Interlude 4
Teigun's
Captive ① - Masrur
Translator : PolterGlast
It had been several
months since I arrived in this town. At first, everything was a surprise.
The first surprise
came when I was brought to the checkpoint, having expressed my unwillingness to
fight further on the cliff face. A young woman, still a girl, (Carleen) spoke
to me.
"I'm glad you
stopped shooting arrows partway through. If you hadn't... I would have had to
shoot an arrow at you and strike you down."
"What?! You could
see me?"
"Yes, when you
were aiming at the top of the checkpoint, I was also aiming at you."
"Is that so? But
at that distance, at night. Couldn't I have hit and you missed?"
I said that, a sore
loser's remark, but the soldiers around me laughed. I didn't understand why
they laughed, but I would realize it later. I was stunned to learn that she was
the best archer in this territory.
The next surprise came
the following day.
Unfortunately, it
seemed our forces' defeat was decisive. When I heard this, I boldly made a
request.
"I want to bury
the bodies of our abandoned comrades."
When I made this
request, I was guided by the checkpoint's defense commander.
"Uh, are you (Christoph)
the defense commander of this checkpoint?"
It was a familiar
face. He was the young man who had boldly challenged and stated his intentions
when we marched towards the town.
"Yes, though I am
young, my name is Christoph, and I have been appointed as the checkpoint's
defense commander by Lord Takuhir."
I was appalled at how
young he was, barely in his teens, and apologized for my rude question.
Even more surprising
was that they not only recovered the abandoned bodies of the enemy soldiers from
the corridor but also rescued the left-behind wounded and, unbelievably,
treated their injuries. Young women were scurrying around providing care. And
they were also users of healing magic. The wounded soldiers' injuries healed
rapidly; those with light injuries recovered on the spot, and even those
severely wounded and near death began to improve.
"Why are you
healing soldiers of the enemy army who tried to invade you?" I couldn't
help but ask.
"The battle is
over now, but our fight is just beginning. We want to help as many people as we
can," she (Ranatoria) replied, caring for the wounded and scurrying
around, herself barely in her mid-teens.
This fort (they called
it a checkpoint) was strange. Those commanding what appeared to be soldiers
were all young people, from their teens to twenties, who didn't look like
soldiers themselves. The soldiers here, or what appeared to be soldiers, seemed
to number no more than 100. Many of the others on defense, including women, did
not look like soldiers at all. And all of them, including the soldiers, showed
respect for these young people and followed their command.
"Are you all
nobles, or part of the lord's family?" I couldn't help but ask again.
A young woman
(Claire), who seemed to be one of the commanders, replied with a wry smile.
"We are ordinary
citizens, picked up by the Lord; we're certainly not nobles! By the way,
tomorrow we plan to go down into the valley to retrieve the bodies of your
comrades and hold a funeral. If possible, we'd like your comrades to mourn
them... would you assist us? We cannot give you weapons, but we will return
other personal belongings. If possible, we'd like you to bring your recovered
comrades to help with the burial..."
I had never heard of
such respectful treatment of the bodies of an invading enemy army. I persuaded
my recovered comrades, and we helped with the search and burial of the bodies.
※
After spending some
time in the temporary detention center next to the checkpoint, almost all the
wounded soldiers had recovered due to the extensive care. Subsequently, with
400 comrades, we passed through the gates of Teigun, which we had originally intended
to enter as conquerors.
What awaited us there
was a clean detention facility, which, despite being called a prisoner-of-war
camp, was spacious and even had private rooms. And just like in the temporary
facility, or even more so, solid, delicious meals were provided daily. Frankly,
I thought to myself, Isn't this a more comfortable and fulfilling life than the
days I spent in Marquis Bradley's army barracks? Other soldiers, not just me,
seemed to feel the same way.
Every day there was
labor, but to my surprise, we even received monthly wages as payment, albeit
small. Prisoners receiving meager meals and being subjected to forced labor
until death in detention facilities—this was supposed to be the norm in the
Empire, and elsewhere too. With food and housing provided free of charge, and
no taxes, we could now even save a small amount of money.
Our labor mainly
involved creating settlements and constructing new forts outside the town, and
those who wished could also work in mines or sewage cleaning. Since mine work
paid 10% more and sewage cleaning 20% more, many voluntarily took on those
tasks.
I was constantly
surprised and losing confidence. Was my common sense the one that was strange?
※
While staying in the
detention center, I somehow became a central figure among the prisoners. One
day, I had the opportunity to meet the Lord.
"Is there
anything inconvenient about life here?"
The Lord who asked
this question was still a child, barely a teenager. I had thought I was used to
being surprised, but I was wrong. He was the one who built this town,
constructed its defenses, and commanded those young people. And I understood
that he was precisely the one who had brought about this incredibly
un-prisoner-like treatment. For some reason, this young boy felt terrifyingly
capable.
"We are receiving
treatment unbecoming of prisoners. There are no particular
inconveniences..."
I answered cautiously,
but his subsequent questions were far from inquiries about the enemy's
situation; they were about the climate and diet of the Gryphonia Empire, and
about crops, and so on. I had been braced for an interrogation and was taken
aback.
Then, when he learned
that I was from near the border of the Principality of Sura , his questions
grew even more eager, and he meticulously asked about the crops of that region.
Grains grown in irrigated fields? He was terribly enthusiastic about that
topic.
It wasn't an
interrogation; the conversation flowed like casual chatter, and I even made a
slightly unreasonable request.
"Although we are
very grateful to receive wages, we don't have many opportunities to use them. I
know this is a big ask, but it would make us very happy if we could be
permitted to shop at markets or occasionally drink."
I then boldly made
another request.
"Some of the
prisoners have families back home. If possible, they would be very happy if
they could send money home..."
I knew it was an
unreasonable request, but having grown accustomed to the treatment here, I had
inadvertently said something out of line.
"Hmm... I
understand. We'll do our best to meet your requests as soon as possible."
After a moment's
thought, he replied so.
Now, all of it has
come true. I've stopped being surprised. In a good way, I've come to understand
that the common sense here is completely different from ours.
A market is held daily
in front of the main gate, and after returning from labor, we can shop.
Alcoholic beverages purchased at the market can also be freely consumed within
the detention center.
And merchants now visit
regularly, undertaking letters and remittances for a small fee.
Later, I learned
something from a merchant.
·
The battle at the border resulted in a crushing defeat
for the First Imperial Prince's army.
·
Our comrades from Marquis Bradley's army were annihilated
during their escape.
·
The Lord bears the cost of postage for remittances and
letters.
For the sake of us,
the enemy soldiers, the lord himself... It made perfect sense why letters and
remittances could be sent for such a cheap fee. Furthermore, I realized again
that those of us who were wounded and became prisoners in this town were
actually incredibly fortunate. Most of our comrades who failed to conquer this
town, abandoned their allies, and fled, reportedly never made it back home
alive.
※
After that meeting, I
regularly met with the Lord to discuss improvements in treatment and his
requests. Without realizing it, I must have opened my heart to him. I told him
my hidden truth.
"My hometown was
invaded by the enemy nation, the Principality of Sura. The town was ravaged,
and many people were killed. It was the Third Prince's army, still young at the
time, that repelled them. To repay that debt of gratitude, I joined the
military."
But at that time, I
acted thoughtlessly and later regretted it.
"However, being
uneducated, I didn't understand the court factions and ended up serving Marquis
Bradley of the hostile First Imperial Prince's faction, instead of the
benevolent Third Imperial Prince's faction."
·
How I couldn't turn back once I realized it.
·
How, deep down, I felt remorse about this invasion.
·
How I felt no gratitude or loyalty whatsoever to the
First Imperial Prince's faction.
And, how, in the midst
of attacking the checkpoint, I grew disgusted with being an invader and
abandoned a dangerous suicide squad mission partway through.
I feel like I got
carried away and told him my life story, including these things. My heart was
already decided at that point.
"As long as the
Baron doesn't invade the Gryphonia Empire, I will repay the kindness I have
received. Like me, there are quite a few of us in the invading army who are
grateful for having our lives saved. I want to give them an opportunity to
succeed and thrive too."
※
A few days after this
conversation, I was given a new position.
[Representative of the
Detention Center Self-Government Committee]: 30 gold coins/year salary
·
Right to freely enter and exit the town (Third
District)
·
Right to negotiate with the administrative office on
behalf of the prisoners
·
Right to appoint 10 Self-Government Committee members
(15 gold coins/year salary)
This was accepted by
my fellow prisoners in the detention center without major issues. This was
because I was the highest-ranking individual among the prisoners. There was
also a reason for this. When I volunteered for the suicide squad that climbed
the dark cliff face, all volunteers were specially promoted to 100-man leaders.
I was one of those specially promoted.
When defeated and
retreating from battle, those of high status or rank are brought back by their
subordinates, even if they are wounded and unable to move themselves. This time
too, all those left behind were commoners or low-ranking knights.
Within the detention
center, I selected four relatively high-ranking knights and six trustworthy
individuals who held a positive view of the Baron (Takuhir) to be on the
Self-Government Committee.
The Self-Government
Committee, as representatives of the detention center, conducts discussions and
proposals for the center's operations and improved treatment, and submits
investigation reports. In particular, they took on the role of compiling
information on anyone wishing to become a settler in the future and
investigating their trustworthiness. And the Self-Government Committee was
permitted to enter and exit the town (Third District), though prior permission
was required.
One day, a job posting
was put up in the detention center. This town was apparently going to have a
festival for some event. According to the job posting, if one engaged in temporary
work, they would receive additional wages.
Speaking of which, in
the period before that, we had been called upon for large-scale construction
that was being rushed. Those with construction experience were assigned to
building structures, with increased allowances. Also, for the first time, we
received extra pay called "overtime allowance" at this time.
It was announced
beforehand that there would be no labor during the period before and after the
festival. However, it was also stated that monthly wages would continue to be
paid regardless of labor. Those who were sending money home to their families
primarily took on jobs from the posting during that period. Some lucky comrades
even received one gold coin as compensation for less than 10 days of work.
Many of them worked
alongside the town's residents and enjoyed a normal life. And together, they
sweated over their work, forgetting that they were once enemies.
Later, I conducted the
investigation requested by the Lord, confirming those who wished to live as
settlers in the future. Surprisingly, nearly 30% desired to be settlers, and
including those who answered, "I would like to become a settler if I could
bring my family over," the number doubled. Like me, more than half of my
comrades wished to live here if possible. It was an astonishing fact, but
considering the previous circumstances, it was a natural outcome. This was the
beginning of my, or rather, our new life as citizens of Estol.
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