Rosenmark, the central city of Viscount Bellermark’s territory.
The last time I was here, the territorial war was in full swing, making the city lively despite the tension.
But in just a month, this place had lost its vitality.
“At least the people here seem fine.”
“The city still appears to be holding up.”
However, as Deline mentioned, compared to the outside, this place could still be considered relatively intact.
At the very least, judging by the way the residents avoided us, they didn’t seem to be addicted to Red Powder.
“Alright, I’ll go meet the commander. Get some rest at the inn.”
“Understood.”
To grasp the situation in detail, Deline went to meet Squad One and the commander, while the remaining knights headed to the prearranged inn.
“Oh, w-welcome….”
As soon as I, along with Sienna, entered the inn with a total of nine knights in armor, the innkeeper trembled in fear.
Well, I guess it would be intimidating from their perspective.
Fortunately, none of our armor was stained with blood.
Everyone had dodged the splatter to avoid getting hit.
Still, our cloaks needed cleaning, and some knights had to replace worn-out gear.
Since the enemy’s attacks were acidic, our equipment had likely sustained more damage than we realized.
Sienna and I, in particular, had taken significant damage to our throwing axes, so we decided to visit a blacksmith.
Meanwhile, Gareth’s sword was completely unscathed. As expected.
I wonder if the sword I commissioned is being made properly?
If I get a chance to visit the capital, I should stop by and check.
Then again, the Viscount’s territory isn’t too far from the capital, so this might be a good opportunity to go.
Of course, I’d have to resolve the current situation first.
“You’re heading to a blacksmith?”
“Yes, we’ve inquired about a good place to leave our equipment for repairs.”
“Hmm, don’t stay out too late.”
“Understood.”
After having dinner at the inn, we received permission from Gareth, the eldest of Squad Two, before stepping out into the streets.
“Let’s head toward the central district first.”
“Got it.”
I wasn’t sure where we’d find a good blacksmith, but heading toward the center seemed like a safe bet.
Since we had eaten early, there was still time before nightfall, meaning the shops should still be open.
“Where’s the best blacksmith around here?”
“Huh? Oh… There’s a well-known one over there….”
While walking toward the central district, we asked around for recommendations and managed to pinpoint a reputable blacksmith.
Since we asked multiple people, it should be reliable.
Even though we weren’t wearing armor, we still carried weapons.
They probably wouldn’t dare lie to us out of sheer intimidation.
Anyway.
Following the directions, we soon spotted the blacksmith shop in the distance.
Unlike Gareth’s forge, which resembled a commercial workshop, this one had the traditional appearance of a typical blacksmith’s shop.
“Are you knights?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Despite its reputation, the shop was eerily empty.
The elderly blacksmith also looked rather drained of energy.
“What do you need?”
“Ah, we’ve come to have our throwing axes repaired.”
Saying so, I took out a bundle of throwing axes.
“Ah, I have a lot to leave as well.”
I carried a fair number myself, but Sienna…
She began pulling out throwing weapons from every pocket—her waist, thighs, and various other places.
…Carrying all that around must be a hassle.
“Hmm… So, you fought those things, huh?”
Then, after just glancing at our acid-damaged axes, the blacksmith muttered knowingly.
“You know about them?”
“Of course. The city’s in chaos because of them.”
Hmm.
This might be a chance to gather local intelligence.
“Please tell us the details. Here’s the payment for the repairs.”
I placed several silver coins on a nearby crate.
That should be more than enough to cover the repair costs and some additional information.
“You’re a big-hearted knight, let me tell you.”
The blacksmith swiftly pocketed the silver coins and stood up.
“See over there?”
He gestured toward one side of the shop.
Following his hand, I saw a large wooden barrel filled with damaged weapons.
“Those are….”
“Gear that mercenaries used before it got ruined.”
“…It certainly looks that way.”
Every single weapon was severely corroded.
The throwing axes Sienna and I carried were made of high-quality materials, so they endured. But the mercenaries’ weapons hadn’t stood a chance.
“They just threw them away and took off, only paying for the scrap metal.”
“Took off, you say…?”
“They don’t want to stay in this territory even for a single day.”
The old blacksmith spoke in a weary voice.
…Well, that made sense.
For mercenaries who cherish their gear and their own lives, staying in this viscounty was like living in hell.
Fighting off acid-spewing townsfolk was nothing but a losing battle.
“The city used to be packed with mercenaries because of the territorial war, but now they’ve all left.”
“…Do you know what happened to the territorial war?”
“No idea. But judging by the fact that weapon orders have completely stopped, I’d say it’s over.”
…So the war really was put on hold.
The situation was worse than I thought.
And with the outer areas in complete disarray, this city was gradually becoming isolated.
Anyway.
I continued to gather information from the blacksmith, hearing about the current state of affairs from a resident’s perspective.
“That’s all I know.”
“Thank you for the detailed explanation.”
“Just doing my part for the money. Anyway, your repairs will be done by tomorrow morning.”
“Is that even possible?”
Tomorrow morning?
With the sheer number of weapons, I was expecting it to take at least three days—but this was surprisingly fast.
I wondered if this was the skill level of a renowned blacksmith, but…
“I can tell just by looking—you’re knights who came to solve this mess. I’ll work through the night.”
…For a moment, I studied the old man.
He looked exhausted, yet there was a glimmer of desperation in his eyes.
Regardless of his skills, he was simply one of the many desperate residents hoping for a resolution.
“Understood.”
Yeah.
By now, everyone in this territory must already know how dire the situation is.
Since this was the land where they were born and raised, they could only pray for a swift resolution.
“I’ll return in the morning.”
“Alright. I’ll start working right away, so you two should get some rest.”
After completing our request at the blacksmith’s shop, we headed back to the inn.
“Captain?”
“Oh, the rookies are back.”
By the time we arrived at the empty tavern on the first floor, Deline and the knights had already gathered, engaged in a discussion.
Had they already received an update from the commander?
As Sienna and I took our seats, Deline handed me a map.
“This is….”
“Memorize it. I’ve marked our operation zones.”
…Operation zones, huh.
So, the plan was already in motion.
Well, we arrived in the morning, so there had been plenty of time to speak with the Viscount and finalize the strategy.
As I unfolded the map, I saw various markings centered around the city.
“Tomorrow, we’ll be searching and clearing the areas marked in red.”
“What kind of areas are they?”
At Deline’s briefing, Gareth, the senior knight in our squad, pointed at the map.
“Judging by these locations, they’re not villages. They seem to be caves or abandoned ruins.”
“They’re suspected hideouts of the devil worshippers.”
“I figured as much.”
So we were striking at the main base right away.
Well, investigating villages at this point seemed pointless.
“According to what the commander learned from the Viscount, we can’t afford to delay any longer.”
Sensing that further explanation was needed, Deline continued, summarizing the information the commander had gathered.
“So the Viscount understands the severity of the situation.”
“Yeah. He’s been taking action in his own way.”
From what we heard, the Viscount was well aware of how serious things had become and was actively trying to respond.
However—
Even after halting the territorial war to focus on containing the crisis…
The best his forces could manage was preventing the Red Powder from completely overtaking the city.
“Calling people to the city….”
“It was already too late. They were only met with attacks.”
…So that’s why they ended up requesting reinforcements.
Count Reichen must have initially sent support, but when the situation became unmanageable, he turned to the Margrave for additional troops.
“But where is the Count’s reinforcement unit?”
Hearing the conversation, I asked Deline.
After arriving in the Viscounty, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
The Count had supposedly sent support, but I hadn’t seen any evidence of it—no significant changes in the villages or anywhere else.
“The Count dispatched a knight order before we even arrived.”
“And those knights… where are they now?”
“They went missing a few days ago.”
“…The entire knight order?”
Not just one or two knights, but an entire knight order vanished?
That was seriously suspicious.
“Yeah. They went on a search operation and never returned.”
“Where exactly…?”
“Right here.”
Deline pointed at the map.
Not at the red-marked zones we were assigned to—but at an area marked with a black X.
“Squad One and the commander are handling that location.”
“Ah, I see.”
“We just need to focus on our own task. Be careful not to get separated during the search.”
…So that’s why the knight order had been split into three groups.
Well, if Squad One and the commander were going, it should be fine.
The Count’s missing knight order was a definite red flag, but…
The difference between knights from a wealthy, commerce-driven city and the battle-hardened knights of the Margrave, who had fought in numerous wars along the border, was enormous.
Even among knights, the gap in skill was undeniable.
And most importantly—since the commander had deemed this plan sufficient, there was no reason to doubt it.
“We head out tomorrow. Get some rest tonight.”
After that, we listened to the remainder of the briefing.
The next day, before heading out for the operation, we stopped by the blacksmith’s shop.
“Here. Everything is fully repaired.”
The old blacksmith had truly finished all the repairs by morning.
Checking the throwing axes, I found them in perfect condition, with no defects whatsoever.
“Thank you. We’ll do our best.”
“Seeing you all in full armor is reassuring.”
“…Don’t worry too much.”
There were still plenty of uncertainties, but…
I trusted in the strength of the Black Wing Knights.
If I had learned anything from living in this world, it was that overwhelming power is the most certain solution.
“Then, I’ll return with another request soon.”
“Alright. Come back in one piece.”
With that, I packed up the repaired throwing axes and rejoined the knight order.
“Alright, let’s move out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Our cloaks billowed in the wind as we set off for the designated operation zone.
