Chapter 168
For this expedition, most of the soldiers would set out without learning its true objective until the last possible moment. Preparations were proceeding under the pretense that we were heading to the Zetta Plain to go on the offensive.
“This time, we've got our chance to take down Golber!”
“Yeah. Not that we'll let our guard down, but this time we have the initiative. I'd like to at least take Heath Fort, Golber's frontline stronghold. Things will get a lot easier if it falls.”
I could hear Ryuzel and Frain having an upbeat exchange. The mood across the whole unit was bright, not just theirs.
Last year at Zetta, we'd been forced to endure a grueling battle and won by the narrowest of margins. Now our soldiers were fired up to settle the score.
“Captain Ryuzel! If I distinguish myself here, will you make me deputy commander of your unit?!” Rosvel was full of energy.
“First, you lot just need to stay alive. There's no point talking about promotions if you're dead.” Ryuzel gently admonished him.
“Looks like we'll be heading out with high morale.” Wickhart spoke to me as I watched Ryuzel and Rosvel go back and forth.
The two of them had spent Wickhart's leave together, and he'd made sure to spend time with his fiancée, Opa-san. When he told me his little sister had asked, “When are you coming to visit again?” I could only answer with a wry smile.
The Roa Squad's high morale wasn't just because we wanted revenge for last time.
The saddlebags mounted behind the horses' saddles were a hard-won creation Ryuzel and Frain had developed through trial and error.
There were four box-shaped compartments in all, two on each side. The Ten-Knight Bow was proudly nestled in one, and another held a large supply of arrows.
We'd used the Ten-Knight Bow several times against the thugs at the royal family's shrine and during training, but this would be its first time in actual combat.
It was a weapon we'd already seen real promise in. This might even become a battle etched in history. Every soldier wore that pride on their face.
The other two compartments could hold anything, but they'd been improved, too. They were packed with removable, soft cotton to keep jars from breaking.
Rapilia-sama, who loved jam, had taken such a liking to these saddlebags that they caught on beyond the Roa Squad and throughout the entire Tenth Knight Order.
Now they were indispensable equipment for mounted soldiers. Once word got around, other knight orders would probably start using them, too.
I couldn't help wondering whether the storage system the two of them had come up with might be remembered for a long time.
“Roa, everyone's ready.”
“Got it. Lufa, did you remember everything?”
“Yep.”
Honestly, I wanted to leave Lufa behind this time. But if we were heading to Zetta like last time, she could hole up in Kitzal Fort. Since I couldn't tell only Lufa about the real reason, I made the painful choice to bring her along.
Also, if Lucifal's betrayal came earlier than it had in history, the capital might be in even greater danger than our expedition.
Since she'd be serving as a war shrine maiden, it would be more convenient for her to be with the main force, so we planned to have her meet up with them at an appropriate point.
Incidentally, our first destination was Hockeharun Fort.
It was a large fortress about halfway between the capital and Oakhle Fort, where the First Knight Order was scheduled to enter. It served as a shield for the capital against threats from the north.
Since we were currently allied with Reflea, only around a thousand regular soldiers were stationed there.
We would meet up with the Second Knight Order at Hockeharun Fort, then head north together.
As for the First Knight Order, they would set out after we entered Reflea territory.
Their official mission would be to escort King Zeuracia. The king would be traveling north for a meeting with Reflea, and the First Knight Order would accompany him. That was the cover story.
In reality, King Zeuracia wouldn't leave the capital. It was all a show to avoid making the citizens anxious, and the king would spend the time inside the castle's living quarters.
Well, once we entered Golber territory, there would be no need to keep it secret. As soon as the situation became clear, the king would make an appearance and proclaim that it had all been part of a grand plan.
Incidentally, while in Reflea, we'd follow winding mountain roads near the border. It was a precaution to avoid needlessly provoking Golber—or Reflea, for that matter.
Though whether we needed to be that considerate of Reflea was another matter.
It would probably take several days just to pass through Reflea. Rudek had already seen the snow melt, but our route ahead ran along the foothills. If much snow remained there, our march would slow accordingly.
In any case, it wouldn't be an easy journey. For now, we'd proceed without overexerting ourselves and conserve our strength.
This was my second time at Hockeharun Fort. It was a big fortress, all right; even with the Tenth Knight Order housed there, there was still room to spare.
I'd just set my things down in the assigned room and let out a relieved sigh when a messenger came to call for me. I asked Dick to keep an eye on my things, then followed the messenger with Wickhart.
As we walked, the messenger, Keevan-san, did something unusual and struck up a conversation with me.
“Are we really going to invade Golber this time?”
“Well, we're heading to Zetta. Didn't you hear?”
“I heard that much, but... well... in Lord Rays's room...”
The messenger seemed to be having trouble saying something, and I caught on.
“Oh, could it be that you're from Golber?” I asked. They turned to look at me in surprise.
“How did you know?”
“I thought you might know General Franklurt.”
“...That's right. There was a general in Lord Rays's room whom I'd seen back in Golber, so I was wondering what was going on...”
It was no wonder they were surprised. General Franklurt's defection to Rudek wasn't widely known.
“Where in Golber are you from?”
“I'm from the countryside, so I doubt you'd know it even if I told you.”
“You never know. Maybe I do.”
“Really? It's a village called Ideron.”
“Oh, that fishing village,” I said. They looked even more astonished than before and gave me a suspicious look. “How do you know such a tiny village?”
Oh no, I'd done it again after so long. Of course, I knew about it from my travels after Rudek's fall.
Ideron had reminded me so much of my hometown that it had stuck in my mind. That's why I'd let it slip.
“I'm from a small fishing village called Kuzel, and a family from Ideron moved there. They said it reminded them of their hometown, so they settled in Kuzel. Their son was about my age, and I used to visit their house all the time. That's why I heard a lot about Ideron.”
My off-the-cuff lies had gotten pretty good.
“I see...” They still didn't seem entirely convinced, but they didn't press me any further. By then, we'd reached Rays-sama.
I knocked on the door and went inside.
Rays-sama, Glantz-sama, Rapilia-sama, and General Franklurt were inside. So far, so good. Just as planned.
“...Why are you two here?”
“Hey, Roa, that's no way to greet someone.”
“You should be more grateful to see us again.”
For some reason, the twins, Yuizest and Meizest, were waiting in the room, too.