When the first man stepped forward, setting an example, and successfully took ten gold coins from the cavalrymen's hands,
more and more people began responding to the recruitment.
Before long, Charles had recruited the soldiers he wanted—seventy or eighty men.
That was even more than Charles had expected.
He had originally guessed that he might only be able to recruit thirty or forty men.
He had truly underestimated the fire in these people's blood.
These humans living under orc rule had no dignity to speak of. Only a small fraction of them could marry and start families.
Before productivity underwent a great explosion, there were more men than women everywhere, because men could be used like beasts of burden.
When a group of bachelors toiled bitterly every day yet could only barely keep themselves fed and clothed,
then Charles arrived, scattering gold coins by the handful. To these strong, able-bodied men, what an enormous temptation that was.
Join the army for food, earn money besides; with money, they could marry women and build homes and careers.
To many people of this era, it was simply an irresistible temptation.
Once the recruitment ended, the other able-bodied men were sent back.
Quite a few even regretted that they could not ride horses, that they had not been brave enough to follow them out and take a gamble.
Perhaps with a gamble, they could fight their way toward a bright future.
Charles left the town with his cavalry.
In the distance, the temporary mayor was waiting beside the camp with his family.
After turning it over in his mind again and again, the old man had ultimately decided to flee with Charles for the sake of his family's lives.
There was no helping it. If they stayed, they might truly not survive more