Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Time with the Army

Leaving the villagers, who send them off with uneasiness behind, Kazuras group exited the village with Isaac to join with Isaacs unit who was on standby at a place not far from the village . The unit also had some cavalry element, so there were several animals that resembled a horse Rata tied up on the trees nearby . Most of the soldiers were sitting down or taking a rest, only the guards were standing to watch at the surrounding . In the middle of the gathered soldier was a parked covered wagon . Currently Kazura was empty handed, the travel bag and carry case were carried by the two soldiers that were previously tasked to guard the residence entrance . When Kazura was nearing the unit, Havel, the aide, came running towards him . Vice Captain, how is the preparation for the departure?(Isaac) We could depart anytime . GreKazura-sama, I think it will be better for you to ride on the cavalrymens Rata, what do you think?(Havel) I have no problem with it . (Kazura) Cavalrymen, when Kazura heard this word from Havel, he looked at the Ratas that were tied to the trees while giving his answer . The Ratas had saddle equipped on them, so riding it wouldnt feel bad at least . When Havel heard Kazuras answer, he ran towards the Ratas that were tied to the trees . It will take 2 or 3 days to travel to Isteria . It will be more proper if Kazura-sama could ride the wagon, however unfortunately the wagon was fully loaded with luggage like tents and supplies(Isaac) Ah, its fine anyhow . Please dont worry about it . (Kazura) Previously Kazura travelled to Isteria by walking, so he had firsthand knowledge how harsh travelling by walking was . Since if he walked his sole could get blistered again, he had no complaint . Isaac, who received Kazuras answer, bowed his head while giving his thanks to Kazura, then he headed towards the sitting soldiers . Attention all units, make two columns and prepare to march! Move!(Isaac) When Isaac issued the instructions in loud voice, the sitting soldiers immediately stood up and began running to form two columns in marching formation . The majority of the soldiers were infantry, but the few cavalrymen were still considered as a part of the soldiers, so they ran towards the trees where their Ratas were tied and unfastened their reins . Whoa . (Kazura) Kazura-sama, please let me help you get up on the Rata . (Havel) Kazura was looking at the appearance of the soldiers forming the battle formation in hurry with a great fascination, when Havel returned with a Rata and called out to him . But when Kazura looked at the Rata whose rein was pulled by Havel, he noticed something . Is there no stirrup? (Kazura) Yes, this Rata had something that looked like a saddle, but there was no stirrup . Whats a stirrup? Its footrests that are suspended on both sides of a horse . It was used as a foothold to get up on a horse and as an aid to balance the body when riding . There is a great slew of difference whether it exists or not when riding a horse . Stir-up?(Havel) Hearing the lone comment that Kazura unconsciously leaked out, Havel who held the Ratas reins asked back to him . Ah, no (Kazura) Before turning back to Havel, Kazura shifted his sight at the surrounding soldiers, and confirmed that the others Ratas also didnt have stirrup . Its nothing . (Kazura) Kazura spoke while putting his hand on the saddle . Seeing Kazuras hand on the saddle, Havel quickly went to Kazuras back, and gave Kazura a boost so he could mount the Rata . Actually this was Kazuras first riding experience, however, even though he was more or less slow in making progress, somehow he could successfully mount the Rata, thanks to Havels support The Ratas back was quite high, maybe the viewpoint height about of 2,5 meter? As a person on horses back or rather, a person on Ratas back, Kazura surveyed his surroundings and saw the soldiers had already formed the marching formation . Then Kazura looked behind at Valetta and Valin who carried their own luggage . Of course, only Kazura would ride on a Rata, Valetta and Valin would travel on foot . Then, I will go towards the units front . If you have some order for me, please order it to my Vice Captain . (Isaac) While Kazura took a rest on top of the Rata, Isaac who saw him riding from the side called out to him before heading towards the units front . When Isaac arrived at the front, his voice echoed, Forward March! The unit began to march in succession . Whoa, this is quite a jolt(Kazura)

While rocking at the walking Ratas back, Kazura put his feet on the Ratas side to balance himself . Thanks to the saddle he wouldnt fall down, but since there was no stirrup, it was hard to brace his feet . If he would be riding like this for a long period of time, then it would be quite tiring . Kazura-sama, if riding in the Rata is unpleasant for you, then we will quickly prepare the wagon for you, so do not hesitate to inform us . (Havel) Havel, who led the reins, made an immediate response to Kazuras words and forwarded a proposal to him . However, what he meant by preparing the wagon, was by making the soldiers carry the tent and supplies themselves . If Kazura replied, prepare the wagon! They would surely execute this order, but there was no doubt that the soldiers would look at him with cold eyes . Compared to that, although it was more or less tiring, jolting atop of the Ratas back seemed much more comfortable . Ah, no, it is fine like this Umm, but there is something that I want to know . (Kazura) While softly refusing Havels proposition, Kazura took this conversational opportunity to ask several question for Havel . Yes, you can ask me anything . (Havel) Havel, who was pulling the Ratas rein, looked up to Kazira with a sociable smile . While having a somewhat good impression of him, Kazura continue his talk . Previously, I had heard that all off Arcadia is suffering from a large scale drought, but is there any other problem in this country besides food shortage?(Kazura) Although Isaac and Havel only entreated Kazura to help them relieve the severe famine, there wouldnt be any harm to know beforehand if there were any other major problems . On the occasion that Isterias feudal lord, Nelson, acknowledged that Kazura was Greysior, then it would be inevitable that he would be consulted not only about the famine but also about other problems . In that case, to have some understanding about the domestic situation so that he could think of some countermeasure might be not something bad either . Other problems beside food shortage Sometimes, heavy floods happened and caused a big problem . Every year, we lifted up prayers and offerings to Suipsior-sama and request him so that the flood wont happened, however the difference between when the wishes were heard and when it didnt were very extreme . We not only pray to Suipsior-sama, but we also maintain the river so the damage from the flood wouldnt increase, but it would be useless when the heavy rain fall . (Havel) Hearing Havels story, Kazura recalled the story about flood that Valetta told him before . In Valettas story, at the rainy seasons, the river would be overflowed and a flood would happen, but this occurrence seemed to not be limited only to Grisea Village . For the flood to be a major problem inside Arcadia, then that means that the flood control technology was undeveloped so they couldnt successfully formulate a countermeasure for it . To lift up prayers and give offerings to the god of water, Suipsior, to deal with the condition, was, to Kazura, a useless unscientific countermeasure, however this was the norm of this world . Flood, is it? . . . . . . This is really a big problem . Is there still any other problem?(Kazura) Yes, other than the flood, there is a strange disease that broke out amongst the sailors(Havel) Thus, while Kazura was in the middle of travelling to Isteria he heard many things from Havel who lead the reins . His head was filled with preparation for the countermeasures of the various problems that occurred in the Arcadia .

Kazura received explanation from Havel about the various problems that were occurred in Arcadia while rocking atop the Rata for 4 hours . The unit that Isaac commanded had stopped marching to pitch the tents . The sun had greatly slanted in the sky, maybe in 2 hours the darkness would soon envelop everything . While en route, they had several 10 minute breaks interposed between travel, however since Kazura was always atop the Rata, he grumbled that his buttocks hurts . After Havel helped him get down from the Rata, Kazura stretched his waist while rubbing his buttocks . Valetta, who followed behind him, approached him together with Valin and give him a leather canteen with water . Kazura-san, you must be tired . Here, please drink some water . (Valetta) Thank you very much . Riding a Rata is surprisingly tiring(Kazura) Kazura, who was completely exhausted after riding for a long time, gave his thanks to Valetta as he received the canteen and gulped down the water . At Kazuras surroundings, the soldiers unloaded the tent and cooking implements from the wagon and then began to make camp preparation in a hurry . Kazura-sama, it is about the meal(Havel) Waiting until Kazura finished drinking the water and had a breather, Havel, who was waiting beside him, began to address Kazura . We are deeply sorry, but the only things that we can provide right now are just bread and dried meat from the provisions for marching . We are humbly asking for forgiveness, since the meal is something that similar with the soldiers . . . (Havel) Ah, I do not really mind by that . Thank you for your work . (Kazura) Kazura replied with a smile towards Havel who submit the report with an apologetic tone . Kazura himself thought that this was an opportunity to taste what was called armys food . Rather than worrying about the quality of the meal, his curiosity of what kind of food was consumed by the army of this world was greater . Thank you very much . Then, I too will go help preparing the camp, Kazura-sama and his group please wait a moment in this place . (Havel) Havel spoke so and joined the nearby soldiers to begin setting the camp . Kazuras group then needed to wait until the soldiers finished setting up the camp . This is the first time I eat an armys food, but to even get furnished with bread and dried meat, the army seems to get a preferential treatment for the food . (Kazura) While seeing Havel setting up the tent, Kazura expressed his thought . Valetta and Valin also nodded for it . When they stayed at the lodging house previously, the meal at that place was only an ultra thin soup with little vegetable on it . Compared to it, the armys food was a feast . Of course, it might be a mistake to compare the meal from that place with the armys, but even by noting it, the food contents that Havel mentioned before was still quite lavish . To be able to eat bread and meat, this was very much different from what peasants usually eat .

When I was in the army in the past, they indeed provide bread but they never provide dried meat even once . This units soldiers are nobles sons, so they might be getting preferential treatment . (Valin) Eh? So you mean this units soldiers are all nobles?(Kazura) With an expression that this was the first time his ear picked up the word nobles, Kazura asked back to Valin . Valin and Valetta had noticed the ornamentation on the soldiers short sword . They had noticed from the first time the soldiers arrived at Grisea Village that they were nobles, but Kazura who lacked such background knowledge didnt notice even a bit . Well, Valin and Valetta didnt inform Kazura that the soldiers were nobles and Kazura had not even thought in the slightest that all the soldiers were nobles . Yes, from the family crest on the ornament on their short sword that the soldiers carried in their waist, we judged that they are nobles . Since the noble soldiers are the subordinate of Isaac-san and Havel-san, then I believe that they are all nobles with higher rank than the soldiers . (Valetta) Hearing Valettas explanation, Kazura shifted his gaze towards the short sword that the soldiers wore on their waist . Then after watching carefully, surely there was a gorgeous ornament hanging down from their short sword, each ornament was different from one soldier to another . Who could expect it I completely didnt notice it . Even if they are nobles they joined with the military, furthermore there are a lot of people training as a soldier . (Kazura) They are indeed soldiers, but the soldiers of this unit are regarded as commander candidates . I heard that they will gain experience in this unit for several years, then they will be the commander for the troops gathered in their own territory, or serve as the commander for the army possessed by the H