The South Gate of the Royal Capital.
“Hey.”
“What is it?”
“I heard it from a rumor.”
Is it true that His Majesty the King of Charlsharl and the important ministers have fallen?
The order from our superior who is currently commanding us.
Is it really okay? We haven’t been involved in anything bad, have we?
A guard who has been suffering from sleeplessness due to anxiety.
“It’s okay.”
“Really…”
Really, really. If it’s a lie, I’ll hide you.
This talk is over.
“We have to guard the gate properly.”
“O-oh.”
Several hours later.
A watchman on the outer wall shouts.
“Dust cloud! That’s… a large group of carts approaching!! Evacuate inside the gate!! You’ll be crushed!! Someone, send a messenger to the Royal Castle!!”
The commotion at the South Gate was heard by the residents as well.
A group of carts? What is their purpose, coming so fast that they raise dust clouds?
Rustle, rustle.
The war situation with the neighboring country is rumored to be disadvantageous.
And recently. The friendly country to the north was invaded.
The Hero went out to suppress them.
Yet, the invading army still exists.
Whether it’s true or not is unclear.
That invading army is a collection of remnants.
According to another source.
A newly dispatched reinforcement unit.
They gathered the routed remnants.
And they are planning to use the information about our subjugation force… the Hero’s conquest.
All of them seem plausible, yet completely off the mark. It’s not impossible that fragments of information where some part of them is mistaken.
A few minutes later.
Behind the South Gate, soldiers guarding other gates have gathered.
Excellent coordination.
“Everyone!”
The orders from those in charge can be heard.
Outside, the group of carts has already stopped in front of the gate.
We will repel them.
“Half of you, climb the outer wall! The rest, stand by in readiness for an assault!”
The plan is simple.
Attack from a safe position.
As soon as the group of carts takes a defensive stance, we will charge out.
The group of carts was being pursued by a pursuit unit from the town.
In other words, they were already as good as dead.
But, as the old proverb says, a cornered rat will bite the cat.
Those who are cornered sometimes deliver an unpredictable blow to the strong.
A lucky punch.
Creeeak…! Clang!
“…Huh? Why did the gate open… Huh, it’s—”
We had to recall the troops who were moving to attack the outer wall.
There is little chance of victory against the group of carts, which is not in chaos.
Even if we win with immense damage. If the defense of the Royal Capital afterward is shaky, victory has no meaning.
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!
A charge from the group of carts, with war cries that could be interpreted as either joy or rage.
Half of the Royal Capital Guard clashed with the first wave.
“Gyaaaaaaaa”
They have mass.
It’s insane not to be scared by the sight of horses and carts approaching.
We were the ones supposed to charge, weren’t we?
Soldiers thought so.
They thrust their weapons forward.
Dodging the approaching hooves and horses, they slashed the sides of the horses with full force.
Hihhihiin!?
However, that was all the soldiers could do.
They were crushed by other horses and the wheels of the carts.
The sturdy armor provided was decent.
But it couldn’t protect the joints of their limbs or exposed areas.
Bones were broken and crushed.
Internal bleeding and bone fragments traveled through blood vessels, destroying vital organs like the heart and lungs.
They vomited an impossible amount of blood and died a few seconds later.
What a tragic end.
That scene gradually reached the rear.
“Heeelp meee”
“Runnnnnnn”
“Residents, run—”
Just how large was the scale?
The soldiers didn’t know the size of the group of carts.
Why did the gate open and close on its own?
Without ever knowing about Nine’s Possession Ability.
Crack! Bang! Grind…!
Dead.
The troops who were on their way up the outer wall froze at the sight.
They knew they had to descend and vanquish the intruders.
But if they descended, they would meet the same fate…
Charlsharl Kingdom Royal Castle.
Nine and his men ran over the soldiers who were waiting and reached the castle gate without the horses being killed.
“Wh-wh-who are you!? What are you doing dressed like that (blood-soaked)—Gyaaaaaa!”
“Noisy.”
“Boss, what do we do now?”
His subordinates launched projectiles.
The gatekeeper was easily grazed and, while kneeling, his throat was slit.
“Hmm? We’re going to storm the castle as is and have a forceful negotiation (talk) with whoever the King is ♪”
“Ooooooh ♪”
Nine, with his perceptive subordinates, entered the Royal Castle.
Servants screamed and fled.
The soldiers, being roughly equal in number, blocked their path.
“Where is the King… the leader of this country ♪”
“Tell us quickly.”
“Or we’ll violate you.”
“Here, here, if you vomit it up, we’ll spare you ♪”
“We’ve come to challenge you again…”
“Boss, the number of poison sacs…”
A sudden battle indoors.
It would be good if they all rushed in at once, but…
“Well, if this young lady’s story is true, it’ll be soon.”
“Good for you.”
“If it’s a lie, we won’t let you off.”
They obtained the valuable information that the King was recovering in the infirmary.
If the information is true, they don’t need to worry about the remaining poison sacs.
Infirmary.
Royal exclusive room.
In the adjacent room, ministers were recovering in a shared room.
“Your Majesty, it has become quiet. May I go and check?”
“Ah, if anything happens, rely on the ministers next door.”
“Understood,” the royal doctor said, got permission from the King, and went to check.
“Heeeh—ga-mo-gaaaah!”
“Shhh ♪”
They encountered Nine and his group.
They silenced the doctor inside and barged in.
“How is… the situation?”
The King, seeing the doctor restrained and the men he had never seen before, didn’t reach a state of resignation, thinking the enemy country had already advanced this far.
“You’re the King, right ♪ Let’s make a deal (talk) with us ♪”
Nine brandished his weapon invitingly.
“A threat (talk)? Alright.”
As expected of a king.
Even though a friendly country betrayed them and the Hero was defeated and fell,
Just six bandits with weapons trying to negotiate by force, he responded with a smile.
The doctor caught in the middle.
Isn’t it fine if I leave?
He was out of place. His status was below that of His Majesty the King.
Not even a hostage, nor leverage for negotiation.
So, he sent a pleading gaze to the King, “Please help me.”
The King, averting his gaze from the bandits, would put him at a disadvantage in negotiations, so he ignored him.
He probably felt sorry, but didn’t show it on his face.
“Then, why don’t you hire us ♪”
“…You mean, to serve the country?”
“No, no. In exchange for money and some privileges, we’ll remove your troubles like mercenaries. It’s not that we want to work in the Royal Castle.”
“…I’d like to consult with the ministers next to me for a bit. Is that alright? I am the King, but I am not a dictator. I consult with the ministers and make decisions on matters of state.”
Nine readily agreed.
He guided the King to the adjacent room, and had his subordinates block any potential escape windows.
“Discuss it in that corner over there.”
“Ah, we will.”
“Your Majesty…”
The ministers, seeing the King brought to them by the bandits.
They took a moment to accept reality, wondering if this was a bad dream or old age.
When their consciousness cleared.
They had a meeting in the designated corner of the sickroom with the King.
