Episode 69: Requisition

The army led by Siegfried von Kreving advanced steadily toward their destination, sometimes following the roads, sometimes crossing over hilly terrain.

Before long, what appeared ahead was—a massive city encircled by enormous walls.

It was a city somewhat smaller than the capital of the Kirchhen Kingdom, Kirchherion, which was similarly surrounded by walls.

This was the stronghold of the eastern front: the fortress city of Dagrom.

Siegfried’s army entered this fortress city once, but after resting for just one night, they set out again immediately.

Dagrom served as a defensive base to prepare against enemy invasions and also as a supply depot.

However—the front lines lay even further beyond.

Siegfried and his forces continued onward, heading toward the front.

“…The atmosphere’s starting to change.”

After passing Dagrom and advancing a bit further, Leon muttered this.

His words captured what everyone who had joined Siegfried’s army was feeling inside.

From around the point where they passed Dagrom, the landscape began to grow increasingly desolate.

Human presence vanished, and they passed by several ruined villages that had once been thriving.

“I heard there were only minor skirmishes happening… but yeah, this is close to the front lines—the effects of war are showing up…”

Leon let out a quiet murmur.

“Still, the Dagrom fortress itself seemed pretty lively.”

Dominik responded.

Just as he said, the Dagrom fortress was overflowing with people, showing a real sense of bustle.

Beatrice, who was riding nearby, offered her own thoughts to them.

“The Dagrom fortress is a supply depot for the eastern front and also the base for the Eastern Army. Right now, the Eastern Army is positioned at the front lines, but during winter, many soldiers stay in Dagrom fortress or the surrounding cities.”

Even though the standoff continues year-round, they aren’t glued to the very front lines all year.

This region gets heavy snow, and large-scale battles in winter are unthinkable. So, during winter, they leave only the minimum troops at the front and pull the rest back to Dagrom—that’s the custom here.

“An army needs all sorts of supplies. Weapons and armor, of course, but also food, personal items for the soldiers… Merchants gather at the Dagrom fortress to sell those things.”

War, when viewed locally, can sometimes stimulate the economy. The Dagrom fortress is a prime example of that.

“I see…”

Leon nodded honestly at Beatrice’s explanation.

“By the way, Knight Commander Beatrice. You don’t have to use polite language with us… or anything. I’m just a commoner, after all.”

“Well, she is a princess, though.”

Dominik said this lightly, teasing.

They continued advancing while exchanging such conversation.

Then, they approached a relatively large village.

The houses were in disrepair, but vast farmlands spread out around it.

Just as they were about to pass by the side of the village—that’s when angry shouts echoed from afar.

“…What!? Is this all you can provide!?”

A man’s voice, filled with rage, shook the dry air.

Siegfried’s decision was swift. He immediately halted the army and issued orders to his subordinates.

“Leon, Beatrice. Each of you take 10 infantry and 10 knights and come with me. Prepare for the possibility of combat.”

“…Got it.”

“Understood.”

Sensing the unusual tension keenly, Leon and Beatrice nodded briefly.

“And Dominik…”

Finally, Siegfried gave orders to Dominik.

Once that was done, Siegfried headed toward the source of the voice.

Leon and Beatrice, having quickly gathered their soldiers and knights, followed after him.

Even as they passed through the rundown houses, the man’s angry shouts didn’t stop.

“We’re risking our lives fighting for you peasants! And this is the thanks we get!?”

In the village’s central square—surrounded by dilapidated houses and grain storehouses—the man was raising his voice in anger.

He was a middle-aged man clad in knight-like armor.

He was somewhat lean, with a sharp features and an air of cruelty about him.

Behind him were several other men similarly dressed as knights, along with about 100 soldiers standing by.

And at the center.

A man clearly different from the others, clad in ornate armor, sat leisurely astride his horse, looking down on the scene.

In front of them, sacks of wheat were piled high, and behind those, the villagers were kneeling on the ground.

“B-but… this is all the food we can contribute…”

At the center of the villagers sat a man who looked like the village elder, his voice trembling as he spoke.

“Don’t lie! There’s still stock left in the village storehouse!”

“Th-that’s for us villagers to survive on. We have to live off that until this year’s wheat harvest…”

“Tch…! You lot are just being protected by us, yet you’re so eager to eat well. …Fine, if you say it’s impossible, then so be it.”

The man who seemed like a knight commander smirked and chuckled lowly.

“Then, offer something else instead.”

“S-something else…?”

“Come on, don’t make me say it, village elder…”

Grinning, the man continued.

“You know what I mean? Women. Hand over some young women. That’ll make up for it.”

“Th-that…! Please, anything but that…!”

“What!? You can’t provide enough food, and you won’t give women either… That means we can consider this rebellion against us, the Eastern Army of the Kirchhen Kingdom!?”

The villagers’ bodies shuddered in fear.

At that moment—a low, calm voice cut through the air like a blade.

“—What are you doing?”

The knight-like man hurriedly turned his eyes toward the voice.

There was—a silver-haired youth astride a jet-black horse.

Behind him were a tall man with tan skin and a knight with flaming red hair.

And further, about 10 soldiers and 10 knights each.

“Wh-what…?”

The knight-like man let out a surprised voice at the sudden appearance of Siegfried and the others.

“I’m Siegfried von Kreving. I’ve been dispatched to the eastern front and am advancing to take up my post. I heard some vulgar shouting, so I came to check it out.”

The one who responded was the figure who had been leisurely sitting on horseback behind the knight-like man—the one clad in ornate armor.

“Ah, Count Kreving… I’ve heard about your arrival.”

The man rode forward. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

He had a rounded, pale face, with the typical look of a noble.

“I’m Gregor von Albes, head of the House of Albes. This is my house’s knight commander—Reginald.”

With that, he glanced at the man who had been shouting earlier.

“We’re part of the Eastern Army—which makes us your seniors, in a way.”

Gregor’s voice carried an obvious tone of looking down on Siegfried.

“This is your first battle, right? Count Kreving. As your senior, I’ll teach you a thing or two. The rules of the battlefield, and so on.”

“No need.”

Siegfried coolly rejected Gregor’s offer.

“Instead, if you’re going to teach me something… tell me what you’re doing here right now.”

At Siegfried’s attitude, Gregor furrowed his brows in displeasure.

But he quickly hid it and formed a smile that mocked Siegfried like a child.

“What we’re doing… is requisitioning.”

Gregor answered in a tone as if explaining to a child.

“In other words, we’re collecting supplies the army needs from the village like this. This is a legitimate right recognized by kingdom law. …A kid with no battlefield experience like you might not know about such things?”