CH 130

A murderous highway

Translated by SoundDestiny

Edited by Zil

A single road runs from east to west through the Kingdom of Zain.

In times of peace, the road was a major artery of distribution, with many peddlers coming and going.

However, since the beginning of the war with the Alsatian Empire, the road has been devoid of people. The road was deserted, with only the occasional refugee who had lost their home to the war, or mercenaries who made a living from it, passing through.

A man and a woman are walking along the quiet street from east to west.

The man was dressed like a martial artist. He had a sword in a scabbard hanging from his waist and a grey coat over his worn clothes.

The woman seemed to be a priest. She wore white vestments of a simple design. Her head was covered by a hood so that her face could not be seen clearly, but her silver hair glimpsed through the hood.

One can only guess that they are pilgrims and guards walking around the churches of the countries.

According to the teachings of the Northern Continent’s “Holy Doctrine”, a clergyman must be not only pure but also strong enough to face difficulties.

The practice of making pilgrimages to the countryside to strengthen the body and soul was incorporated into the teachings, and these pilgrims were often seen along the roads and at inns.

“It’s pretty quiet in this country…..”

A female pilgrim in a hood raises her head and murmurs.

She looked around, but around her were only her and the man escorting her. Two of them are walking along the wide streets.

“It’s wartime, you know. Isn’t it understandable?”

The man who seemed to be guarding her replied in an unconcerned tone.

The man with the black hair tied back behind his head was still young and had a fearless face, but his mouth was full of stubble. The man’s lazy nature was evident in his physiognomy, and his eyes were tinted with a languid colour.

“But the war is already over. I am told that a peace has been concluded between the Kingdom and the Empire?”

“It is true, but….. there is no official information yet, is there? For ordinary people and merchants who don’t have any sources of information, there is no reason to go down a road that may be dangerous. You don’t even know what kind of danger you’re in.”

“……Will not the heart of man be at peace even after the battle is over? After all, it is necessary to spread the teachings of the righteous God to bring peace to the people.”

The woman murmured in a serious tone, and clutched her long tin staff in one hand.

“There are many enemies in this world that threaten the survival of mankind: disasters, pestilence, demons, and the Witches of Doom…….Why do we have to fight each other? Why can’t we join hands to face our difficulties? …… It’s really hard to understand.”

“…..That’s what human beings do, you know. No matter what time of year it is, there will always be conflict.”

The man replies to the sorrowful pilgrim with a pouting smile.

“Everyone likes peace, of course. But we are convience to fight to obtain it. We can only show our peace by fighting and competing with each other. As long as we are human, there is no way to escape it.”

“……It’s sad, it’s sorrowful. If everyone followed the teachings of the righteous God, there would be no conflict.”

The pilgrim said sadly and shook her head slowly.

The man turns his head in the direction where the sun would rise, not daring to deny his employer’s words, even though he knows it is not that simple.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to spread the word …… by force, but forceful proselytizing can lead to conflict, no, but……”

Muttering and mumbling, the pilgrim goes on without stopping.

It seems to be a regular thing, and the guards follow without seeming to care but then they raise their eyebrows and hug the pilgrim’s shoulder.

“Excuse me!”

“Huh?”

The man leads the pilgrims to the edge of the road.

After a while, a sound like the rumbling of the earth comes from behind them. The sound grew louder and louder, until it became so huge that it could be called a roar.

The source of the sound was an army of a thousand men.

Cavalrymen on horseback rode through the streets from east to west. A little later, the soldiers on foot followed at a gallop.

The pilgrim, who had passed the march at the side of the road, gave a short sigh of relief.

“I suppose the soldiers have been transferred from the eastern border. It seems that the war between the Kingdom and the Empire is really over.” 

“……Well, I don’t know. I don’t think so.” 

“Is there something bothering you, sir?”

The pilgrim’s question is answered by a man with a difficult expression, his brow furrowed.

“Those soldiers…looked very deadly and well prepared. I don’t think the battle is over.”

The guard squinted at the back of the troops as they headed west.

The faces of the soldiers as they rushed past were all tight with a warlike intent. They looked as if they were about to go to war, not like the faces of soldiers returning from battle.

“Especially……that guy who was riding his horse at the front. That one will do quite well.”

The man gripped his sword at his waist and shook his fist.

At the head of the army was a young man in between a boy and a young man, but the man could tell in a moment of passing that he was a warrior of exceptional fighting ability.

If they had to fight, he would have to kill or be killed. It would be a fierce battle for his life.

“If you say so, then you must be right. It seems that a dark cloud has appeared. Let’s hurry up, Lord Yamato.” 

“Yes, yes, I understand. …… Lord Orléans.”

A few words were exchanged and the man and the woman started walking westwards again.

The footsteps on the ground were the same as before, but a feeling of gloom and anxiety had settled over both of them. 

The army that had just rushed forward must have been headed for the royal capital of the Kingdom of Zain, judging from the direction.

What on earth is going on in the Royal Capital where the war is supposed to be over? An unsettling feeling of foreboding stroked the spines of the two.