LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 72.2
And so, a few days later, Judith arrived at the Blackhead Territory on the Zarico Peninsula, an enclave of the Human Kingdom.
“Is this the Blackhead Territory?” She sat in the carriage, stretched her back, and looked out of the window. “This land where humans suffered a great defeat…”
The wind blowing in from the outside gently brushed her cheeks. The air was damp and cold, mixed with drizzle.
A man sitting on the coachman’s seat observed her intermittently. He was the same person who had delivered the message to Houston. He seemed to be around forty years old, quite a bit older than Judith.
“I wonder if a young lady like you can really stand up to the Orc Hero,” he commented.
“If it’s an order, I’ll fight, but I haven’t come here to do that. If Sir Bash were truly our enemy, it would have been better to summon Captain Houston instead of me,” Judith replied.
“Of course.”
Judith glanced out the window once more, feeling a bit uneasy inside. Over the past year, she had diligently studied about orcs. Additionally, Houston had vouched for her, confidently asserting that she would be fine. However, she still had doubts about whether she could handle it and what was really happening. There were many unclear aspects that made her nervous.
“You seem uneasy,” the man commented.
“Well, yes,” Judith admitted.
“I don’t know much about it, but it’s clear that something strange is going on,” the man continued.
“Something strange?”
“Yes, something big is happening. Otherwise, why would they use a magical carriage like this?”
The magical carriage was exactly as its name implied, a royal relic infused with magic. There were only three of them in the entire Human Kingdom, and they could travel at speeds several times faster than a regular carriage. Only a few could handle them. It was a legendary artifact that had saved humans from dire situations on multiple occasions. Of course, it was not used for trivial matters. Using it to transport a low-ranking knight like on this occasion indicated that the higher-ups considered this situation very serious.
The man in the coachman’s seat didn’t know anything. Of course, Judith didn’t know either, just like Houston. Even in Houston’s information network, they only knew that some “enemies” were plotting something nefarious.
“Young lady, this is advice from an old man, but… don’t take too many risks,” the man warned.
Certainly, this man had been an experienced warrior who had handled this carriage for many years. The fact that this carriage was being used for battle indicated that someone important was in trouble. He had taken the carriage and its occupants through many dangerous situations. Therefore, his instinct told him that something was amiss.
“Not take too many risks… even if you say that, well…” Judith responded.
“You should always be ready to retreat. It’s good to fight sometimes, but only when you are absolutely sure you can win or escape,” the man advised.
“How do you determine that?”
“By gathering information. Evaluate the magnitude of the situation, how manageable it is, and how far you can risk. That’s how you decide.”
“I might end up retreating quickly, then.”
“That’s what I hope for. It’s okay. If you withdraw early and observe the situation, you can figure out why things turned out this way. That way, you’ll learn to use information if something similar happens in the future.”
Judith took those words to heart. If it had been her in the past, she might have dismissed the words of a common soldier. But over the past year, she had learned. People like this man knew how to survive properly.
“In that case, will everything go well this time?” she asked.
“The interrogation should go smoothly. Think about it. Do you really believe that Bash, the Orc Hero, would allow himself to be interrogated if he had something to hide?”
“If it were the Sir Bash I know… it wouldn’t be surprising if he allowed it.”
“But the Bash I know is the embodiment of an orc. When an orc is in trouble, they kill all captors and escape.”
“But the leaders of different countries will be present in the vicinity of the interrogation room, right? If he reaches them, do you think he could kill them all?”
“Idiot. I don’t think he’s going to do that. Besides, an orc with a brain complex enough to think of such convoluted plans doesn’t exist. Not even Bash would be capable.”
Judith thought about it. Probably, everything would be fine until the interrogation. However, it was crucial not to provoke Bash during the process. Moreover, she had heard that prominent warriors from various countries, including Nazar and Thunder Sonia, were present at the location. Even if Bash became furious, it was possible to escape. Of course, Judith hadn’t even remotely thought that such a situation would occur. In her mind, Bash was one of the gentlest orcs, even among orcs.
“Well, even if you say that, for me, there’s a 90% chance that Bash is innocent. If I were in a position to use Bash, I wouldn’t employ such methods. I would use him openly, without beating around the bush, and make him face the enemy head-on. Anyone would do the same.”
“Oh, really?”
“That’s how you use your best pieces.”
“…So, what makes you suspicious?”
“It’s because things don’t work that way…”
And so the conversation continued.
While they talked, the carriage came to a stop.
“This is Stormhill Castle.”
When Judith looked up at the sky, it was covered with thick clouds, and a light drizzle was falling. Before her eyes rose an impressive castle with tall walls and a deep moat. It was a formidable fortress that seemed impregnable, as if it had never fallen even once. However, there was something different, a strong sense of determination, stronger than ever, as if it said, “We will not let it fall again.”
“They say it was rebuilt after the war, but it’s quite impressive,” Judith remarked. “Coachman, have you been here before?”