The people of the Kingdom of Klein gasped when they saw how quickly Fritz had slain four shepherds in an instant.
Even the female knights, who were a little cowed by his huge frame of 190 centimeters and 96 kilograms, were no exception.
"...... Mr. Fritz, you're so nice!"
Gloria giggles when she sees her men whispering such words to each other.
It was his longsword that caught Gloria's attention.
Gloria hurries her horse and stands alongside Fritz. She rushed her horse and lined up with Fritz, who immediately asked her about the sword.
"Your sword is very good, isn't it?
Fritz took the word "sword" in this question to mean "swordsmanship.
"Yes, the knights of the Shoro Empire are very good with the sword on horseback," said Fritz.
"No, no, no... ......"
"Hmm?"
Gloria explained honestly that she was impressed by the sharpness of the sword.
"Ha, so that's how it is. This longsword is nothing special. The one I just ...... slashed it with just a little bit of force."
"No, no, but it still has to be very strong or it will bend or break.
"...... Is that how it works?"
Fritz looks at me as if he doesn't understand.
"Have you never broken a sword before?
To which Fritz immediately replies.
"No. ......
"What ......?"
Gloria is absolutely mortified. Gloria herself has broken many swords, maybe more than a dozen.
She has broken them in practice and in combat with magical beasts. But most of them were rather small, or rather low grade swords.
I'd like to see the sword later, if you don't mind.
"Yes, of course.
Satisfied with this answer, Gloria lowered her horse and returned it to its original position. That is, in the middle of the group.
By the way, the leader of the group, Bernardo, was at the end of the line.
The second-in-command lined up his horse next to Gloria, who had returned to her original position.
The second-in-command, I understand that you are good friends with Mr. Fritz.
"Yes, I am. I'm just asking because I'm curious about something.
...... Really?
Yes, it's true.
"......, that's good."
Gloria saw a faint smile on the deputy's face as he said this. Gloria looked at the deputy's face and saw a faint smile, but did not inquire any further.
But she didn't go any further, because she heard Roland's voice.
"That's a man from Wu Gong village over there!
Two or three figures could be seen in the distance.
"I'll go and talk to them! You all stay here!"
With that Roland started his horse.
"Wait, I'll go with you."
Gloria followed. She thought that a female knight would be less likely to be seen by the others than a male knight.
After running a distance of about 500 meters, they approached a person they believed to be from the settlement of Wu Gong.
"It's me. It's Roland."
Roland stopped Gloria with a hand gesture and approached, himself ahead of her.
There were three men there, holding something in their hands. They were holding something they had dug out of the ground.
"It's a hive!" Roland said.
Roland said, and the three men nodded silently. They seemed to be wary of Gloria behind them.
Roland sensed this and said, "Don't worry,
"Don't worry. She is protecting me. I assure you.
He calms her down. Then he points to the giant golem and knights behind him and explains.
"This time, I'm here to check the way from the Kingdom of Klein to the Kingdom of Egelea. Oh, yes, and I have some shepas to bring back to you.
Yes, and I have brought many other things with me. Can you show us the way to the village?
They explained and quieted her down. Finally, he asked Gloria to leave a message.
"Gloria, please go back and tell the captain. These men will lead you to the village.
"Okay. I trust you."
Gloria turned her horse to look at Roland and the others who were talking friendly to her.
The rest of the trip was smooth. The speed was slower than Roland remembered, but the village was closer than Roland remembered, and they reached their destination, the village of Ugong, shortly after 3:00 p.m.
"So this is the village of Wu Gong."
The group received a reasonable welcome. As Roland said, the freshly caught shepherd's paw was the key.
The population is about 100, all living in wooden houses. The houses are no different from those of the villages in the Kingdom of Klein, except that the construction is a little rougher.
The clothes they were wearing, although a little old, were comparable to those of the inhabitants of the Lesser Kingdom.
Captain Bernard and the other knights set up their tents on the outskirts of the village and prepared to encamp. is also kept away so as not to be intimidating.
Roland immediately went to meet the chief of the village by himself. The chief's name was Lariag, and he would be 67 years old this year.
He said, "Chief, it's been a long time.
"Oh, Mr. Roland, it's been three years.
"It's been three years." "I guess so. You look as healthy as ever.
"Ha, I guess life here is just the way I like it."
The conversation begins with such casual remarks, but gradually gets to the heart of the matter. This was Roland's exclusive territory.
"We have two objectives this time," he said.
"Well, let's hear it.
One is to build a road connecting the kingdoms of Klein and Egelea.
Lariag agrees.
"I understand. With the current state of the roads, we can't connect the two kingdoms without going through the Kingdom of Cerroa.
"Yes, that's right. And the other is to buy food.
"What do you mean? What do you mean?
Roland had to explain further, since it seemed that he had not understood the meaning of the question.
"At the end of last year, the kingdoms of Klein and Selroa had a bad harvest, and the grain they harvested was attacked by mold.
"What?"
And our food reserves will run out before March this year.
Having said all that, LARIOUGH knew what he was talking about.
"I see, so you want to get food from us too."
"Yes. Well, the first thing is to improve the roads. The kingdoms of Egelea and Elias didn't seem to have a bad harvest.
I understand. We don't have much in reserve either.
"I know that. We would like to buy honey and citrons.
"Well, as usual. A little more, I think.
"I understand, sir.
Thus ends Roland's role. From now on, the captain, Bernardo, would negotiate directly with them.
"I would like to hunt shepherds and send their meat to the kingdom.
Bernardo did not speak in a high-handed manner, as he was entrusted with this kind of negotiation. This made Ralyegh open up to him.
"Well, please be careful not to overfish.
"Yes, sir.
Both Ralliague and Bernardo knew that if they over-harvested, their numbers would dwindle and they would eventually have to pay the price.
"And now I need someone to guide me to the south."
From here Roland would have to turn back with honey and citran. It is no wonder, since he only knows the way to this point.
"There is no road to the south, though."
Lariag said regretfully.
"Yes, that was to be expected. That's why that giant golem is here.
He explains that they can crush shrubs and cut through the forest easily.
"We will give you all the food and equipment you need, so if you want to come with us, you really only need to bring what you can carry with you.
"Well, it's worth a trip, isn't it?
The settlement of Ugong would welcome the opportunity to make a new road to the south.