CH 64

A town on the verge of ruin.

Translated by SoundOfDestiny

Edited by Zil

Urfin is a provincial town ruled by the Viscountesses of Ulfert.

Until a few months ago, the town was part of the kingdom, but now it is on high alert, with many soldiers coming and going on the walls surrounding the town.

The town of Urfin has high walls and a deep moat, as it is a border town.

It was built to withstand a month’s siege by imperial troops, but now it was being prepared to receive the kingdom’s army, which was supposed to be on its side.

“All right, come on through.”

“Oh, thank you, …….”

Bowing to the soldier, who nodded humbly, a group of people in shabby clothes passed through the castle gates.

There was a long line of people at the gate, the entrance to the town.

It was a procession of villagers from the surrounding villages, who had fled to Urfin on the orders of Viscount Ulfert.

It was seemingly an evacuation order to get away from a potentially war-torn village, but some of the soldiers knew what it really meant. 

“Captain ……, I’m still heartbroken…”

After screening a group of villagers and leading them inside the city walls, one of the soldiers let out a weak cry.

The man called the captain looked disgusted and patted the young soldier on the head.

“Don’t say it. There’s nothing you can do about it now.”

“It’s not like they’re knights or mercenaries, they’re just villagers.　There are even women and children, and you can’t force them to fight.” 

It was never the objective to save the villagers that Viscount Ulfert gathered the surrounding villagers.

Rather the opposite. It was to conscript them as soldiers to fight against the kingdom’s army.

“No, The Viscount has taken them hostage ……”

“Don’t say another word!　You don’t know who’s listening!”

The captain yells at the soldier who is about to reveal the secret.

Another purpose for which the villagers were gathered.

They were to be used as meat shields in the event of an invasion by the kingdom’s army.

Viscount Ulfert is a traitor who betrayed the kingdom’s army and joined the empire.

But even so, the people who live in the Viscount’s territory are genuine citizens of the kingdom.

With them lined up as hostages on the city walls, the Royal Army would not be able to attack aggressively.

And while they are buying time, Viscount Wolfert’s would bribe the nobles in the royal palace and persuade the king to grant him a pardon and relief.

“It would be a loss to the kingdom to lose a man of my calibre!　If I can defeat the kingdom’s army coming here, the king will recognize my power and welcome me back into the kingdom’s nobility!”

–These are the words of Viscount Ulfert, which he uttered with such confidence.

The young soldier shakes his fist and vents his pent-up frustration on his superior.

“I’m a soldier and I’ve volunteered to defend this country from the Empire. So why is it that this town has become the property of the Empire without a fight, and I have to fight against the Royal Army?　It’s not right to use the villagers as shields when we’re trying to protect them!”

“…..I think it’s funny, too. But we’re soldiers hired by Viscount Ulfert. We’re not soldiers of the kingdom, we’re private soldiers of the Viscount. This spear, armor, and even the food was prepared by the Viscount.” 

“That’s why ……”

“Come on, the next villager is waiting for you! Go!”

The captain kicked the soldier’s ass and forcefully ended the conversation.

There are times when you have to be covered in mud to feed your family, no matter how unconvinced you are.

A young man who does not know to swallow with turbidity like himself is quickly returned to work.

“Uuuu”

The young soldier looked unconvinced, but went back to his work. He ran up to the villagers who were waiting in front of the wall.

A dozen or so villagers were waiting to be examined by the soldiers. Behind them followed carriages loaded with their belongings.

“What village are you from?”

“We’re from the village of Giza in the east. We’ve been ordered to evacuate.”

A group of villagers, an older man at the head of the group, answered in a polite tone.

Some of them are children. The soldier’s heart throbbed as he remembered his earlier conversation with his boss.

“Well,……, what’s in that carriage over there?”

“We had wheat and millet in our stockpile. I brought them as emergency rations.”

The soldier glanced at the burlap sacks packed in the wagon.

Normally, the contents of the luggage should be checked properly.

But the spirit of hard work had already vanished from the young soldier’s mind.

“You can come through. We’ll put up a tent in the square and you can stay there for a while.”

“…… Ah, yes.”

The villagers, who had been so readily granted permission to enter, looked momentarily disappointed, but soon led the others into the town.

“Wait!”

“……!”

But there was a sharp voice at their backs. The voice belonged to the captain who had just reprimanded the young soldier.

The man who called out to him slowly turned around.

“What’s the matter, sir??”

“……, if you have any extra wheat, could you bring it to the soldiers’ hall later. I’ll make some arrangements for you.”

“…… Oh, yes, Will do.”

The man bowed deeply and walked into the town this time.

“…………?”

The young soldier looks away in silence, wondering slightly at the strangely nervous villagers.