Chapter 16: The Fall of Nambonan
Today is the second day after the fall of Nambonan.
Today is the 10th day since we left New Nellie Castle.
In other words, it is the 10th day of my masturbation ban.
I was strolling around the city of Nambonan, which was already under control.
Although the city was much calmer than it had been on the day of the fall, I could sense a tense, uptight atmosphere here and there in the city.
It was much quieter than I had imagined,” He said. I had an image that they would fight us thoroughly.
“Was it already the council instead of the lords of this city ……? The representatives of the city have offered to surrender and are willing to arrange a meeting to discuss the matter. There is nothing a mere citizen can do about Besides, the city guards seem to be actively hunting the resistance.
Looking at the Nambonan citizens on the street, they seemed to be very wary of the people they thought were the security forces.
The city's residents are glaring at each other, and it's not comforting to know that they're all living in the same city.
If the residents start an uprising here and now, the Nambonans will be at a disadvantage in negotiations, so the ruling party will do its utmost to suppress the uprising.
“You think you can negotiate with them when they are already in control of the city? It is a city of merchants, after all.
The commercial city of Nambonan.
Located on the banks of a major river, the city was originally one of the cities in the Jingkaen Empire.
The Succession Uprising, which began with the fall of the second emperor, and the subsequent turmoil that followed, greatly changed the map of the empire, transforming Nambonan from an ordinary, featureless city located in the interior of the country to a border city overnight.
The border was, of all places, the border between the Zincaen Empire and the Kingdom of Levioth.
The imperial lord who ruled Nambonan at the time was a small-minded man, and he was determined that he would not be able to protect this land. He quickly withdrew his troops and fortified his defenses in another city far from the border.
However, even if they could withdraw their troops, the people had nowhere to retreat.
The inhabitants of Nambonan prayed to the Great Spirit of the Sun to keep the fires of war from reaching them, and they decided to govern themselves by themselves without relying on the nobility in order to protect their hometown where they were born and raised.
As a result, Nambonan was fortunate not to be caught in the fire of war.
On the contrary, unlike other border areas, Nambonan was safe, and it became valuable as a transit point for peddlers on trade routes.
Moreover, the city was also a merchant's dream city, where vested interests disappeared along with the rule of the lords.
A number of powerful and influential merchants were elected to the council that was established as the governing body, and the city grew to an unparalleled scale as a commercial center.
Nambonan developed its own autonomy.
When the former lords of Nambonan, seeing the city's transformation into a goldmine, tried to return to control it, Nambonan raised its own army and fought them off.
Nambonan is no longer a border city of the empire, but has gained such independence that it can be called a city-state.
From an ordinary city to a border city and then to a commercial city.
It took them only about 20 years.
“Oh, isn't that you, Mister Wilk?
When I was talking with my escort, a voice called out to me from behind.
There he was, Viscount Galiana, a middle-aged man with a face like a toad ……, A body so full of flesh that it buried his neck, and an eerie smile.
He was a villain, no matter how you looked at it.
This is Viscount Galiana. What are you doing here?
Although the city was now under the control of the Quardenze allied forces, it could not be said that there was still no guerrilla-like presence in the city.
The main points of the city have soldiers of the Quordenze Alliance waiting for them, but it is strange that a nobleman, Viscount Galiana, the head of the Galiana family, is taking a leisurely stroll around the city.
What …… Is the same reason as Wilk-dono.
The Viscount Galiana's face is so vicious that one wonders if he's really on our side.
Well, if your purpose is the same as mine, you can't blame me for smiling wickedly.
What I went all the way into the chaos of the city to do was to get a woman in my arms.
Knowing that I have been suffering from abstinence ever since the expedition, my grandfather suddenly came to my camp this morning and told me to go to the city and get a woman.
My grandfather knows what he's talking about!
So, as soon as I finished breakfast, I went to Nanbonan.
He is indeed the heir apparent of a marquis family, with only a few guards, and he is a very strong man.I have heard of his exploits on the battlefield.I heard that he was even compared to an ogre.
Right now, I am surrounded by only five guards.
There appear to be close to 30 guards around Viscount Galiana. When I invoked detection magic, I got the impression that many of them were skilled.
I knew that there was no one with much magic power in the city with wide-area detection magic, so that's why I was acting as I did.At first I was going to enter the city by myself, but I was escorted by my grandfather .
There are no big magicians on the enemy side.
The guards' vigilance has grown stronger. The Viscount Galiana in front of me has enough magical power to attack me. They are wary that he will be assassinated in the midst of the city's mayhem.
I served on the council of Nambonan until a few years ago. So this place is like a garden to me. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to look around the city.
Viscount Galiana squinted into the distance as if reminiscing.
Viscount Galiana, who rose from the ranks of commoners, was originally a merchant.
I may be able to give you some advice, depending on what you are seeking, Lord Wilk.
Viscount Galiana began to talk about information about the city even though he was not listening.
The information was useful for me, who was not familiar with the geography of Nambonan, such as rich districts with many daughters in boxes, districts with many commoners, districts with whorehouses, and so on.
'…… Where is Viscount Galliana planning to go?
The commercial district. I was sure that the man who had interfered with my business so much when I was a …… Merchant was still setting up store there. I've got his wife and daughter right in front of me. …… Oops.”
Coughing deliberately, Viscount Galiana stopped talking.
He is a good villain, after all.
I was not sure if I would be able to get to the other districts even if I asked him about their locations, so I walked with Viscount Galiana to the commercial district.
As Viscount Galiana was walking quickly to the desired trading post, I wandered around the commercial district with my escort.
Whoa, it's open?”
Then, despite being in a city under control, there was a store that was open for business.
From the picture on the sign, it was probably a bar.
In this world, no one condemns underage drinking, but I try not to drink as much as possible because I feel that it might affect my physical growth.
I have no choice but to drink at social parties, but if I do drink on my own, I will do so only after I turn 20.
The dry air makes me a little thirsty, so I go into a restaurant. I wish I had something to drink that didn't contain alcohol.
“Come in.
I'd like something non-alcoholic to drink. I want something non-alcoholic to drink, for the number of people.
The guards sounded a little disgruntled that they could not drink alcohol.
No, don't drink alcohol while escorting, you guys.
The mugs for six people, including the guards, were placed on a table nearby. I guess they want us to sit here.
Young master, there is nothing wrong with your drink.
The guards assigned to me all had magical powers, and some of them could even use magic to identify poisons.
I also checked to make sure that the drink was safe.
Is this tea?
In a wooden mug, there was a cup of tea with a cloud of steam.
It smelled a little like jasmine tea.
It's a tea made from the flowers that grow near here, guest.
Hmm? I see. It smells good.
I guess you're a mercenary hired by the city if you don't know about this.You guys have had a hard time.In times like this,it's best to drink and forget.In normal times,tea tastes good,too.
The waitress went off to bring drinks to another table.
Apparently, they didn't know we were the occupying forces.
We had left our family crest cloaks at the main camp, and our guards were inconspicuously clad in brown cloaks, so they might have thought we were just a group of mercenaries.
To begin with, ordinary soldiers of the Quordentse Allied Forces are forbidden to leave the camps set up at major points in the city. The citizens of Nambonan are not allowed to come into contact with the Kuordentse Allied Forces unless they go out of their way to see them.
While quenching his thirst with a cup of tea, he observes the atmosphere in the bar.
The tavern, which was about the size of an elementary school gymnasium in my previous life, seemed to be kind of burnt out.
'We could still fight! Why did the council surrender!'
'It was a big mistake to go out into the field in the first place!
What are we supposed to do, wait for reinforcements to come?
It is unforgivable that we spent so much taxpayer money on the fortress line and then abandoned it so soon after. I don't know what the facility was for.
It was a mistake to go against the Quardenzes in the first place.
The renegade Quardenzes!
To fight in the field against a confederation of noble families is suicide!
If I had known the Imperial Red Devils were coming, I would never have come to this city.
“The foolish council that failed to protect the independence of Nambonan! I will never forgive you!
Don't worry. If I had known that the red ogre had come to Nambonan, I would not have come to this city. I am sure that Viscount Galiana will protect Nambonan.
There is no way we can fight a siege!
“Those greedy Quardenzes! They're a bunch of fools!
This city was finished when all the surrounding territories became Quordenze territory!
“You mercenaries who run away so quickly! You were hired by the taxpayers to fight and die!
What? You cowards who lied and told the Red Devil that you were fighting for the army of the current master of Quardenze! A city of merchants who can't even keep their contracts deserves to fall!
Viscount Galiana, the star of Nambonan, was there? Thank God, Nambonan will be saved!
It's over! It's over! Our beloved Nambonan is over!
The tavern seemed to be full of mercenaries and other patriotic …… Or even city-minded residents.
It is interesting to note that every once in a while, a citizen who is calling for a thorough fight is quietly taken away by the city security forces. Perhaps this bar is a moth to a flame that attracts disaffected people.
I also think that Viscount Galiana, who is being treated like a savior, is probably raiding his former rivals by now.
It was such a strange space, with fist fights breaking out here and there in the heat of the moment, people spitting back their excess alcohol, crying and laughing.
'The citizens of Nambonan must love Nambonan.
You know what I mean?”
The beautiful waitress picked up on the words I had spilled out as a soliloquy.
Nambonan became a border city when I was six years old. That's how Nambonan got its start. We, mere commoners, stood up against the aristocrats who spared our own lives and ran away…….”
The history of Nambonan, as she rambles on, is largely the same as that of the material I read in the warehouse.
However, the confusion at the time when it became a border city, the changing city, and the stories of hardships that were not written in the documents were very interesting, as only those who were involved could have told them.
Abandoned commoners and an abandoned ordinary city.
This is the story of their establishment of self-government and growth into a commercial city.
I noticed that the bar had quieted down and everyone was listening to her telling of the Nambonan Success Story.
A man who appeared to be a citizen was so moved that he sobbed and slumped over his desk without a care in the world.
I've been serving in this restaurant for a long time,” He says. I've been serving in this restaurant for a long time, and I feel that the liveliness of this city is as good as that of the imperial capital. A great city where you can live without the indignities of aristocracy.
The men cheered her on at various points.
Apparently, she has been a signboard girl in this tavern since she was six years old, and she is truly cherished by the citizens and peddlers who know about the turbulent times.
Considering the history of Nambonan, she is now around 26 years old, but she still seems to be treated as an idol, which is probably a big part of the reason why she is still treated as such.
This is apparently the biggest bar in town, so there must be a great many people who have watched her grow up.
She's beautiful, too.
She is a beautiful woman. No, no, no, no, no, no! Nambonan is no match for Quardenze!
She clenched her fists as if to shake away the tears that had been welling up in the corners of her eyes and laughed at the entire restaurant.
I'm not going to lose! I won't lose!
We'll protect you, Anna!
You are the symbol of Nambonan! Don't lose!
We won't let the Quardenze Army take Anna! Don't worry!
You said it! You are the pride of Nambonan!
The store came alive and a bright atmosphere spread at once.
I'm embarrassed. But have you gotten to know Nambonan? …… Hey, what city are you guys from? You came here to participate in the war, didn't you? Tell me about that one, too. I like to hear about other cities.
She turned back to me shyly and opened her mouth to deceive me.
I felt a kind of titillation coming on. Or rather, my sexual desire was growing.
It's been 10 days since I stopped masturbating.
It was the 10th day.
Day 10.
“Oh, we're here to go to war.”
“I knew it. You are a group of mercenaries, aren't you? You are the youngest, and you seem to be the leader, so I guess you are a warrior with magical powers?”
I could see that the people in the bar were listening to our conversation.
I grinned and replied that I wasn't.
'You're not a mercenary band? Even though we're here to fight a war?'
I stood up.
I could see that everyone was paying attention.
We're here to fight a war,” I said.
I look around the entire restaurant.
The city guards were watching us.
I said slowly so they could all hear me.
I'm here to crush Nambonan.
