Ch.134134. Interlude: The Bizarre Biography of Pietro Macron

Pietro Macron was originally just one of the many common men-at-arms in the Barony of Lefant.

Men-at-arms. As a professional soldier and heavy infantryman serving in the Frankish Kingdom, he was born to parents who ran an inn, but as the fourth child, he had no chance of inheriting the family business.

After much deliberation, realizing that he had an exceptionally large frame and great strength, he decided to pursue a career as a soldier. Through diligent training, he eventually became a man-at-arms.

Of course, a man-at-arms was different from what modern people might think of as a simple infantryman. While basic recruitment-level equipment might be provided, one was only considered worthy when they procured proper armaments with their own hands.

So after much deliberation, Pietro invested all of his meager inheritance to acquire plate armor parts and a chain shirt. Around that time, Baron Lefant, to whom he had sworn loyalty, announced a major conquest campaign while recruiting large numbers of men-at-arms.

And Pietro, naturally, couldn’t help but feel discontented with the Baron’s declaration.

After working so hard to become a man-at-arms, now they were drastically lowering the standards and mass recruiting… and now they were even dragging them into war?

It was only natural that Pietro and his fellow men-at-arms came to despise Baron Lefant, both from the psychological need for recognition that all humans possess and from the basic survival instinct.

Pietro had already prepared himself for the risks of military service as a man-at-arms, accepting that his life could be lost at any moment.

But the current situation was nothing more than one domain attempting to invade another. While he might understand defending his homeland, there was no motivation to be dragged into an invasion war where victory would bring him no personal benefit.

However, he was ultimately a man-at-arms, a soldier. Unless he was prepared to resign, he had to follow his superior’s orders. As the head of a household and the captain of a company within the men-at-arms regiment, he had no choice but to participate in the war.

He realized that not only did he need to feed his family through his labor, but the position of company captain he had attained was not one easily achieved.

In any case, Pietro and the company he led were stationed in an empty field near the Barony of Dren, among various other units.

The Barony of Dren was known to be particularly poor among the neighboring domains. It was so impoverished that the number of men-at-arms (standing army) did not exceed 50, so Pietro, regardless of his personal feelings, expected an easy victory.

It would have been strange to lose in such a situation, and despite his misgivings, Pietro trusted in the military prowess of his subordinates.

In reality, if battle were to break out, the ragtag group at the encampment would be sufficient to occupy the domain.

…That is, if battle were to break out.

On the morning of the third day of their stay at the encampment, as Pietro was just beginning to settle into a routine, he encountered a being that could completely change his fate.

A monster emanating such an aura that merely meeting its gaze felt like his heart might stop. More like a wild animal in human form than a human, it gave the impression of ferocity and brutality that seemed to engrave itself upon one’s soul.

This monster, introducing itself as the owner of the land where they had set up camp, opened its mouth mockingly and left a scar on Pietro’s psyche.

After that, Pietro’s memories became quite hazy.

All he could remember was that his superior, Sir Enerval Gatrang, somehow managed to persuade that monster—the self-proclaimed druid—and that afterward, the druid left behind food, water, and guardian griffins and hydras before departing with Sir Gatrang.

In any case, the soldiers, now sharing space with two mid-level magical beasts, all panicked and shut themselves in their tents or huts…

“Meat, meat, meaaaat…”

“…I want to eat.”

As they say, people adapt to situations over time. When hunger began to set in, the soldiers who were particularly impatient or fearless among them eventually succumbed to the temptation of meat and began to enjoy their meals.

“No, no. Having a meal here!”

Even the officers who were in command positions initially felt reluctance, but eventually, none could resist the increasingly tantalizing smell of roasting meat.

Given that meat was rarely available due to the prevalence of carnivorous magical beasts that preyed on livestock, the sight of various high-quality meats slowly roasting was irresistibly tempting.

Even Pietro, who was relatively wealthy, felt the pull—what about the ordinary soldiers?

One by one, they succumbed to the temptation, and eventually even Pietro could not overcome his hunger and joined the feast.

And somehow during this process, as Pietro awkwardly ate while having formed a deep bond with the magical beasts…

“…Sir?”

Pietro’s eyes caught sight of Sir Enerval Gatrang, who had returned at some point.

※ ※ ※

During Sir Enerval Gatrang’s lengthy speech, he proposed to these men-at-arms that they leave their domain and settle here.

Normally, this would not even be worth considering, but this time the atmosphere was somehow different.

The gradually accumulating discontent toward their lord. Each grievance might seem insignificant on its own, but as they piled up, the protest that naturally formed erupted with Sir Enerval’s proposal as the catalyst.

Of course, there was fear and anger toward the magic user who introduced himself as a druid, but the influence of these accumulated grievances could not be ignored.

So whether they acted impulsively, swept up in the atmosphere, or reluctantly followed along after reading the room—regardless of how it happened.

With a single moment’s choice, they all became participants in an experience none of them had ever had before…

After that, Pietro didn’t know exactly what happened.

The magic user, who had briefly left even Sir Enerval Gatrang behind, disappeared after leaving sufficient food and without even leaving behind guardians.

The soldiers were bewildered by this sudden action, but they remained calm nonetheless.

The food left behind was enough to feed them well for at least a month, and while the soldiers were enjoying a lively party…

The magic user, the druid, appeared with numerous people—the soldiers’ families.

Dumbfounded, Pietro heard the shocking news from his family that the barony had collapsed, but…

This shock was nothing compared to what he experienced when he first witnessed the druid’s magic.

In an instant, dozens of cliff-like pillars shot up, the ground sank to form a lake, and dozens of trees grew from beneath the earth—scenery that completely overturned his common sense.

Having only ever seen the flame magic of a low-ranking military mage at most, he momentarily lost his sense of reality due to the enormous gap.

But this reaction was premature, as Pietro continued to encounter astonishing things after moving into the house assigned to his family…

“Hot water… comes out!”

Even a simple water tap was a luxury that only the fairly wealthy could afford, yet having an abundance of hot water flowing freely was just the basics here.

Household appliances that could start fires with simple operations, lighting throughout that could be controlled with the push of a button despite not understanding the principles behind it.

Add to that a box-like object that kept food cold and pouches that seemed to produce ingredients almost infinitely.

The druid, who had assigned such luxurious homes to each family—homes that even nobles couldn’t live in—now seemed like something beyond human.

Living in such an extravagant environment, Pietro, drawing on his experience as a former man-at-arms, joined the village guard.

At first, he felt awkward and uncomfortable with the unfamiliar weapons and equipment, but this too was something that time would eventually resolve.

And as the manor’s villagers gradually assimilated into the village…

“Gregory, would you perhaps like to visit the Elven Kingdom?”

“What?”

Suddenly, Gregory’s mother calmly made such a proposal to him.