The Extra Wants To Live

Chapter 37: Stacked Log Village [3

The nobles of Baron Hilfin, including Maldin, are hiding something. So, the flood of gnolls was intentionally understated in the report.

Maybe it really wasn't a big deal when the report was first posted. However, now the entire territory is in such a terrible situation that it appears to be destroyed.

Nevertheless, Hilfin's nobles even lied to Carl, the commander of the punitive force dispatched by the emperor and a member of the royal family, and tried to keep him from moving.

Why?

'It's right to run away.'

Carl thought calmly.

In order to survive, he must get out of this land right now.

Hilfin Castle is not safe either. There are attacks from gnolls, but there is no telling what tricks those insidious bastards will pull after mocking the 4th prince who received orders from the emperor.

'But I can't run away forever.'

Nevertheless, Carl must risk his life and dance with death.

If he continues like this, Azgoth's' test will fail in the worst possible way.

Then, in the end, it is a dead life for Carl.

He will be abandoned by Azgoth and purged by Adrian, who later becomes emperor. No matter where he runs away, no matter how long he runs away, Adrian will never let Carol go.

And Lilly, who was left hostage in the imperial palace, would not survive.

Carl has no choice but to move forward.

"I-I'm ready…"

Carl looked down at the man who approached and spoke in a servile voice.

"Are you the one in charge of coming with me?"

"yes… The vigilante leader…"

"Ok. As of this moment, you are a supply officer belonging to His Majesty the Emperor's punitive force."

"Yes? Ah, Yes!"

A supply officer belonging to the emperor's punitive force!

At those words, his slumped shoulders suddenly lift up.

Carl didn't want to feel guilty for mentioning this vigilante leader's name. So he cut him off.

And it instilled a sense of responsibility by giving him a reputation that had no value.

With just one word, Carl made a vigilante leader in a rural village take responsibility for and comfort a ragtag group of conscripts.

"The soldiers' military uniform… ."

Through Lucas military experience, Carl tried to tell him to put the soldiers' uniforms on the carriage. However, he felt uneasy for some reason, so ge trailed off and glanced at Catherine.

Catherine said with a stern look that she shouldn't do that.

"…Soldiers carry military uniforms. Just endure a little longer."

"yes!"

The imperial soldiers respond in loud voices.

Before they knew it, they had come to regard Carl as a clear commander.

"Let's go! Open the door!"

At Carl's words, the door to the west opens, and Carl slowly drives his horse in front.

If there were only imperial soldiers, it would be possible to increase the speed, but it would be impossible for the residents of these rural villages to march at increased speed.

It didn't take long for the shabby punitive force, which had only a handful of soldiers capable of fighting properly, to leave the village.

There aren't that many supplies, so he's not sure if it'll be okay.

"Lady Catherine, why did you have the soldiers carry the military uniforms?"

As Carl left the village, he quietly approached Catherine and asked.

Catherine answered in a firm voice.

"One well-trained soldier is worth more than 100 new recruits. We must save the soldiers even if we have to abandon them all when necessary. We won't have time to take our luggage out of the wagon then."

These are frighteningly heartless words. But it is also correct. Carl nodded slowly with a slightly pale face.

Catherine, who looked at him for a moment, added softly.

"And you should never consider them good just because they are weak. If you leave your luggage with them, they may search through it and steal valuable items, or they may run away with it."

"Indeed, I understand. Be careful going forward."

Somehow, Carl felt a little at ease after hearing Catherine's next words.

He found it very strange, and thought carefully about the change in his feelings.

"ha ha ha…"

As Carol lowered her head and laughed softly, Bilford blinked and noticed.

"Lord Carl, why are you laughing?"

Bilford ended up asking Carl that question without even realizing it.

If a subject dares to question and ask questions about his lord's every little action, it is a great disrespect.

Bilford regretted what he had said, was startled once more by Catherine's harsh gaze, and was startled once more by Carl's next words.

"I…It's so pathetic."

"…"

"Thank you, Lady Catherine. But there will be no need for that in the future."

"I did something pointless. Sorry."

"No, You didn't. Don't need to be sorry about it."

Bilford could not understand the situation, so he just watched.

Carl pursed his lips and stared into the distance, where nothing was visible due to the pitch black darkness.

'I felt pity for their lives.'

Carl scanned his mind once again.

'Catherine realized that and told me one reason I didn't have to suffer when they died.'

Catherine said that although they were weak, they were not good. And then they spoke as if they were evil.

So that Carl can lessen his guilt when those innocent people are killed by his orders.

Carl already knew what a reasonable judgment was. So he instinctively hesitated to load the general into the carriage.

And yet!

'Pathetic! I'm too busy trying to save my own life!'

Carl fiercely whipped his weak heart.

Sympathy, Pity, Guilt.

Only powerful people can say such pleasant words.

Or, as they say, those who are stuck at the bottom, struggling and surviving with their own comfort.

Carl is helpless. But he must move forward without stopping.

To him, these feelings are more than a luxury, they are a sin.

'The mission is to subdue monsters. Nothing else matters.'

Carl set his goal firmly.

Kill the monster and resolve the situation. So, He will pass Azgoth's' test and receive that power.

For that purpose, He will make as many ruthless decisions as possible.

Gradually, the number of trees increases, and the branches hanging along the road block out the moonlight.

Carl's body gradually advanced into the darkness and soon disappeared into the distance.

'Once again, I seem to smell blood.'