Chapter 142 - Chapter 16: The Goblin Escape Operation
Everyone moves from the fortress in the Eastern Plains to the Northern Pass Camp in Eleanor-sama's giant bowl.
"Quite impressive. As expected of an ultra-high-level mage."
Paul-san is deeply impressed.
"If we had a lot of these, I feel like we could win no matter what kind of enemy attacked."
I understand well what Mary is saying.
"There are hardly any ultra-high-level mages, you know."
Beatrix shakes her head.
That's the problem. Even for mages who use [Wind Barrier], there are apparently only a little over ten in Sertoria. Let alone ultra-high-level mages, there are even fewer.
"It won't go that smoothly. The enemy would use the same trick. Besides, I think the loss would be greater if a high-level mage was completely occupied with piloting the bowl."
That's certainly true as well. It's far more powerful if a high-level mage goes on the offensive.
"But if they deploy magic defense, even high-level magic has its effect halved, right? In that case, wouldn't it be better to ride in a bowl and aim from above with a bow?"
Hmm. Paul-san crosses his arms.
Since the bowl's movement speed is fast, it turns out that unless you fly very slowly, you almost never get caught in the magic defense deployed by the opponent. In fact, Paul-san and Eleanor-sama experimented at the lake. Of course, if you charge into a place where magic defense is deployed, you'll get caught, but even if you do, since it's made with high-level magic, it seems it can be maintained. As long as you don't crash, you can break through with momentum, get inside, and escape to the sky.
"If the enemy doesn't have an ultra-high-level mage, it might work."
"What happens if they do?"
Neither Beatrix nor Mary seems to know.
"If they use [Magic Break], the effect of the magic will be nullified and you'll crash."
[Magic Break] is a high-level status-altering spell that nullifies the opponent's magic. If the opponent has deployed magic defense, the effect is weakened, but an ultra-high-level mage can apparently easily break through our magic defense.
In fact, it seems he once fell into the lake with just his body after being hit by Eleanor-sama's [Magic Break].
"Then, why don't we also set up a [Magic Break] and make it a Magic Break-Break?"
Beatrix says something complicated.
"If we do that, they might take the initiative and set up a Magic Break-Break-Break."
Mary stirs the conversation.
"There's no end to it, is there?"
"Truly."
"I don't know how many Breaks would continue, but in short, it seems the one with the greater numbers wins."
"It seems so."
In the end, they seemed to have realized something. The two of them were laughing.
"It's quite something just to have noticed that."
Paul-san was also laughing.
Lewis-san selected and decided on the participants for the Jaeger unit from among the volunteers: ten from the Nakanohara Mountain Fortress and twenty from the Northern Pass Camp.
Thankfully, everyone volunteered, so it seems he was able to select a well-balanced mixed unit of magic soldiers, centered on soldiers who are particularly good with bows.
First, as the advance party, they departed with Robinson-san to deliver the Goblins in Paul-san's bowl. Since it was nighttime, I said I would go, but I was told to rest.
The enemy is the Demon Lord's remnant army, and their numbers seem to exceed two hundred, including about ten Ogres. Apparently, they are the strongest among the Orc packs in this area. The prisoner Goblins said it's simply because their numbers are large, their equipment is good, and because they have Goblins under them, their scouting and decoy tactics function sufficiently.
The location is about half an hour away by flying the bowl. If an Orc walks, it seems to be about five hours.
I'm amazed they would even think of walking for five hours to attack.
By the way, the success or failure of this operation depends on the Goblins.
"Will we be able to persuade them?"
After seeing off Paul-san, I try asking Henry-sama.
"I don't know. The history of conflict with humans is too long. It's a miracle that Nakanohara protected Robinson and was able to create a Goblin nest on the lakeshore."
Apparently, there have been people who could use [Subordination] before, though they were very rare.
However, there were no people who thought of living together with Goblins. After all, there's a limit to the time a caster can maintain the spell. In the first place, the magic completely breaks when they sleep. It would be unbearable to have one's throat slit while sleeping.
Robinson-san had raised and subordinated spiders since he was small. Apparently he was hated, but for the spiders, he was a presence that gave them food. It seems they never turned against him. Thanks to that, he managed to avoid having his throat slit by Goblins.
He imprisoned the Orcs who were bullying the Goblins and made them spider food, while treating the Goblins preferentially. And as they lived together, he finally managed to win their trust.
It was likely because Robinson-san had years of experience living in the forest with animals.
I was told again to rest as much as possible, so I decided to rest in the residential area.
Since this operation is during the day, I will be acting together with the Jaeger unit as the person in charge of recovery. We are to meet over two hundred armed Orcs with thirty people. Since our role is to draw them in, there will be no extreme magic from Eleanor-sama. In other words, casualties are expected. I must take sufficient rest and make sure not to run out of magic power.
The smoke signal is scheduled to rise after noon, so I can rest until then. Since it's currently midnight, there's plenty of time for sleep.
The next morning, I woke up, woke everyone else, and made preparations.
While we were eating a slightly late breakfast, Flora called out to me. She is staying behind with the Elder this time.
"Is it okay if I don't go?"
She doesn't seem to think it's right for her to be the only one left behind while everyone living in the Ghost Mansion is participating. However, regardless of nighttime, I don't want to take her to a daytime battle. It's better to have her stay behind with the Elder.
"That's right. Next time, if we decide to do an Alraune escape operation, we'll have you participate."
When Beatrix said that while adding sun-warmed water, she was convinced.
"About when will you be back?"
"If it goes according to plan, they said about three hours. Assuming we depart at noon, it'll be 3:00 PM."
"Then, around that time, I'll prepare to raise a celebratory toast."
"That sounds good. I'm counting on you."
Flora was formally introduced exclusively to the Jaeger unit through the influence of Henry-sama and Adolf-san.
Lewis-san and the adjutant know her, but the other soldiers don't. When we said she had been participating secretly because she was indispensable for the light and sound operation, they remembered, "Ah, that flower basket?"
Just as the Goblins' scouting information is useful for the Jaegers, Flora was also presented after achieving results in battle, so the Jaegers accepted her.
Paul-san had already returned. He's up on the roof of the fortress, waiting for the smoke signal while munching on bread.
"How was it?"
When Beatrix asked about the situation, he tilted his head.
"It seems there is no presence equivalent to an Elder in that Goblin pack. Apparently, they were killed by the Orcs."
"In other words, there's no one to make decisions?"
"That's right. How will the consultation be settled, or will it even be settled at all?"
That's worrying. Not everyone has seen the life of the Nakanohara Goblins. Will the mothers with children be able to choose to escape at the risk of their lives from a situation where they are at least being kept alive for now? Even if we say we'll escape all at once in a bowl, they probably won't easily believe in something they haven't seen.
"Henry-sama said that if it doesn't work, he'll go attack in the bowl and kill all the Orcs."
"It might have been better to choose that method from the beginning."
Paul-san is being unusually unconfident.
"Won't the Goblins get caught in the crossfire?"
"It would probably be possible for Henry-sama or Eleanor-sama."
"But that would be meaningless, wouldn't it?"
"Why is that?"
"Because, if you annihilate the Orcs with powerful magic and tell them to come with you, their master just changes from Orcs to humans. I think it's no good unless they make the choice to escape together with humans themselves."
Paul-san's eyes widened.
"So you saw through it?"
"Of course. You were making the plan without Henry-sama and the others from the beginning. You wanted to do it together with the Goblins, not by relying on Henry-sama and the others, right?"
"In exchange, I might cause you all some hardship."
"It's fine because we're getting paid. Didn't you know? Even if we look like this, a skilled mage is our advisor."
"That's news to me. I'm sure that advisor, whoever they are, finds it quite worth teaching."
The two of them laughed, and seeing that, Lyudmila and Mary also started laughing.
Honestly, mages are just hopeless, aren't they?
"The smoke signal is up!"
While I was confirming the rough positioning while looking at the map Robinson-san made, I heard the sentry's loud voice.
"It's here. Let's go."
Bonnie, along with Marcelo-san and Robinson-san, boards Paul-san's bowl and heads for the Goblins' nest. Their role is to suppress the sentry Orcs and rescue the Goblins. They departed after having [Camouflage] cast on them by Adolf-san.
Next, three members of the Jaeger bow unit departed in Wilson-san's bowl. Their purpose is to provide support through sniping with holy water arrows from above; they are, so to speak, the Jaeger unit's guards. They also departed with Adolf-san's [Camouflage] cast on them.
The third group—Beatrix, Lyudmila, and Mary—goes in Adolf-san's bowl. Their purpose is to guard Paul-san's team from above, and if the Orcs they failed to draw in end up returning to the nest, they will add attacks with magic. In that case, Beatrix has been instructed to use [Flame], and Lyudmila and Mary are apparently in charge of extinguishing fires. They departed with Eleanor-sama's [Camouflage] cast on them.
And finally, it's the thirty Jaegers led by Henry-sama, transported by Eleanor-sama, and myself. Our role is to draw the Orc main force and buy time for the separate unit to act. Because the whole thing is too large, there is no [Camouflage].
The three of them—Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, and Lewis-san—are lined up in front of the soldiers who are about to sortie.
"Jeanne. The Chant of Exorcism. Everyone, chant in unison."
"Ah, yes."
Since I was at the very back, everyone turned toward me at once.
I sheathed my sword, knelt, and looked down with my hands clasped in front of my chest.
Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama did the same.
"O most glorious Mother who watches over us from the heavens..."
I chanted, and everyone chanted in unison.
Not only those who were about to sortie, but also those who had come to see us off knelt, clasped their hands, and chanted in unison.
"Everyone, board!"
Once the chanting was finished, the Jaegers boarded the shallow bowl at Eleanor-sama's command. Everyone carries a bow and has a sword on their back. Among them, in addition to Captain Lewis, there are ten people carrying spears, five magic soldiers, the head of the clinic and one staff member, and myself as the recovery person.
And Henry-sama boarded last.
Henry-sama stood at the front of the boat-shaped bowl and looked at the soldiers who had boarded.
"This battle is not just about defeating the remnants of the Demon Lord's army. It is to rescue spirits whose families have been taken hostage and who are being forced to cooperate with monsters against their will. If we succeed, it will become the foundation for regaining the ancient world where we live together with spirits. We shall make the teachings of our Goddess a reality and rescue the oppressed weak. Give your lives to me. Let us fight together!"
He drew his sword, held it high, and let out a battle cry.
The soldiers also raised the weapons in their hands all at once in response.
"Sortie!"
"Oooooh!"
Eleanor-sama makes the bowl carrying thirty people float.
It's already a flying ship.
As it is, we descend as if sliding along the slope.
Even though it's past noon, the sun is still high. For Orcs, it's the middle of the night. Surely, they are sleeping now, leaving only sentries.
Our goal is the ridge directly opposite the valley where the Orc pack has made its lair. We'll advance there all at once.
"As you all know, our role is to keep the pack of two hundred Orcs drawn to us. Upon arrival, Eleanor-sama will cut trees and make earthworks, so we will line up the shields we brought and make a temporary field position. We will deploy magic defense, focus on shooting battles, and devote ourselves to defense. The enemy will likely attack from three directions. Be on your guard."
Everyone sat lined up in the bowl and listened quietly to Lewis-san's explanation.
Everyone has one long, leather-covered shield. Since Orcs have bows, they're likely for warding off arrows.
"Those who are injured, receive treatment as soon as possible. That makes it harder for the defensive formation to be broken."
There are three people in charge of recovery. The head of the clinic and a staff member who can use mid-level magic, and myself with basic magic. And about twenty scrolls.
"Those with light wounds can be recovered with basic magic. You can receive Jeanne's treatment."
The former bandits started laughing. Some were glancing at me, as I was at the very back.
"Captain! May I?"
One of the former bandits raises his hand.
"It's not when I have a light wound, but precisely when I'm on the verge of death that I want to receive Jeanne's treatment."
Everyone is laughing loudly.
Those bandits...
"Jeanne. What do you think?"
Lewis-san is getting carried away and asking me.
"I won't allow it. Everyone, please be safe and, if possible, finish the operation without a scratch."
I don't know why, but I was given a round of applause.
"Did you hear that? Don't be greedy and quietly keep your injuries to ones that can be recovered with basic magic. Those with serious injuries will have to make do with the clinic head's scrolls. Come to think of it, I said I'd treat you to a beer if the operation ends safely. I'll add another one for those who are uninjured and those who finished with just basic magic."
A cheer went up. Apparently, morale is high.