Ch.293Chapter 293 – Same Flag, Different Thoughts (1)

The incident occurred in the morning.

While preparing both for departure and breakfast, Sia suddenly spoke up.

“Let’s leave immediately.”

“Why is that?”

Sera asked as she was about to light the fire to boil soup.

Sia responded with a stern expression.

“The soldiers’ footsteps are too frequent. I think I heard weapons being drawn. Something seems to be happening, so let’s get out of here right away.”

Somehow Sia had detected something and said those words.

I briefly doubted her, but there was no harm in being prepared, so I quickly packed our belongings and pulled the carriage outside.

Of course, the guard at the gate hesitated about whether to stop us, but we were able to pass through by mentioning Lord Archery and Domestica’s names.

As we hurriedly descended the mountain path, Sia stopped the carriage and said to Vanilla.

“Concealment.”

With just those words, Vanilla prepared her magic without any objection.

“Invisible, Silence…”

Vanilla moved her lips as she cast her spells.

Several transparent barriers emerged from her wand and soon enveloped us.

She layered several more spells after that.

When she finished her incantation, Sia nodded and said to me.

“For safety, stay close to the trees or the carriage. And Miss Eve, please keep Moo calm.”

Sia gave instructions quickly and seriously.

No one questioned her words and followed her directions.

Taking advantage of the brief moment, I immediately asked Sia.

“What did you detect this time?”

“Heavy footsteps.”

That was all she said.

But soon, I too began to hear the sounds she had detected.

Snorting sounds and something stomping heavily could be heard.

Soon, we saw soldiers mounted on large bipedal lizards, carrying weapons and approaching urgently.

“They’re cavalry. Judging by the Knight Lizards they’re riding, they seem to be in serious pursuit of something.”

“Knight Lizards?”

“They’re called Knight Lizards because they’re often ridden by knights.”

Eve explained while calming Moo.

When I glanced at Sera beside me with a questioning look, she provided additional information.

“Knight Lizards are slightly slower than horses, but they’re barely affected by terrain and have incredible endurance.”

Barely affected by terrain.

That means they’re cavalry that can easily operate on rough paths.

“Must be expensive.”

“They are.”

“Seems like the resistance has money too,” Sera muttered quietly.

Then Chris spoke up.

“I’ve heard that on rough mountain paths, it’s best not to try outrunning cavalry mounted on Knight Lizards.”

Hearing Chris’s words, I understood why Sia had us hide.

At our carriage’s speed, we couldn’t outrun them, so she wanted to let them pass first.

But that wasn’t the issue.

“Why are they taking such impressive mounts on this mountain path?”

“I don’t know. But it must be related to the commotion I sensed earlier.”

Sia quietly answered Vanilla’s question.

Then she looked at me and asked.

“Do you know which faction they belong to?”

“Judging by how well-dressed they are, they seem to be Rizolkobu’s men.”

They were subordinates of the man who had been causing friction with Archery.

I had a bad feeling about this, so I immediately looked at Vanilla.

“Can you check on the current state of the resistance camp?”

“Wait a moment.”

Vanilla immediately began reciting a spell.

Soon she closed her eyes in concentration.

Then, still in that state, she turned her head toward me and spoke.

“Um, I’m seeing something strange.”

“What is it?”

“I can see that person called Domestica.”

Vanilla seemed genuinely confused by the situation and didn’t continue right away.

“She’s being held captive and tied up by that large man.”

“What nonsense is this?”

The words shot out reflexively in my disbelief.

Vanilla continued her live report.

“Archery has drawn his dagger, but he’s already surrounded and can’t do much. His subordinates seem at a loss, and that large man…”

“Is he shouting at the top of his lungs?”

Vanilla immediately closed her mouth at my words.

Seems I guessed correctly.

“He seems frustrated about something and is pressuring Domestica.”

“Can you tell what they’re saying?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any magical items or convenient magical tools there, so I can’t eavesdrop perfectly.”

So even magic has its limitations.

Then Vanilla spoke again.

“I’ll read their lips instead. Be aware it might not be completely accurate, okay?”

“What?”

But Vanilla remained silent for a moment, then opened her mouth and spoke.

“‘Where have you hidden them? Tell me now.'”

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t eavesdrop?”

“I can read their lips.”

So that’s why she warned it might not be accurate.

Vanilla continued relaying the conversation.

“‘Where those people go is none of your business, Count Rizolkobu.'”

“‘Shut up and tell me, Archery. Did you help them escape?'”

“‘Enough… release Domestica.'”

“‘I refuse. Bring them… immediately.'”

“‘By the princess’s orders… no reason to bring guests as you say…'”

“‘I am in charge. We need to move to another base immediately, so bring them now. If you don’t want to see this woman hurt.'”

Since she was reading lips, she couldn’t convey tone or volume.

There seemed to be parts she couldn’t read as well.

But it was enough to understand what was happening.

“Vanilla, that’s enough to grasp the situation.”

Sia immediately stopped Vanilla, apparently also feeling it was sufficient.

Vanilla grabbed her throat, seemingly parched from all the talking.

“Someone, water please.”

As Vanilla stopped her report, Chris quickly handed her a water flask.

Vanilla thanked her and drank quickly.

“Phew, I thought my throat was going to die from reciting all that.”

“It seems this Rizolkobu fellow wanted to capture us and move to another base. Any idea why?”

“Given how obsessed he seemed with his own safety…”

I quietly answered Sia’s question, searching my memories.

“As absurd as it sounds, he might have wanted to bring us into the resistance to use as his personal guards.”

When Archery had complained before, he mentioned something about Rizolkobu redirecting elite soldiers for his own protection.

Given his obsession with his own safety, he might have wanted us as his guards too.

“I have no idea what gave him the confidence to think we would comply.”

Originally, we were trying hard not to get involved with the resistance, so why would he think we’d willingly follow him?

Of course, this wasn’t a question I could answer by thinking about it here, so I decided to set this doubt aside.

“Why is he trying to move to another base?”

“He might think it’s no longer safe after the Emiris Order’s attack.”

So he’s probably trying to escape from the current base to another one.

“For someone in charge, his sense of responsibility is rock bottom.”

Gigas said with disgust.

At that moment, Vanilla, who had her eyes closed, spoke again.

“Wait, it looks like that man is trying to take the woman away.”

“What about Archery?”

“Soldiers are dragging him away.”

While we were talking, the situation continued to develop.

It seemed Count Rizolkobu was taking Domestica away, and Archery had been captured.

“What a mess.”

The weakest faction was causing chaos among themselves.

No one contradicted my words, suggesting everyone had similar thoughts.

Vanilla continued reporting the situation.

“Now that count is shouting something and soldiers are gathering. He’s mounting a lizard with the woman.”

“What is he saying?”

“‘If you can’t bring them, mobilize the princess faction soldiers. If you want this woman back.'”

This is insane.

It seemed he wanted to leave immediately, but since he couldn’t capture us in time, he was now demanding Archery’s soldiers in exchange, using Domestica as a hostage.

Eve immediately spoke with a serious face.

“This could become troublesome for us too.”

“Why is that?”

“With Lady Domestica captured, I doubt we can properly communicate with Beatrice.”

Eve answered Chris’s question while looking at me.

“With luck, this situation might calm down and we could contact Beatrice, but…”

“If we’re unlucky, communications will be disrupted and something might happen to Domestica.”

As Eve said, it was a somewhat difficult situation.

While the princess faction was eager to recruit us, Domestica was the one who had been considerate toward us.

There was no guarantee anyone else would facilitate communication with Beatrice as smoothly.

And they would likely demand our joining or deeper cooperation with the resistance in exchange.

‘That’s out of the question.’

If things went wrong, we might lose contact with both the resistance and Beatrice.

‘But the situation isn’t good for an immediate rescue either.’

Absurdly, they had gained the upper hand through their recklessness.

This didn’t seem like something that could be resolved through dialogue.

“Can’t be helped.”

As I thought about our next move, I slowly looked at my companions.

+

Several hours later.

A short distance from the base, Domestica was being moved to another base with Count Rizolkobu.

Of course, not by her own will.

Count Rizolkobu had bound her and forced her onto a Knight Lizard alongside himself and another cavalryman.

“…Count Rizolkobu, please reconsider.”

“Shut up.”

Rizolkobu immediately snapped at Domestica’s words.

Undeterred, Domestica spoke again.

“You’re our commander. If you abandon the base like this, you’ll surely be held accountable…”

“Archery will defend that base, so there’s no need for me to stay!”

Domestica wanted to say he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even to her, a non-soldier, Count Rizolkobu and his forces were more hindrance than help.

While they were certainly elite troops with quality equipment and training, they only followed Rizolkobu’s orders.

And those orders focused solely on his personal protection.

Domestica had never seen these elite soldiers do anything beyond guard duty.

She had even privately wished they would just go somewhere else with their forces.

But the real problem was much more serious.

“You’ve taken half of Lord Archery’s forces. How can they properly defend the base?”

They were forces taken after capturing Archery and Domestica as hostages.

Naturally, many wanted to resist, but couldn’t disobey since Archery was captured.

Only after taking half the forces did Rizolkobu release the disarmed Archery with orders to defend the base.

Archery had no choice, as refusing would mean death for his remaining forces and himself.

Of course, Domestica thought that if Archery had weapons, he would have immediately tried to kill Count Rizolkobu.

‘He said I could return with those forces once we safely reach the next base…’

Domestica had been told she could return with the forces once they safely retreated to the secure base.

‘The question is whether Lord Archery can hold out until then.’

While Archery was skilled even among the resistance, he had been overwhelmed this time due to being caught off guard and several unfavorable conditions.

But even someone of his caliber had limits in a defensive battle.

He needed the help of soldiers, but their numbers were less than half.

With Rizolkobu having taken most of the supplies as well, the situation was nearly impossible to defend.

It was essentially a death sentence.

Perhaps that was even the intention.

‘I was careless.’

Excessively careless.

She hadn’t expected Rizolkobu to flee so forcefully.

Moreover, she had thought he would only take his own subordinates if he did flee.

Regretting that she should have noticed the signs earlier and escaped, Domestica was planning her escape.

Whether aware of her thoughts or not, Count Rizolkobu muttered.

“Damn it. Rather than Archery’s wretched soldiers, yes, that man with the halberd, or that strange little girl. If I had those people under my command, I’d be safe. And even if they tried to escape, bringing such individuals into our faction of the resistance would improve my standing…”

‘Is he in his right mind?’

Domestica glared at Rizolkobu as she thought.

The only connection Kay’s group had was with the princess faction.

Even that was because of Beatrice, and Kay’s group had consistently expressed their desire to distance themselves from the resistance.

They were individuals of remarkable martial prowess who had repelled demons, and the princess herself had confirmed they were trustworthy in character. While they were the princess faction’s top recruitment targets, bringing them in seemed extremely difficult.

‘And they would serve under Count Rizolkobu?’

Hardly.

They’d be lucky if they didn’t become enemies.

Moreover, it seemed he had planned to send cavalry to capture and bring them when she was taken hostage. No matter how skilled the cavalry were, she couldn’t imagine Kay’s group—who had handled demons and the Emiris Order’s holy knights—would be unable to deal with resistance cavalry.

It was a relief that they had somehow noticed and quickly escaped into hiding, preventing an armed conflict that would have worsened relations.

‘Why do we end up almost like enemies despite being under the same banner?’

Domestica lamented quietly.

Meanwhile, the sound of water began to reach them.

She remembered there was a river on the way to the next base.

As they walked on a wooden bridge, Rizolkobu said.

“Maximum vigilance! Cross quickly!”

The soldiers began crossing the bridge.

With soldiers at the front and rear on alert, Count Rizolkobu, who had been in the center, hurriedly moved forward.

“…Surely holy knights from the Emiris Order won’t jump out from the water.”

“Of course not! Stop talking nonsense and follow me!”

Count Rizolkobu shouted again.

The cavalryman holding Domestica moved his lizard, as if exasperated.

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, the river water exploded.

Something leaped out from beneath the surface.

Soon, several soldiers began falling, spurting blood.

“What…”

Domestica was shocked to see holy knights from the Emiris Order climbing onto the bridge, their weapons stained with blood.