I Was Reincarnated as a Commoner. I Can’t Stand Living Like This, so I’ll Become an Aristocrat! C142

142, Operation Finalization ~Night~

On the way back to Ronnie's house from the square, a horse-drawn carriage was parked in a back alley from the main street, and Roger was waiting for me. 

"Roger, you've been waiting for me. Thank you."

"I'm Leon-sama's servant, so it's only natural. May I take your luggage?"

“No, Ronnie and I will clean up the luggage, so Roger can wait in the carriage.”

"I got it"

After talking about that, I parted ways with Roger and headed home with Ronnie. 

“Leon, did you come to pick us up?”

"That's right. I asked for it. It's hard to work at the food stall and then walk to the duke's mansion, isn't it? Besides, there's a night guard today."

"That may very well be right……"

"That's why I need to conserve my strength. Ronnie, please ride in the carriage."

"Yeah. I'll be grateful for the ride."

Then, I packed up my things at Ronnie's house and took a carriage to the Duke's house. 

When I arrived at the duke's house and went to my room, Roger brought a soldier to help me tonight. 

"Leon-sama. These three soldiers are the ones who will be on watch tonight."

“Leon-sama, thank you very much.”

The three of them bowed their heads and greeted me. 

"Nice to meet you. Have you heard about tonight?"

"Yes. I heard from the master."

"Then it's fine. Well then, I apologize for the inconvenience, but thank you."

A few hours later, I left the duke's house a little before 22:00. Most stalls close by around 10pm. Izakaya and other drinking establishments are open, but food stalls in the plaza are not open until late at night. 

The plan is to take a horse-drawn carriage from the duke's house to the square, and then walk there without attracting attention. We're in a carriage right now, but there are three of us in it: Ronnie, me, Lucien, our guard Jacques, and a soldier, so it's a bit cramped. No, the soldiers have good physique, so it's quite small. 

After enduring that for a while in the narrow carriage, the carriage stopped. 

Phew, I can finally get out of the carriage. When I got off the carriage and looked around, I found that it was an inconspicuous place about a ten minute walk from the square. 

Because it's in the center of town, there are only a few street lights on the road, so it's not pitch black and you can't see anything. There are no streetlights outside the city center, so when you go out at night you have to carry a light source like a lantern, but there are only a few streetlights in the city center. 

“Then, let’s divide into three teams. We’ll make sure to catch them again so they don’t get caught!!”

"I got it"

Lucien said that with sparkling eyes and seemed to be having fun, and we divided into three teams. Lucien is having fun... 

The teams were divided into three teams: Lucien and Jacques, me, Ronnie, and one soldier, and two soldiers. We had researched an inconspicuous place in advance where we could monitor the food stalls, so we each headed there. 

"Ronnie, what time do you think he'll come?"

“Probably around the time when the date changes. At that time, there are no people in the square, and there are people drinking in bars and such, so it's not quiet. Even if you make a noise, you won't be noticed, so that time is the best. I think it is highly possible.”

"That's true. So there's still two hours left... I guess it would have been better if you came a little later."

"But there won't be many people in the plaza after this time, so it's better to keep an eye on it just in case."

“Certainly, missing it will ruin the whole plan.”

But the waiting time is extremely long... It's too late now, but I'm just watching all the time, so I don't have time. It would be nice if there was something I could do while keeping watch. 

In Japan, the standard fare for a watch is red bean paste and milk. But in this world, there is no anpan, and milk is not easily available... In this world, it would be jam bread and water. 

...I don't have any dreams. But I can't make anpan. First of all, what is anko made from? I'm sure... red beans are fine? It's probably red beans. 

I wonder if there are azuki beans in this world. I don't know because I've never looked for it at the market, but I don't think I've ever eaten it before. 

Actually, if you think about it, people in this country don't eat many beans. It's like eating soybeans as is. 

Next time I look for some red beans, I might try making some Japanese sweets and making red bean paste. I really like Japanese sweets. My favorite is warabi mochi, but I also like manju with red bean paste. 

The problem, as always, is how to make it. 

...I want a recipe book. I really want a recipe book. Actually, I want a smartphone that can use the internet. 

There's no point in thinking about something so impossible. I remember! Good luck to me! 

I'm sure...wasn't the bean paste just boiled red beans and added sugar? But, I wonder if it's possible to make bean paste just by boiling it...or by boiling it down, or by boiling it briefly and then mashing it... 

I don't know exactly, but I feel like the hurdle is lower than cake. I might try it next time I have time. 

As I was thinking about this, I noticed that Ronnie was staring at me. 

Oh no, I forgot to keep watch. 

"Ronnie...?"

“Leon, you’re definitely thinking about something right now. And you’re not looking at the stall, right?”

"Sorry, I was just deep in thought. I'll keep an eye on you."

“Stay firm.”

"Yeah. I'll do my best."

After that, I continued to keep watch without thinking too much about it. Two hours later, when the date changed, the daytime group of five finally appeared. 

"Ronnie, you're here."

"Yeah"

We converse in a whisper that is barely audible. 

“How far do you have to go to catch me?”

“I think it would be better if the stall was actually destroyed. That would be better, wouldn’t it?”

Ronnie asked the soldier. 

“Ah, we can’t catch you unless there’s actual harm.”

While we were talking, the five men approached our stall, and one man finally kicked the stall. Furthermore, two of the five had swords and were swinging them at the stall. 

　Dogan…gun…bagibagbagi…

Wow... that's a lot of momentum. As if there was any grudge against them, they destroyed the stalls with all their might. 

　

"Is that enough?"

"Oh, let's go."

Following the soldier's voice, Ronnie and I ran to the stall. Looking around, it seemed like everyone else had come out as well. 

“What are you guys doing!”

"What!? Why are there soldiers!?"

"N-Run!"

"If you catch me quietly, I won't do anything rough."

"There's no way you'll get caught quietly! Run away quickly!"

"No! There are soldiers here too!"

The five men tried to run away when they heard the soldiers' voices, but the soldiers successfully blocked their escape route. 

"No. It can't be helped, let's do it! We're outnumbered. Our only opponents are soldiers and brats!"

"That's right! Soldiers aren't scary!"

The men who were waiting for the sword readied their swords, and the man who didn't have a sword took out something like a knife and readied it. And he attacks all at once. 

“Hey!”

One man swung his sword as hard as he could from above towards the soldier. The soldier dodges it with minimal movement and kicks the man's arm. The recoil caused the man to drop his sword, which the soldier quickly retrieved. 

These men have swords, but it seems they have never learned swordsmanship. In any case, it looks like he's just swinging his sword with all his might. 

Anyway, soldiers have swords too, but don't they use them? Maybe they're trying to avoid getting hurt as much as possible. I guess he's doing this because he said he wanted to hear information about the mastermind. 

The man who lost his sword looked frightened for a moment, but then took out a knife and readied it again. Then the man comes towards the soldier again, holding a knife. 

The soldier easily blocked it with the sword he had retrieved earlier, but at that moment, another man with a sword came from behind the soldier and swung his sword sideways with all his might, aiming for his neck. 

"Dangerous!"

I couldn't help but scream and immediately tried to use the barrier, but stopped just before it happened. This is because the soldier was able to easily block the sword of the man who attacked him from behind. 

It appears that the soldier kicked the man holding the knife in the stomach and then dealt with the man behind him. 

After blocking the sword of the man behind her, she struck the man's wrist with the sword, incapacitating him. 

By the time the soldiers in front of us had defeated the two men, it seemed like all the other men had been defeated as well, and the battle ended with our victory. 

That's amazing, soldiers are strong. cool……!