Chapter 50
(Kyle Calendar
Year 505: Age 12)
The Teigun Disturbance:
Behind-the-Scenes Maneuvers
Translator : PolterGlast
"Fall back to the
center of the town! We have the numbers!"
The thieves tried to
flee towards the center of the town, but a wall of fire blocked their path. Those
who tried to slip through the gaps were mercilessly struck by arrows.
By the time they
finally shook off the fire and arrows, the thieves had lost about 20% of their
numbers.
"Fall back to the
back streets!"
They had planned to
escape near the central plaza, scattering the civilians ahead to secure their
retreat.
However, an unexpected
rain of arrows poured down from the front, where there should have been hardly
any soldiers. The thieves, who were fleeing along the road in a group, had
nowhere to escape, and many fell, struck by arrows.
The thieves panicked
when they saw an unexpectedly large group rushing from the front to intercept
them.
They hurriedly changed
direction and ran into the back streets, but only less than half of their
original number were still following properly.
"Even so, those
guys coming from the central plaza... how come there are more than 50 of
them?"
Even if you combined
the number of guards and mercenaries stationed in the town, it would only be
about 50 people at most.
There were only about
20 people at the garrison and the lord's mansion branch.
Therefore, they had
thought that if they defeated the remaining 30 or so, they could escape to the
town's main gate.
In reality, only about
20 soldiers, including the mercenaries, came out from the central plaza to
intercept them.
However, there were
people all over the Estol territory who had honed their crossbow skills at
shooting competitions.
Many residents also
used the practice range as a form of entertainment.
Furthermore, regular
evacuation and defense drills were conducted in case of monster attacks, so
there was no major panic among the townspeople.
Some residents,
following the defense drill procedures, received crossbows and arrows from the
shooting range and took positions in the central plaza.
"Our town that we
worked so hard to build..."
"They're
disturbing the festival, such boorish fellows!"
"For the
Lord-sama!"
The anger of the
townspeople whose festival had been disturbed was also tremendous.
Behind the soldiers
who were intercepting the thieves fleeing towards the central plaza from the
direction of the lord's mansion branch, a makeshift archer unit of nearly 100
people with crossbows followed.
And, following the
soldiers' command, they simultaneously released their arrows.
The thieves were
outnumbered and outmatched, their positions reversed, and they became the ones
being chased down, to be captured one after another.
"Useless
bunch."
"To show such a
disgraceful performance after we painstakingly led them to good prey."
"If only they had
managed to burn down at least the lord's mansion."
"We were made to
drink boiling water last year. We must achieve our true aim this time, or we
will have no face to show."
A group was watching
the thieves being defeated in the shadows, muttering curses.
Yes, they were the
very ones who had instigated the thieves and former farmers to attack the town
of Est last year.
"At this rate, we
won't be able to face Lord Erol."
"To this land
that celebrates its golden age while ignoring the poverty of our domain, let
the hammer of judgment fall."
"Right now, the
whole town is in chaos, and all those who can fight are being drawn in by those
guys. Shall we take this opportunity to raid the poorly guarded commodity exchange?"
"They'll take all
the blame anyway."
"If the seven of
us attack, we should be able to achieve something."
Saying this, their
figures disappeared into the darkness.
※
The public commodity
exchange was open even at night.
Currently, Bart was transporting
most of the townspeople's food and daily necessities from the town of Fran to
Teigun.
Here, the townspeople
made individual purchases, and merchants and restaurants made their bulk
purchases.
Since discounts were
given for large bulk purchases, some individuals deliberately purchased from
the large-quantity windows for merchants and restaurants and then sold the
goods at stalls.
Unlike the commodity
exchange, at stalls, you could buy the goods lined up in front of you without
having to wait in line at a counter.
Moreover, the price
paid by the buyer was not that different. Therefore, many people bought goods
at the casual stalls.
In this way, they
coexisted with small-scale shops like stalls.
The commodity exchange
was always crowded, with counters lined up horizontally. Except for the
reception rooms and negotiation rooms, the employees were inside the counters,
and the purchasers were outside, interacting through the windows.
Furthermore, for
security, the inside of the counters was protected by thick wooden walls and
sturdy doors, making it safe for those inside.
Therefore, it was
mainly operated by female staff.
※
"Guwah!"
Suddenly appearing
from the darkness, a man slashed at the guard standing at the entrance of the
commodity exchange.
Stepping over the
heavily wounded and fallen guard, a masked group rushed in.
"Kill all
witnesses!"
"Take all the
gold coins you can to make it look like their doing!"
"Don't take it
personally, just lament your own foolishness for working under the Turnip
Baron!"
At the signal of the
leading man, the following six tried to cross the counter and enter the inside.
There were no
customers due to the earlier commotion, and only about ten female staff members
remained. It seemed like an easy job for them, who had been trained as
soldiers.
However, those who
tried to break down the counter all failed.
They were blocked by
the sturdy wooden lattice and repelled miserably.
"Guh!"
One person who
crouched down on the counter and tried to enter through an opening screamed and
recoiled, falling backwards.
"Wha-! What is
that!"
The intruder next to
him involuntarily cried out, seeing the arrow piercing the chest of the fallen
man.
At the same time, the
women inside the counter simultaneously aimed something resembling crossbows.
"Be careful of
the first shot only. Once fired, it takes time to reload."
Having regained their
composure, they tried to enter the inside of the counter again.
But the situation
betrayed their expectations.
"That can't be!
What is that weapon...?"
The attacker looked
around with fading consciousness.
The other five who had
been around him just moments ago were all lying on the floor.
He had dodged the
first shot and, unbelievably, also dodged the second shot fired in quick
succession.
But then, a third,
fourth, and fifth arrow were fired continuously from a single woman.
While he was in shock,
he was struck by successive arrows and fell.
"I have to report
this..."
His thoughts no longer
turned into words.
As he thought so in
his heart, his consciousness faded. Forever.
The seven intruders,
whose arms bore familiar marks, had all been repelled by the women.
※
The capture of the
scattered thieves who had fled throughout the town was carried out.
The townspeople with
crossbows and the soldiers cooperated, searching every nook and cranny of the
town. The thieves were cornered in various places and either killed or
captured.
The suspicious group
that attacked the commodity exchange was also annihilated.
In this way, almost
all captures were completed by midnight, but the state of alert continued until
dawn.
Fortunately, there
were no deaths among the townspeople, only minor injuries. The soldiers and
guards suffered several serious injuries and nearly 20 minor injuries, but
thanks to the efforts of Mia and Rosa, even those who were on the verge of
death survived, and those with minor injuries had already fully recovered.
The first harvest
festival held in the town of Teigun had become bloodstained by the intruders.
It was fortunate that
everyone was safe, but we can't just cancel the festival now, can we?
That would be giving
in to their obstruction.
First, we need to
complete the current investigation, and then think about restarting the
festival from the eve...
"But this
attack... there are too many things that don't add up."
"We'll have to
investigate various things eventually."
Even we, who were
initially furious at the sudden attack by the thieves, had now gained the
composure to think so.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Swagaraga
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Geral Aponso
Matthew Fraser
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
