A report came in when everyone in the rebel camp was asleep.
It was a time when only the soldiers on guard duty were present.
Under the autumn moonlight, the sound of horse hoofs could be heard approaching the rebel camp.
Noticing it, the guards gasped, wondering if it was an enemy attack. However, the sounds seemed to indicate few people.
In fact, from the moonlight and light from the bonfire burning near the entrance to the camp, only a single horseman was visible.
Still, just to be sure, the guard on duty looked at his fellow guards, who gave a small nod as they gripped the shafts of their spears tightly.
It hadn’t been that long since the commotion in the camp during the middle of the night after all.
Naturally, their vigilance had remained strict since.
「Halt!」
With those words, they pointed their spears at the approaching rider.
However, when they saw that the rider looked exhausted, they couldn’t help but question it in their minds.
Seeing the guards’ response, the rider spoke with a look of relief.
「Excuse me, but I would like to see Count Obrisin as soon as possible. I serve the deputy lord of a town called Lacroix in the Obrisin County. I have come here on an urgent matter. This is the letter from the deputy lord, Lord Heitor.」
With those words, the rider showed the soldiers a letter.
The letter was sealed with wax, proof that it had been sent by the person named Heitor, but there was no way for ordinary soldiers to know htat.
Exchanging glances again, the soldier who had spoken first spoke again.
「I’m sorry, but I can’t make the decision here. May I contact my superiors first? You seem quite tired as well. Why don’t you take a little rest in the meantime?」
Though they were still on guard, the soldiers no longer held any suspicion towards the rider before them.
The fact that they had come at night and looked exhausted had made what otherwise would seem a very suspicious arrival to actually result in less suspicion.
Surely no one would do something so obviously suspicious.
Seeing his fellow guard run off to call his superior, the guard handed the rider a water bottle.
「Sorry, that’s a relief. I’ve been running the whole time, so I’d like to let my horse rest if possible.」
「All the stables are in the camp. Wait a minute though. We can manage with water.」
With those words, the guard left his post as well.
Normally, they should have been more cautious, but there were more than 10 guards present. Furthermore, the rider had already dismounted from his horse and looked quite tired.
In such a situation, while they still cautious, they couldn’t help but want to be kind.
The soldier brought back a bucket of water, which he placed in front of the horse.
The moment the horse saw that, it put its head inside the bucket and started drinking.
It must have been quite thirsty from all the running as the water in the bucket quickly started to empty.
The rider stroked his horse’s back in gratitude.
「So what happened? to bring a rider here alone in the middle of the night.」
A guard asked as they handed the rider a cup of water.
Taking the cup, the rider drained it in one gulp before shaking his head.
「No, I don’t know the detail either. I think it was written in the letter……but there were a lot of people going in and out of where the deputy lord was, so I think it’s related to that.」
「……I have a bad feeling about this. At the very least, I’m sure it’s not good news for us.」
One of the soldiers nodded and the others nodded back in response.
The same could be said of the rider who had brought the letter. He had a somewhat anxious look on his face as he drank more water and stroked his horse.
About five minutes passed like this and an oppressive atmosphere had filled the surroundings again by the time the guard who had left to give the news returned.
「Count Obrisin would like to meet you. Please come with the letter right away.」
「I understand. ……Can I leave the horse here with you?」
「Yeah, we’ll take care of it, so go ahead.」
The soldier who had handed him the cup responded and the rider bowed his head slightly before returning his cup and entering the camp with the guard who had just returned.
As they left, the soldiers returned to their guard positions with spears in hand.
「Hey, what do you think happened?」
「I don’t know, but it can’t be anything good.」
「Oh, you think so? But, maybe……just maybe……」
「Do you want to make a bet then? If I’m wrong, I’ll pay for three cups of ale.」
「Ugh, fine……but if I’m wrong, I’m only buying you one.」
「You’re a little scared.」
As the guard said that, suppressed laughter echoed around the camp entrance.
While the guards were laughing, the rider who had brought the letter was ushered into the magic tent at the center of the rebel camp.
Despite it being the middle of the night, many of the rebel leaders were gathered, proving that few of them were sleeping.
Amidst the crowd, the rider first knelt before Mercurio.
「Forgive the sudden arrival. I am Cyrus, assigned to the town of Lacroix in the Obrisin county. It is an honour to meet Your Highness Mercurio.」
「I was wondering why we were suddenly called to gather in the middle of the night……but I understand you have business with Gurgast.」
「Yes. I have brought a letter here from the deputy lord.」
He took out the letter he had shown to the guards at the camp entrance and handed it over to a soldier who came over.
After confirming that the letter itself wasn’t dangerous, the soldier handed it over to Gurgast.
「……Yes, this wax seal definitely belongs to Lacroix’s deputy lord.」
Checking the wax seal, he opened the letter and glanced at it……before his expression twisted in displeasure.
Gurgast was a tough guy, so his current appearance was so intimidating that those not used to it felt like they would be killed at any moment.
「Gurgast, what does it say?」
When Vihera asked, Gurgast handed the letter over.
Judging that it was fine for her to read it, she read through as well……causing her beautiful face to twist slightly.
「Rather than attacking us directly, they’ve sent troops to the towns and villages in the Obrisin county. I wonder if this is Kabajid’s plan.」
Vihera’s words made everyone realise why a rider had been sent to bring a letter in the middle of the night, causing most people to frown.
The seriousness of the situation became clear.
Up until now, even when a punitive force had been sent out, the only target had been the rebel army.
But, this time, Kabajid’s plan wasn’t to attack the rebel army directly, but to target the foundation supporting them.
「But, why? I know that it’s an effective method, but they’ve only attacked us directly so far. So, why now……」
「Because it has to be now.」
Tilleyle calmly told the confused noble.
However, he wasn’t truly as calm as his words and there was a hint of impatience on his face.
The rebel army came from the Obrisin county.
Although they had left it and had entered the territory of a noble closer to the Imperial Capital, the fact that the Obrisin county was nearby meant that they could easily seek refuge there in the event of an emergency.
In addition, while traveling merchants supplied them with some goods, most of their supplies came from the Obrisin county.
What would happen if the rebels lost their source of supplies from such an important place?
As the rebels emerged victorious battle after battle against the punitive forces, more and more people had joined them and their depeletion of supplies was rapid.
In other words……
「So Kabajid’s aim is to starve us out.」
Vihera nodded at Mercurio’s words.
「Yes.」
「Then, bring supplies from my territory!」
「Wait a moment. Considering the distance from the Obrisin county, my territory would be better……」
Many nobles started saying that they would bring supplies from their own territories, but Theorem put a stop to them.
「Please wait. We’re talking about Prince Kabajid here. I’m sure he’s thought carefully about what we’ll do next. It’s probably best to assume he’s sending troops here along the highway. If we’re careless while transporting supplies here, they will be attacked and our supplies will be burned……or worse, stolen and used to line their pockets.」
No one could say that Theorem was overthinking.
In fact, everyone expected that Kabajid would do something like that.
「But……up until now, they hadn’t attacked places like towns or villages because they were worried about the backlash from people after the civil war, so why are they suddenly attacking now?」
While everyone was thinking to themselves, one of the nobles muttered as if he just had a thought.
Many people felt doubtful at those words.
Backlash from the people was something the royal family wanted to avoid if possible.
If entire towns or villages were to unite and start rebelling, it would be troublesome in many ways.
So……why now?
「There are a few possibilities.」
Mercurio spoke as he looked at the letter that Gurgast passed him.
「Firstly, if Frizione succeeds in escaping the Imperial Capital and her forces join up with us, it would cause great difficulties for them.」
Mercurio’s words excited the surrounding nobles.
If that was true, it was certain that their military strength would increase.
……However, it also meant that the issue of supplies would only become a bigger problem.
However, several people knew someone who had the means to address that problem.
「If it’s supplies, we can use Rei’s item box. It shouldn’t be a problem. With Set, he can move through the air even if the roads are blocked. Rei might even be able to defeat the enemies blocking the road.」
The Bestir Empire had naturally gathered information about Rei, their biggest cause of defeat in the Spring War.
Among the information gathered was the fact that Rei had used an item box to transport supplies during the war, causing many in the Bestir Empire to regret their lack of items boxes.
Of course, Noiz had an item box as well.
However, he had no interest in the war and so the Bestir Empire had been forced to prepare a large supply force.
「I see! In that case, it won’t be a problem even if the roads are blocked!」
「……Don’t be stupid. That’s not a fundamental solution. At best, it will only extend the time until we lose. He can only transport supplies. Living things can’t be carried in it. Besides, even Kabajid knows that Rei has an item box.」
Living things couldn’t be carried.
For example, even if they had the materials to repair weapons and armour, they couldn’t do anything without a blacksmith.
Right now, there were blacksmiths in the rebel camp and some had been brought over by nobles, so it was fine for now, but it wasn’t foolproof.
In addition, prostitutes were absolutely necessary in places like this, so it wasn’t just a matter of supplies for the rebel camp.
「Now then, let me get back to the point. Second possibility. Kabajid and Shurus were aiming for this from the beginning. Specifically, they fought and lost a few battles so that the rebels would gather more people. In this case, this is all within their plans……」
「Is that even possible? Why would they go out of their way to do something that would harm themselves.」
One of the nobles retorted without thinking at Mercurio’s words, but it was not Mercurio who responded but Tilleyle.
「It’s extremely effective in gathering all the dissidents scattered throughout the Bestir Empire into one place. I hate to say it, but there are many people who are dissatisfied with the Bestir Empire. People with ties to countries which have been swallowed up in the past, people in the territories of nobles who have been forcibly taxing the people to the point of rebellion, nobles who lost out in power struggles and were exiled from the Imperial Capital……and so on.」
「That is……」
The noble who had been about to argue with what Mercurio had said earlier was at a loss for words.
He knew it was true.
「Well, even so, we can’t just stand by and watch the towns and villages in the Obrisin county be occupied and the roads blocked. It’s true that with Rei, the rebel army can manage for a while, but there are towns and villages which would suffer fatal losses if merchants couldn’t get through to them. And……the fact that they’ve dispersed their forces is also a good opportunity for us to defeat them one by one.」
Mercurio’s words echoed through the magic tent.