Dream Life

The evening of May 25th.

We were raided at the top of Roguedale. There were more than sixty raiders, and when I asked my father, who had crossed his sword directly,

"Swordsmanship is very good, but it was hands-on. Isn't it a mercenary breakdown".

Ten serious Lockhart family injuries, including five Dwarves. The minor casualties were eight, including the craftsmen who were injured when fleeing the carriage. Fortunately, me and Liddy got treated in time, and no one's dead.

What I did to this extent for the surprise attack was that the attack with the bow was the main one, so it was a big deal that me and Liddy were treated in time. Other reasons would be cited for the excellent Lockhart family protective equipment.

Of course, stubbornness as a race is a major factor in the case of the Dwarves, who are so injured that a human would likely have failed to heal magic in time. Maybe he was recovering from the booze he was drinking at some point.

The most heavily attacked avant-gardes were Beatrice and Mel and Dan, but their protective gear cut off the arrows released from the long bow, only to the extent of the scratches.

Furthermore, the magic of Liddy and Sharon had more effect than I thought.

Especially Sharon's “Swallow Group Circle Dance (Swallow Rondo)" was outstanding, cutting all bow strings held by as many as twenty archers. When asked about it,

"There were a lot of archers, so I figured if I couldn't even use the bow, Mr. Beatrice and Mel, and if I had a brother, I'd be able to protect them enough."

At her exact discretion, she seemed able to prevent the damage from spreading.

Ten archers on the cliff who have been targeting the center of the line were disabled by my magic, but there will have been a total of thirty archers.

If the archers were to continue shooting unilaterally, there is a good chance that the Lockhart family would have been wiped out.

In fact, most of the serious injuries this time were arrow wounds. Thinking about it, the enemy's power was too great, and without us magicians, the enemy would have won almost intact.

Interrogate the enemy for survival while completing treatment of the injured person and cleaning up the wreckage of the destroyed carriage, etc.

I'll check the orbs I recovered before that, but I could barely tell their identity.

Their orbs are of a simplified type used in border pioneering villages and so on, with little information per se. Also, although I can see that the villages they belong to are in the northern and central regions of the Empire, it was suspicious whether they were divided into more than ten villages and even real ones.

My father interrogates a headstrong forties man.

"Who hired you"

A man says nothing but silence.

Neither my father nor I honestly expect to crack a mouth. On behalf of my father, I will put a word nail on him so that he does not harm himself.

"Fair enough. The day after tomorrow we reach the village where the Imperial Army is located. If you enter imperial territory, there will be an interrogation using a slave collar. I'll tell you what, it's no use trying to hurt yourself. If I don't die instantly, I'll fix it."

Still, just staring at me and not saying anything, I decided to interrogate another person. The man is a merchant about thirty years old who was tied up on a cliff. In the Orb of the Commercial Guild belonged to the Chamber of Commerce of the Imperial Capital Plymouth, whose name was Lloyd.

I was losing my mind when I went on the cliff, but now I'm well conscious.

Just in case he wasn't involved in the crime, I'm checking in the orb, but I didn't see any signs from the commercial guild orb that he was involved in the crime. That said, criminal confirmation by orb is not absolute, and there is a way out. For that reason, he remains in custody.

He said he had seen us far away in Imperial Capital, and he already understood that we were the Lockhart family.

So, Lloyd, how did you end up here?

"That's what I don't get. Suddenly a thief attacked me on my way from Ezarrington to Netherton... and then I was transported in a carriage with my blindfold on..."

He was going to do business with the Rooks Crusaders, heading to Netherton in the central region. And he was abducted just over the city of Ezarrington and into Central Avenue, and transported to Roguedale.

His chamber of commerce deals primarily with cereals in the southern realm of the Empire, and has a thin relationship with both the Lockhart family and the Blacksmith Guild.

He himself complained in tears that he had no idea how he had been abducted.

My father has asked me what I think.

"I don't think you're lying. Being tied up in that situation would have meant before the raid. When that happens, I don't know why I was being held for"

"You sure do. Well, you can untie the rope, but we'll keep an eye on it."

When interrogated by raiders other than the chief, they were those who lived hidden near the border between the Holy King Luke and the Empire. He caused trouble and emigrated after being banished from mercenary and adventurer guilds.

I'll interrogate you further, but I didn't know who hired you. When asked in detail, Doug, the commander, was negotiating alone and even the deputy chief did not know where the funds were coming from.

I've only learned a little about themselves.

They were apparently picked up and trained by officials of Luke's Holy Kingdom. However, they had never been driven out in the fight against the Empire, and they themselves did not understand why they had been helped.

I heard the story and thought it might have been prepared as a pawn for backward agitation.

Speaking of Luke's Holy Kingdoms, the Beast Slave Troops are famous, but as you can see in the plot against the Raswells, the intelligence units held by the Holy King's Palace are also very good. I guess I was thinking enough to masquerade as a bandit to plot a backward stir.

Around 5pm.

The carriage destroyed by the rocks had to be abandoned, but the first repair of the carriage, which had been taken off wheels and the horse had collapsed and fell, was over.

We leave for the lodging about two kilometers away.

The raiders tie it up with rope, then make it multiply and walk at the rear. It comes with Beatrice and Mel as watchmen and vigilantes. Five squire, but all seriously injured, so I'm putting them in the carriage just in case. They themselves insisted that they would arrive on escort duty, but because they were bleeding too much, although they had finished treatment, and were physically anxious.

Keep Dan ahead and keep in touch with the lodging.

It is roughly the same size as the lodging on the Fortis side, due to the lack of facilities to house as many as thirty criminals, although there are soldiers employed in the Eastern Governor's Office.

I'm going to throw it in the carriage today and hand it over to the Governor's Office in the village of Keltney, where I'm staying tomorrow.

When you arrive at the accommodation, the soldier leader of the defense team greets you. His name is Cohen, about fifty years old, but he looks more like a farmer than a soldier.

I don't know if that's why, but I suffer from the response to my father, the Viscount, and I talk desperately to look for words.

"… you are safe and above all. I heard you were attacked by bandits earlier by Master Jakes. So, but, as you can see, there are only fifteen soldiers here, including me. You can't take on so many bandits..."

"I thought you were listening better than Dan Jakes?" My father says, "Cohen says," Yes, I'm asking... "I don't get the guidelines.

When asked in detail, it seems that the Imperial nobility originally used Fortis Street, and he had little experience talking to nobility. For this reason, the aristocracy had a strong image of whimsy and suddenly seemed concerned about changing his mind.

"The bandits are taking us to our Keltney. Don't worry, our house will be responsible for today's watch."

Cohen had a relief look on his father's words.

The raiders took to the carriage parking lot inside the lodging, where I, Beatrice, Mel and Dan were to be watched by relatively healthy vigilantes and Netherton craftsmen.

I told Cohen about the sound of horseshoes Dan had heard, but he said, "No one has come here just by horses before you, and I have not seen anyone go past the lodging".

Travelling the streets of Fortis is rarely done on a single ride. It is the same even for mercenaries, who also fear bandits and demonic raids and act in about ten people. For this reason, he told me that it would be very noticeable if a small number of people were put in the accommodation.

There is a possibility that Dan's mistake, but it is likely that there was a spectator or someone who was giving instructions to Doug, the head, because of his ability as a scout and the fact that someone connected to Luke's associates carried out the Lockhart family raid.

(Assuming it's Luke's intelligence unit, it might be possible to act alone even along dangerous streets... not my father's word, but all we can do is draw attention. And you don't know why you're attacking us. The same goes for Lloyd's abduction, but too much I don't know......)

I'm also concerned about the raiders, but I was worried about Luna's mental state, which was shocked by the raid. I was anxious to remember that my native village of Thysek had been wiped out. Fortunately, however, there was no problem with Luna's mental state.

"Because your wife has held you tight all the time. Even though you have a little Sophia smaller than me..."

My mother's desperate shelter seems to have led to good results.

After entering the inn, Liddy, Beatrice, Mel and Sharon were gathered together.

"Is something wrong?," Liddy stepped forward on behalf of.

"It was a scattered day, but happy birthday," he says and kisses.

"If this wasn't the situation, I'd be celebrating..."

Apparently, the four of us were going to do something.

"I'm keeping it for you today. But congratulations," Beatrice kisses.

Mel and Sharon also said "Congratulations" and kissed her cheek.

"The truth is, I was talking to your wife, and I was going to have a celebration party at the inn. I couldn't prepare a gift, but if it's a simple dish, I can make it."

That's what Mel says and lays face down. He regrets not being able to celebrate.

Sharon turned her hand around Mel's shoulder and said, "When we get back to the village, we'll celebrate properly. You know, Mel," he smiled.

I remember my birthday myself, but I thought it was strange because no one was telling me. However, the bandit's shadow had been hidden from me since the day before, so I quickly forgot.

"Thank you. I feel a little sorry for you, but I'll look forward to it when I get back to the village."

That's what I said. I headed to the Raiders' watch.

Nothing happened that night, and the next day I left for the village of Keltney.

The village of Keltney is a small village just over twenty kilometers from here. Exactly. I don't know when I'll be able to get there when I'm walking the bandits, so I'm putting them in the carriage that Cohen made me prepare.

The village of Keltney, but not just a village, serves as a hunting base for demons coming down from the Porta Mountains, with Imperial Army garrisons.

Unlike yesterday, Fortis Street was peaceful in itself and I never even saw the demons.

After 3 p.m., we arrived safely in the village of Keltney.

The village of Keltney was surrounded by stone walls about three metres high, guarded by soldiers at the gate.

You noticed the Lockhart family crest as you approached the gate, and the soldier bows his head respectfully.

It's a strange story that my father, the Lord, will come out, so I will be the negotiator.

"It's Zacharias Lockhart, the second son of the Viscount Lockhart family. Yesterday, he was attacked by a bunch of bandit-like men in Roguedale, capturing half of them. Take the trouble, but I need you to call the commander of the defense team."

That's what I'm saying. Show the raiders packing in the carriage.

The soldier is surprised by that number and rushes out, saying, "I will call you right away".

As the word goes, enough came a knight equipped with an Imperial Army squadron leader.

Name your name after saluting your father.

"My name is Powell Dalimpur and I'm keeping the Keltney garrison."

Darrymple is a knight of about forty years old, knows of the famous Lockhart family, is nervous or sweaty on his forehead.

When my father returned his greetings, Darimpul immediately started walking to lead us by saying, "Come to the garrison first and tell us more about it".

The village of Keltney has a population of about five hundred, but two hundred of them say they are soldiers of the Imperial Army. In other words, two squadrons were stationed, and Dalimpur was the predecessor squadron leader, which meant that he was both commanding the garrison.

Immediately arrive at the Imperial Army facility. This was a splendid building compared to the military strength due to the fact that it also served as a border guard.

While my father and I are explaining the situation to Darimpul, Dan will hand over the Dougs Raiders to the soldiers.

"... Sixty-five people joined the raid. I don't know why, but there was one merchant in Imperial City, in custody. The head of the raider is named Doug... and the concern is that there are signs that the visionary escaped."

At the end of my explanation, Darimpul said to his father, "These people will be disposed of here, will they be present for questioning?"

"Let us stand together. Whatever you say, you put your sword against us."

Dalimple nodded at it, changing the subject.

"Nevertheless, I admire your martial arts. Even from what I've seen, the Raiders are the owners of arms that surpass our soldiers. Because it struck three times as many people and captured them without letting them die..."

A soldier had a collar of slaves ready while I was talking to Darimpul. They have many slave collars available here for bandits.

Then they brought in a tied up Doug.

And put a collar of slaves around his neck and start interrogating him immediately.

Doug answers honestly to the question of "who hired him," without being forced by the collar of a slave.

"Luke, he's an official of the Holy King's Palace in the Holy Kingdom. I don't know if it's his real name, but he said his name was Dino Grandis."

Although Darrymple was surprised, my father and I had some anticipation, so there was no surprise.

"What's the reason? Why should Luke attack His Highness Viscount Lockhart?"

Just say "I don't know".

Darrymple presses for "be honest with me," but doesn't really seem to know it from the collar not responding.

"Will you let me interrogate you," he says, replacing Darimpul.

"Why was a merchant named Lloyd captured?

"I don't know. Grandis ordered me to get him, so I just brought him in."

"Let's change the question. How was Lloyd going to use it? What instructions were there?

Doug opens his eyes to the question, but answers honestly.

"If I had wiped out all the Lockhart people, they would have ordered me to kill him, too"

"What exactly did they tell you to do?

"He magically told me to make it look like he'd been beheaded and thrown away in the distance... I don't know why"

Somehow I see it.

"So you're saying that we were going to make it look like the last time we shook our dying force and killed them? You were going to put Lloyd behind this."

"I'm not listening, but I thought it would be"

"What were they telling us to do after they wiped us out?

"He told me to turn into a mercenary heading to Fortis and leave the scene... and then he told me to head to Periclitle. When you get to Periclitle, you will receive the following instructions…"

And when I checked about the contact of the scoundrel until the day before I was concerned, I looked frightened for a moment and then smiled bitterly.

"Well... I was strictly insistent on not making contact. But the adventurers didn't seem to understand."

"Does that mean it's unintentional," I say, glaring at me like Doug's out of his mind.

"Naturally. There's no winning chance, except a complete surprise attack on the Lockhart family, especially you guys!

There's a bitter laugh at what I've said so far.

"... well. Maybe you could have won... well, this is what a collection would look like..."

I was whining like that with a sense of mockery.

(So it would have been dangerous if the enemy scouts hadn't been alarmed. You mean it's dangerous to think that bandits won't be after you...)

This reflection is that I assumed that there would be no bandits turning the blacksmith guild against the enemy. In common sense, bandits don't attack, but if the target changes, it can be enough that common sense doesn't make sense. It means assumptions are dangerous, especially since they could deal with people who plot a conspiracy.

Later, he continued his interrogation further, but other than Luke's involvement, he was initially only informed of the planned raid in Oak Hope.

After finishing Doug's interrogation, he says no, "It's just a guess," and then he tells my father and Darrymple my reasoning.

"I think Luke tried to create confusion within the Empire. If the owner of the Lockhart family and I are killed, there is no doubt that the Blacksmith Guild will be furious. Then, as an imperial government, you'll need to find out who did it."

"I know that much, but I don't think that's going to cause any confusion in the empire," my father tilts his neck.

"I think a merchant named Lloyd will be the key. If he is considered the mastermind or the head of the scene, he will invariably investigate the Chamber of Commerce where he was. If false evidence is planted at that time, the Senate should be very rough if evidence emerges that, for example, the Leopold princes and neutrals are involved"

"That's true..." my father mutters with a puzzled look.

"If the Senate is rough, His Excellency the Duke of Ezarrington, the head of the Fourth Legion, will have to return to the Imperial Capital. Especially if they stink of neutral involvement, because His Royal Highness the Duke of Ingolslop, the Crown Prince, could be the next prime minister."

"I see... but I think His Excellency the Chancellor might be able to do something about it?

"Yes, I think it would be possible to minimize confusion if His Excellency the Chancellor, but it is nevertheless fully conceivable to waste time in a political rush"

"That's a hassle," my father says, but Dalimpur next to me is shaking his head definitely because he can't keep up with the story.

"Either way. Luke's intelligence unit is infiltrating the empire. We need to communicate this fact to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible and respond."

"Right. And we need to find a man named Grandis who escaped."

That's what my father said. He asked Darimpul to arrange an early horse and mountain hunt.

I have to do something about mountain hunting, but I don't think I can find it. Doug's testimony is that Grandis feels like an official, not an armed warrior.

For example, it is difficult to survive in the dangerous Porta Mountains, and it is even more difficult to travel within the Empire for thousands of kilometres. I'm wondering if she's already harming herself somewhere.

The treatment of the raiders, but everyone is considered a combat slave. For this reason, the imperial government buys it out with gold according to the level.

This is because the Lockhart family is an imperial nobleman, and it is also possible to take them as combat slaves.

If a mercenary other than a nobleman catches him, he will only be paid a reward according to his level, regardless of his life or death. It's to be a hassle if you can't get away with trying to catch me.

Although the purchase amount seems to be one hundred kronas relative to level one, if it is level thirty, it will be about three thousand kronas and three million yen in Japanese yen. Since the average level was over thirty, the calculation would be about 100 million yen for thirty people.

Because this is healed, by the way. He usually suffers major injuries, and the cost of that treatment will be deducted, which is only about half the price.

Moreover, the gold coins and equipment that Doug and the others had would belong to the Lockhart family, so it's worth a lot more than that.

Lockhart's martial name goes up even further, but I'm not too worried about this one. There should be no unnecessary interference, as we have already declared ourselves a step away from factional strife within the Empire.

The bounty was to be received at Ahead Aldred. In addition, reports of the results of the mountain hunt and information on the investigation are scheduled to arrive in the village of Rasmore at a later date.

It's not refreshing, but for now, the raids have come to a close.