As autumn continued to pa.s.s, the number of people pa.s.sing through the highway increased.

Peasants who cannot afford heavy taxes escape through the highways with their relatives at night time.

During daytime, slave traders from Madenium Kingdom would pa.s.s through here.

The peasants seemed escape during night time without torches, so the patrols near the cliff maintain high vigilance.

The slave traders travel during daytime as they are afraid of our raids.

Whenever wagons with cages comes from the east, the pa.s.sage time would roughly be determined..

「As expected, there would be food problems during winter」 [Banta]

「The villagers have been gathering wild roots and vegetables. I was told that we have 3 sacks of smaller puratos」 [Zairas]

Purato was potato in every way regardless of how I looked. But since the population of the village has exceeded 100, we would spend them in a single day.

「As expected, we need to raid another provision transport unit. However, the escort is severe」 [Zairas]

Zairas san says so looking towards myself and so, everyone look towards me.The merchant Radi san is acquainted with have delivered quite a load to us but, its still a peddler running a family business after all. Only 3 sacks of wheat flour would be provided at a time.

And if the frequency is increased they might catch someone’s eyes.

Still, these day we use mules to increase the loads…..

The tax in this world is in form of grains.

Since it is a valuable source of income of the kingdom, surely the guards will become stricter.

And 20 bags is the average that can be loaded on a wagon. I guess it will be a long row of wagons.

「Zairas san. Could you elaborate on the formation while transporting the grains?」[Banta]

「Right. There will be differences depending on the regions. With regards to the practice of other countries……..」[Zairas]

The number of wagons can be anywhere between 30 and 50. There would be as many people as the horses. There would be a full platoon of guards for the transportation.

The formation has one squad each at the front and at the back and one after every ten wagons.

Then, even if we take all our people, it  doesn’t seem good to attack the troops with the same way isn’t it?

I got the strategy board made by the carpenters and placed it on the table.

The terrains are represented simply with colors.

The wood pieces are placed on the board to represent troops and such.

「We come down to the highway by this way, right」[Banta]

「That is so. Given the command and movement of the transportation corps, 50 units would be the maximum.  With this arrangement, there would be about 70 soldiers in 6 squads. Since a platoon has 4 squads, there is a possibility that there would be 2 platoons in consideration with the bandits of the pa.s.s. So there would likely be 2 vanguard units」 [Zairas]

Zairas san increased the numbers of pieces on the board.

「The fighting spirit of the troops will be there, but what of the cooperation between the platoons?」[Banta]

「I think the platoon commanders don’t enter between the wagons. The platoon on the front here would be a vanguard unit, the other at the back would have the higher ups. We should begin with the platoon to have a good achievement.  Collaboration would be negligible if there would be no commander to take charge. In a way, the entire command will be served by the captain of the vanguards more or less…..」[Zairas]

「Can we not take only one platoon into consideration?」[Banta]

「Its impossible. They would expect us bandits to come out. We should consider 2 platoons at the very least. However, it won’t be of the scale of a company. I guess we would have to make do with the next in line.」[Zairas]

Is he worried over chipping the war potentials by the escorts. This kind of arrangement will continue successively.

However if we crush the two platoons this time, next time they likely would send a company. If that happens our raids would become very limited.

「We have used the same method before, we would attack the last of the wagons in the queue. If we drop stones at these squads and snipe the guards of other squads with crossbows, we could divide the forces, probably. The last 2 squads would be of their leaders」 [Zairas]

「The front wagons won’t move ahead towards east at full speed on a highway. If a section of the following carts are transported, the captain of the vanguards would not be able to pa.s.s commands to the one at the back. It's a good method. One of the squads from the platoon behind would take place of the vanguards. We can immediately make an excuse saying we are protecting the wagons in rear」[Banta]

「Dropping several stones would be good during the raid. If possible we could reuse them. If we explode a flame bullet together with 【Mel】 the horses would definitely stop」[Zairas]

「The raid will start after the front wagons goes ahead separately. Radi san’s squad, try as much as possible to drive off the squads of the wagons on the east side to divide the transportation units」[Banta]

「Divide them and drive them away so that they won’t be able to come back to a.s.sist others, right. Alright, I understand」 [Radi]

I moved to point where Zairas san and the others’ pieces awaited at the south side from the transport corps division. The unit commanded by the princess was moved to the west side.

「Here, interrupt here. I’ll have to ask Rizer san’s squad to be in the west too.」[Banta]

「Are you planning to manage 2 squads with us? Banta is rather wise at strategies.」[Princess]

The princess is beaming with joy but, on the contrary Maria san is having a worried face.

But there are 8 people with crossbows including me. Three people have normal bows.

Can’t we defeat them simply by shooting and thrusting hardened spears from behind? Let’s kill those escaping towards south with arrows.

「Me and my followers will be at Zairas san's  place. If there are people with crossbows on the cliff, we can deal with ones approaching.  It's very important that the wagons do not advance. Lets raise the blockade to the highway」[Banta]

I set a new piece in front of the wagon’s piece.

「To some extent we can come back after pulling away the wagon. We would be on the cliff but we can snipe from there.」[Banta]

It's just a simple model, but all movements and roles can be calculated and allotted.

I got myself made a good one.

「Do we have plenty of crossbow arrows?」[Princess]

「We have made 15 per piece. Furthermore 30 of them are delivered to the village. There are also about 100 present here in this hideout. No need to worry.」[Banta]

I can understand what the princess fears about.

If this attack succeeds, the kingdom will no longer overlook us.

They will organize a subjugation unit and perform ma.s.sive mountain-hunts.

We have to think about protecting our hideout to a certain extent.

「Lets attack with this strategy for the time being.  Now then, about the hideout……」[Zairas]

「The construction is advancing smoothly. This station can have 2 rooms in the west too.  The surrounding fence being built is a bit higher than my height but the southern side is about to be completed soon.」[Rizer]

No matter how you look at it, it's a low fence, and that’s a finished product.

It is of about my height but I think one can get over using some tools, so I consider it to be more for confining someone. I was thinking of a more imposing fence however…….

Wait, that means the moat made in the southern groove is about 50 cm deep?

「The moat in the south has been completed. We also made a drawbridge, so we can support a company when they come in.」[Rizer]

Since Rizer san is proudly saying that, as expected, it is completed with that.……

「The point is we can use this fence properly when faced with enemies. That will do enough for us.」[Princess]

The princess also admits to it, however her point-of-view is quite different from me.

I understand what they were talking about, but I was imagining a fortress that appeared in western movies. I was slightly disappointed.

「As for the oblique road to the village, we can make use of the dug-out soil for fixing it. If its insufficient we can carry them  from the eastern side.」[Rizer]

「While making the road, use the mules to carry loads to the village. It would be easier then.」[Banta]

Even though I am praising myself, everyone is convinced about my work.

I stuffed some tobacco in the pipe and lit it at the fireplace. It seems I did it subconsciously. It seems there is no particular problems since 17 year olds are already adults.

With the purpose of changing my mood, I went out. I heard the sound *kon-kon which came from the knights. .h.i.tting the stakes. Certainly, the work is progressing at a fast pace.

I could not see the inside of the hideout from other side of the fence, it certainly was enough. Although it's made of wood, it seems it won’t burn down even with fire arrows. Since it is inclined a little inwards, I thought of using water to ease that up.

Several stakes are lined up in the middle of the plaza. Just arranging several logs together makes it a fine fence. But there are no logs as of yet, binding with ropes they are used as practice wooden swords.

Every morning for one hour, Rizer san and his mates take turns to teach me the sword but, its slightly different from the kendo I know. That being said, character is indispensible but, someone said continuing on is also a type of strength. However the knights watched over my practice with warm eyes, that’s why I put losing out of my mind.

「Banta, are you not practicing in the afternoon?」[Soldier]

「Ah, morning practice is enough. I think I have improved a bit.」[Banta]

When I answered as such to the young soldier’s teasing words, everyone burst into laughter.

As expected, it's impossible for me is what they are thinking.

The width of the double-edged blade is about 10 cm. It’s length is about a meter so it quite heavy.

It seems the knight’s method of using is to swing their swords using both hand while using their hips.

It is quite different from the way bamboo swords are used in kendo.

「What’s wrong? Watching the logs being hammered.」[Reedus]

Turning towards the source of the voice, I saw Reedus san coming over.

There’s a difference of 40 cm in heights but he can move quite fast even with a muscular body.

Since I had an axe hanging at my waist even when walking around, I think I would pa.s.s as a bandit satisfactorily.

「I was just thinking a little. As expected, swords are impossible for me…..」[Banta]

「Well, suitability depends on person. If it is difficult to use, let me take care of it.」[Reedus]

He might be consoling me but I still gave the sword to Reedus san.

「Can this sword’s shape not be changed? If its single edged with a little curve……」[Banta]

「There’s nothing that can’t be done, but are you going to use such a sword?」[Reedus]

「More or less, it’s something my country has since a long time. It won’t break even with a narrow width since it’s  thick.」[Banta]

Reedus san was pondering for a while, after which he faced me and held out his hand towards me.

「Lend me that sword to examine. I will try to make as what Banta said. Since the shape will be changed, it can come handy in surprise attacks during raids.」[Reedus]

After receiving the long sword from me, he started walking towards the workshop in the hideout while mumbling something. I bowed my head to his retreating figure.

Discarding the ash in the pipe, I fill it with more tobacco. It’s fine even without lighting it up with fire. The little citrus scent can be enjoyed.

Entering into the post, I heard the *kan-kan sound from afar. It seems Rizer san has started.

It would be nice if it's easy to use.…