Volume 6 Chapter 54 Green Master
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The main outline of the Great Escape was set. The real problem now was where to begin.
Over two hundred small villages were scattered across Duke Mineley Territory. Official records listed ten counties aside from Kasgar Capital, so it made sense that each one hid its own share of settlements.
If this were a formal mission, we could’ve just sent orders to each county magistrate. But that wasn’t an option. Most of them had already been compromised by the enemy. Which meant we had no choice—we had to visit every village in person and convince them directly.
According to Yakou’s intel, the enemy had already crossed the border river. Best case, it would take them two days to advance. Worst case, five. That’s what the merchant with the donkey said, anyway. I couldn’t help wondering which was faster—an army or a donkey.
If it really was two days, we’d need to visit over a hundred villages a day. Just traveling that much was impossible, never mind persuading villagers and helping them evacuate.
Still, we had to try. Even if it seemed hopeless, we had to start from the farthest edge of the map and work our way inward—one village at a time.
I flew the Hover Shield to the westernmost settlement. Twice along the way, I nearly fell off. Once, I barely stopped myself from tumbling off a cliff. No serious injuries… just a bit of shame. But I didn’t have time to worry about that now.
Despite being called a village, it was really just a scattering of cabins by a stream. The wind carried a cool scent from the water below.
About fifteen people sat around lazily inside their homes, unaware of our arrival. I disabled Stealth and pulled Tizzy out from the magic bag.
”This must be the village west of the waterfall,” she said, stretching with a satisfied sigh. “It’s nice to travel instantly\~desuwa.”
She seemed oddly familiar with such a remote place. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a wooden flute and began to play.
Children came running from their homes, wings of excitement fluttering around them. Soon, adults peeked out too—but quickly ducked back inside when they saw Tizzy.
”A flute?” I murmured, watching the scene. It was better than shouting. Calmer, safer. A peaceful way to gather people.
”This is quite the surprise, Princess,” said a middle-aged man as he stepped forward. Dressed a little neater than the others, he bowed deeply. “We’ll prepare a hasty welcome.”
Unlike the bowing customs I knew, he didn’t raise his head above us. It was a simple way to show respect—direct, unadorned, and strangely refreshing.
”There’s no need for formalities,” Tizzy said, lifting her voice for all to hear. “Foreign invaders approach the border, but don’t be afraid. The Sir Green Master will guide us to the promised land. The time has come for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Prepare to depart immediately.”
They’d been spreading these prophecies as a backup plan—words of comfort in case disaster struck. The Great Temple used similar tactics. In this region, belief in the Green Master—a native hero—was strong. That faith made evacuation smoother.
Every eye turned toward me. Unsure of what to say, I simply raised my staff. The villagers broke into cheers.
”Hurry!” Tizzy called, urging them on. “If you waste time here, you won’t make it to save the next village!”
She was incredibly skilled at moving people—calming panic while pushing them to act fast. Her sincerity gave her words weight.
I couldn’t just stand there. Grabbing luggage, I tossed it into the magic bag one by one. With their trust, no one hesitated to hand me their belongings.
Raising my staff again, I began storing the villagers themselves. I even dismantled their cabins, taking most of the wood. Still, I wasn’t sure it was enough. But to my surprise, everyone moved with impressive speed.
”Next, skip White Stone Village and head straight to Thunder Cedar,” Tizzy said, brushing dust from her sleeves. “Take care.”
Apparently, Thunder Cedar was filled with stubborn adventurers. They wouldn’t listen—probably vanguards from another country. Clearly, the invasion had already begun from within.
We could afford to skip a few villages. If we avoided half, our ridiculous schedule might just become manageable. But this wasn’t exactly good news. It meant the enemy already had a firm grip on the Duke’s land.
Even if they won, I wondered if the villagers might find peace under a fair new lord. But Tizzy crushed that hope with a shake of her head.
”They’re not even trying to subvert those villages,” she said coldly. “They’re bait.”
A cruel tactic. But because of that, the other villages were more alert—and more willing to trust Tizzy’s words.
Some settlements hesitated too long. When that happened, she turned her back and walked away.
”No time, right?” she said softly. “Salvation should be given to all equally.”
Those who couldn’t decide now wouldn’t change their minds even after a year. Wasting time on them would mean losing others who were ready.
I had to harden my heart and leave.
Some villagers chased after us, pleading as we flew away. I wished they’d decided sooner. But I wasn’t in a position to judge—I’d been indecisive too. All I could do was swallow the guilt and keep going.
Tizzy smiled as she looked up at me.
”If I weren’t with you,” she said, “you’d probably still be at the first village.”
She wasn’t wrong. I might’ve lost the chance to save anyone.
By sunset, we’d cleared the two western districts. I wanted to push for one more, but it wasn’t realistic.
”It’s better not to visit at night,” Tizzy said gently. “Waking people just to convince them is cruel.”
She was right. Dragon God’s Herb could erase fatigue, but I still felt drained, body and soul.
Maybe we really should rest for tomorrow.
”If only we could teleport…” I muttered.
”Teleportation works between places connected by stones,” Tizzy said as she nodded. “You jump between linked points.”
”Oh, like the teleport shop in the royal capital?”
”That’s actually the Royal Guard’s base. They manage those stones.”
I remembered the Hachiko-like statue in the plaza. So that wasn’t just a meeting spot?
”Do you think they’ve discovered my teleportation?”
Tizzy raised an eyebrow. “A few people can teleport without stones, but space-time magic is kept secret. You’re probably just drawing attention.”
”Maybe they already know about the magic bag,” I muttered.
”Unique skills are often kept hidden from family by tradition,” she said with a small shrug. “The ancients were smart.”
”There’s no teleport shop in Kasgar, right?”
”They used to have stones. But the last lord had them removed—for defense.”
Teleporting enemies was a real threat. Even dwarf gates were guarded day and night.
”If you used teleport to drop a small elite force,” I said, “you could win before anyone reacted.”
Tizzy went quiet for a second.
”Did they destroy the old teleport stones?”
”They should’ve,” she answered slowly. “Usually, they reinstall them once peace returns…”
Then her eyes widened.
”This is bad,” she said, her voice tight. “The plaza near the Main Gate… It’s run by officials loyal to the Castor faction! I thought they were just eccentric, but maybe they’ve been hiding a stone!”
She was never this nervous. Her voice trembled. Something was wrong.
If the enemy attacked by teleporting straight into Kasgar, it might already be too late.
Those stones had fixed coordinates. They needed to be placed exactly right. And the plaza—recently cleaned up by the Castor group—had been a junk heap until just days ago.
That timing wasn’t coincidence.
I grabbed Tizzy and sealed her into the magic bag, then pushed the Hover Shield to maximum speed.
The plaza cleanup was nearly complete. A surprise attack could come *tonight*.
If I were the enemy, I’d attack just before dawn—when everyone was asleep and visibility was low.
Then again, with summoned Heroes on their side, maybe they didn’t even care about the timing.
I could only pray. Please—at least let me reach Kasgar before they move.
* * *
The Tenan Kingdom was a small country bordering the western edge of the Holy Kingdom. A wide river marked its border with the Duke Mineley Territory, and towering snow-capped mountains blocked travelers’ passage even in summer.
Though Tenan was a vassal of the Larse Empire, the Prime Minister’s faction secretly maintained ties with the Totoana Empire, skillfully balancing a delicate double diplomacy to keep its independence.
Next to the royal palace stood a grand fortress, garrisoned by the Larse Empire’s army. Everyone knew who really ruled this land.
Even the lowest soldier in that garrison held a higher status than Tenan’s nobles. A soldier with a courier’s armband swaggered down the main street, proudly showing it off.
”Report! We’ve received a message from Kasgar via guild communication. They urgently request salt. Could this be some kind of code?” the courier said.
Inside the garrison headquarters, which resembled a throne room, a young soldier lounged in the central chair. He narrowed his eyes, studying the courier as if weighing him. This aristocratic young lord had just been assigned here but was already in charge of the Kasgar conquest.
”How dare you, a mere messenger, question the Supreme Commander without permission!” an elderly knight barked nearby.
The courier hurriedly bowed and left, while short men who had been eavesdropping in the hallway rushed in after him.
”Your Excellency, the teleportation stones are fully installed, right? Is the assault tonight?” one of them asked eagerly.
”You bastards! How rude!” the elderly knight shouted, veins bulging.
”Old man, quiet down. We’re having an important discussion with Captain,” one of them smirked.
”What! Insolent brats!” the knight snapped.
”Calm down. Lords and Heroes of this world are just commoners. Let’s overlook their rudeness. It’s time to start the council,” the young lord said with a calm smile.
The old knight fell silent, scowling as the summoned Heroes gathered in a circle before the commander, grumbling quietly. The knight thought this was no different from a barbarian war council.
”Preparations at the teleportation stones will finish after sunset. The sage infiltrating Kasgar will teleport here,” the commander continued.
Teleportation had limits—only the caster and up to three others could travel at once. The sage in Kasgar would register the teleportation stone and jump back to Tenan, then escort three sages to Kasgar. After that, the four sages would shuttle back and forth continuously, using mana potions like water.
”Under cover of night, send as many skilled fighters as possible to secure the bridgehead. At dawn, quickly capture the castle all at once,” he ordered.
”So it’s exactly the plan we proposed! Yeah! I’m fired up!” one Hero exclaimed.
”A staged attack by four sages! An unprecedented surprise only we can pull off,” another added.
”It’s like dropping troops behind enemy lines with an airborne assault. There’s no way we lose. It’s insane—in a good way,” someone grinned.
”Let’s make this battle one for the history books,” a Hero declared.
”Wow, we’re amazing. We can become true heroes in this world of swords and magic!” a Sage Hero said proudly.
”Captain, do you think we can become nobles?” another asked.
The commander observed his strange subordinates. Were they brave or foolish? He’d heard they were hard to manage, but after realizing their rude manners came from cultural differences, they hadn’t been so difficult.
The plan was reckless—storming the enemy’s core with a small force. Most strategists opposed it. But it was approved when they realized marching through rough terrain would cause heavy losses.
The engineering unit sent ahead still couldn’t cross the border river. The spring melt had swelled the river, and the crossing operation had failed, causing serious casualties.
If the teleport plan hadn’t been proposed, the strategists probably would have forced the crossing anyway, ignoring the losses.
”Achieve glory on the battlefield, and your rise in status will be assured. That opportunity finally comes tonight. Give it your all,” the commander said.
”Yeah! Let’s do this! We’ll wipe out those villains!” one of the Heroes cheered.
”When I become a noble, I’ll marry a cute wife and live a carefree life,” another laughed.
”Hey, that’s a death flag!” someone joked.
After the noise died down, the summoned Heroes hurried out to prepare for the night raid.
”Good grief, such noisy fellows,” the old knight muttered, clearly annoyed.
”Don’t be so harsh. They’re just like children,” the commander said.
”Children? Some of them are over thirty,” the knight replied gruffly.
”It’s like they’ve been reborn in another world. Their real age doesn’t matter here,” the commander reasoned.
”You seem to think highly of them,” the knight said.
”Even borrowed strength can defeat enemies. We just have to help them master it properly,” the commander replied.
”So, you took on the role of Little Castor?” the knight asked quietly.
”Ah, that story. It was a good chance to command troops officially—impersonating someone else is serious state business. Maybe, surprisingly, I’m not so different from those Heroes,” the commander said with a faint grin.
”With noble blood pulling strings behind the scenes, you seem remarkably calm. It really makes a difference,” the knight added.
The nobleman playing Little Castor gently pressed a finger to his red lips. Realizing he’d spoken too much, the old knight suddenly grew quiet and glanced nervously behind him.
”Haha. The eavesdropping protections here should be perfect, but apparently they’re useless against them,” the young man chuckled.
”They were eavesdropping on the messenger earlier too. This isn’t something to laugh about—it’s a serious military offense,” the knight warned.
”They’re not used to harsh treatment. Let’s give them some leeway for now. If you think that’s too soft, balance it with their achievements,” the young nobleman replied.
”T-That might actually be harsher punishment,” the knight mumbled.
Seeing the old knight worry about the Heroes, the young man impersonating Little Castor laughed lightly.
”You’re surprisingly softhearted. Did yelling at them make you sympathize?” he teased.
His commanding tone earlier had been an act. Now, his innocent smile was just that of a boy, fitting his age perfectly.
Notes:
• Kasgar – The capital of Duke Mineley Territory. Located in a mining region, it is known for its acetylene lamps and mica windows. The city is bustling, with taverns and merchants, but it lacks the exotic charm of the royal capital.
• 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.
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
• Tenan Kingdom – A small country neighboring the western side of the Holy Kingdom. It is a vassal of the Larse Empire but maintains independence through double diplomacy with the Totoana Empire. The kingdom is strategically important due to its location and resources.
• Holy Kingdom – Located on the east of the continent.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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