I heard that there was a village around here but there are no signs of it anywhere.
There was only tall and thick Susuki gra.s.s overgrowing like weeds in sight.
As I walked around along with everyone, I could perceive small signs of life.
There were collapsed wells in gardens, and a pile of stones were arranged like a square.
A decayed pillar tumbled over, a little distance away from it there were shoots of various trees budding in a lined up manner. I wonder if the fruits can be eaten?
It’s certainly a deserted village. Moreover, it seems a very long time has pa.s.sed away since it was deserted.
Originally I was thinking of taking a break here but, since I already took a long rest sometime before, I proceeded with the march as it is.
When I thought I was heading towards east, I slightly shift towards the south.
After pa.s.sing through the fields, a densely covered forest obstructed us from moving forward.
At that time near the forest there was a small stone placed over a round rock shaped like a snow doll.
Apparently, it seems it’s pointing towards the direction it’s facing.
When I approached 100 m closer to it, a knight suddenly appeared from behind the rock.
I immediately joined the line as it is and tell Zairas san something.
Although I called to a.s.sess the situation, the signal fire was readied to be shot in case an abnormal situation occurred.
Subsequently a path similar to like an animal trail continued.
Is this a bypa.s.s route? Following the path, there were two low ridges across with a low cliff of about 2 meters in depth.
The bottom of the cliff looked like a square.
I saw a hut made with stacked stones at the back.
It seems this place is the station where fire signals were sent from.
Just then Zairas san whistled and a knight came running out from the hut.
A ladder was hastily set up against the cliff, and I climbed down the ladder onto the lower square.
Mules were tied down to logs on the hill slope.
It seems they do not listen to what is told, therefore these mules hey…. …….
「This post monitors the fire signals. Also, this is the road that leads to the highway from this post.」
「Through this post?」
「It is cleared up more or less. Since we used 【Kurine】, I don’t think there is a problem for the princess and the others to rest here.」
「Guard, come here!」
I entered the hut with Zairas san.
Although the door is not usable as expected, there is no problems with the walls or the ceiling it seems.
There was a s.p.a.cious room with a fireplace and a big table where more than 10 people can eat together.
The chairs looked like benches though it seems it is still usable.
There was not even a speck of dust, the cleaning should be thoroughly done.
I wonder if it’s managed by only 2 people.
There is a door behind the room.
I wonder this somehow looks like some kind of model.
Gee ー ……. As the oiled hinges of the door makes noises as it is opened, the pathway extends even further in the back.
I think there are small rooms behind the 3 doors on the right side.
I think it is the captain’s as well as the soldiers’ rooms.
Looking into one of the rooms, there was only wreckage of the beds inside.
After a moment I returned back to the room and arrived at the table.
An old lady supposed to be the nanny, lit up a fire in the fireplace and placed a pot over it.
「This turned out to be valley in the Mountain. It cannot be seen from the highway, and there is also dry wind since we are near the mountain pa.s.s. If we don’t produce smoke on a large scale, there is no possibility of being found out.」
「Is that the reason this is a bandit’s liar? It’s quite interesting.」
She is somewhat a positive minded princess.
However, the future will be very hard.
While having tea, I thought about how to divide the supposed work into short and mid terms.
Since it would be a problem if they rely only on me, let’s think about it with everyone.
「The guards will be here and here. The signal place is the continuation of a trail in the mountain ridge.
You can see in both directions along the border crossing and the highway. This position on the cliff from the highway is where there will be change of the garrison soldiers. This position is the lowest. There is cliff not less than 10 D along the highway.」
I took out the map and explained it but, it would be better if I see it myself for once.
I did not understand the unit’s, but I took out a long sword and was told that the length of the blade is 3 D.
Appearance wise, the length of the blade is unlikely only 1 m.
I think it is fine to consider 1 D to be approximately 30 cm.
「What about the other side?」
「There is also a cliff but, it is too depressed. Although I say so, it is also about 8 D(2.4 m) nevertheless.」
「We all are bandit’s therefore, we have to think about when and where we will attack. However that thing is for later. First of all, we have to secure water. Next is how much food is left. Lastly, think about how all the members are going to rest up in this hideout.」
「At the present, we are digging the bottom of an old fountain for water. It must be drunk only after boiling for now, about 5 days later we can drink water as it is. Food will last for about 10 days. If we omit lunch it can last up to 13 days.」
「20 people in this room, the princesses and the captains will stay in the interior, it will work out somehow. Besides, since we must watch the signal base as well as the highway, at least 10 people ought to stay there if something unexpected happens.」
Zairas san wordings, it supplemented me I suppose he is either an adjutant or a squad leader.
「At least 5 days can be afforded. I am looking forward to our first prey.」
「It is necessary to think more carefully about that. It is an absolute must that the attack should not look like that of knights in any way. This should be the inviolable part of the attack.」
After listening to my words everyone on the table placed their gazes over me.
If anything, it’s stupid. It is a feeling though, but it’s an unavoidable story.
「If, in case it is reported that they were 『attacked by a group of long sword wielding people』 to the kingdom, our true ident.i.ties will be discovered immediately. Attacking like a wind, disappearing like a wind that will be the most desirable raid pattern. Naturally, I think we should not kill the other party after looting everything. Now then, I think you can understand the significance of my words right?」
「Now that you mention it, we are no longer knights, we are bandit’s now. It’s natural that bandit’s don’t work like knights. At the best, the merchants will hire bodyguards at their own expense. If that is the case then the weapons for the raids are not a problem. It will be good if everyone commit it over soon. There is enough time.」
Since there was some time between the dinner, I decided to look around the post.
The plaza was not that big. I think it’s about 30 meters square. There are narrow paths extending towards the east and the south. The surroundings are thick like forests. The trees are shaking due to the dry winds.
There was a water field out towards west. I thought it would be big since it was called a fountain, but the water is flowing from the fissures and is collected in tubs made of stone. Nevertheless, this small aqueduct gives enough amount of water so that it can cover the drinking requirements of dozens of people satisfactorily.
The knights were cutting down straight trees from the forest. It seems they are using saws instead of axes to cut since we are near the highway. Somehow or the other, they seemed to be making a fence around.
To obstruct enemies, even a small fence as this will prove to be useful.
Let’s go to the fire base and to the cliff alongside the highway tomorrow. It’s impossible today with this foot.
After dinner, I, Zairas san and three other knights decided to sleep in one room.
I could not use the bed, so I wrapped myself in a mantle and huddled to sleep but still, the boarded floor was easier to sleep on rather than on soil, I felt quite warm too since there was no wind here.
After being so tired it’s best to rest on a bed so, I have to do something about the beds soon.
The next day, after finishing breakfast, I went to the signal base along with squad leader Bartz san under Zairas san.
Since it only a mountain pa.s.s, I decided to walk uphill for about 30 minutes, but when I got there I was a little moved.
It was a nice view.
Looking towards the north, mountain ranges could be seen extending endlessly and the ridges extending far towards the south. Far away in the east and west sides, fields were extending from the hem of the ridge. However from there an isolated forest could be seen, aree.. isn’t that a village there?
The highway is …….. The east and west are meandering thus it’s impossible to see straight, however it was possible to see a main road 3 km prior to it.
It’s possible there might be little more distance but, if there is a movement of a large number of soldiers to be discovered, this place would be sufficient. The problem now is, how to inform the hideout if a prey is discovered. I have to think about it a little.
Next I head towards the cliff along the highway.
Once again returning to the hideout, I altered towards a narrow road and started walking.
As I walked over it, I noticed that during heavy rainfall, this road especially becomes a marsh.
It is dug quite deeply.
To pa.s.s through that road, they have cut out path enough for two people to walk alongside each other.
With this they can prevent enemies from coming in large groups.
As we pa.s.sed through the groove, the surroundings suddenly spread out.
There are varied sized rocks here.
There were 3 grumbling guards behind the silhouette of a big rock watching the highway.
「See that isolated rock over there right. That spot is the place where the lowest cliff is. You will need a ladder to down.」
There is certainly that out-of-place rock there.
Some distance away from a gra.s.sy field, a highway approximately 3 m wide could be seen in immediate vicinity. There is an un.o.bstructed view of 200 m of the highway on both left and right sides. This place looks ideal for attacks and withdrawals.
As I entered the station after checking the surrounding situation, I found that they had just finished their lunch and were having tea now.
As we all sat a young lady carried soup and bread over to us.
As we were very hungry we gulped down food crazily. The princess and the others gave out a strange smile as they looked over us.
As I was leisurely drinking tea after finishing my meal, the princess opened her mouth to speak.
「Since you have finished looking at the surroundings, that means you have thought of a plan to attack isn’t it. Lets continue yesterday’s discussion. Certainly you said that we should not to use long swords for the raids.」
「Yes. This is needed to hide our ident.i.ties By the way, I have not seen or even heard the ways the knights fight. If in case, the knights have to attack a cart full of food, how will they go by the attack?」
Zairas san and the others started thinking over it. After a while, Bartz san guided my attention towards him by raising his hand a little and started talking.
「Is it okay for me?」
After getting a confirmation nod from Zairas san and the princess, Bartz san continued.
According to him, they would appear from the left and the right cliffs in front of the wagon to stop it, give our name, steal the wagon, then drive away the coachman and other people, or so he said.
「……No need to chase who run away. We will fight with those who come to face us with long swords.」
It is as I had expected.
For the knights to act like bandit’s, I think it is necessary to start the ideology education.
「In that case it will be immediately be found out that we are knights. If this rumor got reported, as expected, the kingdom troops will be mobilized.」
「Where are we going wrong?」
「First of all, we should strictly not raise our name. 『Silence!』 This is the word. If you do this then your opponent will start to think and will be lost in his various guesses. Next, closing off the route is no problem, also please cut off their path of retreat. Even if you let go of the other party, you must all a.s.semble at once.
If, in case you have to fight against the other party, it would be best if you are nearby. You need to exaggerate brutality.
The direction to escape will be on the opposite of the direction in which the wagon was going and all should scatter at once. With this, it will be possible to lengthen the time frame of contact with the people who will come back to see the situation.
Finally, we must not use long swords. You can use it if you want kill your opponents, but otherwise please avoid it absolutely. That said, is it really true that most of the long sword users are knights?」
「Certainly, with the exception of knights using long swords, it indeed is very rare. I see, if all of us using long swords, it will definitely reveal our true ident.i.ties.」
Everyone started thinking about it. It seems they know how difficult it is to fight with others without using their long swords.