The Peerless Kobold - Chapter 2
Currently, I am trying to shake off the drowsiness from lack of sleep after we fended off the attack from the Kobolds last night as I sorted out the contents of my report to the Captain while walking with my comrades along the streets of Constanzia, the capital of Athos.
From a distance, the royal castle is visible with its distinctive rounded roofs that are culturally influenced by its ties to the western and eastern nations, and in front of it is the old town that is inhabited by the wealthy and old settlers which is then surrounded by the first city wall. The city extends further outward, and a relatively new second city wall covers the area that has developed up to its construction. However, the expansion of the royal capital has not stopped and even now, that new section of the city is yet to be surrounded by another castle wall.
(People shouldn’t feel too safe behind these walls, though.)
No matter how much they strengthen the city walls, it’s a completely different story if the attacks were to come from the inside.
This is exactly what happened in the southeastern region, where an angry mob of middle class and jobless citizens who were starved out by the famine took over the fort cities of Zenaeus and Olrein.
It reminded me of the situation in the city of Zenaeus, where I had recently finished my assignment. The trouble started when several mercenaries belonging to the anti-monarchy faction were hired as a part of the garrison staff. Taking advantage of the situation, they caused unrest within the civilians and took over control of the anti-monarchy movement once the city was occupied.
(I know how the people suffering due to the famine in the southeast region are already at their limit, but…)
After all, I too, was an orphan who went hungry on a daily basis so I understood that you can’t be picky when you’re at your wit’s end trying to survive. It’s either you live while breaking the laws or die trying to follow them.
But in this case, an uprising is futile.
Overthrowing the monarchy’s rule over the local cities won’t change the current food and job shortage problems. In fact, a rebellion will only make the situation worse as the kingdom’s support to that city will be cut off.
(Since the citizens couldn’t release their pent up frustrations, they became hasty and lashed out at the government… Why do people do stupid things when they come together?)
If the country’s inner turmoil is exposed, then it could lead to an invasion by our neighboring countries. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the militia’s weapons also came from them.
(Either way, it’s an unpleasant topic.)
When a country is in disarray, the people suffer. I didn’t want the good people who’ve been enduring so far to suffer along with those hot-blooded fools who couldn’t even practice restraint.
As I was buried in my thoughts, we arrived at the barracks connected to the outside of the first city wall.
Anyway, our mercenary group, the “Wolves of the Desert”, had been entrusted with maintaining the security of the kingdom since last year, and the barracks were granted to us by His Majesty King Astolaisse.
“Aaaaaand we’re here! We’ll leave the reporting to you, okay?”
“Since Rex is responsible for the reporting, we’ll go to the bar first!”
Waving their hands, Sakura and Eric disappeared into a bar across the barracks and Gaston also followed not long after. I shook my head and let out a sigh at their antics as I made my way to the commander’s office to report.
Part 2 is out! Nnnn… I thought this chapter was going to go light on the heavy topic/s, but I guess not 🤷 Anyway, I did some rewrites here and there but my translation might still seem a little stiff. Go easy on me though, I’m still learning 💦💦💦
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