Chapter 358
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
The Pride of Imperial Merchants
Translator : PolterGlast
In the northwestern part of the Griffonia Empire, a vast forest zone spreads out, and it is said
that the land once called the Demon Territory spread there along the foothills of
the mountain range stretching to the border. The byway extending south from
this northwestern frontier deviated from normal trade routes, and not to
mention merchant caravans, even locals rarely passed through it. After all, it
merely connected several impoverished villages in the northern frontier, and
south of that lay over a thousand km of empty
land, just spreading forests, grasslands, and wastelands...
That byway was being trodden by human feet for the first
time in a long while, ever since the trading unit reportedly arranged by the
King of Fearalt secretly used it the previous year. Among the military
forces dashing through the byway in an orderly manner, some felt doubtful about
this maintained road in the frontier.
「I had no idea that a bypass extending
endlessly to the south existed, all while entirely avoiding the major towns and
strategic strongholds along the way.」
The Commander inadvertently let out a voice of admiration on
horseback, but I myself was also surprised. At first, I thought it was a back
road or something, but according to Accelerata's story, it is a road
that received minimal maintenance so cavalry could dash through it, and it
supposedly continues endlessly to the southern part of the Empire territory.
「Our forces are divided into north
and south. And because the main highways necessary for travel are controlled by
the enemy camp, they cannot be used in times of emergency, so...」
「So that is why this highway was
maintained?」
「Yes, since about eight years ago
from now. Under the instructions of the then Viscount Kampfer, under the
pretext of countermeasures against bandits, we secretly proceeded by dispersing
the construction sites.」
I see...
Speaking of eight years ago, that would be the year following that very
battle—the disaster in which my elder brother was supposed to have died in
action. So, from the moment Sieghart
was entrusted with the management of the Empire’s
northern frontier, he had already foreseen this exact situation in the future?
「However, to establish a logistical
base so deep within the hinterlands... it is a terrifyingly far-sighted tale,
indeed.」
Certainly, as the Commander pointed out. For an army to move
swiftly and demonstrate its power without regret, logistics are indispensable,
and that means Sieghart understands that better than anyone else.
Including up to now, our grueling forced march was supported by the perfect
logistics he prepared. That is precisely why we have already successfully
traversed a third of the entire distance.
「Amazing...」
I inadvertently couldn't help but let out a voice of
admiration. I had the means to know the future, my own historical knowledge and
history books. But Sieghart has nothing of the sort.
「A true genius, a genius of both
politics and strategy... I'm no match for him.」
I intended to mutter it to myself, but it seems it became an
unexpectedly loud voice.
「Ah, excuse me, but His Excellency Kampfer
always said the same thing about His Majesty. He said, 『I don't feel like I can win, so he's an opponent I
absolutely do not want to fight, and if possible, I want to make him an ally.』...」
No... that's why mine is a cheat. Thanks to that, even an
ordinary person like me could somehow pull through. However, I have absolutely
no information about the new world we are proceeding into now. So it's all
ad-libbed, and I'm filled with anxiety of not knowing what lies ahead.
However... the only source of relief is that although I can't match him
one-on-one, I am blessed with geniuses of military and politics like the
Commander and the Minister of Internal Affairs, trustworthy companions starting
with Alexis, and wives who demonstrate excellence in various fields.
That much I can proudly boast about, and if I consult with them, we can somehow
pull through! Well... though it's a bit pathetic of me to be relying entirely
on my companions like this.
「By the way, Sir Accelerata,
how do you plan to handle resupply from here on out? Up to now, a massive
amount of supplies, unthinkable for the most frontier impoverished villages,
were stockpiled in the villages scattered along the route, but...」
Certainly, as the Commander pointed out, the villages we
stopped at for resupply and rest so far were all those with populations of less
than 100 people. Yet for some reason, food and supply materials to sustain
10,000 cavalry were arranged. No matter how you look at it, it's strange. And
according to the map, a road without even an impoverished village continues
endlessly south for a while ahead.
「Hahaha, His Excellency the Commander
of the Demon Territory Knights' concern is reasonable. From here on, we
intentionally deviate from the human-inhabited domain, and we will completely
disappear.」
「But what will you do about resupply?」
「Arrangements have been made for that
as well.」
Well, we have several Space-Time Mages, starting with
Bart, accompanying us, so to be blunt, we could manage even without
resupply. However, we want to save our trump cards until the very end. Thinking
so, we learned the meaning behind Accelerata's confident nod in the
evening of that day.
※
Around the time the sun began to sink in the west, we passed
through a single road traversing the forest and arrived at a slightly open
grassland. There... A caravan consisting of dozens of horse-drawn wagons was
waiting!
「My word! Where on earth did they
come from?」
Preparations for a camping facility with tents pitched in
various places were also ready, and perhaps for meal preparation, fires were
already lit in makeshift stoves made in various places.
「More importantly, Commander, the
several banners the merchant caravan is raising, I feel like I've seen them
somewhere...」
In response to my doubt, Accelerata bowed and spoke.
「Your insight leaves me in awe. Just
as His Majesty the Archduke said, they are the ones from the trading companies
I introduced to you previously (when we started bidding). They advanced along
the central highway ahead of us, headed west midway, and are standing by here.」
I see! Even under the current situation, merchants can move
freely. Did he use that to his advantage and send them ahead...
Before us, who were taken aback, several men stepped forward
and spoke to Accelerata.
「It is wonderful that you arrived
safely. We arranged the supplies as requested and have been waiting.」
「Thank you, that is an immense help.
I am truly sorry for causing all of you so much trouble as well. So…… how are
things moving on the other side?」
「Yes, it seems they are somewhat in a
flurry about various things. Even on the main highway, wagons carrying cargo to
Griffin are running incessantly. Because of that, we were also able to
move without being noticed.」
「I see... then it seems the merchants
in charge of the logistics bases ahead will also be fine. I appreciate
everyone's cooperation, and I will surely convey it to my lord.」
「What are you saying, we are all ones
who have been allowed to make huge profits from the sugar trade and various
businesses.」
When one man said so, the surrounding men also nodded
greatly in agreement. They are probably his retained merchants.
「To even have you call upon us is a
matter for which we are deeply grateful—and on top of that, you gave us an
advance payment for this order. We are
merchants, after all; we will venture anywhere if there is business to be
conducted. Please, do not give it another thought.」
「No, no, that can’t be all there is
to it, can it?」
Receiving those words, the other men also laughed and began
to join the conversation.
「We are those who have received
favors from His Excellency the Count (Sieghart). Even though we move for
profit, there are things we must never forget. Otherwise, it would be contrary
to our faith and duty.」
「Yeah, precisely because of that, we
must have Lord Grat win no matter what this time.」
「Of course! We’ve finally reached an
era where we can conduct business without being crushed by those massive
merchant magnates colluding with vested interests. If
everything regressed now, it’ll be too tragic to even look at.」
「Exactly. These days, we’re finally
able to do excellent business with both the Count and that terrifying Demon
King-sama—and yet, this whole mess is just completely absurd.」
「Even so, Boss, this is a tremendous
number of troops... Where did you bring them from? His Excellency Durul
should be on the northern front...」
「Boss, don't tell me this army is...
the Demon Territory Knights... E-Eek!
D-Demon King?」
One merchant looked at me standing beside Accelerata,
unable to speak out of surprise. Drawn by that, the other merchants also stared
intently at my face. And after a moment of silence...
「「「「Wh-whaaaa!」」」」
They let out strange voices in unison and completely froze.
「Hahaha, it seems there are some who
know my face. We are here to grasp everyone's future. Therefore, I ask that you
keep the fact that the Demon King was here a secret.」
「E-Eh, ah... Yes. Of course. But...
why?」
「Of course, to teach the Sura Principality
and the Turncoat Kingdom the terror of the Demon King as well. So they
won't do mischief a second time.」
「Just that?」
「It means the Empire governed by Lord Grat and Lord Sieghart is
preferable for us as well. That is precisely why we support them with all our
might, and we will surely win! So, will you lend us your strength?」
「Of course, on the pride of Imperial
merchants!」
「Hahaha, this is going to be amazing.」
「We did it, it's as good as won with
this.」
「Long live the Empire! Long live the Demon Territory Dukedom!」
Well... I got carried away and bluffed too, but... what am I supposed to do with this heavy atmosphere, where
everyone treats me like a walking, talking guaranteed-victory flag? The
Commander and everyone else are just smiling with absolute, smug satisfaction,
as if to say, 'Yep, that's our Majesty
for you'……For me personally, being overestimated by the surroundings was
conversely a pressure. The truth was, I had only been sent out to this front
lines because of a razor-thin, down-to-the-wire decision and the sheer resolve
of the people we left behind. Right about now, Alexis is probably fighting a brutal, grueling battle—even if he
isn't losing—at least until reinforcements from the Kyle Kingdom arrive. Because
we've placed such a heavy burden on them, we absolutely must deliver a decisive
victory to answer their sacrifices.
「Takuhir-sama, at this rate, it seems it will be possible to advance to
the southern front while slipping past the eyes of the First Prince's side.」
「That's right. It seems logistics are
arranged in the same way ahead, and if we proceed with covert actions, we can
take them by surprise.」
However, we did not yet know at this time the reason why the enemy camp did not notice our actions, that the eyes and ears within the Empire were focused on a different movement. That they had finally begun to bare their fangs against their allied forces, and that this was the result of being overwhelmed by preparations for that and neglecting vigilance of the surroundings; we would come to know this at a later date.
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