52. Heading to the Academy (3)
“You’ll have to hold out until Karina-sama arrives… But since you’re riding, your condition seems to be rapidly deteriorating.”
Lenny’s worried voice broke through the wind.
“If I went with the main unit, it would have taken too long and the result would have been equally aggravated. They even brought down a big bridge to stop me from going to the academy.”
When I destroyed the road by destroying the bridge leading to Monte Village, the intermediate stopover, it was to the point of cursing involuntarily. The stone bridge, which could have been passed by about 10 people standing side by side, was smashed to pieces, leaving only the roots.
If I hadn’t brought a nearby stone to fix the stone bridge, I would have had to go round and round.
If I couldn’t fix my leg, it might take another week to get to the academy, so I had no choice but to accept my proposal, which was being put on hold by Carbonara, who was reluctant.
“…That’s right.”
Lenny nodded her head as if she understood what I was saying.
The proposal I gave to Carbonaro was simple.
Splitting the expeditionary force and wagons and sending them to the academy by different routes.
Our goal is to send Karina to the academy rather than the arrival of the entire expeditionary force, so the plan is to divide the expeditionary force to draw attention and in the meantime, quickly take Karina to the academy on horseback.
Because it was obvious that the schedule would be delayed even if we had to go safely surrounded by the expedition corps. In addition, Karina’s condition was gradually deteriorating under the influence of her curse.
Until a few days ago, I was able to speak a few words and receive even a few notes, but now I couldn’t even open my eyes and was gasping for breath.
If you don’t break the curse as quickly as possible, she may lose her life in the worst case.
It was the worst result that no one on the expedition wanted.
So, Carbonaro had no choice but to accept my proposal.
After parting from the Expeditionary Force in front of the bridge, we put a wig we got from the village across the bridge on Karina’s head, tied it to Lenny’s back, and started moving on her strong warhorse.
It’s already been 15 days like that. Whether it was because of a quick decision or luck, we were not caught up in any incidents for 15 days.
“John, I can ride alone, so let’s buy just one horse from the next village!”
I’m surprised.
Millia, who was sitting in front of me, screamed at once.
Her face was red and her legs were flapping like a child. There’s a lot of resistance today. Don’t you hate sitting in front of me like that? I thought it would fall off if I left it in the back, so I sat it in the front. And it’s been 15 days, isn’t it time to stop doing it every time?
If he continues to rampage, it would be more comfortable to hit him with one blow.
“… Did you forget that you almost fell off your horse a few days ago?”
“But this is a bit embarrassing! I am not a child!”
Don’t run amok. Are you surprised by the words?
“Are you asking me to treat you like a lady?”
“Isn’t that obvious? I am a lady!”
“You can’t be called a lady when she walks around with her jerky in her mouth.”
“It’s also about catching scarabs and bragging about them.”
Me and Lenny laughed without saying anything first. There was an incident where Milia puffed out her cheeks and pinched my thighs, but this was nothing. I roughly stroked Milia’s hair and fixed the reins.
Milia was arousing the atmosphere that would subside in her own way. I don’t know if it was intended or not.
“It’s nice.”
“Aren’t you close too?”
“It’s not like you… is it?”
What, why, what.
When I met her eyes with Lenny, who was looking at me with her lukewarm eyes, Lenny turned her head around and wrapped the arms of Karina, who had been sitting behind her, around her waist. Even though she was tied up with a string, Lenny kept turning her head to check Karina’s condition, as if she was quite uneasy. If that was the case, I would have carried it. Giving Millia to Lenny.
… There’s no way Lenny would give her permission.
“Lenny, how long until the next town?”
“We are almost there. The next city is a big city, so you can buy more carry-on food. And if you run like crazy, you’ll be there in a few days.”
Certainly several times faster than a wagon.
The distance, which was about 1,300 km when the operation was executed, has already decreased to a little over 500. I’m adjusting it to some extent considering the tiredness of the horse, but I’ve traveled a lot more distance than I’ve traveled in a wagon all month.
“This tedious journey seems to come to an end.”
“I hope so. What kind of trouble is this because of those dog-like Harpas bastards? What did Karina-sama do wrong…”
It’s like a real-time post-production situation.
So, the next time I ran into the Harpas Church, I was thinking of punishing them by shaking off the anger I had during the journey. Guys like dogs.
We crossed the plain, brooding over our anger against the Harpas Church.
————–
“Sir Carbonaro. Again, there are traps in the way.”
“Huh.”
Carbonaro looked at the road while squeezing his forehead with his fingers.
As John suggested, the expeditionary force was divided into four units and moved separately. Whenever he heard the news of the raid from the messengers located in each unit, Carbonaro gave his head aches.
‘If Karina-sama hadn’t been secretly sent, he would have been captured for a while.’
I could only move 150km for 15 days. The village, which was already an intermediate stop in the fifth raid, was also attacked and turned into ruins, making it difficult to supply. Thanks to that, the soldiers and priests were barely moving forward with tired faces.
“Take the soldiers and dismantle them. And send scouts around to make sure no one is around.”
“Yes! All right!”
Carbonaro, who looked at the back of the soldier saluting and running away for a while, looked back at the sky with a sigh.
“I have no idea what the hell is going on.”
The Harpas Church suddenly starts rampaging. The subtle air currents they shed. Their purpose is completely incomprehensible. Why the hell Why are you targeting Karina-sama?
It was the moment when Carbonaro’s head became complicated.
“General Carbonaro! It’s an enemy!”
“…The thing to come has come. Soldiers! Form a defensive formation!”
He pulled out the sword that had been with him half his life.
—————
“What is the city atmosphere like?”
These were the words Lenny threw at him as soon as he entered the city. I turned my head around at her words and looked around.
A lot of people passing by the roadside. Everyone’s faces were dark. Did something big happen in the city?
I need information.
“Let’s get an inn first.”
“Yes. Let’s grab the inn first. You can resupply it later…”
We walked our tired bodies and entered an inn with a splendid exterior. We entrusted the horse to the stable, paid a lot of money to rent an inn room, and put Karina in the room.
“Let’s eat first. I will eat when you guys come back.”
“Okay! Lenny! Cheer up!”
“Yes, yes.”
A small smile appeared on Lenny’s lips.
From noble mtl dot com.
We left Lenny and Karina alone and took a seat in the corner of the restaurant attached to the inn.
“Is Karina okay?”
“I hope you are okay.”
Both privately and publicly, it would be really sad if Karina died. I tapped my fingers on the table and looked around. Quite a lot of people. If you listen closely, you may hear good information.
“Milia. Please be quiet as I will overhear what the people around me are saying for a while.”
Milia nodded her head with her earnest face, rested her chin on her face, and looked out the window beside her table.
I hope I can hear some good information.
“When will curfew be lifted on trade routes?”
“I mean.”
Trade routes blocked? The words are cut off. I turned my head slightly and listened to the other side.
“f*ck. It’s been a week already. Damn bastards blocking trade routes so goods aren’t coming in on time? The belly skin will stick to your back like this.”
“I have a lot of stuff to take to the academy to sell, but why are there so many monsters popping up these days? The academy should send a subjugation party. Why are you so quiet?”
“Don’t talk. Rumors are circulating that the academy was also attacked.”
“No matter how hard it is, that’s not it.”
“No, is it real? I heard it from Hans, who came out of the academy.”
“It is the end of the world. How long have you been married…”
I furrowed my brows at the information that flowed out mixed with countless sighs. Because information that could never be ignored came into my ears.
Rumors circulate that the academy… Has been attacked?
Calon Academy is like a sanctuary?
That’s possible…
Ah.
f*ck.
Fragments of memories that came up belatedly as if to tease me.
A memory I had completely forgotten.
Fixed event at the beginning of Survival Academy.
The occurrence of the Hellhound.