Translator Notes –

Hi guys! Back again from my grandpa’s house. It has been more than 4 years since I visited my grandparents, but they visibly aged more than that. I do not mean to rant but the days I have stayed with them felt like I went back to my childhood where I was just a little ignorant boy wanting my grandpa to lift me up on my shoulders. Now looking at those frail shoulders of his made me realize how much burden they bear on their shoulders, but still seem so happy that we came. My parents regularly traveled from the city to our grandpa’s place, but I went to meet them after more than 4 years.

Well the good thing is that as soon as my job is finalized my parents would then stay with them. I do not know how others would take it, but I believe no child likes to stay away from their parents, at I don’t. Same goes with my father. It is not easy to be away from them.

But well, enough about it. Here is the new chapter. Translated and edited by Yours Truly. As usual, any suggestions and corrections are very welcome. Oh and 1 more thing, in context with the raw, it is given as ‘flame bullets’ but I feel it should be ‘fireb.a.l.l.s’ instead. Do tell me whether I should leave it as it is or make the change.

Thank you. And enjoy the chapter!!

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17- Is The Enemy’s Military Strength Exhausted?

A couple of days have pa.s.sed during which we saved 2 families of farmers. Over taxation seems to be the most important of the reasons. The poor peasants could not cope up with the winter, so it seems they are escaping to a nearby kingdom.

There are 2 pa.s.ses from this kingdom’s highway from the west, one of each towards the east and the south, but the western highway pa.s.s seems to be blocked by a battalion. Going through the southern highway leads to a neighboring kingdom after crossing a stone bridge along the way, but both of its sides are being watched by these two kingdoms.

As the highway patrol guards are becoming quite sloppy due to us, escaping eastwards seems to be their hope, but I was told that even if they go to a neighboring country, manual labor close to that of a slave was waiting there.

And yet, I was told they would not be famished. When we told them about the village, they delightfully accepted to go there and help in farming. Maybe we can produce various crops next year.

「It’s quite lively for a highway during winter. 」[Zairas]

「I guess that is why political pressure is imposed on them. We should also move to our next phase soon. 」[Banta]

Zairas san looked towards me at my unexpected casual reply. It seems the princess is also interested in this.

「The next phase is it? Which reminds me, you did say we should start as bandits first. Then the next phase would be…… a righteous thief. It means our rank will go up a bit. 」[Princess]

She nodded joyfully towards Maria san. It seems the other guys at the table are eager to hear more from me.

「Although I said we would go from being bandits to build a country, such a thing has never happened before.

In other words, we need to transform ourselves from a group of bandits into some other group……」[Banta]

I do not know when the next raid will start, so I’ll briefly explain it to them here.

From bandits to chivalrous thieves, from thieves to private army troupe, and then from the private army to self-proclaimed kingdom’s force or army troops is how we will change. Following that, our strategic objective would also change, but most of all, our war potential would increase dramatically.

「So if we want to rank up with the conclusion of our next raid, we must do our best. Leave the west to me. 」[Torre]

Everyone nodded in agreement. The greatest advantage we have now is that our morale is very high.

All of sudden with the sound of opening of the door, Radi san came inside like a wolf.

「They came. They should reach the expected location by afternoon. But, they are led by a company of soldiers. The number of prisoners exceeds a platoon. 」[Radi]

She sat down after relaying the information and sipped the tea pa.s.sed to her.

I see…… so that’s how it is. The others at the table did not miss my mischievous grin.

「Is it not slightly different from the previous arrangement? 」[Banta]

「Even I can miscalculate sometimes. In short, the battalion that was entrusted with the security of the highway has entered a state of exhaustion of their strength. How many we have defeated by ourselves? There might be some reinforcements from the east though……」[Zairas]

「I see. That highway is connected to this one. There is at best only one battalion of armed forces stationed at their stronghold to counter bandits. Even then that’s a big number. We have already buried more than two of their units. If so, then the amount of troops they will dispatch would probably not exceed a company. 」[Banta]

「Does that mean we can escape with all the prisoners? 」[Zairas]

I nodded muttering ‘probably’. I lit the pipe as I saw their complexions changing.

「Do you think we should capture the fortress instead of releasing the prisoners? 」[Zairas]

Zairas san appealed to the princess. Other knights are also showing their compliance. But the princess shook her head in denial rather than in favour of it.

「According to Banta’s plan, such an action would be premature. If it was the old me, I would definitely have commanded Zairas to detour around the deserted village and capture the fort. But now…… If we do not release the prisoners, they would be beheaded as soon as the construction ends. Even with Banta’s strategy, we don’t have enough war potential to carry it out. Don’t get impatient just to gain a small victory. 」 [Princess」

Next to the princess, Maria san was praising her 「Splendid! Splendid! 」. Well, she has grown to a point where she can look ahead of situations. I am very grateful for that.

「Certainly! I, Zairas, am impressed. Even if prisoners, they are our people. If Banta can organize a platoon, then he can strategize a company too. We can capture the fort whenever we want then. 」「Zairas」

「If so, then we need a flag on the cliff. The prisoners will be encouraged if they see it. 」[Torre]

The princess readily gave her consent to Torre san’s proposal.

We had an early lunch. With tea packed away in our bottles we set out for the site a bit earlier than planned. We made a bonfire at the clifftop and waited for the enemy to arrive.

Torre san was surprised by the information sent from the hideout about the approaching enemy at the signal base.

The knights climbed off the ladder and quickly a.s.sembled the spear car at the ambush point.

We were hiding about 500 m away from them in the west. With some lurking in the forest and others lying flat outside of sight on both sides of the highway, our preparations were finished.

It is still early winter so there’s no snow piled up on the highway. There would hardly be any footprints found.

The guard on my left informed me of the incoming advance party. The cavalry came with an armor type formation, probably to guard against the crossbows.

A vanguard rode a horse and went to the collapsed site to confirm the situation there. I wonder to what extent would they will be able gain information on the surrounding situations.

Eventually the guard on my right notified the return of the vanguard. It hasn’t been even 10 minutes since they went past me. I want to know what they have seen.

After a few minutes, the guard on my left informed me of the troops approaching within a few minutes.

Just as Radi san said, there are 2 platoons of prisoners in the front but there are 3 platoons of soldiers at the back.

There’s also a heavy infantry included in one of the platoons.

Well, even if crossbow bolts would be ineffective against their armour formation, they would be obstructed from the spear car charge.

「The coaches are all together. There might be some n.o.ble responsible for highway security inside. 」

「Seems as if the heavy infantry is in charge of protecting the n.o.ble, shooting the other party with crossbows is not possible. 」[Banta]

The princess then made a grin towards me. We have only 15 cases with fixed number of bolts, and some more on hand. This is the limit. I already have one set on me, and I spin another one in my hand.

Still, the prisoners’ steps are quite heavy. When seen staggering around, they are lashed out by the soldiers nearby.

I got reported that the enemy soldiers went past the corner. The princess came out of the bushes and swings her right hand down. We slowly advanced towards the highway.

We have plenty of time. Torre san’s squad quickly a.s.sembled the spear car and pushed it forward on the highway.

Behind it, one squad with 2 types of spears were lined up. The front seems to use long spears while those behind carried short spears with them.

A mage with a bow is right back followed by the princess and the others with crossbows in a horizontal line in front of the mage.

In the front, I and Torre san were lined up. But it would be better to move behind Torre san when the battle starts.

Since I cannot help them, I would not become a burden for them as well.

Two knights with spears are vigilantly watching the surroundings behind the magician.

「Well, our preparations are complete. I am looking forward to Banta’s swordplay. I entrust the princess to you. 」[Torre]

「I don’t want to expose my earlier disgrace. I’ll try my best. 」[Banta]

As such we both b.u.mp our shoulders. I wonder if he was a bit nervous?

「This is an honour for the knights, it's not a bad one. They need not be a knight themselves but the nature of a knight that one should be equipped with since the start. 」[Torre]

Saying such to me, Torre san turned towards other soldiers to make some arrangements. Well, it certainly was a disgrace though.

With the princess’s signal we applied physical strengthening to ourselves. It seems it cannot be used on others. I was kindly taught magic, but there are too many type so I did not understand it fully. Let's make a note of it for next time.

As I was enjoying the unlit pipe to pa.s.s the time, the guard on my right ran down the highway. It seems he went for reconnaissance.

「It has begun. Flame bullets are continuously being fired at the collapsed site! 」[Guard]

「Well, let's free our brethren! If we do not hurry, there won’t be anyone left to save. Let's go!!」[Princess]

「「「Uooooooo!!」」」

The war cry echoed on the highway, but it's okay since we are away from the highway. I guess they would not wish to see an attacking unit coming from behind as well.

Pus.h.i.+ng the spear car, we rushed eastwards on the highway. As we turned at the corner, we saw the battle situation.

It seems flame bullets are being fired from the cliff tops. Have the number of people using fire magic increased in Radi san’s group?

As I was thinking about it, the spear car hit the enemy at their backs and retreated promptly. As soon as they retreated, a number of flame bullets came from behind and exploded between the enemy troops.

「Whoa!!」

The spear car again hit the enemy with a cry and completely blocked their path of retreat. Long spears soon protruded from the sides and restrained the enemies’ charge. Then short spears and bolts were fired to shave off the enemy’s lines. Even so, those who are a.s.saulting will stop when the second squad with long swords come.

As several archers came out from the shadow of the carriage, numerous flame bullets exploded on them without giving them any chance to retreat. A flame bullet hit the carriage and a man wearing exquisite metal armour rolled out of it but escaped under the carriage. Is that the commander?

Our spirit is quite frightening. It raises our fighting power many times over. On the contrary, troops become weaker when they are conscious of being inferior.

It did not take much time before their military power was gradually chipped down and they started escaping in the southern forest after throwing down their weapons.

「Just a bit more. Zairas and his squad are in sight! 」[Princess]

「「Oooooh!!」」

The princess is encouraging the squads. Its timing was perfect. And it seems I am not the only one that thought so. Maria san and Torre san were also watching.

However, there was someone that did not miss that moment.

Among the collapsed soldiers, some suddenly stood up and ran, aiming their longsword towards the princess. I rushed forwards in a hurry and slashed at one of them, unsheathing the katana at my waist. And then I swung down the already raised katana towards another man……

It was alright till that point, but then I could not control the momentum of my strengthened body and fell out of the highway to the bottom of the cliff. And then, 'bakan!!' such a sound came from the highway. Another man was probably beaten by Maria san.

「Ooi. Are you alive? 」[Torre]

「Somehow. However, I seemed to have sprained my leg and cannot move! 」[Banta]

「Then keep still for a while. It will be over soon. 」[Torre]

After answering Torre san, I checked my own situation. I seemed to have landed on my feet, but the bushes nearby acted as good cus.h.i.+ons. But my leg still hurts as my feet are still caught in its branches.

It does not matter whether my luck is good or bad, but there is no danger to my life. But from this, another strange rumour will spread again.

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