Vol 5 Chapter 72 (1/2)

Carpe Cardium

When we arrived at Johnny Village, what awaited us wasn’t a Hippogryph, but a Gryphon

A coryphs, it was a ades to deal with

The expeditionary force hadn’t the slightest idea that an enemy like that awaited us…

I was conversing with Clark-san about as to come

“Can I leave persuading Norma-san to you?”

What’s iht to command

According to the ancestors, it wasn’t impossible for my party to deal with it by ourselves But in that case, it would be just as planned for the Imperial nobles, and no fun at all

We were speaking in the recesses of a house, and Clark-san made a difficult expression

“To put it bluntly, it’ll be hard I’ve never been stationed with her until this mission, and she’s…”

Of whoht Norma

I did see her form in battle, but I was able to clearly understand why her disposition caused her to be hated

Her appearance was on the nicer side, so I’d like it if she calmed down a little, and behaved more like a commander

Letting out a low voice, the Third…

『How about we give it to her straight?』

The Fifth was in agreement to that

『An incoer I don’t see her as e her to a noble death in battle?』

This man’s scary!

To Clark-san’s strained face, I tried asking about the state of the knights and soldiers

“Clark-san, if she were to learn of the existence of the Gryphon at this stage, how do you think Norma-san would move?”

The most troublesome course would be if she stirred up a panic, and fled

In that case she would have no option left, but to be a traitor to the state

Clark-san shook his head

“She did look on a Hippogryph quite lightly In the worst case, she’d run, and at best, she’d try to raise her namatic side to her, so it’s hard to determine From my point of view, if ere able to run, I would”

All I understood was that we couldn’t anticipate anything

In that case, we’ll have to prepare to take flight

The serious ancestors gave a pro Clark-san’s words

The Fourth spoke

『Lyle, how about you snatch up the co authority』

My eyes widened a little

Seeing that action, Clark-san’s body reacted in shock

The fact that he was afraid of e way

(If I could take it so easily, ouldn’t be going through such troubles…)

I’ht

Even if she didn’t hate adventurers on the level of the Seventh, my name wasn’t spread in Centralle at all

The Second spoke

『… Lyle, we’re going to go speak to the village chief Have Clark speak with Norma on your behalf If she wants to run, then let her Oy, it’s your turn』

Saying that, the one he left it to was the Fourth

『It’s at these ti… froh for the lot? It painsof a Gryphon If we asked Clark… no, let’s palm it off at Centralle I do feel they’ll buy it at quite a nice price Okay, Lyle…』

The Fourth seeave off an i it

『… Pay out one gold for every goblin body Also, orcs, and things of that level for five gold Fifty gold per Hippogryph, and a hundred for the Gryphon!』

As rewards, they were quite extraordinary

(He really is quite bold when he decides to spend it)

As I thought that, the Fourth…

『The expected profit in’ll be over seven hundred!』

… But he was the same Fourth as always

(This miser…)

I asked Clark-san to persuade Norma-san

“Can you notify her of the presence of a Gryphon? If I’m held in doubt, I can prove the authenticity of my Skills Also, I would like to have a ith her as well, so please gather together the knights”

Clark-san’s expression was still as strained as ever

“What are you thinking of? You’re not just going to gather us all up, and attack in ht?”

He was quite anxious So he thought I’d take charge, and order everyone to attack…

After being told that much, I decided to smile

Hold confidence

If possible, keep the other party in anxiety

(Co like this since Dalien…)

Directing a smile, I spoke to Clark-san

“I will take the authority to lead It’s alright When it all couys and the volunteer soldiers You can hold so the Gryphon”

Hearing that, Clark-san’s mouth opened and closed silently

The Sixth spoke

『Good! Sink in the finisher!』

I put my hand on his shoulder, and went on

“It’s alright We’ll be heading out in the best of conditions I want to see the people of the palace rejoicing The expeditionary legion they never thought to return caate, and prance gallantly down the main street”

With his face still quite pale, it looked like hisat any moment

“No, the palace… even if you call it a triumphant return…”

I continued

“Bringing trouble to the i distinguished service for ourselves… how about it?”

When I made a serious face, Clark-san started to look troubled

He was a relatively earnest person, so I’ll bet he has quite a bit to think over

And he dropped his shoulders

“… If you’re telling the truth, there’s little chance we’ll survive But how do you plan to go about bringing down a Gryphon? Even if ere to prepare for it, we only have a few crossbows”

Hearing he had brought along crossbows, the ancestors rejoiced

The Second was…

『This knight is able You should learn a little from him』

He was likely referring to my own lack of preparations

“I’ll show you In front of everyone, that is”

I parted froe head

–

–

–

When I looked around for the village chief, I found hiers

Helping with the construction of the tents, he left the preparation of food to the other residents of the village

They were alldark expressions

The Second spoke

『A squadron of a hundred for a sers already lost a nue for the of deadbeats』

(… Come to think of it, in the Second’s time, the territory just consisted of a few settlee)

The First cut open the path, and made the barbarians obey him

The one who made the basis for the house in the truest sense was the Second

Constantly compared to his father, constantly complained at, he still put its shape in order, and expanded the village

The Third had said he was only proceeding ork according to the Second’s plans

I called out to the chief giving orders

“Can I have a little of your time?”

“Eh? Ah, yes What business do you have with ht?”

Hearing ht, I smiled

“I’hts participating, and that’s why I’ to listen to me?”

The chief made a reluctant face

He must be busy

But I can’t just pull back here

I took out a s of silver coins from my breast-pocket, and handed it to him

Inspecting the contents, he told a nearby youth that he’d be leaving for a little, and took to listening to my words

(But all I did was hand over some money)

The Fourth spoke

『The power of rand one Well, if you think of the future of this village, it will be rough if they don’t have as much saved up as possible』

And after the chief took me to a place we could talk alone, I confirmed the situation

“When ere dispatched fro as a Hippogryph Is there any mistake in that?”

The chief opened his eyes

“That can’t be! I made sure to properly write out the nae, there werelike that mistaken…”

According to him, the state-appointed Governer had run away, and had yet to return

Truly, hearing about a Gryphon was so to make one want to flee

“… Will you run as well? Will your are as well?”

The chief looked at hastly expression

But I spoke with a smile

“No We’ll take care of it It’s just that there’s so I’ve been concerned about… that captain She’s the feht from before, but she’s under the i as the matter’s resolved It pains e, so that’s where you come in”

“M-me?”

“I’ll have you cooperate, chief It’s alright We’ll protect the village, and defeat the Gryphon That’s all there is to it But she isn’t fit to lead this mission”

“… So what needs you fro…”

By higher-ups, he likely e of this area

Inviting in the rage of Centralle, and based on the persons involved… the village hts It appears the village chief was fearful of such a thing

“Please rest at ease I’ve already coreement with the adjutant If we find opposition, the Captain will be a noble loss in the battle to come”

Saying it myself left quite a bad taste in my mouth

And the chief looked at me

“… What is your collateral? Doing this much, if you’re to fail…”

Well, if I fail, I die, but oal is…

What floated in my head was Ralph-san’s face

I was sure he was an earnest father, but it seems he was quite a cheat

Thinking back, he was a person who’d lived long as an imperial noble

“There’s a ot a nice place in Centralle, and giving him a spot of pain is my current objective”

“W-what?”

His expression said that he kinda understood, and kinda didn’t But I began to ask ardless

(So about society)

After the preparations finished as per my ancestors’ words, I headed back to Novem and the others

–

–

–

… The house Nor a break in

It was a vacant one that had lost its owner There, Clark was being reprimanded by Norma

“Gryphon, you say? Even fools should learn to think carefully soryph Yet you listened to the words of that dubious adventurer so easily… this is why you can never get a promotion!”

While being rebuked by a feer than himself, Clark contained himself, and continued his explanation

“But it’s strange, no matter how you look at it That adventurer does possess a Skill, and he said it was alright if he proved it… You should be well aware of how great aone’s Skill has, not just to adventurers, but to Knights as well”

Lyle proving his Skillothers what he was capable of

Teaching such a thing to others held high risk, even if one wasn’t an adventurer

Perhaps finally noticing that, Norma made a questionable expression

“Even in the case there really is a Gryphon, that is separate fro that adventurer over! If he can prove his Skill, we’ll begin the preparations for retreat immediately!”

To Norma, she wanted merits, but she valued her own life

If she sensed the danger, she was set to withdraw

(If that cowardice of hers only showed itself a little bitthe preparations…)

Clark la ould happen if they retreated

“If we run away like this, ill be nahts Even if we have definite proof of a Gryphon’s existence, we’ll always be conde abandoned post Also, you should be aware of the recent ruht?”

“Rumors? What are you on about?”

It seems Norma truly did not know

Clark remembered

(Ah, dairl… she’s quite oblivious, even to her own colleagues)

She was too rushed to attain her own success that she saw all around her as enemies In truth, Norma had very few she could call allies

No, perhaps it was best to say she had none

By repeatedly snatching away feat after feat, she was a fee

Everyone around her was an enemy

(I see So that’s why she was chosen Not that I can saybeen chosen as the aide to such a person)

A depressed Clark began to explain the ru around the palace

Of how the nobles and knights had grown too great in number

Of how, for that sake, there was a need to cut down on numbers

That the participants for such a plan were none other than their own squadron

“So even if there really is a Gryphon, there’s a high possibility we’ll still be criticized, and our ranks will drop With a dishonor that great on our backs, living on as a knight would be…”

Hearing that, Norma shouted out

“W-what is theof this!? Then why!? Why was I chosen!?”

Seeing Norma’s panic, Clark spoke

“Please caloing to attain victory in this…”

“Victory!? Are you a fool!? With a Gryphon as our opponent, then not a decurion such as atus! As if I could calm down in a situation like this…”

Seeing her disarray, Clark thought her less fitting of the co position than anyone he had served under before

At the saht under her, they would face defeat

If looked at as a single knight she was skilled

If she had paid a little atus status was possible for her

There…

“Caption! Vice-captain! The town’s residents have gathered! An adventurer a guy called Marcus hired told the it wasn’t a Hippogryph, but a Gryphon that they saw… just what is going on!?”

To the knight that asked if he should subdue them, Clark shook his head

Looking at the confused and young knight, he spoke

“Captain, we should go as well It looks like everyone’s gathering up”

Whatever the case, there was nowhere to run