Chapter 134 - Episode 22: The Opponent's Hand is Completely Exposed
Gokigenyou! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have now returned to the Revolutionary Army headquarters on the mountain with Lital.
Lital was flustered by his first time riding a dragon, but come to think of it, wasn't he flying on his own with wind magic? I wonder if flying on one's own and flying on a dragon are different? Well, certainly jumping off a cliff and being pushed off a cliff are different, so I can't say I don't understand! Yes!
"...The above is Chris-niisama's plan."
Now then.
The other members were greatly surprised that I brought Lital back.
In addition, they were conversely relieved to see Lital cowering in fear at the 'obviously dangerous people' on the spot.
...Well, although Lital was initially terrified by the group consisting of a wolf, a skeleton, a drug addict, and a cute girl, he eventually made up his mind and firmly conveyed the plan Chris had formulated.
Chris's plan was, well, not particularly novel. Yes.
To give an overview of the plan, it was a simultaneous capture from three directions.
If we cannot move from the top of the mountain, it is standard practice to launch attacks from multiple directions so as not to let us escape.
...However, the interesting point of this plan is that the capture from each direction is to be done with a time lag.
Normally, this would be a bad move.
If one were to ask why a simultaneous multi-directional capture is effective, it is because, more than anything else, it is effective in 'dispersing the opponent's defense by attacking all at once,' rather than just not letting them escape.
In other words, if one purposely staggers the timing, it gives the enemy an opportunity for defeat in detail. And if even one spot is breached, naturally, the enemy can escape from there. The simultaneous multi-directional capture would end in failure. Yes.
...However, Chris was not a fool either. In this operation, he knew that it was impossible to 'eliminate Violia Nico Fortesia's escape route.'
Yes. This time, incredibly... it is already known that I possess dragons.
In other words, whether he does a simultaneous multi-directional capture or whatever, I will escape when I escape. That is how it is. And Chris has no means to stop it. Therefore, Chris cannot take the 'standard' move. Yes.
...Or rather, if I didn't have dragons, he could just scatter oil on the mountain and set it on fire. If he surrounded the mountain and set it on fire, I would burn along with it.
Now then.
The primary target, Violia Nico Fortesia, can escape to the sky at any time.
If so, Chris needs to buy time until he reaches me.
There, Chris thought about 'my objective.'
...What I was thinking when I scattered those 'Notices of Revolutionary Army Recruitment.'
If he thinks about it, he will understand immediately. Yes.
Yes. My aim is to secure the Revolutionary Army while simultaneously dragging out and killing the people on the Royal Family's side. Chris also understands that.
That is precisely why he decided to execute this 'multi-directional capture with staggered timing.'
By putting out soldiers in small batches to act as 'bait,' it is a very bold plan.
From Chris's perspective, he would think, 'Violia Nico Fortesia will assume a simultaneous multi-directional capture once soldiers start gathering around the mountain.'
There, he dares to stagger the capture times for each direction. That is simple time-buying... and it would also be to disperse the several assumed executives as much as possible. Even if it weren't a simultaneous capture, if I don't know the details of the plan, I have no choice but to split my forces among all directions for the time being.
And once the forces are split, it takes time to regroup. By moving with staggered times in each direction, it can also create confusion like 'This side is finished, but is that side not finished yet?' In the end, the overall time of the operation becomes longer. As a simple time-buying tactic, it is perfect. Of course, provided he is prepared to leave all the soldiers to their deaths.
...On the other hand, it is considered that 'Violia Nico Fortesia' will not try to escape as long as she has the advantage. Because 'Violia Nico Fortesia's' objective is to kill the Royal Family's people. If so, if he purposely disperses the soldiers and has them charge... if he lets those baits be toyed with and killed, he can sufficiently connect the time.
...While buying time like that, Chris intends to target me alone.
By means of a surprise attack, yes.
"...When it comes to challenging me while knowing there is a body double, it really becomes a boring fight, doesn't it..."
Chris intends to use all the soldiers he possesses as 'bait' this time.
Among them, Chris's 'body double' is also included.
Since everyone in House Clarino has more or less similar features, if he brings a suitable relative, they can sufficiently serve as a body double. Yes.
By putting his body double in one of the multi-directional capture units, he makes it seem as if Chris Bay Clarino is there. He makes it seem as if that is the entire fighting force. On top of that, Chris will approach the Revolutionary Army alone through covert action... and there, he will kill me. That is apparently the script.
What should I do? Would it be kind to pretend to be deceived? But if I let him step too far into the mansion, it will put the comrades who took the trouble to join the Revolutionary Army in danger. Yes.
...Ah, that's right. And then there was one more trump card Chris had.
That was the spies already embedded within the Revolutionary Army. In other words, there are already people from Chris's side lurking inside the mansion.
Well, I thought there would be one or two. I didn't think Chris would challenge me without any preparation. Yes.
Therefore... the countermeasures for the lurking spies are also perfect.
Since Chris's plan has been completely exposed, there is no reason to wait. I immediately went around the guest rooms in the Revolutionary Army mansion one by one, visiting the comrades who had gathered for the revolution.
And I had them enter the Spatial Bag one by one.
...Countermeasures? This alone is enough! If they cannot go outside, whether they are spies or whatever, it does not matter! Ohohohohohoho!
"...So, why am I not being tucked into the bag?"
"Because I have counted you as a fighting force, obviously."
Now then. Once all the comrades of the Revolutionary Army are packed into their respective bags, next is the preparation for the mountain! I shall immediately pull Giovan out!
"Hey, hey, Young Lady. Don't forget. I can't fight, so counting me as a fighting force is fundamentally impossible..."
"I know. But you can at least activate traps, can't you? Rather, aren't traps your specialty?"
...I remember. Giovan cannot fight, but in exchange, he was good at setting up various small tricks to survive! Yes!
"The traps you've set all over Elsemarin; since we're here, why don't you show them to me?"
When I told him that with a smile, Giovan shrugged his shoulders and... lightly touched a nearby tree trunk.
...Suddenly, a net fell from above.
"Oh, you had already set them up? You work fast, don't you?"
"Well, for now. ...I mean, Young Lady. When you dodge it so easily, it makes me lose a bit of confidence."
Naturally, I dodged the falling net. Yes. Since it is I, it is only natural.
But if this were set against a group that is difficult to move, wouldn't it be a fairly effective obstruction?
"By the way, will what comes after this net be poison arrows or something?"
"That's right. As for the poison, I'll use yours... since scattering arrows might lead to them being reused, which I'd hate, I thought I'd just go with arrowheads."
How lovely. Certainly, if my blood is applied, even a graze will be sufficiently fatal. Then, it is good to use ones with a shape that makes them difficult to pick up and use or to remove the poison from.
...Yes. In Chris's plan, the unit that looks like the 'main force' is scheduled to come this way, so the invasion should be the latest. Then, it is fine to leave it to Giovan. Even in the worst case, as long as he is buying time, someone who has finished crushing the other units can come to reinforce him.
"Very well. Then, I leave this path to you."
"You're leaving it to me? Me? Even though I'm saying I have no combat power? What, could it be that I'm a sacrificial pawn?"
"Yes, yes, I'm counting on you."
"I'd at least like you to say 'I love you' there."
"If you are loved by me, you will likely die, but is that alright?"
"To die for love... is what I'd like to say, but well, let's pass on that this time."
If he has the leeway to make light talk, he should be fine. If he truly thought it was impossible, he would have demanded what he needed. Yes.
Therefore, I am counting on you. Truly.
Now then. Next are Chesta and Doran.
"I leave the road on the Royal Capital side to you two."
"The place where the invasion is earliest?"
"That is right. In addition, it is a place with few hiding spots where it is difficult for mages to fight."
The path I am entrusting to them is the one where the battle is expected to start first. There are few trees and rocks, and it is expected to be a head-on battle.
Therefore, I leave this to the two who love close-quarters combat.
...In addition, I shall deploy the dragons here. I wonder if it will be a matter of having the dragons crush the unit all at once, and then having Doran and Chesta handle any survivors from the dragons' attack.
Yes. I shall have them finish it instantly. I plan to have Doran, Chesta, and the dragons finish up here quickly and head to reinforce the others. Especially on Giovan's side; if I leave it all to him alone, he will likely cry...
"By the way, Chesta. You won't be unable to move due to running out of drugs on the day, will you?"
"I don't know about that, but..."
I would like you to know that! Yes!
"...Well, lately I've been trying to adjust, so it'll probably be fine."
"Oh my, how admirable. What happened?"
"I got scolded by Rugel. He said if there's something fun other than drugs, I should work hard at that. I didn't expect to be told that by him."
Ah, by Rugel-sama of the Lunette Doll Shop. ...That is a good thing. Yes. For Chesta, and likely for Rugel-sama as well.
"Also, I'm adjusting the drugs with Doran now. I won't fail anymore."
...Conversely, I am surprised that he had been attempting to adjust the drugs in the past...
"That is how it is. You do not need to worry about Chesta's condition."
"Well, if that is the case, I do not mind. I look forward to your work."
Since it is an excessive force of Doran, Chesta, and the dragons, there is no need for worry here. After that, the only concern is how quickly they can finish here and go to reinforce Giovan... but well, that is likely an unnecessary concern. Yes.
"It's been a while since a battle."
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
...After all, these guys are battle maniacs. Yes.
"And I leave the middle road to you two."
"No."
And, when I tried to entrust the last road... I was refused!
"W-Wait a moment! What is the matter!? Keeb!"
"That's my line! Why this guy!? I thought I'd be with Contraus!?"
...It seems Keeb is displeased with being paired with Lital. Yes.
Well, I don't think he can even judge if he is a trustworthy opponent, and I understand the feeling of being cautious, but...
"I look forward to working with you! I shall do my very best not to pull you down! For the sake of Violia-sama's victory!"
"I don't want to pair up with you."
"S-Such a thing... is it absolutely no good? Are you dissatisfied with my abilities?"
"It's not your abilities, it's your attitude that I don't like."
"Attitude...? Did I do something disrespectful? But my loyalty to Violia-sama is the real thing!"
"That's exactly what I mean..."
It seems Lital has no hesitation about pairing with Keeb. But Keeb does not want to pair with Lital. Yes.
Hmm, what should I do...
...After I was troubled for a while, Keeb, perhaps realizing he was troubling me, made a slightly awkward face... and then, after being silent as if thinking about something, he made a face as if he had come up with something.
"...Fine. I get it. I'll do it."
"Oh, really? That is good to hear."
It seems Keeb gave in. I don't know why he was so stubbornly unwilling to pair with Lital in the first place... but well, since he changed his mind, I won't pry into it. Yes.
"Hey, Violia."
"Oh, what is it?"
"When this is over, I'm getting a reward, okay?"
Oh. I wondered what it was, and he's begging again. It seems what Keeb came up with earlier was a request for a reward.
Even so, Keeb has started to make use of his own cuteness, hasn't he...
"Yes. Very well."
Well, if he works hard, I can at least give him a reward. I shall have him work hard for it, though!
"Eh, a reward...?"
"It's got nothing to do with you, okay? ...So, we're in charge of the south side, is that right?"
Lital seems to be curious, but well, if Lital also begs, I'll at least give him some sweets. Yes.
Putting that aside, I shall quickly talk about the two's assignment.
"Yes. I leave the south road to you two. It is the road with the middle invasion order. There are obstacles in key places, but the range to protect is the widest. Make full use of the breadth of your magic range to fight."
"Got it. Can we use as much time as we want?"
"Yes. I've left the reinforcement for Giovan to Doran and Chesta. You two should just focus on making sure no one gets through."
"Yes! I shall certainly produce results that meet your expectations!"
There should be no problem here either. After all, they are two mages who achieved top results in the Martial Arts Tournament. Even a wide range that would be a bit uneasy to protect in close-quarters combat can be protected by those who can use magic. Since Chris originally seemed to want to have many forces split here, if these two can protect it alone, it will brilliantly betray the opponent's intention. Yes.
...Well, in the first place, the fact that Lital is here feels like the greatest betrayal toward Chris...
"By the way, where will Violia-sama be?"
"I shall be waiting for Chris."
"Ah, I see. And Contraus?"
"Hunting small fry. There is a high possibility that unrelated nobles or small fry will come even during Chris's operation. I have asked him to handle the cleanup of those."
That is everyone. Yes. With Lital here, Onii-sama can focus on hunting small fry, which has increased our stability. Yes.
...Now then. I already know how Chris will come out. On top of that, we can choose the optimal solution from the start and challenge him. Yes.
I am looking forward to Chris's crushing defeat.
However... I shall deliberate until the last moment on 'how' to defeat Chris.
Yes. I have several good ideas.