Stein Rays's Move (17): A Parting of Ways (1)

We broke camp.

At the front was our unit, Roa Squad. Frankult was with us, too.

Frankult still looked pale, but had insisted on staying with our unit. The danger had passed. Removing the poisoned arrowhead early had paid off.

In the middle marched Lord Granz and the main force. Granz Squad surrounded the hastily prepared carriage carrying only Judd-san and Lufa, with the soldiers under Captain Viola surrounding them from the outside.

The rear guard was Lapilia Squad. I wondered what thoughts Lapilia had left behind at the place where Rays-sama slept as she set out.

Though we were in a hurry, the Tenth Knight Order marched steadily, given that Rays-sama was in the carriage and, officially, under strict orders to rest.

We wouldn't pick up the pace in earnest until we'd left Golber territory.

By the time the whole army had finished descending the slope, we saw a cloud of dust ahead. We knew who it was: the Second Knight Order. We'd anticipated their arrival and were marching slowly for that very reason.

The original plan was for the Tenth Knight Order to pursue the Golber army while the Second Knight Order raided the forts in the surrounding area. It was easy to predict that if the Tenth Knight Order didn't move, the Second Knight Order would naturally return to find out what was going on.

I'd told Lord Granz and Lapilia to leave handling Hock-san to me...