Crimson and Merchant 4
The shock of having his beloved sister, whom he rarely saw, kidnapped was significant for Clyde. However, Clyde quickly switched gears and took swift action. He had the fallen attackers restrained by the remaining guards—though it would be more accurate to say the bodies were collected—and inspected the weapons the enemies had carried. The knife found near the carriage had intricate patterns on its handle, suggesting that it was enchanted with a spell to disable barriers, even though Clyde wasn't well-versed in curse magic.
Clyde, who had forcibly approached the nearby lord's mansion, worked to calm Riley’s pale-faced guards, who were distressed over the abduction of the Crown Prince. He sought the lord's assistance in understanding the situation.
“The attackers were likely hired mercenaries. It’s unfortunate that we can’t interrogate them, but the absence of survivors suggests they were professionals,” the butler, who had been assigned to the lord's residence, reported as he handed a map of the territory to Clyde.
“—That’s likely,” Clyde responded.
The butler, who seemed to be highly skilled and possibly a former mercenary or someone with similar experience, gave Clyde the map. Although not entirely refined, the map detailed the main areas of the territory. The Lord of Coiraud, who had recently been granted the title of Viscount, had overseen the land, which had been recently established. The land had once been sparsely populated with small villages in a mountainous region, and while the population had been increasing, it remained relatively impoverished and self-sufficient.
“The Viscount should have been the one to greet you, but it seems he’s gone off somewhere,” the butler muttered darkly, which Clyde overheard but chose to ignore. The Viscount’s apparent free-spirited nature did not seem to concern him much at the moment.
Given the situation, Clyde decided that enlisting the help of the villagers to search the mountains was the most effective approach. However, this was a busy time of year for them, preparing for winter, so disturbing them could be problematic.
Moreover, Clyde was wary of trusting all the villagers. Despite the self-sufficiency of the area, there was a risk that someone might be tempted by money to assist the kidnappers. If such a person existed, they might move the captives before Clyde could find them. Given that the enemy had access to teleportation magic, caution was essential.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. I’d like to speak with the guards once more.”
“Understood. Shall we prepare dinner for you?”
“Yes, that would be helpful.”
“Not at all.”
After thanking the butler, Clyde summoned the two guards Liliana had brought. Despite noticing the difference from the previous guards, he could tell from their movements during the attack that they were at least as capable as Riley’s guards, if not more. It was evident from their demeanor that they were not knights trained in the conventional sense.
The two guards, Olga and Gild, presented themselves in stark contrast. Olga greeted Clyde with a knightly formality, while Gild frowned and glared at Clyde with visible displeasure. Olga remained calm, whereas Gild seemed on the verge of storming out of the mansion.
Suppressing a smile at the contrast between the “mad dog” and the “loyal dog,” Clyde handed the map he had received from the butler to the two guards. Olga took the map while Gild peered over her shoulder with interest.
“This is the map of the nearby area?”
Olga was the first to speak. Perhaps aware of the impoliteness of his words, Gild only spoke to Clyde when directly addressed, as he found Clyde, despite being Liliana's real brother, to be a detestable noble.
“Yes. It seems that Liliana-sama was taken using teleportation magic. The Crown Prince was apparently caught up in it as well. However, the range of teleportation is limited. It’s likely that they are still within this territory,” Olga explained.
Clyde nodded in agreement with Olga’s assessment.
“That makes sense. The most probable locations would be an unused mountain cabin or one currently in use by their accomplices,” Olga continued.
“Yes. If it’s the former, we would need to mobilize the entire village for a search. If it’s the latter, relying on the villagers would be unwise,” Clyde responded.
Olga’s tone was somewhat brusque, but Clyde did not let it bother him and nodded in return. When Clyde mentioned considering the use of Riley’s guards, Olga and Gild exchanged meaningful glances. Noticing their reaction, Clyde asked, “Is there something wrong?”
“Do you have concerns, Gild?” Olga inquired.
“Well, it’s not that there’s nothing, but if you want to use them, then go ahead,” Gild replied dismissively.
Gild’s response was somewhat evasive. Clyde squinted as he pondered Gild’s answer.
“In that case, what do you plan to do?”
“What else? We’ll head out and try to locate them,” Gild answered.
“Gild, choose your words carefully,” Olga reprimanded.
Gild’s disrespectful tone was admonished by Olga, but the fact that Olga did not deny it indicated that she shared the same intention. Clyde’s expression grew serious. He wondered why the two guards seemed to know where Liliana and the Crown Prince were being held—such information should be known only to the kidnappers.
“Do you know where Liliana and the Crown Prince have been taken?”
“Of course not,” Gild snapped.
Gild’s barely restrained anger was on the verge of erupting.
“But it’s better to act than to stand idly by. And as for the guards, they’re just ‘good-for-show’ types who only know ceremonies and battlefields. They’d be more of a hindrance than help in a mountain search,” Gild added.
Gild’s observation was valid. Riley’s guards were primarily from the first squad, trained mainly for ceremonial duties and battlefield protection. Searching for people was not their specialty. Moreover, many of them had never even played in the mountains, and Clyde himself lacked such experience.
“If that’s the case, I’d like your opinion. Unfortunately, I have no experience in such cases. Should we go with a select few elite members, involve the guards, or rely on the villagers? What do you think is the best option?”
Gild scowled and turned away, and it was Olga who responded.
“In this situation, we need to consider the strength of our forces. Myself and Gild—along with a few of the guards. We should assign villagers to guide the guards and make sure they are sworn to secrecy. The villagers should be selected by the lord,” Olga advised.
“That sounds reasonable,” Clyde agreed.
Clyde was surprised by Olga’s clear and rational approach. Although Clyde had arrived at the same conclusion, he had not expected a mercenary to think so logically. Even knights in the order, below the rank of vice-captain, generally only followed orders.
With this in mind, Clyde made his decision.
“I agree with that plan. May I leave the selection to you?”
Olga was evidently surprised by Clyde’s unexpected request, and Gild looked thoroughly displeased. Clyde continued, “You’re likely more capable of assessing this situation than I am. If I borrow a few villagers, I will inform the Viscount of Coiraud.”
“Understood,” Olga replied without hesitation.
Gild muttered, “What a hassle,” but his words were too quiet for Clyde to hear. Olga heard but chose to ignore it. Gild preferred to head to the mountains alone rather than relying on others, though Olga had repeatedly stopped him from doing so.
However, blindly searching would likely be futile. Especially in unfamiliar mountains, where dangers could be hidden. Even someone as strong as Gild could be injured or immobilized by falling into a ravine. The help of the villagers was necessary.
“Then I’ll begin preparations immediately,” Olga said, dragging Gild out of the room. Clyde instructed a servant to arrange another meeting with the butler.
While his concern for Liliana made him impatient, he knew that haste could lead to mistakes. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within him, but the taste of blood from his bitten lip reminded him of his anxiety.