Chapter 180: Think Ahead
We reach the center of the settlement and finally join Julius.
"You, bandits!"
The battle has already begun, and several soldiers in leather armor are bleeding to death.
Another person has just died at the hands of Julius.
"Wince, you go around the back."
"I understand"
I'll charge up front.
First, I cut down the soldier on horseback wearing a full plate.
When the soldier who was the only one wearing metal armor died, the other soldiers got confused.
"Come on! Who's next!"
One person stood up from among the confused soldiers
"Don't panic if the captain is down! There are only two of them. We outnumber them!"
Probably a second-in-command or something.
He's a middle-aged guy.
He must be trusted.
The confused soldiers quickly regrouped.
"Name yourself, bandit!"
Bandit
Yes, I'm a bandit in the eyes of the kingdom.
“Shi… it’s Ludwig.”
"Ludwig, to fall to banditry while possessing such tremendous power. What a pity!"
Treating me like a villain. As expected, I don't like it when he says that much
"You guys, who are clearly looting this village, you say such a thing?"
"Looting! How disrespectful, this is a legitimate levy decided by the kingdom!"
For that reason, the loot behind the soldiers is too diverse and too many.
"I know about crops and money, but clothes, accessories, and children. Is that a legitimate collection?"
"That's the deal!"
"I see, but I can't overlook it once I've come this far. You'll have you leave everything behind."
No, even if I say so myself, this is completely a remark of a bandit.
"Rubbish!"
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The soldiers weren't that strong
Wince's axe throw caused confusion again.
Without missing the chance, Julius cut them down one after another.
The middle-aged soldier also died because he couldn't hold his weapon properly after a long fight.
Now here's the problem
"Julius"
"What, Shiro… uu!!"
I slap Julius on the cheek.
"W-what are you doing!"
"Because you did something selfish."
"Why! What's wrong with it!"
"Everything from the very first charge."
"What?"
"Julius, what do you think will happen to this village after this?"
"What's going to happen?"
He doesn't know
"If a soldier dies or goes missing here, the kingdom will come to investigate. A larger army will probably come."
"Shouldn't we just run away!"
"Where?"
"…That's"
"Like you guys?"
"Y-yes!"
"There may not be anyone like Maria in this village, you know?"
There aren't many people with that kind of leadership.
So even if they escaped, they would starve to death from hunger and thirst.
If they still want to live, they will become bandits.
"They can join us!"
"I see, it's a good idea to increase your strength. If they can fight, though?"
"Ah…"
To feed those who can't fight, you need resources.
Land, money, food.
"Above all, you put these guys in danger. No, you've already exposed them."
Even the kingdom isn't that stupid.
They will surely find traces of these soldiers.
If they remain in the village, they will be massacred in retaliation or as an example.
So, under the circumstances, they have no choice but to flee the village.
"There's still plenty of puas fruit left, but there's still a limit. If we help them with everything, they'll starve again and won't be able to fight, you know?"
"Such looting. You want me to overlook it!"
"If you don't die, you have to endure it. We're not heroes who can do anything, think about the best you can do, Julius."
And not thinking ahead, as he has done this time, is not the best he can do.
"Father"
Sedona has returned from outside the village
"Did anyone escape?"
"No, I killed them all."
"I see, I\m sorry Sedona, but..."
"I know. You want me to take these people to the fort?"
"I'm sorry"
We'll split up with Sedona here.
We don't have time to go all the way back to the fort.
"Julius, you go and explain to the villagers. It is your responsibility."
"......Alright, we'll leave tomorrow, okay?"
"Tomorrow at dawn."
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