Published at 20th of November 2020 10:34:27 PM
Chapter 60
ranslator: SFBaka
Editor: Thor’s Stone
I doubted my ears when I heard Alan’s words . Some people I know? In a place like this?
Wait! Perhaps they are the members of my royal guards!? Yes, that’s most likely it! Alan’s words have never been off the mark ever since I first met him . I started waving at the person on horseback who was approaching us .
The person noticed me and stopped the horse in its tracks . The person looked quite cautious . Well, I do admit our group looked fairly suspicious from a distance . The person stopped the group of carriages and horsemen trailing behind him and started approaching us . When he came within fifty meters of us, he kicked his horse and had it approach us in a run . Yes, the man on horseback was definitely Dalshim!
“Your Highness! It truly is Your Highness! What in the Goddess’s name are you doing all the way out here!?”
Dalshim jumped off of his horse and knelt before me .
“It’s been a while, Dalshim!”
I found it quite surprising that I was conversing in such a casual tone with a member of my former royal guards .
“Oh! Yes, it truly has been a while, Your Highness!”
Dalshim signaled for the group on the road to come close, and they all came to the clearing that served as a resting spot where our carriage was currently parked .
“It’s Her Highness!”
“Oh! Princess!”
“Our princess!”
Ah! It’s the rest of the royal guards . But there were some people I wasn’t familiar with mixed among them .
“It has been a while, everyone! I’m glad you all look in good health . ”
“What are you doing in a place like this, princess? Did you perhaps somehow get wind that we were coming and came to receive us?”
I glanced at Alan . I’m sure it was Alan who found out that the royal guards were going to take this route . It wouldn’t have hurt to inform me beforehand though! Honestly .
“No, it’s nothing like that, actually . We’re in the middle of doing a request for the Adventurer’s Guild . ”
“Oh! What a coincidence this is then! It’s as if we were predestined to meet . We were actually worried we wouldn’t be able to meet up with Her Highness right away once we arrived at Gantz . ”
Yes, that would have been the case . We should have planned some measures beforehand . What an oversight .
“Yes, you’re right . We didn’t think you would arrive this fast . We haven’t thought up any measures for meeting up yet . We nearly missed each other . ”
“Quickly inform the others following behind us . Have them hurry up and gather here!”
Dalshim shouted orders to one of his men who were unfamiliar to me . The man got on his horse again and hastened back to the main road . So they still had others following after them?
“You still have others following after you? Well, you do seem a bit too few in number . ”
“Yes . We traveled in separate groups since such a large number of people would attract too much unwanted attention . ”
Dalshim’s mouth curled into a sly grin . Was there something else?
“It has been quite some time, Alan-sama . Everyone as well . ”
“Yes, it’s good to see you again, Captain Dalshim . ”
Selena, Sharon, and Elna also gave their greetings .
And before long, the rest of the group under Dalshim arrived one after the other . It looks like everyone rushed here as fast as they could .
“Your Highness!”
“Clerisama!”
The group gave their greetings one after another . Even though I can no longer be considered royalty, everyone still treated me with the utmost respect . I was so touched that I nearly teared up .
Everyone knelt before me reverently . Before long, all of the men Captain Dalshim brought with him finally gathered in the clearing . How strange . No matter how I look at them, their numbers seem far more than fifty-eight . Everyone quieted down .
“Captain Dalshim, this number–?”
“Forty-two elite members of the late Earl’s personal troops have come with us as well . All of them are as skilled as the royal guards . All in all, we have one hundred people gathered here . ”
I see . No wonder there are a lot of new faces among them . So they were part of my uncle’s private troops… I noticed the man who was kneeling right beside Dalshim .
“Yes, I remember you . You certainly were part of my uncle’s men . I think your name was… Walter, if I remember correctly . ”
I called out to the man kneeling beside Dalshim .
“I can’t believe it! To think you remember this humble knight’s name, Princess! I am honored beyond words . Yes, we did meet each other on one or two occasions . I am currently serving as the representative of the late Earl’s personal troops . ”
“I see . I shall be in your care then, Walter . ”
Oh, dear Goddess! I had no idea this many would answer my call!
“Everyone! You have journeyed far to come here . I am truly glad to meet all of you again . ”
“We are unworthy of your grace, Your Highness . ”
“Just as you’ve heard everyone, we are currently aiming for becoming the absolute best adventurers in this country . Please lend us your powers as well everyone, and let us aim for the top together . ”
“”By your will!””
“”Yes, Your Highness!””
“You mentioned that you were in the middle of a quest earlier, didn’t you, Your Highness? What type of quest is it?”
“Bandit hunting . ”
Everyone looked surprised .
“My word! And you are planning on completing such a dangerous quest with just five people?”
“There is no problem . We five are more than enough . ”
“Oh! It surely is through the Goddess’s providence that we met Your Highness here . There is no need for you to risk yourself for such a quest . Please allow us to smite those foul bandits in your stead . ”
“Cleria, this isn’t a place that’s suitable to discuss such things y’know . There’s a more suitable spot just a short distance away . How about we all move there first, and then discuss things further?”
Oh, I completely forgot to introduce Alan to everyone!
“Everyone! Forgive me for the late introduction . This is Alan, and he’s the current leader of our party and Clan, Shining Star . ”
“Hello everyone . I’m the party and Clan leader of Shining Star, Alan . Going forward, all of you will also enlist as official Clan members . I am looking forward to working hard with you all . ”
“”Yes!””
“”We will be in your care, Alan-sama!””
This is great . Everyone seems to approve of Alan .
“Well then, let us do as Alan suggested and move to a more comfortable spot . We will have to return to the highway for a bit, so please prepare accordingly . ”
“”Yes!””
“Have each group prepare to go back on the road! Hurry!”
Everyone went back to the main road with our carriage in the lead . After about three hours, we finally arrived at the place Alan talked about . As we alighted from the carriage, I saw a wide and spacious riverbank . There would be no problem for more than one hundred people to gather here along with the carriages and horses .
“Prepare for camp! Assign the lookouts!”
“Dalshim, there is no need to assign lookouts . ”
Everyone suddenly stopped in their tracks .
“Whatever do you mean, Your Highness?”
“Alan and the girls Selena and Sharon over there can all cast scanning and detection magic . There is no monster that can avoid detection . ”
“Scanning magic…… What manner of magic spell is that!?”
“Cleria . ”
Alan informed me that he had spotted monsters in the distance via hand signs . There were three Gray Hounds . He also told me their distance from us as well as their general direction . Recently, we have improved upon the hand signs further so now we also have certain signs for particular monsters .
“I shall show you proof then . There are three Gray Hounds coming over from that direction . They should reach us within thirty seconds . ”
Everyone moved their gaze to the direction I pointed my finger toward . And under the gazes of everyone, three Gray Hounds appeared from the thickets after roughly thirty seconds . They were about sixty meters away from us .
“””Oooh!”””
The Gray Hounds stopped in their tracks for a moment . They were facing quite the number after all .
“I will finish them off myself . ”
I launched the three flaming arrows I prepared earlier . I tried to copy Alan recently and the speed of my arrows has definitely improved .
The three flaming arrows sailed through the air and headed straight for the surprised Gray Hounds . They tried to avoid them, but it was no use .
“”Oooooh!””
“”Splendid!””
“A wonderful show of skill, Your Highness!”
“Can somebody collect the magic stones please?”
“”I’ll do it!””
A number of the knights volunteered .
“It seems we have greatly underestimated your current prowess, Alan-sama, Your Highness . ”
“Alan and the rest are already keeping watch . As I said, there is no need for lookouts anymore . Instead of that, I want to talk with you all about what you’ve experienced this far . Let us discuss in earnest once the camp is ready . ”
“Understood . Hurry and set up camp!”
Everyone started to move around the place in a hurry . I also moved along and went over to the carriage in order to unharness Tarth and Syrah .
“Sharon, Selena, I’m sorry but can you two secure our dinner for tonight? The river looks shallow so I don’t think there would be fish to catch,” Alan instructed .
“Roger . ”
“Understood . ”
“Alan, shall I also hunt some game for dinner?”
“It’s fine, Cleria . It looks like everyone is already anxious to share their stories with you . Just stay here and keep them company . ”
I suppose I shall do as Alan says . Sharon and Selena took up their rifles and slung them over their backs . They then climbed on Tarth and Syrah and rode away to hunt .
“Would they truly be alright on their own, Your Highness? They look like delicate and fair maidens . ”
“Fufu . Sharon and Selena aren’t the delicate maidens you think them to be, Dalshim . In terms of martial arts skills, they may be the strongest among all of us . They are even more skilled than Alan in martial arts after all . ”
“More skilled than Alan-sama!? My word…”
“I’ll have them spar with you all next time . ”
Alan started making those earthen toilets he created last time with his Earth magic spells . A crowd quickly formed around him .
“Your Highness, that is–!?”
“He’s making toilets for us . They are quite splendid by the way . ”
“How truly amazing! I have witnessed the court mages create simple walls made of earth before as well, but I have never seen them make structures that are so elaborate . ”
Alan made three toilets for the men and one toilet for the women in less than twenty minutes . He then started explaining how to use them to everyone . It looks like he wasn’t going to put up earthen huts this time . Perhaps it’s because he may be able to create enough for the party, but not for the rest of the knights . That’s so like Alan .
Alan then went over to our carriage and brought out a large metal plate . It was a flat board with a length of more than one meter and a height of 80 centimeters . It was my first time seeing it .
“What is that, Alan?”
“I had the blacksmith workshop make it for me . We’re going to use this to roast meat . ”
Alan then made an earthen stove to place the metal plate on using magic and started gathering firewood afterward . Gathering firewood would pose no problem since there were a lot of dried twigs and branches scattered around the riverbank .
After a while more, Sharon and Selena returned with their catch . Two Big Boars that looked to be at least 50 kilos each were pulled by Tarth and Syrah via rope . Selena and Sharon also held one Big Bird each . As expected, the two of them really were quite capable .
“Amazing! To think that they managed to catch this much in such a short time . You lot, hurry up and help the ladies with the game and prepare for butchering them!”
“”Yes!””
A group of twenty knights received the hunted game and started butchering them . Alan instructed them on how to properly cut the meat .
Flames blossomed on the bottom of the stove and the preparations for grilling the meat was finally done . Everyone then gathered around the stove . Everyone probably had not eaten a satisfying meal since they started traveling on the road . I have truly troubled them .
“Cleria, it’s a bit early, but how about having dinner now?”
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“Everyone! I’m sure we have plenty to discuss, but for now, let us have dinner first!”
“”Yes!””
Alan selected two of the knights as helpers and gave them metal spatulas . He then started grilling the meat along with them . They used a simple combination of salt and pepper as the flavoring . Perhaps due to the high heat of the flames, the first batch of grilled meat was done in no time . I see . So that iron plate will allow a large amount of meat to be grilled at the same time . The grilled meat slices were placed onto a large plate . There were quite a number of tableware placed right beside the plate for everyone to use .
“Please go ahead and sit, Your Highness . ”
The knights set up some foldable chairs and had me, Dalshim, and Elna sit on them . They then gave each of us a serving of grilled meat slices . There was a combination of thin Big Boar and Black Bird slices on the plate .
The flavoring was simple but delicious . Somehow, I felt that the meat was even more delicious than the meals that restaurants served . No, perhaps it’s the presence of everyone here eating happily that has made me feel this way .
“Go ahead and eat as well, Dalshim . The meat is very delicious . ”
“If you’ll excuse me then, Your Highness . ”
Dalshim brought a piece of meat to his mouth and ate it . After about an hour, everyone seems to have eaten their fill . Since it was already dark, the illumination magic tools were brought out, and several bonfires were also lit around the camp .
Everyone then sat down with me in the center .
“I want to hear your report first . What is the situation of our comrades who have scattered throughout the land and went into hiding?”
“Yes . They are doing fine for now . There have been no reports of deserters until now, so I believe they are doing well for themselves . ”
The one who answered was the current representative of my late uncle’s private troops, Walter .
“I see . But I am more concerned about their families . I’m sure there were also a lot of families that have lost their breadwinners as a result of the coup . What about them? How are they doing now?”
“Roberto-sama has distributed the money he received from Your Highness as fairly as he could . ”
“I shall be direct in asking then . Was the money we sent enough or was it still lacking?”
“……Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough . ”
“…As I thought . Well then, that means we have to do our absolute best from now on . We have already managed to earn at least a million Guineas during our stay here . Once we return to Gantz, we will send the money to them immediately . Will that be alright with you, Alan?”
“Of course . ”
“You are saying you managed to earn a million Guineas in such a short period, Your Highness?”
“It was mostly Alan who earned the money though . ”
“Wait, that’s not right . We earned the money as a party, okay?”
“…Yes . That we did . Is there anything else of import you wish to tell me?”
“The taxes in Starveek Kingdom have dramatically risen since the change in regime and the people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied . ”
“Ah, we have also heard about that as well . It’s all the more reason to retake our kingdom as soon as we can . Anything else?”
“…Nothing else of import, Your Highness . ”
“Alright then . I will now relay our progress during our stay in Gantz to you all . However, we have not undertaken requests as adventurers in Gantz all that much as of now . But we have managed to secure a Home for our new Clan and improved our magic skills . ”
“Your Highness, the Home that you speak of is like our main base, correct? We thank you dearly for doing so much for our sake . How many people can the new Home accommodate?”
“The number of rooms can accommodate a total of 120 people if I remember correctly . ”
Come to think of it, it actually seems that Alan somehow knew how many people were coming over in advance . But perhaps I am just overthinking things .
“…Then all of us will be able to stay in the new Home?”
“That’s how it is . ”
“That is wonderful! I was actually thinking of booking rooms at several cheap inns once we arrive, but now we don’t have to . However, wouldn’t such a big building cost a lot of money to rent?”
“Do not worry . Alan has negotiated with the guild chief of the Commerce Guild and secured a discounted price for us . ”
“Oh! As expected of Alan-sama!”
“And that’s not all . Alan also managed to negotiate for profitable designated quests from the Commerce Guild . This bandit subjugation quest is one of them . ”
“Oh! However, isn’t it reckless to attempt the subjugation of an entire band of low-lives with just the five of you, Your Highness?”
“I understand why you would feel that way, but a mere thirty or so bandits are not a problem for our party whatsoever . ”
“Thirty!? Did you just say thirty, Your Highness?”
Everyone started getting restless .
“This is information Alan has scouted in advance . We will proceed to subdue those thirty bandits tomorrow . ”
“Uh, Cleria, I’m sorry . It actually seems that there are thirty-five bandits . ”
“I see . Well, thirty-five it is then . ”
Everyone started getting even more restless .
“What do you think, Dame Norian?”
Dalshim turned toward Elna and asked in an imploring tone . It’s not as if I do not understand what Dalshim was trying to say . If you think about it under normal circumstances, he truly had a point . However, our party, Shining Star, with Alan leading us, can surely do it .
“I also think there would be no problems . However, that’s if Alan leads us . ”
“Yes, I agree as well . If Alan wasn’t present, going for bandit subjugation tomorrow would certainly become far more difficult . Reckless, even”
“Let’s just see whether or not it’s reckless tomorrow, Cleria . I will have everyone participate tomorrow as well, so they will be able to witness our current prowess firsthand . ”
“Yes, by all means . Please let us lend our assistance . Well, if possible, we would like you all to leave it to us instead, however…”
“No . It’s Shining Star that took up this quest in the first place . That just won’t do . ”
“Cleria, Captain Dalshim, let’s discuss our plans in more detail tomorrow morning . ”
“Understood, Alan-sama . ”
Afterward, we related to everyone about how we attacked the orc settlement and hunted down the General Orc, how we took down the Blue Serpent and the fact that we were just recently all promoted to B rank . It got very lively .
“By the way, Your Highness . I have been curious about this since earlier . What are those things you have pinned on your left chests?”
“Oh, these? These are Shining Star’s official emblems . They have the insignia of a brilliantly shining star . They are great, aren’t they?”
“Yes! Such wonderful craftsmanship! Would it be possible for us all to obtain one as well?”
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“Of course it is . This is the Clan’s emblem after all . ”
Alan got up and headed toward our carriage . Did he perhaps make more of our emblems? But he couldn’t have made that many, could he? After a short while, he came back carrying a large sack .
“It just so happens that I made quite a lot of those emblems, Captain Dalshim . Can you please distribute these to everyone?”
“Oh! That’s wonderful! How many emblems are there in this sack?”
“I think there’s enough for everyone . I made quite a lot after all . ”
“Understood . Alright, you lot! Form up into three rows!”
Three rows of expectant knights formed up in front of Dalshim immediately . Everyone looked quite excited . Some of them attached their respective emblems to the pockets of their clothes, and some pinned them to their left breasts just like us .
“Alan, just why did you make more than a hundred emblems anyway?”
“I thought the Clan’s members would increase sooner or later, so I made them in advance . I’m a man who prepares and plans ahead after all . ”
How very suspicious . I feel that Alan somehow knew just how many people would arrive beforehand . It would still stand to reason if he just made extras just as he claimed, but there was no reason to purposefully bring them with us at this time .
We decided to start our preparations by daybreak, so we turned in early for the night . I had Dalshim refrain from assigning people for night watch duty as well .
“Alan and the rest’s scanning magic is very effective . They will immediately wake up if monsters approach our camp, so there is no need to keep watch at night . ”
“That’s–! ……No, I understand . It shall be so then . ”
Even so, Dalshim and the rest still positioned themselves around us when we slept . Well, I do understand their doubts .
The next day, after having the leftovers from last night as our breakfast, Alan gathered the commanding officers among the knights for a strategy meeting . Well, we ended up surrounded by the rest of the knights just like yesterday though .
Alan brought out a map that looked like a smaller version of the one he showed to us back at the Home .
“First, take a look at this map . According to the info I managed to obtain, the bandits have set up a lot of traps in this area . There are about twenty-seven to twenty-eight bandits manning the various traps at a given time . The remaining seven or eight bandits stay inside their hideout and stand guard over it . ”
“If you have discovered their location, then why don’t you leave it to us to storm the place?”
“No . The bandits have stationed several scouts around the area . If we went at them with a great number of people, they’ll just run away and hide instead of engaging us . Of course, since we know the location of their hideout, it’s also possible to surround and corner them with our numbers, but that would take too much time . It would be better and faster to take them out all at once . ”
“However…”
“Dalshim, the Clan’s leader is Alan . ”
“Yes! Forgive me for stepping out of line, Alan-sama . ”
“We will make use of our carriages for this assault . If we remove all of the luggage, it would be possible to fit fourteen people inside them . The ones who will board the carriages will be archers and those who know magic or are adept in defense . How many are magic casters among the knights?”
“There are seventy-five knights who are capable of casting spells . Shall we take care of the personnel selection on our end?”
“Yes, please . In addition to the carriages, please form two squads with twenty people each . It would be best for them to know magic and archery as well . If possible, they should know their way around mountainous terrain and can trek up to them without making too much noise . ”
“Understood . ”
“Our basic strategy is quite simple . The two 20-man squads will make a big detour over here in order to position themselves behind the bandits . Once they are in position, we will start traversing the road via the carriages . Once the bandits get baited into attacking us, we will spring the trap and pincer them with the help of the ambush squads . That’s about it . ”
“How will we signal the attack?”
Alan pointed toward the sky and looked up . Everyone followed his gaze . A fireball launched out from his finger and flew upward for about thirty meters, and then burst with a loud explosion .
“”Oooh!””
“Let’s use this as the signal . ”
“Just what was that spell!? …No, it’s nothing . Forgive me . ”
“The ambush squads will be commanded by Sharon and Selena since both of them are proficient in scanning magic . ”
“”Understood!””
“Those who cannot join with the carriage squads and ambush squads will wait just behind the highway and should rush out once the signal goes off . And that’s our strategy . Any more questions?”
Alan swept his gaze around everyone, but it looks like they don’t have anything to add . They don’t seem to have any more questions since it was quite a simple strategy .
As Dalshim and Walter organized the rest of the troops, preparations for unloading the luggage off the carriages also went underway .
We tested just how many would fit in inside one carriage after we unloaded it as well .
“Alan-sama, we have finished selecting and organizing the squads . ”
The squads were lined up in orderly groups . Everyone seemed to be filled with enthusiasm for today’s operation . Alan walked around and scrutinized the newly formed squads .
“Good . Let’s begin!”
An additional twelve people boarded our carriage with us since Selena and Sharon will be acting separately .
At last, the operation has begun!
It has been four hours since we left the campsite . Our bandit subjugation mission turned out to be a lot livelier than expected . Of course, if we wanted to simply capture the bandits, us five members of the Shining Star party would be able to accomplish it without any problem . However, we decided to let everyone fight together with us this time .
These new Clan members would probably serve as the core forces for our plan of uniting the entire continent in the future . Thus we will need them to gain as much experience as possible, as well as learn to collaborate with us and grow . No, it’s actually the opposite . We would need to learn from these veterans and grow as well . However, it wasn’t necessary to put everyone’s lives in danger for the sake of training . I will ensure that no casualties will occur .
It should be about time . I stopped our carriage and got off the coachman’s seat . The ones behind me stopped as well .
“Ambush team, form your squads, and deploy immediately . ”
“”Roger!””
Selena and Sharon rode on the carriages used by the ambush team . They would contact me via comms later .
The team formed into two squads immediately and headed for the mountains in two separate directions . Of course, I’ve already scouted the terrain with the drone in advance . With the girls in the lead, they would be able to reach their positions easily .
After an hour or so, Sharon and Selena informed me that they were already in position .
“Yosh . It’s about time . We’re moving out . ”
We advanced via carriages again and were now just 500 meters away from the position of the bandits . I displayed the aerial video feed taken by the drone on a virtual window . There were fourteen bandits on the left side of the road and another fourteen on the right . I witnessed them chatting leisurely with each other as well . They haven’t noticed us yet .
Selena and Sharon’s squads were positioned about 70 meters behind the bandits . They would probably begin sneaking up on the bandits once we’ve closed the distance further .
Once we were just 400 meters away from the bandits, a bandit scout up on one of the trees finally noticed our presence . He quickly signaled to his comrades and informed them to get ready .
We’re now just 50 meters away . Selena and Sharon’s squads have closed upon the bandits gradually . They were now just 30 meters behind them .
“Fifty meters to target . One scout armed with a bow on top of the tree on the right . Thirty meters from the scout are other bandit bowmen . There’s five on each side of the road . ”
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Elna didn’t show any outward signs that she had received information about the bandit’s positions . They were probably planning to surprise us with arrow fire first . Let’s not give them the chance to fire their bows and take them out right away .
When we neared the scout’s position, he and the other bandits started raising their bows but didn’t pull them yet . They also didn’t aim their bows on the right side of the carriage where Elna was . They probably planned to capture Elna after noticing that she was a beautiful woman .
I pointed toward the sky and launched a Fire Grenade spell . With the explosion as the signal, I started the attack by launching Light Arrows toward the ten bandit bow wielders I locked on to earlier . Next was the scout on the tree . After incapacitating him with a Light Arrow, I shot down the arrow he fired with my rifle .
Everyone then jumped out of the carriages and bellowed a loud war cry as they charged toward the bandits .
I stood on the coachman’s seat and scanned the battlefield with my rifle in hand . Screams resounded one after another from the hiding places of the rest of the bandits . It looks like Selena and Sharon have also begun their attack .
Elna blew away the bandits who ran to the highway in order to attack the carriages with Air Bullets . Screams and angry shouts echoed along the road for a while, but they soon died down .
The bandits were kicked out onto the highway one after another .
“Did somebody get injured!?”
It looks like there was no injured personnel this time .
“We really did finish them all in a flash, Alan-sama! I didn’t even have the chance to make my move . ”
Captain Dalshim sounded a bit regretful, but he also looked relieved because there was no one injured among our men .
“I’m the same, Alan . I was late in getting off the carriage so I didn’t get to defeat even a single bandit . ”
Cleria sulked cutely on the side .
“Yosh . Disarm the bandits and gather them on one spot . Oh, and don’t forget to collect the bandit’s belongings, including their equipment, weapons, and valuables!”
Sharon and Selena’s squads also came out to the highway . I checked up on them and found them all safe as well . The ambush team played a big part in our success, so they were all in an elated mood .
“Sharon-dono’s lead was splendid . We moved to a perfect spot behind the bandits and caught them unawares the moment the signal rang out . ”
“Selendono’s lead was more impressive! We were able to approach within an arm’s length of the bandits without getting noticed after all . ”
It looks like both of them managed to get along with their respective squads . I bet the bandits were far too focused on the carriages so they failed to notice the threat directly behind them .
When the ambush commenced, the remaining knights positioned behind the highway also joined the fray, so the bandits stood no chance .
The surrounded bandits were all in a daze . Since I instructed that the bandits should be kept alive if possible, there were none of them who were unable to walk due to their injuries . The knights gathered them up and secured them all with the chain cuffs I ordered from the blacksmith workshop .
“Let’s head to the bandit hideout next, Captain Dalshim . It’s about four kilometers east of here . Twenty men should be enough to keep an eye on the bandits here . It isn’t exactly necessary to bring a lot of men to subdue the remaining bandits, but there may be items worth bringing back with us inside their hideout . ”
“Understood . ”
Captain Dalshim bellowed commands in succession and organized the knights . It looks like one squad from the ambush team would be remaining behind .
We then entered the mountain and headed for the bandit hideout . After about an hour, we finally reached an area near the bandit hideout . From the info gathered by the drone’s multi-sensor, all the people present within the hideout were bandits, and there was a low chance of kidnapped people being kept inside . We should finish them off quickly then .
“That’s the bandit hideout over there . There are two guards outside . ”
“…That certainly seems to be the case . What is our next move?”
“There’s only seven of them left . Let’s charge in openly . ”
The guards noticed us approaching and ran inside their hideout in panic . The hideout, which was another cave, was a dead end . The bandits had nowhere left to run .
We approached the cave openly and entered straight away . Of course, I was keeping eye on the location of the bandits with the drone’s multi-sensor .
Once we arrived at a corner at the deepest part of the cave, I signaled for the men to stop . I then called out to the cornered bandits .
“Oi! We have eighty men with us here . I’d just obediently surrender if I were you guys!”
“Shaddup! Jus try an get closer, ya bastards! We’ll skewer you full of arrows!”
This is just a waste of time . I copied what Elna did earlier and blasted all the spots within the cave that provided cover with multiple Air Bullets . There’s no need to aim, so it was pretty easy .
Screams like ‘Gyaaah!’ and ‘Arrrgh!’ echoed within the cave . Oops . I didn’t think the spells would kick up this much dust . When the dust cloud settled, we found the bandits sprawled on the cave floor . After seeing that, some of the knights behind me threw themselves at the bandits and apprehended them all .
“Don’t forget to secure the loot, everyone . ”
In the innermost part of the cave, we found several wooden boxes and chests piled together . I wonder what’s inside them all .
“Captain Dalshim, check the containers and retrieve all that we can carry out . ”
“Understood . ”
Everyone started opening the boxes and chests one after the other .
“Captain! We found a locked chest over here!”
I and Captain Dalshim approached the knight who called out . Hm . It really was a locked chest . And a pretty large one too . I took out my electromagnetic bladeknife and cut the locks in two .
“Amazing!”
What was contained inside was a huge stockpile of Guineas, as I expected . Oh, aside from Guineas, there were also gems, necklaces, bracelets, and the like inside . There were lots of gold coins . Looks like we hit the jackpot .
This is the true charm of bandit hunting!
“This is quite the big haul!”
“Yes . It was worth coming all the way out here . Divide the loot and carry them out of here . ”
“Understood . ”
Captain Dalshim continued checking the contents of each of the boxes and chests and gave his orders . I wasn’t familiar with which stuff was valuable, so I refrained from participating .
In the end, we only left less than ten percent of the items inside the cave . The loot was divided between the eighty knights we brought with us and carried out . We then walked back to the highway . It took us another hour or so . However, the knights didn’t look tired at all . Instead, their faces were all radiant and their steps were light . Of course, they would be happy . It was a rather good haul after all .
We loaded all the loot inside the carriages, secured the remaining bandits with chain cuffs, and finished our preparations for departure .
“Yosh! Let’s go back to the campsite!”
“”Yes!””
We drove the carriages and traveled back . Hmm . It should be fine at this distance .
(D-1, go back to the cave and destroy it thoroughly . Make sure that no other bandits will be able to make use of it as a base again . )
『Acknowledged . 』
“Um, Alan… Did you hear something just now?”
“No, not really . What’s wrong?”
Wow . Elna has some really sharp ears . I’ll have to take note of this next time