WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Asakusa
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◈ Veteran of the Northern Front ◈
Chapter 29: The Camellun Siblings (2)
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The abnormal weather that would cause the Great Invasion and plunge the entire Empire into chaos would not greatly affect the spring harvest a few weeks from now.
But once the harvest was over and summer came, abnormal downpours and pests would destroy over half the wheat grown throughout the Empire.
‘That’s why wheat prices rose more than tenfold in the game.’
Before the abnormal weather began, I intended to stockpile wheat.
At my advice to secure the wheat that would soon be harvested, Reina wore an odd expression.
“Mm, I’ll keep that in mind for now.”
Whether she believed me or not did not matter.
She was the one who would regret it otherwise.
“Then I’ll take that as accepting my proposal. When can you send the wheat?”
“The harvest will begin soon. If you provide an advance payment, we can deliver it all to the fortress within the next month. How much credit should we arrange?”
“I’d like you to secure as much as possible. If our credit is insufficient, feel free to use my name.”
“Yes, we’ll proceed that way.”
Satisfied with her answer, I smiled and offered my hand.
“Then we’re in the same boat now. I look forward to working with you.”
“We look forward to working with you as well.”
Clasp.
As our hands met, I forged ties with the Camellun Trading Company, one of the five great merchant companies of the future.
＊＊＊＊＊
On the way out of the fortress after speaking with Ubel, Kane looked at his younger sister with concern.
“Reina, will this deal really be all right? What if Lord Ubel changes his mind later...?”
“Don’t worry. We agreed to receive an advance payment first, so it’ll be fine.”
“But...”
“Besides, this is our chance to secure a military supply contract. We need to take this much risk. When else will we have the chance to land such a major contract?”
If they secured a military supply contract, the merchant company’s growth would accelerate beyond control.
“We might even be able to pay off all the family debt within a year.”
The gambling debts left behind by the man who had been their father, now dead.
Because of those enormous debts, she and her brother had lived worse than commoners despite being nobles.
After entering commerce, they had somehow managed to make enough profit to pay the interest. But the principal remained untouched.
“Yeah... You’re right. If we want to repay the debt quickly, we need to take this much risk.”
Her brother’s expression hardened as if steeling himself. He seemed to have remembered the creditor who had once threatened to sell her into prostitution.
Smiling faintly to herself, Reina asked him, “What do you think, Brother?”
“Mm? About what?”
“Lord Ubel. I was worried when I heard that he had personally beheaded his predecessor as soon as he took office.”
When she first heard the rumor, she had imagined a hot-blooded and violent man. But the person she had met was completely different.
A man with the body of a bear and the head of a fox.
That was Reina’s assessment of Ubel.
‘Though I don’t know why he has taken an interest in my brother and me.’
Ever since childhood, she had possessed a talent for recognizing things that would make money. That talent extended to people as well.
‘If we stay close to him, we’ll make more money.’
It was no more than a subjective feeling rather than an objective judgment founded on evidence, but this time, she decided to trust her instincts.
“Brother.”
“Mm??”
“I think you should write to Lord Ubel often from now on, regardless of our business.”
“Write to him? Even when there’s nothing in particular to discuss?”
“Yes. Even trivial matters are fine. Start with simple greetings, and if you hear anything that might be even a little useful, send it to him right away.”
“Mm, all right.”
“Thank you, Brother.”
They could not relax merely because they had made a deal.
‘We need to show him that our merchant company is necessary.’
It was an unexpected, priceless opportunity.
The girl who would later be called the Golden Spider firmly resolved not to let it slip away.
After the meeting with the Camellun siblings, ordinary days continued at the fortress.
On the western wall of Camilla Fortress, Max was conducting new training with the strike force soldiers.
“All right, today we’ll train to climb and descend the fortress wall using ropes and hooks. The Lord has named this air assault training, so remember it. Got it, you bastards?”
“Yes, sir!”
“First, the experienced squad commanders will demonstrate. Owl Zero, ready.”
“Owl Zero, ready!”
“Descent.”
“Desceeeent!”
Without any safety equipment, the squad commander jumped from the wall, trusting only the secured rope.
The body descended rapidly.
Stepping against the wall, the commander gradually slowed, then landed safely on the ground.
“Descent complete!”
“You all watched closely, right? Just copy what you saw.”
For a moment, the soldiers nearly blurted out, ‘You expect us to copy that?’ But they managed to swallow the words.
“That’s the end of the demonstration. Any questions?”
“What happens if we fall while descending?”
“You stupid bastard. The point of this training is to practice so you don’t fall! And even if you do, we laid straw on the ground to soften the impact, so don’t be scared like a fucking idiot.”
As Max said, they would not die.
It would just hurt badly enough to make them wish they had.
Scolded by Max, one soldier cautiously raised a hand.
“I have one more question.”
“Speak.”
“You said Owl before the descent. What does that mean?”
“I don’t know either. I’m just repeating what the Lord said when he trained me and the squad commanders. So don’t question it. Just do as you’re told. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Descending isn’t all there is. We’ll also teach those who have gone down how to climb back up, so if you just follow along...”
Watching the soldiers throw themselves from the wall with such diligence, I smiled faintly.
‘They’re doing well.’
The reasons I had ordered air assault training were simple.
First, the fortress walls were roughly eleven meters high.
Second, I wanted to prepare for the day we would have to fight a siege battle.
Of course, there were gentler ways to train them slowly. But the barbarian bastards might decide to make it a loser-deletes-their-character match at any moment, so I had no choice but to push them hard.
‘At least things have quieted down a little since the Frostfire Incident.’
I recalled the letter Berun had sent this morning.
It contained many things, from casual greetings to the execution of Perez.
But the most notable part concerned the barbarians’ movements.
According to Berun, barbarian raids had become less frequent recently.
At this point, one might think that the changing flow of the story meant the Great Invasion would never happen.
‘No way.’
Even in the game, the Great Invasion was an unavoidable fate. The current lull was only temporary, caused by the Frostfire Operation wiping out most of the barbarians living near the front.
‘It may take time, but when the time comes, they’ll cross the border.’
They would likely invade as early as summer, or as late as autumn.
The war had originally begun at the start of winter in the game, so even this would be early. But considering that the Frostfire Incident had been moved forward by over half a year, it was not a bad outcome.
‘We have more time now. Until then, I just need to raise the soldiers’ abilities somehow and finish our preparations.’
The strike force under Marcus and Max had completed basic training and was now undergoing intensive training such as air assault drills and combat against people. Martin’s garrison trained in fortress defense every day, gradually becoming specialists in defensive warfare.
The archer unit and scout unit were also running through the mountain range near the fortress, honing their specialties. They would soon show significant results.
Time flowed like water.
Before long, it was time to harvest wheat.
Having received the advance payment, the Camellun Trading Company bought wheat harvested in the East and delivered it to the fortress as promised.
“Here is the wheat worth 3,000 Silver that you requested.”
Reina arrived with twelve wagons and handed me the documents detailing the transaction.
I accepted them and looked over the records.
‘Just as expected. No problems.’
Satisfied, I turned my gaze to her.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“The credit transactions are also progressing smoothly, so they should be wrapped up soon.”
“How much can you pull in?”
Perhaps amused by my un-noble choice of words, Reina let out a small laugh.
“Hehe. Since we are conducting business under your name, Lord, we should be able to secure at least 2,000 Silver. If things go well, perhaps as much as 3,000 Silver.”
My credit was worth that much?
‘Well, I am a noble, and a soldier with a secure position.’
The merchant companies apparently considered me reliable enough.
They had kept their promise, so it was time for me to keep mine.
“As we discussed, let us proceed with the supply contract. I have already sent termination notices to all the existing military suppliers. From now on, the Camellun Trading Company will provide the supplies.”
“Thank you so much.”
At the mention of the supply contract, Reina’s smile brightened more than usual.
“But will you be all right? The amount of supplies you need to deliver will not be small.”
“We significantly expanded the merchant company by hiring wagons and workers to purchase wheat this time, so there is no need to worry.”
“That is good to hear.”
As I nodded, I suddenly recalled the request I had made of her before.
“By the way, the matter I asked about before...”
“My brother has been asking around during his business travels for the people you mentioned. I think we may have good news soon.”
Not long ago, I had asked the Camellun Trading Company to find people.
Knights, strategists, and others who would shine in the game.
I wanted to recruit future heroes in advance.
‘I only know their general locations, not exactly where they are, so I thought it would take time.’
Kane seemed to be working harder than I expected.
‘I’ll have to see who he found, but...’
I was looking forward to it.
‘Now that I have stockpiled wheat and signed a military supply contract with the Camellun Trading Company, I can focus on training the soldiers for the Great Invasion.’
The difficult times had all passed.
All that remained was to prepare with everything I had.
‘Everything’s going smoothly.’
The weather was good as well.
For some reason, I had the feeling that only good things would happen from now on.
＊＊＊＊＊
Meanwhile, while Ubel was receiving the wheat and finalizing the supply contract with Reina, Kane was heading toward Camilla Fortress with a wagon.
He had found two of the people Ubel had asked him to locate.
‘I found them, but why did the Lord ask that I bring them here with such courtesy...?’
Kane glanced at the men sitting across from him.
Peiron, a man with a pointed beard and a menacing, bandit-like appearance, was one of the underworld thugs operating in a nearby territory.
His powerful build and forearms as thick as a woman’s thigh suggested that he possessed considerable strength. Still, Kane did not think Peiron was someone worth seeking out.
The other man was even more questionable.
‘At least Peiron has the build to be recruited as a soldier.’
Dihelm, a slender man who had introduced himself by name, did not even seem suited for that.
‘He said he worked caring for sheep and cattle on a ranch?’
An underworld thug and a ranch shepherd.
Kane could not understand what the Lord planned to do with either of them, but this was the Lord’s request, so he treated them courteously.
“Are either of you uncomfortable?”
“Hmph. No. But is it true that this noble lord wants to meet me?”
“Yes, it is. Camilla Fortress is not much farther, so you will meet him soon.”
“Hmph. Fine.”
Perhaps because he came from the underworld, Peiron had a blunt and rough personality.
‘Unlike him, I have no idea what that man is thinking.’
Kane shook his head as Dihelm observed him and Peiron with an odd smile.
Then the wagon jolted with a heavy impact.
Thud!
“What happened?!”
“M, Master, it’s...”
Kane climbed down from the wagon, only to see dozens of men surrounding them.
“What...!”
“That’s the head of the Camellun Trading Company!”
“You can kill the others, but make sure you capture that one!”
The men’s eyes gleamed as they recognized him and closed in.
Judging by their proper weapons and armor, they were not ordinary bandits.
As Kane froze in confusion, Dihelm suddenly spoke.
“Mercenaries. Judging by the condition of their equipment, they do not appear to be a disorganized rabble. It seems you have earned someone’s resentment recently, Merchant Lord.”
“That can’t be...”
“There are at least fifty of them. We have six guards and only the three of us. Escape will be difficult.”
“Hmph! There’s no need to worry.”
At Dihelm’s words, Peiron rose with a murderous expression and drew his halberd.
“I can handle trash like that alone. Merchant Lord, stay inside the wagon and watch. I’m annoyed that I got dragged into this, but you bought me drinks a few days ago. I should repay the favor.”
“That is not a good plan.”
“What did you say?!”
Even in this life-or-death situation, Dihelm remained composed.
“I do not know how skilled you are, but it is unreasonable to break through this encirclement while protecting the Merchant Lord. Even if you succeed, I and the others will not escape death.”
Dihelm was cool-headed yet relaxed.
For some reason, Kane found him trustworthy.
“...Then what should we do?”
When Kane asked him to show them a way to survive, Dihelm answered in a low voice.
“There is a way. But for it to work, that gentleman must break through the encirclement alone, leave this place, and bring word to the merchant company. Can you do that?”
“Hmph. What a foolishly obvious question.”
“If you can break through and alert the merchant company, the rest will be simple.”
A sly smile spread across Dihelm’s face.
“Just let yourselves be captured. I do not know what their purpose is, but if they intend to bind the Merchant Lord, they will not harm him immediately. So let us throw down our weapons and surrender with the guards.”
“So I get out and bring news to the merchant company while you surrender. Is that it?”
“That is correct.”
Peiron clicked his tongue and rolled his neck.
“It’s a nuisance, but I owe a debt. More importantly, the Merchant Lord needs to live if I am to meet the Lord. Fine, I’ll give it a try.”
“Please do.”
“W, what are you two talking about?!”
Simply telling them to be captured was ridiculous enough.
But what came next was even more absurd.
He intended to break through this encirclement alone?
‘Do they really believe that is possible?’
Just as Kane was about to ask whether both men had lost their minds, Peiron spoke.
“Then I’m off. You two take care of yourselves.”
With that, Peiron launched himself forward like an enraged bull, smashing aside the men blocking his path one after another.
It was an unstoppable advance. Each swing of his halberd sent blood spurting and enemy heads flying. Kane could scarcely believe it was real.
“W, what is that...?”
“Mm. I thought he was extraordinary when I first met him, but he is even more skilled than I expected. If the terrain had been more favorable, we might even have been able to defeat them with our current numbers...”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, it is nothing. More importantly, our messenger has escaped safely, so let us surrender.”
“...”
Kane did not know why the Lord had wanted him to find these two.
But one thing was certain.
Peiron and Dihelm were no ordinary thug and shepherd.
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