Chapter 66
'Why are these guys trying to test me?'
These people's exclusivity, Gustav's attempts to probe the member dispatched from the Black Citadel—everything seemed unnatural to Erich.
However, even within that strange flow, Erich had little trouble grasping Gustav's intentions.
These men trusted and followed Richter as if he were their liege. Erich was from the Black Citadel.
Combine the two, and there was only one thing they didn't want to hear.
"You're wondering if I'm here because of Richter's dismissal, aren't you?"
"Let's stop pretending. Trying something I'm not good at is making me itchy. You're right. That's exactly what I was going to ask. So let me ask you one more time, properly. Is that really why you came?"
Gustav's expression hardened with coldness. At the same time, tension spread around the table.
Erich could feel Frederick's grip tightening around his sword. At the same time, Barnes silently placed his hand on his own blade.
—Clack.
He felt the supply caravan members watching from behind, casting anxious glances at him. Maybe it would be enough to just say, 'That's not the reason.'
'I'd better dig a bit deeper about Richter.'
Erich had no intention of missing this opportunity to acquire information. In the tense atmosphere, Erich looked Gustav straight in the eye.
"Looks like Richter has you all pretty well under his thumb. If I can't return to headquarters, your fates are as good as sealed, aren't they?"
"That doesn't matter. Dying this way or that, what's the difference?"
Their faces were filled with resolve. Even threatening a commander-level envoy from the Black Citadel with murder was an incredible thing.
If the 6th Fortress were to be labeled armed rebels, they would no longer receive even the meager supplies they already lacked. That would basically mean death for them...
'... And yet, being with Richter, is there still a better chance of survival?'
Erich narrowed his eyes. Exactly what kind of magic had Richter worked to gain such trust from his men?
Then Frederick growled threateningly.
"Why don't you just parade around with 'REBELLION' written on your damn forehead?"
Gustav's face showed a flicker of fear at Frederick's threat. Ironically, because of Frederick's intimidating mannerisms, Gustav was more tense on this side.
Erich gave a faint chuckle.
"Turning your men into a private army is treason. Is the garrison commander Richter's dream some heinous betrayal against the Empire?"
"A private army? Hah, maybe you could call it that. But what do you think kept us going here? Your people's lousy excuse for supplies? We're here alive only thanks to Richter himself."
Passion poured from Gustav's mouth. Although his momentum had withered a bit, standing his ground before Frederick's blade was still impressive.
'So, he's a guy who speaks his mind.'
Gustav's eyes even held a trace of determination. Erich probed.
"Really? Is Richter that remarkable?"
"You could bring anyone you want, and none would compare to him."
Gustav's head turned, as if searching for something in Erich's reaction. Then, as if realizing something, he muttered,
"Wait..."
After pondering something, Gustav's gaze softened.
"... So you didn't come for that reason, did you? Damn, you had me all nervous."
"Why do you think that?"
"Everyone knows you couldn't pay someone enough to take charge of 6th Fortress. And you say you're here to dismiss him? Unless our commander committed some heinous crime, that would never happen. And if you really came to investigate a crime, why all this talk? You'd have just cut us all down. Especially if you're the 'Barbarian Butcher' from the Black Citadel..."
"... Barbarian Butcher?"
"Oh, that's your nickname. We gave it to you among ourselves. Anyway, the fact you're just playing word games with us means you only wanted to sound us out."
"Well, half of it, yes."
Erich quietly curled up the corner of his mouth. At the same time, he slightly upgraded his assessment of Gustav.
'He really does have enough wits to serve as acting garrison commander.'
Of course, even if Gustav hadn't realized Erich's intentions and had attacked, there wouldn't have been much of a problem.
After all, their numbers weren't enough to overcome by force if things came to that.
If they had tried, Erich could have simply crushed their little "private army," then pressured this Richter as the fortress commander.
"Why, just a moment ago you seemed ready to draw your sword. Why not keep going?"
"I'm done. No more pointless provocations. We're edgy enough already. So, you only tried to probe us because you wanted to know what kind of person Commander Richter is?"
"That's more or less it. That's enough explanation for me."
At Erich's crisp reply, Gustav gave a wry smile.
"You talk just like the commander."
And when Gustav mentioned "you sound just like the commander," the tense atmosphere in the fortress noticeably relaxed. People here and there nodded in agreement, showing they shared his view.
Well, for them, it was probably not unusual to meet people who spoke like Erich. The Watch, after all, was made up of drifters.
But the fact that they felt the same about both Erich and Richter gave Erich some sense of what kind of man Richter might be.
"... You're just as blunt as this guy."
"By 'this guy' you mean?"
Erich glanced at Frederick, who held the sword.
"The two of you are equally short with your words."
Frederick replied in a disgruntled voice,
"Tch, what's with all you learned folk. I was never taught anything about formal speech."
"Shall I see if deference leaks out when your neck gets twisted?"
Frederick averted his gaze from Erich. Gustav, grinning, called out.
"Weapons down!"
At his command, the fortress guards sheathed their swords at once. Contrary to initial impressions, their demeanor now reminded Erich of a trained military unit.
After issuing his order, Gustav said,
"Heh, I'm not good at talking with smart people like you. That's how I got stuck out here from the Black Citadel... Anyway, then, what did you really come for?"
"This isn't the place to discuss it. Too many ears listening. Consider it a message from the commander."
"... Hm, is that so. That's unfortunate."
"Why?"
"The commander is out right now. I'm only running things temporarily, but I doubt what you want to say should go through me."
"That's true. Hm."
The conversation with Gustav had not been without value.
He got a feel for the fortress atmosphere, its people, and a sense of Richter.
Still, if Commander Richter was absent...
"So, the reason the regular reports to the Black Citadel stopped was because the commander left?"
"Ah... did we not send them? Sorry about that. We've had more important things to worry about than petty correspondence."
Calling the regular reports "petty correspondence" told Erich all he needed to know.
Gustav hesitated, then shook his head as though he didn't want to dwell on it.
"Let's do it this way. The commander will be back soon, so rest here in the meantime. It's dirty and uncomfortable compared to the Citadel, but it beats the snowfield."
Erich nodded. However, with more to ask, he continued. He wanted to ask about the barbarian who'd been drained of blood.
"By the way, I heard something strange as I came here."
"Strange, how?"
"Do any among you drain barbarians' blood?"
"... Barbarian blood?"
The mood grew strangely subdued. Erich didn't miss the change in the muggy air.
'... That reaction.'
If they knew nothing, they'd look puzzled; if they knew, they'd deny it. These men did neither. Gustav fidgeted.
"... Hmm, I'm not sure whether to say we know or don't know."
"You'd better tell the truth. If the reason is bad, be ready for trouble."
"P-please relax. It's not like we're trying to hide anything. It's just that we don't really know ourselves."
"Then say what you do know."
"You're from the Black Citadel and an officer, so you must know the structure of the fortress."
"I know enough. So?"
"Well, we have a section here that no other fortress has."
The Watch's fortress is divided into three sections: Guard, recon, and Internal. And there are even outposts under separate command.
Here the Guard section handled defense and repairs, as well as personal protection for the commander.
The Recon section did patrols outside the fortress, and the Internal section handled administration and chores.
Outposts were under the command of their own chiefs.
Anyone outside this structure was from other fortifications. Erich, recalling the organization, said,
"... There are people assigned from outside?"
"That's right. In our case, there's a 'Research unit' apart from the three groups."
"And you lot, all illiterates, are doing research?"
"Hey, that's a little harsh, but fair enough. We don't know much, honestly. But it's true. Maybe 'awkward coexistence' is the right term, but there's a Research unit stationed here. As I heard, they're also under the Black Citadel. Aren't you from the Citadel, too? From my point of view, I found it stranger that you didn't know about them."
Erich narrowed his eyes. Research in the fortress? This was something he'd never heard of, before or after regression. Of course, the Black Citadel supposedly had a department for strategy, responses, and barbarian culture research, but...
'They never achieved anything. By my time as commander, those departments were disbanded.'
If anything, 6th Fortress, being the frontmost outpost, made sense as a research assignment, yet it was still dubious.
"... So, are they the ones collecting barbarian blood?"
"That's right. That's why I said, we know and don't know. The Recon section's guys were terrified of all the blood-drained barbarians outside—not realizing it was because of them."
"... Does Richter know about this?"
At the mention of Richter, Gustav fell silent. He pondered deeply, then said,
"That's something you should ask the commander directly. I shouldn't answer that."
"Then take me to where the Research unit is."
"To be honest, it's a breach of authority, but..."
Gustav squeezed his eyes shut. He seemed to be thinking hard, then came to a decision.
"Fine. I guess it's up to me to show you. But if this gets me in trouble, you're taking responsibility."
"Weren't you so defiant just a minute ago? For someone so bold, you sure do worry a lot."
"That's that; this is this. Frankly, I'm not sure I should even be doing this."
Erich and his group followed Gustav's lead. At the same time, the fortress crew surrounding them quickly dispersed.
—Crash! Bang!
Everyone darted for the supply wagon. As he walked, Erich paused, glancing back and forth between them and Gustav.
'Suspicious. Very suspicious.'
A fortress looking even more undersupplied than necessary. And a mysterious Research unit sent from the Black Citadel.
All of this was setting the regressor's nerves on edge.
'Maybe it's better this way. With Richter gone, asking questions might be easier.'
Erich followed Guard Chief Gustav toward 6th Fortress.
And amid all these suspicious mysteries, he only hoped that none of them overlapped with the dead.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】