Chapter 63

A week had passed since Al was hired as a squire. Under the relentless sun, the Lester Viscount's knight squadron, led by Baron Oliver, set out from Roland Village, the southernmost of the frontier towns under the jurisdiction of Lester, and had been heading south along the Holden River for about three hours through the muddy wilderness.

Everyone continued to move in silence, enduring the heat. Among the troops were Nares, who wore metal armor and rode a horse, and Al, who walked in his usual adventurer-like leather armor without the tabard that marked him as a squire.

*Paa, pa*

Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet was heard, signaling a halt in the march.

"Hmm, again? This is the third time now."

"Yes, we've only been marching for about ten minutes..."

Nares and his guardian, Sir Radyard, stopped their horses and looked around. Next to Sir Radyard, his son Sigmund stretched and looked ahead from his horse.

Al quietly cast the floating eye spell to avoid drawing attention. The transparent eye that appeared above Al's head gracefully ascended into the sky. The line of the knight squadron stretched long, and Nares and Al were at the very end. In the middle of the formation, about ten carriages were guarded by what looked like adventurers. In front of them were more knights and squires, and at the very front, the squires were aiming crossbows forward. Beyond them, a large rock hid about ten lizardmen.

"It seems we've encountered about ten lizardmen."

Al used the illusion spell to whisper the information he had seen into Nares' ear. The knight squadron's march was similar to the caravan that Al had participated in during the exploration of the village. In the middle of the formation, a mage, this time Wald instead of Eric, used the floating eye spell to keep watch and relay the situation to Baron Oliver, the leader of the knight squadron. Al did something similar for Nares.

Al had decided, after consulting with Nares, to use spells as inconspicuously as possible. The main reason was that Al did not want to get involved in the internal power struggles among the mages of the viscount's household. Nares had said it was a good opportunity to show his worth, but Al found it troublesome. Nares and his direct employer, Sir Radyard, agreed to Al's suggestion that Nares should earn merit and use it as additional compensation.

There was another reason for Al's attire. When the topic of squires accompanying knights in battle came up, Baron Oliver, the leader of the viscount's knight squadron, had a grim expression. After consulting with Nares, they concluded that if Al dressed like an adventurer, it would be acceptable.

Nares nodded lightly after hearing the auditory illusion from Al. Lizardmen were not a significant threat to the knights. Nares gently stroked his horse's neck.

"Enemies have appeared ahead. We'll probably be stopped for about thirty minutes. This is the territory of the barbarians. Stay alert, wipe your sweat, and replenish your water."

Nares gave these instructions to the squires and dismounted his horse. Sir Radyard nodded in agreement. Unexplained halts could demoralize the troops, and Nares was well aware of this. Al, keeping an eye on the situation, continued to use the floating eye spell to maintain vigilance.

*Paa, papa*

As Nares had predicted, the trumpet signaling the resumption of the march sounded after about thirty minutes.

"Alright, let's go."

The knights remounted their horses. Al dispelled the floating eye spell. Controlling the eye floating in the air required concentration, and it was impossible to do so while walking briskly alongside the horses.

"Al, are you okay? You can ride in the carriage with Craig and the others if you want."

Nares, on his horse, asked Al with concern, but Al shook his head lightly.

"Don't worry... There's no need to be concerned. The other squires are walking too... and I have confidence in my stamina, having walked in the mountains since I was a child... Besides, I won't be able to apply the training we've done if I stay far behind."

Over the past week, Al and Nares had been practicing how to fight together during their spare time. Al had also learned the floating eye spell with Eric's help. This time, Nares was targeting a higher-level barbarian, not a regular one. While it was a challenge that a knight could handle, neither Nares nor Al had ever fought one. They had decided to prepare as much as possible.

"Indeed, but... hearing Al's way of speaking makes me feel a distance and a bit lonely."

Al still stumbled at times, but he was recalling the polite speech he had been taught as a child under Craig's guidance. However, Nares felt a significant sense of discomfort with the change in Al's speech.

"That's unavoidable. The formation is moving forward. Let's go."

The carriage in front of Nares and Al started moving. Sir Radyard gave instructions to the squires, and the formation began to advance.

"Let's go. At this pace, the raid on the barbarian village will be tomorrow, but don't let your guard down."

The knights and squires near Nares responded with a loud "Aye" to his command.

-----

"The march is significantly delayed. Why are they attacking so much..."

At the front of the marching formation, Baron Oliver, the leader of the knight squadron, rode alongside his deputy, Lady Felicia, and muttered irritably.

"Yes, normally, barbarians don't attack the knight squadron. I don't know the reason, but at this rate, the planned extermination tomorrow seems impossible."

"What about food and supplies?"

Concerned, Baron Oliver asked, and Lady Felicia replied in a gentle, feminine tone that the food was well-stocked, but the crossbow bolts might become a concern if the attacks continued.

"Are we using that many?"

"We've already been attacked three times. We still have some leeway, but how many more attacks we'll face... And the morale is also a concern. The people carrying the supplies and the adventurers guarding them are complaining about the frequent stops."

Lady Felicia's words made Baron Oliver tap his saddle irritably.

"How is Sir Nares?"

"He seems to be maintaining morale well, despite it being his first campaign. With Sir Radyard there, it seems reassuring."

"Hmm, so Sir Nares has the talent to lead troops..."

Baron Oliver took a deep breath and refocused his gaze forward.

Thank you for reading.

I plan to post twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays at 10 AM. I appreciate your support.

Thank you for the corrections. I always find them helpful.

I would be very grateful for likes, ratings, and comments. Thank you very much.