CHAPTER 12

BAD OMEN

In front of me, sitting with a complex face, Ryuuji remains silent. I'm sure his story doesn't end there, but I doubt it's going to continue now. I must do something to reassure him.

"That's ... weird. You said that the first thing you remembered after you increased your class was to wake up in the cabin bed. But you said you woke up near a forest before that while telling me your story".

"Eh? Ah ... That's ... Well, I think I imagined that part. After all it was something fast and strange, like a dream. Maybe I dreamed of my arrival in this other world ..."

All right. He bit the hook. A change of subject is practical when a conversation stagnates. Although I don't think it was a dream at all. I have some theories, but I don't need to tell them to him.

"You were really paying attention, Ma-... Argent-san".

"That's natural. For me it's very important to know your story. We are fellow TLO players who are in the same situation.

Don't forget. Whatever you know you must tell me, it could be a clue to discover how we got here or how to get back home".

"... You are amazing, Argent-san. I was completely helpless. I only survived thanks to the kindness of Rad-san and the others. But you are already thinking about complicated things like the truth of our situation and how to remedy it. I could just think about how frustrating it was to not be able to talk to someone ... "

"Don't feel bad. If I had been in your same situation, I probably wouldn't have been able to relax and think well".

"Even so. You're really mature".

"Of course. I am a respectable adult after all".

"Ah. True, that appearance is your real self. Although you look young, you're certainly older than me".

"I couldn't know because of your appearance ... How old are you?"

"I'm 17. I thought I was ready to behave like an adult. But I see that it's not the case. I can't even compare myself to Argent-san".

"Don't worry. It's the experience of age. After all I'm 25. I've lived almost 50% longer than you. For now rest and let this adult take care of everything. I'll find a way to get back to Earth".

"Sure. I will ... Thank you!"

Of course I don't plan on doing something as silly as go back. There, I have nothing left. But here, the possibilities are endless ... like my resources.

"For now rest, everything will be fine now. You will not be isolated or alone again. I'll see how others are doing".

"I thank you very much. Please let them know that I'm fine ..."

As I leave the room, I begin to filter and relate all this new information in my head.

According to Ryuuji, Galatea's guard captain, Rad, knocked him down using a Judo throw. But that kind of skill doesn't belong to the swordsman class.

Ryuuji isn't an expert in martial arts either, or so I think. Maybe he confused Rad's movement. Could it be that he used a lesser skill, of the adventurer class?

In TLO, when you go from adventurer to one of the Base Classes, you lose the adventurer's abilities. After all, the adventurer has a wide variety of skills from all base classes, something like a sample. Although the Adventurer's abilities are very varied, they are weak, so it doesn't have a great effect on someone with an acquired profession. But in reality, in this world, there shouldn't be a reason for someone to forget a skill he already knew just by becoming a swordsman or a blacksmith.

Thinking that way, there shouldn't be a reason for someone to not be able to do something as simple as holding someone and throwing him, just because they don't have a combat skill corresponding to that movement.

The opposite case could also apply.

Ryuuji should have a lot of combat skills. But that he could perform those complicated movements in a game like TLO, doesn't mean that he can perform them in the real world, even having the stats for it.

In other words, I can't trust him to be able to protect me or himself at the moment. But it's still a diamond in the rough. If he don't know how to fight, he just have to learn. Luckily I have someone very capable in combat and who also has a certain bond with Ryuuji.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ah, Captain Rad".

"How did it go?"

This subject has just increased its value.

Don't show that confused face. Even if you lost your home, you just got a new and very well paid job, captain.

"Ryuuji is fine. Now that he managed to tell someone his story, he calmed down. He was frustrated, but still grateful ... with you, captain".

"I see. I'm glad he could let off steam ... And now what?"

Rad watches the director as he says these words.

You are wrong captain. You are asking the wrong person.

"Well..."

"If I can dare, I think you are currently unemployed, or am I wrong?"

The moment the director starts to say something, I interrupt him to make my play. Sorry director, but I already have plans for the captain and his men. I will take the problem from your hands.

"... It's as you say. Galatea has fallen. Our duty was to protect it, but there was nothing we could do. At least we completed our last mission, the young man has arrived safely to Galia and found someone who speaks his language. Our work is over".

"In that case, I want to make a proposal to you and your men. I would like to hire you indefinitely".

"Indefinitely?"

"That's right. I will tell you the situation. I think it's not advisable to say goodbye to Ryuuji yet. I am sure that could affect him. Although he has loosen up with me, that was only because I can talk to him, it's not as if we had any personal bond. But he have it with you.

According to the story he told me, he went through some traumatic experiences. In my opinion, the young Ryuuji has been through a lot and in all those experiences, the captain apparently was a support for him. Later I would like to hear your part of the story, but right now I want you to stay in Galia with him. That also goes for the other two".

"I understand".

With a thoughtful face, the captain looks at his subordinates. They exchange glances with each other and with him.

It isn't surprising. This is an opportunity for them to take any course, they don't need to stay together. But the social bond they had until recently is not easy to ignore. In their minds they are still Rad's subordinates and he is their captain.

"If you are ok with us, we humbly put ourselves at your service. Oh noble lord!"

"Very well, then. Director, I want them to be given rooms within the academy, preferably not far from mine, and also to Ryuuji. They will stay with us from now on".

"I-Understood. I'll take care of it".

"So, it's official captain. Welcome to Galia".

"Thank you ... although I am no longer a captain".

"What are you talking about? You are now the captain of my personal guard. The Argent guard".

"I-I see. Again I humbly accept".

"Hey. Andreu, did you hear? We are personal guards of a nobleman. In Galatea we were simple guards of the entrance, there was not a single nobleman in the city either, and now we are guards of one that seems really impressive. Isn't that a category break? "

"Silence. Can't you see that he just does it so we can keep young Ryuuji company? Don't be so happy ... specially after that tragedy".

"I-I... I'm sorry. It's true, Galatea was ..."

"Calm men. Don't think so little of yourself".

"The captain is right. I am not taking you under my wing just to keep Ryuuji company. I have expectations in all of you. I know you will be excellent guards".

"You honors us with your words !!" Said those two.

"Very well. Argent Guard! Your first order will be to inform me in detail everything related to the attack that occurred in Galatea. I know it'ss difficult for you to talk about it. But I trust you can do it!"

"Yes sir!"

And while the director and some academics made preparations for the stay of the new "Argent Guard" -I thought that giving them a name would make them happy- my new servants told me what they knew.

An important point, in my opinion, is why Iren suddenly decided to attack Galatea. Unfortunately, they knew nothing in that regard. According to the captain, the last time Iren had passed through Galatea was 5 years ago. At that time, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

They rested for a week, bought food, some other supplies, the officers stayed in town. As it had always been in the last 2 centuries.

They have no idea what led them to take control of a worthless town like Galatea. In that aspect, I myself have only a small suspicion, but it is still not enough reason ... Why Galatea? Why right now? If it's as I fear ...

"I'm sorry, my lord. No matter how much I think about it, I can't think of anything. Galatea means nothing, even from a military point of view. Even if I is in the shelter of the hills, it's too east of Jagheb to have strategic value. It has nothing of material value. It's a city that lived from the little it produced and from the services it offered to other nations in times of war. The people there are simple, not even as slaves they would be worth much".

The last sentence was said with great regret.

If they are not worth much as slaves, Iren may not bother to keep them alive. In addition, it must be difficult for him to assume that his city was taken to be enslaved.

Although that differs from my theory.

Capturing them is just an extra. The city itself is the prize, or rather, the site it occupies.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea to reveal what I think right now. My plans to do something about it aren't complete yet. But if I'm going to carry them out, they'd better know the importance of the role they will play.

This is a good chance, only the members of my new guard and Zera - currently my personal assistant - are in this place.

"I think you are wrong to say that Galatea has no strategic value, captain".

Everyone observes me somewhat incredulous. It is time to present my suspicion, someone from the military field like them may be able to help me clarify the matter, if they don't find fault with my hypothesis ... it will be better to speed things up.

"It's true that Galatea is too far from Jagheb, too far east, to be of military importance when it comes to fighting against the kingdom of Jagheb. But I am sure you know there is another target even further east, which depended on Galatea and could find itself in a weakened situation if it's only commercial route with Jagheb was cut".

At that moment, the look of the captain and Zera, who was serving us tea, opened wide with the understanding of my words.

"It's just as you think. The conquest of Galatea puts the only city further east of Jagheb in check. A city on the edge of the continent, which until now had been too annoying to conquer to compensate for the costs of besieging it. Despite having some valuable things, like an AS Academy".

Suddenly, Zera's face clearly showed the fear my words caused him. As well as the two subordinates who only now understood the seriousness of my words. Only the captain kept watching me intensely, ready to listen to what I was about to say.

"Galatea does matters as a strategic point ... For the siege of Galia".