792 Episode Six: Lei Fang Swordsman

About a year and four months ago - I'm talking about last year's white moon.

In a liquor store in the town of Castle in Genos, Devias was still drunk with his fellow militia members that night.

"Nevertheless, it's an unconvincing story!

One of my buddies shrugged like that as he shook his glass. He is a young soldier, a newcomer, who has been set to work under Devious in the last few months.

Devious, who was grabbing Kimmus' foot meat, said, "Hmm?" and looked back at you.

"What the hell are you fussing about? You failed to dictate the town's daughter again?

"I'm not talking about that! I speak for the Squadron Commander!

"I wonder how it would do me any good to make such a noise. Whatever, if you didn't want to get kicked out of the tavern, I think you should keep your voice down a little bit."

It was an end-of-place pub, even in Castle Town. Thank you. There are so many despicable people around Devious that they are not very welcome in the central neighborhood.

However, even at the end of the day, it is a castle town, so there is no such thing as an outlaw. Therefore, even that day, it seemed that the most noisy was the face of this militia.

"The Squadron Commander is giving more medals than anyone! Didn't you catch the bandit leaders brilliantly on this previous expedition! I am truly proud to be able to work under the Squadron Commander!

"Really? I don't feel much respect for that."

"That's why I was expecting the Squadron Commander to be promoted to captain this time! That expectation was to be betrayed by the brilliance of things!

The young soldier twitched, looking like Devious's words and other things were not in his ear. It looks like the liquor is spinning considerably.

Then another soldier, who was enjoying Mammalia's distilled liquor at the next table, smiled and broke in.

"I don't even know what you're talking about, but I wouldn't take care of you if you could just be promoted by your power as a swordsman. More importantly, blood muscles, connections, socialism."

"Do you kill enemies with blood muscles, connections, or social skills? What our militia needs is power to crusade outlaws, right?

"It's our role as soldiers to slay our enemies. The battalion leader is so helpful to take command, he's second only to his power as a swordsman."

"But! Isn't His Excellency Merfrid, the leader of the Kingsguard Corps, and others enough swordsmen to be number one in the martial arts club!

"That's the story of that Mitsuhito who just happens to be excellent as a swordsman. In the first place, that Mistress is a trail of the Marquis, so whatever status you want."

The young soldier opened the glass in an entirely unconvincing manner.

"If you are an exceptional swordsman like Lord Melfrid, you have no complaints about any status! But how could such a blue genius or such an old man who couldn't help but wield his sword be given the seat of a great captain? What that seat deserves should be this Sergeant Commander Devious!

"Come on, you're saying something loud and far-fetched. You don't even know where anyone's listening.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of! Let them say the same word again and again, even if they slap you with a whip!

The soldier, who was enjoying the distilled liquor, laughed bitterly, "Oh man," and leaned over to Devious.

"Young humans are straight as grigi sticks, and it goes away. As squadron commander, what do you say?

"Uhm. This Kimmus' foot meat is delicious with ripe vanilla"

"Nobody's asking me what I think of cooking. If your soldiers admired you so much, you wouldn't feel bad, would you?

"I don't feel bad, but he caught me drinking fruit earlier. Half the gratitude."

With that said, Devious let the bones of Kimmus, which were beautifully covered with meat, throw them on a plate.

"Besides, there's no way I'm going to be elected captain. The Captain is in a position to lead a thousand soldiers. Do I look like such a vessel to you?

"If you're just talking about vessels, you can't even see them. You have a lot of style if you don't even open your mouth."

Since this soldier has been a clientele for ten years, Devious, the superior officer, did not hesitate either.

"It's just, like I said, to climb up to the captain, you're going to need a bloodstream, connections and socialism. We've all been named captains because of the Marquis and the Counts."

"Mm-hmm. I don't think there's much of a gap between my father's generation and me, the cavalier class."

In the last few days, the militia was set to undergo a radical transformation. And Silhouel the captain, and his deputy, and the captain of the first battalion, were taken captive as sinners.

The Second Battalion Commander is currently cutting up the regiment as Acting Commander, but if the person is formally appointed as a new Commander, the Second Battalion Commander's seat will also be vacant. It was supposed to be an unsolicited event in the long history of the militia, such as this massive transfer of personnel.

And today, the human name to be appointed as the new captain of the battalion was announced inside. That was the people who had just been called "Qing Er Cai" and "Old Man".

I hear that "Aoyagi" is a Marquis of Genos and "Old Man" is a person bordered by the Earl of Saturas. Moreover, "Aoyagi" was a squadron leader, as was Devious, and "the old man" was a second battalion commander's deputy. Yet, as far as the lieutenant of the regiment was concerned, there were many rumors that humans in their rightful positions would be turned from the Kingsguard Corps.

"Well, I'm not dissatisfied with HR this time either. Not so loud and twitchy."

"Oh. After all, did the Squadron Commander secretly want a promotion, too, in the back of his mind?

"It's not about me. Isn't it the captain of our Fourth Battalion who deserves the captain of the Militia Corps?

The man smiled bitterly, "Oh."

"I do think the captain of our Fourth Battalion deserves you, though. But just like the Squadron Commander, he didn't have enough blood, connections, or social skills."

"Mm-hmm. The captain, too, came out of the cavalier class. That's one sword arm that climbed up to the battalion captain's seat. It will be an honorable deed."

The chivalry class in Genos is by no means a high status. It is an extremely vague existence, situated between nobility and civilians. While the boys in the clan work as part of a soldier's regiment, they are also guaranteed a place of residence and benefits for the family, but that is also insignificant. Therefore, it was more important to hold positions within the Corps.

"If you climb up to the battalion captain, you'll also be called to a little feast in the court. And then you don't have to drink in a pub at the end of the day."

"Hmm? It's not a bad idea to have a court feast, but it's a tough thing for a nobleman to say goodbye until then."

"Oh? That's what I've been seeing.... Oh well. You've been to martial arts festivals before."

"Mm-hmm. In places like that, it's one hard time enjoying alcohol and cooking. Then it would be easier to have a drink with your cheerful friends."

"Hehe. If it were you, maybe it would be."

That said, the man narrowed his eyes pleasantly.

"Well... to tell you the truth, I was just hoping in a corner of my mind too. It would be interesting if you were appointed captain of the battalion."

"You can't decide the battalion captain's seat, whether it's funny or not. Besides, I'm sexually fit to chase bandits and outlaws around. The role of merely giving orders from behind is not boring."

"But when you're captain of the battalion, you might be able to relate to the princesses of the court, right?

"Mm... don't bother, don't let your heart move"

When a man laughed at Devious's words, a young soldier as young as just now took the most salutary stance.

"Captain! What happened in a place like this?

"This is a tavern. Do you have any business besides drinking?

Laughing cheerfully, a big man approaches us. The man was the fourth battalion captain of Devious's superiors.

When Devious and the others also tried to get up, the captain smiled and let it stop.

"There is no need for salute, even though it is not part of my job. Looks like you've been drinking all night."

"Yes. Did the captain come to drink for me, too?

A man who was in Devious's place speaks out in a cheerful manner.

The captain has turned his attention to Devious, laughing "so-so".

"I just need to talk to Devious for a second. Let me spare you just a glass of fruit wine."

"Yes, yes, I know. I got it."

Devias took with him the captain and moved to his empty seat.

The captain is ten years older than Devious and will be forty-two. Exactly. The chances of sifting a sword are diminishing, and I'm gaining a lot of weight, but that gives me a grand captain-like piercing. When I was younger, I was a born samurai, who also performed honorably in martial arts clubs.

"We've already heard about example HR, haven't we?

When he got to his seat, the captain asked as such.

Take a sip of the contents of the liquor cup you brought with you, and then Devious responds, "Ah."

"It's about the new captains and battalion captains, isn't it? Of course, I hear you."

"Hmmm... I voted you, but I can get you to listen to that. I thought you were the next captain."

Devious, I accidentally got to the point.

"Lord Captain, did you recommend me? Why?"

"That's because you're the best of my men."

Laughing, the captain also tilted the glass.

"But these days, the one called blood muscle seems to be weighed down. Until a little while ago, I was chosen captain of the battalion, and that's not fair."

"No, no, the captain was trying to be the captain of the battalion. You can't compare it to me."

"That's not true. Blood muscles alone have just exposed the danger of defining the position, and the people in the court know nothing about it."

It would be pointing to the fact that this time it was the blood muscles of the Count Nokimi Turan family that were captured as sinners. Not only was Silel, the Lord's brother, but his deputy and first battalion captain were also blood muscles beside Count Turan's house. In the first place, it was a story of being rigorously investigated because it was such a blood muscle, and that brightened the sin.

"Being born into precious blood muscles doesn't necessarily mean you grow up to be a good person. I don't know how you know that's normal."

"Well, I guess it's a natural feeling anyone has that they want to have their own blood family. I want my family to be happy."

"But it's no longer a good reason to give you an extra position?

"Ha. Do the people who were elected battalion leaders this time have enough for themselves?

"Humph," the captain snorted.

"Well, I know you weren't chosen just for your blood muscles. But if you don't think about blood muscles, you'll be the one most deserving of a big captain."

"You lift me up a lot.... Perhaps you would like to float your liquor bill?

"I haven't fallen far enough to pay my men for alcohol. Well, you, young man, will have your next chance. If another captain makes a mistake, I'll look forward to it."

That's how the captain got up early when he drank up the fruit liquor.

"Bye. Don't touch your duties tomorrow."

"Huh? Is the captain home yet?

"Mm-hmm. I did my errands."

The captain waved and left the tavern.

I guess that means I visited this tavern to exchange words with Devious.

(Thankful story. I'm the one who can't live up to the Captain's expectations, unless I'm sorry)

Thinking that way, Devious decided to go back to his folks who were making foolish noises.

◇

a few days after that.

Sleeping in his quarters, Devious was to wake up in an untimely commotion.

From beyond the door, the footsteps of a large number of humans running down the corridor are echoing. There was a human, and it staggered to the voice, and it was not something that could sleep very well.

(What the hell is that? Did the battle even begin?

Rising from his bedroom, Devious bit the yawn to death while grabbing the long sword hanging from the wall.

When I open the door so narrowly, the red or silver light stings my eyes. Genos soldiers with lights running around the corridor.

(Hmm. Aside from the squadron leader's me, did he even take the order to go out?)

Devious decided to only put his face out of the gap in the door.

"Hey, what the hell is all this fuss about?

One of the soldiers, who was about to pass in front of him, stifles in a slight manner. He is the armored figure of the undisputed militia, and the chest stamp indicates that he belongs to the First Battalion. It is a force to be headed by a "Qing Er Cai" bordered by the Marquis of Genos.

The soldier raised his voice sternly as he lay his hands on the pattern of the long sword.

"Hey, someone! Reveal your affiliation!

"Yes, sir. I'm Devias, 4th Battalion, 3rd Squadron Leader."

"Squadron leader?... I'd like you to see me"

Devious shoved open the door as he put his head to it.

When he sees the long sword in Devious's hand, the soldier retreats. And some soldiers who noticed it stopped and besieged Devious.

"Bu, disarm! Or I'll tie you up!

"Whoa. Why should your people see you like that? If you've caused civil strife, I can't thank you enough with this sword."

"It is your superior who is guilty! We are ordered to capture the Fourth Battalion Commander!

Devious said, "Hmm?" and I was to tilt my little neck.

"Why should my beloved Captain be tied up? May I reveal my guilt?"

"The charges are suspected of conspiring with Cycleus, the former lord of the Count Turan family, and Siluel, the former commander of the militia, and of having participated in numerous acts of looting and assassination!

That was, in other words, a similar sin to that of Silel's deputy or the First Battalion captain.

"I don't know what's happening. Was that a disturbance surrounding Count Turan's house? Our captain must be from a knightly rank."

"And disarm them anyway! Otherwise, you will be seen as conspiring with the battalion leader!

That's when the low voice, "What's up?" sounded.

Something is a heavy voice that echoes to the bottom of the belly.

The soldiers who looked back at you saluted with a blue face.

"Me, my lord Melfrid! Thank you for your service and hard work!

"Uhm," the person walks over.

It is not an armored figure, but a white outfit of a martial officer. And on its hips, two narrow long swords were lowered.

"This is, Lord Melfried. It's not like I'm joking that you're here."

Devious also made me salute all the shapes.

Even Melfried, the leader of the Kingsguard Corps, has not had the opportunity to interact with him in the style of squadron leader of the militia, but he has crossed the blades with him more than once in the martial arts club. Melfried came first and Devious came second last year, so we were supposed to celebrate at Castle Genos together.

"Are you Devious? Speaking of which, you belonged to the Fourth Battalion."

"Yes. Is it true that my beloved Captain, Your Highness, is charged with a great crime?

"Mm-hmm. That's how Cycleus just confessed. The truth will be revealed at the Inquisition."

"Really?" Devious decided to drop his shoulder.

And give a long sword to a soldier close by.

"Please. I hope that's a false confession. The captain should be resting in his bedroom."

"Mm-hmm. It should be time to get pulled together."

Then a large number of soldiers stormed in from across the corridor.

"My Lord Melfried! The bedroom was empty! Apparently, he was on the run to detect his predicament!

"What? No one should be able to foresee anything like Cycleus confessing this night..."

"But there were no long swords or coats left in the bedroom, like copper coins! The bedding is also heavily disturbed, leaving traces of what appears to have been a hasty escape!

"Then there's a chance he's still hiding in his quarters."

Melfried shook off his right arm as he let his grey eyes glow cold.

"Search the quarters! Members of the Fourth Battalion will disarm and reveal the location of all units!

"... the Third Battalion is on duty this evening, and the Fourth Battalion is assisting it, so half the crew is outside the stone walls."

Devias made me declare it that way.

"If you like, can I have your duty table? Captain, it must be stored in his office."

Melfried stared at Devious's face for a while and then said "cooperate, thank you".

Devious receives the lights instead of the long sword and goes for the office. Even during that time, large numbers of soldiers were coming and going in the corridor.

This quarters exist in the castle town. It is an institution for soldiers in positions of squadron leader or above, or who were originally a people of the castle town. Since the vast majority of the militias are from Saturan or Turan territory, such people should have been spending time in quarters outside the stone walls or at their parents' homes.

(I mean, it should be hard to break through the castle gate where I could escape from this quarters... so is it worth running away and hiding?

Whatever it was, Devious had no choice but to do what he could.

Besides - Devious also wanted to make sure it was true and false with his own eyes.

Turning left at the penetration of the corridor, the hustle and noise become very distant. The captain's bedroom was upstairs and the stairs were on the right, so I guess this search was put behind us. For Devious, it was fortunate.

Walk one dark corridor and put your hands on the fourth door from behind.

This was the office of the Fourth Battalion Commander.

Devious opened the door to keep the light fire indoors as quiet as possible.

Not popular and quiet. There is no escape because the window is fitted with a lattice, and the quarters will be besieged beforehand anyway. If it was Melfried taking command, there couldn't have been a pullout there either.

(Well...)

Devias went bare through the shelves housed in the table of duty and went for the back of the room.

It is the corner of the room, behind the right toward it. When I checked the foot there, the carpet laid on the floor was unnaturally deflected.

Devious breathes and turns the carpet.

Hidden beneath it were cobblestones - partly between stones and stones, there was enough clearance for fingertips to enter.

If you can apply your finger to that gap and force, one of the cobblestones will lift up. It was a hidden door.

Waiting across a pompous, empty square hole was a gray stone staircase.

"Excuse me," he said, pointing a light at the darkness, returning a fine voice called "hiccup."

Devious walks down the stairs unconstitutionally.

It was a cramped space, like a reservoir, and the little fire on the candlestick was lit up.

In the light of its whispering fire is a battalion captain with a long sword over him.

"You're so annoying, Captain."

"De, Devias... how did you get this hidden room..."

"No, when the captain was away, he happened to discover it. Of course, at that time, I didn't imitate peeking inside."

Speaking that way, Devious let him sigh.

"But I should have taken a quick peek, shouldn't I? I was wondering if you even hide fruit liquor for fun while on duty, etc... I never imagined this kind of stuff was hidden, etc."

There were gemstone ornaments that seemed worthwhile, as well as copper statues, bundles of books, and piles of silver coins packed in crates.

"I hear the Grand Sinners of the Count Turan family were attacking numerous chambers of commerce to work acts of looting. Did the Captain temporarily take care of those battles?"

"You... you came to capture me, too?

"First of all, I wanted to make sure it was true with my own eyes. I've been praying to the Western gods, whether you're lying about Cycleus' confession or not."

But that prayer never made sense.

That was evident from what the captain looked like.

The battalion captain in his jacket was shaking like a Geez rat.

All the usual razors and samurai-like styles have disappeared somewhere. A body that was bigger and more plentiful than Devious also felt squished around.

"How did the captain end up dyeing his hands for such sins? There must have been no such thing as an affair with Count Turan's house, right?

"Wah... I have been called out to the captain. He chose me as battalion commander in the first place because he was the Lord Commander of the Shiruel regiment."

In a servile voice like an old man, the captain said so.

"He is a terrible one… there is no way that I and others can turn against such a one. I have no choice but to dye my hands in sin..."

"Then why didn't you confess your sins when Silhouel was captured? That would have reduced your sins a little bit."

"Oh, that's..."

"Have you thought that without the Silhouels, we can keep this wealth to ourselves?

There was a distorted grin on the battalion leader's face.

It is still an uglier shape than a face frightened as a rat.

"Please, Devious... miss me. Then I'll give you half of this treasure."

"So how are you going to get away with this? You won't leave the castle gate, will you?

"Such things can be done with silver coins. What is the world of men?"

Devious gave him a sigh of relief.

"My apologies to the Captain."

"Apologize...? What are you talking about?

"When I say apology, I apologize. I've long loved people like you. I want you to sincerely apologize for treading on my heart."

"You're a dude everywhere... I wasn't going to recommend you to the Captain."

"I see. You were going to sell me a favour and make me take part in some evil eventually. Did Silhouel do that to you once?"

Devious lowered the lights of his hand to the floor with his head on.

"You're a man who looks down on making it. I'm going to be desperate for the blindness of seeing my own person."

"Don't want to, you lying bastard... if you want a long sword blow more than a treasure, do what you want"

"Are you going to spend time with my remains in a place like this until the soldiers pull it up? That's a lot of guts."

"Die!", the captain has carried out a long sword.

"You're not going to die," Devious avoids that slaughter.

That's how when I punched the captain in the face from the side, his plentiful body blew up to the wall and stopped moving.

"Oh, already, it's the worst night ever. What the hell did I do?

"… you seem to have neglected your duty to report"

Devious was set to jump up in the dim.

"Me, Lord Melfried? Were you tailing me?

'Cause you looked a lot more like you.'

From the stone staircase, Melfrid and several soldiers appeared.

"Capture the sinner and seize the indoor goods. Let this be a testament to great sin."

The soldiers remained silent, carrying out their orders. The captain is groaning like a dying Geez as he ropes his back hand.

"Now, you will follow me."

With Mel Fried's grey eyes on him, Devious nodded, "Yeah."

"I guess you should have reported it beforehand. Cook if you want, cook if you want."

"Let me just indulge in that one thing. But before that, important tasks remain."

"An important assignment? What are you talking about?

"In the northern town of Behett, Cycleus confessed that the bandits who will be the" Winds of Black Death "are lurking. They are the executioners who were attacking the Chamber of Commerce on Cycleus' orders."

"Yeah? Didn't we talk about people like the Sung family by the woods who were attacking the Chamber of Commerce?

"The Sung family had already lost its power years ago. Since then, they have been working evil deeds in the hands and feet of Cycleus and others. Until we destroy them, there will be no end to this disturbance."

"... can you forgive me for joining that crusade mission?

"Now that the battalion captain has been captured, we need a man to lead the Fourth Battalion."

That's all I said, and Melfried returned the blemishes.

Devious said, "I understand!" Let me try again.

"Let me thank you, Lord Melfried! I'm sorry for the bandits, but let this depression dissipate by wielding your sword!

◇

"... so that after my crusade that night, upon the election of Lord Melfried, I would be given the seat of the Fourth Battalion Commander."

When Devious closed that way, Ai-Fa dropped his shoulder disappointingly.

"It was a long time... how could we have had to be told such stories for so long"

"Well, I wonder why it was. Well, it would be a story."

This was the canteen on the side of a stall run by the people of the woodland in Inn Town.

Today was the last holiday before Easter, so Devious was to visit this place with all his friends. And it came to pass that I went round with Ai-Fa.

"But it was a very interesting story. Anyway, we were in the right place for Cycleus to confess his sins. Melfried is on his feet, and he's headed to your sleeping quarters."

Asta was the one who said that to me with a smile and a loving laugh. Until just now he had been making a mockery with the people of the east, who were friends of the Old Knowledge, but because they had finally taken their seats, they came to Devias.

"As a matter of course, we've been sharing our hardships and joys where we don't know each other for a long time before we put our faces together. I'm glad to hear that."

"Yes! That's what I wanted to say too, I guess"

"Don't be a liar. I don't think that's what you were talking about."

"So you're probably saying. Lord Ai-Fa is tough on me."

Then a fellow soldier, who was making a scene at the same table, laughed.

"Well, you will. It's so brave to talk about hunters by the woods."

"What? I don't think such a story is a martial arts tradition, nor do I feel like dictating Lord Ai-Fa in the first place. Lord Ai-Fa has a fine company called Lord Asta!

"Then why are you following people around?

"So don't follow me around or anything. However, isn't a woman as beautiful as Lord Ey-Fa an eye-blessing just because she sees it? See?"

And when I looked back at the beautiful and brave hunter, she was trembling on her shoulders smugly as she blushed.

"Oh well! It was against the learning to praise the appearance of a woman by the woods. It's a totally difficult lesson, but let me apologize deeply here."

Still, Ai-Fa was trembling with anger and shame, but Asta, who was equally blushing, regarded me as "sort of".

"Whatever it is, thank you for your continued support. I guess the opportunity to face each other like this is hard to come by... but under the same Genos sky I would love to share the joy and hardship with you"

Devious made me laugh at Asta's words like that.

"That's what I think, too! Probably not, never!