Chapter 111
Joshua stepped inside the tent.
“It has been a long ti, Rodwell.”
Rodwell did not seem pleased to see him.
He stared intently at Joshua with a displeased expression before gesturing to the knight who had entered with him.
The knights who had guided Joshua this far turned and walked out.
“I expected you to co a bit sooner.”
“Were you waiting for ?”
“Waiting? Do not treat the sa as the students you have under you.”
“Then why are you sulking?”
“I am not sulking, I am disappointed in you as my business partner.”
Rodwell answered with emphasis on the part about being disappointed.
Joshua tilted his head.
He had no mory of doing anything that would earn him such dislike.
“Did Martel from the rchant association not send a carrier pigeon?”
“I received it. That man, I don't know how he found out I was here, but he managed to send a carrier pigeon well enough.”
“Then you must know that I stopped by the village called Vilne.”
“Yes.”
“I sent news that I was alive, so what is the problem?”
Rodwell struck a triumphant pose.
“If you had lent a hand, I could have moved up my plan. If that were the case, we might have enjoyed a life more abundant than the one at the tower.”
“What is that plan?”
“Do you want to hear it?”
He was rejoicing as much as if he had won a battle.
Joshua let out a low groan.
“Please tell .”
“You passed through the waterway, right? I intend to use that place to loot the goods in the castle. Preparations are almost finished. The path to be used for looting, the number of guards, and so on.”
Joshua showed a lukewarm reaction.
He had expected much from the plan.
He clicked his tongue in disappointnt.
It would have been easier to persuade him if their intentions had matched.
“Is that all?”
“Is that all, you say?”
“I think I should return the words I heard a mont ago. I am disappointed, Rodwell.”
“W-What!”
“I thought that if it were Rodwell, you might have thoughts similar to mine. To think you were satisfied with just that much.”
Rodwell toyed with his chin.
“Co to think of it, you said you t my subordinates in the waterway, right? That ans you ca out of the castle.”
“That is right.”
“How did you enter the castle, and why did you enter?”
“You should have asked that from the beginning.”
Rodwell swallowed hard.
For so reason, his face looked as if he were facing defeat.
When Joshua explained the plan he had in mind, Rodwell wore a flabbergasted expression.
“You’re going to swallow the castle?”
“That is right.”
“How many steps ahead are you looking?”
“About five steps?”
“You crazy bastard, at this rate, you're going to get killed by a person before a zombie.”
“I wouldn't have even started if it were an impossible task.”
Joshua laughed.
Rodwell's body trembled slightly.
This kid made him surprised every ti they t.
“Am I also included in that plan?”
“Yes.”
“Surely, you aren't thinking of using and my knight order as a shield?”
“There is no way you would agree to such a plan.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Making a decision was not difficult.
The gains from following Joshua's words until now were not small.
The boy was a strategist.
If he had run wild on the battlefield, would he not have been a fierce general who won ten tis out of ten?
“I cannot guarantee that you won't get hurt, but I will try my best.”
“Wait a minute. Do not include like it’s obvious. Such a big matter requires a lot of review.”
“Of course.”
Joshua's expression was beyond relaxed.
He had a face that thought Rodwell would not be able to refuse.
When the thought that it was impudent occurred to him, anger bubbled up.
Rodwell gulped down the cold water he had kept beside him.
As the coldness went down his throat, he felt much better.
“What are our numbers?”
“Including Rodwell's subordinates, it will be about 25 people.”
“The opponent?”
“There will be a bit over 100.”
“You are trying to strike a rock with an egg.”
“If you think simply, that is true. However, we won't have to face everyone.”
“You will aim for the head?”
“Yes.”
Rodwell could not readily agree.
Such a matter must be carefully considered.
As his contemplation grew long, Joshua naturally sat down next to him.
“Shall I help you make a choice?”
“Let's hear it.”
“You have grasped the waterway, but you haven't been able to go above the castle, have you?”
“……Right.”
“To find the places where supplies or food are hidden, you will have to investigate for several days, and there is no guarantee that the knights won't be caught in that process. If they are caught, they will spill all the information they know. Naturally, the hideout will be discovered and Rodwell will be on the run too.”
He was speaking on the premise that the subordinates would betray him.
It was not unpleasant.
Back when he was the leader at the tower.
A significant number of subordinates had left his side in that manner.
“You an that since looting also carries a heavy burden, if I'm going to aim for sothing, I should aim for sothing big.”
“That is right.”
The boy's words were tempting.
Rodwell resented himself for becoming more and more persuaded as they talked.
“If we occupy the castle as you say, who becos the owner? In this fight, the justification is as important as the practical interest. If it is an act of taking it unilaterally, it is no different from providing a pretext for other groups in the vicinity to attack.”
“I am aware of that.”
In this world, there are various groups for survival.
Among them, there were many nobles.
As long as the nobles were holding out strongly, their gaze could not be ignored.
Taking it away becos a justification for them to invade.
However, if it was taking it back, even they could not move recklessly.
“The eldest son of the Glover family is under . I will put forward the justification of reclaiming the position of successor.”
Rodwell trembled.
The boy in front of him was only 19 years old.
He thought it was not an idea that one would think of at that age.
For so reason, his heart pounded.
There were several things left to ask, but it didn't matter.
More than that, there was sothing to hold him accountable for.
“If the plan succeeds, what do I get?”
“Survival.”
“Survival?”
“I will make sure there is no problem in eating and sleeping. In return, please help when I need help.”
“Are you telling to step back from the front line?”
“Yes.”
Rodwell let out a light breath.
Strangely, it did not feel bad.
The position of the leader of a group was a title that only looked good.
Being recognized by people was sweet for only a very brief mont.
Responsibility followed it.
If anything went wrong even slightly, people turned their backs so easily.
Abominable humans!
He gnashed his teeth as the faces of the subordinates who betrayed him ca to mind.
But while talking to the boy, this thought also suddenly occurred to him.
If the positions were reversed, would he not betray Joshua?
“Joshua.”
“Yes.”
“I am not a good person.”
“Is this so kind of confession? If you’re going to do that, go find a priest and do it properly.”
“Be quiet and listen! This is an important talk.”
The boy looked at him blankly.
“I don't care if you manage the castle. Since it is you, I can entrust it to you. But I want you to know this. If you fail, I might abandon you.”
Rodwell admitted that he was weak.
Then the boy struggled to hold back a laugh.
“I am serious.”
“That is why it is funny. I was looking forward to what kind of words you would say, but what is that?”
Rodwell felt sowhat drained.
“If you feel that I am untrustworthy, leave at any ti. I won't stop you.”
“Are you not disappointed?”
“Not at all. I thought Sir's heart was not what it used to be, but I didn't know it was broken to this extent.”
“I was a bit tired even before leaving the tower.”
“Are you admitting it so readily?”
“Yeah.”
Joshua shrugged his shoulders.
It was not strange for him to feel boredom toward the work he had been doing.
“Then leave the aftermath to , and Rodwell, just do what you are told properly.”
“Are you acting as the leader already?”
“Adapting quickly will be a gain for you as well.”
“……Ugh, I feel like I made a mistake sohow.”
* * *
The dawn grew deep.
Joshua woke up after looking after Luna.
Now was the right ti to return to the island by riding the boat hidden on the shore.
“Did you explain to your subordinates?”
“Yeah.”
Rodwell followed along after finishing simple preparations.
He said he wanted to check what level Joshua's group was.
It was a natural judgnt as a person in charge.
“To think you would think of obtaining an island. Where did you get the boat?”
“The rowboat we are going to ride now is sothing I brought after the people from the castle abandoned it.”
“I received reports that those bastards were going out to sea lately.”
He crossed the forest while killing the sound of his footsteps along with Joshua.
The scouts from the castle he had encountered before were not visible.
“I’ll bring the boat.”
Luna ran toward the rock wall.
“Co to think of it, who is that child?”
“She is my familiar. Her na is Luna.”
“If it's a familiar, you an a creature that forms a contract with mages. She looks like a human no matter how I look at her?”
“She transford.”
“What a great ability. I heard familiars who know how to transform are extrely rare.”
“She is a child born from a bead I brought from the knight order's treasure storage.”
“Really?”
Rodwell said with an unbelievable look.
Because to an ordinary person, that was no different from junk.
“To think such a cute child was sleeping inside that bead.”
She picked up the hidden rowboat with both hands and carried it to the sandy beach.
“Hey, Mister Knight.”
Rodwell lent an ear to the voice calling him.
“What is it?”
“Mister Knight is strong, right?”
“Yeah, if it's strength, I have confidence that I won't lose to anyone.”
“Then if Mister rows the oars, we'll reach the island in no ti, right?”
Rodwell grimaced.
He had a face that said he had been played.
He turned his gaze and looked at Joshua.
“……Sohow she is skilled at winning people over?”
“I have never taught her.”
Rodwell let out a sigh and sat in the seat for rowing.
When Joshua and Luna sat on the opposite side, he began to move the boat.
“Is this everyone we had to et?”
Luna, who was sitting next to him, asked.
“Yeah.”
“The Knight Captain is on our side now, right?”
Rodwell narrowed his eyes.
“Luna, this mister doesn't know yet whether he'll join hands with your master or not.”
“Really? I thought you were almost won over.”
At Luna's nonchalant voice, Rodwell had an expression as if he were lost for words.
“Do not act so prickly in front of a child.”
“Ugh, the two of you are determined to tornt in turns.”
Rodwell snorted.
“What about the remaining two people?”
“I intend to make a proposal to Lady Lucille and Osmond the next ti I et them.”
“Will they cooperate?”
“If I had made the proposal when I t them this ti, there is a high possibility they would have refused. Even if they don't like the Countess, opposing her is a different matter.”
There was no need to be impatient.
Ti was on Joshua's side.
The Countess was a human who had no talent for calming people's anxiety, only increasing it.
Another nickna of hers was Witch.
A witch was a selfish being.
Joshua knew what kind of things she had done to occupy her current position.
“If those two don't help, won't you be unable to execute the plan?”
Rodwell, who had been keeping silent, showed interest again.
“I will persuade them. Just as I did to you.”
“Are you going to tease until the end?”
“I have no intention of ending it with re wordplay. Since I went through the trouble of bringing you here, I have to get my money's worth.”
Rodwell tilted his head.
He had co to the island on his own feet, saying he would gauge the skill of the group.
Would it not be a waste to just let him return after patrolling as he wished?
That was not Joshua's way.
“We have arrived.”
It was dawn when they arrived at Seagull Island.
While admiring the sun rising from beyond the sea, they approached near the tower used as a hideout.
Thud! Thud!
A blunt sound was heard from sowhere.
“It seems soone is awake?”
Rodwell walked toward the direction where the sound was heard.
When they turned the corner of the tower, Leonard was doing swordsmanship training against a dummy.
“Is it Talleon? Quickly grip your sword and prepare. Today, let's finally succeed in drawing out Aura.”
Leo, feeling a presence, turned his body.
His eyes, which were looking this way, moved busily before stopping at one person.
“S-Sir Rodwell?”
Rodwell made a displeased expression and showed clearly that he hated it.
“Is it a coincidence that we arrived at this exquisite timing? Or is it soone's trick?”
He asked Joshua.
Joshua lightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“……I was played.”
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