Chapter 1 E 14 - (Pursuers)
Mid-day, during an intense sunlight, Rolph loud voice can be heard from the square in front of the castle gate.
"Sardina-sama, Seria-dono, Orlando-dono, and also this me, the commander, each of us will be allocated 30-40 person, and then we will divide, then search toward east and south border, the formation will be notified beforehand. Also, as everyone already knows, the culprit is someone from another world who had killed Gaies-sama. Thus, everyone should be exerting maximum caution. Well then, begin the preparation to move!"
While the soldiers are being organized, Rolph remembered what had happened last night.
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After Mikoshiba Ryouma snake out from the castle gate.
"What's going on?!"
Celia's angry voice roared in front of the castle gate of the imperial capital Ortomea.
"Calm down. Seria-dono."
"Sardina-sama..."
Seria then toned down her voice.
"Let's end this for today, after all; everyone already looks tired..."
Sardina's eyes looked around.
"However... If the situation continues like this then..."
Seria tried to protest; however, Sardina does not back down.
"Even though we only do it around the imperial capital, it is dangerous if we do it in the middle of the night. We should reconsider other measures, and then start over tomorrow."
"Indeed. Just like Sardina-sama had said. We should end the work here for now. How about it? Seria-dono."
If Rolph said that, then there's no other words Seria can say.
"Orlando-dono, please escort Seria-dono to her mansion. Gaies-sama had just passed away, and Seria-sama also just experienced her tough day as well."
"No. I can go home alone!"
Seria refused Rolph concern.
"You should not overdo it you know, Seria-dono? Orlando-dono, please take care of Seria-dono."
"Understood!... Come Seria-dono..."
Orlando immediately responded to Sardina's words; he then tried to hold Seria.
"Orlando! Let go of me! I can return alone!"
However, just when she pull her hand, Seria lost her balance and fell then collapsed.
"Sardina-sama. What do you think about all of this?"
"Well no matter what anyone says, I guess this is impossible..."
Toward Rolph question, Sardina immediately gives him her answer.
"As expected, it's impossible huh..."
"The game of chasing is only valid in the first 10 minutes after the culprit left the castle gate."
"Still... even with everything being organized, this is considerably impossible to do."
Hearing Sardina's words, Rolph who took command shows bitter expression.
"I know. That's why I did not blame you particularly. Rolph-dono."
Sardina then moves her gaze toward the forest.
"In the first place, I was already feeling doubtful that we will be able to arrest the person inside the imperial capital. His face and age are also unknown you know? It would be still possible if he were to loiter around wearing the imperial guard armors...."
"Does that mean he's no longer wearing the imperial guard armor?"
"There's that possibility..."
Sardina nodded answering Rolph question.
"So then, what shall we do after this?"
"I guess the only way is for us to blockade the border..."
Sardina shakes her head in disapproval.
"We will advance toward the border while searching as well. "
"But... Which border should we go?"
Rolph concern is of course understandable.
"For now I can narrow down to two choices."
Rolph looked at Sardina with a surprised expression.
"Two choices you say? Does Sardina-sama mean the east or south?"
The distance between imperial capital and the borders appeared on Rolph's mind.
"Indeed. However, it would be probably the east."
"May I ask you the reason?'
Sardina then responded with a smile.
"If I have to say it then, it's just my intuition. However, I think it will hardly immediately happen."
Sardina then turned to Rolph and said,
"After all the person is someone who manages to escape from the castle and shake off our pursuit."
"Is that mean, Sardina-sama thought that the Otherworld person knows the geography...?"
Rolph expression while saying that were as if saying that's impossible.
"That's one of the possibility..."
"But then, if that's the case then why not chose the closest one? If it were me, I won't chose the eastern one?"
At least for Rolph, if it were him, he would choose the shortest route.
"Indeed. If the purpose were only to escapes, then the south would be better. However, that would be easy for us to predict then."
"Since the person thought we predict that he choose the east? It can't be. Even with that, it's a bit..."
A troubled expression shows on Sardina's face.
"Rolph. I also don't want to give a needless fear. However, so far it went over our head you know? If I were to make light of my opponent here, the person might escape outside the country."
Rolph then replied while in thought.
"Indeed... However, I'm unable to abandon the south either..."
He judged realistically.
"I understand what you're getting at. Since it was my intuition that told me to head east... Seria-dono, Rolph-dono, and Orlando dono the three of you shall head south while I will head east."
"Indeed, that way will be for the best... however, why not divide it two south two east.?"
His suggestion is reasonable.
"No, after all the East is only because of my intuition. Besides, I'm worried whether Orlando will be able to suppress Seria... Either way, I also already have an excelled deputy here. Thus I should be fine..."
Rolph then remembered how Seria the "snowstorm Princess" went frenzy shouting and rushing around.
"I understood. Then we will organize the unit according to that plan."
"I leave it to you then. Rolph-dono."
After Rolph had lowered his head, he encouraged his tired body to move and re-organized the unit all-nighter.
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One of his adjutants came for a report.
"Sardina-sama. Shall we go then?"
Toward Rolph words, Sardina pointed her sword forward.
"Advance!"
Toward Rolph order, the 150 cavalries then started moving.
"Her Highness Princess. I've ordered to the closing of Adelpho's checkpoint as per your order."
"I see. Thank you for the hard work. That was quick of you."
That was the order she gave to him yesterday afternoon.
"Are you going to arrest him at Adelpho town?"
Saitou age is approximately 30 years of age.
"Oh my? Did I say such a thing?"
"No. That's why I asked Her Highness, the imperial princess."
Due to the answer did not go along her expectation, Sardina asked a question once again with displeased face.
"Then I will ask in return. O my excellent staff officer-san. Do you think that we could catch the otherworld person at the town of Adelpho?"
"No. Fist of all, that would be impossible."
Saitou answered plainly.
"Oh my? I wonder why is that?"
"How are you going to look for a man whom you don't even know the face? Or is there any particular clue?"
That was the first problem.
"I guess so... Fufufu. After all, you don't know the person you are looking for ne~."
Toward Sardina smile, Saitou narrowed his eyes.
"If that is the case then, what are we going to do?"
"It's fine. Since we don't know the face. I have no choice but to make the opponent say that he is the criminal, no?"
Hearing Sardina words, sharp light appear on Saitou eyes.
"I see. Is that why we closed Adelpho checking station?"
"That's right. In the first place, the human resource we can use is limited; thus I can't expect much from it."
"How about we mobilize Adelpho's garrison?"
Toward Saitou suggestion, Sardina shook her head.
"That's impossible. If we move the garrison at the national border, it would only make Zalda invade us. And we can't ask the noble either ne~."
"I guess so... If this were to leak to the other noble, it might incite them to make rebellion after all."
Sardina imagined the case where this case getting leaked to the neighboring countries and the imperial nobles.
"Even if it were to be announced sooner or later, right now, it would be bad. Thus the means that I choose is where we won't make too much move... even though it's disadvantageous."
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Seria, Rolph, Orlando, Sardina, the four people are given the task to pursue him from the afternoon till night.
However, they could not find anyone wearing the castle guard armor who left the castle.
The reason for her being like that is because, the imperial guard soldiers who had been scattered to all direction, have returned without any result.
No one is able to catch anyone; thus they all bow their head uniformly.
After all, the only clue they currently possess is that the person left the castle gate at 2 o'clock in the afternoon while wearing guard's armor.
The time it took for Seria and the others to get permission and organize the soldiers is 20 minutes.
Since then, it took them 10 hours to search until midnight, which bore no fruit.
No soldier blatantly said it, but, expression of accumulated fatigue can be seen from them.
It's just on her part that she is unable to accept that the criminal who murdered her blood relative still run at large.
However, in the eyes of the surrounding people, they all realize that she's just bluffing.
Of course, that can be understood.
After all, she has been searching around for more than 10 hours without taking any break.
In the end, Orlando carried Seria back to her mansion.
He can pridefully say he did his best, however, being unable to catch the criminals makes all the effort meaningless.
(If it were me, I would immediately change my clothes... after all, that what the pursuers will chase as well.)
For starter, Ortomea Empire is vast; it can be considered among five best countries in the continent.
However, because this country is landlocked, and being the aggressor to boot, all the nation in the surrounding are hostile.
This time we can organize search party around 150 people, this is because there are soldiers who have been stationed on the border defending against the neighboring countries, and we can't mobilize large Imperial Guard army because their primary duty is to protect the emperor and for grand mobilization.
The face and age of the target also unknown; thus the military man Rolph cannot propose human wave tactic.
Since she said two choices, then it is natural to think about the closest border which is the southern one, and the next closest to that, the eastern border.
Since one's life is in danger, of course, the person would want to escape to overseas as soon as possible.
There's no reason to choose the further route intentionally.
That is what Rolph had thought.
He thought that even though it has a defect, it also has an advantage as well.
Usually, they should divide the unit in half.
However, Sardina shakes her head toward Rolph suggestion.
(Certainly... as Her Highness said, if it's only Orlando-dono, he might be unable to suppress the unstable Seria-dono... Well, besides, that guy is with her; thus Her Highness won't end up in danger)
After listening to Sardina words, Rolph immediately concluded.
In his mind, the figure of the deputy leader that Sardina claimed to be excelled appear.
For the sake of catching just one otherworlder.
"Rolph-sama! the soldiers have finished their preparation and ready to move immediately. "
Chasing after otherworld person shadow that they can't even see.
The Vanguard are Sardina with her deputy leader Saitou running side by side.
Even if he do it by changing horse, that was quite the considerable speed.
Listening to Saitou report, Sardina gave a satisfied expression.
His hair parted sideway with ratio 7:3, His appearance is like that of an Elite salaryman.
If he were to wear glasses and business suit, then walked in the business district, he would be able to blend immediately.
Sardina smile mischievously toward the man who is putting up an intellectual atmosphere, and asked a question,
This time, Sardina seems to be satisfied by the answer.
She asked back a question with a little laughter.
What they only know about the otherworld person is that he's a man with a tall physique and a merciless mind.
Just that.
With that description, within the empire, there are a lot of man like that.
Not only the empire but also within the western continent.
Last night the pursuit were chasing with the premise that he's wearing Imperial Guard armor, however, they were still unable to capture him
It is the proof that the intention of his master has been transmitted to him.
Toward Sardina's explanation, Saitou nodded silently.