Chapter 114
After seeing Calus-san and Priest Gillman off, Carla-san bowed her head.
"I'm sorry, Romelia-sama. My brother is from the generation of the Five Kingdoms War."
At Carla-san's words, I nodded to show that I understood.
The Five Kingdoms War, which took place thirty years ago, was, apart from the Demon Army's invasion, the greatest war of the past century.
It was a conflict that drew in the great powers, and through it, our Lionel Kingdom achieved a great victory and made its name resound across the continent.
Those who went to war were praised as heroes, and they had undoubtedly helped drive the kingdom's rise.
However, people of that generation tended to look down on those younger than themselves as people who knew nothing of war. That made things troublesome at times like this.
"I'm not bothered by that, so please don't worry. More importantly, the problem is that they are going to the battlefield. At this rate, they are practically marching to their deaths."
The young people had already been conscripted. Most of those left in the village were elderly. The comrades Calus-san had gathered must have been fellow veterans of his generation.
They probably still considered themselves active soldiers, but I could not imagine them enduring actual combat.
"I understand. But they won't listen when I try to stop them..."
Carla-san sighed, and I found myself sighing along with her.
"We have to find some way to keep them here."
I couldn't knowingly let them go to certain deaths.
Besides, if they died, the labor force in the north would plummet. Losing that much manpower would send the economy of the Roberk Region into decline.
"They are probably planning to head north just like us. We have to go ahead of them and defeat the Demon Army before they arrive. Carla-san, I'm sorry to ask this, but could you stall them for us? Please keep them here."
We could not let them fight the Demon Army.
"I am sorry to cause Romelia-sama, who came to save the Roberk Region, any unnecessary worry. Leave it to me. I will not let my brothers take a single step outside this land."
Carla-san took on the task.
"Then, Carla-san, could you tell me about the situation in the surrounding area? What is happening to the north?"
The Kennett Domain, which had requested my aid, lay just ahead of us. Couriers should have been coming regularly, but none had arrived since yesterday.
When I asked about developments in the north, Carla-san's expression grew grim.
"I'll explain in detail inside."
Carla-san guided us back into the manor and led us to a hall at the rear.
A large table stood in the hall, with a map of the surrounding area spread across it.
"The situation in the north is quite dire, I am afraid."
Carla-san pointed to the map and explained the current situation.
"There are around seventy villages and settlements of various sizes in the north, but contact has already been lost with seven northern villages."
Carla-san placed seven small stones on the map, showing us the locations of the villages that had stopped reporting in.
"One of them was built on the ruins of a fort, so it had high walls and a moat. But after one messenger arrived to report an attack, we have heard nothing from them since."
If a village with defensive fortifications had been taken in a single day, the attackers were not a small squad of around ten. They had to be an army of more than a hundred.
I did not know how they had wandered north, but they were moving south while attacking the neighboring villages.
"This is the last village where the Demon Army was confirmed to have been seen. That was the day before yesterday."
Then they must have continued farther south.
"How are the surrounding lords responding?"
"The villages have begun evacuating. They are fleeing to scattered forts and larger villages, but there is no way we can protect them all."
Carla-san placed small stones on the locations of the larger villages and forts.
"The largest defensive stronghold in this area is Yurba Fort. Kennett is evacuating the villagers there. He should be commanding from there as well."
Carla-san pointed to the fort built to the north.
Yurba Fort was about two days from Mikara Domain. Considering the Demon Army's advance, we might only barely make it in time.
Once again, I understood just how dire the situation in the Roberk Region was. In light of this, Calus-san's actions could not simply be dismissed as an old man's foolish attempt to relive his youth.
The Kennett Domain had already been ravaged. If we did nothing, Mikara Domain and the entire north would suffer the same fate. Even if it was a hopeless fight, we had to gather our forces and fight back. And the same thing was happening throughout the kingdom.
"Hardy, since you were beside my father until recently, you should have some idea of the military situation. How are House Graham and the royal family responding?"
I asked Hardy, but the bearded gentleman's expression turned grim.
"The Kingdom Army is stretched to its limit defending the major cities. The royal family's requisitions have taken troops from Count Graham, so he likely will not be able to send any soldiers to the frontier."
It was the answer I had expected, but I could not help groaning.
Still, it was unavoidable. If the major cities fell into the hands of the Demon Army, the entire kingdom could be thrown into turmoil. Besides, there were surely still demons targeting the prince who had defeated the Demon King, so they had no choice but to devote forces to defense.
I wished the prince would go hunt down the remnants of the Demon Army, but the people around him would surely stop him. Besides, painstaking work like that did not suit the prince's temperament. We would have to do it ourselves.
"Understood. We will hurry. We will depart at sunrise tomorrow. Velli-sensei, please reconfirm the terrain in the surrounding area. Hardy, prepare the march. Find the shortest route suitable for marching."
Velli-sensei and Hardy nodded at my words.
"And Carla-san, I'm sorry to ask this, but could you provide us with food? The refugees at Yurba Fort may be starving. I promise I will repay you later."
If the villagers who had fled there were holed up in the fort, they might already be suffering from hunger. Asking her to provide even more food was an unreasonably selfish request, but for now, she was our only hope.
Carla-san stepped forward in response to my unreasonable request.
"Romelia-sama, all the people of the north are family to us. We cannot abandon them in their hour of need. Take all the food in our storehouses."
Carla-san was remarkably resolute.
"Romelia-sama, as for serving as your guide, please take me with you as well."
Sonea-san stepped forward just as her mother had. But I could not grant this request.
Sonea-san had accompanied us this far, but to put it another way, she had merely been returning home. From here on, we could encounter the Demon Army at any time.
"Sonea-san, I appreciate your concern, but..."
"No, if we are going to Yurba Fort, I believe I should accompany you. This may be presumptuous, but House Kennett and House Dostora are not on very good terms. Besides, Kerbe, the heir to House Kennett, has feelings for me."
When Sonea-san smiled, Hardy, who stood beside her, grimaced. From Hardy's perspective, Kerbe was his rival in love. In that case, perhaps things really would go more smoothly with Sonea-san than with Hardy.
"But Sonea-san, I cannot guarantee your safety from this point onward."
I was questioning her resolve. Of course I would protect her with all my strength, but anything could happen on a battlefield.
"I have always intended to take that risk. If we cannot repel them here, my domain will be swallowed by the Demon Army as well."
Sonea-san clearly spoke with full awareness of what she was saying.
"Mother, I wish to remain at Romelia-sama's side and support her."
Sonea-san knelt before her mother, Carla-san, and asked for permission. Carla-san gently placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder and nodded.
"I understand. Sonea, leave this place to me. Make yourself truly useful."
There seemed to be a strong bond between the mother and daughter.
"Understood. I will take responsibility for Sonea-san."
I nodded to Carla-san and vowed to return Sonea-san safely to her mother.
"Then I'll go listen to that old man's stories for a while. We should know their plans and actions as well, at any rate."
Al suddenly made the suggestion.
"Can you manage that?"
I was a little surprised. I had not known Al possessed such a talent for manipulation.
"Easy. If I bring him some liquor and say, 'Tell me about the war,' he'll be putty in my hands. If I get him drunk while I'm at it, he'll be laid up sleeping all day tomorrow."
I see. That was a clever plan.
"In that case, Captain Rome, it wouldn't do to show up empty-handed. Could I have a cask of liquor?"
Al begged, rubbing his hands together. So that was his real aim.
"Fine. Take some of the others with you."
I reluctantly gave him permission, and Al dashed off with a grin.
The meeting was adjourned, and everyone began working on their assigned tasks. I had Carla-san show me to the room I would be using that day.
"By the way, Carla-san, may I ask you something?"
I spoke to Carla-san as we made our way to the room.
"As for Priest Gillman, what sort of activities has he been engaged in here?"
I asked about the priest who had come from the royal capital. The Demon Army was the immediate and more pressing problem, but the priest's presence was the problem waiting behind it. Losing to the Demon Army would end everything, but winning would be meaningless if we could not deal with the next problem as well.
"Priest Gillman? He holds meetings every day and tells the villagers to devote themselves to the Church."
It sounded like perfectly ordinary activity. Yet the fact that he could unite the region and gather three hundred people through that alone showed how powerful religion was.
"Other than that? Has he said anything about me?"
I had sought Priest Note's cooperation and brought along healers who operated without the Church's approval. I wanted to believe that this was not yet known, but there was no telling where the Church had eyes and ears. Priest Gillman might be a spy Elizabeth had sent to obtain evidence.
"I haven't heard anything in particular. Why do you ask?"
Carla-san did not seem to have anything in mind. Had we gone unnoticed so far, or was she merely acting? Either way, a priest who had come from the royal capital warranted caution.
Problems loomed before me from every direction: the Demon Army, Priest Gillman, and the Roberk Alliance that Calus-san had assembled. I had to deal with all of them, but first I had to handle the problem right in front of me.