Chapter 100 - Batting Practice
As we exit the bandit stronghold and climb into the jeep, a thought crosses my mind. This fortress doesn't need to be left standing, does it?
Valeria, already seated in the jeep, and Xenobia, who's taken the driver's seat, look at me with curious eyes as I pause.
"Yukari, what's the matter?" Xenobia asks.
"...Well, can we demolish this fortress?" I respond.
"Huh? Sure, I guess. Who's going to complain except the bandits?"
"Then it's fine. Hold on, I'll get started."
Now, how should I go about it? I could let Valeria handle it, but I think I'll give it a try.
I could use magic or throw things, but breaking it with my bare hands would be too much trouble.
"Ah, I've got it!"
While contemplating, an idea strikes me.
"This, this is it!"
I retrieve the weapon I had left on the back of the jeep. It's a masterpiece, crafted by my own hands, fitting for someone like me.
The Silver Super-Hard Bat, gleaming with orichalcum, is a sight to behold. I won't be using it to break things, though. A bat's primary purpose is to hit balls, and that's exactly what I'll do.
It's a perfect opportunity. The target is large, and it's just right for testing.
Xenobia and Valeria, who had already climbed into the jeep, seem intrigued and step out to watch.
Holding the bat, they look at me with puzzled expressions, not quite understanding what I'm about to do.
"Onee-sama, what are you planning?"
"Is that a weapon? It's beautiful but unusual," Xenobia comments.
I decide to get some help. Yes, that's a good idea.
I create an iron ball and show them what I'm going to do.
"Could you help me? I'll show you what I'm about to do, and then you can assist."
I float the iron ball in front of me and, with a swift swing of the bat, send it flying. The satisfying impact is followed by the ball smashing into the fortress at tremendous speed, breaking through part of it.
"I'll be doing it like this, so I need you to throw iron balls in front of me."
Valeria looks excited, while Xenobia seems amused, but they both agree to help.
I create a pile of iron balls and start throwing them at me.
"Alright, here we go!"
They throw the balls at my stomach, and I aim to hit them. At first, the throws are off, and I miss or hit the wrong spots, but with adjustments, we get the hang of it.
The sounds of powerful hits, flying iron balls, and the fortress crumbling fill the air. The fortress gradually loses its shape, becoming uninhabitable, yet my enthusiasm doesn't wane.
It's so much fun! It feels like I've returned to a batting center, enjoying the satisfying impact and the thrill of hitting the target.
My accuracy improves, and I can hit the ball where I aim, making it even more enjoyable.
Seeing my enthusiasm, Valeria and Xenobia start to get antsy. They want a turn too.
"Who's next?"
"Sorry, Valeria. Let me go first!" Xenobia says, though she looks a bit disappointed.
I hand the bat to Xenobia, who's surprised by its weight but handles it easily, given her strength.
She mimics my stance and puts in some effort.
"Come on, let's see what you've got!"
Initially, she struggles, but after a few tries, she starts hitting the balls with ease.
Xenobia seems to be having a blast, even without aiming precisely.
After hitting about twenty balls, she's still eager, but it's Valeria's turn now.
Valeria, like Xenobia, starts off struggling but quickly gets the hang of it, producing satisfying hits.
We play for about an hour. The stone fortress is reduced to rubble.
I got a bit carried away, but it's time to move on. Before we do, though...
I decide to give it one last good hit. I throw an iron ball and swing the bat, but...
"Onee-sama, someone's coming."
"Sounds like a vehicle. They might be returning."
I stop to see who's approaching. I don't want to attack first and risk trouble if they're from the guild. I need to confirm.
The vehicles are military jeeps and small commercial vehicles, but the occupants are clearly bandits. We confirm they are all bandits before proceeding.
There's no need to wait. We have a perfect tool for the job.
I float an iron ball in front of me and strike it with the bat. This is their death knell.
My precise hit shatters the front windshield of the lead vehicle, killing the unfortunate bandit inside.
The knocking doesn't stop. Several balls cause widespread destruction, and the bandits try to evade, but it's futile. In a short time, all the vehicle windows are shattered.
The vehicles, now driverless, crash into the rubble or drive off.
Not all the bandits are eliminated, but that's fine. I won't show mercy if they stand in our way, but I don't need to kill them all.
"Let's move on. Xenobia, if you know any more places, lead the way."
"I have a few ideas, but it might be a long shot. Let's give it a try."
The sun is still high. We have more work to do before heading back.
We take down two more small bandit strongholds and eliminate a medium-sized bandit group we encounter on the move.
There are so many bandits, it's ridiculous.
We've achieved a lot today, and I'm sure we've eased the guild's burden.
We return to the Royal Capital in high spirits, leaving the reporting to Xenobia. She'll confirm the destruction of the strongholds, hunt down any stragglers, and rescue anyone in need.
"I'll continue helping with the bandit hunts. Xenobia, you have your duties at the Mercenary Guild, so let's discuss our plans for tomorrow."
"Sounds good. With this progress, we should be able to handle the immediate threats. Thanks to the healing potions, our guild's strength is recovering, and we're starting to have some breathing room."
We part ways at the Mercenary Guild, and I return to our base.
After a light meal, I arrive at the base as the sun sets. Mia's team and I return together.
When we step inside, the base looks completely transformed. The once-empty warehouse is now filled with high-end furniture and equipment. What happened?
Mia and I stand there, stunned. How did this happen?
The senior members greet us, but we'll catch up later. First, we need to understand this transformation.
An expansive, luxurious carpet covers the floor, and a high-quality leather sofa set dominates the space. A coffee table and chest complete the makeshift living room. I sink into the couch, almost ready to fall asleep.
The junior members serve coffee, and we start the debriefing.
"Is this Ophelia and Albert's doing? Could you explain?"
"Sure, I'll explain. As we discussed earlier, we raided an abandoned noble's mansion. The security was easy to bypass, thanks to the young guy from the Intelligence Unit. It was a piece of cake."
The base is filled with more than just the living set. There's a large food storage unit, an air conditioner, a system kitchen, a wine cellar, a dining table, a china cabinet, beds, bedding, and multiple rolled-up carpets.
There are also questionable items like vases, paintings, and sculptures. I suppose they're valuable, but do we really need them?
It looks like they've stripped the mansion clean.
"Even the unnecessary items are helpful. This will make our lives much easier."
"Right? And we brought bath materials and magical devices for the bath. We handed them over to Priene."
That's great. With the materials, the bath should be completed soon.
Ophelia and Albert's team have done their part. Starting tomorrow, they'll help Xenobia and me.
We'll discuss the specifics with Xenobia, but with this team, we can handle anything.
Next, Gradena's base defense and exploration team reports.
"Nothing much happened on my end. No one came, and we were busy helping Ophelia and Albert move all the stuff in and organize it."
That makes sense. With so much material, they must have been swamped.
"Yukari, by the way, the bath should be ready by tomorrow. Thanks to the materials Ophelia's team brought, Priene said it's just finishing touches."
"That's great news. Priene should continue working on it, and Gradena should stay here to defend the base. We don't want it destroyed if we're attacked."
The surrounding area can be patrolled by the junior members. Defense should take priority now.
I'll leave the details to Gradena.
Mia's team will focus on monster hunting.
"Since we have plenty of food stored, you don't need to bring new supplies every day. Enjoy the hunt, and if necessary, we might join you."
Mia is reliable, so the monster population will decrease quickly. This should solve one of our problems.
Finally, I turn to Josephine for information.
"How did it go?"
"It was easy to gather information since she's famous. Her name is Rosmerta Juliana Oversta. Her age is unknown, but she looks young. She was a renowned beauty in her unmarried days, attracting many nobles. I have a recent photo for you to see. She has been running the House Oversta since before the kingdom fell, acting as the de facto head of the house."
An ageless beauty. Not unusual in this world, but more importantly, can we work with her? Nobles come in all types, and some can't be trusted.
"Interesting. She seems to be a capable woman. What about her relationship with Gerdodus?"
"House Oversta was closely tied to the Royal Family and had a good relationship with House Gerdodus. However, the information is limited due to House Gerdodus's strict control."
A capable woman running a powerful noble house. Unusual, but she might be a good ally.
"Does she have any personal quirks? Her personality, likes, and dislikes?"
"I have some information, but it's mostly surface-level. She's known for being bold and decisive, with strong leadership and a good reputation. Without her, House Oversta might have fallen long ago."
She sounds far from the typical noble lady. Josephine seems skeptical, but...
"Considering she's still influential even after the kingdom's fall, her abilities are undeniable."
"True. On a side note, the Count and Countess had no children. She's known for her love of children, setting up and frequently visiting an orphanage."
"That's surprising. I didn't expect a noble from Brenark to be like that."
"She is unconventional, but that's her."
"Thank you, Josephine. Continue your work in the Royal Capital. If anything else comes up, prioritize it as you see fit."
She works better on her own, and I trust her judgment.
Tomorrow, I'll help Xenobia and wait for Gerdodus's response. I wonder when we'll meet the Countess.
Thank you all for your support. We've reached 100 chapters.
If you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to share them.