267 - Network
――Liel's mansion in South Banseime.
In one of the rooms, Monica was surrounded by three Valkyries. Monica had created a special device, and the three units equipped with it were the first, second, and third units activated in the beginning. The room was not particularly furnished; it was simply a large, empty space.
There was a reason why the four of them had gathered in such a room, with the Valkyries standing around Monica. Starting with the first unit, they began to speak.
"Zain direction: absorbed territories in the south. Troops have advanced and are currently stationed there."
"Rolfis direction: absorbed territories in the south. There is a shortage of personnel for management. A request for support has been made."
"Units that moved to loot various locations have begun to regroup. However, some lord-nobles and mercenary groups continue their looting."
The information obtained by the Valkyries deployed in Banseime was being compiled by Monica through Liel. She had entrusted the three units with that role.
The three special units—the Valkyries—had improved their performance thanks to the efforts of Damian and Latata.
Because of this, they were given roles as high-ranking automatons.
Monica gathered this information and sent the final reports to Liel. If she didn't, the volume of information would be too much for even Liel to process. Because the amount of information was so vast, Monica had been entrusted with the management of the Valkyries.
"As I thought, they won't fight alone. It's as expected, but it's troublesome. Also, the Rolfis direction will have to endure. Currently, we don't have the luxury to divert personnel. Tell them to disband Alette's squad and deploy her subordinates as commanders. We don't have time to be talking about 'small, elite forces'."
Because Rolfis had been unfortunate until now, they had focused on maintaining a small, elite force. However, that was now becoming a problem. The first unit reported on the movements of Redant Fortress.
"Movement at Redant Fortress. Preparations to begin the invasion of Banseime have commenced."
The second unit reported on the situation in the Banseime direction.
"Banseime: the urban population is increasing rapidly due to the acceptance of refugees. There are no signs of them intending to deploy."
The third unit concluded.
"From South Banseime, Aria's squad, Miranda's squad, and Baldor's squad have each deployed with approximately five hundred men. They are marching toward the villages around South Banseime."
Monica compiled this information and sent the summary to Liel.
"The chicken coward's preparations for departure are almost complete, aren't they? Shall we hurry the final confirmation of the planned point?"
Though Monica and the others did not move, they played a vital role in this battle—.
――The force that invaded the southern part of Banseime was an Earl's house with a scale exceeding six thousand.
However, only half of them, three thousand, were the Earl's soldiers. The other half consisted of dependents and mercenary groups, and it was these dependents and mercenaries who were attacking the villages.
Whether they intended to loot until the very last moment, there was no sign of them returning. They had occupied the south and were looting, and since they didn't clash with other Banseime lords, they were doing whatever they pleased.
One of those units.
A unit composed of knight-baron houses with forces of several dozen men was attacking a small village. They gathered the villagers in one place and ravaged the village, mercilessly killing those who resisted to break the fighting spirit of the other villagers.
One of the knight-barons said.
"There's no resistance at all. If this happened in my village, even the women and children would pick up weapons and attack."
Another knight-baron, who had been listening with a laugh, said.
"Coming from a man who was chased around by his wife with a spear. But indeed, there's no challenge to this. Moreover, the results are excellent. I can't stop laughing."
Their total number didn't even reach two hundred, but for a village with only the same number of people, they were nothing but a threat.
Then, a soldier ran toward the gathered knight-barons.
"M-messenger! There is an army coming this way! The scale exceeds five hundred!"
The knight-barons looked at the messenger, momentarily appalled by what he was saying. The reason was simple: Banseime didn't have any decent soldiers. Furthermore, they hadn't seen any adventurers of that scale since coming to Banseime.
They couldn't understand why they were appearing now.
"Could you have mistaken them for allies? Perhaps the Earl's units have come this way?"
The messenger had a desperate expression.
"The flags are different! Besides, they are coming from further south!"
One of the knight-barons put a hand to his chin.
"South Banseime, huh. The mercenaries mentioned that it was created recently."
As if remembering something, one knight-baron spoke.
"I heard the son of the Walt family is there. Apparently, he was even kicked out of the Adventurer's Guild. I heard he was active at Redant Fortress, but in the end, it's just a gathering of adventurers. They are no match for us, but... what shall we do?"
Looking around, they hadn't yet loaded the looted supplies. The knight-barons thought for a moment.
"...Retreat. They have the numbers. I'm not saying we'd lose, but there's no gain in taking casualties here. Set fire to the village immediately."
He gave the order, but the messenger spoke.
"It's impossible! The enemy is right there—"
In an instant, the messenger's head was pierced through his helmet by an arrow. Why didn't he say that sooner! Even if they wanted to say it, the messenger was already dead. As the knight-barons drew the swords hanging from their waists, soldiers hoisting flags they had never seen before were riding horses toward them.
"Horses!?"
Basically, there are many mercenaries who were former adventurers in Banseime. Therefore, few of them use horses. Adventurers mostly use horses for transporting luggage, and this was the first time the knight-barons had seen an enemy cavalry unit here.
However, one knight-baron spoke.
"Impossible! Isn't that the insignia of Cartaphus!!"
Knights in red armor charging forward as if to tear through the allied soldiers—behind them, flags fluttered, and among them were flags they had never seen. A blue circle with a silver pattern. And those of Cartaphus were mixed in as well.
Cartaphus—a military force from a country that had fought Banseime for many years and knew war. The knight-barons turned pale all at once. Seeing the knights on horseback swinging spears from their saddles, it was immediately clear they were elites.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!!!"
While their allies fought sporadically, the knight-barons ran toward where their own horses were. However, the knight in red armor who had led the charge appeared before the knight-barons.
"This one... is a woman!?"
The knight-barons, having drawn their swords, slashed at the female knight in red armor. However, the female knight used her spear to thrust the knight-barons to death and then sliced them apart. After cutting down the armored knights in an instant, knights on horseback gathered around her.
Among them were two knights in blue armor with black hair and red eyes.
"Aria-sama, some of the soldiers have fled."
"The order is to leave them be."
Around them, the knights and soldiers of Cartaphus were fighting the Banseime soldiers, but the outcome had already been decided. The Banseime side, starting from a situation where one man had to face three, began to be surrounded by four or five, and in the end, they abandoned all resistance.
After confirming the safety of the surroundings, Aria took off her helmet.
"...I don't feel very good about this."
Looking at the fallen knight-barons, Aria muttered those words—.
――Miranda was leading the soldiers of South Banseime as she entered the third village.
The square in the center of the village. There, the horse-drawn wagons and horses of the defeated Baronet's house, as well as supplies, were piled up. She sat on a wooden crate, with two Valkyries deployed nearby.
Around Miranda, the soldiers of Banseime were cleaning up the corpses of the scattered Banseime soldiers.
Miranda turned her gaze toward the village chief in front of her. The man, who was the village chief and also a merchant based in the village, was complaining to Miranda.
"Why didn't you come to save us sooner! Thanks to that, the village has suffered damages! Compensation! Give me compensation!"
Miranda looked at the man expressionlessly while sitting with her legs crossed.
"W-what is with that attitude! Do you people not know that I am acquainted with an influential merchant of Banseime!"
Around her, the villagers cast accusing glances at Miranda and her group. However, Miranda remained unfazed. Standing up from the wooden crate.
"This place is in the middle of nowhere. We're retreating. We'll take the luggage here."
Then, the village chief grabbed Miranda's green armor—specifically, her blue cloak.
"W-wait! That's their luggage. It's necessary for the village's reconstruction! We are the ones who suffered damages! Besides, you people are supposed to protect us!"
Miranda grabbed the cloak the village chief was holding and pulled it, escaping from the village chief's hand.
"From now on, protect yourselves. Sorry, but I have no interest in you. Let me tell you, I have no obligation either. After all, we are people of South Banseime. Hearing that much, you should understand the meaning, right?"
The village chief's mouth hung open. He probably thought they were adventurers or a mercenary group dispatched from Banseime. No, he wanted to think that.
Miranda spoke to the Valkyries.
"How is Aria doing?"
"Currently, she is heading toward the second village."
Hearing that, Miranda was slightly exasperated. She was exasperated because she thought it was just like Aria.
"She's a bit late. She probably did something useless like persuading them, didn't she? Typical Aria. What about Baldor?"
Another Valkyrie answered.
"Engaged with the advancing unit. Won a field battle and is heading toward the target village. Moving according to orders, but likely to achieve the objective earlier than planned."
Miranda looked pleased.
"Competent. I'd want to create a connection by marrying off Doris or Lucy, but it would probably just be a nuisance to him."
Looking at the anxious villagers, Miranda decided to head to the next destination immediately. She hadn't left South Banseime just to save one small village. She was waiting for a larger prey to move. Or perhaps, for them to flee.
"So, how is the main target, the Earl, doing?"
At Miranda's words, the Valkyrie spoke.
"It is believed that the information has already been conveyed. However, there are no signs of him intending to flee."
Miranda laughed.
"Oh, he's quite relaxed despite his numbers having decreased significantly."
The Valkyrie said.
"It is unlikely he has an accurate grasp of the damages. Furthermore, he probably doesn't consider South Banseime a threat. It's not that the Earl is particularly incompetent. I speculate he was simply unlucky enough not to be competent."
If he fled, his life might have been saved. However, if he fled and joined the main force, the Earl would be called a coward by those around him. Knowing that, Miranda and the others had deployed to fight the Earl.
"The Earl seems like he'll be good bait."
Miranda put on her helmet, hiding the smile on her face from those around her—.
Make them perceive South Banseime as a threat.
However, it would be problematic if an army of three hundred thousand invaded.
Therefore, I wanted them to send only a scale that they believed could defeat us.
For that purpose, I carried out maneuvers within the Banseime side. That worked, and I was about to deploy leading six thousand soldiers.
Defeat the Earl who entered the south for looting, and have another portion of the Banseime army dispatched. The most desirable situation for us was for the main force to proceed with the conquest of Banseime.
Novem came to my side.
"Liel-sama, preparations are complete."
Novem also held a staff, but was in armor. It would be problematic to be targeted if he dressed in a way that clearly screamed 'I am a mage'. Looking ahead, Clara was beside the porter, wearing armor she wasn't used to.
"...Wouldn't it be better if I had a horse too? You know, as a commander."
I complained to Novem, but he wouldn't acknowledge it.
"That is not permitted. Besides, Liel-sama's horse has been lent to Aria-san. Supplies are insufficient, so please give up."
My shoulders slumped. From within the jewel, the voice of the Seventh Generation could be heard.
"Well, it is ideal that Liel doesn't get his hands dirty. If the general is gripping a sword and fighting, we cannot win this battle."
A reasonable opinion. And I had enough achievements that the soldiers would follow me even if I didn't step forward. I didn't need to force myself to the front.
However, the Third Generation spoke.
"Rest comfortably until the main target arrives. Leaving things to those around you is also the duty of a general."
The Fifth Generation muttered.
"When will I ever have some breathing room... No matter how I look at it, I'm going to be incredibly busy from here on. Sigh."
Mireia-san looked apologetically at the Fifth Generation.
"...Father, please do not be too depressed. It pains my heart. Liel, if possible, please send off the Fifth Generation grandly when you have some time."
Because she says things like that, isn't the difficulty level just going up? For some reason, I started to feel sorry for the Fifth Generation.