“For the most part you are skilful fellow, right?” (Oyvua)
While rubbing his chin with his sweaty hand, Oyvua called out to the 10-years-old child in front of him.
“It’s because that’s a bamboo sword. If it was a real sword, I wouldn’t be able to even wield it like that.” (Marco)
As the other men are using the towels nearby the commonly shared water well to chill their bruises, this black-haired boy finishes wiping off his sweat. Closely observing his half-undressed body, his bodily build is still that of a child indeed. It’s not capable of swinging iron arms.
Oyvua is somehow deeply moved by his memory of Marco’s smallness at the time they met. They had also talked about the bamboo swords in the dojo at that chilly night. On a first glance this young person made him feel uneasy about allowing him to go home alone, but as 4 years have passed, it became amusing since he now had the appearance of an adult.
To say nothing of this blue-eyed boy being even the superior of Oyvua, who is holding the title of fourth commander of the Hakkinen guard corps, and on top of that being its leader. That is a point that everyone of the top brass knows without even needing to list it on the organization chart.
Marco of Kikomaru.
He is the one in charge of the production of the well-known medicine 「White transparent gloss」 and totally unknown to Asuria Kingdom. Thanks to the grade of efficiency in the recent stock, the cheap, low-grade items have spread even to the small and medium villages and the high-priced, high-quality items have been sold as purveyor for the nobles. It is in the process of being acknowledged as household medicine. There’s even a rumour that Earl Helrevi is smearing it day and night into his hair.
And he is the shadow leader with the authority of 「Hakkinen guard corps」, which is now approaching a number of 1000 registered mercenaries, backing him. It is a combat group supported by a great number of merchants and has been approved by the feudal lord to be led by the Hakkinen household. Their credibility is tremendous as their way of working is reliable too. It never happens that the company is unrelated to the distribution of goods within the Helrevi territory. They are operating as semi-public military force.
Also, Bertrand, the leader of the 「Lawless organization」, has been employed in a position of being on the same eye level. Although Bertrand had quieted down completely at some point in time, he has suddenly restarted the forceful resistance and built up his reputation of having great influence in the underworld within those 2 years. Extending his influence to even other fiefdoms besides Helrevi territory, there are many skilled members within the organization.
If you combine all that, you will be able to see the dimension of Marco’s existence for the Helrevi Earldom.
He is a giant.
However, he is an unknown giant. Not once has Marco’s name been made public. Of course that applies to the lawless organization, but even for the Hakkinen guard corps it is Baron Daniel Hakkinen who acts as the figurehead. Even if you investigate the white transparent gloss, you will at most learn of the name Raulee. Assuming one passes beyond the secrecy at this level, they will end at the name of Kikomaru’s village headman, Herman.
“… Well, you did quite the show. You slipped away unhurt from an encirclement by 5 people. Even for me that ain’t simple. Though it woulda been a different matter if I had a spear.” (Oyvua)
“As expected, if Oyvua-san had joined in as well, we would have done you in.”
“Ha ha, don’tcha understand? You’ve left your opponent pass below your crotch.” (Oyvua)
Recalling the match from just before, Oyvua raised a laughter.
Facing 5 men, each equipped with a bamboo sword, Marco had one in each hand and one on each side of his waist. He confronted them carrying 4 bamboo swords in total. Being careful of that oddity, the 5 people encircled Marco, but when they were about to try attacking all at once, Marco threw each of the bamboo swords, held in his hands, diagonally in front.
While knocking down the confused two people he threw them at, Marco ran up to the feet of the one standing in front making sure to stay low. At the same time of defending against the downwards swung blow of his opponent’s bamboo sword with his left hand, he mowed down the opponent’s feet by drawing his bamboo blade with his right hand and attacking with it in the same stroke. And continuing in that low stance, eventually, after smoothly slipping between their feet, he hit everyone’s feet and arms.
There are many reasons for the men’s defeat. As a result of throwing the bamboo swords at the beginning, they ended up being vigilant towards the next throw. As a result of getting in low between their feet, they were unable to use anything but dull sword arts. It was difficult to swing the sword differently as the one, who entered between their feet, was fighting while covering himself. And, above all, Marco understood the road to victory himself. He moved so that the men couldn’t display their abilities.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that is weak at upright tactics. Oyvua experienced that directly with his body. He confronted me in a 1-on-1 next after the 1-on-5, but not only did he aim his strikes with nimble hands but also increased the minimum pace to tire me out and thus hit my chin. It was painful.
“If it’s running from place to place, I still can somehow… no, I’ve been told that I behave like a spoilt child.” (Marco)
“Well, if you have stamina, you will somehow be able to deal with it, won’tcha?” (Oyvua)
“I won’t even reach up to Oyvua-san’s feet with at that level.” (Marco)
“It’s because you are 10 years old. However, are you able to ride a horse? How about equestrian archery?” (Oyvua)
“I have to choose a bow. Although I’m aware of power as well as range, as for the form, I will miss it.” (Marco)
“If that’s the case, it’s probably not impossible to do either. It’s fine if you leave the wielding of long-handled spears to the surroundings.” (Oyvua)
Upon Oyvua’s words the men in the vicinity are nodding with a “Right, right” as well. New recruits haven’t been brought along. All of them are men who know of battlefields. They are members of the Hakkinen guard corps affiliated with the fourth unit. In other words, they are Oyvua’s subordinates. Nowadays, there are 100 of the 228 of the fourth unit’s troops stationed at the current Kikomaru. Everyone’s warhorses is managed in the pastures of the village as well. They were even split into 4 groups to camouflage the gathering of troops.
They have merely one duty.
The destruction of the mounted bandits.
It’s a light cavalry of thieves appearing suddenly out of nowhere and laying waste to the territory of Earl Helrevi. They are also the reason for the foundation of the Hakkinen guard corps. It’s a long-standing foe with whom they had repeatedly numerous skirmishes during those 2 years. One can’t even consider them normal thieves. Being endowed with strategical abilities and refined strength, their true nature was shrouded in secrecy for a long time.
The invisible giant called Marco grasped that secret. The market price of salt became the deciding factor for that.
The trade of salt in the kingdom is completely managed by the state. It has been recognised that the market price of salt is arbitrarily going up and down depending on the circumstances of the state. The state of the national treasury shows through the price of salt. Because the people and the nation were exhausted at the time when the future restoration project of the country’s recovery was popular, the price was changed to being sensible at first. And once they would incline towards putting strength into reorganizing the national armed forces, the price would become high… everyone predicted that to happen. In reality it became like this temporarily, but after some time the price began to ease up. That was the origin of Marco’s sense of discomfort.
“… Well, then it’s really fine?” (Marco)
Because that was an unusual tone of voice for Marco, Oyvua ended up being slightly bashful. The appearance of him peeking over here because of feeling ashamed and discreet. This is irresistible. If you saw the dreadfulness shown on that day at the guard corps’ headquarters, it’s impossible to leave him now alone understanding both sides of Marco.
“It’s fine! Of course, there are no problems!” (Oyvua)
Oyvua declared disarranging the softly, free-flowing black hair.
“Let’s go and finish off the mounted bandits together! Right, you guys!?” (Oyvua)
The men answered with applause. One after the other burly palms are approaching Marco and firmly hit his shoulders and back. It was the sound of delightfully leaving their lives in his hands. Marco, who surpassed being just a simple boy for them, was accepted as single, brave warrior due to the bouts with bamboo swords and the dialogues with Oyvua.
It is a rough and sordid scene. If you call it a farce, it probably is. If you used the rules of the company, the story would finish with them being ordered 「Accompany Marco」 with an overbearing attitude. However, Oyvua thinks that it’s good this way. I like this kind of method. I think it is just like blood won’t circulate between living things, something like relations won’t form by sympathy. If you count on considering the deaths of allies for the sake of the creating deaths of enemies in a war, it won’t work, however, for that reason, I always want to be a humane person.
“Thank you very much. It hurts. I look forward to work with you. Don’t stiffen my shoulders.” (Marco)
Even while being jostled, Marco is laughing. His surroundings are laughing. Has he realized it? Everyone is already treating Marco as “general” and not as “soldier” anymore.
Attracting the soldiers, he is a person holding a fragment that has a charm of cheering up… isn’t that a general’s trait? Oyvua is believing this. I don’t know whether I possess that ability or not, but Marco has it without a doubt. Furthermore, it isn’t the ability of an ordinary general. It’s possibly something even more superior… it might be something that Oyvua can’t distinct either. He might also be a giant in regards to military affairs.
I don’t know, however it is extremely interesting.
While once again rubbing his chin, Oyvua gazed at the uncultured group that grew into a flood of dialogues and before long got carried away.
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