Dante, Captain of Unit 5
[Dante, Prisoner Civilian Side]
“My name is Dante, and I have been entrusted with command of Shiranui’s Unit 5.”
Unit 5 was a unit made up of butlers and maids.
Under orders from our master, Lord Julius, we were responsible for escorting the prisoner civilians to their new homes and caring for those who chose to immigrate.
And now, splendidly enough… we found ourselves completely surrounded by a noble house’s Knights Order.
“Hey, Boss Dante. We can kill ’em, right? The boss told us to eliminate dangers too, and my boys ain’t exactly patient types.”
“Please wait, Mr. Dadan. Our master instructed us not to create unnecessary casualties…”
With that said, Dante walked over to the man who appeared to be the captain of the knights.
“You appear to be the captain. My name is Dante. I have been entrusted as vice-director of the Yotsuba General Trading Company, but may I ask what business you have with us?”
Dante gave a beautiful bow and questioned the soldiers’ captain.
“I see. Good work. We heard the residents had returned. Now then, come with us.”
“Oh? And why would that be? Everyone here is planning to immigrate to the South Territory. Might you have mistaken them for someone else?”
“As if that’s possible. You, and that one over there, and that guy too, they’re all residents of my territory, aren’t they?”
“They were… until now. Things are different now. The nobles refused to pay to release the prisoner civilians… and so our master invited these people to become his citizens, and they accepted. They have only returned temporarily in order to move. Now then, if you’ll excuse us.”
“Yeah right, like I’m gonna allow that. Hey, you commoners, quit screwing around and get over here.”
After throwing his weight around and marching off with a “Follow me,” not a single person followed him.
“Pfft.”
“Hehehe.”
“What’s with that guy? Lame.”
“He’s awful.”
After walking for a while without noticing that nobody was following him, the captain finally realized it…
“Yooooou baaaastaaards!!”
He came sprinting back from quite a distance away.
“Well then, have you calmed down now? In that case, we shall be taking our leave.”
“No, I’ve had enough. Everyone… draw your blades. Arrest them.”
At that moment, dense mana overflowed from Dante.
“So you have drawn weapons. According to your own claims, are these people not your citizens? And yet those meant to protect them are pointing blades at them?”
“Damn it, charge!” He swung his sword toward the prisoner civilians, signaling the attack.
“You really are troublesome people. Mr. Dadan, thank you for waiting. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Gahahaha! Don’t really get it, but that means we can go wild, right? Oi, boys, the feast you’ve all been waiting for is here. Savor it properly!”
Dadan raised his dull-colored club high into the air and roared.
“““Hyaaaah!”””
The members with faces like deadly weapons, no, the unit members, charged at the soldiers.
Meanwhile, beside them, Dante was speaking to the prisoner civilians, including Peter, the middle-aged man who had pleaded for the young man’s life, and Richard, the intellectual-looking youth.
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“This is the current state of the kingdom. The nobles do not want to let you escape. They intend to keep you trapped forever, paying taxes, and use you however they please whenever war comes. We will not forgive the arrogance of these nobles. For many long years, they have tormented the frontier with it. And from now on as well, they will continue paying that debt to our South Territory.”
Beyond where he spoke, hell was spreading among the soldiers.
A guided tour through hell, led by the Oni Dadan…
Watching that scene, the prisoner civilians witnessed firsthand the pathetic state of the noble knights and the difference between them and the South Territory, and they firmly resolved to immigrate to the Margravate.
“Gahahah! Is that already the end? Don’t pick fights with us if you’re this weak!”
The Oni swung his club around while laughing cheerfully, and the surrounding knights began backing away before turning and fleeing.
“Wait! Don’t run! What am I supposed to tell the lord?! Hey, get back here… damn it, fine then. I’ll let you off for tod…”
Before he could finish speaking, he noticed a cold sensation at his throat.
Behind him stood Dante, the very man he had been talking to moments ago. His white hair gave him the appearance of a middle-aged man, yet nobody had seen when he moved.
“Listen carefully. We have been entrusted with escorting those who are to become our master’s citizens. That is a treaty established between the kingdom and the South Territory. We have been instructed to take the lives of anyone who interferes, whether they are royalty or nobility. Could you perhaps inform whoever gave you your orders that, should they interfere again… we shall come to claim their life?”
“Tch… like I’d ever obey bastards like y…”
The knife pressed against his throat lightly sliced the skin, and several drops of blood trickled down.
“Oh my, Captain, you seem to be misunderstanding something. I am not making a request. I am giving an order. Besides, it doesn’t necessarily have to be you who delivers the message…”
“Y-you think you can do this to me and get away with it?! We’re leaving…!”
Spitting out the classic villain line, the knights fled in a panic, each trying to escape first.
“Good grief. They truly were impossible people. Mr. Dadan, those sorts of people will likely continue making baseless accusations from now on. We will negotiate using our treaty with the kingdom as a shield, but situations like this will probably happen often. I’ll leave the rough work to you.”
“Hell yeah. I’m always down for a fight. Though I’d prefer if there’re some strong ones mixed in there. Gahahaha!”
And so, while occasionally being obstructed by kingdom nobles, they traveled from place to place, steadily gathering immigrants and the poor while leading along future residents.
From the kingdom’s perspective, these were all people deemed “unnecessary,” and some nobles were even delighted to be rid of such nuisances.
They still did not understand what would happen once their citizens disappeared.
Nor did they realize that this was all part of the trap Julius had set for the kingdom…
What do you think about this chapter?
