Chapter 437 (1/2)

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Translator: Nat

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–Aegir POV–

「Arkland's recapture…… that was brutal.」

I mumble to myself as I kick an elliptical rock laying at my feet. It's a fragment of the destroyed city wall.

Mu, it hit a Royal army soldier. I'll pretend it wasn't me.

I look away, turning to inspect the perimeter of the city instead.

At best, it's a little tattered, and at worst, it's a mountain of rubble.

The walls are broken in various places, and many residences and buildings within the walls are damaged or completely destroyed.

Lots of buildings, larger ones in particular, have burned down due to the interior being used as a fierce battleground.

I see Myla, in her search for remnants of the enemy, enter a building with smoke still rising from it.

She came back out, not having found anyone, with soot on her face like a child who put two much makeup on to play house.

Because Myla has such a serious expression on her face, her subordinates can't seem to point it out to her. They averted their eyes.

「Still, Arkland is quite the unfortunate city.」

The fortress city Arkland has changed owners.h.i.+p four times in these last few years.

Firstly, the military nation of Arkland, its original name, was seized by the Allied Forces centered around Golonia by way of military power.

Then, as the kingdom of Treia was being absorbed by Goldonia, Arkland became Goldonian territory.

When things were starting to settle, the South Yuguria Empire occupied it after a hard-fought battle, and now Arkland has been recaptured by us.

Arkland is equipped with a solid set of walls so it often becomes a highly-contested point for a nation's military base.

The defensive side heavily relies on the fortification of the st.u.r.dy walls. The attacking side can't ignore the powerful fortress and advance.

As a result, Arkland always turns into a scene of carnage.

Similarly, the towns and villages near Arkland have changed owners.h.i.+ps multiple times, however, they are not in as bad of a condition as the city.

Since neither side could really fully protect them, they were not fought over and simply exchanged hands back and forth repeatedly without being damaged.

「It makes the residents really wonder what purpose the walls have.」

It doesn't help that the walls, which should protect the city, get so badly destroyed every time.

Leopolt and Tristan, who went out to check on the neighboring areas, came back at the perfect timing.

Oh, Tristan tripped on some debris and fell. What a clumsy guy.

Leopolt looks down at him, unconcerned.

And then Leopolt stumbled……no wait, it was Gildress who b.u.mped into him from behind.

After Leopolt wiped out more so than Tristan, he glared at Gildress with an emotionless face.

But the musclehead doesn't even realize he collided with Leopolt.

I can tell. Leopolt is pretty angry.

Tristan offers a hand to help him up, but Leopolt ignores it and stands up on his own.

Once he was up, he said something and pointed to the west and the south.

I know what that is. That's him being embarra.s.sed.

As I was thinking of teasing him about it later, an unpleasant scene interrupts me.

Citizens sob as a train of coffins get carried from outside the city.

That is to be expected. If the city was destroyed to such an extent, there was no way the people living there would escape unscathed.

Obviously, there would be a considerable amount of deaths to the population.

「Uuu, Mesa……」

A middle-aged woman, believed to be a family member of the deceased, gives me a glance and then looks away.

That was clearly a look of criticism towards me, although she can't exactly complain to the army who recaptured the city.

Her only way to stand up to us for her lost family must be to not express any words of thanks.

I walk past without saying anything.

I happen to hear Erich's voice nearby.

Turning to find the source, I see him giving a speech on a watchtower that didn't get burned down.

「Gentlemen. My army has defeated the enemy. You can forget about the inhumane invaders and return to the great Kingdom!」

Man, I'm glad I'm not the Supreme Commander.

「As you all know, because of an underhanded trick used by the South Yuguria Empire, the Kingdom was briefly handicapped. However, this fight is a great turning point. It is the start of a huge comeback!」

He speaks in a rousing tone. Despite that, the people don't seem moved and Erich should notice that as well.

「On one hand, I can understand that everybody here cannot simply rejoice over the victory. There have been countless fights that ravaged the city, and many have lost family members. I am not making light of the fact that the city was robbed by the cruel South Yuguria Empire. The same goes for everyone's sacrifices.」

Erich holds up his hand and then a bunch of wagons pull up in front of the citizens.

So the transportation corps left behind during our forced march finally caught up.

The covers on the cargo were lifted and the residents gasped in awe.

The wagons were packed to the brim with gold coins.

「If you are a resident of Arkland, then you will, without exception, receive 5 gold, and if you have lost relatives, you will be given double. Of course, you will all also be given a sufficient portion of food.」

Erich definitely noticed the atmosphere around the citizens.

Distributing gold is an easy but viable solution. Citizens disinterested by the victory announcement instantly became fired up.

「Gold will not bring back your lost families. However, if you have money, you can remove the rubble, rebuild your houses and live for tomorrow――」

Soldiers help to hand out gold to the people as the speech continues.

Erich seems to be unnaturally avoiding eye contact with the mountain of gold.

His face is also tensed up…… it might be from his own pocket.

It's unknown whether the citizens are satisfied, but at the very least, the air of blame has been cleared.

Someone more stupid might have stood up and happily shouted ”Hurray, we won” or ”South Yuguria is weak” or ”Rejoice, you guys”, which would have provoked the people, but Erich is more than capable of reading the mood.

「It's certainly not something I can do.」

If I crashed the party, it would be like taking advantage of Erich, and that wouldn't be cool.

In thinking so, I left the main street and entered the alley.

「Aah!?」

That was when I heard a woman cry out and the hurried footsteps behind me.

I turned around and found a female peeking curiously at my face like she couldn't believe what she saw.

「I knew it, you're the captain from that time……」

Now, where have I seen her before?

「You forgot!? Don't you remember the time when the kingdom of Arkland fell into ruin――」

Mmm, I still don't know.

The longer I stare at her juicy a.s.s, the more memories are triggered.

It was in the back alley and I was thrusting from behind――now I remember.

If I'm correct, it was the very first fight. After the Allied forces fought Arkland and Goldonia occupied the city, I was approached by this dancing prost.i.tute, who became one of my favorites. How nostalgic.

We hug each other, but she doesn't seem too happy.

She distanced herself after confirming I remembered who she was and she stared at me with a frown.

Then, she said a few words.

「I thought you would protect us.」

The expression she displayed was a mix of disappointment and a bit of anger. Her words stung my heart.

At this moment, my hands are too small to protect all the girls in Arkland.

The enemy started off with an ambush. The rearguard was defeated.

I could provide a range of explanations, but they would all sound like excuses right now.

「I'm sorry.」

That's why I can only apologize.

「Two of my fellow co-workers got mixed up and died. The first was during the loss. The second was caught in a fire yesterday.」

No matter how I think about it, I am just not strong enough. If the same thing was going to happen tomorrow, I might not be able to prevent it.

That's why I'll apologize.

「It's my fault for lacking strength. I'm sorry.」

She slowly approaches me and pounds my belly.

It seems she is actually hitting me for real and not joking, although it doesn't hurt.

「And then…… my younger brother…… I told him to stay home…… but he went looking for me and……」

Without saying anything, I hug her tightly.

「It's my fault. If only I was stronger.」

That said, it's not a guarantee that I could have saved her family.

But right now, I can't be giving excuses or arguing with her. What I have to do now is to comfort her.

If she wants to blame me, then I will let her blame me as much as she wants.

Her face hits my chest as her fists continue punching me.

「Why did you abandon the city…… if you're going to abandon it, don't take it back…… and then my brother wouldn't have……」

「I'm sorry. I'm sorry.」

I rub her shoulder as she beats my stomach.

I can somehow understand her feelings.

Monsters called countries fought together and people she was close to got involved and died.

The source was South Yuguria and Goldonia, but both are too large for her to hate, and so she felt uncertain about who to direct her emotions toward.

Her next reasonable target would be the army who fought in the city. However, it wouldn't make sense to speak ill of the army of your own nation that won back the city.

That's why she decided to attack me, the captain.

No matter what she says, I wouldn't get upset and would accept all her feelings.

In a certain way, I can take it that she trusts me.

I suddenly notice quiet whispers.

Before I knew it, a crowd formed around me.

「Eh, isn't that Harty? Who is she with?」

「A Goldonian soldier? Didn't the hunt for stragglers end just now, yet why…… spare me from the house searches again.」

「Ueh!? He has a coat of arms!」

「The seal on his shoulder…… it's all black…… hey wait, no way, this is bad!」

I ignore the murmurs and continue rubbing the woman in my arms―― Harty.

The name popped in my memory again after it was mentioned, but my feelings about her haven't changed.

「……I've calmed down. My apologies…… if I didn't take it out on someone, it felt like my heart was going to burst.」

「No problem.」

Harty and I separate.

At the same time, she notices the symbol on my armor.

Her crying face becomes slightly pale as if she made a terrible mistake.

「…… err, captain?」

「Yeah?」

With a whoosh, the people around me disappeared like water draining away.

Leaving the woman and running isn't very admirable.

「Captain…… how much of a captain are you?」

I count my fingers as I think about the casualty report.

「50 000, I guess.」

I hear the sound of a door being slammed shut.

It seems they were still curious about what would happen and left a crack in the window or door to peek on us.

「……did I perhaps screw up? L-like this?」

Harty makes a gesture of strangling her own neck.

「No, it's more like this.」

I embrace her tightly again.

Then I address those in the vicinity.

「I'm sure there are more of you with anger that has nowhere to go. I promise I won't get angry, so come take it out on me. The offer is limited to women only though.」

If I let a man take it out on me, I'll probably kill him.

Responding to my offer, a girl about 14 or 15 years old comes out of a house.

The red-eyed girl approaches me silently…… then proceeds to slap my cheek.

A shriek leaked out of a nearby house.

「Why did you mistake my mom for a soldier!!? How did you mistake her for carrying a weapon!?」

She slaps me from the other side and I take it without flinching.

Then she falls to her knees and sobs.

Relieved that she didn't get punished for slapping me suddenly with an open palm, the girl collapses in tears, which triggers the other residents to come out.

The girls berate me, pound my chest or stomach, and then cry.

I accept their venting and say nothing more than apologies. Gradually, the denunciation reduces to zero and the girls simply cry while hugging me.

「Is it fine if you don't hit me?」

「Yes…… well…… I don't feel like it anymore.」

A woman in her thirties clings to my waist.

「I lost my husband, though…… it might be for the better. I'll find a new man.」

「Sure. Do that.」

A 16-year old girl hugs my back.

「My parents went missing…… I'll be strong with my three younger sisters.」

「If things get hard, come to me. I don't mind if you use my name.」

I'm not getting a bad reaction from the citizens.

At the very least, they won't be hating the Goldonian army.

It feels a little like I shouldered some of Erich's work.

Now that the commotion is over, I take a break under a charred tree, and that is when Harty comes up beside me.

「Capt―― I mean, Margrave Hardlett……」

「Captain is fine.」

I wrap my arm around Harty's shoulder and pull her close to me. She doesn't resist at all.

「Okay, Captain then…… you're pretty incredible. Just a while ago, there were so many people who didn't even want the Royal army to come…… and you took care of that so quickly.」

「Only the women though.」

「Fufu, the men were silenced with gold.」

Harty opens her hand and shows me ten gold coins.

「Is that enough?」

「Of course not~ My house was completely destroyed and the shop became a battlefield, so the inside is a sea of blood…… it can't be used anymore. Our establishment is pretty big so the South Yugurian soldiers ran inside~ And then the Royal army chased after them, and it got really messy.」

They must be really stupid to drag a brothel into their fight. I want to find the commanders and hang them.

「In the end, a group of really burly men burst in and took care of things.」

I think it's better if I don't ask about the details.

「But the animosity is unexpectedly strong. Is it because they lost once?」

I ask while embracing Harty.

It makes sense for their trust in the kingdom to waver when the army loses in front of them.

Harty had a troubled expression on her face when I asked the question and then she looked around to make sure no Royal army soldiers were near before whispering in my ear.

「I don't know if it's a good idea to say this…… but it wasn't so bad when South Yuguria took over~」

Harty keeps her words concise, gauging my reaction and feeling relieved by my curiosity, then continues.

「Actually, things were bad after South Yuguria occupied the city only when you left. They didn't really do anything cruel…… there was no breaking into houses and raping or stealing things. If I had to pick, it was worse when the Arkland kingdom lost the first time~」

「Fumu. That's interesting.」

「Many soldiers came to our shop…… and for all the times they spent with us, they paid us without haggling the price…… and honestly, we made quite the profit. Well, you still had people shouting ”don't forget your loyalty to Goldonia” or ”chase these guys out of our city” and they were thrown in jail for it. But other than that, nothing happened.」

South Yuguria may have committed injustices on a national level, but the citizens don't see it that way.

「Our touts got too friendly with the higher-ups in the South Yuguria army…… that's why before the captain and company entered the city, we got scared and chased them to the south.」

Even though the city was occupied, the possibility of some citizens being overly intimate with South Yuguria was still there.

I've learned some unexpectedly crucial information.

Not to be conceited or anything, but Erich would probably not spend the time to listen to the residents.

And I doubt anybody has the b.a.l.l.s to say ”the enemy's rule was quite peaceful” to the Supreme Commander of their own nation's army.

It was worth it to let the women vent their frustrations then.

Regardless, it was a rather refres.h.i.+ng experience to be yelled at and hit by women.

Maybe I'll ask Nonna or Mel to do it next time.

With those thoughts in mind, I take another look at Harty.

She appears to be around 25 years old, 150 cm tall and her body is on the smaller side, but her b.r.e.a.s.t.s are big.

She has brown hair and lightly tanned skin.

She has a lewd aura around her suitable for your average working prost.i.tute, and she's wearing clothes that match, such as a low-cut s.h.i.+rt that emphasizes her b.o.o.bs and a short skirt 30 cm above her knees.

She doesn't seem to care about hiding her underwear either judging by the expensive-looking black panties I can see peeking out.

「……did you want to do it?」

Harty takes my hand and smiles.

「How could you tell?」

「Well, your eyes were scanning my body, from my face to my chest, my belly, my legs and then my crotch. It was pretty clear.」

She s.h.i.+fts her legs and rolls up her extra short skirt.

For some time now, she's been using a s.e.xy voice. That wasn't the case in the beginning, so maybe this is her style of doing business.

「How much do you charge?」

It might be rude to negotiate price right off the bat, but this is a prost.i.tute's way of life. If a price is established from the start, she'll be more relaxed. She can't just sleep around with a vague definition of how she'll be compensated, otherwise she can't survive.

In most cases, she would clearly state a price, but instead, Harty twirls her finger on my chest in hesitation.

「Well, you see~ I mentioned it before, but my house burned down…… and the store is a mess.」

Harty gazes upward at me. He hand adorably tugs on my sleeve.

It was different from how Celia and Pipi naturally flow into that action, rather it was a familiar and calculated move.

I would see it sometimes when a woman comes to me with financial troubles and a sick sibling to take care of or when a woman has to pay off a debt created by her parents and is about to resort to selling herself or when a woman doesn't like how her friend is showing off an especially large jewel.

Well, the last one is only done by Nonna.

「I don't need to be paid…… and I won't take anything for this time…… I just want the captain to look after someone.」

「Sure. Leave it to me.」

I relay my intent to agree through my tone and by hugging her.

「Thank goodness……Lutin, come here.」