Chapter 27 (2/2)

Looking at it in the general perspective, they would be somewhat about a mercenary group of medium scale.

Though there weren´t any of those in this field, there also existed major mercenary groups that went up to the scale of a thousand members. There were many cases they would receive territory and gain n.o.bility status once they reached this height.

In regards of that, now that the mercenary groups were continuously getting bigger ever since the end of the great war, the knight groups and the n.o.bility had to confront the problem of whether they should win over the mercenaries or suppress them.

In either case, although the current position of the Beladonna mercenary group wasn´t to the point that the kingdom would try winning over them, they also weren´t a fighting force that could be ignored.

The Beladonna mercenary group was advancing through the Dorowa plains. Bela and the others were heading to the headquarters at the frontlines as a supplementary fighting force partic.i.p.ating on the capture of the fort at the foot of the Deliard mountain range that was scheduled for three days later.

[Come on, move your a.s.s, Borudo.]

[d.a.m.n it, the whiplashes from yesterday are still ringing in my ears here.]

[Hihi, you reap what you sow.]

[We were about to get caught into that too after all. It isn´t only master the ones angry at you.]

[d.a.m.n it.]

Hearing the words of his two fellow slaves, Borudo sweared in response from the bottom of his heart. Ever since Borudo started living as a slave, he had constantly been dealing with unreasonable things.

Borudo didn´t have the soft mind to break down just because of the whiplashes from yesterday. It was because he was able to live through that and still be there that he wasn´t disheartened like he was before.

[So, we should be about to be able to spot the encampment of the Ruuin kingdom now, right, Maia?]

Although there were some small hills around, from what was in the map, now should have been about the time they would be able to spot the headquarters at the front lines.

[Yeah, that would be the case.]

Next to the carriage Bela was on were Maia´s and Gauro´s machiinis. Hearing the voice coming from the sound amplification device, Bela started thinking while “Hmm”ing.(TL note:Dunno how to put this in a better way T.T)

[What´s with that reaction?]

Seeing Bela´s weird reaction, Maia asked while tilting her head to the side. But then, without answering her, Bela stood up and raised her right arm, giving out a command.

[Alright. All troops stop.]

Hearing those words, Maia and Golias gave the same orders to their own subordinates, thus making everyone stop their march. Of course, Maia once again turned her head to Bela after everyone had stopped. Although Bela gave the command, she didn´t explain the reason for it.

[So, what is it?]

“Be quiet Maia.”

The one to interrupt Maia´s question wasn´t Bela, but Golias, who was behind her on the carriage carrying his machiini.

“I see. Well, you can´t hear it well if there is the sound of the carriages and machiinis moving.”

As he was frowning his eyebrows, Golias was looking at what was at the other side of the hill ahead. It seemed there was some smoke rising up from there.

[That is the sound of battle, right?]

From the sound amplifier device of the machiini next to Maia, Gauro´s voice resounded. After that having been said, Maia was also able to notice the sounds. Being carried by the wind, it was possible to hear the sounds of metal hitting each other and voices, albeit faint. Indeed, just like Golias said, those were sounds faint to the point it wouldn´t be possible to hear if their troops were still moving.

[By seeing from where it is coming from, could it be the front is being attacked?]

There was n.o.body that answered Maia. At that point in time, it was already impossible to come up with any a.s.sumptions other than that. Despite that, Bela immediately went inside her machiini. And then, she gave Bal and Jadan her command.

[Alright. Bal, take your machiini. Jadan too. Breaktime is over. Bring out your Salamas.]

[Understood.]

[Hihi, understood.]

While hearing their responses, Bela was activating her machiini. While checking the meter of mana circulation rate, she fastened her belt, grasped the control stick and stepped on the foot pedal for the left feet, making her machiini stand up on the carriage. And then, silvery smoke surged from the pipe coming from the back of the machiini.

“”Hmm. I guess the mana is more or less. Well, it´s the battlefield after all, and it is also right under the mana river.””

Bela gave out orders to the people around while checking the condition of her own machiini.

[Alright, now then, Bal and Maia, follow me. The rest carry on marching while keeping the formation. I will leave the command to Golias.]

[Tch, so you won´t bring me along?]

Seeing the unsatisfied Golias, Bela smiled.

[After all, this is the chance to eat to the heart´s content. I want to prioritize the speed, and there  is also the possibility there will be enemies running this way. Don´t get careless.]

[Alright, commander.]

Seeing Golias sulky reaction, Bela gave her usual “Hyahya” laugh.

Bela dashed out, and Bal and Maia followed after her. In terms of movement speed, Maia´s machiini [Rozen] was one step ahead. Considering their own speed, choosing [Rozen] was the correct decision.

[So master. What will we be doing?]

[That´s right. Maia, you should have fought in the front lines before, right?]

In a distance within the range of a battlefield, the voice amplifier had the usability of connecting the voices between allies and machiinis that had been given permission to join in the line. Bal asked Bela by making use of that. And then, after thinking about it for some time, Bela spoke to Maia.

[That´s right. What is it about that?]

[Do you know where the encampment of the n.o.bles is?]

[Yeah. So, what will you do after I tell you that?]

[If we are lucky, we can get their favor. Well, if we are raising war achievements, we should be close to people that can evaluate us after all.]

Maia nodded at those words. With her taking the lead, they were heading to the headquarters at the front lines.

At that place, John Moudias witnessed Bela´s.

And then, feeling the impression of fear given off by the warring red machiini, by that red devil, the first campaign of the young teen became engraved in his memory.

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