Volume 4 Chapter 24 (1/2)
Chapter 4 Episode 24
Editor : Starbuck11
Near the Zalda Kingdom’s border.
A group of certain people ran through the road crossing the large forested area, heading toward the northwest.
It was an area where trading was not very popular.
On top of that, thanks to ErnestGora’s uncertain movements, it was now only the commoners who used this highway.
That was why, no matter how fast they ran the horse, no traffic accidents ever happened.
Even from the distance, the noise of the horses' hooves could be heard.
And after the people saw the dust and dirt flying about in the distance, they would immediately move to the side.
The group was dressed in poor clothes.
With the exception of the highway that was being protected by a barrier for safe travel, right now they used the side road probably to shorten the distance.
The fluttering mantles they used looked worn out, tattered in some places by beast claws, there were also bad smells drifting from their body, it made one wonder for how many days they had not taken a bath.
Probably, they also never stayed at the inn during the journey and choose to use camp.
If they didn't bring weapons while riding horses, people who saw them would think that they were refugees who escaped the war.
On the face of the group of about twenty people, fatigue can be seen clearly.
”Leader, I can see it!'
One young knight who leads the group looked back and shouted.
He was given the duty of scout, leading the group toward the land occupied by ErnestGora.
A sense of relief that he was finally going to get released from strong pressure, can be felt from his voice.
Everyone directed their eyes toward the direction where the royal knight pointed.
”That is the northern city, Menviz.”
Looking at the direction pointed, Oosan Gurido and Ryouma gradually could see the shape of the city.
Eventually, Ryouma could see the castle walls surrounding the city clearly.
One year had pa.s.sed since ErnestGora occupied Menviz which was the Zalda Kingdom's important northern city.
The flags of the ErnestGora Kingdom were standing on the city's walls.
”Ah, Indeed... Finally...”
Ryouma turned his line of sight toward the city walls without reducing the speed of his horse. -
”It has been four days...”
A frustrated muttering from Ryouma could be heard by the Marfisto sisters who ran their horses in parallel with him.
”I think this is considerably faster than normal... After all, we've been running day and night while strengthening the horses with magic arts, furthermore, we also changed horses whenever we pa.s.sed some town. Thanks to that, we managed to reduce the time spent for the horses to rest...”
Confirming Laura's remark, Sara nodded her head in silence.
They had imbued the horses' saddle and hooves with magic arts, by granting them physical strength recovery and speed enchantment, they managed to move with great speed for a long time.
With such method, Ryouma and the others had been running nonstop, while also making use of Gurido's position as a leader of the Royal Guard, they changed horses whenever possible.
”Well, I guess it can't be helped...”
Ryouma muttered those words, and turn his line of sight forward again.
”Are you feeling dissatisfied?”
After he shakes his head to Sara's worried words, Ryouma raised the speed of the horse once again.
(Dissatisfied, indeed I feel dissatisfied, but it would be no use for me to voice it either... d.a.m.n it, will I make it in time?)
Although magic arts were highly versatile and convenient, it didn't mean that there were no disadvantages either.
Fatigue would acc.u.mulate, and the speed of the horse was limited even though its physical stamina was being strengthened by magic arts.
For that reason, they switched horses whenever possible. -
Furthermore, they had considered reducing their luggages and clothes, so as not to further exhaust the horses' physical strength.
Many of the Zalda Kingdom’s soldiers used full body metal armors, but the knights accompanying them right now only worn light leather armors just like mercenaries.
They also didn't bring their sword and s.h.i.+eld that have the Zalda Kingdom crest on it. If people saw them, n.o.body would've guessed that they were knights.
Only a one-handed sword hung around their waist could be seen.
There were neither spears nor any other replacement weapons.
Other than that, only portable water bottle and a small cloth bag containing dried meat were hung on the saddle.
Looking at their light dresses and equipment, it could be described as a reckless group of people going on a journey.
Although they replenish their small supplies in the towns scattered along the way, unlike the modern Earth, in this world many unexpected things might happen during a journey.
Actually, if it was the usual Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma, he would absolutely refuse to go on a trip with such equipment.
But because he was in a great hurry, he had no choice other than to gamble on it.
(If it's those two then they should be able to buy us a few days, but the number of soldiers compared to the Ortomea Empire is too different. Considering the topography, we need at least ten days... Even if we manage to pull the negotiation, we might not arrive in time for the decisive battle.)
Lione and Joshua's appearance appeared inside Ryouma's mind.
As his close a.s.sociate and trusted confidant, he had confidence in Lione's ability to command.
In addition, although Ryouma only met him for a brief time, Ryouma felt Joshua had the same smell as him.
He was not worried about their abilities.
However, no matter how successful the surprise attack tactics they had used to disturb the advancing supplies transportation, there were still limits in everything.
(I hope, that ErnestGora's queen is someone capable just like the rumor said...)
Of course, there was the prospect of victory, but it was not an absolute one.
Thinking like that, Ryouma bites his lips and stared at the ErnestGora's flag.
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”I see, you're the Zalda Kingdom's messenger, Mikos.h.i.+ba-dono? Surprisingly, you're quite young. To shoulder the fate of a country with such young age, you must be quite the caliber, eh?”
In a room where Ryouma and Osan Gurido were shown, A man in the late thirties welcomed them standing with a smile on his face.
Despite the sudden visit, he didn't show any dissatisfied expression.
In fact, it felt like he was saying that they arrived according to their schedule.
(As expected, they managed to read our movement, huh? But well, it's not the time to think about that.)
The moment they entered the gate, the people from ErnestGora must have gathered information in them since there was no big ident.i.ty check when they pa.s.sed the gate.
Since even if they sewed the crest of the Zalda royal family on their mantle, it was not a proof of their ident.i.ty, because such a thing could be easily forged.
”Oh, that was rude of me. To call someone without introducing myself... My name is Arnold Grisson. I hold the position of General in the ErnestGora army. As well as the highest commanding officer of the Eastern Theatre.”
He was a skinny man with a pale-looking face.
He didn't look so healthy.
He might be too much of a hard worker since despite being young his blonde hair was mixed with white hair here and there.