Kochugunshikan Boukensha ni Naru

Translator: SFBaka

Editor: Thor’s Stone

We prepared nine sets of castle guard uniforms to be worn by the captured royal guards, and two additional sets of similar clothes for the two others who were also imprisoned together with them, for a total of twelve uniforms all told. We divided them between the three of us and hid them among the assorted foodstuffs and other items we would be bringing with us. We’ll be making good use of them later on.

“It’s about time for us to move out, Elna. Just like how we practiced, try to always stick closely behind me.”

“Of course, I understand.”

(Lieutenant, I’ll leave the navigation to you.)

『Roger. Starting mission. …………Exit the carriage after 25 seconds and hide behind the shadow cast by this tree for ten seconds.』

An overhead map was displayed on a virtual window.

Iris will actively display the positions of all sentries inside the castle as well as their lines of sight through the map and relay instructions accordingly. We should be able to avoid being detected by anybody as long as we relied on the map and the lieutenant’s instructions.

I opened the door of the carriage and started to run for cover.

–Elna’s POV–

Selena quickly opened the door of the carriage and started running, so I hurriedly followed suit. We ran from the spot where the carriage was parked straight toward a large tree a little further out on the courtyard in one go.

It was such a bold action that I got worried we would be spotted by the guards. But thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Let’s go.”

Then, Selena ran from behind the shade of the tree straight toward the castle proper’s rear entrance. We were able to successfully infiltrate the castle without any guards spotting us.

Once we were inside the castle, Selena began walking ahead with a steady and brisk pace.

Selena advanced through the corridors and went up toward the second floor after reaching a stair. Huh? I thought we were supposed to head for the castle’s underground dungeon? Why were we going up to the second floor all of a sudden?

Selena stopped in the middle of walking up the stairs. She seemed to be waiting for something. We waited in the middle of the flight of stairs for a few moments and then began to head back down.

Wait. Don’t tell me she noticed that we would be encountering someone from the castle if we continued along earlier, and that’s why she abruptly went up the stairs!?

Amazing! To think scanning magic would actually be able to tell this much!? It was as if she was aware of what will happen a few moments ahead in the future.

After that, we continued on without ever encountering anyone else.

Selena then stopped in front of a certain room and opened the door to enter it without even knocking first. As you’d expect, the room was completely devoid of people. It seems that it was just an empty storage room.

“From here, we’ll run until a fork and head right. That’s where we’ll find the stairs leading down to the castle dungeon.”

After saying so, she began taking out a piece of cloth from the assortment of items she was carrying.

I also took out a fifty-centimeter square piece of white cloth and folded it into a triangular shape. I then tied it to my face in order to conceal my nose and mouth, and only revealed my eyes, just like how we practiced.

With this, the castle guards would at least be prevented from seeing our faces.

After this, I went ahead of the two of them and made for the castle dungeon. Even with the cloth covering our faces, I was taller than the two of them, so if I changed my voice to sound older than usual, I should be able to play the part of the lady-in-waiting’s superior. That was the plan at least.

Two castle guards were standing on both sides of the entrance to the stairs leading to the underground dungeon.

“What are you all doing here? This place is off-limits.”

“We have brought clothes for the prisoners to change to. Did you not receive word that we were coming over?”

“We haven’t heard anything. ……And what’s up with those cloth pieces covering your faces?”

“The prisoners all smell terrible, correct? We certainly do not want our noses to be assaulted by such foul a stench.”

“Even if they do smell, it’s not that bad. What kind of instructions did you all receive?”

“We were told to have the prisoners change their clothes and clean them up. No matter how you think about it, that should not be part of our duties at all. Do you want to change their clothes in our place?”

“No, no. You were the ones who were told to do so, right? If that’s the case, then we can’t offer any help with that.”

The young castle guard answered with a wry grin.

“……It can’t be helped then. Fine. Let me talk to your superior first. Please lead the way.”

Following the lead of the two young castle guards, we finally made our way down the stairs heading down to the dungeon.

Their superior seems to be inside the dungeon. Our luck had still not run out.

“Leader, three ladies-in-waiting just paid us a visit. They said they brought new sets of clothes for the prisoners to change into.”

The castle guard called out to his superior through a small opening on an iron door lined with grills. A figure appeared immediately from the other side.

“Ladies-in-waiting? I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“This should not be part of our job. We have been requested to change all of the prisoner’s clothes and clean them up. ……Please! Could you have the prisoners change their clothes and clean them up in our place? No matter how you think about it, that is not a job unwed women like us are suited to.”

“Now just hold on a darn minute, milady. I haven’t heard of something like that in the first place. Oi, Vili. Unlock the door for me. I’ll go and check it with the captain.”

The moment the castle guard named Vili opened the door, I swung a knifehand strike toward his neck from behind.

Sharon also knocked out the other young guard and jumped straight into the dungeon.

When I managed to enter the dungeon myself, I found that Selena had already handled the man who acted as the immediate superior of the other guards. She then headed for a small room that seemed to serve as a guard station. Sharon quickly followed after her.

Another young guard who stood beside their superior was just staring blankly at what was happening. He was probably stunned silly when ladies-in-waiting suddenly attacked and knocked out each of his companions.

I suppose they’re leaving this young guard for me to handle. I’m glad the two of them trust me that much.

He was a castle guard but he wasn’t even carrying a sword on his person. How careless.

Perhaps he finally realized what had happened and immediately pounced at me. I slammed a fist into his flank, right under his armpit, and when he started bending over from the pain, I slammed a knifehand strike onto the back of his neck. The young guard quickly collapsed and lost consciousness.

Compared to Selena and Sharon, he was far too slow. I didn’t think he would be such an easy opponent. It looks like Selena and Sharon have also handled the remaining guards inside the station. They dragged out the two guards they defeated.

I took out ropes from within my bag and handed some to the other two. We then proceeded to tie up all the defeated guards. We also gagged and blindfolded them in order to prevent them from making noise.

There were a total of ten holding cells inside the dungeon, with five facing opposite each other. Leader and the others were held in the left innermost cell.

Just like we planned, we dragged the six defeated guards to the innermost corner of the dungeon.

The cell where Leader and my other teammates were being held was sealed by an iron door. There was a tiny opening on the door lined with iron grills, and I was able to get a glimpse of the situation inside despite the dim illumination.

There’s no mistake! They really were my teammates. All nine of them are still alive!

All of them were blindfolded so they could not use magic, and their wrists were secured with manacles.

Selena had obtained the prison keys from a guard she had defeated earlier, so she dragged the unconscious castle guards inside the cell right next to where my teammates were imprisoned and locked them in. So far, everything was going quite well.

Unfortunately, there were two other prisoners held inside the other cells. They would inevitably end up hearing our exchanges later.