102 [2-36] You can help the girl or leave with caution...




 The "reinforcements" for Ciel-Teira came in the form of an emergency mobilization of the army of the Landor Frontier Counts, whose territory borders Ciel-Teira.
 But to begin with, military service is something that is shared by nobles under royal orders. The Kingdom of Noah's Curio had formed a mixed reinforcement force of lords and lords.
 For now, the kingdom is securing Ciel-Teira with troops. From here, they are planning to further strengthen their forces in order to capture the royal capital where the "Rose Princess of Hell" is camped.

 The first of these reinforcements was advancing westward near the border. If you include the non-combatants, the total number is over 10,000. Their territory was close to Ciel-Teira, and they were able to respond relatively quickly.
 However, this was also a de facto supply force.
 The freezing cold river was lined with many ships carrying cargo, and the soldiers marched alongside them. The group includes farmers carrying supplies instead of armor, a large number of foot soldiers, and the horses and wagons owned by the knights.
 The general of the garrison, a frontiersman named Randall, was screaming about the lack of supplies. The large amount of supplies was a response to this. In addition to sending reinforcements, he wanted his troops to act as transport escorts.
 Merchants, who usually followed the march, also showed up. The merchants had wagons and carts full of goods to sell when they arrived in Ciel-Teira.

 In addition, this time, not only the usual forces but also a party of adventurers were escorting them.

 Seventy-four members of twenty-one parties responded to the first urgent call.
 However, most of them were low-level adventurers who would have been a good match for a pack of goblins.

 Their job was to escort the transport and carry the cargo.
 The lowest level adventurer's job is to exterminate pests and clean up ditches, so it's much better than that.
 Unlike dungeon exploration, there is no chance to get rich, just to get paid. Most adventurers would agree that it's not worth the effort of marching in the cold and wind.

 In such a situation, a high level adventurer who would agree to go to Ciel-Teira would of course be aiming for the Rose Princess of Hell.

"Oh dear. I'm guessing that a pack mule is stronger than a wyvern.
"It's stronger than a Cyclops. I guarantee it.

 "I guarantee it." The fighters laughing at each other, each carrying a load as large as a human leg.
 They are both elite adventurers of the sixth rank, walking with ease through the snow.
 The one with the blue and silver bond, the other with the dune clasp. Both are advanced parties of mainly elite sixth-grade adventurers.

 The troops included in this march, such as the cargo handlers and the Transportation Corps, are scheduled to return to Noa Curio once they have delivered their supplies to the city of Wesara.
 Most adventurers would leave Ciel-Teira with the Transportation Corps on their way back, but these two parties were different.
 They had signed a contract to participate in the battle for King's Landing afterwards. In addition, they had been told that they could move freely in the event of urban warfare and that they would receive a large reward if they defeated the "Rose Princess of Hell".
 They wanted to let the army take care of the exposure and take the good part for themselves. The interests of the country, which wanted to eliminate the threat and gain the rights of Gracelum, and the adventurers, who wanted the honor and reward of defeating Named, were not in conflict, but in agreement.

 There are only a limited number of quests with difficulty and rewards that match the abilities of advanced adventurers.
 Since there were no suitable quests nearby, the two parties decided to take on the hottest challenge of the moment: defeating the Named Monster that had destroyed the country.
 The battle against the Named Monster is one of the highlights of the adventure, with heroic illusions attached to it. It was enough to inspire a sense of honor and adventure.

 The lack of information was a concern, but the results of the military's upcoming intelligence gathering would be shared with them. As elite adventurers of the sixth rank, they would be trusted by the public.
 In addition, the two parties both had priests, and they had also prepared equipment against the undead. The only thing left to do was to be flexible. It's not uncommon to go into battle with incomplete information.

"All right, that's it for today! Get ready for camp!

 The commander of the vanguard unit, a knight, gave the order, and the soldiers accompanying him blew small trumpets.
 The same sound, like that of the mountain hikikos, came from many places in the rear. Depending on how the trumpet was blown, it had various meanings, and this was a signal that the front line had reached the encampment.
 The march procession is quite long. Therefore, the trumpets were used to inform the whole population of the situation.

 Order one.
 Not only the soldiers, but also the adventurers who would be joining the march, began to set up their quarters.
 Ships were moored at the riverbank.

...... I don't feel like I walked. It's a lot slower and more tedious when there's a lot of people.
"Don't say that. If we walked at our speed, the horses wouldn't be able to keep up with us.
No doubt.

 The two adventurers talk lightly as they quickly set up their tents.

 For adventurers who are accustomed to going along roadless paths, even unpaved roads are like a walk.
 In addition, their physical abilities are far apart. The march is too slow for them.

 The seasoned adventurers are used to camping, and after quickly setting up their camp, they begin to relax.
 It was still a little early to prepare dinner. Some dwarves beat each other with swords to keep their bodies warm, some read grimoires, and some licked the wine they had brought with them.

 By the time it began to get dark, smoke from the cooking fires rose from all around the encampment. While the soldiers were cooking their own little things, large pots of soup were being prepared in hundreds of portions in a simple temporary cooking stove.
 It was a nostalgic sight to see so many dim lights.

 And as it gets darker, they realize that the lights are different from theirs.
 And as it gets darker, they realize that there are different lights nearby.

"What the hell is that?

 The adventurers shouted doubtfully.
 Ahead of them on the street stood a dim red light.

Are there people living in this place ......? No, I don't think so.
It doesn't look like a place where people live or where travelers cook their food.
It doesn't look like a place where people live or travelers cook. ...... Salamanders are making noise. There's a bad fire going .......



 The one who muttered to me was a female elementalist who belongs to the Dune Clasp.
 She is always vague, but she is never wrong about spirits.

You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of these in the marketplace. I'll go check it out.

 I'm not sure what to make of that.
 Coxon is a man of over thirty years of age, and is so muscular that he is said to look like an ogre when his face is hidden. He wears armor made from the shell and scales of the red dragon he killed.
 The scars on the back of his hands and face, as well as his body underneath the armor, show the number of death rays he has passed through. Brave and responsible, he is trusted by the other adventurers.

We'll go check it out. "Dunehooks, be on the lookout. And consult with the general, just in case.
All right.

 After Coxon, the members of the Blue and Silver Kizuna began to run.

 I'm not sure.

 I knew what those lights were once I got close enough.

 A carriage was burning on the side of the road.
 An overturned wagon was on fire.
 It melted the remaining snow around it and burned the exposed ground.

"Only one wagon here?
Are you a merchant or something ......?

 It happens all the time.
 You may have been overconfident in your good fortune and not hired enough guards, or you may have been unlucky enough to meet a vicious assailant.
 Even on well-kept roads, bandits and demons appear out of nowhere like weeds in a thicket.
 And those who are targeted often lose their lives.

 Anyway, the problem is that the wagon is on fire.
 I don't know when it was set on fire, but it couldn't have been yesterday or the day before.
 Someone may have attacked the carriage and set it on fire, or the lights may have ignited it. It can't have been too long ago.

Let's find out what's going on at ....... Combat readiness.
What about buffs?

 Coxsone shook his head when the wizard asked him.

I want you to look around for any signs of life.
Yes, sir. ...... "Mana Search".

 The sorcerer raises his wand and his face changes as if he has noticed something.

"What's wrong?
"One response, just before the carriage! It's alive!
What?

 Coxsone and his men immediately started running.

 When they were close enough to see the details of the burning wagon, Coxsone could see them.
 Someone was lying on the ground with his head turned toward them as if he were falling. It looked like a black shadow illuminated by the burning flames.
 As I approached, I realized that the figure was smaller than I had expected. It was a girl in shabby clothes.

A survivor?
Heal her!

 Coxon took out a healing potion, and the priest took a holy seal.
 Coxon bent down to check on the girl.

"You're okay. ......

 Poof! Coxsone heard the sound of firecrackers popping from his chest.
 I've done this many times. I remember. That's when the talisman went off. The two talismans he had equipped for the surprise attack had reached their limits at the same time.
 He should have been ready to take three direct hits from high level magic, but the protection was removed in an instant.

 A girl was reaching for Coxon's leg. In her hand was a knife that looked like it had been carved out of red jade, and it was thrust through her boot and into Coxon's foot.

 Almost at the same time, he felt pain.
 Coxsone felt a horrible sensation as if a beast was licking up his back.
 An evil presence rose from the girl in front of him, so thick that he could almost reach out and touch her.

"What the ......!

 It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
 It's a good idea to keep your eyes on the girl while you're backing away from her, but it could prove fatal.

 The red blade disappears as if it were unraveling in the girl's hand.
 And she looked up quickly. Her silver eyes glowed like the red moon of an evil omen.

 Coxon felt his entire being being being filled.

 He felt himself being filled up.

 When Coxon and the others returned, they were greeted not only by the members of the Dune Clasp, but also by the soldiers and adventurers around them.

"How was it?
"...... The wagon was on fire. It must have been attacked by bandits. There were ...... no survivors.



 Coxsone said in a tone of regret to the "dune clasp" fighter who had asked on his behalf.
 He regretted the lives he could have saved. Because that's what Coxsone always does.

Are you sure it's the bandits?
"Yes. There were traces of looting and ...... scars on the body. Those sword strikes are human or of a similar build.
 I'm sure you're aware of the fact that Ciel-Teira is a terrible place to live, and the number of bandit attacks is bound to increase.

 Hearing these words, Coxsone felt a sense of relief in the surroundings.
 No bandit would want to attack a large supply convoy with this many soldiers and adventurers to protect them (unless they were drunk or high on drugs, that is).
 Whether we ignore them for the time being or eliminate them to save ourselves the trouble, they are not a threat to the group.

Anyway, report to General Gibbon.
"Yes.

 Coxon split off from the adventurers and headed back up the long line of camp to the main camp.
 The general's location was in the middle of the line.
 Along the way, the members of the Blue and Silver Bond parted in silence. They were going to their respective posts.

 Eventually, they came to an area where there were many fine tents, clearly different from the crude tents rented out to soldiers.
 This is where the general, the Marquis Gibbon, and the senior officers of the troops are gathered.

 The smell of the air seemed to have changed.
 The area is warded with holy air. It was the result of an artifact weapon, the Stargazer's Cup. If undead enter this ward, they will be purified, and even if they don't, weak demons will be unable to act. If you have a medium-sized city, you can wrap the whole city in a holy air ward with just one unit.

 Since the opponent is a large number of undead, two units of the Grail of Stars have already been deployed in Wesara, and additional units are being transported to Teirakainen for installation.
 They are still being used as a precautionary measure during the march, but since the magic of the land can only be used on top of a hot spot, it seems that the output is being reduced to a minimum and the magic stones are being used to power them. Only the general's tent and some of the surrounding tents are in range.

 There were some who pointed out that "what is the point of using it at such a distance from the front line?" and "isn't it meaningless to protect such a small area?" But since the Marquis Gibbon, the general, is using it at his own expense, he has no right to complain.

 --But the Marquis of Gibbon, a general, is using it with his own money. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get the best out of it.

 It's not rational, Coxsone thought. It's not rational, Coxsone thought, but he was probably just using it for peace of mind.

"Blue Silver Bonds" leader Coxsone. I'm here.
Come in.

 When I called out from the entrance of the tent, which had been treated to protect against arrows and magic, a knight guarding it answered, not the Marquis Gibbon himself.

 Inside the tent, where the heating artifacts were running at full speed, it was as warm as another world.
 The Marquis of Gibbon, sitting in a folding chair, was already old. The Marquis of Gibbon, sitting in a folding chair, is an old man, clean-cut for a man in the middle of a battle, with a unique, fluffy headdress over his thin face.

"Welcome, Blue Silver Bond."

 The general welcomed Coxsone with open arms.
 The aristocracy usually thought of adventurers as vagabonds, and it was not common for them to talk to him casually.
 However, if you are a member of a high class party, your social status is quite high and you cannot be ignored. Even if you look down on them inwardly, you can't help but respond accordingly.

"I heard you found something strange.
"Yes, about that.

 The Marquis of Gibbon's torso was cut in two with a flash of lightning.

"Yes, .......

 His eyes widened in astonishment and he coughed up blood.
 His eyes widened in astonishment, and he coughed up blood. The blood arched in the air, and the back of the chair fell to the ground.
 At last, the two or so knights guarding him reacted.

"What ......?
What?

 It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. But they seemed to be completely out of their minds.
 They were careless, thinking that Coxon would not suddenly slash at them. And that they were still far away from the battlefield and that no danger would arise.

 With a return sword, Coxsone slashes at one of the guards. Before he could even draw his own sword, the knight was killed by a sword thrust into his face.
 Then, twisting the sword around the other, Coxon kicked the knight in the shin, knocking him off balance and chopping off his exposed head like an execution axe blow as he fell.

"All hands on deck!

 Coxon called out to his caller and ordered the members of the Blue and Silver Kizuna.