Knights, Let’s Smash Them

13 – First Battle (2)

When I entered the inn, an open lobby appeared.

Usually, inns like this often double as a large restaurant on the first floor, so the delicious smell filled the space.

I quickly shifted my gaze and slipped into a moderately merchant-looking crowd.

“Who are you?”

“I came to find the Carlos Merchant. Is that correct?”

The men exchanged glances with each other and then opened their mouths.

“We are merchants belonging to Carlos. What happened to you?”

“I am the administrator of Count Rupel.”

At the word “Administrator,” The slightly annoyed look in his eyes changes 180 degrees. All of them stood back in surprise.

One backed away and even slammed his glass on the table and spilled his drink.

“I’d like to see Sangdanju.”

“I am the top owner.”

Then a man in the party who had just spilled said: It was a man with a “Kaiser beard,” With his mustache extending to the sides.

“Then the magistrate must be the one who was newly appointed to Rupel Manor. I never expected to see you like this.”

As expected, it seems that you have heard about my rumors to some extent.

“From what I heard from the blacksmith Albert, the iron ore produced in Jarhead has suddenly decreased.”

“Ah…… It seems that the friend has already told the magistrate.”

Carlus Ale.

The owner of the guild, named after himself, nodded and muttered.

“That’s right. I heard that the two mines in Jahed are currently closed.”

“Closed?”

“It seems that a ‘dungeon break’ has occurred. The city was completely turned upside down, so I came out without hearing the exact facts.”

Dungeon break.

It refers to a phenomenon in which monsters suddenly appear in an area where there is nothing normally.

A phenomenon that even the famous wizards of this era could not properly investigate.

‘Is it a mine… …. It usually happens in a deserted place, so it’s quite possible.’

If you don’t deal with the monsters that popped out like that, the place will turn into a dungeon that can’t be restored forever.

Of course, in the long run, having a dungeon itself might not be a bad thing.

It is a very serious problem if it is directly related to the economy of the city or territory, or if it threatens people’s living space.

“Are you sure you have a dungeon break?”

“Because I heard about monsters appearing before leaving the city. It’s the fact that I ran away before I got caught up in it.”

Carlus said in an annoyed tone.

In the first place, he should have come with the intention of buying Jarhead’s iron ore, but since that schedule was blown up, he suffered that much loss.

From a merchant’s point of view, this was no fun at all.

And also as an administrator.

If there was one thing that stuck, it was that a major incident like the dungeon break had occurred, but there was still no news from Jarhead.

As Albert said, if the Carlos Merchant Corps arrived here the other day, the news should have come in today at the latest.

“Did you notice anything else strange?”

I was about to ask

.

“Magician! Are you here!”

The door of the inn burst open and a blonde-haired knight appeared. It was Xianne, the knight commander.

“Lord Rupel is looking for you urgently. It seems that something happened to Jarhead, one of the province cities…… !”

That’s right.

There’s no way I won’t hear it.

We’ll have to wait and see why it was delivered so late.

First of all, returning to Count Rupel seemed to be an urgent priority.

“Ah, if possible, the lord of Sangdan will also accompany you. You may need the testimony of the sovereign.”

“If that’s the case, I’d be more than happy to help.”

Anyway, since he was at the scene, wouldn’t he be able to notice something?

***

“…… You mean the mine was isolated by a landslide.”

“Yes.”

“In addition, there are about 30 miners trapped there.”

I carefully examined Jared’s map that Count Rupel had brought.

Ah, I have long since spoken with the count. He was a bit difficult at first, but once he was treated, he naturally permeated into it.

Anyway, since the map itself was written with magic, it wasn’t that far behind even compared to modern ones.

I was able to locate the mine where the accident occurred without difficulty.

A mine in the northern part of the city, almost bordering the mountain range. Apparently, it was buried as it was as a landslide pushed in in the aftermath of the earthquake.

‘It’s fortunate that it’s not a dungeon break.’

I felt sorry for the victims, but that was the case. From my point of view, mine burial is much better than dungeon break.

Especially in that the damage is limited to mines.

“Jahed’s mayor tried to do it on his own, but eventually failed and asked for help…….”

It must have been an accident that happened while the work was in full swing, so the workers couldn’t evacuate, and it seems that the mined iron ore remains in the mine as it is.”

“Can we go out right now?”

“Well, I have also contacted the 4th Corps stationed nearby. I’ll trust the Lubern magistrate to entrust this matter.”

Count Rupel looked at me with eyes full of trust.

Resolving a series of events intertwined in the manor, he has been really looking at me like a god for the past few days.

For me, who is only an administrative officer, the treatment I feel is very undeserved…….

It is said that the lord takes care of it himself, so there is no need to tell him not to.

“I will return safely.”

First of all, considering the incident happened the other day, we had to leave right away. If the miners are still alive, the golden time will be passing by right now.

“Captain Xianne, prepare to go out.”

“Okay.”

“What do you plan to do, Mr. Carlos?”

When I talked to the merchant who was sitting with a worried expression, he spoke in a voice that sounded complicated in many ways.

“…… Aren’t you going to normalize the mine?”

“Yes.”

“It would be a huge loss to sit there anyway. We will also accompany you. At least I can take care of the luggage needed for the knights’ expedition.”

That’s right, well thought out.

I don’t know how much the burial is, but if it’s a simple landslide, it’s not that difficult.

‘If only the administration there wasn’t paralyzed.’

“What do you think, Captain?”

“If the superiors accompany you, there is nothing better.”

Sianne also had no disagreements.

As soon as we finished our preparations, we went straight to Jarhead where the accident happened.

It was a fairly large number of people, including the upper part of Carlos and some troops from the 4th Corps.

***

In this era, the majesty of the Knights is greater than one might think. Of course, if you’re a person that’s at the level of the emperor of an empire, there’s not just one knight, but several.

Even personal guard organizations, including other guards, are taken for granted.

In a typical noble estate, the knights were just like the lord’s hands and feet moving in the field.

It boasts much stronger authority than the military corps or the People’s Guard, and due to the nature of its status as a ‘knight’, its words give it some kind of authority.

This place, Count Rupel, was no different.

After hurriedly preparing and arriving at Jarhead, the mayor, who had already heard the news and was waiting, ran out in a hurry.

“The Count’s Knights!! I was waiting for you!”

The shiny-haired mayor prostrated himself toward Xianne, who was mounted on a horse, and began to beg for mercy, almost as if begging for mercy.

“Please help! If this continues, the city economy will be completely ruined!!”

“Mayor… ….”

Xian Ne turned her head with her swipe and looked at me. I jumped off her horse and spoke to the mayor, who was still banging her head on the ground.

“Mr. Mayor, please hand over the blueprints of the collapsed mines and the documents showing the number of mine development equipment currently owned by the city. Also, please urgently summon the wizards residing in the city.”

“You…… ?”

“Luvern Alroy, administrator of the Templars, was the one who handled the ‘Sepela Gold Mine Burial Case’ a year ago.”

There was no particular reason why I felt confident. Just a year ago, I had a similar incident.

If Jared’s mayor had paid more attention to the safety of the miners—or at least had followed the minimum rules issued by the Imperial Decree.

As long as all 30 people aren’t directly caught in the landslide, we should be able to rescue them safely.

“Wow! Luverne Alroy Administrator…… !!!”

The mayor recognized me and widened his eyes.

“I don’t have time. Please show me the documents I mentioned.”

Unfortunately, now is not the time to be exclaiming like seeing a blue-eyed skull.

In a burial case like this, even if all safety facilities are working, the survival rate can only be increased by contacting the people buried inside as quickly as possible.

The mayor, who suddenly came to his senses at my words, gave an order to the officials who were staring at him from behind.

I was able to obtain the documents without difficulty.

“Thank God.”

“Did you figure out something?”

At the words muttered subconsciously, Xian Ne, who was standing beside her and reviewing the documents together, asked.

To be honest, Xianne’s administrative skills were terrible.

I was way better than the head of the administration, Lee Vona, at least in that I could read clearly what the papers were talking about.

“The ‘Triton Mine’ and the ‘Nodek Mine’ here are mines that were caught in a landslide. If you look at the structure of the entrance, they are connected like a tunnel along the ridge rather than at the bottom of the ridge.”

I ran my finger through the blueprints of the two mines and explained them to Xianne.

“If this happens, there is no way a landslide could have entered the interior unless the ground itself collapsed.”

And here.

I pointed to a small space drawn inside the mine.

“This is a safe zone. Fortunately, both mines were installed. It seems that he is a conscientious person, unlike the fact that he has a market.”

All the heads I met in this world were either miserly Scrooges, or people with empty consciences as much as empty hair.

It was like meeting someone exceptional for the first time.

“Then can you rescue everyone?”

Sianne exclaimed in a hopeful voice. However, the reality is not so rosy.

“It is still unknown how long he will survive. You should try.”

While she served as the administrator of the Knights of the Black Lion, she accumulated her knowledge and experience in all areas of administration.

She specializes in tactical strategy, logistics, as well as warfare or combat administration.

City planning, financial management, and even disaster response management to deal with these disasters.

It’s a bit like saying it with my own mouth, but it means that it’s irrelevant even if you see it as a walking government office.

“Because all the wizards have gathered.”

“Oh, yes! Everyone is outside. Vice-captain Emain is taking over.”

“Good. We move right now, without delay.”

Shaking her hands, she stood up.

Will the ending of an unexpected disaster movie really have a happy ending?

Or will it be a bad ending with a bad ending?

That was in my hands from now on.