Musou Knight: Crow of Cinders-Chapter 40: Supply Issue?

Chapter 40 - Supply Issue?

The citadel interior was as moldy and dusty as I expected. Upon entering, I couldn’t help but cough. With every step I took, dust on the stone floor flew up. Furniture hadn’t been maintained well. Portraits and pictures on the walls were covered in a thick layer of dust.

Aside from Troturre’s patrolling soldiers, No servants or civilians were present. The population of this citadel was entirely military personnel. I hadn’t explored the town and the academy district yet, so I hadn’t met other game characters. I wondered where they were.

"Woman, do you live like this?" I whispered to Lia.

"We... don’t have enough budget to hire maids. Also, we lack supplies."

"Supplies, huh? What supplies are you lacking? Provisions, equipment, warhorses, manpower, or others?"

"Mostly rations and manpower. Three countries are simultaneously attacking us. We are spreading ourselves too thin to manage all the war fronts."

"Ah, rations and soldiers. By chance, are there many pottery artisans in your country?"

"We had a dozen. A few in this fortress too, actually. Why?"

I couldn’t stop smiling. "After this, arrange a meeting for me. I need to meet the artisans."

"...Sure."

Lia seemed reluctant. Obviously, she did not know what abilities I had.

I kept my ideas at the back of my head for now. We followed Lenitia to her resting quarters. Two knights in complete black armor, bearing Troturre’s lion emblem, were stationed at the entrance.

Usually, a princess like Lenitia would have kicked me out of her room, but she invited me in. Both Lia and I entered her bedroom.

However, as I walked past the knights, they glanced at me, exuding killing intent. We closed the door behind us.

The bedroom was massive, covering at least 200 square meters. However, there were only three pieces of furniture: a working table, a wooden chair, and a king-sized bed.

Since those two must have been eavesdropping on our conversation, I gestured to Lenitia with my hands, pointing at the door, my ears, and my mouth.

Lia smirked and shook her head. Her eyes turned green, and her musou aura surged. A dome manifested and sealed us in the room.

She explained, "No one can hear us. We can talk freely."

Lenitia nodded and gave me a meaningful look.

"Speak, Sir Crow. What have you noticed? What’s on your mind?"

Finally, Lenitia called me by my name. I shrugged and told her the truth.

"Troturre sold you out to Choi Fraus. He tried to get rid of you and steal this fortress. Now that we’re back, he will soon send assassins after you. Expect our dinner to be poisoned."

Lia closed her eyes, but I could see her veins pulsing. Woman, I knew she was angry, but she should have kept her blood pressure low. Some veins in her brain were going to burst.

Lenitia nodded. Her breath escaped in a soft, weary sigh. "I also thought about it too. I knew something was wrong with him, but I have no evidence."

Lady, the evidence was right in front of you. Troop allocation? Food stockpile in the barracks? Water? Embezzlement? Hello?

I facepalmed and advised her. "Did you or Troturre keep a ledger or a financial account?"

"No?" Lenitia tilted her head. "What’s a ledger?"

This woman... how stupid could she be?

"A financial record. You take notes of the budget you spent or allocated."

"Ah, that." Lenitia turned to Lia, but she shook her head.

Lia laughed dryly. "We left it in our traveling luggage, and... the ambush..."

I double-facepalmed. Why did they bring something so important and private to another country?

"So, you lost it," I asked to make sure.

"...Yes." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Yeah. Now I recalled why these two became more of a liability in the later stages, unless the players were the ones in control, while other characters stole key roles in the future fights.

This wouldn’t do. I assumed they had the intelligence of sixth-graders, and I was the only adult there.

"Alright. First things first. We will not join a banquet, a dinner, or take part in a festival held by that geezer knight, okay?"

"But what will we eat?" Lenitia asked. "I’ve had enough of the smoked hams. At this pace, I’m going to put on weight. I wanted some fruit."

I consoled her. "How about some dumplings?"

"Dumplings? What’s that?"

"The thing I fed you when you two were injured."

Lia’s eyes brightened. She patted my pockets and my sling bag, but she woke up Cow-Cow instead. He flew out of my shirt and sat on my head.

"CAAA! RUDE!"

The two ladies froze for a second. Lia unsheathed her sword while Lenitia’s face turned pale.

"A talking demon?! Crow, get away from that monster!"

Welp. This was why medieval people mistook crows and ravens for evil creatures, even though these guys were simply silly birbs with good brains.

"My boy is not a monster, ladies. He is my lifesaver! A benefactor!"

Lia sheathed her sword. Lenitia, however, still pointed fingers at the fat chicken. She pointed out,

"I thought there was something weird with your pet when we met. Now that I inspect it, it... has a musou core!"

I shrugged once more. Well, since it had been eating my food since day one, it might have evolved. It could spit fire for a reason. Even his third leg—ACTUAL third leg, not figuratively or a metaphor—was freaking impressive. I once mistook it for something else!

I coughed and cut them short to steer the conversation away from Cow-Cow and his identity.

"Back to the main topic, I have a method to fill your stomach and avoid Troturre’s poisoned food. Listen carefully."

Lia laughed at me and gazed at my groin, "Fill our stomachs with what? Your milk?"

"No, you female dog. Listen to me till the end." I looked around the room, but there was nothing for me to destroy. Thus, I asked them, "Where do you usually keep vases, jars, or containers?"

"In the kitchen," Lia replied.

"Do me a favor. Fetch me several empty vases, jars, crates, or weapon racks. I’ll show you something."

The women looked at each other, confused.

Oh, dear. They would be in for a big surprise.

Lia pursed her lips and disabled the soundproof dome around us. She opened the door and asked the guards.

"Her Highness needs some empty jars, vases, and wooden boxes. Go fetch some for her."

"Jars and vases? What for?"

"Women’s duty! Don’t question Her Highness!"

"...Understood."

The men hurried away, and Lia closed the door.

Minutes later, a team of five men carrying jars of water and empty wooden boxes entered the bedroom and put everything on the floor. They all glared at me as though I was a weirdo. Then, they eyed Cow-Cow, who sat shamelessly on top of my head.

After they were gone, I rubbed my hands and borrowed Lia’s sword.

"Soundproof, please," I asked her.

Lia nodded and generated a soundproof dome around us. Then, I smashed one of the jars, ignoring whatever water was inside.