"What important matter?"
"My lord is troubled by what is happening in Wallabach. Do you know where Wallabach is?"
Aldeth knew where Wallabach was. If the drillmaster had mentioned Wallabach, it was probably because he was worried about the Orcish invasion.
But Aldeth chose not to ask.
"I don't know."
"You've been living in Griffenstein Castle for a while, you should know that much. It's a long way southeast of here."
"What's the deal with that city? Did the people there rebel or something?"
"No, there's no rebellion, Wallabach depends on someone for its livelihood. No, there's a forest a little ways from Wallabach called the Fang of Welcome,
It's a forest that people don't go to because it's dangerous. Recently, orcs have begun to appear in the forest,
I don't know if they were originally in the Fang Forest or where they came from, but they've been attacking Waleivar.
So, the lord is planning to destroy them."
Aldeth had heard about the orcs from Aris.
"Oh no, this is bad news."
"The people of Wallabach have been asking my lord for help. Wallabach has a large harbor and is economically important.
If Wallabach is not in good hands, House Gerho will suffer economically."
"Then. We'll have to organize a raiding party as soon as possible, and send it to Walleibach."
"I'm organizing it now, recruiting soldiers from all over. Aldes, after seeing your sword skills today, I'd like to add you to the raiding party."
"Me? I'm a hostage, and I can't leave the castle."
"That means you can't leave on your own. You're on a mission, and who can argue with that!"
"Of course not. The men of Castle Griffenstein will be leaving as well."
"We'll be leaving the castle with a minimum of men. The orcs are in full force. If you're a good soldier, you're welcome. If you are of your caliber, Aldeth, you will be a valuable addition to the raiding party, and though you are a hostage, I will speak to my lord and see if he will allow you to join us."
Aldeth thought that maybe, just maybe, this would be his chance to escape his captivity. Aldeth did not want to fight for nothing.
"Drillmaster, to be honest, I'm a hostage to my lord anyway. I'm not a Zirnewald by birth, and I'm being held here as a vassal for the well-being of House Boldo, so I'm under no obligation to fight in the war to save Waleibach. You're a vassal of House Gerho, so you're in a different position than I am."
"Yes. You are right about that."
"Nevertheless, if I can be of any use to Zirnewald and to you, my lord, I would like to help, so that House Boldo can repay the debt it owes to you."
"It is very kind of you to say so."
"That's why. If I participate in this raid, and we drive out the orcs, I want House Voldo to be able to pay off the debt they owe to House Gerho."
If the debt is canceled, Aldeth can be released from hostage.
"Debt forgiveness...."
As much as Aldeth wanted a price, he decided it was time to demonstrate his superior swordsmanship.
"Drillmaster. I'll be honest with you now, I've only shown you a tiny fraction of what I'm capable of in all my sword training, and that's on purpose, because I'm a hostage. Imagine if I had very good sword skills. Then. Wouldn't the lord and his vassals be very wary of me?"
Rousseau and Aldes talked for a long time. Before long, they had finished their tea. Rousseau ordered the servant to bring more tea.
Rousseau realized that if what Aldes had just said was true, he must be taken to the orc extermination squad.
Aldeth's swordsmanship alone, from what he'd seen today, was remarkable, but he wondered where it would end if he were to drain his strength.
"Aldes, is what you just said true, can you swear to it?"
"Yes. I wanted to train my swordsmanship with all my might, and I wanted to do it coolly, but I've been holding back.
You have no idea how frustrating it has been. To the orcs, I have no reason to hide my skills."
"In peacetime, when there was no war, if you had shown your skills, my lord, myself, and the men would have been very wary of you, but this is not peacetime, and we need strong men. I will speak to my lord about your terms for joining the raiding party."
"I'm sure I could be a great addition to your squad, if you're willing to make the arrangements."
This was no time to play favorites; Rousseau would take any man of skill.
"And... are your kin joining the raiders?"
"Of course. Your cousins, your brothers, your sisters, they're all going. We need all the men we can get."
Rousseau and Aldes finished their long conversation. It was late, and the moon was high in the sky. Aldes returned to his room and lay down on his bed.
He couldn't sleep as he thought about what lay ahead. After tossing and turning for a long time, he fell asleep.
Two days later, in the morning, Ahar came to Aldeth's room as usual.
"Aldeth, the drillmaster wants to see you this morning."
Aldeth went to Russo's room in the officers' quarters.
"Come in. Aldes."
"You were looking for me."
"Yes, I found you. I spoke to the lord, and he said he would grant your terms."
"Really? Haha."
"Yes, yes. If you succeed in this expedition, you will be free. The expedition leaves in a week. Make sure you're ready."
"Sure. Are Walo, Dalbry, and Baibo going with us?"
"Of course. We're going. We'll be in the same squad."
Aldes returned to his room at the end of the day. This expedition had to be a success. He wanted to be free, to have his debt to Voldo forgiven, and to be a free man. This expedition was also of great importance to House Gerho.
Aldeth would warm up properly for his swordsmanship training tomorrow, and he would send a letter to the aroma pigeon if it came to his room before he left for Wallabach.
Aldes had to write a letter. He had to let the Boldos know that he was joining the expedition to Wallaibach on the side of the Gerhos, despite being a hostage, and that if the expedition was successful, the Boldos would be able to cancel their debt to the Gerhos.
Aldeth got out of bed and sat down in his chair, lit a piece of paper, and picked up a quill pen. In addition to the expedition to Wallabach, there was something else he wanted to write.
'Dear Bachelor, how have you been?
In my first letter to you, I wrote that House Gerho was troubled by the orcs in Wallabach.
The problem seems to have grown, and House Gerho is planning to organize an army and send an expedition to Wallabach.
I've been training in swordsmanship at Castle Griffenstein, and I gave them a little taste of my skills, and they were impressed enough to invite me to join the expedition to Wallabach.
I told him that I was a hostage of the Gerho family, and that my participation in the Wallabach Expedition was contingent on one condition: if I successfully completed the expedition, the money that Boldogun owed the Gerho family would be forgiven.
My lord, Gauto has agreed to the arrangement, and I will be joining House Gerho's soldiers on the Wallabach Expedition.
I have the opportunity to free House Boldo from the debt that has held them captive, and to set myself free. I will make this expedition a success.
And I have something else to tell you. Burgelia was brought as a slave to Castle Griffenstein, and then sold elsewhere.
What the hell is going on here? Voldemort can't even prevent his own people from being sold into slavery?
I am so angry. Burgelia is my dear friend, bachelor, please find out where she has gone.
At Castle Griffenstein, Aldes Dream.'
Aldeth finished the letter. He hoped the aroma pigeon would come before he set out on his expedition.
In passing, Aldeth asked the drillmaster if the lord's family would be joining the expedition. Fortunately, the lord's family would be joining the expedition, and so would his younger brother, Wolpo. There is no place like a battlefield to kill without leaving a trace.
And there was no need to hide Aldeth's swordsmanship any longer. No, I would make it clear to the Gerhos, show them the horrors of Aldes' swordsmanship.
What would happen if they didn't honor the promise of debt forgiveness.
The next day, it was time for sword training. Many soldiers were gathered on the training grounds in front of the Weapons Building in preparation for the expedition.
Aldes approached Rousseau.
"Drillmaster. My lord has allowed me to join the expedition, and I think it's time for me to show my skills, so I'd like to challenge five or ten men at a time."
"Aldeth. Not two or three, but five or ten? Even for you, that's too much. You're an important resource for the expedition now, don't overdo it!"
"Don't worry, I'm just trying to warm up, and if I do a good warm-up, I won't be too tired."
Rousseau was curious to see how good Aldes really was, and his demeanor had changed: whereas before he had been polite and reserved, now he had a confident glint in his eye. That didn't mean he was cocky.
Rousseau selected five guards.
"You five will take on Aldes. Put on your leather armor and get ready, we're not going to take him one by one, we're going to take him all at once."
"Drillmaster. Am I hearing you wrong, and if so, are you telling us to attack the Aldes all at once?"
One of the troopers said.
"Yep. All five of you must charge at Aldes at once."
The five guards shook their heads in disbelief. Aldeth, clad in leather armor and holding a wooden sword, waited for the five men to arrive. The five men stood before Aldeth.
"Begin."
Russo called out loudly.
The five men shouted and charged at Aldeth in unison.
Aldeth dodged sideways, his sideways dive quick.
For a moment, the five men didn't even realize where Aldeth had gone.
Again, the five troopers lunged at Aldeth at the same time, but he dodged sideways again. Aldes was now ready to attack.
He struck each of the five men, one by one, very quickly, and to those watching, it seemed as if all five of his strikes were almost simultaneous.
All five fell to the ground in quick succession, grunting, and they didn't even see Aldeth coming. It was like a gust of wind, and they were already on the ground.
Dirt and dust kicked up near the five fallen men.
"It seems like something just flew by, and you guys are already on the ground!"
Rousseau couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Drill Leader. Please pick ten people this time."