novelraw Chapter 80 : Gives Me Goosebumps
Chapter 80 : Gives Me Goosebumps
Chapter 80: Gives Me Goosebumps
Two days had passed since they arrived at the camp.
He had gotten acquainted with the mercenaries, stood watch with them, and familiarized himself with the barracks layout.
The commander in charge of the unit did not assign Robin, Imelda, or Serena any major tasks.
They were mostly given small chores like cleaning, carrying supplies, and distributing meals.
The odd jobs did not take long, and thanks to that, Robin was able to spend time with Mirian and Torgen.
When Mirian and Torgen came to the tent where Robin was staying with meat in hand, there was quite a commotion.
Since it was their first time seeing a spirit user, they could not help but bombard Serena with all sorts of questions.
Robin tried to brush things off in place of the socially awkward Serena, but unexpectedly, Serena readily complied with their requests.
Things like lighting a fire or filling a canteen with water.
That alone was enough for the two of them to shine their eyes and fawn over Serena.
With her shoulders lifted high, Serena eventually even manifested a spirit, and the two of them stared blankly at the unprecedented sight.
Torgen did not hide his envious gaze toward Robin.
Robin told Mirian, who kept poking him in the side while saying it was impressive, to take a good look.
There was a high chance he would part ways with Serena once the war was over.
“See you later. Eat properly while I’m gone, and don’t fight even if someone picks a fight with you.”
“If someone heard that, they’d think I’m some reckless little kid.”
“In her eyes, Robin, you really are a ten-year-old kid. I’ll take good care of your sister, so don’t worry too much.”
“I’ll trust Torgen.”
Mirian puffed out her lips, saying who was taking care of whom, but no one paid her any mind.
Imelda and Serena also exchanged brief greetings.
When the time came, Mirian and Torgen returned to their respective units.
“Advance! Forward!”
The commander’s shout echoed thunderously.
The effect of the sound amplification artifact was unmistakable.
Countless soldiers, including the mercenary band, formed up and headed beyond the barrier.
Those left behind at the camp amounted to roughly ten percent of the total force.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sight of a massive army marching in perfect formation was nothing short of spectacular.
Serena, who was usually impassive, rarely added her own impression.
“At that level, even if they clashed with the imperial army, it’d be hard to tell who would win. It doesn’t look like they’re trying to hide the fact that this is an all-out war.”
“That means they’re confident. Even if the enemy notices, what can they do about it? Let’s go. Let’s do what those of us left behind can do.”
As even the rearmost troops disappeared beyond the barrier, Robin turned his body around.
There was not much to do in the emptied camp, but Robin did not treat even small tasks lightly.
Imelda quietly approached his side and asked,
“Aren’t you worried, Robin? The mercenary band is like family to you.”
“Worrying won’t solve anything. They’ll be fine. Everyone is incredibly strong.”
Robin’s steps as he headed back to the barracks were light.
Seven years.
That was the amount of time the Calimacos Mercenary Band had spent growing by taking on large and small requests.
They were not people who would die easily no matter where they went.
Robin trusted them.
A pitch-dark night.
Using the torches lighting up his vision as stepping stones, he finished his patrol.
There was nothing difficult about guard duty.
Check for anything suspicious at the designated times and walk the assigned route—that was all.
“There’s nothing unusual.”
“Good work. You’re a brave young one.”
As he was handing things over to the next guard on standby.
Rustle.
Robin and the soldier turned their heads at the same time.
The soldier cautiously approached, holding up his torch.
Robin, gripping his sword, followed behind while quieting his footsteps.
“Who goes there.”
“…….”
From a bush too small to hide a person, a raccoon jumped out.
Startled by the humans, it scampered away.
The soldier let out a sigh of relief.
“For a moment there, my heart almost dropped.”
“Good thing you weren’t alone.”
“You don’t look all that startled, though?”
Robin shook his head and let out a small chuckle.
After giving a vague response and completing the смена, he turned his steps toward the barracks.
Dim moonlight and a chilly night breeze.
The cries of wild animals echoing from afar reminded him more of a rural countryside than a battlefield.
After walking lightly so as not to wake anyone, what he encountered was a black-haired girl.
Serena was sitting astride a rock in front of the tent, staring straight at Robin.
“What are you doing up instead of sleeping? A new training method?”
“Just watching spirits.”
Watching spirits while blankly staring into the air in the dead of night.
Feeling like she looked like a medium seeing ghosts, Robin offered a word of caution.
“Don’t stay up too late. Come inside. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Come inside?”
“Yes. It’s 2 a.m. right now. You need to sleep well to wake up on time tomorrow.”
Serena hopped down from the rock.
Robin thought she was going to head inside with him, but it was the opposite.
As she walked toward the outside of the camp, Serena spoke nonchalantly.
“Let’s take a short walk.”
“…Where at this hour?”
Serena waited for Robin with her wooden staff hooked behind her neck.
Robin had no choice but to follow.
He thought they might be heading to the abandoned barracks she often visited under the pretense of training.
Defying that expectation, Serena walked along the same route Robin had taken during his patrol.
“You said that after the war, you’d serve as a knight’s squire to build experience, right?”
“Yes. Once the wanted notice is lifted, there won’t be anything holding me back.”
“Then how about traveling together with me instead?”
Serena slowed her pace.
When Robin came to stand beside her, she stared straight at him.
Her gaze was filled with expectation.
‘Why is she suddenly like this.’
As if she had read his thoughts, Serena continued,
“Spending time with you, I ended up getting influenced before I knew it.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“It's a compliment.”
“Thank you for saying that. But I can’t let this opportunity pass. Like most boys, becoming a knight was my childhood dream. And…….”
“And?”
“…I made a promise with a friend. It was a friend who wanted to explore uncharted lands, and I promised I’d protect them once I became a knight.”
“That works out well. I’m interested in uncharted lands too. We can go together.”
“I already told them I’d be following an elder.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve got talent in swordsmanship. You’ll learn quickly. I’ll wait about a month.”
“I think it’ll take at least a year.”
Serena tapped her staff lightly against the ground, her face lost in thought.
“Then let’s do this. We’ll meet at the central plaza of Narvik, the city on the northwestern border. I’ll wait around this time next year.”
“I don’t know exactly when my service will end.”
“If we can’t meet next year, I’ll stop by the year after that. Make time and come, even if you have to force it.”
Before Robin could respond, Serena dashed off along the patrol route.
She pressed herself close to a nearby barracks, closed her eyes, and placed her index finger to her lips.
‘Telling me to be quiet?’
Deciding to go along with it, Robin shut his mouth.
He wondered what kind of odd behavior this was, but his sharpened ears picked up footsteps.
In the dead of night, someone was sneaking out of the barracks and wandering around.
Serena silently mouthed words.
The shape of her lips in the moonlight was easy enough to read.
She was saying they should follow the suspicious person.
Robin answered with a slight nod and followed behind Serena.
“…….”
“…….”
The unidentified silhouette moved stealthily and quickly.
Wondering what it was, they pursued, but the place the person arrived at was a temporary latrine.
Not wanting to hear even the sounds beyond the gently closed door, Robin told Serena they should go back.
Serena stayed still and closed her eyes.
“Serena?”
“Shh. I sent a spirit. Just wait a little.”
“Why are you doing this? Do we really need to listen to someone using the toilet?”
“If necessary.”
“Uh… um…….”
‘I never thought she’d have hobbies like this. It’s kind of creepy.’
At the shocking confession that didn’t match her dignified impression, Robin took five steps back.
The girl with black hair draped over one shoulder focused without caring.
Fortunately, no embarrassing sounds leaked outside the latrine.
‘Maybe I’m the only one who can’t hear anything.’
While he was adjusting his evaluation of Serena in his head.
Serena opened her eyes and tugged on Robin’s collar.
“Let’s go inside.”
“…In there?”
“Hurry. We’ll miss them.”
He sighed at Serena, who trampled all manners a human should uphold without hesitation, but he had no choice but to follow.
If he didn’t stop this girl, it was obvious he’d end up in an awkward situation.
When he lightly knocked on the latrine door, it opened.
Robin tried to hurriedly close the door after opening something he shouldn’t have, but Serena was faster.
She kicked the door wide open.
Thinking something had gone terribly wrong, he prepared a quick apology, but a hollow voice came out of Robin’s mouth.
“There’s no one here?”
Wondering what was going on, he inspected the latrine.
The person who had entered just moments ago was nowhere to be found.
Serena spoke while tapping the ground behind the latrine with her foot.
“Here.”
Serena lit a fire and illuminated the floor.
Looking closely, faint seams could be seen.
It was a door large enough for a person to pass through.
Robin felt around and pulled the handle.
The wooden door opened without resistance.
Perhaps it had been oiled, because it opened smoothly without making the slightest sound.
‘Suspicious.’
Someone had secretly entered a hidden passage at this hour?
Without a word, Robin took the lead and went down.
Thanks to the fire Serena had lit, visibility wasn’t an issue.
What they found below was a tunnel so narrow that they had to bend at the waist to pass through.
Despite its narrow width, it was quite long.
Even after walking for ten minutes, the end wasn’t in sight.
“We’re almost there. Just hang on a little.”
“At times like this, it’s good to be short.”
“…Are you talking about me?”
“If that offended you, I’m sorry.”
“I’m not short. There are plenty of people smaller than me in this world.”
“Of course.”
Just as Serena said, the end of the passage soon came into view.
Seeing the flickering light ahead, Serena extinguished the fire she had kindled at her fingertips.
Robin stuck his head out of the exit to check where they were and was more than a little surprised.
It was because he recognized the place.
Unlike the large tents, it was wide enough for only a few people to enter.
A table set up like an office and a large map hanging on the wall.
‘This is where the commanders plan their operations.’
Two people were standing by the central table, discussing something.
Robin held his breath and listened closely.
“Good work. Lend us a hand once more during the next supply transport.”
“Of course. I’ll look forward to the day of execution.”
“It’s a relief to have a comrade of your caliber. I don’t like getting involved in noble disputes, but this too is a trial we must overcome.”
‘What on earth are they talking about? Day of execution? Getting involved in a fight?’
As Robin turned it over in his head while watching the two men speak cryptically.
Something poked him in the back.
Serena waved her hand, signaling that she wanted to see too.
Robin wanted to make room for her, but the space was so cramped that there was no gap for someone to pass through.
Pressing himself as close to the wall as possible, he gestured with his eyes.
Serena nodded, then squeezed through the gap at Robin’s side and passed by.
It was thanks to the combination of her small frame and flexibility.
Robin swallowed the chuckle that almost escaped him.
‘Is she a cat or something.’
“With this operation, Count Wilcock’s side will take a big hit.”
“A war that was all but won might turn back into a war of attrition.”
“If only we knew what kind of new weapon of war they’ve acquired, we wouldn’t have resorted to this method…….”
Robin’s mind snapped to attention.
They were plotting a scheme to obstruct Wilcock.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Just as he resolved to remember their faces and report to higher command.
Thud.
Serena must have misplaced her grip on the staff, because it slipped from her hand.
The two men reacted quickly.
Without a word, they hurled themselves toward the exit.
‘Not happening.’
Robin placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.