Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76

by Chapter 01-76 (epub)

  That’s what the soldiers told me when we went drinking together.

  I was a little envious of Albert who had all the attention of women and girls constantly crying ‘kya kya’, but I waited quietly inside the carriage.

  Rewards are needed once in a while, and recently Albert’s ‘training’ got really intense.

  And so, we arrived at the village chief’s house and it was time for a banquet.

  We brought presents like money and meat for the village, and since we also brought some sake we treated them to a drink.

  I don’t really want to make an enemy out of the commoners and well, it’s also part of the etiquette.

  Once the enjoyable banquet was over, the maids wiped my body dry and I went to bed.

  This is not cheating, right? They only wiped my body dry, that’s all.

  Like that, the first day of our trip ended without any particular problems.

  After that, our journey progressed smoothly as well.

  We encountered some dog-like monsters, but the knights defeated them easily.

  And so, our journey continued peacefully to the point it became rather disappointing.

  That’s to be expected of the black soldiers that are said to be the most elites; they are really reassuring.

  However, when we only had one day left until we got to the imperial capital a problem sprang forth.

  “Lord Sonia, Lord Zest, there’s some sort of trouble up ahead. Just to be sure, please be cautious.”

  When Albert’s words came out, it made me want to check the situation outside. And then, I’ve seen it.

  Some people wearing armors were surrounding a group of young men and women.

  There were also some armor wearing persons who were riding on horses……Are they knights? Besides, their equipment seems rather light.

  It appeared that the other party had noticed our presence as well.

  One of the cavalrymen started running away……What? Are you retreating midway?

  The knight who ran back a little while ago accompanied the group’s leader now, a man wearing a full-plate armor, and they were rushing towards us.

  “Excuse me for not dismounting. I am Kenes, one of the squad leaders of the imperial capital’s patrol corps. When I’ve seen your black military equipment, I realized you’re the Frontier Count’s regular army, however, may I ask who is riding inside the carriage?”

  The full-plate took off his face guard and called out to us.

  My master stopped the carriage and showed his face.

  “I am Sonia Varnam, the Magic Division Commander of the Varnam Frontier Count’s army. What happened here?”

  Oh, he’s in the Frontier Count’s Household mode now.

  Master, I can’t believe you were cheerfully talking about the imperial capital’s bars until a while ago. You look so dignified now.

  “Greetings, Lord Sonia. Forgive my rudeness. We are currently arresting some adventurers…….”

  According to his story…

  The adventurers were on a harvesting quest inside the forest close to the main road when some thieves attacked them.

  They counterattacked and started fighting, but a stray arrow released by an adventurer hit a patrolling knight.

  Since it was clearly an accident, the patrol squad didn’t want to make a huge fuss over it, however because there was an adventurer who showed a bad attitude towards them, they started to quarrel and ended up arresting the entire group.

  Hey! Really now, don’t start a fight with the army!

  Well, the soldiers were commoners, so the adventurers’ lives were out of mortal danger. If they would have offended a noble instead, it would have been an imminent ‘goodbye’ for their group.

  “I see. Well then, we have nothing to do with this, so we’ll be on our way.”

  “Yes sir! I’m sorry for making trouble for you!”

  It seemed that my master didn’t want to get involved, and I’m sure the adventurers would be released after spending a few days in jail.

  I don’t really know to what extent their attitude was bad, however if it was excessively awful, then they might also end up getting killed.

  Nevertheless, they picked a fight with the wrong group and they must suffer the consequences now.

  We approached the side of this group and continued on our way.

  We would just pass them and go ahead on our way……or that’s what it was supposed to happen.

  “I beg of you! Please save us, Frontier Count, Varnam-sama!”

  That was the desperate shout of a tied up woman adventurer, who jumped in front of our carriage.

  It was the moment we realized we could not simply advance and ignore her cry…….I’m beaten.

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 29: The Adventurers’ Excuse

  There was one reader who actually guessed (I hope they guessed and it wasn’t a spoiler xD) what was about to happen next in the story. I wonder now, was it really that obvious?

  Anyway, enjoy, my friends, chapter 29! ^^

  * * *

  Chapter 29: The Adventurers’ Excuse

  “How insolent! How dare you stop the carriage of the Frontier Count’s Household!”

  Albert’s angry voice echoed and master rested his head in his palms at this scene.

  “So, they’re on the move too now…….Really now, if you obediently go spend a night or two in jail, you’ll be able to leave after that. With this, by stopping the Frontier Count’s Household’s carriage, you’ve just added to your crimes, you know?”

  The carriage has already stopped.

  We’ll cancel our trip, right?…….In my dreams.

  “They’re relying on the Frontier Count’s Household to ask for help, you know, it’s not decent to simply ignore them. It’s not good to only listen to the soldiers’ story, but if we wouldn’t have trusted them, the imperial capital’s army would’ve complained….Ah! It’s so troublesome.”

  Don’t look at me so intently, master. Are you trying to say ‘Do something’?

  “……..So, we must judge both parties?”

  “Well, it really helps that your understanding is quick. Such an excellent son-in-law-dono.”

  Smiling, he passed the whole task onto me.

  Master, you’ve shown no restraint recently.

  But he specifically said ‘son-in-law-dono’, that in itself is full of meaning.

  Ah, Albert’s got ahold of the woman……I left the carriage and called out.

  “Albert, it’s all right, let her go. I’m Zest of the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household, tell me what you have to say.”

  Albert bowed and released the woman, after which he positioned himself to my side.

  The patrol soldiers can’t intervene…….They can’t oppose the Frontier Count’s Household if we say we want to listen to them.

  “T…then, I won’t refrain myself to tell you our story.”

  The woman with both her hands tied up, was trembling, and her voice did sound very young.

  Is she in her teens or 20s, I wonder? Her hair is red and put into a ponytail.

  Her face is hidden and I can’t see it, but I could figure that her stature is very slender through the leather armor that she was wearing.

  “We are adventurers, but if nothing is done now, we will become slaves! Please save us!”

  ……..What? You’ll be turned into slaves?

  I glanced at the soldiers only to find that they were hiding their faces.

  Wait a minute! Can it really be…

  “Now that you’ve mentioned slavery, I can’t overlook this. Albert, bring that Kenes squad leader from earlier to me.”

  “Yes sir! At once.”

  One way or another, he caught him in the blink on an eye.

  The other soldiers were surrounded by the black nights.

  Kenes was dragged along to stay in front
of me, his complexion was really bad.

  “Good, now everyone’s gathered. So, what did you mean with being turned into slaves? Continue explaining.”

  “Yes sir, we were harvesting inside the forest when the soldiers called us to halt and ordered that me and the other girl go with them…….”

  She sent a fleeting glance at her companions.

  It was true that among the other 4 members of her group, there was one who had long hair and looked like a girl.

  I was shocked…….It was the first time I got so angry that I couldn’t feel anything but shock.

  “Oi, Kenes. I don’t want to believe it, but I got to ask it. Did you want to take away these women forcibly? If that’s the case, then was the story with the thieves a lie?”

  Squad leader Kenes was looking downward, his face ghastly pale, and didn’t answer, moment in which Albert silently hit him with his spear.

  “Lord Zest is asking you a question, how dare you ignore him? If it happens again, you’ll lose one leg.”

  Don’t draw your sword yet, Albert.

  Ah! Even the black knights drew their swords already…….Why is the Frontier Count’s army so fast in acting!?

  “Hii! W…we can’t oppose them!” “The squad leader will speak!” “We can’t go against the black knights! We surrender!”

  ……..Yes, that’s the right choice.

  They would’ve killed you in the blink of an eye.

  I started talking louder, in order for no one to realize that I was in fact pretty scared inside.

  “Kenes, I am asking you whether you’ve lied to the Frontier Count’s Household or not.”

  “Yes. P…please, my life……spare my…….”

  I decapitated him before he could even finish.

  Since my master was watching from behind, if I were to be too soft in handling this situation, I would end up being unwanted sooner or later.

  “You’ve also heard it, right? This guy wanted to deceive the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household, therefore he died for his crime. You lot will come to the imperial capital to receive your judgment. If you have any objections, I’ll listen. Step forward.”

  The soldiers were collectively staring at the severed head that was rolling on the ground.

  These idiots……They’ve made more unnecessary work for me.

  The ten or so soldiers were tied and the black knights were pulling them by a rope.

  Oh well, it’d be impossible for them to run away, the difference in ability between ordinary soldiers and the black knights it’s too big to even be mentioned.

  On the other hand, the already released adventurers were prostrating themselves before me.

  “Thank you so very much, Zest-sama, you have sa…ved….. us.”

  Pipe down that friendly tone a bit…..Albert, don’t stare at him like that.

  “Don’t be so tense, you were the victims in this case. For now, we’ll be traveling together to the imperial capital. I have to report the circumstances after all.”

  When they heard that, the two young women moved their bodies a little in an attempt to slightly intoxicate me.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t order you to entertain us. There are no scums in the Varnam Frontier Count’s army.”

  We won’t ask for your bodies as a means for thanking us for saving you, you know? We are gentlemen after all.

  To be honest, the black soldiers are the most popular of all elites, so they don’t really lack the attention of women. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.

  There’s no need to even remind my soldiers of this.

  As a matter of fact, the Knights Commander is very strict of this matter, so they’re actually too afraid to act improperly to the women.

  There were no adventurers who couldn’t ride on a horse.

  That’s to be expected of another world, the horse is the main transportation means, so it was only natural.

  While the captured soldiers were dragged along by the horses, we were moving towards the next village.

  We’ll stay there for the night and we’ll get to the imperial capital early tomorrow.

  We’re finally arriving……The last part of our journey was a disaster. Really now, I ended up with more unnecessary work than I was actually disposed to do……

  “He he he, dear knights. They look really expensive, those armors of yours. Leave them behind obediently!”

  A bandit group showed up.

  …….Oi, patrol corps, you’re not doing your job properly.

  Ah! We’ve seized them so they can’t actually work, ha ha…..

  I quietly looked up at the beautifully sparkling sky and I really wanted to think that it wasn’t so because of my tears.

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 30: The Bandits Showed Up

  Chapter 30 comes with a fight…..a good or a bad one, it’s up to you to decide. ^^

  Enjoy!

  * * *

  Chapter 30: The Bandits Showed Up

  “He he he, what’s wrong, dear knights……you’re so shocked you can’t even say a word? Haa?”

  That’s correct. We were really too surprised to say anything.

  What we saw was a bandit group of almost 30 people.

  Normally this would be considered a threat, being outnumbered three times.

  “You have women too! We’re lucky today. Oi! Leave the women and your armors behind and disappear from my sight, little noble boys.”

  The bandits were smiling mockingly.

  What’s with these guys?……Why are they so composed when going against the knights? Is there something more that I’m not aware of?

  “You idiots are out of your minds? What are you planning, making enemies of the army?”

  Albert shouted.

  He readied his spear not leaving a single opening; the black knights followed his example and were already prepared for battle.

  They would not show weakness even against a group of bandits.

  Usually they spar with my master or my foster father….the Knights Commander, and even in those circumstances these guys are happily fighting against them, they’re all battle maniacs…..urm, elites, they’re elites, yes.

  However, they seemed to be differently perceived by the bandits.

  “Haaa! After the war ended, the army is only composed of weak noble little boys now. Look, don’t try to show off and leave before you injure yourselves.”

  While one of the bandits was saying those words, another one was approaching Albert, and ended up being stabbed to death.

  His neck was cut open and he collapsed leaving behind a mist of blood.

  “What the hell is this?”

  It was Albert who muttered those words.

  When the bandits saw their comrade become a corpse in but an instant, they couldn’t even react.

  “You’re this weak but still dare to challenge us?”

  He muttered to himself again and killed another two bandits who were closest to him.

  After that, the bandits finally came to their senses.

  These guys are different than ordinary soldiers…..Did we challenge some unthinkably strong group? That’s what they were thinking.

  Finally, they readied their weapons, lowered their backs to prepare for battle, and even though they started shouting angrily and threateningly, it was already too late for them.

  “Don’t make a fool of yourselves, you idiots! It’s an insult to challenge the Frontier Count’s Army when you’re this unskilled! Everyone, don’t leave any of these fools alive!”

  Moved by Albert’s anger, the black knights started to move simultaneously.

  It didn’t matter whether the bandits were wielding their weapons or trying to run away.

  It was a one-sided extermination.

  The black knights, including Albert, had a very easy to understand reasoning.

  They enjoy the
status of being the most elites among the soldiers of the empire, so for these guys pride is something very valuable.

  ‘As the empire’s shield, the Frontier Count’s Army and its soldiers are to never be defeated. The enemy army is the first and the last opponent you fight against. The defeat of the Frontier Count’s Army is the defeat of the Empire.’

  Once you enter this army, this is what you get taught in the very beginning, after that you get trained thoroughly.

  This also applies for nobles.

  Even a highly ranked noble from an esteemed family and lineage, once he enters the Frontier Count’s Army, his status would account for nothing.

  Nobles that are not soldiers, commoners that are soldiers.

  These kinds of things mostly occur throughout the Frontier Count’s territories.

  The little noble boys these guys refer to, who can’t hold on even for half a day and end up running to escape death, this situation for the soldiers in the Frontier Count’s Army is daily training.

  The Imperial Capital Army sure has become dull……

  My master and I were inside the carriage thinking about this, when one of the still surviving bandits approached us.

  A hostage?……Your way of thinking is really not bad…..

  I left the carriage, my attitude changing from a miserable mood to a delightful one……and I approached the group like I was a predator coming across its prey.

  I waved my hand to stop the black knights who were moving towards me to offer protection.

  “He’s their boss! Take him hostage, hurry up!”

  Someone from the already shrunken group of surviving bandits shouted.

  Only two?……So few.

  A bandit carrying an axe on his right shoulder was approaching me insecurely when I drew my sword and slashed him from his lower half up to his neck.

  His severed head was rolling on the ground, his face dumbfounded.