zChapter 60 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon (2/2)

As Ganche had said, no matter who the opponent was you met on the battlefield, whether they be ally or enemy, you would have to fight them regardless.

But was it really possible to immediately, and without hesitation, choose to do so?

Ernst wasn’t doubting Ganche. It was just, that Ganche was kind. Was it not possible that such kindness could create indecision in his heart and lead him into a situation that could even threaten his life? This was what worried Ernst.

And moreover… Ernst continued to worry.

What if, among one of the bandits, was someone that Ganche had once loved before. Ernst worried about what might become of himself.

Many people of many races gathered in the capital of Rintz Kingdom. Even if they weren’t necessarily a bandit, there might be someone Ganche recognizes there. If that person turned out to be one of Ganche’s past partners, Ernst wondered – would he be able to maintain his composure?

Twenty days after Targes had returned.

With all of the preparations complete, Ernst set off on his journey to the capital.

He started by taking a carriage to Arruca Village. The leader of the 1st platoon, Brez, served as the coachman. Four men on horses also encircled Ernst’s carriage.

At the vanguard was Targes. Although Targes had been deathly reluctant on the journey to petition the ministry, when he heard that Ernst was journeying to the capital, he was the first to sign up his name to be his escort.

From the looks of it, Targes had judged that the journey to go to the capital and back would be extraordinarily dangerous.

When Targes directed Ernst on who to choose as escorts, he unhesitatingly named himself, the 1st platoon leader Brez, the 1st company leader Mage, and the 2nd company leader Minaha. Ganche, of course, was also included.

It had been a year since Ernst had last entered the capital. One year ago, the road from the capital to Linz fief had not been such a dangerous journey. Just what had happened over the past year for this to change?

As he sat in the swaying carriage, Ernst’s gaze dropped to the box placed under his feet. It was a box of a size that even Ernst could hold. It was carefully decorated with exquisite ornamentation, and the inside was lined with a beautiful silk.

Within this box was the tax to be paid to the king. This was the precious earnings that the people of Meissen had gathered. This box, which was so heavy that Ernst was unable to lift it up, contained something even heavier inside – the money that the people of Meissen had scraped and toiled for.

At Arruca Village, Ernst disembarked from the carriage. The soldiers of the 2nd platoon that had accompanied them would return the carriage and horses to the estate.

Although Rintz Kingdom was a well-known for its horses, since they were unable to cross the Linz Valley, the horses in Meissen were all purchased from Lux Kingdom. Although the horses were thin and had to be bought at expensive prices, Meissen had no choice but to buy them. They allowed the horses to breed, and while the number of horses eventually increased, at present there were only fifteen.

Ernst looked up at the horse that Ganche rode. It was an exceptionally large and splendid horse. Both of its parents should have been skinny horses purchased for too-high prices. This horse must have been cherished and preciously raised by the militia soldiers in charge of the horses for it to have grown so big.

Although it was only for a short time, Ernst took a look around Arruca. The migrant workers had just begun returning to the village. By the looks of it, they had been told about the village’s cooperation with Caralime and Iben. The villagers had hauled out their decrepit looms and begun repairing them. No one knew if the rugs they would sell in the other fiefs, or if they would sell for a high price. Yet even so, the villagers bustled about, clinging to the glimmer of hope before them.

Ernst felt that, little by little, his people were moving in the right direction.

Although they had seemed unified at the estate, Ernst had feared that once they returned to their villages, they would forget that resolution in their hearts.

But when they returned to their villages, they must have persuaded their fellow villagers. Although what they had to say must have had things that were difficult to speak about, as well, they persevered through it and convinced the other villagers.

With Arruca Village at his back, Ernst stepped into the forest.

His people had accomplished so much, and Ernst had to learn from their example.

No matter how thick of a wall the Senate was, he must break through it.

More than seventy people left Meissen through the Linz Valley in order to find work outside of their homeland.

However, not everyone could safely make it through the valley. Every ten years, someone tragically lost their life to this valley.

Once the Linz Valley was developed, it would be easy to transport horses and goods, and people would be able to cross it safely.

In the midst of a winter with heavy snow, if even children could lightheartedly cross the valley without worry, then perhaps the people of Meissen would no longer turn to Lux Kingdom, but to Rintz.