Chapter 67 - The Jaeger Corps Motto
I'm so sleepy I can't help it.
After all, my day and night are reversed...
No matter how much I sleep, the sleepiness doesn't go away.
I wonder why everyone else is fine.
Even though they're napping all over the fortress, they wake up immediately and seem energetic when it's time to move out...
I guess it's training.
When I first became a postulant, waking up early in the morning was hard, but it became okay once I started going to bed early. A life of moving at night and sleeping during the day is just unnatural after all. It's not like we're monsters...
Wait? Something's strange.
Looking around, Paul-san was there. I don't know when he ever sleeps, but for some reason, he's always energetic.
"Paul-san. Do you have a moment?"
"What is it? Your eyes are only half open. Are you sleeping properly?"
Strange. I should have washed my face properly.
"More importantly, there's something I want you to tell me."
"What's wrong?"
"Monsters sleep during the day, right? Why are they wandering around the forest during the day?"
"Because they're the ones who fled. They probably don't have a place where they can settle down and rest."
I see. Certainly, I also keep my guard up while walking until I reach the orphanage. As soon as I reach my room, I collapse onto the bed and fall asleep, though.
Does that mean, then? If the fleeing monsters also find a place to serve as a nest, they would probably hide there and sleep. If we attack them while they're sleeping, it seems we could easily exterminate them. Instead of us staying awake to match the monsters that act at night, it's definitely better for us to strike during the day when the opponent is sleeping.
"Then, if there's a place where monsters can rest comfortably, wouldn't there be less damage if we attacked them while they're sleeping there? If we could do some civil engineering work to create such a place, we could lure them in, right?"
"I think you're right, but sadly, we humans don't know the places monsters prefer."
"Couldn't we just ask the Goblins?"
We have a connection to the Goblins. If we ask through Robinson-san, wouldn't they tell us?
"Hmm. I'll try asking next time. It won't be in time for this occasion, but it might be useful eventually."
He said that for me. While we were doing the rat extermination, Paul-san continued to interact with the Goblins by teaching them how to hunt and so on. He always brings Highway Cookies as souvenirs and lets them ride on that sled. It seems he's quite adored by the children too. He's probably like Adolf-san and the orphanage students.
Even if making a nest is impossible, if only there were a place that would make monsters want to take a break...
"Come to think of it, there were no rivers or ponds around that area. Do monsters not drink water? If there's a watering hole, they'd at least take a break, right?"
"That area has flat terrain. It's away from the riverbeds, so I don't think there are any places that would serve as a watering hole."
We would have to bring water. Even if we dug a hole, it wouldn't become a pond unless it rained considerably. In the White Island, there's little rain in summer. Prospects are dim.
"However, hearing Jeanne's story just now, I've thought of something interesting."
"What on earth is it?"
"Actually..."
The content Paul-san told me was unique to someone who has been involved in water and sewage systems for many years.
The next night. Having received the report from the lookout post, we slowly approached the Orcs.
The Orcs were relaxing while drinking water gushing from a spring. They had finally escaped after being pursued by humans. They must have felt a sudden sense of relief after drinking fresh water. Some seemed to be lying down and sleeping.
The water, gushing out while creating bubbling ripples, made a small pond, and the overflowing water flowed through a brook, making a pleasant sound. There, four fireflies, quite out of season, flew over, and they began to pay attention, wondering what it was. Since it was enemy territory after all, they were tense, and even those who had been sleeping woke up.
The sound of water, a certain degree of mental relaxation, and small lights that drew attention but didn't make them feel danger. As a result of these combined, it might have been unavoidable that the Orcs couldn't notice they were surrounded by humans.
"Now."
At Paul-san's signal, I increased the light intensity. The four lights that suddenly shone brightly stole the Orcs' vision and provided enough light for the humans to aim at their prey.
"It went well."
"It went well, didn't it?"
Angelica-san, Paul-san, and I all ended up smirking. According to what I heard, they also wiped them out during the day when they were gathered at the pond and off guard.
After Angelica-san came in the morning, we had the three high-level mages that Marcelo Company boasts do some rush construction.
First were Angelica-san and Marcelo-san. The two of them worked together to draw a large Teleportation Circle on a wooden board. They applied wax to the surface for waterproofing. They submerged the entrance side of it into the watering hole in the fortress's basement... the one used as an escape route and for drinking water supply that connects to the river below the cliff. Next, they dug a large hole and a trench at the place where monsters gather... the place Hanna-san climbed a tree to scout when we first came. The trench was extended further and further until it connected to a valley. The finishing touch was installing the exit-side magic circle at the bottom of the hole.
Then, when they chanted the keyword to activate the magic circle, oh, wonder of wonders. The water from the valley stream was transported to the hole by the magic circle, and a spring was born. The magic circle would probably stop functioning after a week and just become a puddle, but that's not a problem. Since the purpose is to create a resting point for the monsters fleeing from Lord Roberts, a limited time is sufficient. Above all, since it's made artificially, the Jaegers can freely create it in places where it's easy to surround them.
"It's a wonderful idea, Jeanne!"
"I'm not becoming a Kingdom Jaeger, you know."
Since the nice middle-aged man approached, I launched a preemptive strike.
"...I see. That's a shame, but even so, you've done a good thing. Thanks to you, we don't have to struggle with ambushes day or night."
Of course, this isn't the only place monsters pass through. However, if we can stall them at the place where they pass the most and catch them off guard, it's effective. The surprise attack was a success, and the Jaegers were also pleased.
The camouflage was also brilliant, and it looked like nothing more than a pond created by a very ordinary spring. As expected of the technical lead and advisor of the Nakanohara Water and Sewage Management Office. The fleeing monsters probably don't know this area well, so they wouldn't think a spring had suddenly gushed out.
After withdrawing to the fortress, we all somehow gathered on the balcony.
"Next is the Northern Pass, isn't it?"
Hanna-san was crossing her arms while glaring toward the far north. The Northern Pass is far from the mountain fortress, the terrain to reach the ambush point is steep, and the space between the ridges that form the pass is wide, so it's broad; it's a triple threat in terms of being easy to break through.
"If we had time, we might have been able to do something, but it can't be helped this time. Since the magic soldiers will be returning eventually, they'll do something if necessary."
Paul-san also seemed disappointed. There was no time... because the trigger was a diplomatic measure regarding another country's war.
"If we had spent time preparing from the beginning, it might have gone even better, right?"
"That might be so. But the origin this time is a diplomatic measure. Diplomacy with friendly nations takes priority over the battle with monsters."
"Is that how it is?"
"That's how it is."
In the end, this Northern Pass problem was not resolved while we were providing support. This was because word came from Lord Roberts that he would merge with the separate unit in ten days as planned and return to the Eastern Plains.
During the two weeks, the battles I participated in totaled six, and my individual rewards, including the rat extermination, exceeded three gold coins. It's quite an achievement. At one point I thought I might go broke, but I'm glad I could maintain my monster exterminator business.
On the morning of the final day, I was told there would be a banquet for the completion of the mission and to stay as I was, so I spent time relaxing with Paul-san and the others in the dining hall.
"It ends today. We earned a fair amount and it must have been a good experience."
Paul-san was drinking honey wine diluted with water as a pick-me-up.
"It really was a great learning experience. But I'm glad there were no Goblins."
"That's certainly true. If they were there, I might have tucked my tail and fled."
Paul-san, who had stood up, was shrugging his shoulders and pretending to run away. Since he has many opportunities to interact with Goblins normally, he must be relieved.
"I wonder if they managed to escape safely?"
"Who knows, Goblins are weak. Since they seem to be worked hard by Orcs and Ogres, they might have been put on the front lines and hunted by the units from the Eastern Plains."
"I see."
Is that so... If they had escaped, Robinson-san might have been able to save them, but I wonder if that's just a fleeting wish...
"Someday, I'll definitely lead the Goblins and hunt the Orcs and Ogres."
He winked at me with a grin, showing his teeth. As expected. It really saves me.
"That's right. Let's all work hard together when that time comes."
By the time the daytime group joined us, it turned directly into a banquet. Looking around, the mountain bandits were getting rowdy. Paul-san was there, and Beatrix was there too. There was no shortage of banquet personnel. On top of that, the Jaegers who had been participating in the Demon Lord army subjugation had returned, so the number had nearly doubled, making it quite cramped.
Wait, huh? There isn't a single female soldier among the mountain bandits.
"The Jaegers are male-only."
Angelica-san, a former Kingdom soldier, told me.
"Why is that?"
Lewis-san had been recruiting me almost every day. It's strange that it's male-only when he was recruiting so frequently.
"It's because their return rate is extremely low compared to other units. It seems they're trying to prevent women, who bear children, from dying in battle."
Eh?
"You see, the Jaegers infiltrate and fight behind the front lines—in places where there are only enemies. The reason the vigilantes were able to attack the enemy's supply units during the war was also due to their guidance."
For a moment, my head felt fuzzy. So that's what Paul-san meant by a hidden army...
"Then, why did he recruit us almost every day?"
"Who knows. Maybe it's because Hanna and Jeanne were nervous."
Angelica-san was smiling. Come to think of it, there was no sign of Will or Beatrix, who spent their time like masters of the fortress, being recruited. The nice middle-aged man was, after all, a nice middle-aged man...
"The Jaeger Corps has a motto too. What do you think it is?"
"Something like 'fearless,' or that kind of thing?"
I think Paul-san said something like that.
"We seek no glory. We fight only for 〇〇."
Angelica-san, straightening her posture, recited it as if chanting.
"What is 〇〇?"
"It seems each person can put in whatever they want. For the country, for a lover, or even that person's name. Anything seems to be fine."
It's unfinished. But strangely, it seems to suit Lewis-san and the others who are desperately pretending to be mountain bandits.
Then, the rumored Lewis-san came over.
"Hey, Jeanne. It's lonely to part today."
It's the same nice smile as always.
"Lewis-san, what are you fighting for?"
He looked puzzled for a moment, but seemed to realize after looking at Angelica-san.
"Isn't it obvious? Of course, it's for beautiful women like you."
He put his hand on my shoulder. He's casually over-familiar. Looking at Angelica-san, she was nodding. I see, so I have to play along here. After finishing a quick chant in a small voice, I blasted a Light spell right into his face.