Chapter 236: Ascham Viscountess 5

『They seem to have moved…, right?』(Rena)

『It’s as I expected』(Pauline)

Mile retorts to Rena and Pauline.

『You don’t say things such as 《》or 《》, 《》?』(Mile)

『『『…………』』』(Rena’s Trio)

Three girls stared at Mile with the lethargy eyes.

(Well, I guessed she just tried to be hilarious on purpose …) (Maevis)

Maevis thought so.

Apparently, it seems that Maevis still doesn’t know well about the average creature named 《Mile》

『 The letter should be arriving now』(Pauline)

Pauline murmured.

Yes, Mile has contacted with the soldiers of the Ascham armies and entrusted them to relay the letter to the commander.

Contents:

【The Imperial Army has lost all supplies, including food and water.

Their supply troops have been sabotaged as well.

The Ascham soldiers are asked to make sure that supplies won’t be handed over to the Imperial Army and tried to prolong them from advancing]

Mile didn’t write down the name of the sender, but the soldier who delivered the letter will convey her appearance to the commander.

Yes, the appearance of a girl with silver hair…

『Well, we will be going soon!』(Rena)

『『『Oh!!』』』(Mile’s Trio)

………………………………………………………………………………

『……What did you say?』(Enemy Commander)

『Water is leaking little by little from all the water barrels, now all the barrels are almost empty …』(Enemy Staff)

The Commander shouted at his staff after hearing the report.

『What does it mean?』(Enemy Commander)

『The cask of the barrel is loose,

The wood part is also slightly sc.r.a.ped… so that the amount of leaking water won’t be noticed immediately…』(Enemy Staff)

『And you could only realize that after a half of a day travel!?』(Enemy Commander) (T.N: this is shout but I refrain from using CAP)

No matter how loud the commander yells at his staff, they won’t be able to help it.

『… Immediately repair the barrels and go get the water!』(Enemy Commander)

The commander ordered that his subordinates…

『Well, there aren’t craftsmen who can retighten the bowls, repair all the sc.r.a.ped wood parts.

And it’s not like amateurs about logistics like soldiers can repair it…』(Enemy Staff)

『Then, what should we do?』(Enemy Commander)

『…………』(Enemy Staff)

The staff members were unable to answer and kept silent.

It is useless to collect water with hand-held containers other than barrels, like hand tubs, wooden dishes etc.

Even if they draw water to such things, they will only get a very little amount of water and it will drop out while they carry it for half a day.

Besides, there are only a few containers in the first place.

Needless to say, the commander knew about it.

『… Give our order to collect barrels all at once.

If it’s just barrels, we will be gathered at the occupied land without going to the main town

And sc.r.a.pe as much food as possible, whether seeds or vegetables

Because it is a natural obligation for peasants to present everything for a new ruler.

Now, go!』(Enemy Commander)

Many barrels were already stolen, so there was a shortage of barrels.

But they can secure a large number of barrels from the local.

If it’s just empty barrels, they could carry a lot of barrels at once.

The commander thought so and ordered his subordinates.

And, after his staff members left in a hurry, the commander said his curse words.

『d.a.m.n, why did this happen, one thing after another…?』(Enemy Commander)

The staff members’ complexion was bad.

Their enemies without being noticed by anyone stole all the supplies, sabotaged the barrels etc.

They feel unrest, their vigilance is rather high…

Of course, for the first time, the supplies may have already been stolen because they didn’ keep their vigilance.

However, the second time proves that the enemies may freely go back and forth to their camps even under strict security.

If the enemies could free sc.r.a.pe the barrel at any time. They could also stab the staff members, the soldiers or even the captain, the commander when they sleep without being noticed by anyone.

No matter how much overwhelming troops the Empire have if the headquarter’s personnel are all killed at night…

… As they thought so, they couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be a traitor in their army, who was able to communicate with the enemy.

And there were other problems as well.

The relations.h.i.+p between each battalion right now is very bad.

No, rather, it was the worst.

The soldier may endure a poor environment, fight for life on the battlefield, and exercise ability beyond capability because he wants to protect his country, his family.

But more than that, strong desire to protect the fellows who fight alongside with him, don’t want to let him die, which makes the greatest force.

But right, they are all in hunger, thirst and they think of those from other battalions as traitors, cowards…

With this, their morale will not restore.

As soon as the commander decided a 《redistribution》 of the remain supplies, the other battalions’ supplies got stolen as well.

Could it be that they didn’t want to redistribute the supplies so they hide the supplies while saying 《we were stolen》as well?

Yes, when they suspect other people have taken away the food and water that is the lifeline of them, they will not consider other soldiers as comrade anymore.

It’s no more different than 《enemies》

And those who considered soldiers of other battalions as 《enemies》quickly expanded their target.

Other squadrons. Other platoons. Other squads.

And everyone except himself might aim for food and water that he should get.

If it’s trustworthy colleagues, they might willing to fight for the motherland and die together with such colleagues.

However, why should they have to starve and die for those who might be traitors?

With a useless death. Dog death.

When those traitors, who stole water and food, survived to go back home.

“It’s so stupid. Who cares if they die. I will be the one who returns alive…”

And when the soldiers think so, they will not fight seriously.

It is because they give priority to their own safety rather than defeating the enemy.

… Yes, that kind of person was called 《weak soldier》

……………………………………………………………………………

『Oh……』(Junou)

A letter that Mile asked the soldier to deliver has reached Junou’s hand.

Junou, Ascham military commander read the letter without the name of the sender, was overflowing with tears.

『OHHHHHH!』(Junou)

Juneau shouted aloud when the surrounding soldiers didn’t understand anything.

『It is a divine!

Our Ascham soldiers are now under the command of the G.o.ddess!

We are the divine army.

We have become the heavenly soldiers now!

We are justice.

And the G.o.ddess’ protection is with us!!』(Junou)

Oooooh! (Soldiers)

Among the soldiers, a stormy cheer raised up.

Commander Junou isn’t a man who tell such an unbelievable lie for whatever reason.

And the surprise attack troops of the Imperial Army have been captured a few days ago with the G.o.ddess’ help.

It’s the story which everyone from Ascham would easily believe in.

…The Admired lady Mebel has become a G.o.ddess to protect her people.

And there are three angels who follow the G.o.ddess.

They can win.

No, they have to win.

It cannot be forgiven that the army led by the G.o.ddess loses to evil.

『According to the G.o.ddess, she has been working on a strategy.

The Imperial Army has lost all supplies such as water, food, etc., due to the G.o.ddess’ punishment, and even their supply line was cut off.

We are asked to retreat while helping the local evacuate, interfering with the enemy advancing, waiting for the enemies weakening days by days.

We only fight with a small number of enemy reconnaissance units.

The G.o.ddess takes care of the lives of the people, and you are also one of those people.

You are not permissible to die in vain.

Do you understand?』(Junou)

『『『『『『『Oooooohhhh』』』』』』』(Soldiers)

The soldiers’ shouting rose again.

『Well then, we are falling back while hunting Horn-rabbits and Orcs that may become the enemies’ food.

We are also collecting as many edible tree nuts and wild vegetables as much as possible!』(Junou)

The army started withdrawing from the hidden station.

……………………………………………………………………

『… That ‘s why I’d like to help you temporarily hide all the food and barrels in the G.o.ddess’ name.

I will return it afterward.

And if you stay like this, the Imperial Army will rob you of everything.

Do you really think that the Imperial Army who lost all supplies would think about the citizens of the enemy country and leave food, drinks, and seeds for next year and so on?

Everything will be stolen, and on the contrary, they might capture all of you as forced labor to carry the supplies to the battlefield.

And for those hungry beasts in man-skin, women will be required, young girls might be included as well…

For now, concealing all the goods and temporarily hide in the mountains.

Is there any damage that everyone in the village suffers?』(Mile?)

『『『『『『…………』』』』』』(Villagers)

《Red blood is Justice》 has been going around all the villages near the main road leading the main town of Viscountess Ascham land

And just in case, the girls also asked the villager to relay the message to other small villages as well.

A message saying 《Villagers should hide in the mountain after hiding food and barrels》

Regarding the Ascham main town, it’s left to the army forces.

If they follow instructions from the letter, they should have taken the same action.

The army doesn’t have the item-box like Mile, but they should be able to deal with it.

And everyone in the 《Red Oath》, no, the 《Red Blood is Justice》had no doubt that the troops would follow the instructions.

This is because one sentence was added at the end of the letter by Pauline’s idea.

『Junou, protect Ascham』

It was a demon’s job…