@TTX
the .5 seems to be extra chapters aka omake
@Siikalahna @Nep
They thought those were bandits. There were no more reports of bandits. They thought it was safe to go out again.
MC saw uniformed soldiers however and interrogated them, so we know that this was a targeted attack. The enemy knew when and where to strike. Apparently, the father didn't take the "anonymous" letter seriously enough.
Can't say yet if it was a pointlessly inserted conflict, but I can say that it wasn't random. For all we know, this is but just a skirmish or a set up for an invasion. A weakened lord means a castle to be more easily taken.