One day, while I was going through my daily routine of training new recruits and handling administrative matters, I received a report.
“Are the remnants gathering?”
When I asked this back, Erich nodded with a serious expression.
The remnants were aware that we were recruiting soldiers, and with the risks increasing, some of them fled outside the territory. They had been lying low since then, but recently, the areas affected by their activities had become more concentrated, suggesting that the remnants were gathering.
“What will you do? Both Werner and Lord Herbert are saying they can’t take action.”
“Hmm…”
I mulled over the situation in my mind.
What could be the purpose of their gathering? Is it my life they seek? No, that’s unlikely.
The remnants are not acting out of loyalty to the former Duchy of Baltia. If they were truly loyal, they would have shown their allegiance in the previous war.
So, it must be… money. They might be planning to secure funds and jump somewhere safe.
“Alright. Let’s catch them all in one fell swoop.”
“Your Grace, the new recruits are not yet at a level where they can engage in actual combat.”
“Indeed, they’re not ready yet. But don’t worry. I have a plan.”
When I smiled like that, Erich looked at me as if he were staring at a dubious fortune teller.
“Don’t say that. I’m still your lord.”
A few days later, we were hiding in the bushes along the road.
“Your Grace, they have appeared.”
“Understood. Follow the plan. Make sure to tell Werner not to jump the gun.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ahead of us, a group of armed men was blocking the path of the transport convoy.
I had been spreading a rumor recently that we were transporting gold obtained from the gold mine to present to the count’s family using three carts.
I had anticipated that the remnants might not come, so I baited them by saying we would be waiting at the mine, and that we would be facing a hired mercenary group and over 300 men borrowed from the count’s family.
They had fallen for the rumor and came to ambush us.
The remnants charged toward our transport team without maintaining formation. In response, those guarding the convoy began to flee in panic.
With only about twenty guards for the transport team and the enemy numbering around 100, nearly half of whom were knights, it was an uneven match.
Instead of pursuing the guards, they surrounded the carts and began to rummage through them.
“Erich. Now.”
Erich nodded slightly, conjured a small fireball, and launched it at the carts.
When the fireball struck the cart, it erupted in a massive explosion, filling the area with the sound of the blast and a cloud of dust.
This tremendous explosion wasn’t because of Erich’s powerful magic; it was simply because the cart was loaded with gunpowder.
When I first came to this world, I thought, “In another world, gunpowder should be overpowered!” But magic turned out to be a superior alternative to gunpowder.
Producing gunpowder isn’t free, and the magic that can be activated in exchange for fatigue is just too strong.
I had tried to make something like a simple matchlock gun, but… I ended up cutting the bullets.
Not just my father, but Herbert and Werner also ran out of bullets. Knights really aren’t human. Well, I did manage to keep making them in small amounts as a hobby, but… I’m almost out of stock now…
While I was lost in thought about that, the dust cleared, and visibility returned.
Most of the remnants were lying on the ground, but a few were standing, likely injured.
Surviving that explosion… they really aren’t human.
I signaled to Erich with my gaze to give him instructions.
“Annihilate them.”
Thus, without much resistance, the pests that had troubled me for so long were captured in one fell swoop.
