“Y-You want us to... pretend to be caravans?”
“Yes, that’s right. But I don’t think “pretend” is the right word—it’s a disguise.”
“I’ve never heard of that ever working before!”
“Let’s pray the bandits haven’t either. I will have you all lead wagons and walk beside the horses. Do not wear any armor; make do with what you can hide under your clothes. This will put you at a disadvantage in combat, but it should be enough to win against bandits—they can handle that, can’t they?”
He directed the last few words at Jerome, who raised his voice proudly in response.
“They damn well can! Armor is just decoration. Even if you’re left barehanded, I won’t forgive any man who lets a bandit do them in. And if anyone wants to even humor the possibility of failure, step forward. I’ll snap your bloody neck and send you home in a coffin faster than any bandit ever could!”
“Sir, yes sir!”
The soldiers voiced the affirmative in unison. They sounded reliable enough.
The terse atmosphere here was one that had been absent from Regis’s time serving under Marquis Thénezay. The soldiers there were usually protecting the capital or an aristocrat’s estate; they were proud men. Noble. Elegant, even.
After the marquis passed, a large majority were apparently hired by other nobles. Were they doing all right? Regis was hit by a longing for his homeland, but shook it off to return to the level-headed mindset required of his work.
He needed to impart these soldiers with detailed instructions.
“...The important part is to look indistinguishable from a normal caravan. While we’re at it, it’d be nice to give off the impression we’re carrying something valuable, so wooden crates will do nicely. If the load is too light, the speed of the carriage will give us away, so please load them with rocks, or something similar. Hide your weapons in the wagon.”
There were soldiers among them who placed particular emphasis on their reputation. It was for this reason he had not called the knights, who were themselves an order of nobility. But many powerful faces still stood before him—after all, it took all sorts to make an infantry.
“This is hard to believe! Carrying stones? You’re literally sending us on a fool’s errand! What of the honor of the soldiers of the imperial army!?”
“Yeaah... I’m not forcing anyone to participate, but... between a soldier who keeps up appearances but can’t catch a bandit, and one who dons a disguise to bring peace to the highway, which do you think should be honored?”
“Urgh... Gnn... But, still...”
“The notion is the same as hiding and waiting for the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Is it honorable to loudly name yourself when you’ve gone to such great lengths to hide?”
“There is no need to consider it. Any idiot who risks exposing our position during an ambush will be silenced by me with a single blow through the heart!” Jerome answered in place of the now-silent soldier.
“I see. I appreciate your way of thinking. Dying in battle is an honor, no matter the reason.” Regis didn’t even feel like arguing with him at this point.
In any case, once Jerome had given the order, the soldiers had no right to refuse him.
“And then what? What do you want me to do?” Altina asked.
“Pardon?”
“Do you want me to act as a coachman again?”
“...Princess, your hair, eyes and face are far too conspicuous. I’ll need you to watch and wait.”
“What!? You want me to wait!?”
“Hm, let’s see... No, actually.”
“Ah, then what should I do!?”
“We wouldn’t want the bandits sniffing out a change in plans, so please keep up your patrol.”
“Oh... You want me to patrol, even knowing that doing so is pointless?”
“That’s right. It’s an important job, defending the secrecy of our plan. We wouldn’t want the civilians to think the military is slacking off, either.”
“Mm... Fine...”
While she reluctantly accepted, it must not have been the position she was hoping for—she was now very clearly sulking.
Group by group, the troops who finished their preparations departed from Fort Sierck. Following their lead, a number of false caravans began their journey down the highway.
✧ ✧ ✧
It took only about a week for results.
While Jerome had been skeptical about the plan, to Regis’s surprise, he actually donned a disguise to take part himself. Did he feel some responsibility?
He put on the robes of a porter, pushing a laden cart beside the wagons.
And luckily—unluckily, for the bandits—it so happened to be his caravan the bandits set their greedy sights on.
It turned out just as Regis had predicted. He would later hear the group seemed to be a band of mercenaries who had fallen on hard times.
“Gua-hahahah! Hand over all your cargo! Do what I say, and I’ll make it quick and painless!” The brigand let out another thunderous laugh.
He thrust out his spear. Its end, however, was caught by a mere pinch of fingers.
By a man dressed as a porter.
“Think you can do whatever you want on my land... you godforsaken parasites!?”
The brigand’s eyes opened wide in shock and terror. This porter was none other than the Hero of Erstein, Black Knight Jerome.
The other members of what was supposed to be a merchant troupe drew swords from their wagons. The shrieks were drowned out by a war cry.
It was one-sided from there. From what Regis was told, it couldn’t even be called a battle.
Jerome and his men were showered with applause at Theonveil and returned to the fort triumphant.
✧ ✧ ✧