Episode 345: A Moment During the Advance
The advance party was divided into several groups, advancing towards the Border Fortress.
Some moved on horseback, some on foot, and others in carriages… the means of transportation varied, but their destination was the same.
A thousand people. As an army, it was small in scale, but the sight of so many people moving together was extraordinary and somewhat bizarre.
“…There’s a unique sense of tension, as expected. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this feeling.”
While manipulating the reins of his horse, Rest let out a large sigh.
Thanks to various experiences, he had become accustomed to riding. Horsemanship was a noble’s pastime. He had learned it in school classes, and Dibble and others from the Rosemary Marquis House had also taught him.
(Still, my butt hurts when I ride for a long time… I’m glad I have healing magic.)
His butt hurt from riding, so he healed it with magic.
What a luxurious way to use magic. It was impossible without infinite magical power like Rest’s.
“At this pace, it’ll take more than three days… I could fly there with magic, though.”
“It won’t be that easy. Are you planning to leave the supplies behind?”
“You are… Senior Carbelt!”
The one who called out to Rest, who was grumbling, was a senior from the academy. It was Isis Carbelt, the former chairman of the Executive Committee.
Isis was wearing riding clothes and riding a white horse.
“I told you, you can call me Isis, Rest-kun.”
“Ah… that’s right, Isis-san.”
“You don’t need the ‘-san’ either… I’m honored to be able to participate in the war in the same unit as you.”
“Me too… Still, there are a lot of familiar faces, like Lübesse.”
“Well, that’s probably true. It’s not that different from the members who participated in the subjugation of Marquis Aiger.”
Isis lined up her horse next to Rest’s.
She moved her waist up and down on horseback to disperse the impact of the vibrations, manipulating the reins with much more practiced movements than Rest.
“Depending on the noble, there are martial and political factions. It’s only natural that those of us who pride ourselves on our fighting prowess are sent to the battlefield. That’s why we’re given territories and noble titles.”
The relationship between the Royal Family and the nobles… the feudal system was based on ‘gracious favors’ and ‘service.’
The lord treated his subordinates, the nobles, by giving them territories, and the nobles worked for the Royal Family to repay that favor.
If the balance between gracious favors and service was not balanced, complaints would arise from the nobles, and if they accumulated, independence or rebellion would occur.
“By the way… in cases like this repelling of foreign tribes, His Majesty the King will be very troubled, but do you know why?”
“Why… is it because we’re the ones being invaded? If we lose, the villages and people will suffer damage.”
“That’s not wrong, but it’s not the answer I was looking for. The answer is… because there’s nothing to gain even if we win.”
“Nothing to gain…?”
“Yes. It’s very different from when you defeated Subnock, Prince Rodel, and Marquis Aiger.”
Isis explained carefully.
“By defeating Subnock, our country was able to obtain a vast, undeveloped plain. By defeating Marquis Aiger, we were able to seize his territory and the property of the nobles under his control. His Majesty the King only had to distribute them as rewards to the vassals who had been active. He was able to reward our work without spending his own money.”
“Ah, I see… This time, we just repelled the invading foreign tribes. There’s nothing to gain, so you can’t prepare a reward.”
“It’s not that you can’t, though. Well, it will hurt your wallet and your head.”
“Count Clover, Baron Carbelt! May I have a moment!”
When the small talk came to an end, a soldier called out to them.
He was a soldier under the command of Bareya Cattleya.
“There seems to be a herd of ‘Giant Buffalo’ on the east side of the road, and Captain Cattleya has ordered us to hunt them if we can, to supplement the provisions!”
“Tell him we understand.”
“Me too.”
Isis agreed to the messenger’s words, and Rest followed suit.
The Giant Buffalo, as the name suggests, was a very large water buffalo monster.
About 300 kg of meat can be taken from one cow, but five times that amount can be taken from a Giant Buffalo.
Provisions are important in war, and the Other World is no different. If they could acquire meat here, they would have plenty of food.
“I was getting bored. Since we’re here, why don’t we compete to see who can hunt more?”
“I don’t mind. It’ll be a good change of pace.”
Rest and Isis turned their horses and headed for the plain next to the road.