so they wouldn’t inconvenience their homeland.

.

「──Good grief, how shocking. I really underestimated the chief.」

Zirco was shocked from the bottom of her heart at Baldr’s unexpected reversal victory.

Torus was undoubtedly a warrior in the domain of the monsters.

For Baldr to defeat someone like that meant that Baldr himself had managed to join that monster group.

Even if she took the fact that Baldr was born from the blood of Ignis  and Maggot into consideration, the birth of a monster in the age of  less than twelve years old still gave Zirco the chill.

「It’s our win. Don’t let the prey escape.」

「Damn right. The ten gold coins are mine!」

「Keep joking! I’m not gonna let you hog the money!」

Mercenaries would be the first one to run away when it was a losing  battle, but they would be the one who fought the bravest when it was a  winning battle.

The knights who had lost Torus and had their path of escape blocked couldn’t hold out for that long anymore.

Even so they struggled to break through the encirclement somehow to  run away into the forest, and yet more than half of them ran out of  strength before they could reach the forest. Then after they entered the  forest, they were helpless before the throwing skill of Cell who moved  like an elusive phantom in such area.

They were first class knights, but unfortunately they weren’t existences who had broken through their limit like Torus.

In the end, the infiltrator knights were annihilated before the curtain of night even arrived.

Zirco and others didn’t have the composure to go easy on them was one  factor that brought this result. But the result would still be the same  even if they went easy on them.

Not a single one of the knights was captured alive.

Although they were enemies, their last moment was a praiseworthy one.