Volume 6 Chapter 34-4 The Mystery Of The Disappeared Gold
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After all, there might not even be a need for open combat. The best way to bring down a stronghold like this is likely through subterfuge. If someone could bribe a low-ranking soldier to poison the well, or sway the fort’s commander, the whole conflict might end before it even starts.
Rumor has it that someone close to Duke Mineley is already in contact with foreign nations. The smuggling of gold and silver is just one piece of the puzzle. The deaths of Tizzy’s sisters—each one mysterious, and one after another—are widely believed to be murders.
The current Duke and his potential heirs seem incompetent, and unrest is brewing beneath the surface.
His brother and nephew are blatantly suspicious. This reeks of a family power struggle. Maybe I should’ve let Yakou handle the investigation. She’d probably enjoy hiding in the attic while gathering intel. Actually, if I were to send someone to investigate the Totoana Empire, she’d be the perfect fit. I’d need at least ten days off to handle it myself… Though, a trip to Totoana could make for a nice change of pace.
Yakou has become almost too convenient lately. Honestly, I wish I had ten more like her. Starting a proper ninja squad—or better yet, a kunoichi team—would be ideal. But that would cost a fortune in funding and manpower.
Still, before that, I need to establish a regular army. Apparently, lacking one damages a noble’s image. Even a small standing force should be enough to meet the bare minimum.
Come to think of it, the armies in this world are surprisingly small. While the old legends speak of grand battles involving tens of thousands, the dragons say such fights were rare. Most actual clashes involved fewer than a thousand soldiers on each side.
Large-scale battles usually happen during massive peasant revolts—but those aren’t heroic tales. They’re one-sided massacres. When a well-trained elite force goes up against a mob, the outcome is predictable.
In the end, those tragic wars get blamed on the Demon King. If you win, you’re the Hero. If you lose, you’re the Demon King. And unfortunately, actual Demon Kings do exist in this world, which only muddies things further.
There’s no set deadline for building up my army, but it’s clear I should’ve started sooner. Fortunately, our warehouse recently sold out and brought in a huge profit, so the budget isn’t the issue. The real challenge is public sentiment—peasants have a strong aversion to war, making recruitment difficult.
I could hire as many non-combat contract guards as I want. But if I need proper soldiers quickly, then mercenaries from the guild or summoning Heroes are the fastest options. Still, both groups tend to be unpredictable, and having them around would definitely make things more dangerous.
I wonder how the Mineley family manages their own standing army. If I could get some reference numbers, that would help. Based on the size of their territory, maybe a hundred or so soldiers make up the core force?
I’ve heard the local miners once formed a self-defense group. If it came to a real conflict, they’d probably be mobilized as militia. I’m still unsure how much non-combatants can actually contribute on the battlefield in this world.
Using my Radar Scan and editor skill, I’ve been building a detailed map of Kasgar’s castle. There seem to be fewer than twenty soldiers stationed here—maybe sixty total across three shifts. That sounds about right, considering the territory has other castles and forts.
The fortress itself has enough space to shelter over a thousand people if needed. Oddly, it has over seven hundred arrow slits—but only a few dozen arrows in storage.
I’ve got over two hundred arrows in my magic bag, but in a real war, I’d run out fast. Ideally, each archer should have at least a thousand arrows prepared.
As for food supplies, there’s just a small amount of wheat left in the warehouse. With harvest season approaching, maybe they’re relying on fresh crops? Still, this isn’t nearly enough to hold out during a siege. The fortress looks impressive, but the preparations feel careless.
For now, I’ll just record everything I can. I’m still a novice when it comes to military matters, but I can always ask someone experienced later. Speaking of which, Escalion once said he wanted to try storming a castle…
From what I’ve seen so far, even a rookie like me can tell this place wouldn’t be too hard to capture.
It takes me less than an hour to finish surveying the area around Kasgar. The sun is starting to set. Should I head back?
I had hoped to meet Ms. Shirakaba and the others while I was here, but there’s been no sign of them. Since Tizzy is Duke Mineley’s daughter, maybe I can ask about their whereabouts at the lord’s mansion.
The building that looks like the lord’s mansion doesn’t quite have the grandeur of a keep. There’s a stone tower near the top, but no signs of activity. It’s the kind of place you’d expect Rapunzel to be locked up in. Inside, the stairs are just wooden beams, and there’s a narrow lookout floor with barely enough space to stand—maybe two tatami mats in size. Probably just a watchtower. Still, with the elevation, arrows fired from there would have good range.
Maybe that second bailey-looking fort is the real lord’s mansion. The presence of stables suggests as much. Even so, it feels awfully plain for a duke’s residence. Honestly, even a starving baron’s estate in the royal capital probably has more luxurious furnishings.
Then again, Duke Mineley must have a proper mansion in the capital for entertaining guests. It makes sense that he wouldn’t put much effort into decorating his rural estate.
That said… if Tizzy and the others aren’t here, then they must be at the capital residence. A bustling city would certainly be more exciting for young noble ladies.
* * *
By the way, I just remembered the whole reason I came here in the first place—it wasn’t to make maps. I was supposed to find out who’s been smuggling funds.
Well, the map will still come in handy for tracking down the culprit.
There’s one mansion in town that stands out more than any other. The kind of place where you’d expect a corrupt official to live in a period drama. My instincts are screaming that the smuggler is hiding there.
I’ll sneak in tonight and take a look.
For now, I’ll book a room at a decent inn. Somewhere quiet, with a window and a lock. I’ve got the money. It shouldn’t be a problem.
Notes:
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills.
• Yakou – A newly created kunoichi spirit with high specs from Mubiel. She pledges loyalty to the Narrator as her ‘Lord Shogun’ and seeks to punish villains.
• Escalion – Male. An old swordsman who claims to be the ‘true Hero.’ He is Mia’s lover and appears to be a human from the same world. Despite his shabby appearance, he is incredibly strong and has a frightening presence. He dislikes humans and has a complicated history with them, including an experiment involving a fox.
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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