When the noblewoman who introduced herself as Lucy Finlay raised a call,
a soldier in the inner side of the carriage raises his hand.
"Lady Lucy, over here!"
"I see. Everyone, if you please excuse me."
Everyone made way for her as she walked her way to the back with a
somber look on her face.
It seems as if they are afraid of this weak-looking girl.
Them after a couple steps, Lucy sat down in front of a wounded soldier,
probably one of her men.
"Now that I have observed her up close, that was Baron Finlay's daughter.
If so, that's still better."
The man next to me, who had been tense earlier, let out a sigh of relief.
"Are aristocrats that scary?"
"Of course, they are! After all, it is the nobles who hold most of the power
and military might in Krasland. There are many kinds of nobles, but Baron
Finlay was a man who was known for his fairness. Though he was killed in
battle not long ago."
"So she's taking over for him now, huh? That's a lot of work for a girl."
However, when I said that, he tilted his head as if he had heard something
unusual.
"What are you talking about? Noblemen have strong magical powers due to
their ancient bloodline, and even women are not exceptions to that."
"Oh, I see. It's a little different in my hometown."
"Are you a weak mage or something? If so, then you'll have a hard time
here."
I was bewildered by his pitying look.
First, there are monsters. Now there is magic. This is becoming more and
more of a fantasy world.
As I was feeling anxious about what to come, Lucy came back from the
innermost part of the carriage.
"My apologies for the disturbance, but my troops will be escorting this
convoy from here onwards. But please, be at ease."
After she said this, she went to the end of the carriage, then jumped with a
flip over to her horse, which was still following us.
I couldn't help but be amazed to see that she, who looked like an ordinary
girl at any angle, could do stunts as good as those in movies in my past
world.
I wondered if it was because of the magical power that was at work.
"Well, there's no point in worrying about it. It's faster to ask directly."
With that in mind, I stood up and tried to move to the entrance of the
carriage.
But the soldier next to me noticed my movements and hurriedly stopped
me.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"I've never seen such a beautiful young lady. I'd like to get to know her
better."
"You…are you an idiot!? Even if she's a Finlay, she's still a Baroness! Even
if you are a knight, who knows what they will do to you if you anger
them...Hey!"
I shook off his restraint and moved straight to the very back of the carriage
facing the outside. Thi s ch a pter tra nslat ion is ma de poss ibl e by sta bb
ing with a syr in ge tran slat io ns. che ck u p-t o-d ate tra nsl ati ons on my
Word pre ss s ite.
Then I spoke to Lucy, who was running alongside us to match our speed.
"Excuse me."
"Oh, yes. Is there something wrong?"
Thankfully, she responded to a stranger's question and pulled her horse
closer.
"Actually, I've just arrived in Krasland, and I was wondering if you could
help me out."
From what the man had just told me, the nobility is a terrifying existence
with power in their hands – both literally and figuratively.
But I don't feel that from Lucy in front of me.
Since she was riding a horse, she was probably more important than the
soldiers around here, and if I could talk to her, I could gather more
information.
"Me, help you out? Also, I've never heard anyone talk to me like that
before...."
Her puzzled expression made me a little nervous – bad enough if she
remembers my face in a bad way. For now, let's play a card.
"I'm truly sorry! That was very impolite of me! Please forgive this
humble-"
"Please raise your head. It's totally fine!"
I apologized with all my might, but Lucy immediately panicked. It's a little
different from the aristocrats I imagined and more of a reaction of a girl her
age. That, and also the naïve aura around her.
At any rate, if they let me talk to them, it is already a success. And if they
remember my face, it'll be even more than a big success.
It's hard to believe my actions, but as this is a different world where big
monsters like that can get you at any time, I'd like to connect with someone
in a position of power if possible, or else I'll end up as fodder.
"Thank you very much for your generosity, Lady Finlay!"
"No, don't worry about it. Where would you like me to start?"
She smiles modestly and asks me that.
I took advantage of her kindness and asked her questions, focusing on
Krasland.
"That goblin...was it? I've never seen it before, but it's terrifying. I can't
believe those things exist in this world."
"A few years ago, a brave man defeated a demon god who was trying to
destroy the world, but those monsters started appearing due to a curse that
the demon god released at the time of his death."
"But we won today's fight, didn't we? We're evenly matched."
Even remembering the battle back then, the human side was far cleverer in
their moves.
Lucy, however, gives me a subtle look.
"But the enemy's numbers are most often three or four times our strength.
At worst, they come at us with almost ten times our strength. What's more,
these monsters have a habit of targeting places where there are more people.
It is said that the royal capital of the country to which the Krasland
belonged previously was wiped out when it was surrounded by 300,000
monsters."
"T-three hundred thousand...."
I couldn't help but gasp at the number.
And from what I've heard before this, the population of the provincial city
we're heading to now, Krasland, is only about 100,000.
Still, it is said to be the largest city that can be reached at the moment.
"Because of the monster invasion, the framework of the country has already
collapsed. And now, the remnants of the units have already banded together
to somehow withstand the relentless monster offensives."
"The monsters usually march on us once they gather in a certain number.
For that, we're thinning the herd to prevent that from happening, just like
this time."
"I see. With this, you are able to keep the numbers down."
She nodded at my words.
But from the inside, I still couldn't help but feel a bit bitter.
If they are already making this amount of effort just to thin them out, it
means that they are this worried about fighting them head-on.
And from my further discoveries, It seems that these monsters do not have a
fixed base but arise naturally in places where the mana in the air is strong.
In other words, it was impossible for the human side to attack them first.
"The situation may not be favorable, but as long as we are here, we will
defend Krasland at all costs."
Lucy said bravely, but her voice was not strong enough.
She's a noblewoman, so maybe she knows something about the seriousness
of the situation that the soldiers don't.
But that isn't what my head is focused on right now.
I was told something that made me bothered for a while.
That is – the existence of magic.
In addition to the existence of monsters, it was another element that was
very different from the world I was in.
Apparently, in this world, humans are born with magical power, or mana.
And it seems that this "mana" in your body greatly affects one's
capabilities, and this one increases their physical strength beyond the realm
of physics in proportion to its amount. If yo u are a bl e to re ad this me ssa
ge, you are r ead ing from a n u naut ho riz ed agg re gate site. Rea d at my
Word Pr ess to sup p ort me and my tra nsla tio ns.
In other words, the physical abilities of the inhabitants of this world are as
different as heaven and earth from mine.
It's no exaggeration to say that although I look the same as them, I would
be no different from paper to them without mana.
(It's no joke to continue to be a soldier in such a state.)
"Do I have to have a certain amount of connections to get a job outside of
the military?"
I asked, and Lucy nodded skeptically at that question.
"We need as many soldiers as we can get right now. Therefore, all, except
those in other necessary positions, must join the army."
"I know...but I have almost no magic power, and my strength is
weak...."
"Don't be too pessimistic. Surviving on the battlefield requires more than
just skill. It also requires luck."
But even as she said this, her expression was not good. I wonder if she is
still worried about her injured subordinate.
This was also why I was brave enough to chat with her, as she treated that
soldier with much care as if they were her family – and not as a disposable
pawn.
Of course, as a test, I apologized grandly. But even with my rude feedbacks,
she didn't irk me out.
Or was it because they're now in a desperate position that she was unable to
do so anymore?
Still, at this rate, I'll die on the battlefield as a common soldier – which is a
pretty easy task for the monsters, in my opinion.
There is no way that an ordinary man living a peaceful life in modern Japan
can suddenly become an invincible warrior.
(I have to make connections somehow so that I can at least work in the
sidelines where it's safe)
For the time being, I have to obtain a relatively secure position in this
military.
The first step is finding someone to sell myself to.
I'm sure there are many others out there who think the same way I do.
For that, I have to find someone who is not in competition with them.
(I need to find a commander who hasn't taken anyone in somehow.)
In the meantime, I will ask Lady Lucy if she can introduce me to something
that gives a supporting position from the rear.
"Uhm, Lady Finlay...."
"Milady, pardon the intrusion, but may I have a word with you?"
"Yes, I understand. Pardon the abruptness, but let us end this conversation
here. Now, if you'll excuse me."
But before I was able to say anything, one of her subordinates cut us off.
Seeing her figure going far away, I let out a sigh and went back to my seat.
"Oi, are you okay? I never expect you really began to make advances on
her."
The soldier who stopped me earlier was the one who spoke first.
"Well, I was rejected in the end."
I mocked myself, in which he patted me on the shoulder.
"No, actually, you did better. I like it. I'll buy you a drink when we get back
to the barracks. Let's have a toast together!"
"Hahaha, please take it easy on me...."
And so I set off for the unknown city, having obtained the information, but
without making a solid connection with the noble Lucy.