143 Empty City
There was still snow everywhere, but the air smelled of spring.
Even the ground, which had been hardened by snow, became muddy. The snow had melted and mixed with the soil, turning it into almost muddy water.
Slippery snow is difficult, but muddy roads are not easy either.
The thick mud clinging to their shoes further hindered the already struggling soldiers from walking.
There is nothing more difficult than that for a soldier who has to walk for a long time.
A groan escaped from the mouths of the soldiers.
However, most of the soldiers’ expressions were bright. No one really complains.
The aide came to the side.
“Now, in a little while, we will have a break.”
“So, did any of the soldiers have stomach upset?”
The aide grinned.
“Your Majesty really knows the condition of the soldiers. There are a few who have been injured.”
“also.”
When Rudy laughed, the aide shrugged.
“When the seasons change, there are always a few of them. Does Your Majesty have experience?”
“Yeah. I did that once when I was training at Watoringu. It was really painful at that time. I didn’t have time to pull my pants up all day.”
“It’s because my body isn’t used to the battlefield yet. When the temperature changes drastically, the unadapted body screams. It naturally disappears after rolling over on the battlefield for several years.”
The aide asked anxiously.
“Are you all right now?”
As someone who sees Rudy every day, you probably know that she doesn’t have an upset stomach. Still, I don’t know why you’re asking.
“are you okay.”
After advancing for a while, we found a suitable place to rest.
The soldiers stopped walking and heard the sound of the captains giving orders.
Take out a wooden barrel here and there and receive water from the water magic tool.
Soldiers refilled leather canteens strapped to their waistbands, and a few ran to a nearby secluded spot and crouched down.
Starting with that, the number of soldiers handling defecation, which was impossible during the march, increased here and there.
Even though the cold has subsided, there is still a biting wind.
Everyone was wearing layers of clothes and it took them a year to take them off.
Rudy laughed at that appearance, but well, he’s not in a position to talk about it.
After a while, Rudy also had to struggle to dismantle the clothes he was wearing one by one.
While the meal was being prepared, a tent was erected for Rudy.
This is different from the large ones used when encamping. It was a small tent used during a short break for a meal.
“You’d better close your eyes for a while until the meal is ready.”
It was when the aide spoke.
The ground shook slightly with a bang.
“Again.”
When Rudy sighs, the aide laughs.
“Popular with soldiers.”
Jumbo flew round and round in the sky chasing the advancing soldiers.
Then, when the mood improves, find an empty floor and fall vertically.
Every time the floor shook and there was a great sound.
It’s definitely that even now. The loud shouts of the soldiers said yes.
Rudy’s heart pounded every time Jumbo fell to the ground, but for some reason he was extremely popular with the soldiers.
Jumbo seemed to enjoy it as well, and when the soldiers took a break, he slammed his body into the ground.
Kungjjak fits well this way and that.
We rested for a while and set off again. And at night, they set up a tent and spend the night. It continues like this. I had been walking and sleeping repeatedly for several months already.
*
It was two days later when we arrived at the next city.
This city was a city with a lot of people because of its location. It is the most prosperous place out of all the places I’ve been through so far.
As always, they tried to send messengers into the city encouraging surrender, but the gates did not open. There are no soldiers guarding it. I just had to be quiet.
Something is strange.
Rudy called out the mice.
Hundreds of shiny demonic creatures gathered in front of Rudy wagging their long tails.
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Due to the nature of rats, they couldn’t stay calm and moved around.
It is quite cute to see the small mice of light moving together as they look in all directions with their eyes wide open.
The soldiers around them were laughing and watching them.
‘Should this number be enough?’
Rudy intended to send these children into the city to see what was going on.
Originally, Rudy doesn’t do such things well.
There were other reasons besides not being able to communicate properly because I couldn’t communicate.
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Demonic creatures have a different way of thinking than humans.
What people think is important and what they think are completely different, so there was a case where they realized that their perceptions were often very different.
If you handle things according to their perception, you can sometimes get the situation wrong.
It would be fine if you could figure it out skillfully, but humans are thin-eared animals. When you are getting information, you unwittingly depend on it.
When it comes to beings that are loyal to oneself like demonic creatures, that point is even greater, and there is a risk of misjudgment as well.
But in the current situation, there is nothing you can do.
Rudy opened his mouth to the mice staring at him.
“You guys get in there.”
But before he could finish talking, someone came out of the city.
The large castle gate opened just a little bit, and three men hesitantly came out and stood.
The distance from them is very far.
I could see the general appearance, but I couldn’t see the expression on the face.
The Imperial Army soldiers were on the lookout, decorating their weapons.
Three men from the city raised their hands as a sign that they had nothing and turned slowly.
Not soldiers or nobles. The clothes were the same, but the movements were awkward and sloppy.
A few soldiers approached them with spears.
After exchanging a few words, only the soldiers return to their camp.
The men stood there.
With a slightly perplexed expression, the soldier relayed the message to his superior, and soon after, a report came up to Rudy.
“They say there are no Kania troops in the city. They say all the soldiers have fled.”
Rudy’s face darkened.
It has captured several cities so far.
Among them, there were those who started to run away the moment the imperial army arrived and destroyed the castle.
However, there was no case of fleeing before the imperial army arrived like now.
I honestly can’t believe it.
“Is there any possibility that it might be a trap?”
The captain who came to report to Rudy’s question made a troubled expression.
“I don’t know. It’s the first time I’ve had something like this.”
I couldn’t send mice to confirm that fact.
If the soldiers don’t have spears or knives, the monster will not consider them soldiers, but will see them as commoners.
“I’ll send an advance party to check.”
The captain said so and sent about 50 soldiers into the city.
While the advance party entered, three men were brought to the Imperial camp.
The body search of the men began in a space slightly away from the camp.
The soldiers closely examined the three men, almost undressing them.
Open your mouth and bend over to look at your butt. I couldn’t be in such a place, but I even checked my nostrils.
Looking at Rudy who was shocked, the aide said with a serious face. Occasionally, it is said that there are people who hide poison in such places and approach it.
Even if you use poison, it won’t have any effect on Rudy’s body, who is casting an antidote spell.
The men came to Rudi only after the soldiers thoroughly inspected them and confirmed that they had no weapons anywhere in their mouths, shoes, or bodies.
“I heard that there are no soldiers in the city. If what you guys say is true, when did you run away?”
“The number of soldiers gradually decreased around the time rumors spread that the Imperial Army had come to Dicoquaria.”
The men stuttered in reply.
In this age, the dissemination of information is slow.
Unlike the Earth, which spreads throughout the world in a day or two, information belonged to a certain class of privilege. Even so, it’s very slow.
It seems that the castle lord and other Kania soldiers had been hiding the fact that the Imperial army had turned into enemies from the city residents until the limit came.
According to the men, the number of soldiers gradually decreased, and about 10 days ago, they remarkably disappeared.
And finally, he said that about two days ago, the soldiers were nowhere to be found.
In the process, it seems that even the slightly wealthy people were plundered or killed by the soldiers.
The inside of the city is currently said to be a mess.
Rudy looked at the men and asked.
“What are you guys doing? Who are you representing here?”
The men prostrated themselves on the floor.
“I am a merchant who once had the largest fabric store in the city. The person next to me owns a workshop, and the person next to him is a barber. “
The man called the merchant put his head to the ground and said bitterly.
“We beg you. There is only enough food left in our city to survive a month or two at most, and many men have died. If any more people die or are taken away, they will die right away. Please, your wise majesty, have pity on us. please give it to me.”
A man called the barber followed him.
“Of course, I’m not saying we won’t give anything away. We’ll do whatever we can. There are still a lot of women in the city. There’s not much alcohol, but there’s still some left in the basement of the castle. It may not be enough for the soldiers to drink, but it’s pretty good. Alcohol. Besides, I once did a lot of work as a surgical technician, so I’m sure it will help the soldiers.”
A surgical technologist is a surgeon on Earth.
In this world, when you say a doctor, you mean a physician. The stitching, draining, and cutting of wounds were performed by surgical technicians or barbers.
In a wartime like this, surgical technicians are needed more than doctors.
Rudy looked at the aide.
“Remember this man’s business.”
“All right.”
The men repeatedly cried out for mercy.
In the meantime, the advance party that entered the city returned. Their report coincided with the men’s.
The only difference was that it was more miserable than expected.
It’s winter, so it’s less, but he said that the smell of corpses was coming from everywhere.
Rudy stood in front of three men.
“You guys will live in the land of the empire from now on. If you adapt to our empire, it won’t be bad. From now on, if you can move, move the dead out of the city. If you leave it as it is, an epidemic will spread. It’s a pity, but we’ll bury them all at once.”
The merchant hesitated and pressed his forehead to the floor.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness. But now the ground is frozen and it is difficult to dig deep enough for burial. I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
“It’s okay. We’ll dig a hole for the burial.”
The merchant raised his head. When Rudy’s eyes met, he quickly lowered his head.
“Thank you thank you.”
Three men bowed their heads.
But there is nothing to be so thankful for. It’s not the soldier who digs the hole, it’s the baby elephant.
just as expected. The ground shook with a bang.
The three men flinched in surprise.
After a while, seeing Jumbo flapping his ears and flying towards Rudy, one of them, who was being led into the city by the imperial army, fell to the ground. I guess I was quite surprised.
The imperial army opened the gates wide and marched into the city.
As the advance team said, corpses were scattered all over the city. Immediately, the townsfolk began disposing of the bodies.
The town was very large and pleasant. Originally, it was said that it was prosperous, and the building was strong and quite colorful.
The merchants following the imperial army also decided to do business in the city this time.
The women of Changgwan settled in the annex of Yeongju Castle, and merchants selling alcohol, food, and various consumables occupied part of the castle.
In this city, instead of looting, the residents of the city volunteered to entertain.
The castle’s alcohol was used, but the poor beef jerky and vegetables provided by the imperial army were turned into gorgeous flavors by the hands of the most skillful people in the city.
Two barbers running a shop in the city trimmed the soldiers’ hair and beards.
A shoemaker was in charge of mending soldiers’ shoes.
Some of the women were opponents of the soldiers.
Rudy ordered a small amount of flour to be given to such a woman.
The participation of women has increased significantly.
*
As night fell, the city became more noisy. Even in the middle of a war, it feels like a festival.
It was only the residents of the city who felt the misery of war.
Rudy sighed grimly as he looked down from the window of the lord’s castle at the torch-lit street.
[During war, discipline must be strict. But sometimes you need to let go. If you miss that time, the soldiers get tired. Even though you’re winning, your morale goes down, and if you let it go later to recover, it’ll loosen your discipline. In the end, it gets so bad that you can’t even touch it.]
That’s what Boris said.
An experienced aide also recommended it, so I spent a few days in this atmosphere.
But Rudy’s heart couldn’t be as bright as them. The misery of war seems to eat away at the depths of the heart.
Rudy, who was still looking down the street, turned around.
The supplies sent by the empire arrived this morning. Lilitha’s letter also came with it. As always, it was quite thick.
Thinking of Lilitha, who must have groaned while writing this letter, brought a smile to my mind.
Rudy broke the wax seal on the envelope and took out the letter.
The story written was mediocre. Stories of playing with monsters, scolding by the baroness, and classes that are still being taken.
It’s always written as funny, but Rudy knew it wasn’t true.
Lately, I’ve been seeing the empress’ palace from time to time, but every time I saw it, Lilitha was crying while holding her letter.
For the sake of honor, I don’t see the room at night. I only watch it until bedtime.
Rudy’s hand as he was flipping through the letter suddenly stopped.
I think I just saw a strange text.
After going back and reading it once again, Rudy sighed.
[…I’m sorry, Lou. I don’t think the baby was born this time. I’ll make sure to give birth next time […]
Could it be that no one told Lilitha the truth about that?
Of course, he knew that he couldn’t question the empress closely. But you’re probably guessing.
The fact that Rilisha was completely wrong, and that nothing had happened.
If no one else knows, at least the chief of staff knows.
If that’s the case, I’d probably tell the baroness the truth, but no one could…
‘Is it that I have no choice but to teach.’
A deep sigh came out as if the room would go out.
