Chapter 163 - Chapter Eleven: The Royal Request
Friday came, and Marcelo-san returned from the Royal Capital. At the same time, everyone from the Marcelo Company, except for the goblins, was summoned.
"Actually, there was a request for a new job in the Royal Capital."
He didn't have his usual smiling face.
"Depending on the situation, we might have to refuse."
He was cautious despite it being a request from the capital. Angelica-san also entered her serious 'demon mode'.
"A request from the capital... is it from the King?"
"Yes. Everyone was there, including Henry-sama."
That meant all the dignitaries were gathered. Not only that, even Roberts-sama was apparently there.
"Can we refuse?"
"I was told we could refuse if it was impossible."
It seems they were also asked to consider whether the Marcelo Company could do it, including the selection of personnel.
"What do we have to do?"
Prompted by Paul-san, the explanation began.
"At the beginning of this year, there was a dispute between Primordia and Engrio, right? During that, a fortress in the border mountains was captured by Engrio. The request is for us to participate in an operation to attempt to retake that fortress."
It's war...
"We are not mercenaries. We cannot do war."
It was just as Paul-san said. I hate war.
"The thing is, it's monster extermination."
"?"
According to Marcelo-san's story, Engrio has apparently acquired the technique to control monsters. It seems the Ruined Town is involved.
"In other words, you're saying that people using Subordination controlled Gargoyles to take the fortress."
Since then, Gargoyles have apparently occupied the fortress. After all, they don't need food. If the one controlling them is a Revenant, they will keep moving unless that person is destroyed.
According to Paul-san, the fortress is in steep mountains and will be snowed in once winter comes. Since the only highway connecting Engrio and Primordia passes through there, whoever controls it will control the border. Of course, transport by sea is possible, but it would mean going back to the way things were a year ago. If they annihilate the opponent when the first snow piles up, it won't be noticed until spring.
Paul-san muttered, "Unbelievable."
"The Captain of the Royal Guard guaranteed it. There is no mistake."
He was talking about Hughes-sama. I didn't know until now, but he was the head of the scouts. In other words, he's Bonnie's goal.
"But originally, that's the job of the Kingdom Army. Why did the request come to us?"
It was just as Angelica-san said. Even though there are people with military experience, capturing a fortress is a job for the army.
"It's to divert Engrio's eyes. They must not realize that Sertoria is involved. A winter offensive will be launched in the Royal Capital region, and Roberts-sama will launch an attack on the monsters in the Northeastern Forest. In the meantime, the fortress will be retaken, making it seem like it wasn't Sertoria's doing."
"Are we doing it alone?"
"No, the Royal Capital Jaeger Unit will participate. The commander is Wilson-san. His existence hasn't been made public, after all."
Come to think of it, that's true. He's the director of Henry-sama's favorite National Strategic Research Institute, and he can use the bowl for Flight Magic after chanting, but usually, he hardly uses magic. The only times I've seen him use magic were during the goblin rescue operation and the octopus extermination; other countries' scouts probably don't know about that. Especially now, I heard he's working on creating maps of the country and improving the fields as Flora taught him. He looks like an ordinary man.
"Aren't Henry-sama and the others going?"
"The members of the Royal Family will be hosting foreign envoys with the Prime Minister in the capital during the New Year holidays."
In other words, all the top officials of the country are performing public duties in some form. But can Wilson-san and the Jaeger Unit do it alone?
"Won't the Primordia army participate? They're the original lords of the fortress, aren't they?"
"They won't. Engrio's army is stationed in Primordia. Setting aside the opponent's royal family, if it leaks from nobles who are in league with Engrio, it would be a problem, so it seems Sertoria will do it alone."
"What happens after it's captured?"
"Our scouts will only inform Primordia's scouts that it was taken by someone. After that, it will be up to Primordia."
This is... really something we should do? If we're not careful, the alliance with Primordia might be broken.
Paul-san crossed his arms and began to think. After looking at the ceiling for a while, he finally said, "That would be better."
Following Paul-san's words, Marcelo-san continued the explanation.
"Because of the nature of the opponent, holy magic including healing is necessary. And being able to use Flight Magic. Being able to handle Teleportation Circles. And this is a big one, but being able to use Subordination. These are the conditions Wilson-san set."
The only group that satisfies these three conditions is the Marcelo Company. Well, that's probably true. Subordination can only be handled by Robinson-san.
"The details of the operation will be given after we accept the request. If we accept, they want the goblin scout unit to participate as well."
Hearing this, Paul-san and Robinson-san nodded to each other. They intend to accept.
"As long as the Company President is fine with it, I'd like to accept."
"It depends on the duration of the operation, but we can send two out of the six members of the scout unit. We can't leave it to the newly joined group yet. However, if it becomes long-term, Flora will be needed as a translator to act as a liaison with the town."
The duration seems to be about a week, spanning the New Year holidays. If that's the case, a translator won't be necessary. However, we have to leave by the middle of next week. Fiona's room is finished, but the furnishings aren't all there. It's a bit busy. Besides, it might become the trigger for a war.
"That's right. Furthermore, if it's discovered midway, the crime of high treason could be applied. If that happens, the entire clan will be executed."
"High treason!"
Beatrix raised her voice.
"Yes. Right now, Sertoria's top priority is the subjugation of the Demon Lord. We cannot afford to have a conflict with Engrio. It's been decided that bodies must be brought back, but everything is an irregular activity. In the unlikely event that a body falls into Engrio's hands and the identity is revealed, it will be treated as having personally participated in a criminal group."
"Can we really get away with that?"
"They say they can't think of any other way."
The Green Marble we usually wear is strictly forbidden. After all, it has our names embroidered on it. Fortunately, we have spares for autumn and winter, so we can prepare them, but...
"This is just my speculation," Marcelo-san began his commentary with a preamble. "If this operation succeeds, we can postpone Engrio's suppression of Primordia. Right now, Sertoria is fighting the Demon Lord's army. In this situation, even if Engrio invades without reason, other countries will likely send reinforcements to our country."
That's certainly true. Until last year, everyone fought together.
"Engrio failed to capture Sertoria in the previous war. The next move they'll likely make while Sertoria is unable to move is to capture allied nations that Medioland cannot easily send reinforcements to. That would be Primordia and Regnentes. If these two countries fall into Engrio's hands, Sertoria will be exposed to advances from three directions: south, west, and sea."
Paul-san, with his arms crossed, was nodding; he seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Though it may be temporary, the retaking of the requested fortress could be called a means of national defense."
The town guard only participates in defensive battles. Marcelo-san likely wanted a reason he could be satisfied with as well.
"I'm fine with going. Depending on the reward, of course."
Beatrix shifted to support the idea.
"However, only if the opponents are monsters. If Engrio soldiers are guarding the fortress, can we withdraw midway?"
"That condition was already conveyed when this talk came up. In that case, I received a promise that the operation itself would be canceled. The result of internal intelligence within Engrio is that only a specially organized unit directly under the King has been dispatched to the fortress. And as a result of reconnaissance by the monitoring scouts, it seems there are no Engrio soldiers, whether regular or irregular."
"I see, so they were raided from the sky. If it's Gargoyles, they don't need food and move on their own. If you give them instructions to capture and maintain the fortress at the beginning, the practitioner can just go later."
Paul-san muttered. Come to think of it, he had said he didn't understand the reason why the fortress was taken.
"The reward is two hundred gold coins for the entire company. After deducting the commission, it will be split among the participants. How about it?"
"I'll go."
Beatrix replied immediately. Even if eight members of the Marcelo Company and two pairs of goblins participated, after deducting the commission, it would be twenty gold coins per person. It's not an amount that can be earned easily. If one isn't extravagant, it's enough for a family's living expenses for two years.
"First, is there anyone who must stay in Nakanohara for the New Year for other reasons?"
No one raised their hand.
"Lyudmila. Are you alright?"
"If it's for a week, I'm fine."
It seems she just has to let the goats eat the turnips left planted in the testing grounds. Anyone can do that much. There's nothing to do on the land in the Flatlands this winter. Since it's usually covered in snow during the New Year, they probably won't be building stone walls either. Everyone will be drinking, so they can just say they're busy with monster extermination in the surrounding area. In fact, as soon as they return, they'll have to go south of the stream to deal with bears and wolves.
"Then, it's settled that everyone can participate. Now, those who are willing to participate..."
Everyone raised their hands. Seeing me raise mine, Flora and even Fiona raised theirs.
"You two don't have to come by force, you know."
Angelica-san said, but they said they wanted to go.
"I have good night vision, and I can understand the language of Gargoyles. I think there's no harm in bringing me along."
That might certainly be true.
"I'm also fine at night. And as long as the opponent doesn't use holy magic, at least I won't lose."
Neither physical nor magic attacks work on Fiona. In a sense, she might be the strongest against monsters. If anything, she's on that side.
"Angelica-san, is taking care of the children alright?"
"If we can use Teleportation Circles, I can commute, right?"
This person intends to commute to the battlefield. Seeing that Marcelo-san said nothing, that might be the plan. the Royal Capital and Nakanohara are connected. All that's left is to connect with the site. The King's permission is necessary, but this is the King's request.
In the end, although there was one person on the premise of commuting, it was decided that all eight would participate. It's no problem to close the shop during the New Year. Twenty gold coins, huh. I can buy furnishings for Fiona and a piglet when spring comes.
Marcelo-san went back to the Royal Capital in a flash. Since we couldn't turn back now, we all consulted together.
"Can we really exterminate them?"
Beatrix asked. She accepted and then says this.
"In short, we just have to tame the Gargoyles with Subordination and break them in order, right?"
"No matter how you think about it, the Gargoyles will attack first, won't they?"
"We'll just have to do our best to exterminate them then. The Jaeger Unit will be there too, so it'll be fine."
Paul-san was optimistic. Or was he trying to reassure us?
"Are there no monsters other than Gargoyles?"
"Even if there were, it's hard to keep living ones. You have to feed them, and it's fine if they're strong against the cold, but if not, you even have to think about heating. That's probably the reason they leave it alone after capturing it. It'll be blocked by snow anyway. Engrio can't attack by land."
"I wonder if more Gargoyles will fly in."
"We could just set up a barrier, but I doubt the church is involved. In short, it's about defeating the practitioner. It's likely a Revenant using Forbidden Magic, but reducing even one more would be a great achievement. Besides, once you've experienced being attacked by Gargoyles, you can take precautions and measures. Did you see the Anti-Air Ballistas at the Northern Fortress in the Flatlands? If we bring in holy water and set those up, we won't be defeated so easily."
If Primordia reoccupies it, since the flatlands are closer than Engrio, it seems they'll arrive sooner if they dispatch troops in spring. If we can capture it successfully, I hope they dispatch troops as soon as the snow melts.
Marcelo-san returned. It was close to late at night, but we had all been waiting.
"Everyone. Were you waiting for me? I'm sorry for being late."
"Did the talk go through?"
Beatrix was pressing him, but first he should rest. Angelica-san brought out some wine. Perhaps because they're doing well lately, it's from the continent. We all shared a light toast.
"It seems the operation plan has received the King's approval. The participating forces other than us are thirty Jaegers. They are selected Jaegers called Paratroop Jaegers, which were established this time."
"Paratroop Jaegers? What's that?"
Paul-san didn't seem to know either.
"They will specialize in riding in large bowls—the kind super-high-level mages can use—to infiltrate enemy territory from the sky and perform combat actions. For now, it won't be made public."
He was smiling, saying he was told specially.
Apparently, they'll specialize in doing things like the goblin escape operation. It seems they formed a mixed unit of archers, magic soldiers, and light infantry selected from Jaeger units across the country. During that operation, they were apparently in training, but it went well. In a sense, that was the touchstone, and following that result, the formal establishment was decided.
"What is our role?"
"The advance party. We will depart from the Western Plains. We will join the scouts who have already infiltrated, connect the Western Plains Kingdom Army with a Teleportation Circle, and moving the troops is the first role. After that, we will advance to the fortress with the Paratroop Jaegers, and while Robinson-san is taming the Gargoyles back with Subordination, the Paratroop Jaegers led by Wilson-san will launch a surprise attack to exterminate the one controlling the Gargoyles and capture the fortress. Then, we withdraw."
I wonder if it will go that smoothly. For one thing, I don't think we know where the one controlling them is.
"The opponent is indeed highly likely to be using Subordination through Forbidden Magic. If that's the case, Wilson-san said it's possible for the original, Robinson, to tame them back. We'll get information from the Gargoyles Robinson controlled to pinpoint the enemy practitioner's location. It will probably be fine."
I heard that if you use Forbidden Magic, you can learn new magic even without an Oracle's revelation. However, it's ultimately an imitation and cannot match the original. If it can't be done, it seems we'll retreat immediately.
"When is the departure?"
"Paul-san and I need to join the scouts as the advance party. So, we'll depart on Thursday. The rest of you, please come with the main force once the Teleport is connected. I expect a week for reconnaissance after we depart. Once the main force arrives after that, we'll capture it in one fell swoop. If it goes well, we can spend the first weekend of January in Nakanohara."
I thought everyone had agreed, but someone called a halt. It was Beatrix.
"Wait a minute. Jeanne and I are also joining the advance party."
Why is my name coming up?
"I don't mind, but it's dangerous, you know."
"It's fine. Flora and Fiona are here. They have good night vision. That's safer."
Well, that's certainly true. Flora and Fiona also seemed motivated.
"Flora, are you alright with the cold?"
She seems to have flowers blooming all year round, but I wonder if she'll wither.
"I'm fine. I may look like this, but I'm a spirit. Just like the goblins, I won't easily freeze to death."
I see. But if that's the case...
As expected, Lyudmila and Bonnie said they were going.
"No. If so many people go, we'll stand out, won't we?"
"I'm going!"
"I'm aiming to be a scout! The advance party is better!"
Setting aside Lyudmila, Bonnie's argument was reasonable. Beatrix was at a loss for words at this. It was because she herself didn't really need to go.
"Th-Then, the Class of 175 will all go together..."
Marcelo-san gave a wry smile, and Paul-san sighed.
"Angelica. I'll leave the rat extermination to you."
Marcelo-san said with a smile, and the participation of all six was decided.