Chapter 118 - Episode 117: Waiting for the Return ②
Early March. At the barracks of the Arqvist territory army, Radley, serving as the acting captain of the territorial forces, was struggling with unfamiliar clerical work.
He had to organize the duty rotations for the territorial soldiers—half of whom were currently away—and manage their salaries and the army budget. For Radley, who had previously only ever counted his own pay when it came to money, this work was more painful than a poorly fought battle.
"Radley-san, sorry to bother you while you're busy, but do you have a moment?"
Bart, who was in charge of external affairs and currently serving as Radley's assistant, approached him. Seeing Bart's grim expression, Radley stopped his work.
"Did something happen?"
"Yes, actually... the transport convoy that was supposed to bring mining resources from the mining village hasn't arrived yet. They were scheduled to arrive by noon, but..."
"...What?"
Hearing Bart's words, Radley stood up from the chair in the captain's office. It was already past noon. This was clearly an abnormal situation.
"I also found out after Philip-san from the Skinner Trading Company consulted me, saying the delivery hadn't arrived. It's far too late, so I thought something might have happened... we had reduced the number of guards for the convoy due to the labor shortage."
Since mine development is a public enterprise conducted by the Arqvist Baronet house, territorial soldiers serve as guards when transporting ore from the mining village to the territorial capital, Noeina.
However, given the severe labor shortage, they had reduced the number of guards to just one or two people, reasoning that dangerous monsters wouldn't appear around here anyway.
"...I believe Dant's squad was on city patrol today. Find him and call him back to the barracks. I'll prepare a horse."
"Understood."
Less than ten minutes later, Dant returned to the barracks, and Radley finished preparing his horse.
Taking Bart and Dant, who could also ride, Radley galloped down the forest road leading to the mining village.
Now that the forest road had been maintained, it took less than half a day to reach the mining village even on foot. By riding hard, it didn't take long before they found traces of the convoy—three wagons abandoned along with their cargo.
"...This is."
"Were they attacked by monsters?"
The cargo in the wagons had been ransacked, and ore was scattered around. Bart muttered as he saw the scene, and Dant voiced his question.
Dismounting and walking around the wagons, Radley answered.
"At least there are no human casualties here. It looks like they even had the leeway to let the horses escape. They probably dumped the cargo and managed to flee."
If they had been attacked by dangerous monsters, there should have been traces of a fight. However, there were none here. There was no blood or flesh splattered about.
"Then why was the cargo ransacked? If they were carrying food, it would be one thing, but monsters wouldn't ransack ore..."
"...Orcs?"
While Dant voiced his doubt again, Bart spoke with a sigh.
Monsters like orcs and goblins have a habit of finding gold coins, silver coins, and gemstones obtained when attacking humans curious and keeping them. They likely took an interest in the raw lapis lazuli that was among the cargo.
"Yeah, and probably multiple of them... This territory really has a knack for attracting orcs."
Radley muttered ironically as he found traces on the ransacked wagons and surrounding trees.
"I'll ride to the mining village and confirm their safety. You two return to the territorial capital, Noeina, and report to Clara-sama. Prepare for an orc invasion as well. I'll return there as quickly as possible."
"...Isn't it dangerous to move alone in this situation? Even for you, Radley-san."
"There are multiple orcs. Whether it's three people or one, the fact that it's desperately dangerous doesn't change. It's better to leave it to fate and move quickly. You two, go."
As he spoke, Radley mounted his horse again.
"...Understood."
"Radley-san, please be careful."
"Yeah. You too."
Leaving those short words behind, Radley galloped toward the mining village. Bart and Dant also hurriedly rode in the opposite direction.
.....
Shortly after riding, Radley reached the mining village.
The mining village, where the population had exceeded 100 as artisans, miners, their families, and even farmers began to live, was surrounded by wooden fences for monster countermeasures.
The gate, which served as the entrance, was closed, and men holding Crossbows peered over the fences to keep watch on the surroundings, creating a tense atmosphere.
The one keeping watch at the gate, which was likely the most fragile point, was a territorial soldier stationed in the mining village on duty. The young soldier, who had only just reached adulthood, was surprised to see Radley arrive alone.
"R-Radley-sama!"
"Open the gate."
"Y-Yes! Immediately!"
The soldier shouted instructions from atop the gate watchtower, and as soon as the gate was opened, Radley advanced his horse into the village.
"I came to check on things because the convoy didn't arrive. I found abandoned wagons on the way..."
"I was serving as the guard for the convoy, but I heard a terrible howling from inside the forest, so we dumped the cargo and fled back to the village with only the people and horses... I'm sorry."
"No, you made the right call. As long as there are no human casualties, it's fine."
Radley said this to the young soldier who apologized for abandoning the cargo.
Noein, the owner of the mine, had also given instructions regarding the business that "human life takes priority in an emergency." The soldier, who saved the lives of the convoy and the horses through quick judgment, could be said to have performed a service.
"A-And... according to the laborers of the convoy who heard the howling, it sounded like the voice of an orc."
"Yeah, that's definitely it. I saw the scene where the wagons were ransacked, and the traces, like footprints, were clearly those of orcs."
Radley nodded at the soldier's report and looked around.
A dozen or so Crossbows were placed in the mining village for monster countermeasures, and the villagers seemed to have brought them out and were firmly preparing for an orc invasion. In addition to the Crossbows, sturdy men holding axes and pickaxes were gathering.
One of them approached Radley. It was the dwarf mining engineer, Victor, who had been hired by Noein and entrusted with the practical responsibility of mine development.
"Radley-dono, I am glad you came."
"Victor-san. I'm glad the village seems safe."
"Yes, for now... Still, to think that orcs would appear in such a shallow part of the Bezel Great Forest. I am surprised."
"Yeah. Orcs appeared near the territorial capital, Noeina, about two years ago as well... It's bad luck that something that should be rare happens this many times."
Dangerous monsters like orcs live in the depths of the Bezel Great Forest, but the shallow parts are considered relatively safe.
There are records of stray orcs appearing very rarely, and sometimes even passing through the forest to reach human settlements, but that is a rarity significant enough to be specifically recorded. Encountering a situation that does not happen frequently multiple times could only be described as misfortune.
"Well, there's no use lamenting it now that they've appeared. I'll have to lead the territorial army and devise a plan for an orc hunt... but what will you do about the defenses of this village?"
Because Noein had taken it to war, there was only one Ballista capable of countering large monsters in the territorial capital, Noeina. Since the capital must be protected with the highest priority, the equipment of the mining village was inevitably meager.
"We will manage here. The villagers are all strong miners. We have Crossbows, and mining tools can be used as weapons. Even if killing the orcs is impossible, we should be able to drive them away temporarily."
"I see... Then I'll return to the territorial capital, Noeina, and prepare for the orc hunt. I'll kill the orcs as quickly as possible so that travel on the forest road can resume, so please hold out somehow."
It pained him to leave the mining village as it was and return, but in terms of both combat power and position, Radley had no choice but to take command of the orc hunt. For now, he had to trust Victor's words.
"Yes, leave it to us. Radley-san, if you are returning alone, please be careful."
"Don't worry, this is a military horse. Unless I get bitten in the flank by a surprise attack, an orc won't catch up to me."
Radley laughed while stroking the neck of the horse he rode, and then he left the mining village.