The girl who ate the death god

Chapter Three: Roasted Beans are Fairly Delicious

Antigua Branch Castle, Back Gate.
A single soldier ascertaining the state of the vicinity beckoned with his hand and called his comrade.
The guard who should have been the gatekeeper at this time sent a signal with a light shake of his head and took out a key.
It was not the key to the stiff, shut castle gates. It was for the small but sturdy iron gate built nearby.
It was a small door that was forbidden to be opened unless in dire circumstances. The guard burdened with the duty of guarding this very gate opened it for the soldiers who decided to escape.

This gatekeeper had colluded with the Liberation Army, and was appointed with the covert duty of lowering morale and offering his kind services to deserters. This was a scene that had repeated itself many times already. The guard system inside the castle was quite slack, and this evening as well, there was nothing happening and should have ended as usual with him seeing off the deserting soldiers.

"......So you do not get found by the lookouts, in a moment, stoop and go forward. In a dilapidated house deep in the north forest is a contact on standby. Here's a map up until there. Once it is not needed, make sure to destroy and dispose of it."

When the gatekeeper handed them a map, a man received it and took a glance.

"......Sorry. You've saved us."

"Also, give these documents to the guy on standby."

The colluder took out an envelope with the documents inside.

"Yeah. I understand."

"The surveillance is weak, but be cautious enough——"

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

"——–!"

In the middle of handing over the documents, a voice unsuited to the occasion spoke to the men. Though they felt like their hearts would stop, the gatekeeper and the deserters turned in that direction.

"If I'm correct, you guys were from the Eleventh Infantry Platoon I believe. Where are you heading out to, carrying that kind of luggage? Are you guys also going on a stroll to gaze at the stars, I wonder?"

"You are...... the Thirteenth Infantry Platoon's–"

"—–Oi, wait. This person is okay."

The still very young man who was in a posture as if ready to draw his sword at any moment, seeing Schera's figure, let out a large sigh of relief. He was relieved since she would let them go.

The gatekeeper did not relax his vigilant gaze. If she let out a loud voice, he planned to kill her. Everything would be over if she made a racket.

"Temporary Second Lieutenant Schera."

"Ahhh, the kid who had an annoying job pushed onto her. Isn't the 'Temporary' just so tear-jerking?"

"It's become a topic in other platoons as well. How long does she have to live, they say. She's also become a target of some bets."

"—–More importantly, what's going on?"

Asked Schera, smiling while putting her large scythe on her shoulder.

"Isn't it obvious? We're running away from this shitty army. Everyone wants to be on the winning side, right? Rumor has it that the Empire will be joining soon. At this rate, we'd die a dog's death."

"We will join the Royal Capital Liberation Army. I heard that one can earn a lot of money. Sorry, but I have no intent of dying for the Kingdom."

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