Chapter 111: Deployment

"That’s why patrolling the noble district is dangerous. So please, stay behind us at all times and never go ahead."

Captain Copeland spoke with a very serious expression. Overwhelmed by his intensity, I replied,

"Yes, understood. I’ll stay in the back."

However, Lily, who was behind me, poked my back repeatedly and whispered,

"Lord Robby, I heard that. You promised, okay? Absolutely do not do anything dangerous. Got it?!"

Lily! Is it not lèse-majesté to poke a prince in the back like that? And stop scolding me like I’m some incompetent child! ...Wait, I actually was a pretty incompetent kid in my previous life...

Anyway, that didn’t matter. My plan was to avoid dangerous situations, keep my distance if a fight broke out, and if someone was dying, I’d at least pretend to help them.

But Captain Copeland laughed and said,

"That said, it’s extremely rare for us to actually encounter thieves."

Unfortunately, Captain Copeland did not know the concept of a death flag.

While watching the backs of the security team ahead, I quietly asked Lily,

"How do thieves get from the commoner district into the noble district? There’s a wall separating them, right? It shouldn’t be easy to climb over. Do they use ladders?"

Lily kept facing forward and answered casually,

"They don’t do that. There are places where the wall has collapsed, and they can come and go freely there."

What a shocking fact, delivered so casually!

"Collapsed? Really? Why don’t they repair it?"

"I don’t know the exact reason, but it’s probably a budget issue. There are several broken sections. There are fences, but anyone can just walk right through."

"Aren’t there guards posted there?"

"There are during the day, but at night...? Even if there are, a bribe will let anyone through."

If thieves can just pay a toll to pass, can you really call that "guarding"?

"Only thieves do that, right?"

"Not necessarily. There are nobles who sneak into the commoner district for entertainment, and in the past, some knight’s retainers were operating as thieves there. It goes both ways."

"That’s pretty awful."

"That’s why noble mansions don’t rely on the security patrols. They strengthen their own defenses."

"I see."

Hearing the dark side of this country was enlightening, but it also made my mood sink considerably.

This is like the thieves who broke into daimyo residences in the Edo period, and the ones living in the middle rooms of those same residences. Does that mean, besides the security teams, there’s also something like a "fire and thief patrol" organization in the royal capital? Don’t tell me their leader is called Onihei... Wait, was that his name?

The security team advanced in two columns down the noble district road. There was no noise-making or chanting — they simply moved forward in silence. The lead carried the security team’s flag and bright lights, which probably distinguished them from thieves. But with all the excessive security at noble mansions, I wondered if they ever got attacked by mistake.

The ones at the front carried what could be called spotlights — fairly bright lantern-like devices that only illuminated forward. Others carried lights at intervals to light the ground. They never pointed the lights upward. Probably to avoid illuminating anything unnecessary on top of the walls. Or maybe they didn’t want to see thieves so they wouldn’t have to fight them? Surely not.

As we walked silently, I sensed people far ahead. Lily seemed to notice too but said nothing. The security team at the front didn’t seem to notice and continued advancing quietly. The presence grew stronger. A large group of people — more than ten — were doing something in a dark area without any lights. In the middle of the night, a large group operating without light... the only thing that came to mind was thieves. No, this was more like a full thief gang.

While we advanced without any tension, the other side noticed us first. They had probably been trying to break into one of the mansions. Several of them climbed onto the wall and observed us. The security team’s front still hadn’t noticed and kept approaching.

When we were about 20 meters away, I thought This is bad and was about to call out to the captain when one of the men on the wall screamed "Gwah!!" and fell onto the road. Another followed with a "Gyah!!" and also tumbled down, rolling into the middle of the road in front of the security team.

The front of the security team went "Uwah!" and shone their spotlight on the fallen men, then upward toward the wall. Several silhouettes were illuminated. Then another person on the wall was hit by an arrow from inside the mansion and fell to the road. The mansion’s own guards were shooting arrows.

"Get down!"

One of the men on the wall shouted and jumped down in front of the security team. Right after he landed, several arrows flew over the top of the wall.

"Thieves! Don’t let them escape! Kill them!!"

Captain Copeland shouted. Not "capture them" — "kill them." There was no sound coming from inside the mansion. Since they had driven the thieves out onto the road, they probably wouldn’t get involved any further.

The security team formed up with spears and advanced. Archers stood behind the spearmen. The thieves drew their swords and faced us in a group. There was open space behind them — they were probably looking for a chance to flee. The security team slowly advanced. The fallen thieves were still breathing, groaning "Uuuu...", but no one paid them any attention. People don’t die easily from just one arrow. I thought it would be better to finish them off than let them suffer — which probably meant I had become quite accustomed to this world.

Every step the security team took forward, the thieves took one step back. They advanced past the fallen men. They were getting close to me. Just before that, the captain stabbed his sword into the chest of one of the men on the ground!

"Guh!!"

The groaning thief convulsed and went still. I thought What a waste when suddenly the thieves charged toward the security team. Instead of meeting the charge head-on, the security team was pushed back one or two steps. Seeing this, the thieves turned and fled.

"Shoot!"

The captain ordered, and the archers fired, but because they had already fallen back, their aim was poor and the arrows flew off in random directions. The security team ran after them half-heartedly and then stopped. It was obvious they were only pretending to chase.

"Damn! We let them get away!"

"Yeah, that was close!"

The team members said such things, but there was nothing "close" about it. These guys had never intended to fight from the start. If they had, they would have shot arrows the moment the thieves fell from the wall.

Without commenting on any of that, I ran over to one of the fallen thieves. Oh! He’s still barely alive. I wanted something useful! I didn’t need "Misfortune" or "Dullness" or whatever. I didn’t even know if such things existed, but I just wanted something helpful! Whether my wish reached him or not, even without touching, I felt something enter my body as I got close.

"Lord Robby! What are you doing?!" Lily asked, but I ignored her and moved to the other fallen man. This one hadn’t been finished off by the captain, so he was still groaning loudly. Then I turned toward the other one, but Stevie had already thrust her sword into his chest. She pushed it in without the slightest hesitation.

"Whoa, Stevie! Don’t you have any hesitation at all?"

I said as I ran over. Stevie looked at me with a face that said What are you talking about? and replied,

"Huh?"

As I got right next to him, I felt something enter me just before his heart stopped or his brain died.

"Lord Robby, were you planning to do something to him?" Stevie asked.

"No, it’s fine. I just wanted to ask what kind of guy he was while he was still alive."

"In that case, that one over there is still lively."

When I turned around, Lily had already finished him off. He was now too dead to absorb anything.

This world was merciless toward villains. The lives of bad people had about as much value as pebbles on the side of the road.