Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Regis was reading his book in the conference room
”Good ! You are up early”
Altina appeared while using her towel to wipe her neck
”Ah, reeted in return
”Should I say it’s early, or is it late”
”Didn't you sleep?”
”There was so I needed to research”
”Is this it?”
Altina looked down at the book in his hands
Regis scratched his head and said:
”No, I have finishedbook that is related”
”Same as usual~~ What kind of book is this?”
”It is about origins of flags and crests For example”
He flipped to the page with the e
7 swords were displayed on top of a red backing
She leaned on the table andat the book
”Ah, this one”
There was a si in the conference room too
Regis turned the page, it showed the same swords with a white base
”It was like this in the past”
”It looked like a white flag”
”It wasn't changed because of that though”
”Hmmm~”
Altina reached over and flipped through the pages rapidly
Regis looked between the book and her expression
” This is quite interesting right?”
”Yeah”
”By the hen Sir Jeroi”
”Ah, that's right”
The banner hanging beside the e had a red base with a black lance and a lion
That was the Beilsch
It was a coiis used to serve
”It seems that they are all red”
”For the banners of the nobles, using the empire's base color is the norm The church will use black and purple, the coreen”
”Hmmm What about blue and yellow?”
”Blue seemed unrelated to status But it is the same color as the sky and the sea so its”
”Ah, it will be hard to see”
”There are some who felt that it represents freedom this way”
”I see”
”Yellow is used in the Geraria empire”
”Ahaha So red isn't popular over there?”
”They think bright red is a uncouth color, they seeh”
”Uncouth”
Altina stroked her hair and frowned Her hair was bright red
Regis waved his hand
”I don't think it is uncouth Erm I think it is beautiful”
”Eh?”
”Ah Nothing”
”Say it again, say it again”
”No no no”
”Again, again”
”No way”
A carriage left the southern gate through the falling snow
After Sierck Fort was out of sight, it deviated from the road
As it wasa wide turn, the wind picked up
The driver took off the hat on her head, unveiling her crimson hair, which floith the wind
”Phew”
”Are you okay Altina?”
The girl driver nodded in response to Regis' query
”Of course! You know right? I ae driver”
”Well, I do know that But you are only using one hand now”
She was told that a full recovery will take 3
But her recovery was progressing well
”Using one hand or foot doesn't matter if I said it is fine”
” Just take it slow”
”I won't fail again!”
Altina deftly held the reins with just her right hand, controlling the speed of the horses
They got in trouble before because a horse injured had its leg, so they were using two horses this tihts which used oil lamps
The insides were loaded with food and clothes; these were necessary iteotiation
Because they were off the road, the surface was uneven
”Woah!?”
Regis al on to his armrest for dear life
”Wait, don't fall off”
”Then drive slower”
”It's getting dark!”
”No, the place we arranged to meet is almost Shya!?”
”You will spook the horses, stop screa!”
The ride was so buis' butt, but they finally saw their destination
A hill of withered grass covered by a thin layer of snow, there was a large tree there
Altina drove the carriage towards a man, while 4 others stood some distance away All of them wore clothes made from leather and feathers
The eis and the others addressed theainheim
The one standing before them was Diethart
Altina stopped the carriage and leapt off the driver's seat
”Sorry for the wait! Long time no see!”
”Ugh”
Regis struggled to dismount
”hello Sorry foryou wait”
”Ah, it's been a while, Mr Strategist”
Deithart's face turned slightly red
Altina slotted herself between them
”I brought the food and clothes with ”
” I would like to hear the contents of the request before taking the remuneration”
”I'ift”
”So you are saying it has nothing to do with the things you want to request for?”
”Well, I will bring it back if you don't want it”
”I see You are as stubborn as usual I will gratefully accept this”
After bowing, The e on Diethart's instructions
As that was going on, Altina spoke
”Alright, it's cold here so let's get straight to the point”
”Yeah”
”We are planning to attack Fort Volks!”
Diethalt had a serious expression
” I a your mental stability”
”If we don't carry out this order, ill be branded traitors We ht have to face the 1st army”
”As I thought, the empire is corrupted”
”That's e have to fight Regis will come up with a plan somehow”
Diethart looked over with eyes of disbelief
Regis scratched his head
”I don't have the confidence But I will have to push forth forcefully”
”I see There are such ti me this because you want us to take part in the assault?”
Altina nodded
”That's correct But don't getat a fort that is full of cannons It's the same for you and my people”
Diethart tilted his head
The nor a fortified position is to attack with overwhel over countless bodies to reach the walls, scaling it, fighting off the defending troops and suppressing the cannons and gates from the inside to achieve victory
Diethart was basically following the sa Sierck Fort They closed in under the cover of the blizzard to avoid the cannon fire and attacked
”What's your plan, Mr Strategist?”
”I have some ideas”
Regis looked at the o
He pondered for a moment
” This plan is very unorthodox It will be better if less people knew about it I can share it with Mr Diethart alone though, would that be fine?”
It was Diethart's turn to ponder
”For the roles , will there be a need to know the entire plan?”
”No”
”Hist will send us into a trap at this juncture”
”But it will still be dangerous”
”I understand My side owes you this much And”
”Hmmm?”
Diethart didn't continue
He pressed Regis to go on with just the necessary details
To be safe, Regis sought advice from Altina
”Princess?”
”Since they agree, let's go with this”
”I understand--”
Regis summarized his information and briefed the looked at them from afar
Regis told the plan in detail
After listening carefully, Diethart nodded
” Understood I will get it done”
”That's a big help!”
Diethart responded to Altina's extended right hand this time
Regis shook his hand too
”I arateful”
”In order to return the favor to the young princess, I swear to accomplish the task on ist too
”You ht!?”
The strong youth sently
He then looked at Altina seriously and bowed
The cape made from a lion fluttered in the wind, Diethart and his men disappeared into the snowy forest
The Gere
A coalition of 22 sdoms and Duchies
But the rule of Chairman St Prussia wasn't perfect, and civil wars broke out frequently a member states
Varden Duchy belonged to this federation
Since its for countries, especially the Bulgarian eed with the construction of Fort Volks
The budget needed for war fell drastically
Thanks to the iron ore mines and the cut in needless expenses, the Duchy's econo the Federation
Varden Duchy used the spare budget efficiently, hiring veteran rade weapons to bolster its defense
With the expansion of its national power, they started expanding into the forest occupied by the barbarians
Holger was a wanderingthe benefits at Fort Volks were great
He was going to be 28 this year
He was hired 6 ht be a veteran as a mercenary, but he was just a rookie in Fort Volks and was treated like one
He exited the Fort's ate on his horse
Several savages attack distress calls fro into the forest were received He headed out into the forest in order to exterminate the barbarians
There were about 20 horsemen
Only the leading rider was a knight of Varden Duchy, the rest were all mercenaries
The breaths of the horses andwhich trailed behind the harder
Holger cursed in his heart
(Unacceptable The savages are picking trouble on such a cold day Why don't they just hibernate in the winter, how irritating)
Holger had no love towards Varden Duchy, Fort Volks or the expanding lands
Mercenaries only fight for themselves
Chasing after savages who ran when chased was a thankless job
They gradually approached the depth of the forest
The 20 riders advanced in a single file
Because of the withered branches and snow, the sun that was already covered by the clouds appeared dimmer
According to reports, the barbarians escaped here The horsees
The old war horse Holger was riding on suddenly left the ranks
”Hey!”
He pulled in the reigns, returning the horse into position
Don't give er felt uneasy as he swore
(Did we pursue too deep?)
Holger looked at the knight leading the unit from the front
It was hard to express his opinion with his position, but could he suggest a short break using his horse as an excuse? As he was considering this, an arro out
It hit the light shoulder ar off with a metallic thud
Ambush!+?
As if the arroas a cue, shuffling sounds erupted from the depth of the forest
There ay more than 20 people
The leading knight stopped his horse in a panic and screamed
”Savages!?”
”Moron!! Don't stop!!”
Holger couldn't help but yell at his superior
They were in a single file, so they couldn't retreat even if they stopped They could only h the trees!
Thinking the saed their directions and spread out
They didn’t have the obligation to help the stupid knight
They could only escape
It was said that white flags were useless against barbarians They believed the savages were pests, avengers driven by hate and devils abandoned by the Gods
Rumors said they will eat men alive or tear off limbs
Holger wiped off the annoying sweat on his back
The sound of footsteps could be heard from their retreat route
”We are surrounded!”
Someone screamed in despair
The mercenaries wanted to flee in another direction but were trapped With no one taking command, they huddled up in a circle
Even the horses held their breath in this unusual atmosphere
Holger's band was already in the depths of hell
The figures of the savages appeared
Wearing the fur of beasts and wielding swords or axes, they e sounds to intimidate others Why did the report say only a few of theh to encircle them like a wall
One of the roaned:
”I heard these felloould eat humans alive”
”No, don't!”
One of the youth drew his short sword and put it to his throat It was a sword he was proud of, sent to him by his parents back in his hometown on his 18th birthday
He wanted to kill himself?
That er put his hand on the short sword and restrained the youth
He didn't have any reason to do that
There was no chance of survival
The youth looked with questioning eyes at Holger, waiting for him to explain why he stilled the blade
There was no reason after all
What should he say?
Don't give up?
They can fight their way out if they stay alive?
Don't die before your seniors do?
All of these were shallow and lacked weight Hawk didn't prepare the adequate lines in advance
Holger drew his sword
”Follow me!”
Even though the enemy outnumbered them, they were still 20 riders If they all took up their lances and charged, there ht be a chance for some of them to be saved
Abarbarians
His cloak was made from the skin of a lion
”How courageous But there is a thousand of us here I a rash”
He spoke fluent Germanian
”The savage actually”
”My na me your name?”
”Holger Are you really savages? Or soldiers from another nation of Germania?”
”Neither We are the warriors of the nation residing in this forest, Bargainheim
I have never heard of such a country! Holger cursed
”What do you plan to do with us? Will you eat us alive as rumored?”
“Dismount and throw your sword away Answer our questions and ill release you in 2 months time”
”What!?”
They didn't understand the reasons, but for the mercenaries ere prepared for death in such a desperate situation, this was a wonderful proposal that seemed to have dropped from Heaven
They looked at each other
The youth as going to commit suicide leaped off his horse He dropped the sword in his hand, went down on one knee and raised his hands to the sky
”My God, please spare me!”
As the other er stared at Diethart to the very last moment
He had no other choice
Holger's band was captured by the barbarians
They were separated and their hands and legs were chained A piece of cloth covered the tiny cave Holger was locked in
He thought they would freeze him to death
But they provided him ater and red hot rocks to keep him warm
They really planned to keep their word
At night, the crying sound of a youth came from one of the caves
3 days later--
Holger was brought before Diethart alone
His limbs were bound, and a sas pointed at him
But it was a miracle he was still alive
Beside Diethart was a young arian uniform
A girl with crimson eyes was present too Her mouth was masked so Hawk couldn't tell who she was, but sheher identity a secret
Holger spat in his heart
(daarians were behind this)
He was surrounded by barbarians holding spears
A young entle for a soldier offered him a wooden chair
”Please take a seat”
”Hht? I will sit”
Holger sat opposite the Belgarian soldier
A wooden table was placed between them
The young arian accent:
”We don't want to kill you”
”You want me to trust the empire?”
”It is your freedom to choose”
”Tch”
Holger waited for him to speak When he was taken prisoner, Diethart mentioned he wanted answers for a few questions
The young man nodded
”My nais”
”I aer”
”Well then, Mr Holger, please look at this blueprint”
Spread out on the wooden table was a eway inside an architecture
Was this the mines of some mountains?
Holger thought he would be enslaved and work in the
”This is Fort Volks!?”
”There should be no reat”
”You, what are you planning with this”
”Oh!? You know the value of this document?”
Regis smiled happily
Holger stood up from his chair
”Theto do with it!?”
”Ara~ it took a lot of effort to get this It was hard getting the Tuonvell mayor to show me his personal book collection apart from this, there were books and records that were said to be lost during the war, the previous mayor was probably a biblio research of reat it is not only practical, its historical value is also”
”Regis Regis, you are going off topic”
The girl standing by behind the young man hit his shoulder
Calling the soldier by name, she must be an important person
Could she be a noble?
The young nais sat on the chair properly
”Pardon me”
”To dig out that blueprint what are you sche?”
”Obviously, it is for attacking the fort”
He said so unbelievable casually
”Are you an idiot?!”
”That's right I as That's why your inforo, there uards stationed? The ammunition cache? The quarters of the commander?”
” Even if you know these, it would be less if you can't reach Fort Volks”
”That is indeed so That's why there is no harht?”
”Just ask the other guys if I don't talk”
”Wrong”
”Eh?”
”The plan froate all of you and compare your answers But we can't release the people who lied Only the honest ones will be released You can't return to the Fort, so ill provide you with the necessary travel expenses as well as your sword and horse”
Holger groaned
What he said was obvious, but he covered all the bases His band was probably captured under this man's instruction
”Is it true that you will release us?”
”I can only ask you to trust me I promise to release you 2 months later”
Holger stared at him
Regis looked back with a serious expression
Diethart and the woer's answer
He could feel the tension of the barbarians around hi
Will he be slaughtered immediately if he refuses?
He didn't plan to test it
”I understand I will tell you everything So please let the others go They are all great guys”
” I understand I will co is correct, everyone will be released”
”You will definitely do that right?”
”I swear to God”
Regis crossed his arms before his chest
There was one coarian empire and the Germanian Federation, and they worshi+p the same God
Even though they fight each other during battles, their religious values were the same
Diethart placed his finger on the blueprint and said:
”This is the ate There is one sentry posted here”
” Okay”
Regis took out his pen and noted it down
(Even if I tell hih the countless cannons What is this ?)
Regis travelled to the forest of the savages for the entire week
Altina was curious about what he was doing and followed on the first day But going into the middle of the barbarian tribes without any escorts was normally unacceptable
Evrard will definitely question hiather information by himself from the 2nd day onwards
He asked Eric to help hiis couldn't ride a horse
After questioning all the prisoners, he completed a rather trustworthy map of Fort Volks
As the sun was setting--
Regis returned to his roo the completed documents on the table and collapsed onto his bed
The red light eak and the room started to dim
”So tired”
He fell into deep slumber--
The door to the room was knocked furiously
”Hey Regis!”
”Ah, Sir Jerome?”
As he pushed himself up, the door was opened
So similar happened before For exa?
Jero his uniform properly for once
”Why you, what is up with this!?”
”Ugh?”
Regis rubbed his eyes
The dazzling light shone down from the sky
”But it was night just now”