The Exiled Lord: My Maid is a Battle Goddess-Chapter 129: Link-up

Phield put on a "sympathetic" expression and said with an exaggerated, almost comical tone,

"What a terrible disaster. Refugees are everywhere. I remember someone once saying that Wind Orchid City was a wonderful place full of beer, goats, and fine horses. Are we sure we didn’t come to the wrong place?"

The current Wind Orchid City was overflowing with refugees, the air thick and foul.

"We didn’t get it wrong," Canaan said, swaying her head as she put away her magic book.

"Adrian, you should really put more effort into managing your territory. I’ve been here before—it used to be very prosperous. But now... this is just disappointing. I’m almost afraid a few bandits might jump out and steal my spellbook."

"Y-you... damn you both!"

Adrian’s face flushed crimson, nearly fainting from sheer fury. All he could do was rage helplessly.

"I’ll take my leave."

Phield shrugged. After enjoying the sight of his brother’s twisted, furious expression, he left in high spirits and casually strolled around the city for a while.

"Wind Orchid City itself hasn’t suffered much from the plundering."

Next time it’ll be Wind Orchid City—and the lord’s hall, Phield added silently in his mind before leaving the city.

After this round of plundering, his brother would remain on guard for a while. The Ross family would also send reinforcements. That was the advantage of having a powerful family backing you.

Using small tricks to eliminate Adrian would be difficult—and the benefits would be minimal.

Phield already had a new idea. Unless he crushed Adrian head-on, the resentment in his heart wouldn’t fade. It would be better to let the Wind Orchid territory recover a little first—then harvest everything in one satisfying strike later.

"Let the bullet fly a little longer."

Phield shook his head and sneered.

Before leaving, Canaan tugged lightly at his sleeve.

"Nightfall Domain is very dangerous. Why don’t you just run away? When I come of age and receive a territory, you can become my knight."

"It’s fine. I actually like quiet places. The corpses aren’t that scary."

It had been a while since someone showed him any concern, and Phield felt oddly comforted.

The corpses themselves weren’t truly dangerous. What was frightening was the tide of corpses led by corrupted Divine Chosen.

Besides, the situation within the Empire also carried an ominous feeling. Those members of the Shadow World Sect who had escaped would inevitably appear again.

"I don’t believe you. You’re the guy who used to wet his pants at the sight of a caterpillar. I’m heading back to the academy."

With that, the girl made a silly face and skipped away.

Phield then led his army through the Wind Orchid territory for quite some time before finally reaching a mountain ravine near the border.

Along the way, smoking villages could be seen everywhere. The roadside was littered with all kinds of abandoned belongings. Half of the Wind Orchid territory was already in ruins.

Phield himself had not plundered the villages—there simply wasn’t much to gain from them. His targets had been the estates of knights and wealthy landowners, as well as merchant caravans.

In this era, if a village had no knight stationed nearby, it could easily become the target of bandits and extortionists.

As a result, villagers had flooded into Wind Orchid City, cramming the city to the brim.

"Phield, it’s too dangerous outside."

Charlotte poked her head out from the carriage, nervously scanning the surroundings. She kept feeling as though a group of strange figures in pointed hats speaking unfamiliar languages might leap out of the bushes at any moment.

She shrank her neck and called out in a trembling voice,

"Standing on your warhorse like that is too dangerous. Come sit in the carriage with me—I can protect you."

Phield almost burst out laughing.

A production-type Divine Chosen... protecting me?

"Don’t worry. Bandits are no match for my army. Relax—I’m taking you to meet some friends. There won’t be any danger."

"I-I’m worried about hostile Divine Chosen appearing! Destruction on this scale definitely isn’t something bandits could accomplish."

Charlotte grew increasingly anxious as Phield remained unmoved. She rocked back and forth inside the carriage, shouting in a childish tone,

"Come back! Come back!"

"Lady Charlotte, just sit tight," an old veteran driving the carriage laughed.

"The baron is incredibly powerful. Any Divine Chosen who meets his gaze for three seconds will be subdued."

The soldiers were used to bragging and boasting.

"Hmph. I don’t believe that. I’m very smart, you know."

Charlotte glared at Phield from afar before retreating back into the carriage, still uneasy. From time to time she would lift the curtain and peer outside nervously.

Her homeland had been destroyed by heretics. She and her family had been hunted for a long time, and in the end she was the only one left alive.

That was why every journey filled her with intense anxiety.

When Phield approached Ashina’s hiding place, he could hear the distant neighing of warhorses.

"Heh. Time to link up."

Instead of approaching directly, Phield had Sam raise a banner and wave it continuously.

After a series of wolf howls, figures burst out from the forest.

Wolf demi-humans clad in fine plate armor emerged from the trees, carrying bows and long spears. Using the cover of shrubs and woodland, they surrounded the area from all directions.

"Holy shit, are we being ambushed?" one uninformed soldier immediately raised his shield, his face tense.

"Relax. They’re ours. Just a lot of unfamiliar faces." The veterans of Nightfall Domain were completely calm.

"You’re saying those wolf demi-humans are on our side?"

"Look at the baron—he’s not worried at all. Why are you panicking? The lord must have arrangements."

The soldiers whispered among themselves.

"Oh no! Demi-humans!"

Charlotte nearly lost her soul from fright. She wanted to hide inside the carriage, but she also feared Phield might not be able to defeat them.

So she drew the small dagger she carried for protection and jumped down from the carriage, running to Phield’s side with tears trembling in her eyes.

"I told you it was dangerous! When the fight starts, don’t charge into the crowd!"

"They’re my troops. I didn’t tell you earlier because I didn’t want outsiders overhearing."

Phield hurriedly explained. By now he had already experienced Charlotte’s timid nature firsthand.

"You’re just trying to comfort me. Demi-humans hate humans, okay?"

Just as she finished speaking, Ashina appeared on a hillside riding a giant wolf.

The moment she saw Phield, her eyes lit up.

"Finally."

"Lady Ashina... a-are we going to fight?"

The cat-girl Lumi was equally terrified. Her legs were shaking violently.

Although Ashina often led troops out to plunder, human armies had never come this close to their camp before. Lumi had thought humans were attacking them.

"Don’t be ridiculous. That’s the lord."

Kai recognized Phield immediately, his face filled with excitement.

"What?" Lumi stared in shock. "But he’s human."

The black wolf leapt forward effortlessly and landed in front of Phield, its eyes glowing with a blood-red light.

"It’s over... a combat-type Divine Chosen!"

Charlotte’s eyes seemed to lose all light as the ferocious giant wolf completely terrified her. She muttered weakly,

"Um... I think we should run away. Phield, you should run."

"Long time no see. I’ve missed you."

Phield rode forward and reached out to rub Ashina’s fluffy beast ears.

"Ahhh! Phield, what are you doing?!"

Charlotte’s pupils trembled violently. She could already imagine Phield angering a Divine Chosen and being torn to pieces.

"Run! Don’t look back!"

However—

Ashina smiled brightly. Like a nimble cat, she leapt into Phield’s arms, rubbing against him affectionately before complaining softly,

"I thought you’d abandoned me."