Chapter 91
The Shulz’s Tribe Chief, Raslas, turns out to be a steady-looking middle-aged man.
He has on armor reinforced with pelts, but I feel no fighting spirit emanating from him.
Nevertheless, more than a thousand refugees, huh. It seems that don’t have a decided place to go, so will they go on to become nomads at this rate?
It’s most probably impossible for Filsand to take them all in……
“Fuu.”
Since I’d expected the presence of Shadow Demons, I should have just gone straight to them and made contact.
…… And other such regrets are whirling around in my head. In an attempt to dispel them, I breath out a short sigh and slap my cheeks.
For a moment, I feel something soft on my shoulder.
When I look towards it, I see Claura’s white hand drawing back.
I see anxiety in her blue eyes, so I show her a slight nod. This kind of thoughtfulness is one of her charms, but the fact that a youngster is worrying about me shows me that I still have a long way to go.
“We Shulz will leave this land. We will also return General Damund’s eldest son, unharmed. In exchange, we request for guaranteed safe pa.s.sage through your lands, and support in the form of food provisions.”
I did say that he is not emanating fighting spirit.
However, there is no begging going on here. Despite being here in Castle of Fort.i.tude, deep in enemy territory, the Tribe Chief shows not a shred of fear in his face.
Damund is the Duke of Filsand’s name. Calling him by name, and his t.i.tle of ‘General’ from before he received his duke peerage is probably his meager means of displaying his pride.
In normal times, ‘guarantee of safe pa.s.sage’ is no big deal. But now, when a Legion is roaming rampant, it means the Duke must mobilize some part of his military to make that happen.
I can see how it makes sense to offer the life of the Duke’s eldest son, Balzard in exchange here.
“Fun……”
But in contrast, the Duke is looking at the Tribe Chief with cold eyes, as if he is looking at mere garbage.
His eyes are such that he probably would have already executed the Tribe Chief if he hadn’t promised me that he would retrieve his son and look after his children.
“You burglars, doing what you please……”
“If you wish to leave, no one will stop you.”
The lined up va.s.sals are also making no effort to hide their contempt and hatred of the Shulz. Although it was the Duke’s side who had been the invading side, it seems that living here for 20 years has led them to think of Filsand as their own land.
“......”
Among the uniformly grim looks on all of the va.s.sals’ and knights’ faces, the second son Agbeil looks the worst off.
He had been convinced of the death of his elder brother Balzard, and moved accordingly to a.s.sa.s.sinate his younger sister Elizabel. Now that he knows that that brother of his is still alive, I can’t even imagine how uncomfortable he feels.
Then again, unlike the eldest son Balzard that I had yet to meet, and also the Elizabel whose general nature and abilities I’ve grasped, I honestly have no interest in him whatsoever.
“What do you say, General…… no, Duke?”
The Tribe Chief calls on the Duke with a face fil
led more with sadness than frustration.
By purposely calling Damund ‘Duke,’ he is implicitly offering to also acknowledge his sovereignty over Filsand as the previous inhabitant of the place. This move shows that he is quite good as a negotiator, but his atmosphere and the contents of the negotiation do not seem to match.
It seems the Duke is of the same opinion.
“You said your name is Raslas? Those terms, it was Balzard who suggested them to you, right?”
“Wh-?! No, that is not the case.”
It is one thing to have courage, but it seems that this is his limit as a mere Tribe Chief.
He does not have the ability to deceive the eyes of a villain whose eyes have been cultivated on innumerable battlegrounds. He hurriedly shakes his head, but that’s already enough as confirmation.
“It’s that weak son of mine that we’re talking about. Instead of getting away by himself, he offered himself as a negotiating chip to try to protect you all, right?”
“U, uu……”
If the Duke’s words are indeed true, then it means his eldest son Balzard is trying to cooperate with the Shulz tribe. In order to protect them, no less.
The move seems a bit imprudent as an important person of the Duke’s side, but is he doing this because he is the kind person that Elizabel told me about?
“But, hmm…… Margils-dono!”
“What is it?”
As I am thinking to myself while looking upon the people in the command room, it seems the Duke has reached some sort of conclusion. Called upon all of a sudden, I quickly redirect my attention towards him.
“As you have heard, a Legion of more than 5,000 Shadow Demons is approaching our Filsand at present.”
“So it seems.”
“This can even be called a small-sized Bleed. Normally, a force this size is enough to wipe out one or two castles or fortress cities with ease.”
“D-, Duke-sama……?”
“What are you saying?”
The Duke’s candid acknowledgement of the hopelessness of their situation causes those in the room to be astir.
It seems the Tribe Chief is also having trouble following along.
“But with you here, everything is different. Can I rely on you for this?”
Even in this situation, he is trying to bring me to his side?
The Duke’s ambition-filled eyes are the same as always. However, there is a note of desperateness in his voice. Or at least, so I think.
“Aah, of course. The Great Wizard Gio Margils fights against Shadow Demons and is the ally of all peoples.”
I put strength in my abdomen and answered with authority in the face of the Duke, his subordinates, the Shulz Tribe Chief, and also my own allies.
If I don’t constantly re-confirm my persona as a Great Wizard, I fear it might eventually peel off.
“In that case, until the Shadow Demons have been repelled, I place myself under your authority. Give out any orders you deem necessary. Naturally, that includes those guys too.”
When he said ‘those guys,’ the Duke indicated the Tribe Chief with his chin.
“Duly accepted.”
“Oi? Who on earth are you?”
Unlike the Duke’s subordinates, the Tribe Chief does not fully understand the situation, and thus his face changes colors due to the development. However, now we are in a race against time.
“Tribe Chief. I guarantee you the safety of the Shulz tribe. Dianu will also be safely returned.”
“Dianu will……”
“Claura, stay here with Irudo to explain the situation to Tribe Chief Raslas. I want to grant the Shulz tribe’s wishes as best I can, but worse case scenario, we will accept them at Jiiteias Castle.”
“Fully understood.”
“Duke, temporarily take the Shulz refugees into the city. The costs can be billed to me afterwards. a.s.sign Elizabel to handle the negotiations with the Shulz tribe.”
“...... Understood.”
“Leid, stick with me. We’ll bring Dianu along and regroup with the Shulz refugees. If we can confirm Balzard-dono’s safety at that time, then good. After that, we will scout out Legion and, if possible, smash them on the spot.”
“Sounds good to me.”
To be honest, I still don’t know how best to deal with the Shulz tribe. However, where my hand cannot reach, I simply have to borrow the hands of my allies. At least, that’s what I’ve begun to learn as of late. Which reminds me, when I was a salaryman, my juniors had also tediously scolded me to not take everything upon myself.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Aah, please wait. I don’t know how, but you plan on going to where the Shadow Demons are now, right? If it is not too much of a burden, can you also bring this one along with you?”
“HAH?! Father?!”
Agbeil raises his voice in hysterics at this sudden development.
“It’s for the sake of using these guys like you said to. I want for him to see Shadow Demons with his own eyes.”
“But how can I fight at the front lines……”
“Silence.”
“...... Yes…… sir.”
Though I have no interest in him, he is the son of the person with whom I plan on being allied to from here on.
For Elizabel’s sake as well, it is not a bad idea to have a bit of contact with him.
While looking at the pale-faced Agbeil who had been pressured into silence, I mentally search for a spell that can allow 4 people to move at high speed together…… found it.
“Very well. I shall take your son into my care. We will be back tomorrow at the latest.”
♥♦♣♠
The Phantom Horse that hasn’t made an appearance in a while.
It is a jet black horse enveloped with a black flame-like aura that can run through the sky.
It was lucky that I had Charged this spell twice, due to the frequent outside trips that I’d been making of late.
Right now, we are split up among two Phantom Horses and flying southward from Filsand.
“...... I, I still can’t see, everyonnnnnneee……”
“Just hang on for a bit more.”
The one who is clinging onto my waist while trembling is the Shulz princess and Martial Chief, Dianu.
“I don’t want to die…… I don’t want to die…… I don’t want to die……”
Behind Leid, who is controlling the other Phantom Horse dashing through the sky, is the Duke of Filsand’s second son, Agbeil.
While staring at the barren wasteland covered mostly by rocks and sand, several hours pa.s.s by as we travel several hundred times the speed of a normal horse.
“That must be them.”
Leid spots the large group of people hiding in the shadow of a small hill.
Is that really a thousand people? I can’t count so fast, but the line of people carrying or dragging luggage and looking exhausted almost to their limit stretches on far, far into the distance.
With the Phantom Horses’ speed, it will take us no time to reach the head of the line.
“Those really are the Shulz people! Guys! Oo~~i! Oo~~i!”
Dianu abruptly returns to being energetic and shouts at the people below while waving her hands furiously. However.
“Look forward.”
Leid’s voice sharply rings out with caution.
Even further behind the line of humans.
A black carpet covers the entire earth, composed of moving creatures that are even now nipping at the heels of the tail end of the line of refugees.