Cave King – 270

Chapter 270 – A Surprising Transportation Route!

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And so we began the investigation of the bandits on Nostor mountain.

Rish would take number 15 and look into the soldiers who encircled the area. The other golems would protect the carriage.

As for us, we would check the mountain itself.

The thing I wanted to know the most was the delivery method that connected to the fortress on the top of the mountain.

However, it would be difficult to find such a thing on a mountain covered by forest. According to Rish, they had already searched before. If there was a hole somewhere, it must be well-hidden.

And so we would not go around, looking for holes. Besides, if there was such a thing, it would likely connect to some place close to the fortress.

Currently, we were on the Mappa Go and looking down from the sky.

Fule and Rienna looked out of the window and said,

“It really is nice to be able to fly in the sky.”
“After all, you do not have to worry about the terrain. Though, traveling in a carriage is also comfortable.”
“In fact, we could probably just fire magic at the fortress from the sky and defeat them easily. Besides, the Mappa Go is durable.”

I also squinted at the mountain and answered.

“If we do defeat them, it will be after we gather some evidence. Oh, we’re about to arrive.”

The bandit fortress could be seen below us now. As the Mappa Go was concealed with magic, they would not be able to see us. 

“Yes, there are a lot of them.”
“And…they all seem very lively.”

As Rienna said, the bandits looked quite healthy. Or perhaps it was better to say that morale seemed high.

The ones on the walls were standing seriously on guard. And there were others patrolling inside who walked in neat rows. In the corner, we could also see others training with bows.

And as we had heard before, they used high-quality equipment. They all wore armor with breastplates and had spears and shields. Judging by how polished they were, they must be maintained every day. Also, there were weapons such as trebuchets and ballistas on the ramparts.

Furthermore, it all seemed too well-organized for a bandit fortress. It was a fortress from the age of the old empire, but the walls had been repaired carefully. And inside, there were no shacks, but neat rows of houses. There were no objects scattered around the streets either.

“…There is too much order for them to be bandits.”

Well, perhaps the leader was just strict. However, that did not explain the equipment.

Besides, it wasn’t just the weapons.

“Everyone is eating over there. Meat, fruits…and bread.”

As Fule said, there was a corner of the fortress with tables. A few dozen men were eating there.

And even from a distance, we could see that there was a great variety of food. Meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, bread… Various dishes that used all of them.

Indeed, meat and fruits might be from the mountains. However, what about the bread and fish? Next to the tables, there were large boxes with live fish flapping about.

“There is no doubt about it. Someone is sending them supplies. So there must be a transportation route after all.”

And they had to be able to transport a lot at once.

Rienna answered.

“However, I cannot see anything like that. Perhaps it is hiding inside?”

“This is one thing where we have to get a closer look. However, there is one thing that bothers me…”

I had detected the presence of great magic energy inside of the fortress. It was in the shape of a circle and did not move at all.

“Something powerful is in there. I think it is some type of device… We should go towards that.”

And so we decided to search inside of the fortress.

Mappa stopped the Mappa Go near some rocks by the top of the mountain. As Number 15 and the Golems were not with us, Mappa would stay with the Mappa Go.

We concealed ourselves and then walked to the fortress gate.

There were soldiers on guard duty, but the gates were open.

However, the road outside of the fortress was rough and very difficult to walk on. This was likely to make it harder for invaders to climb up. But that would also affect transportation. 

Still, we finally managed to arrive at the gate. And no one noticed our presence.

And we were able to walk boldly inside.

That was when I overheard the conversation of the gatekeepers.

“It’s to trade places. Good work.”

“Aye. Thank you.”

“By the way, some letters arrived earlier. There might be one from your family too.”
“Oh, I see. I hope so.”

The bandits by the gate said happily. And then he walked away as the other bandit took his place.

So they can even receive letters…from on top of a mountain.

And they have family that live outside.

Were they all from the Leodor territories?

No, if they were found out, their family could be executed. So they must be outsiders. Also, they could not be real bandits.

We went down the largest path through the forest. While there were some turns, it did not branch out.

On the way, we saw men rolling large barrels and carrying wooden crates.

And the direction they were going in was the same as the magic energy.

Eventually, what came into view was the tallest stone tower in the fortress.

There were great piles of supplies around it. So there was definitely something up ahead

However, the tower had iron doors that were locked. And a guard stood next to it.

Fule whispered.

“Old Mappa might be able to make a key, but it would be difficult to get in.”

“I cannot see any windows, and it’s unlikely that there is another way in. In other words…”

As Rienna said, the only other way would be to dig underground.

But…

“I don’t know if I could perfectly erase any traces of digging. If possible, I don’t want to leave any evidence.”

“Then we should wait for someone to go inside. With this much supplies, there should be people going in and out regularly.”

I nodded in agreement.

Like that, we decided to wait for the tower door to be opened. We leaned against a nearby wall and monitored the door.

We also checked the wooden crates and barrels for a company name or some other clue, but there was nothing written on them. Clearly, they were being very careful.

As we had nothing to do but wait, Fule started saying strange things suddenly.

“Lord Heal. Ms. Rish definitely likes you.”
“Rish is an adult now. She probably has someone else that she likes now.”
“There you go again.”

Fule poked me with her elbow.

I knew that Rish relied on me. It had always been like that. But it was different from romantic feelings.

Just then, Rienna asked,

“If this turns out to be a conspiracy after all, and the wedding is called off… And Ms. Rish confesses to you… What will you do?”

“…Don’t worry. That would never happen. Besides, even if she wanted that, her father would never allow it. He might feel like he owes me after this, but marriage is a different matter. Considering the children that would be born…”

I looked at the Cave King crest on my palm.

It was said that those with good crests were more likely to have children with good crests. As nobles knew this, they would try to have their children marry those with good crests.

Cave King was a wonderful crest that had allowed me to meet Rienna and the others. However, in this kingdom, it was considered to be useless.

And I doubted that anything had changed. Besides, I did not want to show off my power. And there was a limit to how much gold, silver and precious gems that I could use.

I doubted Count Leodor would want Rish to marry someone like me. In the first place, he had kept us apart so we would not get too attached to each other.

Besides, I did not want to stay in this country…

Just then, Rienna took my hands in hers and said to me seriously.

“Lord Heal, you are a great man. You should be more proud of yourself.”
“Rienna…”

Apparently, I had looked sad without realizing it. Now that I thought about it, I had been thinking about my crest sadly before leaving Sheorl as well.

Fule nodded with agreement.

“I thought you looked very dashing as you tried to comfort Ms. Rish. Besides, you are our king, so you should be more confident.”

I nodded at Fule’s words.

Cave King was wonderful. And so I should not be too self-deprecating.

“I’m sorry, you two. It’s a bad habit of mine.”
“Don’t worry about it.”

Rienna said, and then Fule asked in her usual voice.

“So, you will accept if Ms. Rish confesses to you?”

“That’s not what I… Huh?”

I noticed that a man was approaching the tower. A bandit in full armor.

The guard saluted him.

“Captain Berido.”

“Mmm. I am here to inspect the supplies. Open the door.”

As the door was unlocked, we quickly moved behind the man called Berido. 

The iron doors were then opened. Inside, there were torches burning brightly. And in the far back, I saw what looked like the entrance to a cave.

However, the magic energy I had sensed was not in the cave, but in front of it, in the center of the tower.

When Berido walked in, we followed, and the door was quickly shut behind us.

Clearly, they did not even want the others to see. This was to be kept a top secret…

Still, what was this magic energy in the center?

All I could see was a metal ring.

No, this shine… I recognized it now, even without Mappa’s help. It was mithril.

In other words, it must be some kind of magic device.

Why was mithril here…and as a device…

As I wondered this, Berido put his hands on the ring, which immediately began to glow.

And then…

Wooden boxes started to appear around the ring.

“This is…”

They were being sent through the power of the ring.

Similar to our teleportation gates.

A moment later, the ring started to glow again, and the nearby barrels vanished.

So they could send things as well.

As the barrels disappeared, I used fire magic to make small marks on them. Perhaps I could use it to find out who is on the other side.

Eventually, Berido sighed.

“How long must we continue this…”

He muttered, and then turned around and headed to the door.

“Open up.”
“Yes.”

And then the doors were opened.

We followed him outside.

“We found the route, but…”
“That was unexpected.”

Rienna muttered.

The cave was likely just a disguise. And the fact that they shut the door every time suggested that the ring was being kept a secret from the others.

“If they have something like that… Not only are they no ordinary bandits, but they must have someone very powerful backing them.”

Even royals did not have such things. Well, perhaps they did, but just didn’t show them off.

“In any case, we should find out more.”

“Yes. Also, is that Berido person the captain? Maybe he has a letter?”

Said Fule. I nodded.

“Indeed. He might be receiving orders from outside.”

And so we followed Berido and searched his room.

However, unnaturally, there was not a single document left there. They must be hidden safely somewhere.

After that, we checked the bandits as well. We searched the houses and listened to their conversation.

Like this, we learned that they were mercenaries. And not only had they received great payments in advance, but they were promised a feast and a large reward when the work was finished.

However, the mercenaries all came from different lands, and we found no information about who had hired them.

In any case, we determined that it was unlikely that we’d learn anything else. And so we descended the mountain for now.

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