The Nature of Possession

374 – EP.13 Move

***

Dinner, breakfast, and lunch. The smiles never left the faces of the soldiers as they were served meat three times in a row.

It seemed as if all thoughts of the Imperial forces encamped outside the forest had disappeared.

The men shared a generous portion of boiled boar meat with a few spices and chatted among themselves, smiling happily.

“Is it okay to stay like this?”

One of the soldiers said, “I’ve been in many battles, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a leisurely battlefield.”

The 4th Cavalry Division of the Kingdom of Gernoa.

The fourth cavalry corps, which suddenly appeared in the kingdom’s cavalry corps of only three, had a unique history in that it was a mercenary corps with a high reputation on the continent that was incorporated into the regular army.

The mercenary group had a name, but it was rarely called by that name, and few people remembered it.

Never give up on any mission, and never back down from any task.

If it costs money, I will carry out the mission even if it means risking my life.

The undefeated mercenary group. That was the name people remembered.

With their undefeated history and the special nature of being from a mercenary corps, the Kingdom of Gernoa made good use of the 4th Cavalry Corps.

The 4th Cavalry Corps was deployed to most battlefields, and the intensity of the fighting was intense.

They ride their horses tirelessly, breaking the battle lines and joining forces with the infantry to flatten the enemy.

“It’s better than being busy.”

Someone answered, biting into a large piece of meat.

“Yeah, wouldn’t this be better than eating beef jerky on horseback all the time?”

“That’s true. When will we ever get to eat something like this on the battlefield?”

“A battlefield is a battlefield, and even in the capital, it’s rare to see meat two days in a row.”

“That’s not because you gambled away your salary.”

“It’s not gambling, it’s investing. I heard John even certified that it’s a solid business.”

“Do you believe what John says? You can’t trust him unless he’s on the battlefield. Don’t you know that he spent half a year’s salary on buying a sacred tree?”

“Holy water? What is that? You mean the holy water given at the church?”

The team gathered around the exciting story.

“Yeah, I made a lot of money by mass producing and selling that holy water.”

“Holy water… That? Isn’t that something that the priest makes? I heard the procedure is quite complicated.”

“It’s complicated. So, the amount of holy water given to each parish is also limited.”

“But what does it mean to mass-produce the holy water?”

“I don’t know. That b*stard John said something. He said that a retired priest was making something similar to holy water by consecrating it cheaply or something like that.”

“A retired priest…? Can a priest retire?”

Someone asked. Then the agent who was telling the story nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, a normal person would ask this question. What the hell, how does a priest retire? He either dies or gives up his priesthood. If he gives up his priesthood, he can’t even consecrate people recklessly. He’d be considered a heretic. Let’s say he retired after making a hundred concessions. If he’s holy, what would be holy water, holy water land, or something similar to holy water?”

“……So that’s why John has been borrowing money lately? He said he had a solid business and would pay it back with interest.”

A member’s voice was heard from the gathered crowd.

As soon as Daewon finished speaking, silence came.

“…….”

“…….”

“Is there anyone here who lent money to John?”

Hands slowly rising here and there.

And the wooden club that comes up with it.

“Where is that b*stard John?”

The goal of the well-fed and idle agents was set.

***

“Your arm is fine. Honestly, if the boar had gotten that bad, I would have thought it would have at least been broken.”

Judas said, touching the captain’s arm.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Anna, who was watching the process from behind Judah, asked. This was already the fifth question.

“Anna, the captain is okay.”

Judas could easily have been annoyed by the continued questioning, but he spoke kindly.

“I think it’s okay to ride a horse now.”

The captain nodded in response to Judah’s question.

“Do you think combat is possible?”

The captain asked slowly. Judah’s hands, which were organizing the medicine bottles, stopped.

“You can ride a horse, but if you move too vigorously it can get worse.”

Judah gave his attention.

“Because they won’t be considerate of our circumstances.”

Judah sighed softly as the captain responded, turning his wrist.

“…That’s true. Let me know when the policy is decided.”

Judah slowly left the tent. The captain looked at the spot where he had left for a moment.

He moves his mouth to say something, but then closes it.

The captain’s slow gaze turned to Anna.

Anna stood blankly in front of him.

“Haven’t you had lunch yet?”

A crude question was directed at Anna.

“Yes. Not yet….”

“Let’s eat together. Excuse me, but could you bring me some?”

At the captain’s words, Anna suppressed the corners of her lips that were twitching and went out of the tent.

I don’t know if she ran to the food line or used her commanding officer’s authority, but she quickly brought the food.

Two plates topped with steaming chunks of meat.

Anna held out a relatively large plate of meat to the captain.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“…….”

Tear the meat into small pieces with a knife, then eat it by stabbing it with a fork.

Anna glanced at the captain as she chewed the meat.

“Anna.”

“yes.”

“There is only one day left.”

“…That’s right.”

“How are the members?”

The captain stopped talking after swallowing the meat.

“I’m resting well. I can go out right now.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Captain. How about we move today? It would be better to move when the enemy is not expecting it.”

“Didn’t you see me yesterday?”

“What are you talking about?”

Anna tilted her head at the captain’s question.

“Soldiers lying in ambush around the forest.”

The captain scooped up the meat and put it in his mouth absentmindedly. Anna dropped the fork she was holding.

“Didn’t you know?”

Looking at Anna with wide eyes, the captain said as if it was nothing.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Since information is leaking here anyway, it’s impossible to move secretly. I plan to complete the three days the Emperor has suggested unconditionally.”

“Then you are thinking of confronting me head on.”

“…yes.”

The captain answered, putting the meat in his mouth again.

“That’s our way of doing things.”

Anna snickered. Well, it wasn’t a situation where I had to think that complicatedly.

“But at least some tactics are necessary. We need to deal with traitors in a head-on confrontation. And…”

“and?”

“…Well, I’ll talk about that later.”

The captain swallowed his words. Anna simply nodded to the captain’s words.

“It’s delicious.”

The captain, who had already finished eating all the meat, stood up from his seat.

Anna followed the captain’s lead, even though there was half a piece of meat left on her plate.

“Eat more and come out. I want to walk by myself for a while.”

Anna sat back down at the indirect rejection.

The leader went out of the tent, and the voices of the men talking to him could be heard intermittently.

Anna stared blankly down at the meat.

It still looked delicious, but I couldn’t reach for it.

“We need to find the traitor quickly.”

My head started hurting.

What on earth could be the reason for the betrayal?

She believes that the relationship between the crew and the captain is special.

The cavalry is where those who have directly benefited from the captain gather. It is also where comrades who have been with the mercenary corps since then are gathered.

Who on earth would betray such a cavalry?

“What is the captain thinking?”

Even if we found out the traitor’s identity, it would be a problem. Dealing with him quietly would be nearly impossible.

During the process, the crew will become agitated and morale will drop significantly.

***

The captain came out of the tent and approached John, who was being lynched by his men.

“John.”

“Ugh… Captain?”

“Let’s walk together for a bit.”

The captain’s face was not clearly visible due to the backlight.