Serious Witch's Travel Book

The first sentence of the head nun was a warning: "Don't think about running away. I have issued a death order forbidding anyone to leave Pine Candle Castle. If you don't want to get hurt, just stay honestly near the church. Do you hear me?"

If the face of the head nun in ordinary clothes is still a bit soft, then she looks majestic now.

Gnicia nodded silently twice, the head nun was very satisfied, and then told Numeria: "The Franks are not going to leave. The spies said that they cut down some trees and rebuilt simple fortifications." City equipment, those orcs rested all night and only started cooking at dawn, I think they will probably reorganize their offensive during the day... Sigh, there are too few people, we can't fight back, and we can't even harass."

Marianne was a little annoyed. She had been waiting for the centurions' reports at night, hoping to see if the orcs would sneak away in the dark, or leave any opportunities for them to take advantage of.It's a pity that they didn't retreat immediately after their sneak attack failed. Instead, they entered the posture of a protracted war... However, I am afraid that both sides know that this war will not become a protracted war.

Pine Candle Fortress is just a small fortress. Under the attack of the ogres yesterday, the original low-rise city wall has been damaged in several places. Although the engineers have carried out quick repairs, the temporary new wall is just a show. The orcs continued to attack, perhaps only a few champion warriors with heavy hammers could break the breach again.

Clovis refused to retreat. He must have figured out the balance of military strength between the two sides.

There are 3000 legion infantry left in the imperial army, and the number of orcs is conservatively estimated to be close to [-]. If they stick to it, the defenders of Pine Candle Castle will be wiped out within a day-a more pessimistic estimate, they Probably less than two hours.

And reinforcements?It may take four or five days for the reinforcements to arrive here.

Numeria, who was also depressed, asked, "How many militias did they mobilize?"

"The tribune said that there are less than a thousand young and strong people who are willing to join the battle. This is almost the limit of volunteers." The head nun looked melancholy at the small houses outside the window. On this cloudy morning, the houses in the whole town looked gray, and the blue-gray stones seemed to become more gloomy and cold.

There are very few people on the street, and the closure of the city made people panic here. Only occasionally a few people in a hurry walked to the market from the path next to the church, and more of them were closed doors and windows, and people from wooden houses. From time to time, a cautious peep was revealed through the gap.

Marianne looked out the window, she was actually facing a difficult choice.

Whether to order compulsory recruitment of old and weak women and children.

There are more than 6000 residents in Pine Candle Castle, and it is enough to show the efforts of the tribunes and the response of the civilians to attract [-] militiamen. Among the remaining population, there are probably no more than [-] men who are of suitable age and can fight. They are all the family members of these people, including children, women, and the elderly.

In extreme cases, she can force all people who can move to participate in the battle, but these people are nothing more than human shields on the battlefield, and they have no purpose other than to tire the enemy and expose their weaknesses.

On the contrary... If the Franks win, these people will not die. In a sense, those orcs are also sensible people. They are warlike but have low production capacity. Their rough and clumsy hands can't even do farm work. To maintain the combat effectiveness of the entire orc group, it is indispensable to provide them with subordinate races that provide farming.

If Clovis occupied this place, he would definitely keep these people to work for him. The worst case would be to take away the residents of Pinecandle Castle and escort them to a certain orc settlement to work as coolies.

Thinking of the end, Marianne shook her head bitterly and said nothing.

Before leaving, she ordered Numeria to pay attention to safety. If the orcs really started to attack, they must take Flynn to the shelter in the wine cellar of the fortress. There is a tunnel out of here.

Numelia watched Marianne leave the church, until Marianne's figure disappeared from her field of vision with swift steps, Numelia couldn't help but sighed: "What's wrong with the world..."

Then she looked at Gnicia, her mentality adjusted quickly, and when she and Gnicia looked at each other, Numeria had already recovered her gentleness and composure.

"Sister Marianne decided to provide you with asylum. Just like she said before, you are her captive from today on."

She needed Gnicia's confirmation, so Gnicia nodded in agreement.

"We agree that you wear this dress, it does not mean that you can act as a nun student, it just makes it easier for you to move around in this city - in the next few days, the tribunes will strictly control the residents Access is controlled, and if people harass you, or say they might question your identity because of the way you came in earlier, you tell them you're doing something for the church and let them come to me, understand?"

"clear."

"As for your identity... Forget it, in the name of the retinue nuns of the Saint-Tashan Monastery, I allow you, Gnicia, to work for Sister Marianne and her retinues as slaves of the church."

This is not a very pleasant errand...but Numeria said it quite solemnly.She reached out to press Gnicia's forehead, and under her silent gesture, Gnicia had to bow her head to her.

So, our Miss Witch got her first share inexplicably...

part time?

------

Note: Regarding the "attendant" nun - after careful consideration of the word, the meaning of the word, and the issues of usage, I feel that the attendant is more appropriate here.The system of head nun and nun is not an ordinary employment and superior-subordinate relationship, but close to family-style subordination. Although the difference between the two words is not very different in meaning, but for the convenience of distinction, some amendments have been made. Later, the nun is used. Let's call it - the previous text has also been revised.

Chapter 35 030. Working Together

It was different from when Gnicia first came to Pinecandle Castle, when the townspeople were still in the mood to come out to watch the prison vans on the street. Now the entire barracks and its attached civilian residential area are shrouded in a depressive chill. atmosphere.

As a newly appointed slave worker of the church, the first task Gnicia received was to collect supplies with other nuns.

Asking for items from others sounds like a very unreliable job, but the situation is urgent now, and it is not the time to be hypocritical.

After Marianne left, there were five nuns who were still working in the church, and three of them still needed to take care of the wounded who had to change their dressings. Numeria did not come out in person, and it was another nun who took Gnicia to act. A nun she didn't know... seemed to be the one who had the most quarrel with Lois in the shelter.

The difference between the mature and plump Noumelia and the slightly older, well-developed Emma is that the young girl who calls herself Phaedra is thin, with big bright eyes and a round face young girl.

Her temperament and appearance, as well as her long, shaggy light brown hair, are in keeping with her Greek name - "bright".

But she is a little arrogant.

"You have to keep up, or I'll think you want to run."

She held the chain in her hand, and the other end was attached to Gnicia's neck, and a tight leather collar fastened her, and the joint was locked.

After all, the nuns were a little worried about her. This lock was fastened by Numeria. With this thing, Gnicia probably has no hope of leaving Pinecandle Castle from the front even if she is wearing a nun's clothes. .

She didn't want to run away—but she didn't bother to explain. Apart from being uncomfortable, she didn't really mind relying on some restraints in exchange for others' trust in her.

However, Phaedra was obviously not as wary of Gnicia as she said. This energetic girl was willing to talk to Gnicia. When they left the mound where the church was located and started walking towards the civilian streets, she was curious Asked Gnicia: "Where are you from?"

"Dijon." Gnicia threw out a more and more perfect lie that had already been fabricated. In order to prevent herself from accidentally encountering a "citizen", she had to add one more point: "I live in the suburbs."

"That's great. I heard that it's a big city... Miss Ben is different. Miss Ben lives in the countryside by the sea and has her own plantation. The house at home is quite big..."

She looked at the row upon row of bungalows surrounded by city walls with some displeasure, or the occasional small two-story building, and muttered in a low voice: "It's much better than here."

She doesn't seem to want to be here.Gnicia asked subconsciously: "Are you a nobleman?"

"Yes, Miss Ben's father is a knight officer (Note 1), he has his own manor and family property, and we also have some private soldiers."

Speaking of her own family business, the girl is very proud.

Even so, though, she had to work with Gnicia.

The two of them each carried a basket on their backs, and one after the other came to the street where the townspeople lived.

The work is very simple, knocking on doors from door to door, explaining their identities and needs to the townspeople, and then collecting supplies.

This was a time of war, and most of the townspeople expressed their understanding of their work, but when they asked for "donations", the townspeople all showed embarrassment.

According to the residents, people from the Legion came to collect supplies yesterday. The Legion now needs everything that can be used, including all kinds of ironware and even larger furniture. If they didn't have it--there was some food, but food was not a problem now. What the legion lacked were tools and weapons for the armed militia.

"The candles are gone, and the kerosene has been handed in. Now we all hope that merchants will come here after the war, otherwise it will be troublesome to light a fire no matter how cold it is..."

Looking at the middle-aged man complaining to himself with a troubled face, Federa was a little at a loss: "Uh, we don't want those, I want to ask if there are any clean cloths, or medicine..."

"Sorry, no one keeps a lot of medicine, but if it's Bu... damn it!"

The middle-aged man yelled twice into the house, and Gnicia waited outside with Phaedra for a while. After a while, the women at home brought out a piece of coarse linen that had been cut for them.

"There is no more, I will give it to you... I hope you can save a few more people."

The middle-aged man stuffed the nun with enough linen to sew a trouser leg, and then hastily closed the door.

"..." Fei Dela was a little speechless, she looked at the closed wooden door and muttered: "What kind of attitude... Hey, bow your head."

She tugged on the iron chain in her hand, and Gnicia bowed obediently.The nun folded the cloth she wanted and threw it into the basket that Gnicia was carrying.

There are quite a few residents here. She heard someone in the church say that there are 6000 to [-] residents in Pine Candle Castle. Gnicia made a random estimate. According to a household with three or five people, there are probably at least [-] residents in this town. One thousand to two thousand families.

Naturally, it is impossible to visit all of them with only two people. In fact, Gnicia and Phaedra began to feel troubled after only visiting more than ten places.

"I want something? Didn't I receive it just now... There's nothing left!"

"Good job, my son has already believed in your evil and went to the barracks, I will not give you anything..."

"Fundraising? I donated money yesterday. Well, medicine? Go and get some... It's a lot, aren't you from the church? Be grateful..."

"Don't bother me, get out!"

"Will there be a war? Haven't the orcs left? Will we die?"

……

"Oh—what the hell!"

After being treated in a row by several families who refused to open the door, Sister Federa finally got annoyed.

She kicked a stone vigorously, watched it jump on the surface of the water and then sank into the river, and she let out a strange inarticulate sound with her throat angrily.

"No more! Let's take a break!"

The two of them had also walked to the street, and further ahead was the river and the edge of the city wall. This is where the street turned, and there were no traces of people or other buildings. Federra found a stone that was half a person's height, and she grabbed it casually. A cloth was wiped on it, and he sat down on it.

"Come and sit down."

She greeted Gnicia carelessly.However, the stone space is very narrow, and Gnicia felt that it would be a bit cramped if she sat on it, and she was not tired, so she declined the nun's invitation: "I'll just stand for a while."

"up to you."

She didn't care, but sighed and rubbed her legs and feet through the nun's clothes.

After a while, she suddenly talked to Gnicia with a bit of teasing: "I heard that Sister Marianne almost killed you yesterday, is it true?"

"Yes, you mean..."

"Should have addressed me as 'you', slave."

Phaedra tugged on the thin iron chain in his hand twice in dissatisfaction: "You know my identity, at least treat me with more respect."

Maybe it was because of a job hit a wall, Federa seemed to enjoy taking advantage of this small advantage, Gnicia bit her lower lip, she was not too happy to bow her head to this nun who was obviously younger than herself, but she changed her mouth in the end :"Understood."

Considering the other party's opinion, Gnicia had no choice but to add some honorifics to the head nun: "Ms. Marian did threaten me with a weapon."

"that is not what I meant."

Phaedra raised his eyebrows and kicked away from the stone.

"Sister Emma said that sister Marian was interested in you, and she almost had sex with you in broad daylight... that. Is it true?"

"Eh……?"

Gnicia was bewildered.

"That's it." Seeing that Gnicia still didn't understand, Phaedra walked up and poked her bulging bump twice with his finger: "Has she ever touched your breasts?"

"No, no..."

"Really? Spoiler."

The girl looked at the basket on Gnicia's back, and suddenly said, "It's almost there, let's go back."

"Are these enough?" Gnicia weighed the rope on her shoulders. They almost walked two streets, but the residents who were willing to respond to them could only gather residents of almost one street, and most of them actually provided donations. There are only a dozen households—that's half a street.

There are well-meaning people, and some simply send them away. Some people are willing to donate more things for their family members who are going to the front line, while others are packing up their belongings and planning to escape immediately after the imperial army is finished—or even rushing to work. Made a flag that Gnicia couldn't understand, Federa saw it and almost broke in and fought with them. It is said that it was the red flag of the golden bee and battle ax used by the Farak people.

Even Gnicia can see that there is no order in the city. The quietness on the streets is just an illusion of stability caused by the tribunes thugs who haunt the streets and alleys. If the orcs attack again, I am afraid no one will be able to Stop these civilians from doing stupid things.

They confiscated cloth, candles, some brimstone, needles and thread, two pieces of bacon well-seasoned, and bottles of wine.

The most valuable thing is probably the wine - it was given to them by a rich family, and they said it could be used to clean wounds, but Gnicia took a sniff and found that the bottle was just ordinary ale, which shouldn't be used to treat wounds —at least that's what the sages say—but it's okay to make potion.

There are so many things, both of them carry half a basket, which is obviously not enough.

"Numeria didn't say how much they want, so put them back first."

Seeing that Gnicia didn't intend to leave, the little nun walked around behind her and pushed her in the direction she had come and gone.

"I'll go by myself—"

Seeing her pushing faster and faster, Gnicia, who couldn't keep up with the pace, had to break away from her. Who knew that Phaedra still grabbed her twice after leaving her body, and muttered with a little nostalgia: "You So fat."

Her words made Gnicia subconsciously embrace her hands, touched her lower back—it was obviously nothing—then retorted: "...that's too rude."

"I didn't say anything bad about you. You feel quite comfortable. No wonder Sister Marian likes you."

"Nothing."

Gnicia didn't know how to explain it to her, so she could only walk in silence.

Sister Phaedra hung not far behind her, and began to talk to herself: "Sister Marianne likes rounder ones? No wonder she only sleeps with Numeria...Hello." She called Gnicia . "Slavery, if Sister Marian sleeps with you, remember to tell Miss Ben."

"What do you mean by sleeping...spending the night together in the same bed?"

"Are you pretending to be tender?"

"no……"

"Well, it's just that...she'll touch your breasts and kiss you, understand? That's what nuns do."

Phaedra made an expression of "Why don't you understand ducks".

"Well, I'll tell Mud...you. But why do you want to know that?"

"This is Miss Ben's own business. Knowing Sister Marianne's hobbies may make her choose easily."

"Selected?"