Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

(Patreon)Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~Chapter 086 : Deep Mountains of Anguish (Part 1)

"It crossed my mind as we lightly sparred, but there's something crucially lacking in your sword, boy."

“Karuku teawase o shite omotta nda ga, bouzu no ken ni wa kettei-teki ni tarinee mon ga aru.”

As the morning training session came to a close, the man with the two-handed sword, who had been Yuuto's practice partner, spoke up.

…He knew that without even having to be told. A boy who had been holding a sword for only about a month lacked many things. His body had not yet developed as a swordsman, he didn't know the intricacies of tactics, and, furthermore, he hadn't even mastered a single sword form. It was too late for anything now.

"No, Am not talking 'bout that. Skill, stamina, and experience? Ain't no way beginners have such things. What I mean is something more fundamental, about your mindset."

“Iya, ore ga itteiru sou iu koto jaa nee. Giryou, tairyoku, sore ni keiken? Shoshin-sha ga n'na mon, motteru wake nee daro. Sou janakute da na, motto konpon-teki na kokoro-gamae ni tsuite no hanashi da yo.”

Mindset, huh? Quite a philosophical topic. Those words didn't seem to fit the warrior who stood before him, swinging a sword in a bold manner.

"But listen, kid. I think the spirit is the essence of the sword. No, not just sword. Whether it's a spear, a bow, a hammer, a club, or even magic. Anyway, in all the acts of learning the means to fight, there's something common that's needed. You lack that… that's my view."

“Sou wa iu ga na bouzu. Seishin tte no wa ken no kimo da to ore wa omou ne. Iya, ken dake ja nee. Yari darou ga yumi darou to, tsuchi darou to konbou darou to, soshite mahou da to shite mo, da. Tonikaku, tatakau tame no shudan o manabu to iu okonai subete, sono zenbu ni kyoutsuu shite hitsuyou to sareru mon ga aru darou ga. Omae-san ni wa sore ga tarinai… tte no ga ore no kenkai da.”

What a person learning the art of combat needed. And what was lacking in the current him.

…He didn't know. But being told that, something murky and unsettled rose in his chest. As he was deep in thought, the man bluntly said to him,

"It's simple. Your sword lacked a reason to fight."

“Kantan na kotta. Omae-san no ken ni wa na, tatakau riyuu tte mon ga komerarete inee nda yo.”

A reason, to fight?

"Why're ya making such a surprised face? So, ya really didn't realize all this time? This must be serious, man."

“Naani igai sou na kao o shite yagaru. Te koto wa hontou ni ima no ima made jikaku nashi kai. Korya juushou da na, oi.”

The man placed his hand on his forehead and looked up to the sky.

The boy was not in a position to pay attention to that. His mind buzzed, desperately trying to find a motive for why he took a sword. Was it because he lost when he was given a sword for the first time and was frustrated? Was it because the person he became close to for the first time in this world told him to learn it? …Or maybe because he was called a hero, and he thought a sword was the appropriate weapon for that?

"It seems you've come up with a few things that could be your reason, but lemme ask ya one thing… What you're currently thinking about, is it really a reason sufficient to wield a sword—a weapon for killing?"

“Ikutsu ka riyuu ppoi koto wa omoitsuiteiru mitee da ga, hitotsu kiku ze… Ima, omae ga atama ni ukabeteru no wa, hontou ni ken o――hitogoroshi no buki o furuu no ni tariru riyuu na no kai?”

At that statement, his heart raced.

Instinctively, he glanced at what he was holding. A blade made of metal, filled with a sharp, cold brilliance. A tool for cutting flesh, breaking bones, and taking lives—a tool unequivocally meant for murder. Realizing that he had been wielding such a thing single-mindedly, he felt a shiver run down his spine. His sweat turned cold. Even though his body should have been thoroughly warmed up, he couldn't help but feel cold.

As the boy stood there, stunned by this belated realization, the man continued.

"I thought something was off there. Your sword technique looks clean for a novice, but you lack hesitation when it comes to attacking. You lack fear towards your opponent. Moreover, it doesn't seem like you're thinking of battle as an exchange of lives. As soon as you got excited, you forgot how scary a blade was. Don't think that it's better than being unable to do anything because of fear, got it? It's a bad habit, ya know? That's very dangerous after all, to think that someone who doesn't understand that they could die or kill their opponent is recklessly wielding a sword for fun. If you go into real combat like that, you'll end up dragging others into trouble."

“Ore ga okashii na tte omotta no wa soko da yo. Bouzu no tachisuji wa narai hajime ni shicha kirei na mon da ga, fumikomi ni chuucho ga na sa sugiru. Aite e no osore ga kake sugiteiru. Motto ieba yo, inochi no yaritori o kangaete iru to wa omoenee. Shinken de no keiko datte no ni, osoreteita no wa saisho dake. Necchuu shi dasu to totan ni ha no kowasa o wasurete yagaru. Bibitte nani mo dekinai yori mashi, toka omou na yo? Motto tachi ga warui nda kara na. Datte abunakute shikatanai daro. Temee ga shinu tomo aite o korosu tomo rikai shite inee yatsu ga, akugi ni ken o furimawashiteiru nante yo. Sonna nde jissen ni detara, mawari made makikonde erai me ni au koto ni naru ze.”

There were several clues in his mind. He had never shed anyone's blood with this sword. All those he had encountered so far were stronger than him, and he had never once inflicted a wound on anyone. His body had never been made to shed blood with a sword. All his experiences had been in training. Although he had experienced the pain of being struck many times, he still didn't know the sharpness of the blade.

"So, how to say it… Think about it once. Why are you holding a sword? Why do you have to fight with your own life and your opponent's life at stake? If you leave that ambiguous, you'll regret it when you die, and you'll regret it even more when you kill someone. …Fighting aimlessly will only lead to something pointless, ya know?"

“Dakara, nanda… ippen, yoku kangaete mi na. Nande jibun ga ken o nigitteru no ka. Nande jibun to aite, ryouhou no inochi o kakete made tatakawanakya naran no ka. Soko n toko aimai na mama ni shite oku to, shinu toki ni koukai suru shi, koroshi chimatta toki wa motto suru ze? …Nagasareru ga mama ni tatakatta tte, hontou ni tsumaranee koto ni shika naranee zo.”

I said something very unlike me, yeah? With that, the man turned his back and walked away.

The boy couldn't move. The weight of the metal in his hand suddenly increased, not due to fatigue but for another reason. It was so heavy that he couldn't move, slumping over.

A reason to fight. He didn't know. To defeat the Demon King as a hero and return to his original world? It was a story that didn't feel real. He was too weak to be called a hero, and he couldn't even see any sign of the Demon King. Even so it was still his mission—he didn't daydream enough to feel like that. Fight against monsters that torment people and save everyone? What nonsense is that? There was still room in this world for humans to wage wars among themselves, though? They should say that after they focus their power on fighting monsters. And it wasn't his job to solve that. Let the people of this world solve their problems, and he, as an outsider from another world, didn't care about anything like that.

The more he thought about it, the further he drifted from the reason for taking up a sword. If he had to say, it was for self-defense, but if he didn't get close to danger, that need would disappear. Truly, he had no reason for it.

What was he fighting for? And why was he here? When would he find the answer?

At a loss, he looked up at the sky. It was an odiously beautiful clear sky. Even though the sky was so blue, the clouds that filled his heart showed no signs of clearing up.

~~~

The delegation of Omnia was currently proceeding along the foothills of the eastern mountains of Volden. However, during the week of preparation before departure, they were unable to fully prepare the necessary supplies to cross the mountain. This was because the priests in charge of purchasing supplies had spent the entire week fooling around, leaving them short of both funds and time to procure the needed items.

(Good grief, if they were just incompetent, there would be a way to salvage the situation, but these guys are not only useless but also greedy and shameless.)

(Mattaku… munou na dake nara sukui you mo aru mono o, koyatsu-ra to kitara sono ue ni gouyoku de kougan to kiteiru kara na.)

Elisha couldn't help but hold her head in her hands, unable to bear the headache. She had served as a knight for a long time. Naturally, not everyone she met was competent and honest. Even in the Royal Knights where she served until last year, there were mere ornaments like the First Order, and the majority of the nobles she met were also greedy. However, the lack of competence among the associates of Cardinal Callandra was particularly appalling. After all, despite being entrusted with the important task of a diplomatic mission for the country, the situation was this dire.

(These guys… I won't mind if it's just someone around Count Langogne's level, so I wonder if I could replace them…)

(Koyatsu-ra, Rangōnyu-haku atari to demo kamawanu kara, torikaerarenu mono ka na…)

She found herself half-seriously considering such a thing. After all, she heard that these corrupt priests hadn't returned to the mansion even once during the week, spending their time in the unsavory parts of Volden. Considering the war damage from the Volden Campaign and Tullius' policy of shifting the administrative center to Marlan, the town had begun to decline. She was actually impressed that they were able to play around there without getting bored.

Now, with the money for shopping taken away by such fellows, what happened to them?

"Well, I was wondering what would become of us, but to think that we'll receive further alms from His Excellency the Marquis."

“Iyahaya, ichiji wa dou naru mono ya to omowaremashita ga, koushaku-kakka no sara naru go-kisha o itadakeru to wa.”

"Indeed, you are such a devout person that it is rare these days, Marquis Oubeniel."

“Onmi mo makoto ni ima-doki mezurashii hodo shinjin ni atsuki o-kata desu naa, Ōbuniru-koushaku?”

"Oh no, not at all. I also have territories beyond the mountains. Coincidentally, I'm actually going to head there for an inspection, so I think it's rather convenient to bring all of you along."

“Ie ie. Sanmyaku no mukou ni wa boku mo ryouchi o motteiru mi. Choudo, shisatsu no tame ni mukau tokoro datta no desu yo. Deareba, mina-sama o o-tsure suru ni wa mushiro choudo yoi ka to.”

Unfortunately, they ended up traveling alongside Tullius, who was heading to Elpis-Roanne across the mountains. With spring deepening and the snow melting, making passage through the mountain trails possible, it was time to inspect his new territory… that was his intention. It actually made sense and from their perspective, it was like a lifesaver, but to be honest, Tullius was not someone she wanted to owe any favors to. Who knew what kind of hidden agenda lurked behind the generous offers thrown their way?

TL Note: Literal translation is “Who knew what kind of nasty hook hidden behind the bait thrown their open mouths?”

Moreover, it was unseemly for the envoy of the Omnia Empire, one of the Four Great Nations and the oldest, as well as the headquarters of the Holy King Church, to be scraping for money and seeking mercy from the nobles of other countries. People might think that they were just all for show, and in reality, they were just smallfries. However, in diplomacy, appearances and formalities mattered. Their job was to recommend ceasefires and mediate peace in neighboring countries embroiled in civil wars. What would the other party think if the delegation for that purpose was brought others like a toddler? They would surely be looked down upon as mere messengers of children. If civil wars could be stopped with the sweet words of brats, wars would have long disappeared from the world.

"At first, I was uncertain about traveling by wagon, but once you get used to it, it's rather pleasant, isn't it? Enjoying tea while being caressed by the spring breeze is also entertaining."

“Niguruma de no tabi to natte saisho wa dou naru ka to omoimashita ga, narereba otsu na mono desu naa. Koushite haru-kaze ni fukare nagara cha o kissuru no mo mata ikkyou.”

"…It may be simple tea, but I am honored to receive such words."

“…Socha ni gozaimasu ga, sono you na o-kotoba o itadakete kouei to zonjimasu.”

"Hoho, nice, nice. Your Excellency has a good slave… How about lending her for a night?"

“Hoho, ui ui. Koushaku-kakka wa yoi dorei o o-mochi da… Ikaga ka na, hitoban o kashi itadaku wake ni wa?”

"Could you please excuse that? I have various tasks for her to attend to."

“Sore wa go-kanben negaemasen ka. Kanojo ni wa iroiro to shigoto o tanomanai to ikenai no de.”

Despite this, the fellows who had conceded points even before they even got to the board, let alone their first move, were leisurely accepting the served tea boiled by magic with a nonchalant demeanor. Furthermore, they were even trying to make advances towards Uni, who was entertaining them. Even though if they know that her master had once brought down a count just to keep this slave in his possession, they would surely be horrified at what he would do.

"If this situation leaks out, we'll be looked down by the other side."

“Kono nariyuki ga moretara, senpou kara mikubirareru koto ni naru na.”

"…That's not all."

“…Sore dake dewa arimasen yo.”

Irmaella, sitting beside her, spoke with a funereal expression, as if delivering a eulogy.

Currently, they were not riding in a carriage but rather a wagon. It wasn't that the malicious Tullius was being malicious. He, too, was riding a similar conveyance. This was done because the large, wide-bodied horse-drawn carriages they rode all the way here from Omnia would not be able to pass through the narrow and steep mountain roads. Although it was inconvenient not to use the emblem-adorned carriage that indicated their diplomatic status, it couldn't be helped. The plan was to disassemble and load the carriage as cargo, then reassemble it after crossing the mountains.

Nevertheless,

"If it's known that we're traveling alongside the Marquis, it may be perceived that Omnia's stance leans towards Arquell. Since we're already allied nations in the current situation, on top of that we're being on friendly terms and traveling with someone who was active in last year's battle, after all."

“Koushaku-sama to doukou shiteiru koto ga shiraretara, Omunia no shisei ga Arukēru-yori dearu to ninshikisare kanemasen. Genjou de sae doumei kuni da to iu no ni, sennen no tatakai de katsuyaku sareta kata to nakayoku tabi o suru wake desu kara.”

"Ah, come to think of it, there's that."

“Aa, sou ieba sore mo atta ka.”

Not until the girl, nearly a decade younger, pointed it out did she realize. Indeed, St. Gallen wouldn't take it kindly either. While they were in the midst of civil war to tighten the country, to have someone associated with the cause of their instability intervene. No, if the delegation was only accompanied by a hero—though that's a strange way to put it—that country, which respects strength, might not mind so much. It's just that it was Tullius.

TL Note: The term ‘hero’ here is referring to Elisha because in the raw it’s 英雄 (Eiyuu) and not 勇者 (Yuusha). Since Elisha is one of those who contributed the most in the Voldan Campaign, she was called ‘Eiyuu’.

In the Volden Campaign, fields and villages on the battlefield were spectacularly burned down, and Arquell Kingdom and St. Gallen Federation both claimed that the cause was the ruthless plundering by the enemy or the scorched-earth tactics carried out by the feudal lords, respectively. The responsibility for this issue was shelved for the sake of early peace negotiations, but it hadn't been resolved. Since the majority of the local population claimed that the enemy set fire to it, public opinion tended to favor St. Gallen as the culprit. However, from St. Gallen's perspective, Tullius was a despicable commander who mercilessly drove the invading forces into starvation. A demand from someone who shook hands with such an irredeemable enemy, there was no way they would accept it.

From Elisha's point of view, they were both equally bad. St. Gallen probably did the looting. Even she, during that battle, resorted to confiscating scarce supplies by means bordering on robbery. A long-range expeditionary force from the invading side would need to do even more. And Tullius would resort to scorched-earth tactics because it was necessary. There were rumors that he even burned the capital, and he was the kind of man who would incite commoners to the battlefield to die and remain calm. If needed, he would carry out the strategy of burning his own territory, which was the bread and butter of aristocrats. It was a plan considered as foolish as an octopus eating its own leg, but he would execute it as many times as necessary.

Setting that aside… In other words, the people acting cheerfully in the wagon ahead were on the verge of ruining the mission entrusted to them by their homeland. If they had just kept quiet and refrained from squandering their travel expenses, they could have given the appearance of crossing the mountains on their own and wouldn't have gotten involved with Tullius to this extent.

"…Perhaps――"

“…Isso no koto――”

In a hoarse and exhausted voice, the third passenger spoke up. It was Yuuto.

"――perhaps we should just go back?"

“――isso no koto, mou kaette shimatte mo ii nja nai ka?”

His voice was tinged with fatigue, evoking a sense of futility just by listening. It was almost like that of an old man. He was on his first journey experiencing this world after being summoned from another world. However, what lay before him was the harsh reality of the Itucera continent, devoid of dreams or hope. Nations bickered with each other in the face of a common threat of monsters, and even civil wars erupted. The nobles, who should set an example for the people, exploited them, and the priests who should guide them were corrupt to the core. Hearts were in ruins, and the weak oppressed the even weaker. Seeing this firsthand left him devastated.

Diplomatic negotiation, the purpose of this journey, is already impossible isn't it? If so, then isn't it fine to just give up? I had seen enough unpleasant things. More than enough, in fact. I couldn't bear it anymore. So, why not just end this journey now—such were his feelings.

But that was impossible.

"It's impossible. It would be even more detrimental to retreat before any results are achieved. Those who flip-flop in diplomacy without producing results will incur more than just incompetence; they will also earn distrust."

“Muri da na. Kekka ga dete inai uchi ni hikkonde wa, shippai shita toki ijou ni aku-eikyou ga ookii. Gaikou de choureibokai o yarakasu mono wa, tannaru munou ijou ni fushin o kau dearou yo.”

Even Elisha, who was not well-versed in politics, understood that much. Making unreasonable demands would be foolish. But, foolish as it may be, which is better: someone who can make demands or someone who can't even do that? If it became known that Omnia withdrew from negotiations because it seemed likely to fail, it would be a severe blow. And if the other side rejected the demands, that would be fine too. It would become a factor in the diplomatic maneuvering of various countries. …Though the chief envoy of the delegation, Irmaella, would undoubtedly suffer a severe blow to her reputation.

"…And besides, it is not certain that we will fail yet. If this matter doesn't leak to the other side, it should proceed like any normal negotiation."

“…Sore ni shippai suru to kimatta wake dewa arimasen. Kono ken ga senpou ni moretari shinakereba, tsuujou no koushou to onaji ni naru hazu desu.”

Irmaella spoke as if trying to convince herself. Her tone betrayed a lack of complete conviction. It was a rather hopeful outlook. Elpis-Roanne was a border territory, formerly part of St. Gallen. If the new lord were to arrive with Omnia's envoy, it would likely become a topic of gossip, and there was a risk of it leaking to neighboring countries. However, ignoring that possibility was not an option in reality.

It would have been better if they could proceed separately from Tullius' group, but doing so would present another problem. Delaying the mountain crossing would cause them to miss the negotiation deadline, and, above all, they had already received financial support from him once, under the guise of charity. It was charity given while struggling with the management of their war-torn home and the newly acquired territory. It would be too embarrassing to ask for funds again after having spent what they had received. Even being allowed to join the entourage for the inspection of the new territory was an extraordinary act of kindness that would normally be impossible. It seemed inconceivable, given Tullius' actions, and even felt a bit unsettling, but it was likely due to the prestige of Omnia, an allied nation and religious authority.

"Keeping a secret even though you're going to ask others for favor? Quite the saintly act."

“Hito ni onegai shi ni iku no ni, kakushigoto ka yo. Taishita seijo-sama da na.”

The boy grumbled as if sulking. Irmaella lowered her gaze as if she herself was also aware of this. Both of them were quite fastidious, thought Elisha with a mix of admiration and exasperation. It was essential to present one's side as flawless as possible during negotiations. After all, negotiation was like a battle, shifting from swords to words. No idiot on the battlefield would show their weaknesses. Revealing one's true intentions was not just a noble act but also a means to assert dominance by displaying one's magnanimity. If it led to a successful negotiation, it would be worth it, but in this case, the reality was too harsh. Revealing the truth would only lead to losing credibility. Therefore, it was better to keep it hidden. But whether they could successfully conceal it was another matter.

(Speaking of terrible, the atmosphere between these two too…)

(Hidoi to ieba, kono futari no aida no kuuki mo da na…)

The relationship between Yuuto, summoned as a hero, and his contract holder, Irmaella, did not improve at all during this journey. In fact, it deteriorated. He already disliked her, the one who summoned him to this other world, but with the repeated misconduct of the priests accompanying them, that negative impression spread even to Irmaella. On the other hand, the girl occasionally tried to talk to him timidly, only to be brushed off each time. Unless Yuuto showed some willingness to improve the relationship, it was likely to stay the same forever.

But really, she was just a daughter who kept getting dragged down by her father. It was because of Irmaella's father, Emilio Callandra, who chose the members of the envoy, that prospects for negotiations with St. Gallen darkened, and the relationship with the hero became strained, worsening the image of the Holy King Church. For someone who rose to prominence on her daughter's coattails, it was quite a treatment, wasn't it.

(Thinking about it, my father is quite a capable person, isn't he?)

(Sore o omou to, waga chichi wa taihen dekita hito datta no da naa.)

At that moment, Elisha thought about the Marquis of Balbastre, who must have been desperately trying to balance power between the Centralist and Decentralist factions in the capital. On the contrary, there his daughter was, running away from home and defecting to the opposing faction, but he somehow managed to play the difficult role of being the intermediary between the central and local authorities. She must have been causing him a lot of trouble. Elisha reflected on her own unfilial behavior. It was the kind of thing where one looked at other people's behavior and then changed their own. Perhaps she should have visited him soon, bringing a gift as an apology for her long absence.

Just then, they heard the sound of hoofbeats. It wasn't the plodding of packhorses; it was the lively, yet powerful sound of galloping horses. Looking around, they saw the military officers of House Oubeniel, who had apparently been on patrol, were about to join the entourage.

"Oooii, Master!"

“Oooii, Goshujin!”

The one raising their voice to come back to report was Due Schwarzer. Though he was said to be a former adventurer, he handled the horse quite skillfully. Upon closer inspection, there were sporadic bloodstains on his equipment.

"What's up, Due? That's quite a flashy look you have there."

“Doushitan dai, Dūe. Eraku hade na kakkou janai ka.”

"This is the result of our patrol… Around here, the number of monsters seems to have increased strangely. They're just small fry, but you can run into quite a sizable group just by exploring the woods a bit."

“Shoukai ni deta kekka ga kore da ze… Kono atari, yake ni mamono no kazu ga fuete iyagaru. Zako bakari to wa ie, chotto hayashi o saguru dake de kekkou na kibo no mure ni iki ataru ze.”

"Is that true?"

“Sore wa, hontou desu ka?”

The one who interrupted the conversation between the master and servant was Irmaella. Tullius and Due exchanged a brief glance but didn't interrupt and urged her to continue.

"Oh, is there something on your mind, Irmaella-san?"

“Oya, Irumaerra-san ni wa nani ka ki ni naru koto demo?”

"Yes. I wonder if the increase in monster activity is due to the aftermath of last year's war."

“Ee. Moshiya saku-nen no sensai no eikyou de, mamono no seiryoku ga mashita no dewa, to.”

"…Come to think of it, you are going to St. Gallen to try and stop the civil war because of that, right?"

“…Sou ieba, Zankutogaren ni moso no kudan de naisen o tome ni ikareru no deshita yo ne.”

During times of conflict, the hearts of people became disturbed, and darkness spread across the continent, allowing monsters to proliferate, as the Holy King Church has always preached. Indeed, it was a fact that after major wars, there tended to be a surge in monster activity. Some researchers claimed that it was because the decrease in population and the temporary retreat of inhabited areas resulted in the expansion of monster territories. However, undead creatures born from the remains of the dead were indeed a consequence of war, so there may not have been entirely falsehoods in the Church's teachings.

Furthermore, though it was not publicly known, there were ominous signs significant enough to warrant the summoning of heroes. It was entirely possible that the forces of darkness were lurking in Volden, which was the main battlefield last year.

"Laubert. Have there been any significant changes in the number of extermination requests to the Adventurer's Guild?"

“Rubēru. Bouken-sha girudo e no toubatsu irai no kensuu ni, medatta suuji no henka wa atta ka na?”

"Well, overall in the Volden region, there were more than usual for this time of year… Oh no, I forgot, the residents of the eastern part of the region don't have much leeway for that! It's possible that due to economic circumstances, there haven't been any requests made, leading to unreported instances of monster appearances."

“Sou desu ne, Vorudan-shuu zentai demo reinen yori oome dewa arimashita ga… shimatta, shuu no toubu wa juumin ni mo yoyuu wa nai ndeshita! Hyotto suru to, keizai-teki jijou kara irai ga dasarete inai tame ni, mi kakunin no mamono shutsugen rei ga aru kamo shiremasen.”

As the retainer accompanying them spoke, a sudden agitation spread. Mostly among the envoys from Omnia.

"What!? Are we proceeding through areas where monsters are appearing!?"

“Sonna!? Mamono no hassei shite iru naka o susumu no desu ka!?”

"D-do you not think it might be dangerous?"

“Ki, kiken dewa nai ka to omowaremasen ka na, sore wa?”

…Was this something a priest of Omnia, who supposedly specialized in exorcism, should have been saying? Elisha couldn't help but feel incredulous.

"Hey, Irma…"

“Naa, Iruma…”

"Um, well… since this is a diplomatic mission, perhaps the Commander of the Warrior Monk Corps had primarily chosen the rather eloquent ones."

“Ano, sono… souhei danchou mo, gaikou shisetsu to iu koto de ben no tatsu hou o omo ni eranda no ka to.”

Irmaella said so while shrinking in embarrassment. In essence, His Eminence, the 'Gray Cardinal', seemed to regard this envoy mission merely as a political drama and had assembled members of his faction similar to himself. By the way, that man was famous for having below average holy power even among the monks, unlike his daughter.

"…There's no need to worry. As I said earlier, for now, it's just an abundance of small fries like goblins and the like. As long as you're prepared with potions and such, even fledgling adventurers can handle them."

“…Sou shinpai suru koto wa nee yo. Sakki mo itta ga, ima no tokoro wa goburin teido no zako ga tairyou ni waiteiru dake da. Pōshon nanka no sonae sae banzen ni shite irya, kakedashi no bouken-sha demo nan to ka naru aite da yo.”

Due said with a complicated expression, and the priests showed obvious relief.

"I-I see! If that's the case, then I'm relieved."

“Sa, sayou ka! Dearu nara, mazu wa hito anshin dearu na.”

"If we're accompanied by the retainers of Marquis Oubeniel who were renowned for their valor last year, there should be hardly any worries."

“Sennen ni buyuu de narashita Ōbuniru-kou no kashin-dan to douhan shite oreba, man ni hitotsu mo shinpai wa arumaite.”

"Sigh…"

“Haa…”

TL Note: Fyi ‘haa’ in Japanese can mean ‘yes’ and can also mean a sigh depending on the context. But here it means both (or maybe neither, lol).

Even Tullius seemed to have nothing to offer but a sound that could not be called a sigh nor a half-hearted reply. If Due's report was accurate, their adversaries would likely be nothing more than goblins or at most, orcs. To be so fearful of such small fry as to entrust everything to their escorts… Elisha had always known they were no good, and had been reminded of it many times, but she hadn't expected it to this extent. Did Cardinal Callandra truly believe that the envoy mission would succeed with this? Elisha couldn't help but deeply ponder this.

"For now, let's hurry to the village ahead. It's the last supply point before entering the mountains."

“Hito mazu, kono saki ni aru mura e isogimashou. Yama ni hairu mae no saigo no hokyuu-chi desu.”

Tullius said, pointing to a spot on the map. There was a pioneer village on the eastern edge of the province, marked with fresh ink marks. That would be their lodging for the day.

~~~

The village was the newest in the Volden Province. This was because of the mountain pass discovered—more accurately, rediscovered—by the St. Gallen army's crossing, leading from the border mountains to Elpis-Roanne. To maintain a stable route through it, a base where travelers could lodge and replenish supplies was necessary. Moreover, the land beyond the mountains belonged to the lord's new territory. It was to meet such demands that this pioneer village in the mountains was established. At present, it was nothing more than a small settlement where people who had lost their villages due to the war gathered together, supporting each other. However, if this road were developed and transportation organized, there was a possibility that within ten years, it could grow into a bustling town.

…But that possibility seemed to be cruelly slipping away.

"Th-this is…!?"

“Ko, kore wa…!?”

One of the priests exclaimed, his voice trembling.

The village, established just this year, was already charred. Freshly planted hedges had been brutally cut down, and the entrance gate was charred black. Houses that should have been newly built already had several broken windows, and black stains, possibly blood or soot, marred the walls. It looked as though it had been raided by bandits or as if time had rolled back to the war that had just ended last year.

Eventually, one of the dilapidated log cabins creaked open its door.

Out stepped a middle-aged man with bandages haphazardly wrapped around his face and arms. Though his clothes were dirty, they seemed to be of higher quality than what the villagers could afford. He was likely the mayor of this pioneer village.

"Are you all… part of the lord's entourage?"

“Mina-sama wa… ryoushu-sama no go-ikkou ni gozaimasuru ka?”

With a weary expression on his sunken eyes and his face tinged with exhaustion, he spoke.

In response, Tullius stepped forward from the group.

"Yes, indeed. I am Tullius Shernan Oubeniel, the current head of the Oubeniel family."

“Hai, ika ni mo. Boku ga kondai no Ōbuniru-ke toushu, Turiusu Shurūnan Ōbuniru desu.”

"Oh…"

“Oo…”

The man who seemed to be the mayor crumpled his face and knelt down. Or perhaps he collapsed under the strain. It was hard to tell which.

"E-everyone! Show yourselves! T-the lord has arrived!"

“Mi, mina no shuu! Kao o dasu no ja! Ryo, ryoushu-sama ga irasshatta zo!”

In response to his voice, villagers began to emerge from other buildings.

(There are only a few of them.)

(Sukunai na.)

As people emerged from their homes, Elisha couldn't help but notice the disparity between the number of buildings and the number of villagers. Certainly, this village was small, but even so, the discrepancy seemed significant. Nearly everyone had some sort of injury. It seemed that this village had been… reduced by someone or something.

"I-it's true! It's a noble!"

“Ho, hontou da! Kizoku-sama da!”

"There's a knight too…! And priests!"

“Kishi-sama mo iru…! Shinkan-sama mo da!”

"A-are we going to be saved…?"

“O, ora-tachi, tasukaru nda ka…?”

Words of hope echoed among them. As the village square buzzed with sudden activity, Tullius, representing the group, asked the mayor for an explanation.

"It seems that something serious is happening here. Could you please tell us what is going on?"

“Nani yara tada naranai jitai ga okotteiru you desu ga, jijou o o-kikase negaemasen ka?”

"I-it's very kind of such an important person to inquire――"

“Ko, kore wa yan'goto nai o-kata ga go-teinei ni――”

"Aah, never mind the formalities. So, are you the mayor?"

“Aa, maeoki wa kekkou desu. Sore de, anata ga sonchou-san de irassharu?”

"――I-I beg your pardon! I should have introduced myself sooner. Yes, I am the mayor."

“――Shi, shitsurei o! Moushi okurete shimaimashita ga, watashi ga sonchou desu.”

The absent-minded yet earnest mayor responded to Tullius' inquiry.

"Well, it happened three nights ago. In the dead of night, when everyone in the village was fast asleep, there was suddenly a commotion near the gate. So, those who were awakened went to see what was going on. And then… there, there was a h-horde of monsters."

“Aryaa, mikka mae no ban no koto deshita. Mura no mono ga minna neshizumatta koro, mayonaka datte noni kyuu ni mon no hou ga sawagashiku narimashite. Sore de me o samashita mono ga nan jarou to omotte yousu o mi ni itta ndesu. So, soushitara… soko ni, ma, mamono no mure ga.”

Even recalling it seemed terrifying. He shuddered noticeably as he spoke.

"Monsters, you say. What kind? If it is the ones that are likely to appear around here, would they be goblins?"

“Mamono desu ka. Sore wa donna? Kono atari ni de sou na mono to iu to, goburin deshou ka?”

"N-no, it's not. That stench of beasts, the unmistakable size even in the starlight, and above all, the snorting sound… th-those were orcs! It was a horde of orcs!"

“Chi, chigaimasu. Ano kemono kusa-sa, hoshi akari demo wakaru futo-sa, nani yori hana o fugofugo to narasu oto… a, aryaa ōku deshita! Ōku no mure desu!”

"Yeah, yeah! It was those cursed pig-nosed fiends!"

“Nda nda! Arya, ano imaimashii butahana-domo daa!”

Someone among the villagers exclaimed.

"Orcs, in a horde, they say?"

“Ōku ga, mure da to?”

Feeling something didn't quite add up, Elisha muttered to herself. Yuuto, who seemed to have caught her words, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Is something strange about that?"

“Sore tte, nan ka hen na ndesu ka?”

"Yeah. Orcs are greedy and not very intelligent. They usually fight among themselves over food and such. In other words, they don't typically gather in hordes like this. While it's common for them to group up with weaker creatures like goblins, forming a horde of orcs…"

“Aa. Ōku to iu mamono wa yokubuka de chinou ga hikui. Esa nado no wakemae o megutte nakamaware o suru no ga tsune da. Tsumari futsuu nara douzoku doushi de mureru you na shuusei wa motan. Goburin-domo no you na, jibun yori yowai mamono o sanka ni osameru koto wa yoku aru ga, ōku no mure to naru to na.”

"Then, maybe they saw it wrong――"

“Jaa, mi machigai――”

"Hell no! Those were definitely orcs! There's no way we saw it wrong!"

“N'na koto~a nee! Arya tashika ni ōku da be! Mi machigai wa shinee da yo!”

A villager, feeling challenged by Yuuto's words, raised their voice as if offended.

"For one thing, if it was some weak creature like goblins, we could have easily driven them off! Even if they were being led by an orc! Don't you just blindly assume something like that without knowing anything!"

“Dai ichi, goburin mitee na yowai mamono nara, sugu ni oiharaeru be sa! Ikkura ōku ga atama demo da. Shiri mo shinee de tekitou bukkoku de nee!”

"――m-my bad then… So, what does it mean?"

“――wa, warukatta yo… tsumari, dou iu koto na ndesu ka?”

"If they weren't seeing it wrong, then it must be a horde of orcs."

“Mi machigai de nai nara, hontou ni ōku no mure na no darou yo.”

"Um… doesn't that contradict what you said earlier?"

“Ano… sore wa saki hodo no o-kotoba to mujun shiteiru no dewa nai deshou ka?”

Irmaella interjected.

"It's not a contradiction. I said normally they don't gather in hordes. In short, an abnormal situation is happening."

“Mujun wa shite inai sa. Futsuu nara douzoku doushi de murenai to ittarou. You suru ni, futsuu ja nai jitai ga okotte iru no sa.”

""?""

The words of the female knight made the boy and the girl both tilt their heads in unison. At times like these, they were perfectly in sync. It would be good if they were always like this, though.

"So, to sum it up, what we're dealing with is likely a situation where a creature capable of organizing normally disorganized orc hordes has appeared. Perhaps a stronger monster like an ogre or a giant. No, since the villagers haven't reported seeing such beings, it might be a higher-ranking individual among the orcs."

“Ketsuron o iu to da, tsuujou deareba matomari no nai ōku no mure o, matomerareru you na mamono ga arawareta to iu koto da na. Ōga ya jaianto no you na, yori tsuyoi mamono ka. Iya, murabito ga sore rashii kage o mite inai ijou, ōku no joui kotai darou ka.”

"A higher-ranking individual?"

“Joui, kotai?”

"Yeah, they occasionally appear. Special types like High Orcs, which are more powerful than regular ones, Orc Mages that are intelligent and can use magic, Orc Chiefs with exceptional leadership skills, or in the worst case, an Orc Lord that can control multiple hordes. In any case, if left alone, two or three villages could easily be wiped out."

“Tokiori arawareru no da yo, sou iu kawari dane ga na. Hoka no kotai yori sentou-ryoku no takai hai ōku. Chinou ga takaku mahou mo tsukaeru ōku meiji. Tousotsu no sainou o hakki suru ōku chīfu. Saiaku no baai wa fukusuu no mure o shihai-ka ni osameru ōku rōdo ka. Izure ni seyo, akugi ni houchi shite okeba mura no futatsu ka mittsu wa horobu na.”

These were the so-called mutations. Whether they were individuals that had lived long enough to undergo changes or born as a variant species was unclear. Either way, they possessed abilities and characteristics that set them apart from normal individuals.

Groups led by such leaders were troublesome. Unlike goblins, orcs were physically superior and excelled in brute strength. They could only be dealt with by adventurers or knights stronger than them and well-equipped at that. It would be difficult for foot soldiers or even villagers to fight them. And now they were coming as a group. For the borderland residents, humanoid creatures with more strength than humans banding together to attack were a nightmare.

The villagers slumped their shoulders. Elisha's explanation helped them understand the extent of the threat that had attacked them.

"P-Please, milord! The womenfolk of the village have also been abducted by those monsters! P-Please, I beg of you, please save our village!"

“O, onegai desu ryoushu-sama! Mura no onna-shu mo mamono-domo ni saraware chimatteru ndesu! Na, nani tozo, nani tozo kono mura o o-tasuke kudasare!”

"Well, of course, but… the women were abducted?"

“Sore wa maa, touzen desu kedo… onna-shu ga sarawareta?”

As the mayor spoke with fervor and about to kneel down, Tullius paused for a moment to consider. Then, he glanced briefly at the faces of the villagers. Most of them were men, and the number of women, both adults and children, was small. While it was common for more men to be sent to pioneer villages, the ratio seemed extreme. In that case, this meant――

"…Master."

“…Goshujin-sama.”

"Isn't this a bit too clumsy?"

“Chotto tsutanai nja nee ka, kore wa?”

Both Uni and Due, the two adventurers with experience, chimed in together. It seemed they had reached the same conclusion as Elisha. The lord nodded gravely in response to their words.

"I know. We need to take action on this promptly."

“Wakatteiru yo. Kore wa sousou ni taisaku ga iru koto ni naru.”

"W-Wait just a moment!"

“Cho, chotto o-machi o!”

A priest from the envoy interrupted.

"We are in a hurry, you see? We carry the noble mission as a delegation to St. Gallen. We must cross the mountains as soon as possible!"

“Wareware wa saki o isoide oru no desu zo? Zankutogaren e no shisetsu to iu, suukou na shimei o obite desu. Ikkoku mo hayaku yama o koeneba narimasu mai!”

It was a valid argument. However, logical correctness didn't always equate to the right course of action for humans. This situation was a perfect example. While diplomatic matters involving the fate of the nation took precedence over frontier village concerns, they were not only diplomats but also—before anything else—priests of the Holy King Church, obligated to save people from monsters. Could they boldly declare, "We have more important matters to attend to, so you can sacrifice yourselves" while claiming to be the protector of humanity? If one looked at the faces of the villagers, doubt, fear, mistrust, and anger were visibly growing. The ostensible purpose of this journey to St. Gallen was to ensure the stability of the populace. Yet, by proceeding while ignoring the disturbed hearts of the people, what good did it serve?

Here we go again, with that thought, Elisha could tell that her expression was getting darkened.

I'm getting tired of this. Should I just cut these guys down already…? Without realizing it, her hand reached for the sword at her hip. Meanwhile, the priests kept on talking.

"To delay our departure in such a remote village――"

“Kono you na henpi na mura de ashi-dome nado――”

"Watch your tongue."

“Kuchi o tsutsushimi nasai.”

The stern voice belonged to Irmaella.

"It's not right to leave people exposed to the threat of monsters and move on."

“Mamono no kyoui ni sarasareru hito-bito o oite saki ni susumu nado, tadashii okonai dewa arimasen.”

"B-But, Young Lady――"

“Shi, shikashi desu na ojou-sama――”

"It's not young lady. It's my judgment as the High Priestess of the Holy King Church and as the delegation of the Omnia Empire. Let's help these villagers."

“Ojou-sama, dewa arimasen. Seiou kyoukai ga haipuriesutesu ni shite Omunia koukoku no shisetsu to shite no handan desu. Kono mura no kata o o-tasuke shimashou.”

She declared, lifting her head. There was no more of the downcast posture she had carried along the way. With a firm resolve, she proclaimed that this was the right thing to do, feeling no shame in her decision.

Elisha withdrew her hand from the hilt of her sword, listening to the exchange.

"Yes, that's good. Rather, honestly there's no choice but that."

“Umu. Sore ga yokarou. To iu yori, jitsu o iu to sore igai no sentakushi nado nai no dearu ga.”

"…What?"

“…Ha?”

"What are you talking about, a mere squire like you!"

“Na, nani o iu ka sei-kishi no minarai gotoki ga!”

TL Note: Literal translation is ‘apprentice holy knight’ but I decided to TL it as ‘squire’.

The priests shouted without understanding the meaning.

It was Tullius who took it upon himself to explain to them.

"It is as Elisha-san said. We originally came here to replenish our supplies of water, fodder, light sources, and fuel for warmth. But now, the village has been attacked by orcs. With this, the only thing we can properly procure is well water. For other supplies, we'll have to send someone to the rear to bring them here."

“Erisha-san no iu toori desu yo. Moto-moto koko ni wa mizu ya magusa, akari ya dan o toru tame no nenryou o hokyuu ni kita ndesu kara ne. Sore ga ōku no shuugeki de mura no naka made semekomareteiru ndesu. Kore ja matomo ni shiirerareru no wa idomizu kurai desu yo. Hoka no busshi wa, kouhou ni tsukai o dashite koko ni motte kite morawanakereba ikemasen.”

In other words, it was already predetermined that they would be delayed here if they wanted to cross the mountains. Abandoning this village would leave them with only two options: either dying halfway through or returning in failure. While the former was natural, the latter was not an option. If they fail to fulfill their mission and return home, as the one who appointed them, Cardinal Callandra's reputation would be tarnished. What would the Cardinal as well as the Commander of the Warrior Monk Corps think and do? There would certainly be repercussions.

"Well, it was decided from the beginning that we would be doing monster extermination here, though. After all, I've been tasked by His Majesty the King to 'work diligently towards the recovery of Volden.' I can't afford to ignore dangerous monsters emerging within my territory."

“Maa, bokura wa koko de mamono taiji to saisho kara kimatteita no desu ga. Nani shiro, koku-ou heika kara Vorudan fukkou no tame ni eii funrei se yo, to ousetsukatteiru mi desu no de. Ryounai ni waita kiken na mamono nado houchi wa dekimasen yo.”

He was probably referring to the victory celebration ceremony last year. It was the words spoken when he petitioned the king and won tax exemption until the restoration. He then received Lavalle's parting gift right after, but obtaining the king's will as a legitimate excuse was significant. As soon as it was said, even those who had been stubborn had a look of resignation in their eyes. No matter how much power a priest of the global religion had, they couldn't arbitrarily override the words of another country's king.

"Now that it's settled, let's get our preparations in order."

“Sate, sou to kimattara sassa to junbi o totonoenaito ne.”

Having said so, Tullius surveyed the group:

The Chief Military Officer of the Oubeniel family, Due Schwarzer, also known as the 'Two-Handed Sword,' along with several of his subordinates.

The oldest serving slave under Tullius, a maid and a former adventurer, Uni, also known as the 'Silver Wolf.'

The former Commander of the Second Order of the Royal Knights of Arquell Kingdom and now a candidate for the Holy Knight of Omnia, Elisha Rosemonde Balbastre, also known as the 'Princess Knight.'

The priestess of the Holy King Church, the summoner of the hero and the girl hailed as the Saint of the current era, Irmaella Aurelia Callandra.

And… the hero of the present age who had yet to awaken, Yuuto Erimiya.

Though small in number, it was an illustrious lineup. One could liken them to an extravagant set of knives meant for slicing through those pigs. Tullius seemed to be happily contemplating how best to deploy these cards.

~~~

To be continued…

~~~

TL Note:

Ohoho what is Tullius plotting this time😭 Its three chapters left until the latest chapter😭 Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh😭

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