Chapter 109: Second Expedition [2]
A vast wilderness where dry sand winds blow.
The walls of the Celle Mountains seen in the distance look as if they will never be destroyed. As long as that exists, the desert winds will never blow in Hardion.
In the harsh wilderness where desertification is in progress, grass with strong stems grows sparsely. Only old books secretly whisper that this land was once a fertile granary.
"What happened?"
At the soft voice of the young man who was taking it all in at a glance, a large man covered entirely in yellow cloth knelt down in front of him, bowed his head, and moved his hands.
The young man, wearing a white cloth wrapped around his body and simple armor over it, silently watched the sign language and then slowly turned around.
The white bandana wrapped around his head fluttered wildly in the wind. Beneath it, a manly face with thick eyebrows and a well-trimmed beard was repeatedly hidden and revealed.
The young man closed his eyes as he gazed out across the endless wilderness from a shady spot on the side of a rocky mountain.
"It's a hassle..."
The young man muttered in a sighing voice, placing his left hand on the sword hanging at his waist and flicking his right hand.
The man wrapped tightly in yellow cloth quietly retreated into the shadow of a rocky mountain.
"Ha...."
The young man looked at the Celle Mountains of Hardion and the castle of Davron below them, then back out into the wilderness, or rather, at the small rocky hill opposite.
"It would be difficult if we took any more time..."
The young man muttered softly as he saw the horse and carriage coming out of the crevices of the rocky hill, even though they were very far away.
You can't even control mercenaries properly, and you're sending this message.
This is why the empire...
"Well, the emperor of the empire didn't have much power."
Although he is grandiosely known as the emperor and the supreme ruler of the empire, he is nothing more than a scarecrow whose power does not extend to the outskirts.
It shouldn't be seen together with Patisya, the absolute monarch of Tumaria.
The young man laughed and jumped off the rocky mountain with light steps.
Slowing down by lightly stepping on the protruding parts, he came down the rocky mountain in one go. A harsh sandstorm blew in, and there was no one left.
***
It takes quite some time to get to Davron, located at the eastern end. No matter how well-built the roads are throughout the empire, there are limits.
Carl did not move leisurely like when he went to Hillpin. Considering the soldiers' stamina and speed, he moved as quickly as possible while taking sufficient rest.
The matter is a matter, and I cannot afford to waste time. I cannot afford to fail at my mission either.
'It wasn't mentioned in the original work...'
Carl tried to remember the contents of the original story, but unfortunately, he couldn't remember anything about this incident.
Even if Carl read it lightly, if there was a mention, he would remember it at least a little, so it means that it was something that was passed over without even a mention.
'Either Aric or Nero made a move, or Azgoth handled it well.'
In fact, it is quite suspicious that this matter even reached Carl.
It may be that Azgoth deliberately did not process it in order to give Carl a mission.… Maybe Davron was trying to keep the mercenaries out of control.
"Master Carl, aren't you cold?"
Billford said in a worried voice. Although Carl wore a cape, the outfit itself was so light that it seemed like he was wearing clothes that were not suitable for the upcoming winter.
Billford, wearing a cotton-filled Gambison, also feels a little chilly, but he may be okay.
"It's okay. I don't feel the cold well."
"I'm glad if that's the case..."
Six days have passed since they left Himmeln. We've only been moving for six days, but it feels like it's gotten a lot colder, perhaps because of the terrain.
"Please check on the soldiers' condition rather than mine."
"Yes, master Carl."
Billford slowed his horse and stepped back, approaching the soldiers riding in carriages or walking. Unlike when he went to Hillpin, Carl also received carriages for the soldiers.
But he had more soldiers on foot than in carriages. He did this even though he had a seat in the carriage. Traveling in a carriage is not just convenient.
The cushioning is not good, so my hips and lower back hurt quite a bit. Since they were instructed to board or disembark the carriage autonomously according to their own condition, the soldiers moved in whatever way was convenient for them.
Since they were instructed to board or disembark the carriage autonomously according to their own condition, the soldiers moved in whatever way was convenient for them.
When they get tired of walking, get on the carriage, and when they butt hurts, get off and walk... Carl is a commander who deserves to be loved by his soldiers because he does not force rituals unnecessarily.
Of course,they have no intention of saying that rituals are useless. They have seen time and time again the strength of a soldier who perfectly follows discipline and keeps his hands and feet in sync.
But they still can't understand the twisted way of thinking of the company commander who told them to walk in a formal manner on the way to the training ground while he drove in a car during Hanchang-in's military days.
"Lord Catherine, isn't it difficult?"
"It's not difficult at all."
Catherine answered Carl's words confidently. That's understandable since Catherine is riding at the front, carrying the flag she received from the Emperor.
Even though the size of the force was small, it was a regular army that went out under the orders of the emperor.
To stand at the forefront holding that flag is an honor that will be recorded as a record even by a high-ranking noble family.
Catherine somehow seemed a little excited.
'That thing was really heavy, so I just put it on the wagon...'
Even though she now knew the meaning, Carl couldn't help but think that to himself. To him, it just seems like a waste of energy on ostentation.
"Anyway, I don't know how things are going."
Carl said worriedly.
Since he don't know Davron's situation, he feel at a loss and nervous. It would be nice to have a means of real-time communication, but the fastest means of communication in this world is messengers, and the second is the overwork of messengers.
Unfortunately, magic is not omnipotent.
Real-time communication was something that many people wanted before Carl, but it has not yet been realized.
Carl could not even imagine using his modern knowledge to realize real-time communication… What kind of modern knowledge is this when you don't know the detailed principles?
'There is something like this, what do you think?'
'Wow! This is really awesome!'
'Right? You're going to make it from now on.' '
Yes? Me? How?' 'You should think about that.' '...'
It's going to end up like this. Will that work?
"I won't act rashly since I've already contacted them."
Catherine said, gently moving the flag to keep it from blowing around in the wind. Carl sent a letter to Davron through Nero.
It will take time for Carl to go, so depending on the situation, sell the name of 4th Prince Carl to prevent a conflict with Tumaria in advance.
This is something you shouldn't do because it's like giving a blank check to someone you don't know well.
What if they make a fuss in Carl's name and then pass the blame on?
But it is a serious matter involving Azgoth and a war between two great powers.
Knowing that such a thing would not be possible, Carl was able to boldly commit an action that seemed reckless.
"I'm not sure if it will be of any use, since the Marquis is said to be hostile and hostile to Tumari."
Carl spoke distraught, recalling the story of the Marquis of Davron that he had heard from Nero. The earl rules a large fiefdom that includes several fiefdoms of common barons.
Among such counts, the title given to the counts who received full authority from the monarch to protect the border was the title of marquis.
In the marquis' territory, even the emperor cannot treat the marquis carelessly.
They are hardened by war while maintaining a large standing army, so if the emperor or king is a little arrogant, they can really break their heads. Of all the imperial fiefdoms, Davron is notorious for being the most brutal and cruel.
Davron Territory is the water gate that protected this land through thousands of years of battle with the East even before the founding of the empire.
For now, they are holding back due to Azgoth's policy, but at some point, they may cry out for Düren's name and attack Tumaria under the pretext of purging the heretics.
Tumaria worshiped a god called Hadad, which was highly disapproved of by Hardion, who worshiped Duren.
Tumaria also invaded Hardion on a fictitious day, saying it was a holy war, so the same goes for both sides.
One interesting thing is that the Durenne Church and the Haddad Church do not want to interfere with each other.
Religious people are quiet, but secular monarchs are fighting with their eyes turned upside down.
"I have no choice but to believe and move forward anyway. And since it is an order from His Majesty the Emperor, I guess I have no choice but to follow it."
Catherine surprisingly didn't seem to have any concerns about it. Rather, Catherine could not understand the great concern of Carl, the emperor's son.
It is the gap between Catherine, an imperial knight who absolutely believes in the authority of the emperor, and Carl, who has the memories and It is the gap between Catherine, an imperial knight who absolutely believes in the authority of the emperor, and Carl, who has the memories and knowledge of a modern man.
As they moved along, Carl decided to spend a day at a nearby castle before moving on to the Marquisate.
It wasn't a bad idea to exchange greetings with the nobles, and it was also to give the soldiers a good rest before the possible battle.