Chapter 4

Noel and the others, who had been separated from the main force and assigned to a separate unit, were walking toward a fortress that had been abandoned several decades ago.

The commander of the separate unit was Ned, a man with fox-like eyes. He was leading the way with a twisted smile, looking quite pleased.

The young men were struggling with their heavy bows, swords, and unfamiliar armor, but they were desperately trying to keep up.

Their destination was said to be deep in the forest, so they had to push through the trees that obstructed their view and be careful not to trip on the uneven ground. Their stamina was inevitably being drained.

Milt took a deep breath and wiped away the sweat that was dripping down. Despite usually running through the mountains, his feet were aching. The unique tension and the unfamiliar equipment were weighing him down.

On the other hand, Noel was walking with ease, yawning and keeping pace.

"...Hey, why are you so relaxed? For a girl, you're acting pretty weird."

Milt spoke up, panting. He felt like he would collapse if he let his guard down.

"It's nothing. Maybe Milt and the others are just out of shape."

"No, you're definitely the weird one. Look around you."

Only Ned, the five soldiers following him, and Noel seemed to be taking it in stride.

The dozens of others looked like they were about to collapse, their fatigue clearly visible.

"Those who look like they're about to collapse are probably people who have been living normal lives. The ones around Captain Ned seem to be used to this kind of thing. Maybe they were soldiers somewhere."

Milt nodded in agreement, but if that were the case, it was strange that Noel was so energetic. She didn't look like a soldier at all. She was carefree and showed no sign of discipline.

"...That might be true, but it doesn't explain why you're so energetic."

"Well, I'm special. As long as the sun is out, I'm always full of energy."

She smiled, showing her white teeth.

Milt was momentarily captivated but quickly hid it by sighing and shaking his head.

"...Ah, talking to you is making me tired."

"That's too bad."

"It's your fault!"

"Hey, where are Fresser and Kraft? I haven't seen them for a while."

"Oh, they went to Rockbell. They said they'd lead the charge. Fresser dragged Kraft along."

Kraft had shown some reluctance, but he was taken away by the bloodthirsty Fresser. He was usually treated like a subordinate, so he couldn't resist.

They had been told by Geb, whom they had just met, that there were good things waiting in the town. Fresser, with his eyes gleaming with desire, had said he would be on the side of the takers this time. Kraft had a similar look in his eyes by the end.

They had apparently volunteered to be the vanguard of the Rockbell attack force. Milt had tried to stop them, but Fresser wouldn't listen.

Incidentally, the other young men from Zoim Village had joined the separate unit.

"Is that so? There's nothing we can do about it."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"No, nothing."

"What's that supposed to mean? You're being so mysterious."

Milt glared, but Noel's interest had already shifted to something else.

"Hey, isn't that it? That dirty building covered in moss and leaves. It looks like it."

Milt looked in the direction Noel was pointing. In a slightly open area, a stone fortress covered in moss towered.

The thick walls that should have repelled attacking enemies were crumbling in many places. It would likely fall quickly if anyone tried to hold it.

Milt and the others still didn't know why they had come to such a place.

"---You guys wait here. We'll go check it out. Make sure to stay quiet, okay?"

Ned whispered and about five men crouched and approached the fortress. They were cautiously observing the surroundings, scrutinizing the area. They seemed to be thoroughly examining the ground and debris.

"What could be here? Maybe someone important is hiding."

"...In such a dirty and dilapidated place?"

"Maybe that's why no one has come looking."

"I see."

"I wouldn't hide in such a place. If someone comes this far, they'll find you right away, and you can't escape."

Noel said this and leaned against a tree trunk, looking uninterested.

The location was inconspicuous and seemed like a comfortable place to hide, but if someone searched inside, they would be found immediately.

"Where would you hide, then?"

"Hmm, how about a hole?"

"Hey, you're not a mole or an ant. You can't hide for long in such a place."

"There are all kinds of holes. I don't want to go into a grave again, though."

The word "again" gave Milt a strange feeling, as if she had been in one before. He was about to ask, but Noel had already closed her eyes. It seemed she had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Milt stopped asking and sat down to try to recover his strength. The others waiting were also silent, looking down.

After a while, Ned and the others finally returned.

"Alright, everyone, listen up. I'll explain why we came to this dirty place instead of going to Rockbell."

He paused, then grinned and continued.

"Our goal is one. To capture the wife and children of Groll, who fled from Rockbell. If we succeed in capturing them here, our chances of winning this battle will increase significantly. We can take the enemy's precious family as hostages."

"But, are they really here? It just looks like a ruin to me."

A young man asked hesitantly, and Ned nodded confidently.

"I was skeptical until we got here too. But look, there are signs of recent entry and exit. They've tried to cover it up, but it's definitely them, no doubt about it."

"Huh."

"Hey, what's with that lackluster response? The real game is about to start. We're going to capture them with our own hands. If we do, the rewards will be plentiful, and our pockets will be full. Of course, they will resist, so you need to be prepared. If you're not, you'll die easily."

"I understand."

"Don't be scared, cheer up. Battle is all about spirit."

Ned patted the young man's back hard. Then, after looking around at everyone, he said in a cold tone.

"Capture the women and children without killing them. If they resist, it's okay to beat them up a bit. Kill the others without mercy. Don't hesitate to finish them off."

"Are you really going to kill them?"

"You'll be killed if you don't. If you don't like it, do as you please. I won't pick up your bones."

After Ned emphasized this, the young men nodded with tense faces.

"Search the fortress thoroughly. Every corner, every nook and cranny. Don't miss the warehouse or the attic. When you find them, report to your comrades immediately. I'll be watching the entrance to make sure they don't escape. ...Hey, are you listening, missy?"

"Of course, I'm listening. I'll do my best to find them too."

Noel replied casually. Milt was momentarily alarmed, but Ned didn't seem to mind.

"If we capture them, we'll get the most credit. I'll report it to the general, so you can expect a reward. Alright, respond if you understand!"

Ned raised his voice, as if to intimidate anyone hiding inside. Everyone followed suit.

"I understand!"

"Alright, let's go. We're going to capture the wife and children of Groll and take over this dirty, dilapidated fortress! Charge!!"

Ned drew his sword and headed toward the fortress. Milt and the others followed.

Noel also drew her two-pronged spear and followed at the back. She looked up at the sky for a moment. Although clouds were gathering, the sun was still shining. Confirming this, Noel quickened her pace with a smile.

In the dilapidated fortress of Sevtem, the young knight Cynthia Eadrich was in anguish.

Cynthia's mission was to guard the wife and son of the governor of Rockbell, Sara and Elgar. However, at the worst possible time, a rebellion broke out in northern Coinbra.

The rebel forces were gaining momentum and advancing southward toward the state capital, Madras. Rockbell, where they were staying, was on their route.

Cynthia wanted to return the governor's family to the state capital as soon as possible, but Baron Barral, who governed Rockbell, did not allow it.

He was probably concerned about his daughter Sara's safety, but the main reason was that he feared being abandoned. Although Baron Barral would never say it, Cynthia judged it to be the case.

Therefore, as a compromise, Cynthia proposed to evacuate them to the abandoned Sevtem fortress instead of Rockbell, which was sure to become a battlefield. Reluctantly, even Baron Barral agreed to this plan.

Cynthia also sent a messenger to the state capital and made arrangements for them to be picked up while they were in hiding. She had done everything she could.

All that was left was to join forces with the reinforcements from the state capital and drive the rebels out of Rockbell.

...Everything had gone smoothly until now. But, I never thought anyone would know about this place!

The Sevtem fortress, which had been removed from the map and was unknown even to many locals, was an unlikely target for the rebels from the north.

Even if someone knew about it, there was no reason for them to come here.

Why!?

Men with red armbands surrounded the fortress, breaking down the gate and invading.

Including Cynthia, there were only twenty guards protecting the governor's family. The number of rebels who had stormed in was about a hundred. She had no intention of losing, but the odds were against her while protecting the governor's family.

She couldn't risk exposing them to any danger. They were the noble Valdecka family, and if captured, the rebels' morale would surely rise.

The purpose must be to capture Lady Sara and Elgar, but the timing is too perfect. Could there be a spy in our army?

Many questions arose, but there was no time to think them through.

Cynthia decided not to fight back but to escape through a hidden passage in the back of the warehouse. After the family escaped, she intended to stay behind and act as a decoy to buy time.

She had attached rags to the warehouse door and nearby walls to create a simple disguise. She didn't think it would fool them for long, but in the dark, it should buy some time.

"Cynthia-sama, the door is rusted shut and won't open!"

"Then use a mace to break it down! Hurry, or they'll be here soon!"

"R-right, understood!"

"Wrap the mace with cloth to minimize the noise! Hurry!"

"Hai!"

Cynthia urged the soldiers to action. Sara and Elgar, huddled in the back, looked pale.

She wanted to reassure them, but she couldn't afford to say anything irresponsible.

The soldiers, with cloth-wrapped maces, began to strike the entrance to the hidden passage in the floor. The dull sound echoed in the warehouse. The noise was louder than expected, and she winced, but there was nothing to be done. She could only pray that there were no enemies nearby.

The soldiers, watching, held their breath and gripped their weapons tightly. The musty smell filled the air.

Through a small, round opening in the warehouse door, she peered outside. It was too dark to see anything.

There should have been some light from the upper floor in the large room outside the warehouse. She had seen it a moment ago, so this situation was impossible.

"...What is it? Can someone give me some light?"

"Is this enough?"

"Thank you."

She held the torch to the opening and looked outside again.

"......!!"

Cynthia let out a small scream and jumped back from the door. What she had thought was darkness was actually human eyes. They had been watching from the front of the door, through a small hole in the rag-covered door, before she looked.

This meant she had been face-to-face with the enemy, separated only by a door. Fear made her body shiver. If she hadn't been on guard, she would have screamed for sure. She could feel the goosebumps on her skin.

"Cynthia-sama, what's wrong?"

"---T-there's someone outside!"

"Hehe, I found you."

A young woman's voice, sounding rather cheerful, echoed. Then, the sound of light knocking on the door followed. They knew she was inside.

The door, made of wood but quite sturdy, wouldn't be broken easily. But this situation was not good. The knocking was getting louder. The dull sound reverberated, shaking the air in the room.

...What should I do? If I stay here, they'll call for reinforcements. I have to go out and deal with them.

Cynthia made her decision and gave orders to the anxious soldiers behind her.

"I'll take care of this enemy! You protect Lady Sara and the young master! Don't open this door no matter what happens after I leave!"

"B-but!!"

"Then, I'll go with you!"

"No, remember our mission! Understand? Close the door immediately after I leave! Don't worry about me, just escape as quickly as possible!!"

She gripped her sword tightly and opened the heavy door with a single, swift motion. The person in front of her took a step back, surprised.

She took advantage of the moment to slam the door shut. She confirmed the sound of it being locked from the inside. Her subordinates seemed to have followed her orders.

She cautiously observed the enemy. It appeared to be just the young woman. Her bright red hair stood out.

(She's young, probably in her mid-teens. But I can't let a rebel go unpunished!)

She hesitated for a moment to kill a child but quickly steeled her resolve.

"...Are you alone here?"

"Yes, I'm the only one who found you."

"...I see. How did you know about this place?"

"Because there's a cut in the wall fabric here. If you look closely, you can tell something is hidden."

Cynthia glanced behind her for a moment. Indeed, there was a cut in the fabric where the door was supposed to open. However, it would be difficult to notice from a distance in this dim light.

This girl seemed to have keen observational skills, which might prove to be her downfall.

(Are you also part of the rebel forces?)

"Yes, officially. Oh, and we're not a swarm of locusts, but the Red Wheel Army. The name sounds impressive, right?"

The red-haired girl nodded and smiled casually. Her weapon was a long, two-pronged spear, and she wore a leather chest plate. A red armband was tied around her arm. She was definitely part of the Red Wheel Army. Cynthia steeled her resolve.

(Poor girl, but I have no choice but to kill you. I don't have the luxury to let you go.)

She asked for the girl's name to put her at ease. This would likely be their last conversation.

"...My name is Cynthia. May I ask for yours?"

"Sure, my name is Noel—"

As she began to speak casually, Cynthia launched a fatal strike at Noel's neck. The girl wasn't in a fighting stance, and it was a dishonorable move for a knight, but the safety of the governor's family came first. Besides, the girl was a rebel, and she couldn't afford to care about appearances.

She stepped forward with her left foot, gritted her teeth, and swung her sword with both hands from the upper right.

A dull impact was felt, followed by a high-pitched metallic sound.

"—That's so unfair."

"Y-you blocked my attack!?"

Her sword strike had been completely parried by the tip of the two-pronged spear. Her hands, gripping the hilt, were numb.

Noel's face quickly changed from a carefree smile to a fierce expression. The concentrated killing intent was palpable.

Cynthia had never faced such a powerful presence before.

(No, this girl is not just a common rebel!)

She almost hesitated but steeled herself.

"To capture you, I need to get the treasure inside. So, I'll go all out too?"

"Be silent, foolish rebel! Taste my righteous sword!!"

Instead of answering, she launched another strike. Since she was physically stronger, she could overpower the girl with brute force. The spear had a longer reach, so she had to close the distance.

Cynthia abandoned her defense and launched a rapid series of strikes.

"Die!"

"Whoa, you're pretty fast."

The strike to the torso was deflected by the spear. Using the momentum, she spun around and tried