Chapter 31 – A Sudden Visitor
Evening the next day.
The scattered parties, each with their own mission, began to gather in one place again.
Since they were already proven competent in their respective fields, it seemed that they had all achieved significant results in a short period of time.
‘The flow is very fast.’
Of course, it meant that the operation was progressing quickly, so it was close to a positive sign.
Perhaps, as we discussed yesterday with the vice-captain, the unstoppable actions of the Eclipse guys may have already entered the stage of exerting a tangible influence on the entire county.
Unlike the previous plan, which looked at a long-term mission of at least one month, it seemed that it would be concluded in one way or another sooner than expected.
Due to Count Fersen’s betrayal, he had to come up with a completely new strategy, and he also needed to verify the plan put forward by the vice-captain, so he felt the need to clean up the situation first.
I greeted the gathering party and called them all to the campsite.
“Captain. All the brothers have returned. But it seems that something is not going well.”
“Hmm. First of all, let’s all gather in one place. We have a story to tell.”
“Right!”
All of the subordinates who went to check the trends of the surrounding villages returned to the base.
“How are you? I don’t know if you liked the details on the receipt.”
“Of course, it was a great help. An annoying merchant. I recognize your skills.”
“Kuh… His tone is completely natural now. He’s a born savage leader himself.”
Lord Randolph and counterintelligence agents who had gone on a preceding mission joined the party again.
“Mercenary Captain. The results of the research came out faster than expected.”
“Professor. You should also bring other scholars to the camp. I have something to tell you.”
“Okay. I do.”
Bishop Roberto, who was analyzing the traces left by Eclipse’s man, also had his eyes shining as if he had discovered something.
A large bonfire was burning in the middle of the camp where the party had all gathered.
—Ta-dak, tap-dak…
A group of barbarians sat around a bonfire.
“The 1st Centurion… No, little captain. What are we doing?”
“Well, I’ve been restraining myself from thinking as much as I can for the past few days. Maybe, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to retire and go down to the South and live a life in harmony with nature.”
“That…”
Sitting on the ground and watching the faces of his subordinates staring blankly at the flames, something salty felt in the corner of his heart.
They are knights who are treated with respect wherever they go, and among them, they are considered excellent and have promising futures.
However, in this mission, how hard everyone must have suffered to pretend to be barbarians.
Vice-captain Agnes, who had been watching his subordinates silently, quietly leaned his head against me.
“It feels a bit sentimental to see everyone gathered here.”
“But don’t be too relaxed. You’re still on a mission.”
Meanwhile, counterintelligence agents disguised as merchants are carrying goods on wagons. So I was checking supplies and weapons.
The priests of the Celestial Church and the Heretic Questioner, disguised as scholars, seemed to be having a serious conversation with each other with quite serious expressions.
I stared at them for a while, then slowly opened my mouth.
“Bishop. Is the barrier okay?”
“Yes. A 100 meter radius around the campsite is a safe zone.”
“Then, we will hold a meeting as of the current time. As the commander of this operation, I will listen to your report first.”
It was an interim settlement and the beginning of a new strategy meeting.
Thanks to the holy power shield I opened for security, I was able to have a normal conversation after a long time away from the role play.
“Captains of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th centurion. What is the trend of the surrounding villages?”
“Whoa, that’s…”
First of all, the testimony of the members of the Black Lion Knights showed the same fact.
Although they were subordinates who took various methods, such as sitting in a bar all day and focusing on stories going back and forth, or digging through a village under the guise of savage curiosity.
“Were there any suspicious people leading you to a deserted place?”
“Yes. That’s right. He doesn’t appear to be a native of the village, but he’s suspiciously kind. I didn’t get any closer when I told him to leave because I was offended.”
In common, it is said that they encountered unknown people who approached unfamiliar savages first.
Even after that, the centurions talked and exchanged information with the priests about their experiences.
“Priests. What do you think of this?”
“This seems more like a typical devil worshiper or pagan evangelist. A soul as innocent as a barbarian is just as corrupt.”
“As expected. So…”
It seemed highly likely that all of those suspicious people were Eclipse’s puppets.
If the same signs were found in many places, not just one or two places, the speculation that their influence had already spread throughout the county came closer to certainty.
I turned my gaze to Bishop Roberto, who had been wearing a visibly calm expression earlier.
“Bishop. Have you had any results?”
“Yes. Of course there was. As a result of mobilizing the secret arts of the Heretic Questioners and the holy power of the priests, the source of the magic contained in the traces that Lord Wolfgang brought was revealed to be Count Fersen.”
Even taking into account the fact that the count is a traitor, the entire county to infiltrate has already been contaminated.
Again, this was quite a headache.
If so, the story of the infiltration operation proposed by the counterintelligence department would be a little different.
Sure enough, Sir Randolph, who had been listening, immediately joined the conversation.
“Hey, Bishop. Can’t you pinpoint a more precise location? For example, in which room or which library is the source of demonic energy. Something like that.”
“Unfortunately, it’s impossible. There are many reasons, but in summary, I have to say that my abilities are insufficient. I wonder if His Majesty Cardinal Malleus is with us.”
“Eh…”
The performance of the Heavenly Church was exactly as expected, nothing more, nothing less.
To be honest, I feel like I’m lacking something, but it’s hard to expect more results because of the lack of time and personnel.
This time it was my turn to listen to the counterintelligence report.
To be honest, I couldn’t help but look forward to its performance the most.
Didn’t he bring a heap of top-notch information just one night after entering the county?
“Sir Randolph. Did you find out anything more?”
“Ah, that’s what I mean… Actually, all the information I sent to you was obtained from that party. I went into the Count’s castle alone, but it looked nothing special. The atmosphere in the center was also quiet.”
“Hmm, isn’t that the only ability of a person with the level of an executive officer?”
“Hey. Do you have no conscience?”
This was a bit disappointing.
I tried to squeeze Sir Randolph out of regret, but nothing more came out.
Well, the information I brought on the first day was so intense. It should be seen that the counterintelligence department has already fulfilled its role sufficiently.
Then it was time to verify the vice-captain’s plan.
“Everyone, please listen for a moment.”
I clapped my hands, drew everyone’s attention, and had Vice-captain Agnes explain his plan to everyone.
“Mmmm! That’s…”
The reaction of the party was even better than I thought.
“Isn’t it okay? There’s nothing else to try other than this.”
“It’s not right to take the sacred act of marriage carelessly and use it as part of a strategy… But to fight the forces of evil, you shouldn’t choose any means.”
The members of the Black Lion Knights were all nodding their heads, and the priests of the Celestial Church seemed to think that it was not bad either.
“Did you say Sir Agnes? Hey, you have a very different way of thinking. Do you ever think of devoting yourself to espionage for the security of the Empire…”
“Sorry, that’s a bit.”
“The answer is just a single knife, jjeop…”
Sir Randolph, in particular, seemed to think her strategy was quite plausible.
Of course, apart from that, I couldn’t tolerate the nonsense of coveting my precious subordinates.
“What are you doing in front of me now?”
— Deed…
As soon as he gave a little of his sincerity to Sir Randolph, he immediately raised his hands in a sign of surrender.
“I won! I can’t even joke in front of you. It means praise, praise!”
“You’re joking around a bit. Are you doing this on purpose when you know I’m sensitive to that kind of thing, are you trying to fight me?”
“Hey guys, I still haven’t forgotten what happened back then. I didn’t know that. My sincere apologies.”
That’s why I didn’t want to be friends with him.
If you get the slightest chance, you’ll dig into people’s gaps and try to uncover their weaknesses.
Of course, I knew that it was some kind of occupational disease, but it was unpleasant nonetheless.
Although I frowned, I regained my momentum. I couldn’t have been arguing with him without being skeptical.
“Okay, please give me your opinion as an expert.”
“Well, I see. Of course, Sir Agnes’ opinion is very good, but there are a few things that need to be improved…”
After going through such a meeting, the night gradually deepened.
As the party gathered and put their heads together, a new operational plan to infiltrate the enemy stronghold began to take shape.
Some of the drafts proposed by the vice-captain were expanded in detail, some were reduced a little, and some new parts were added.
As a result, a great strategy was completed that had a fairly high probability of realization and was able to strike down the enemies with the assumption that it would succeed.
Considering the preparation period and various factors, the timing is four days from now.
We will seep into the heart of our foe and seize it at once.
* * *
The operation was going very smoothly.
“Captain. Ho, this is the marriage and settlement report. Please sign here or obstruct it.”
“…”
Thanks to Vice-Captain Agnes’s tremendous administrative ability and Sir Randolph’s unique skills, trained through past absurdities, the party was able to safely enter the center of the county.
It was questionable whether the 30 savages would be able to report moving in normally, but the county welcomed us suspiciously positively.
There must be some bad intentions hiding behind it.
A whole mercenary army of ignorant savages has rolled in, so they’re putting them on dangerous missions, or they’re aiming for something more.
But it didn’t matter anyway.
If all goes according to plan, they will soon be doomed.
Currently, the Black Lion Knights bought the entire inn located inside the city wall and were temporarily staying there.
The small house next to where I am now, which would have originally been the home of the innkeeper and his wife, was the newlyweds’ house for me and the vice-captain.
After staying here with Vice-captain Agnes.
Whenever she had a conversation with me, her face would blush red as if reminiscent of a mana runaway phenomenon.
“Captain… No. Hey, honey?
Even so, I am worried about how the plan to attend the party with the couple will be carried out.
“Okay. Be careful.”
“That, that… Yes! I see!”
By the way, even though it’s a fake marriage and it’s only for a few days. How are you living as a couple?
It was definitely a bit odd. I thought that if I were to get married, the first person would definitely be the princess.
‘No, what the hell are you thinking.’
Shaking my head, I had to straighten out my pitiful mind, unconsciously fantasizing about my first wife and my second wife.
The biggest problem of all right now is that it wasn’t like that.
“It’s a big deal.”
I have to attend the party tomorrow right now… I didn’t know how to dance at all.
I wanted to quickly learn the basics of the basics, but I couldn’t find a teacher who would teach a savage how to dance, no matter how much money he paid.
If I stayed still, I would draw more attention to myself, who already has a striking appearance, and if so, my plans would be seriously disrupted.
Like that, when you’ve been moaning for a while because of unresolved concerns.
-Hoot!
Snow-white eagle owls flew in through the cracks in the open window.
Snow, the pet owl of the princess.
Obviously, I decided not to send and receive letters separately on this mission, but what the hell was going on?
“No, how did you get here?”
Aside from how he came to this place, the time when I was carefully stroking the guy’s hair out of delight.
[Hi! Master, did you miss me?]
“What?!”
Said the owl.
In the voice of a very familiar woman.
