Chapter 141 - Chapter 15: The Goblin Prisoners
When we returned to the fortress, the persuasion of the Goblins was proving difficult.
They were tied to pillars with their hands behind their backs, so they couldn't escape, but apparently they had been shouting, "Kill me, kill me!"
It was just like Robinson-san back then.
Then again, there probably isn't a Goblin in existence who would suddenly be taken to a human fortress and told to become an ally, then actually agree to it.
It's only natural for them to think they're being deceived.
When Flora, who had returned to her main body, joined the persuasion, they softened slightly. Since they themselves had been manipulated, they likely thought the Goblin in front of them wearing beautiful clothes was also being manipulated.
In reality, it seems they realized their magic had been dispelled after it was pointed out by Flora, who had entered the room in place of Robinson-san.
They did eat the Highway Cookies we brought as a gift, but they wouldn't respond to the persuasion.
Just as I was thinking we'd have no choice but to have them meet the Elder, Henry-sama and the others said they wanted to talk to the Goblins.
They told us to join them, so the Class of 175 decided to attend as well. Food and alcohol were also prepared under Henry-sama's instructions.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. We're just going to eat together, drink alcohol, and have some small talk."
"Will that be alright?"
"I don't know. Tomorrow, we'll just have to take them to the nest by Nakanohara Lake and have them see the life there. For today, we'll just let them drink a reasonable amount and let them sleep."
I see. Once they sleep, they might become a bit more level-headed.
In the end, it turned into a boisterous party.
In front of the prisoner Goblins, whose restraints had been removed by Henry-sama's order, a talent show hosted by Eleanor-sama was held.
There was also simultaneous interpretation by Flora. Starting with Henry-sama's performance, Lewis-san and the other Jaegers took turns coming in to show off their skills.
I wonder when they practice; everyone is quite talented.
At first, the prisoner Goblins remained silent, but as they drank the alcohol recommended by the Nakanohara Goblins and Flora—perhaps out of desperation—the alcohol began to take effect, and they gradually started to laugh.
By the time the skit between Henry-sama, Paul-san, and Lewis-san began, they were roaring with laughter, and in the end, they fell into a drunken stupor.
Henry-sama gave instructions to leave them unrestrained, so we decided to just keep the door locked. Two Nakanohara Goblins and Flora remained in the room, while everyone else went to rest in separate rooms.
The next morning, when we woke up and went to check on the Goblins, they were still sleeping. I thought they were quite bold, but there was a trick to it.
"Actually, I used magic."
Eleanor-sama was smiling.
"I timed it for when they were getting drunk and cast the [Sleep] spell."
It's a mid-level status-altering spell.
Even though it's mid-level, it's said that unless you're a high-level mage, it's impossible to put a wary opponent to sleep. If the opponent has deployed magic defense, even a high-level mage supposedly can't do it.
It's even said to be a spell for peaceful sleep rather than an offensive one.
It likely worked so easily precisely because Eleanor-sama is an ultra-high-level mage.
However, the effect of the spell should only last about two hours.
"They must have been terribly exhausted. I only lowered the output to create the trigger for sleep, but they ended up sleeping quite soundly."
She was giggling.
Then, Eleanor-sama spoke to me.
"They are so thin and covered in wounds. Jeanne. You and the others must support them."
"I'll do what I can, but..."
I answered, but I wondered what on earth I could actually do. I can't even recover them with [Heal].
"Jeanne. You have become friends with many spirits until now. In other words, you just need to continue as you have been."
"Until now... I only thought about becoming friends."
"Then, let's think of a way to become friends with those Goblins."
She patted my head while laughing, "Ufufu."
"For now, perhaps breakfast and drinks?"
"That's right. Shall we all eat together?"
Even though she only said something very ordinary, she smiled gently and called out to a Jaeger, giving instructions to prepare breakfast.
"Well then, let us partake."
Once the pre-meal prayer was over, Henry-sama started eating as if he couldn't wait any longer.
The Goblins seemed to have been taught by Flora, as they waited without eating.
It was just bread, cheese, and rabbit meat soup, but it was plenty for breakfast.
The prisoner Goblins also seemed to have resigned themselves, as they ate obediently.
"Are we taking them to the Elder today?"
Henry-sama asked Paul-san while stuffing his mouth with bread. He had worse manners than the prisoner Goblins.
"Yes. That is the plan. We'll have them see the life of the Goblins in Nakanohara, and after hearing the Elder's story, if they still say they won't come to our side, we'll let them go."
"And if they say they'll come?"
"Of course, we'll entrust them to the Elder. If they're worried about their pack, depending on the situation, we'll have the entire pack move over to this side."
That was the plan from the beginning. The Elder had also said he would accept around twenty or thirty of them.
Flora and the Nakanohara Goblins have been talking to them about those things, but it seems they don't fully believe it yet, and we haven't received a good answer.
"Can we go along too? I want to meet the Elder."
"If you would be so kind, please do. I'm sure the Elder would be delighted."
It seems Henry-sama and the others will also be going to the Nakanohara Goblins' nest. And through Henry-sama's mediation, Lewis-san was also decided to participate.
The prisoner Goblins were put to sleep with sleep magic by Eleanor-sama after being notified beforehand.
If the prisoner Goblins had a change of heart or fell into a state of panic if something happened in town, they might be killed by those who don't know the circumstances. The hard-won plan would go to waste.
The prisoner Goblins also obeyed quietly, perhaps having resigned themselves to the idea that they were going to die anyway.
The sleeping prisoner Goblins were packed into barrels and transported to the shore of Nakanohara Lake.
Mayor Adolf, who heard the explanation of the circumstances along the way, also decided to participate.
The Elder was greatly surprised by the turn of events and rejoiced at the future possibilities.
And then, the meeting between Henry-sama and the Elder took place.
"Elder. I am the former King of this country, Sertoria, and I am the one who defeated the Demon Lord over thirty years ago. I am also the one who commanded the former Demon Lord Subjugation Army."
Henry-sama had the kneeling Elder sit on a wolf-skin rug and then sat cross-legged in front of him.
"In the process of subjugating the Demon Lord's army, I killed many of your kin. I myself have laid hands on them many times. First, I wish to apologize for that. Although we both had those we had to protect and have been separated for a long time, I think it was a very regrettable thing."
The Elder seemed to have lost his words after hearing Flora's translation, but he returned an answer even while his voice was choked up.
"O brave human who once defeated the Demon Lord. I thank you for your humble words. Hating and killing each other was mutual; I consider it a thing of the past. Now, under the guidance of a human named Robinson, we are searching for a way to regain our life with the humans of old. If possible, I would like to ask for your understanding and cooperation."
During the time it took for those standing behind the Elder to tear up, stifle their sobs, and finally smile, the discussion between both sides progressed. They exchanged a pledge to walk hand-in-hand and cooperate while waiting for the march of time, and the meeting concluded.
Henry-sama explained that the Sertorian Royal Family intended to work on the restoration of the Goblins' honor.
After that, it would be the dispelling of the prejudice that remained deeply rooted as folklore, but that would likely take time. Unlike Dune or Flora, there are those who have actually had family or comrades killed by Goblins. We might have no choice but to wait for a change in generations.
After the meeting, we guided the prisoner Goblins around the burrow.
The Nakanohara Goblins were all wearing new or cleanly washed clothes, and their spare clothes were stored in chests.
They obtain hunting tools from humans and hunt together. They stockpile food in an underground refrigerator, and after washing off sweat and dirt in a stone-heated bath, they drink various types of alcohol, including beer and wine.
Everyone sleeps in beds covered with fur. Except for a portion they first received from humans, those were things Robinson-san bought and prepared with the money they earned through hunting and work, and everyone is striving to enrich their lives.
The prisoner Goblins were surprised above all by the sight of the healthy-looking children being attached to humans, then by the new type of bows and arrows made to fit the Goblins' physique held by the scout team wearing matching Green Marble, and were surprised once again that these things were brought about by communal living with humans.
Henry-sama and the Elder didn't particularly admonish the prisoner Goblins to submit, but instead went straight into a banquet on the lakeshore with the food brought by Adolf-san. Our intentions have already been conveyed. They were likely given time to think. Since it was a special occasion, we called Dune and Mel and made a great fuss together.
The children ate Highway Cookies and bounced around on the fluffy [clouds] with Lyudmila and Bonnie, while Beatrix and Mary lent a hand to help up the children who had fallen.
When Paul-san, getting into the spirit of things, started the Nakanohara Hunter Association's First Gymnastics, the children also started doing gymnastics together. Perhaps because they do it together regularly, most of the older children could do it in unison.
It seems there are vulgar versions of the gymnastics for adults and refined versions for children, and they were doing the refined version in front of the children.
Eventually, when the children started to fall asleep, the mothers took turns carrying them to bed and sleeping beside them, and then it became time for those who could fight.
"Now then, Paul. Suppose we were to relocate a pack of Goblins currently imprisoned by Orcs to this place. How would you arrange it? This is on the premise that the Jaeger unit will provide assistance."
Moving the location to the Elder's room in the cave, Henry-sama broached the subject once everyone was sitting in a circle.
"A surprise attack from the sky during the day while the Orcs are sleeping. We'll launch a surprise attack to draw the Orcs' attention, and at the same time, a small unit will move from behind to rescue the Goblins."
"Specifically?"
"First, we'll move at high speed through the air in the bowls and set a rendezvous point. Myself, Marcelo, and Robinson should be enough. We'll connect the fortress and the rendezvous point with a Teleportation Circle, and the Jaeger unit will move. The Jaeger unit will attack from the front to draw the enemy. In the meantime, a separate unit will move through the air and infiltrate the Orcs' nest. It should be fine if we use Camouflage scrolls. Robinson will suppress the sentry Orcs and use [Teleport] magic to transfer the Goblins to a specific location. After that, we'll attack the Orcs from above in the bowls to cover the Jaeger unit's retreat. Finally, we'll erase the magic circle and escape in the bowls. Return to the fortress. How does that sound?"
He had already thought of a plan.
The prisoner Goblins were also startled. They also know the power of the bowls and [Subordination]. They must have been able to form a concrete image.
"However, it depends on the Goblins. We can't do it without collaborators, and as a premise, it's impossible unless the Goblin pack has the intention to move here."
Paul-san looks at the prisoner Goblins. In short, it's up to them.
As expected, a voice called out from there.
"Paul. Are we not allowed to participate? You're being quite cold, aren't you?"
It's Eleanor-sama. She definitely intends to participate.
"If it's me, I can carry over thirty Jaegers in a bowl. Wilson is here too. We'll launch a sudden raid with thirty people all at once and secure a certain point. If the Orcs attack, we'll draw them in as they are. Paul and the others, please take the Goblins out in the meantime. I'll go pick you up, so let's withdraw all at once. Paul and Wilson, please continue to attack the Orcs from above and support the Jaegers' retreat."
These are the people who attacked the fortress of the lawless with magic, completely destroyed the gate, and forced them to surrender. The three of them could probably drive the Orc pack to total annihilation, but perhaps they're thinking of the future, as they're arranging to take a coordinated operation.
Another applicant for participation appeared. It was Adolf-san.
Apparently, Adolf-san can also fly in a bowl.
Thus, an operation to sortie with four bowls lined up was drafted.
The participants, as the core force to draw the Orcs, would be thirty members of the Nakanohara Jaeger unit led by Captain Lewis. Three members of Henry-sama's party from the Royal Capital region. The representative from the Nakanohara Town Hall would be Adolf-san. And from the Marcelo Company, Marcelo-san, Paul-san, Robinson-san, and six members of the Goblin scout team. From the Class of 175, Beatrix, Bonnie, Lyudmila, and myself. By chance, Flora and Mary also ended up participating.
It's a total of forty-nine people.
After having such a plan drafted right in front of them, and being promised that the Elder would look after them after the pack's relocation, the prisoner Goblins finally consented to return to the pack and consult with them. The total number of the pack seems to be around twenty. The Elder also gave the OK, saying he could accept everyone.
The execution is Saturday. In other words, tomorrow. We decided to return the Goblins to the pack by tonight and get an answer by noon tomorrow. Apparently, momentum is important for these kinds of things. If you think too much, you'll hesitate over this and that, and apparently, you'll fail by trying to use elaborate tricks.
The pack's intention will be communicated by the Goblin scout team, who will infiltrate near the enemy territory along with the prisoner Goblins and send a signal with smoke. The operation will be executed at the same time the smoke rises.
The reward became a participation reward. It was decided that the town hall would temporarily pay what would be issued from national funds, and humans would receive two gold coins each. For the Goblins, the six members of the scout team would participate as the execution unit, and the Elder would participate as the welcoming party, and they would receive a reward equivalent to two humans.
Thus, the Goblin escape operation began.