Chapter 16: Battle for the Territory, Part 1
We were riding on Trumahs, or so it sounds good to say, but to be precise, the Trumah carrying me was sticking with the other cavalrymen, advancing along the narrow path without any instructions from me.
It was the side road called "Wakikaido" that we passed through when we arrived in the city of Suktari the day before yesterday. We followed that path in the opposite direction from two days ago and headed towards where we fought the orcs.
There were a total of thirteen riders in the group.
In addition to Karina and Cecily, who are level 6, there were two others at that level, which is the highest. Most of them are warriors, but there seem to be some who have different jobs like scouts.
Forming a line, I can't see well because I'm at the back and the riders are overlapping.
On the way, Karina and Cecily came to the back of the column to check the soldiers' morale and equipment. When our eyes met, Karina looked down and averted her gaze.
It seems she's aware that she did something wrong.
On the other hand, Cecily had an attitude as if she was just showing off, with a disdainful expression.
She really pisses me off.
I will definitely punish both of them, for this and that.
While I was filling my imagination power, the three riders in front seemed to have gone ahead and disappeared. Since the ones with the scout job were gone, they might have gone for reconnaissance.
There was supposed to be a shrine in that place, but as expected, there was nothing there.
And soon, when I thought we would encounter a horde of orcs, an instruction came from the front to stop. A break, perhaps.
I don't know how to stop Trumah, but I followed the others and stopped on my own.
Then, as if telling me to get off quickly, the rider folded his legs and turned to me. Understood.
There was a place along the narrow path where a few trees were cut down, and a large rock could be seen a little further in. Water was flowing from around there. There seemed to be a spring.
A knight who seemed to be effectively leading the troops, at level 6, called out, and everyone let their Trumahs rest and went to quench their thirst at the spring.
I followed behind them, but the petite soldier walking in front of me seemed to be inexperienced in battle, as he looked nervous just by appearance.
At that moment, I finally noticed. She was a girl. She had almost no breasts, and I didn't realize it because she had her hair pushed into a leather hat. She looked younger than me, maybe around 15 or 16.
"Why is a girl like her a soldier?" I wondered and tried to identify her.
That's what appeared. I see.
Perhaps she had rare magical talent, either by her own will or through some conscription system. That's why this little girl was included in the army.
However, even I trembled when I first engaged in battle recently, let alone a small girl fighting against monsters. It's scary, uncomfortable, and it's only natural to feel nervous.
"Please."
Just as I was thinking about such things, she drank from the spring and made room for me.
"Ah, thank you."
I also bent down and scooped water with my hands, bringing it to my mouth from between the stacked stones.
"...Um, are you a mercenary?"
I sense a similar lack of social skills as me. She probably wanted to say that we are strangers to each other.
"Huh? Ah, I'm not a mercenary, but, uh, like a slave..."
No, I'm definitely even less socially skilled. Yeah.
"Huh, a slave? Sorry, sorry."
Yeah, but she's of the same kind. Why apologize? She gives off the scent of a timid otaku girl.
So they exist even in another world.
"Oh, right, there were rumors that Cecily-sama had a combat slave with her. Ah, I'm sorry."
She leaned forward, slightly hunching her back and furrowing her brow, but when she suddenly realized it, her face turned red, and she left without introducing herself.
Cecily, along with Kalena and the Level 6 knight, were in a serious conversation.
"They should have arrived by now according to the plan."
I could hear their voices leaking.
Using my skill "Sense," I felt that the approaching presence was not an enemy.
"My lord, I have a report!"
A horse named Triuma came running.
"Zaan-dono!"
Cecily raised her voice. I also recognized the face.
That was the Level 6 adventurer we formed a party with on the first day. He seemed quite flustered.
"I've come under the instructions of Captain Zagoo from the advance team."
As he dismounted from Triuma, panting heavily, Kalena seemed to have sensed something.
"Things didn't go according to plan, did they?"
"Hah, we surrounded the thieves' hideout and successfully launched a surprise attack at dawn. We took out most of them, but..."
He paused his words there.
"The crucial leader, Janos, broke through the encirclement and escaped."
"What did you say!"
Cecily raised her voice.
"In the battle, we had 2 fatalities and 5 wounded. We are splitting up to search for their whereabouts, but we still haven't found Janos and his two subordinates."
"We suffered such losses. This will affect the upcoming operation..."
"Even before that, if we let the one-eyed Janos slip away, the city guards won't have any skilled fighters left today. What if there are other subordinates and they attack the city?"
The soldiers must have overheard the conversation and started gathering.
"First of all, we have no choice but to focus all our efforts on exterminating the thieves. We should also split our forces and conduct a search."
At Karina's words, LV6 adventurer called Zahn took out a map and began explaining the movements of the advance team and the directions where the remnants of the thieves might escape.
After that, the search groups were quickly organized. Zahn, riding a Truima, headed towards the riverbank, which was considered a possible escape route, along with a LV6 knight. Two soldiers were sent out in pairs to the hidden paths through the woods.
As the opponents seemed to be of high level, the instructions were to shout loudly or blow a whistle if they were spotted, to gather everyone.
By the side of a small spring path remained Karina, Cecily, two soldiers, and me.
I focused all my attention on my adventurer's perception skill.
Eventually, I felt a different presence slightly away from me, and at the same time, Zahn's loud voice came from the river.
"I found them! Over here, I found two!"
Cecily spurred her Truima and dashed out, followed by the two soldiers.
Karina looked at me, seeming concerned, but she followed them a bit later.
Though I managed to get on the Truima somehow, I was quite late.
In an instant, everyone disappeared from around Karina.
At that moment, a figure jumped out of the bushes leading to the river, and with something, they swept the legs of Karina's Truima.
The Truima lost its balance, and Karina was thrown off.
She didn't fall on her head, but she couldn't get up right away.
Then, a man pounced on her.
"Don't move!"
A burly man with a bearded face and one eye closed straddled Carena, holding a short sword to her throat.
Cecily's horse, which had turned back, came to a stop.
"So, you planned to use Carena-sama as a hostage, you fool!"
"You realized it too late. My luck hasn't run out, even with your best shot," said Ginoss, the one-eyed man, grinning menacingly.
"Dismount your horse and come over here!" Cecily reluctantly released the reins and directed her horse toward Carena.
"It goes without saying, but if you send pursuers or send any messages, the princess's life is forfeit. Keep your distance!" He seems to know about Carena's background as well. After all, he's a thief operating in this territory.
Two soldiers returned but kept their distance, only observing from afar.
"If I manage to escape, I'll release her in a few days. But before that, I'll have some fun," Carena turned pale.
I'm getting angry for some reason. I'm the only one who can punish him. That's why I have to rescue Carena. It's only natural. So, is there any good plan...
Ginoss lifted his body while keeping his arm around Carena's neck and got on Cecily's horse with her.
"Don't make a sound, and don't let others notice until we're far away enough," he warned.
"It's useless. Others will return soon. The main force should have already blocked the highway."
"I won't make such a mistake."
Ginoss scanned the surroundings, looking for any hidden soldiers. The horse remained motionless.
Just as Ginoss's attention shifted to Cecily, I created a massive amount of clay in the air above him.
Carena, who had been looking at me pleadingly, noticed the eye signal and desperately squirmed, trying to get away from Ginoss.
With the full force of my will, the clay transformed into a gigantic fist and struck Ginoss from above, slamming him down onto the ground from the top of the horse.
Before Cecily could react, I drew my sword from my waist and rushed over.
However, Ginoss, crushed under the solid clay, was contorted and no longer visible from the waist up.
There seemed to be no need for a finishing blow. I felt relieved. Although he was a thief, I had reservations about delivering the final blow with my sword. In the end, it may not make a difference that I was the one who dealt the final blow.
Just as Jinosu was falling and being blown away, Triuma narrowly avoided being crushed.
It seems that Kareena fell well from her buttocks.
"Ouch, ouch..."
She groaned, but it seems she didn't suffer any serious injuries.
Cecily rushed over and hugged her.
"Kareena! Are you okay!? I'm sorry, I'm sorry for putting you in danger."
"I'm fine, it's just my butt hurts, really."
To recover as much MP as possible from the large amount I used, I "cleaned up" the clay.
On the ground, where there was nothing left, the body of a collapsed thief lay.
"...So you can do something like that."
Kareena widened her eyes in astonishment.
"Yeah, thanks to my increased skill level, I can do more..."
Kareena stood up while holding her buttocks and performed a lady's courtesy.
"Shiro, I want to thank you once again. I won't forget that you helped us again, even though it's only natural for you to hate us."
It was a dignified attitude, completely different from her usual somewhat fluffy impression. This is what they call a born noble.
"I have decided that I will do whatever it takes to protect my subjects. That's why, even if I have to reluctantly lend you my power now, when we eradicate the threats within the territory and I can officially inherit the Earldom, I promise that I will greatly reward your contributions."
Well, it looks impressive at first glance, but isn't that a bit selfish? Instead of "eventually," why not just free the slave now?
However, I was overwhelmed by Kareena's unusual presence and couldn't bring myself to say it.
However, at that moment, a voice similar to mine leaked from the leather bag hanging at my waist.
"So, does that mean the reward is the princess herself?"
Kareena turned bright red.
"Eh... you idiot, idiot, idiot! Don't ruin the mood!"
"You insolent fool!"
"Huh? No, wait! I didn't mean anything..."
In my flustered low voice, another voice, almost identical to mine, overlapped.
"If that's the case, I would gladly accept. I could even spoil both of you a lot."
"What are you saying! I won't make such a promise!"
"You're the worst scum."
Cecily gave me an even colder stare, 30% more intense than usual.
I felt like I heard Lena's chuckle from inside the leather bag.