Chapter 11: [Another Perspective] Orto’s Surprise

Posted bytheredsargeantJuly 23, 2020Posted inFun Territory Defense

　Aristocrats are all the same.

　Whether it’s a nobleman who is corrupt, a nobleman who is promiscuous with women, or a nobleman who is only puffed up with useless pride, they are all contemptible.

　I’ve been asked by several noblemen to do jobs for them.
However, I have never worked with a decent noble.
No, maybe they are decent from the standpoint of a nobleman, but from my point of view, they are just trash.

　Even if you are brought up all sorts of rhetoric, even if you are brought up the pride of the nobility, in the end, they are self-protective and prioritize the interests of the royalty and aristocracy.

　The livelihood and security of the people are a mere afterthought.

　All of this is probably due to the fact that there is discrimination between the aristocrats and commoners due to the class divide.
It’s the cause of the feeling of discomfort I feel whenever I met a nobleman.
That is to say, every nobleman looks down on commoners, especially volatile ones like adventurers.

　That’s something most adventurers and merchants who have talked to the nobility can agree on.

”Huh.
They want me to babysit a brat from the nobility?”

　That’s why, when I was first given this request, I wasn’t keen on it at all.
My companions felt the same way.
I only received the request from the Marquis family because I had planned to stay in Marquis Fertio’s territory for an extended period, so I had no choice but to accept the request from the Marquis family lest I get evicted prematurely.

　It was because of those long-held preconceptions that I was surprised when I first met him.

”You must be Mr.
Orto, right? My name is Van Ney Fertio.
I’m told that you have graciously accepted my request to be my escort.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

　He greeted me politely, and unintentionally shook his hand normally while I was still disoriented from his greeting.

”Oh, erm.
Yes, nice to meet you too, my lord.”

　When I responded to that, the little boy named Van looked at us with interest.

“You look strong.
Your battle-scarred armor is cool and your weapons are massive.
Aren’t they heavy?”

　He asks me that, and I reply, puzzled.

“No… I mean yes! Yes, that’s right.
The heavier a weapon is, the more powerful it is, so…”

　When I said that while stumbling over my words, Van nodded a few times and looked at the other members of the group.

　The other members get quite upset as Van bombards them with various questions.
I watched the scene for a while in a daze, but eventually I unconsciously laughed.

　I was baffled, I braced myself because the quest giver was a nobleman, but I somehow ended up being the escort of a loveable, normal child.
I’ll have to stop using respectful language so that I don’t unintentionally make a fool of myself by talking up to a child.

　With that in mind, I went to discuss the travel route with my contractor.

　Just like that, two weeks have passed by.
My impression of the nobility has completely changed.
No, I am certain that this man is an exception among the nobility.

　I’ve only been around him for a short time, but I really like the kid.
If Van was in trouble, I would not hesitate to come to his aid.

　But I still don’t quite understand Van yet.

　Van has become the lord of a tiny village.
It’s a place that used to be another nobleman’s territory.
Any other noble would think to be a hassle and some would decline to become its lord.

　However, Van risked his life to fulfill the responsibilities of a nobleman even though he was forced to take such a place.
He made the choice to sacrifice himself to protect his estate and his people.

　To my surprise, it wasn’t just the territory and its people that Van considered.
The lives of his knights, retired stewards, and even maids and slave children were all taken into consideration.

　The most ridiculous part of it all was that, when he heard that we adventurers couldn’t risk our lives, he proposed a plan where no one would die.
The only person he was willing to sacrifice was himself.

”…He’s a strange guy, really.”

　When I muttered that about the deployment, a nearby companion laughed loudly.

“If Orto had refused the boy’s request at that moment, I still would have chosen to risk my life in the upcoming battle.”

Yeah, that’s a Van is something special.
You can’t let a nobleman like that die in this backwater.
If I could, I’d want that little boy to be king.”

　My companions said that in a joking tone.
I responded to that by making a slight smile before I began gazing at the village.

　The defensive wall was already in place.
It was about three meters high and ten meters long.
I didn’t expect that old butler to be a magician of such an impressive caliber.

　Normally, a four-elements magician who could fight to such an extent wouldn’t be a butler, but there must be some unknown circumstances.

　Snapping me out of my contemplations, I saw arrows fired by my companions, Pluriel’s water spear, and even chunks of stone heading toward the enemy in a deadly barrage.

　Although it was simply the initiator for a two-step surprise attack, the ferocious barrage almost looked as though it could rout the enemy on its own.

”Let’s go! Begin the Assault!”

　I yelled and kicked the ground, my friends following close behind.
On the opposite flank, I could see the knights running with me.

”Huh? Hey, they are charging at us!”

　One of them noticed, but it was too late.
The shield they hold is cheap garbage.
I swing my sword down upon the shield.
The shield is crushed, and as it breaks, the sword continues its trajectory, slashing diagonally from the man’s shoulder all the way to his side.

　Fresh blood dancing in the air, my companions also surround and cut down the raiders one after another.
We must swiftly end them, otherwise, they will begin to mount a resistance and cause preventable casualties upon our men.

　The enemies on the left and right were holding their bows and arrows at the beginning of the engagement, so they will be slow to rearm themselves for melee combat.
In this window of opportunity, we must swing our swords without rest.

　Due to the support of long-range attacks, we eliminate our enemies at an unexpectedly fast rate.

　Glancing over, I saw that the knights on the other side were doing just as well.
Especially Dee, who was able to wield an incredibly massive sword as if it were one of normal size.
The destructive power of the sword, which was able to cut through armor as if it were paper, was incredibly influential on the battlefield.

　In fact, Dee’s unusual fighting style caused some raiders to become rooted in place due to fear, with some of them even beginning to flee.

”Chi! What is such a monster doing in a place like this…!”

　And as Dee’s eyes glanced over the battlefield, one of the large men who had been standing on guard at the front of the village turned heel and started to run.

　He was headed in the direction where the long-distance strike group was placed.

”Hey! Stop! Somebody stop that bastard!”

　I scream as I slash a bearded man’s head off in front of me, but no one was in a position to assist as they were all occupied by the enemies in front of them.

　This was not good.

　The long-distance group might not be able to see the enemy approach until it is too late because of the earthen barrier they are crouching behind.

　If he gets too close, the strike team’s bows and magic will not be able to be effectively used, leaving them vulnerable.

”Damn it! Look out! The enemy is approaching!

　I shouted as I parried an approaching sword.

　However, mercilessly, no arrows nor sorcery were directed at the approaching man at all.
They had not noticed.

　While Pluriel was chanting behind the defensive wall, she suddenly saw a previously unseen large figure at the edge of her vision.

　An enemy.

　She recognized the danger that moment, but her magic had already finished chanting and activated.
The next shot could only be fired in ten seconds.

　There was no time.

　The large man turned his bloodshot eyes towards her and charges with an axe in hand.

　He’s going to kill me!

　Just as she thought that, two small figures appeared in front of her.

“Master Van!”

　I couldn’t help but call the nobleman by his title.
It was out of place, but for some reason, was the first thing that came to mind.
(T.N.
Note: Rip Kamsin, completely ignored.)

“Over here, you heavyweight wrestler!”

　Van shouted unintelligible words and ran while staying low to the ground.
The slave boy followed suit, approaching with her sword at the ready.

　Suicidal.

　This is not an opponent that two children can manage.

　However, contrary to her worries, they coordinate unexpectedly well and seem able to match the muscular raider.

　Van rolls on the ground to avoid an axe swing, following it up with several slashes upon the defenseless back of the raider’s knees with his sword.
He continues the roll until he passes under the opponent’s crotch, after which he stands up.
The way he fought was unlike that of a nobleman, but his movements were brilliant and refined nevertheless.

”Gah!”

　The slave-child gives chase to the large man who, in pain and panic, lost his balance.
He leaps, using the raiders fallen axe as a foothold, and expertly slashes the man’s neck.

　I was still in a state of despair even after the man fell, but Van had already moved on to resolving other battlefield issues.

”There’s a possibility that the enemy will concentrate here! Don’t get caught off guard!”

　Despite our seniority, we immediately followed the instructions of a child who could be no older than ten years old.

　Who on earth is this kid?

　With such a question in mind, I refocus my attention on the battle at hand.