The Girl Who Eats the God of Death
Chapter 03 - Long Beans Are Delicious

Rear Gate, Antigua Branch Castle.

A soldier who ascertained the conditions around, gestured with his hands and called his comrades.

The guard who was supposed to be the gatekeeper this time sent a signal with a light coil from his head and took out a key.

It wasn't the key to the tightly shut castle gate. The key was for the small but sturdy iron gate that was nearby.

It was a small door that was forbidden to open except in emergency situations. The guard was charged with guarding this gate for the soldiers who decided to escape.

This gatekeeper had been conspiring with the Liberation Army, and was appointed with a secret duty to demoralize and offer good service to the defectors. This is a scene that has been repeated many times. The guard system inside the castle was quite tenuous, and tonight, nothing happened and it would end as usual by watching the deserters.

"....So you were unknown to the guards, quickly, bowed and advanced. In a reot house in the depths of the northern forest is a standby contact. Here is the map to get there. Once the map is not needed, be sure to destroy it and throw it away."

When the gatekeeper handed them a map, a man received it and caught a glimpse.

"......Excuse me. You saved us."

"And also, give these documents to the man on guard."

The guard pulled out an envelope containing documents.

"Yes. I get it."

"Supervision is weak, but beware——"

"You guys over there, what's going on?"

"——–!"

In the midst of handing over the document, a voice that did not fit the atmosphere, spoke to the man. Although they felt like their hearts were about to stop beating, the gatekeeper and the defectors turned towards it.

"If I'm not mistaken, I'm sure you're from the Eleventh Infantry Platoon. Where are you going, carrying that kind of luggage? Do you also go for a walk to see the stars?"

"You are.... Danton Infantry Thirteenth–"

"—–Oi, wait. It's okay if this guy."

The very young man who was in a posture as if ready to pull out his sword at any moment, looking at Schera's figure, issued an ******* relieved. He was relieved that Schera would let them go.

The gatekeeper did not let down his watchful gaze. If Schera let out a loud voice, she planned to kill the girl. Everything would be over if the girl made a fuss.

"Schera, Second Lieutenant Temporary."

"Ahhh, that brat who has an obnoxious job forced on him. Isn't 'In the meantime' so pathetic?"

"It became a topic in another platoon as well. They said how much longer he could live. He was also the target of several bets."

"—–Which is more important, what is this?"

Schera asked, smiling as she put her huge scythe on her shoulder.

"Isn't it clear? We want to escape from this pathetic army. Everyone wants to be on the winning side, right? Rumor has it that the Empire will soon join. At this rate, we'll die for nothing."

"We will join the Royal Capital Liberation Army. I heard that someone can earn a lot of money. I'm sorry, but I have no intention of dying for the Kingdom."

"All members of the group agreed. We have the appropriate weapons as gifts as well as food as well. We probably won't be treated badly."

The man who seemed to be the leader patted the bag on his back. Schera, who listened to their response, nodded several times understanding the situation.

"I understand. Well then, this is the place where we say goodbye."

".....You wanna come with? Then you'll just die somewhere."

"H-hey."

One of the defectors spontaneously denied. He was worried that their burden would increase.

"We can't just leave him like this... He is an eyewitness to our crimes. Hey, you don't mind if we bring one more person?"

The gatekeeper frowned when the Platoon Leader asked, but since there was no other way, he nodded.

"This is not in the plan, but there is no other way. Killing women and children is no fun. However, only you. You don't call other members of your group."

"As he said. You're coming, right? We as anchovies have no obligation to an army like this."

".....I suppose. Then I'll come along. Most likely it's only for a little while, but please cooperate."

With a sweet and bright smile, Schera expressed her agreement. The man nodded in agreement, and they went out quietly to the other side of the door.

—Defection is a serious crime. If caught by the military police, denying it would be of no use: the law of government.

The defectors held their breaths and rushed into the forest while laying on the grass. There is nothing more difficult than moving around with a heavy bag, but they cannot leave empty-handed.

Schera was carrying her big scythe as well, and she was no different from the man.

"Hey, Miss Schera Second Lieutenant Meanwhile, how about throwing away the scythe, it was a large and strange scythe. Doesn't it feel uncomfortable to carry it?"

"Without this scythe, I can't fight."

Schera gently stroked the handle of her scythe. The man, whispering in surprise.

"Yes my. Alright. I'll let you take the scythe. Because you want it. You don't see that part. Once we get to the Liberation Army, go back to your village. I won't think of anything about you."

"I'll consider it."

"Platoon Leader! Isn't that right over there?"

One of the group members gave a report while opening a map to confirm their current position. There was a large tree with an X on the tree that acted as a milestone. Although it was dark and they could not see well, 30 steps away from them, there was definitely a large tree protruding amidst the many smaller trees.

The defector soldiers began to walk in silence, moving to their milestone tree while trying not to make any noise.

They slowly reached a point further than the observations from the Royal soldiers. But they did not let down their guard until the end. This was the only thing they learned from the armed forces, it was the key to survival.

"—For sure, this scratch looks like it was made by a human. So we're turning left here?"

"Yes. Most likely through here I guess. There are some animal tracks."

"Only around here are some footprints left. It's like we'll get there if we follow these footprints."

"Although the enemy carried out their operation this close, they were completely unaware of it. It's very comfortable. Are the heads of our leaders all empty?"

The Platoon Leader muttered as he struck the huge tree with his hands. All the members of the group agreed.

"I can guess why our surprise attack was known, huh."

"Our decision to flee is very precise. Being able to choose the right choice in the last moment, we are the blessed ones. If I make it home, I'll pray to the stars. This is the goodness of God that we should be grateful for."

"The Star God worship."

"Listen."

These men have left the family. They don't want to die in vain. Although they would be called traitors, survival was everything. This kind of thinking is felt by everyone.

Schera happily stared at the scene from somewhere a little far away from them–while playing around with her beloved scythe perched on her shoulders. Incidentally, his stomach was empty, and he stuffed the roasted beans he had brought into his mouth. The beans this time are a bit salty. That's not good, but it doesn't seem bad either.

"alright. Break finished. Tear the map and bury it. Promise is a promise. Don't leave any traces."

"Understand!"

"Hey, Schera. Don't just eat the beans, help us out with the napa."

One member of the group complained to Schera, who was casually chewing on her nuts. Instead of a response, Schera swung the large scythe and made a small hole.

"So the scythe is a substitute for a shovel? When you get home, make sure you help your parents. As long as they're alive, give them proper respect."

Said the man in a soft, touching tone while turning his gaze towards Schera.

The map was torn up, put into the hole, and then filled with soil. They trample the land with their military shoes. They did so with the intention of leaving no trace. The "Beres" sign is given to everyone.

"If I feel like it."

"Start making an effort and feel like it."

"OKAY. Btw, are you my father?"

"I've got a sweet son waiting for me at home. I'm sorry, but I can't be your father. Find a good man with your own abilities."

"It's unfortunate."

—Yes. The only thing he remembered was the crazed feeling of hunger.

Schera silently stuffed the last bean into her mouth. He violently crushed it and did not realize the taste.

Intelligence Corps, Liberation Army. A hidden house of reot.

Normally, only spies would use this place, but tonight, a Commander of the Liberation Army, Colonel Voleur, was visiting to investigate the enemy's face. Voleur was a senior military officer sent from the Imperial forces as reinforcements.

He has a high physique and his muscles are muscular. Innate military geniuses from birth had been routinely trained and then polished even further.

His ability to use spears was recognized as famous even among all those in the Empire. As a spearmanship instructor, he also acted as an instructor for Alan the Second Prince. His attitude and kindness were favored by the soldiers, and he also had talent as a commander.

"Good, continue your work until midnight. I have come to ascertain the situation of Antigua Branch Castle with my own eyes."

"The Honorable Colonel doesn't need to come. The situation is the same as always. .....Please use this."

"certain."

A scout handed a pair of binoculars to Voleur. This is a magic tool that has been given special reinforcement to be able to project the scene on the lens like during the day. It was a technology excavated from a Municipal Labyrinth. It was an item that was only allowed to be used by the on-duty officers moored to the Imperial Intelligence Corps.

"I see everything through this lens, 'Is this a trap meant to lower our defenses?' Have a look at the main tower over there."

Voleur turned the binoculars in the direction designated by the Intelligence Corps. Inside the walls of the fort was a blatantly striking tower. It must have been a lookout tower used to search for enemies. However, the guard leaned against the wall without moving a single bit.

".....The guard slept on duty. Is his discipline broken?"

Voleur muttered in astonishment while ascertaining the situation conditions of the Antigua Branch Castle through the binoculars.

"That's quite rare there is a supervisor who takes his duties seriously. When we maintain tension, it makes it quite difficult."

"Although so, do not be negligent. The enemy must have had someone very sharp. Otherwise then the kingdom would not have been able to survive to this day."

Voleur handed the binoculars back to the scout and gave a warning.

"86."

A special row memorial has been developed according to the Empire's witch technology, and it has been uniformly placed around the reot's house. One of the subordinates used binoculars and went to check on something.

"....They seem to be defectors mentioned by an intermediary. They totaled 10. No, 11. There's one more person than mentioned in the middleman."

"There were people who defected earlier as well. At these crucial moments, these people also made decisions, huh. After questioning them with the usual questions, take them to the Liberation Army Headquarters. Don't forget to take their documents from the spies."

"86"

"....What is the Intelligence Corps guiding the defectors?"

Voleur asked as he rubbed his chin.

"Yes. The orders of our tactician– we act on the pressure of further inner collapse. The number of defectors had already exceeded a thousand. It was from the rebels that we received contact, there were those who had already reached a high rank after starting from the base. .....However, the fruits of our efforts will surely be visible."

There were many people who harbored hatred towards the kingdom. It is easy to take advantage of them. Those who come out of the Kingdom by themselves are not few.

"....So anyway. So the Kingdom has begun to decay from within."

"Just like you said."

A giant tree does have a nice appearance outside, but it could actually rot inside. Even though the tree was nothing, it would wither, and its collapse was only a matter of time. In this case, the Intelligence Corps had the task of speeding up the process of that collapse.

"I want to ask the defectors about the situation inside. Do you mind?"

"...i disagree. There's no way those people have sworn allegiance to the Prince. They ran away because they were not satisfied. I'm saying this just in case."

The Intelligence Corps member warned, but Voleur shook his head to the side saying that there was nothing to fear.

"'What if we were secretly attacked by defectors, ' I'm also the one who would put that into consideration. Don't stop me from asking them for information, with this ear directly."

"....Entiendo. Please allow us to accompany you. If anything happens to the Colonel, we'll bear the responsibility."

When the group smiled, Voleur gave a crisp laugh.

"Hehehe, when I have subordinates who have a strong sense of responsibility, it's quite troublesome."

"When one has a higher officer who has a strong will, there will be various problems."

Voleur came out of the small house, and the members of the Intelligence Corps were on standby following him.

"I'm Colonel Voleur, a member of the Imperial Battalion of the Royal Capital Liberation Army. Are you the ones who came from Antigua Branch Castle?"

"Y-Yeah. That'sthat's true! We escaped from the castle to join the Liberation Army, which is being bombed by Her Majesty Princess Alturia! M-From now on, we will devote our lives and fight for the Royal Capital Liberation Army!"

The Platoon Leader lied without shame.

Voleur already knew that, but calmly nodded his head. After all, so far a private soldier was included in the war was commonplace.

"....Umu. We are happy to welcome the arrival of a like-minded colleague. From now on, under the Liberation Army, I want you to exert your strength."

"Ready sir-!"

The Platoon Leader and the other soldiers bowed respectfully. Voleur stared at their faces one by one.

However, his gaze stopped on a girl holding a strange weapon.

"—Girl. What's so funny, will you tell me?"

".........."

"I'm asking you why you've been smiling all this time."

"—Aha, Ahaha-! You ask what's funny? Everybody, everybody! It's so funny, how else, I want to keep smiling!"

"What?"

"I mean, 'We have escaped the castle to join the Liberation Army!' He said something like that was serious, but he actually ran away because he didn't want to die!"

Schera laughed while holding her stomach, now no longer able to hold it.

The members of the Intelligence Corps who were on standby, grabbed their respective weapons. If Schera continued his disrespect further, they planned to immediately kill him.

"W-Woi, that's not polite! The schera!! Stop that!"

The Platoon Leader reached out his hand to stop Schera, but Schera brushed him off violently.

"Oh no. Can a dog from the rebel army not touch me? Wherever you are no longer my ally."

"—H-Hei Schera!! Are you serious-!!?"

"You, so you didn't come to join our Liberation Army?"

Voleur asked the question. Since killing intent had been released from Schera, this would be the last question.

He held the spear tightly and strengthened his grip.

"Isn't it obvious that I'm not going to join. All these sneaks, I've come to hunt you, spy dogs. The bigger the prey, the faster I become famous, right?"

"Hey Schera!! N-no, not like that. Please forgive him. O-This guy's head's a little messed up."

The Platoon Leader pleads for Schera's life, but Schera wags him, saying he is an irritant.

"Can you not treat people like idiots? Protected by a dog, it hurt my feelings."

Seeing this, Voleur issues a large.

"—So that's your answer. It seems you've gone mad because of the army's difficult life. Now, I'll give you peace."

"Please stop the Colonel! For someone like this, let us handle him!"

"Your worries aren't necessary. At least I have pity. I can't allow myself to act on a girl at such a young age, but there's no other way. He looks like a rabies dog. I can't stand to see it."

With a wave of his hand, Voleur stopped the members of the Intelligence Corps and mounted the horses with easy movement.

After a few seconds, Schera will die. He was no opponent to such a big man, and again, he was a Colonel of the Liberation Army. There's nothing more the defectors can do. They'll get involved and definitely die. What they could do, was simply swallow the saliva that was in their mouth due to the tension and the final moments of the confirmed Schera.

However, despite their worries, Schera stepped forward with an excited expression.

"Fufu-, for the sake of my delicious food. —Sorry, but will you die for me?"

He waved the large scythe he was holding, his lips were smiling, and he pointed his scythe at Voleur.