Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

e arranged by His Holiness? Maybe I or the Church could be of help.
Did something happen?” Luisen continued in a subdued tone.
Referring to God worked wonderfully for those in predicaments.
Luisen’s exploitation tactics struck true; the captain’s heart was shaken.

       Even without those words, the guard captain seemed so anguished and frustrated–like he desperately wanted to confess everything in his heart to someone.
Then, when Luisen hit the nail on the head, the captain thought it would be better to explain his situation rather than to plead with the young lord to pretend ignorance.
“The truth is… As the revered pilgrim says, I’ve exited the castle secretly.
I truly don’t intend to do anything malicious.
It’s just… I wanted to go to my hometown.”

      “Your hometown? At this time?”

       It wouldn’t be ideal for Confosse to have its captain of the guard missing during its current crisis.
Since the kidnapper’s troop was caught within Confosse, they were confined to the castle grounds.
The castle’s security was as strict as it had ever been.

      “About a month ago, my wife went back to my hometown to give birth–we’re from the same town, you know.
But, no matter how long I’ve waited, I haven’t heard any news from my wife!”

     His wife, who had promised to send word once she made it to her destination, did not contact him.
At the same time, the kingdom had already experienced civil war, a duke had been kidnapped, and so on.
There had been rumors of unprecedented monster attacks as well.
The Guard Captain was so worried that he sent several people to check on the situation.
However, none of the people he sent had returned; he was left in the dark.
“I’ve been so fretful; I just could sit around.
Just when I thought I had no path forward…that horse caught my eye.
With that kind of warhorse, I could go there and return within a day.”

      Since it was a criminal’s horse, no one would care if it disappeared for a moment.
Moreover, Zephys was a strong and agile horse, so the captain thought he’d be able to travel to his hometown faster.
He had his men secretly bring him the horse, and he sneaked out of the castle through that secret hole.

      “Couldn’t you ask a favor from the mercenary guild?”

      “When they’re being inundated with so many commissions, why would anyone take my request when it rewards no money nor glory to further their career? There’s nothing I could do.
Imagine how frustrated I was for me to have come out on my own.”

      “I understand.”

      “My lord will punish me greatly if he finds that I’ve abandoned my post.
Nor will I be able to go to my hometown.
Please, have mercy on my family and me and pretend you never saw anything, revered pilgrim,” the guard captain appealed sincerely.

      Luisen and Carlton exchanged brief glances.

     This was it.
If they did well, they may be able to obtain Zephys.

      Luisen hid his excitement and patted the captain on the shoulder.
“You must have suffered.
How could I tell on you when you’re in this situation?”

      “However, Guard Captain.
Isn’t your plan too sloppy? No matter how fast you are, who wouldn’t notice when you’re away for an entire day.” While Luisen comforted the man, Carlton was critical.
The captain of the guards went from heaven to hell in one short moment.

      “Mmm….
He does have a point.
I understand your situation, but this was an incredibly reckless plan.” Luisen pretended to agonize over the matter for a few seconds before continuing, acting as if he had just thought of a good idea.
“Well then, what about this? Sir Guard Captain should hurry back to his post–didn’t you say you’ll be severely punished if you got caught sneaking away? Instead, I shall visit your hometown.”

     “You?”

    “Yes.
Why don’t I go and make sure your wife is safe and deliver any messages you may want to send?”

     “I couldn’t possibly trouble you like this…”

     “It’s alright.
I’m a wanderer, and the guard captain must maintain his position like a rock.
It was heaven’s will that we’d meet like this.
Be at ease and leave it to me.”

     “Revered Pilgrim…If you could do that, I’d be so…”

      In the middle of this emotional conversation, the quick-witted Carlton intervened and halted the heartfelt emotions.
“I won’t be able to go, revered pilgrim.
That’s outside our contract; I won’t work more than I’m paid.
If you go, you’ll go alone.”

     “Ah…Then I’ll make it through the forest paths alone, somehow.” Luisen pretended to be at a loss.
Although the hood covered his expression, he conveyed that feeling of embarrassment with his whole body.
The guard captain also became nervous because the matter which had been solved smoothly suddenly ran into difficulties.

     ‘No way, you’re not going to stop helping because that mercenary can’t follow you, right?’ The guard captain stared insistently at Luisen.

     The young lord looked alternatingly between Carlton and the captain, giving plenty of pause and lingering gazes.
Then, when it seemed like the captain would stop breathing from anxiety, Luisen spoke in a moderate tone, “…He’s not wrong.
Mercenaries follow money… I could not force him to do work.
However, I’m not in a situation where I can spare much gold…” Luisen looked meaningfully at Carlton while slurring the latter sentences.

     “Forget money, give me that horse.
I’ve been wanting one like that for a while.” Carlton pointed at Zephys.

Footnotes

The original is more like “bite at everything that could be stretched out.” I localized it a little