318 "Thirty-seven words: "Tick this hole in the throat...




 During the time of the deadly snow, the roads of each country would become much quieter.

 While the dead snow was falling, most of the nobles and merchants would hide themselves away and enjoy the luxury of their accumulated wealth. The common people, who were usually busy with their work, usually returned to the countryside and sipped their wine in peace.

 Everyone, except for hexenbiests, kept their breaths to themselves. That's what death and snow is all about.

 There are only two kinds of people who are willing to trample the streets in such a situation.

 The overly greedy merchants and the mercenaries who wield their skills when it's time to make a buck.

 The carriages of the merchants were driving through the snow with a clatter and a thud. A dozen or so mercenaries rode side by side, and the wagons seemed to be packed with a reasonable number of people.

 Hiring these mercenaries would cost a considerable amount of money, but the merchant who led the company had enough money to pay for it.

 This time, the client was Jail Vera. There are more than a few hundred people inside, and several times that many prisoners. We needed food to fill those countless stomachs.

 Of course, the food that goes into the stomachs of prisoners is only cheap, but the value of such food increases several times when it is brought in under the deadly snow. Even moldy bread would be fine.

 No, in fact, it would be more than enough for the Old Ones squeezed into Bella.

 There are not many merchants who can bring in more food, even at exorbitant prices. Therefore, the prisoners are forced to buy food and materials at our prices.

 There is no better business than this, the merchant thinks.

 Of course, there is the danger of being attacked by monsters, and the danger of losing everything at any moment. I've heard many stories of people in my business.

 But the merchant thinks. It's not me. And even if it was, it's not now. No. I'm not going to live through that.

 That's what he thought at the time. The first horse neighs loudly. Hooves roared and the wagon creaked.

 I wondered if the snow had gotten in the horses' eyes again. Such a thought ran through everyone's mind at that moment.

 The heads of the horses that had been running over the wagon burst open, covered in blood. The throwing axes gleefully devoured the horse flesh.

 At almost the same time, a violent sound was heard.

 Oh--oh--oh--oh!

 Instantly, the mercenaries' eyes widened. A very familiar sound rang in their ears.

 A cry that didn't sound like a voice at all. The sound of clanking feet on steel. A few hooves and the sound of a herd of men cracking the ground.

 There was no way he could have missed it. The sound of a man attacking a man.

 The mercenaries clutched their weapons in their hands.


◇ ◇◇◆


 There was the sound of iron swinging in the snow. The monochromatic world of dead snow turned a vague shade of red.

 The red became stronger and bloodier, melting the snow and seeping into the earth.

 This continued for several moments.

 My ears were filled with the sounds of sword fights and hesitant screams. The sickening sensation of flesh ripping and bone crushing filled my hands.

 Under the dull sky, the screams that seemed to bounce off the falling snow echoed around the carriage for a while. It was the sound of a man being attacked.

Help me! Look, my arm is broken and I can't fight!

 The man in front of me was clearly a mercenary by his appearance. In the event that you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your business, you'll want to take a look at the following.

 He was on his knees, his arms bent in a distinctly odd direction, and he was shouting something.

 He opens his eyes wide. With his treasured sword raised straight up in the air, he said.

"You became a mercenary because you wanted to die, didn't you? Then look me in the face. You'll die with a grudge.

 A purple light beam split the air.

 The blade cracked the mercenary's skull with enough force to pierce an arrow. Blood splattered in the air, but it would soon be covered by the snow. I thought I saw a dead snow butterfly twinkling in the snow.

 I looked up and saw that all the sword fights and screams had ceased. Apparently, it was all over.

I feel like a bandit, don't I? You're very experienced, Lugis, aren't you?

 Vestalinu looked at him and said, resting his battle axe on his shoulder. I can see the look of dismay in her eyes. There was blood splattered on her beautiful cheek, but it was probably blood from a fall.

 He cowered and wiped the blood from his sword.

"Well... But we all have three or four dark things that we've done. ...... Or maybe five.

 He said, and exhaled the air from the bottom of his lungs. As the euphoria of the battle wore off, a numbing pain ran through my body.

 I was not injured in any way. It was just that his body had not yet healed from the rags of Flimsulat. Well, it's a good thing he's still moving.

 When I asked her about the damage, Vestalynu cowered in imitation of me and said only that there were a few wounded. I thought she had a hard personality, but she may be a little lighter than I thought.



 No casualties, thank goodness.

 But it's not surprising, since we attacked dozens of them by surprise, while you had about three hundred of them with you.

 He put his treasure sword back in his waistband and looked at the earth while swinging it with his white sword. There was a clear trail of footprints in the snow-covered streets.

 Apparently, the surviving merchants had escaped to Jail Bella as expected. Hopefully the rest of the day will go as well.

 A moment later, I felt a tingle in my throat and frowned.

 I had a bad, bad feeling. Not that there was anything wrong with me, but... It's not that there's anything wrong with me, but it's just that when my intentions are going well, bad things tend to wake up.

 And so, the ending unintentionally turns out in the wrong direction. It was the same with Garouamalia and with Belfain.

 Vestalinu looks at me suspiciously and says.

You're taking food from the merchants and fighting a war of attrition. The prisoners inside will die first, the wretched Lord Lugis.

 I don't know how it started, but it seems my reputation in Vestalinu is not good. You can't help but notice that she has a certain innocence about her and I don't always see eye to eye.

 When I lightly opened the top of the cart that the merchant had left behind with my fingertips, some of the food fell out. It seems that the cart has been packed in an unreasonable manner. It must be difficult to see what's inside.

 I stroke my lips with my fingers. His cheeks flushed, he said to Vestalines.

"Come on, you can't fight a long war in the dead of winter. That's why we let the merchant go.

 Yes, that's right. What do you think we let the merchant live for? To let the guards and soldiers of Jail Bella know all about it.

 He opened his lips and spoke again.

"They'll be out of jail as soon as possible, tomorrow morning at the latest. Good luck with that.

 In a time of dead snow, food tends to be scarce. Especially when the prison is far away from villages.

 The merchants who risked their lives to bring in food were a lifeline. I'm sure they're not so sloppy as to let people starve to death right away. But they can't afford to let a shipment stolen by bandits go unnoticed.

 I'll get it back. They'll come back for it. The merchant will tell you. They've brought more cargo than they can easily carry. That the bandits killed all the horses to carry it.

Gather the mercenaries. Gather the mercenaries and make sure they know what to do next.

 Vestalinu narrowed her eyes at my words. There seemed to be a hint of skepticism in her eyes.

I don't mind, but I won't agree to it if it's a terrible idea. You'll have to convince me.

 These were words typical of Vestalines, who had originally been reluctant to attack Jail Bella.

 It was said that it would be too reckless to destroy the prison itself, let alone rescue one or two people.

 I'm not sure if it's because they don't like me, but because I was so reckless when we invaded Belle Fain together, they don't trust me.

 I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

You have not even responded to my words yet, Lord Lugis.

 This is the only thing that Vestalinu said, and he turned away. The battle-axe whirled, and blood flew through the dead snow.