Lieutenant Crimine muttered as she urged her horse along, the mount provided from the Battalion’s stables.
「Lieutenant, it’s cold. Very cold.」
「The Kavallaf region is close to the northern limit for farming. In winter, even the fields and ponds freeze over.」
I answered, closing the front of my coat.
「At least it’s spring. But before this year’s wheat planting begins in earnest, we’ve been given an imperial order to capture the leader of the peasant revolt.」
「I think that’s impossible.」
Crimine spread a map and sighed.
「The Kavallaf region has thousands of villages and hamlets. Even within the Humarzov domain alone, there are more than twenty settlements. If the peasants decide to hide him, they can do it indefinitely.」
「Exactly. Impossible.」
I started walking down the mud-slicked road and gave her a wry smile.
「But imperial orders turn the impossible into the possible.」
「It’s still impossible.」
「I know. What matters is the fact that 『the order was carried out.』」
Crimine looked at me with suspicion.
「You don’t mean…」
「We supervise the execution of Yuoh, confirm the death, and report that the body was buried in his homeland. That’s it.」
Once she grasped the true meaning of the mission, her face shifted to exasperation.
「That’s a complete scam.」
「Thousands of villages, endless places to hide. Exactly as you just said.」
「That was my line.」
And she was right.
Because it was impossible, we’d treat it as “done.” Even if the real man popped up later, we’d call him a fake. And there was a reason that was possible.
「Anyway, enough idle chatter. Time to talk business.」
「We were talking business.」
I grinned and drew out the secret note from the Major.
「No, I mean the real business.」
＊ ＊
「Ah yes… you’re from the Imperial Ceremonial Battalion, was it?」
「Imperial Ceremonial Battalion, Lieutenant Macaran.」
I smiled at the young officer with cavalry insignia. Smooth blond hair, idol-like looks. Clearly some noble’s son.
With people like this, it paid to be pleasant. My rank outranked his, but he was cavalry—and nobility. In terms of status, he was higher.
Still, the country noble’s boy gave me a salute. Regulation demanded it.
「It’s an honor to have the cooperation of the execution corps.」
「Indeed. If it’s executions, leave them to us. We’ll take anyone’s head.」
I returned the salute with a cheerful smile.
Behind me, Lieutenant Crimine was probably making the face of a cat being dunked in water, but there was no need to check.
In the cavalry outpost, set up in a commandeered farmhouse, our black funeral-like uniforms stuck out like vultures in a dovecote.
The cavalrymen lounging on chairs whispered in unfriendly tones.
「So that’s the infamous head-chopping unit…」
「Cowards who’ve never seen battle. That little lieutenant’s just a girl.」
「Flat-chested, but cute face. Maybe I’ll try talking to her.」
「Don’t. The stench of death will rub off.」
Cavalrymen were popular with women, so of course this kind of talk came up fast. And yes, they did look good. I liked the look too.
Still, I decided to put in a word to make sure Crimine wasn’t harassed.
「The other day I was ordered to kill a noble in a duel, and I reluctantly did it. But this time it’s only peasants, so I suppose ordinary firing squads will do?」
The young lieutenant leading the platoon looked momentarily startled. Then he spat his reply.
「That’s your job. Not ours.」
「Lieutenant Macaran, show respect when addressing a superior officer.」
「I know!」
He snapped to attention with a half-defiant salute. One day soon he’d outrank me, but right now I was the superior. So I made it clear.
「As the senior officer present, I’ll set the plan for the search. Of course, objections are welcome. You’re the platoon commander, after all.」
「Fine. I just want to get this over with and go home.」
He was maybe twenty. At that age, most would still be in the academy, but nobles slipped easily into second lieutenant’s rank. His men were likely his family’s retainers. In old Japan, you’d call them vassals of a samurai house.
Careful not to make an enemy, I smiled again.
「No need to worry. If the mission drags on, I’ll request reinforcements from the Ceremonial Battalion and relieve your unit.」
「T-that… would be a great help.」
Ah, his tone softened. Young men really were straightforward. I was still in my twenties in this life too, but even so.
The cavalry lieutenant leaned against the wall, grumbling.
「The peasants here show us nothing but hostility. They dig small holes in the road so the horses break their legs.」
Maybe prairie dogs? I’d hold off judgment on whether it was deliberate.
「Then I’ll break my own leg in their stead. Unlike horses, humans heal quickly.」
「You know about that?」
「If a horse breaks its leg, it weakens and dies. Military horses are extremely valuable. A life is precious, horse or man.」
I recalled something like that from my previous life—about internal organs failing under the horse’s own weight.
My concern for horses seemed to win him over further.
「That’s a relief. The local lord is cooperating with us, so you should pay him a visit.」
「Thank you, Lieutenant Macaran.」
I gave him a dazzling smile.
The young noble barked orders to his men.
「Escort Lieutenant Fonkt to the lord’s manor. And don’t be rude.」
「Yes, young master!」
As I thought—his cavalrymen really were his clan’s household troops.
They eyed me a little warily, but they were mere enlisted men. I was an officer. By military discipline, they saluted.
「We’ll escort you, sir.」
「Much obliged. Unlike your well-trained warhorses, ours are just little riding nags. Go easy on us.」
「Hahaha! Understood!」
Looked like I’d won them over too. Good, good.
When I glanced back, Crimine was staring hard at me.
「Lieutenant… are you perhaps some kind of conman?」
「Maybe.」
I waved my hand carelessly and started walking.