"Yes, I'm proud to be able to defend our lord and his property." A guard beside him nodded in agreement.
The butler, Kao, however, looked deeply worried and prayed in silence.
Clay Pot, the manservant, reassured him, "Don't worry. Lady Ashina is powerful, and the Goddess of Deep Winter will protect our lord too."
Kao rolled his eyes impatiently. "What do you know? I'm worried about what happens after His Lordship reaches Mapleleaf City. You should know that Mapleleaf City has a Chosen One too."
"Huh? But... we're going there to trade, not fight a war. Surely there won't be any fighting?" Kao had rattled Clay Pot, and his voice grew much quieter. "Besides, with His Lordship's personal charm, I'm sure everything will be fine."
Field's conduct over the past several days had already won the servants over completely.
"And that's why you're only a manservant, Clay Pot. You still have much to learn." The butler smiled smugly and showed off his knowledge. "Mapleleaf City's official faith worships the God of Love and Union. Their Chosen One, the 'Peerless Dancer,' rose to that status from a brothel district. Countless nobles have fallen under her spell, willingly offering all their wealth and... bodily fluids."
"Huh? Something like that actually happens?"
Clay Pot was dumbfounded. Just thinking about it made him blush.
"Otherwise, how do you think Mapleleaf City, a remote border city, became so wealthy, with several magic potion formulas and an irreplaceable position in trade? Do you think it was all down to Baron Mapleleaf's personal abilities? Let me tell you, our lord went to watch the female slaves relieve themselves last time! What a pervert! If the local lord has the dancer use her divine power on Lord Field, with his self-control, he'll definitely... ahem, let's leave it there."
In Kao's eyes, Field was plainly going there to hunt for beauties. He might even end up having so much fun that he forgot all about coming home.
Clay Pot fell silent. All he could do was pray that their beloved lord would not be corrupted by evil.
"Wait, did I run my mouth again?" Kao suddenly sensed something was wrong. If his lord or Ashina heard what he had said, he would probably be demoted from butler to stablehand on the spot. No, it might be even worse.
Looking at Clay Pot's harmless expression, Kao broke into a cold sweat and began worrying that Clay Pot would inform on him.
Field did not actually want to travel farther to Mapleleaf Territory to trade either, but Baron Bull's idiot son was probably still keeping the fortress gates shut. Besides, Field had raided Bull Territory, and he had no desire to gamble on his chances there.
Mapleleaf City's baron was enormously wealthy, making a fortune from magic potions brewed with his territory's magic plants. Field believed the Black Pearl Grapes Wine would fetch an excellent price.
"My lord, must you go in person?" Seeing Field making preparations and polishing his gleaming longsword over and over, Ashina sighed helplessly. Their lord insisted on handling everything himself, and now he was determined to visit Highcastle Province personally. "You could just leave it to me. The journey is too dangerous, and I'll protect your property with my life. I promise nothing will go wrong."
"That's exactly what worries me. Who asked you to risk your life protecting gold coins? Gold coins can't buy a Chosen One." Field patted Ashina's head, bringing a rosy blush to her cheeks, then patiently explained, "Besides, I need to visit Baron Mapleleaf in person. Nightfall Territory's future products will need a buyer as wealthy as him."
There was one reason Field did not mention: he could detect the monsters around them. Without him, the caravan would run into one Corpse Tide after another.
Field lit the Mist-Driving Lamp and hung it on the wagon, and the caravan set off.
The warhorses' hooves clattered against the road. Accompanying him were Ashina, the Raider Cavalry, three guards, twenty slaves responsible for hauling goods, and the maid Scissors, who would attend to Field's daily needs.
As soon as they left the Starry Night Winery, it felt as though they had stepped straight into hell. Twisted plants were everywhere, and sinister shadows loomed, as if a monster might leap out at any moment.
The slaves looked around fearfully. Although they were there to haul goods, Field had still equipped them with spears to defend themselves.
"This road is a wreck." Field found the corrupted road surface, covered in tiny tentacles, deeply repulsive. They slowed the wagons down. "I'll have to repair the roads when I get the chance. Ideally, we could open a trade route and build a cement road connecting Nightfall Territory directly to Mapleleaf Territory."
He had barely finished grumbling when a mass of red skull icons began closing in rapidly.
"Careful. Here they come." Field took a deep breath.
"Awooo!"
Ashina's giant wolf roared and charged forward. She slammed her spear down, unleashing a spray of blood and monstrous shrieks. Corpse ghouls fell like wheat before a scythe, red and white fragments of their bodies scattering across the ground.
Then the Dragon-Breed Wolf shook its head, sweeping a stream of ghostly blue fire across the enemies and vaporizing swathes of corpse ghouls.
The other cavalrymen swiftly drew their blades and readied their spears, raising their weapons with all their strength as they charged into the horde. Though they had trained for only a short time, demihumans were natural cavalrymen and had quickly mastered the essentials of riding.
"For Lord Field!"
"Charge!"
The cavalry thundered over the enemy.
On Field's Mini-Map, the red markers vanished rapidly, while still more red dots began converging on them.
"Come on, then!" Brimming with fighting spirit, Field drew his longsword with a ringing scrape.
Mapleleaf Fortress was another of the Empire's border fortresses, with formidable defenses. Besides ballistae and catapults, it had numerous Mage Towers. From a distance, floating Magic Crystals could be seen everywhere.
When the group passed through the gates of Baron Mapleleaf's border fortress, the view suddenly opened up. The endless Gray Fog was gone, replaced by a bright, beautiful world.
"Good heavens, those knights actually came out of the Gray Fog." Speaking with local accents, the soldiers pointed at the cavalrymen clad entirely in black over-robes. Even their warhorses were draped in black, making them look terrifying. "You hardly ever see that. They must be adventurers or the Empire's Investigation Corps."
"Look at them. They're covered in corrupted creatures' filthy blood."
"Close the gates promptly. Don't let any monsters from the Gray Fog follow them in." The officer cleared his throat. "Welcome to Mapleleaf Territory. Enjoy your shopping."
"Thank you." Field had not expected entry to go so smoothly. He had even prepared a pouch of gold coins to buy his way through, but had not needed it. He let out a long breath. "Whew. I thought they'd give us trouble."
The draft horses hauled ten barrels of Black Pearl Grapes Wine, along with a crate of Magic Scrolls. The scrolls were old and battered, and Field worried that if he did not sell them soon, they would be fit only for wiping his backside.
"If we could open a trade route, I wouldn't have to make the trip myself." Along the way, Field had avoided countless large Corpse Tides and wiped out several smaller ones. Otherwise, they could never have reached Highcastle Province safely.
They had suffered almost no losses, apart from half a cartload of grain spilling into a pit.
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