Chapter 275 - Episode 268: Reconnaissance Unit ①
"Alright, let's take a break here for now."
Having passed through the mountain paths of the Romulus foothills heading north and arriving near the exit of the forest covering the base of the range, Jeremy spoke to the surrounding soldiers.
"We're resting already?"
"Yeah, I want to get back to the Western Army's camp within the day. It's better to rest now and then push through the rest of the way in one go. That way, we can arrive before sunset."
The soldiers who had looked skeptical seemed convinced after hearing Jeremy's words and sat down on the spot.
"Jeremy-san, please."
"Ah, thank you, Cecilia."
Jeremy, using a suitable fallen log as a chair, received a small grain of sugar from Cecilia, a puppet mage and honorary retainer of the Arqvist family. It was a precious sweet for restoring mental energy, provided to the reconnaissance unit that marched long distances along rugged paths to avoid being spotted by the enemy.
Cecilia distributed sugar grains to the other soldiers as well, and the reconnaissance unit of six in total sat in a circle to take their rest. Nearby branches and leaves were gathered, and Jeremy, who possessed a slight talent for fire magic, lit a fire there, boiling water to brew tea.
This reconnaissance unit consisted of Jeremy, who had been handling scouting since his time as a Lancel Kingdom soldier and served as the captain; Cecilia, who was the most skilled at golem manipulation among the Claymores and served as both luggage carrier and guard; and four soldiers from other territories.
Currently, they were in the process of returning to the main army's camp after confirming the movements of the enemy's rear beyond the mountain paths of the Romulus foothills. The Western Army had several other reconnaissance units composed of five soldiers and one mage, like Jeremy's, which scouted the rear of the enemy camp in rotation.
"...Everyone, listen while you rest. This is regarding the report that arrived from Konrad before noon today."
Cecilia and the soldiers looked toward Jeremy while drinking tea or holding sugar grains in their mouths. As the captain of the reconnaissance unit, Jeremy received periodic reports from Konrad whenever he was within the communication range of the 'Far-Talk'.
"The enemy reinforcement unit we confirmed three days ago... it seems the Western Army's main force annihilated them in yesterday's battle... Apparently, that unit was a collection of slave soldiers forcibly conscripted from the citizens of the Southern Lordberg Kingdom. They were forced to fight against innocent people of their own homeland."
"That's... how cruel..."
Cecilia whispered, covering her mouth with her hand. The other soldiers also reacted, some looking stunned, others grimacing.
"Yeah, exactly. However, it is said that His Excellency Arqvist stood resolute against the enemy's despicable offensive and led from the front to secure victory in that harsh battle. Now that the enemy knows we won't be intimidated even if they incite our compatriots, they likely won't use the same tactic again."
"...Then, as a result, Noein-sama may have ended up saving even more citizens of the Lordberg Kingdom."
"That's true. Perhaps His Excellency foresaw that far—Human figures to the northwest!"
Noticing that someone was watching them from deep within the forest, Jeremy shouted and drew his sword. The soldiers sprang to their feet; three watched the indicated direction, while one kept watch in the opposite direction. Cecilia also stood up with her golem and looked northwest.
"Is that... a child?"
"It looks like a boy."
Peeking out from behind a thicket a short distance away and observing them was apparently a child. There were no other figures, and since the child did not seem hostile, Jeremy and the others lowered their guard.
"Still, why is there a child in a place like this?"
"...Could it be a ghost?"
Perhaps becoming scared by her own mutterings, Cecilia trembled.
"Is it something to be afraid of? Right now, encountering enemy soldiers would be scarier than some kind of ghost."
"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose so..."
In peaceful times, ghost stories about the forest could be objects of fear, but in wartime, an enemy coming to physically kill you was a far greater threat. Cecilia agreed with Jeremy's words.
"So, Jeremy-san, what shall we do?"
"...Let's catch him. We need to ask why he's alone in a forest like this. It's highly unlikely, but the possibility that he's a slave soldier conscripted by the enemy isn't zero."
"Then, may I go? I'm a woman and small, so the child might not run away."
"No, such a role for a mage like you... At the very least, I'll go with you."
Jeremy sheathed his sword, ordered the other four soldiers to stand by, and approached the child with Cecilia. Considering the possibility of scaring him, the golem was left waiting on the spot.
"...Here, come over here. We're soldiers. We aren't bad people, and we aren't scary people."
Cecilia called out in a gentle voice. Jeremy also maintained as mild an expression as possible, though he kept his hand on the hilt of his sword in case the child made a strange move or there were other ambushes.
"The forest is dangerous. Come with us—ah!"
Despite Cecilia's persuasion, the child turned on his heel and bolted. Jeremy, who had anticipated this action, dashed forward vigorously and chased the child.
Between a boy who looked less than ten years old and Jeremy, a professional soldier, it wasn't even a proper chase. In a matter of seconds, Jeremy caught up to the child and scooped him up from behind.
"Hyaaah!"
"Now, be still."
As he spoke, Jeremy confirmed that the boy was not carrying any weapons and returned to Cecilia while still holding him.
"Jeremy-san!"
"It's alright, I've secured him safely... Now then."
Setting the child on the ground, Jeremy asked while looking down at him.
"Who on earth are you? Why are you alone in a place like this?"
However, the child did not answer, his expression remaining terrified. Next, Cecilia crouched down to meet the child's eyes and questioned him.
"What is your name?"
"...Pa, Paulo."
Perhaps feeling somewhat reassured by Cecilia's voice and expression, the child—Paulo—finally answered properly.
"Why were you in the forest?"
"...F-Father told me to hide in the forest."
"Where is your father?"
"...Last summer, he said he was going somewhere to look for food, and he left."
Cecilia was speechless upon hearing Paulo's words. If those words were true, it meant he had survived in this forest for over half a year.
Exchanging a look with Jeremy, who also seemed surprised, Cecilia turned back to Paulo.
"What was your father's job? Was he a person from this Viscount Barassen's territory?"
"We didn't have a fixed home. Father was a mercenary, and last year, because of the kyou saku (T/N: possible typo in source — original reads きょうさく, likely meaning crop failure), there was no work at all, so he was moving around looking for work with his comrades. But along the way, they ran out of money and food, and Father and the others went to look... and no one came back."
Tears welled slightly in Paulo's eyes as he spoke.
"Father said that if no one came back even after a month, I should assume everyone died. He told me to leave the forest and look for a village or town that would take me in. But this is a place I don't know, and I didn't know where to go... I had learned how to start fires and how to hunt, so I thought I could survive better if I stayed in the shallow parts of the forest, so I stayed."
Even after finishing his story, Paulo did not cry out loud.
Cecilia stood up and looked at Jeremy again.
"...I'm surprised."
"Yeah. Luck must have played a part, but it's amazing that a child like this managed to survive all alone. Even with survival skills taught by a mercenary."
"What shall we do? We can't just leave him here..."
"It's alright, we won't do that. Let's protect him and take him with us. He can probably handle chores at the rear of the camp."
In the Western Army's camp, there were not only soldiers, but also civilian laborers and slaves who handled cooking, laundry, and other tasks. There were also many children of lower nobility or retainers who accompanied the army as chore-hands for training. There were plenty of jobs that someone of Paulo's age could perform.
"...Will you come with us? There will surely be work where you can earn money, and a place to take you in."
"R-really?"
"Yes, of course. You can't live in the forest forever. I'm giving you good advice, so come with us."
"...I-I understand. Please take me."
Paulo spoke after thinking for a moment, as if having made up his mind. Seeing this, Cecilia smiled, and Jeremy gave a small laugh.
"There's a war going on around here, and we're returning to the Kingdom's army camp now. We'll be moving soon, so from now on, you—"
"Enemy attack!"
At that moment, a voice rose from the direction of the soldiers who had been ordered to stand by.
"Tch! Jeremy-san!"
"Paulo, hide here. I'll come back as soon as we defeat the enemy... Cecilia, let's go!"
Jeremy drew his sword and dashed forward, with Cecilia following behind him.