269 - Resourcefulness
After finishing the battle with the Count, we retreated to the designated location and began our preparations.
The main force of approximately ten thousand soldiers only needed to wait for the army coming from Banseime. Inside the main camp's tent, I read the characters Shannon had transcribed.
The letter from Redant Fortress stated that a small-scale unit would be coming for investigation. However, in the margins of the letter—
'Preparing approximately thirty-five thousand troops.'
'Participation of the Imperial Guard and the lord-nobles close to Celes.'
'Several traitors occurred on this side. Already disposed of.'
'Objective is to defend Redant Fortress along with the unit.'
—Various things were written briefly. The target was General Bloa. He was a capable and precious general who had not been charmed by Celes. Born into the court nobility, he had talent, but because he had risen too quickly at a young age, he was treated as a nuisance in Central.
According to Launo-san's investigation, it seemed he was not someone who had strongly desired promotion, but rather someone who had been promoted while simply completing the tasks he was given.
Inside the tent, I returned the letter to Shannon.
"Have you become able to read properly?"
Shannon shifted her gaze slightly.
"T-these people's handwriting is unique... A-about eighty percent."
I had her transcribe the characters and tried to deduce the meaning from there, and it seemed there was no mistake. If Shannon could read and write a bit more, she would have been able to read the characters written with magic-infused water.
I spoke to Shannon, who was touching her pale purple hair to distract herself.
"I want you to make it perfect, but this is fine for now. Also, you did well."
Shannon seemed relieved and breathed a sigh of relief. Inside the tent, Baldor peeked at the letter and commented.
"I can tell that things convenient for me are written, but I don't understand what is actually being written."
He was deep in thought, hand on his chin. Miranda began to explain gently to Baldor.
"Shannon's eyes are special. With this, we can drag the main target onto the battlefield."
However, Baldor's expression was not good.
"Celes-sama—no, Celes's Imperial Guard. And Central's elite units. I've heard rumors that they are death-soldiers who have accepted their own deaths. Soldiers who have accepted death are terrifying. When that becomes an army of ten thousand, simply having more numbers than the opponent is... Besides, the war won't end until one side is completely annihilated."
An army charmed by Celes that does not fear death. Beyond being a nuisance, it was terrifying. No matter how many allies fell, their morale would likely not crumble.
"With the help of the Four-Nation Alliance and Cartaphus, we won't reach fifty thousand, but we'll have more than the opponent. I've been preparing because we need to annihilate them in a location with favorable conditions."
I looked at the Valkyries in blue armor standing around me. In a sense, these automatons were also death-soldiers.
Eva pointed to a marked location while looking at the map.
"...We'll do our jobs properly, but there are too many of them. We can't reduce their numbers that much."
I looked at the tense Eva.
"If it's dangerous, step back. No, it's fine if the opponent becomes wary. I just want to shave off their stamina even a little; reducing their numbers isn't the goal. The important thing is to irritate the opponent."
Eva looked at my face, her cheek twitching.
"You really come up with these kinds of methods. Don't you have a bad personality?"
Then, the Fifth, who had proposed this plan within the jewel, reacted.
'!'
He reacted. Yes, the one who thought of this plan was the Fifth, and the content was to launch night attacks to keep the opponent on guard while steadily draining their stamina. Other plans to persistently wear down the opponent's stamina were also being taken.
Mireia-san spoke to the wounded Fifth.
'It's alright, Father. Being called cowardly is a compliment.'
Then, while looking at Eva, Baldor was flustered. He still didn't seem used to our atmosphere. Or rather, he had been appalled to hear that most of the women here were my marriage candidates. And he had apparently been worrying about how to interact with them.
"Eva-sama? Lyell-sama's tactics are effective. This is also for the sake of victory."
Eva looked at Baldor with a troubled expression. She probably didn't think he would explain it so seriously. Eva must have intended it as a light remark.
Maxim-san nodded.
"I understand. I understand, Lord Baldor. I also struggled with this unique atmosphere at first. But it's alright. This is normal."
I also spoke to Baldor.
"Light remarks are a common occurrence. There's no need to worry about it."
Then, Baldor was troubled once again.
"That is perhaps... but, it's not a matter where I should interfere... however, it concerns my lord's face..."
Looking at Baldor, the Third inside the jewel was laughing.
'Ahaha, this boy is quite serious too. He resembles the first Landburg-kun who became a knight in my era. He was a bit too serious and clumsy. But, various connections really do link together.'
The Seventh also seemed to be nodding.
'The Foxus family, and the Sarcly family... Certainly, there are things that were lost, but there are also things that remained. And things that Lyell has newly gained...'
The Seventh looked a little happy. I clapped my hands to tighten the mood.
"Now then, shall we continue the meeting? I don't think this will be a battle we can enjoy, but it is an absolutely necessary fight. The meaning of significantly reducing Celes's combat power here is great."
Yes, the elite units were soldiers from Central. If we could significantly reduce their combat power there, future battles would become easier. And, if we let Beime deal with death-soldiers, there was a possibility that Beime would be completely crushed.
"The war has only just begun. But if we lose here, there is no next time. Let's stay sharp."
—At Redant Fortress, Bloa was pressing the general who was the commander-in-chief.
Entering the room used by the commander-in-chief, Bloa appealed.
"Please listen. Lyell Walt of South Banseime is dangerous. Sending thirty-five thousand soldiers, centered around the Imperial Guard, would be like sending them to their deaths! We should send fifty thousand—no, sixty thousand here, or ignore it and head for Beime!"
The commander-in-chief spoke indifferently.
"It's not a bad plan. We will aim for Beime as originally planned. Besides, we've lost the Count's army. Total losses exceed ten thousand. Not a few lords who went to loot were struck back. Along with the fools who went to loot and didn't come back, of course. In such a state, we don't have the luxury to send sixty thousand. Incidentally, it's fine to have thirty-five thousand seal South Banseime's movements. They should be able to do at least that. It would be better than South Banseime attacking from behind while we are attacking Beime."
Hearing the commander-in-chief's words, Bloa thought that was certainly true. In the end, the commander-in-chief thought it was no problem even if the Imperial Guard lost.
The Imperial Guard and the elite units—what kind of units would be chosen to fill the hole they left? The eastern army that returned from Beime—they had a good memory of victory, and the commander-in-chief thought that if they returned to Central, they could get even closer to Celes. Bloa thought so.
"However, if South Banseime possesses more combat power than expected—"
"General Bloa. It seems some bad rumors are circulating about you?"
Hearing the commander-in-chief's words, Bloa made a frustrated expression. The commander-in-chief didn't necessarily believe the rumors, but he seemed intent on using them to refuse this request.
"I'm entrusting you with the defense of the fortress. It's a scale of seven thousand, adding three thousand from the main force to your soldiers, but please be sufficiently careful. Now, if you fulfill your duties properly, those bad rumors will disappear."
Bloa was sent out of the commander-in-chief's room as if being kicked out. His arm was pulled by the commander-in-chief's guards—.
—Bread departed from Redant Fortress after supplementing the soldiers lost during the mountain crossing from the main force and lord-nobles.
The subordinates of the Imperial Guard. And the elite units had become a number of twenty-eight thousand. Two thousand had died during the mountain crossing or were unable to move due to injury.
However, they would absorb the scale of seven thousand to strengthen their military power and head toward South Banseime. There were mercenary groups among them, but they were entrusted with guiding the way and clearing the path.
"The number of monsters is higher than I thought."
At Bread's words, the mercenary leader who came to report shrugged.
"The adventurers are gathering in Beime, so they're probably increasing. Those things sprout up everywhere."
Bread sought the opinion of the Baronet positioned nearby. For better or worse, he was positioned nearby because he would listen to Bread's opinions.
"Baronet, if we continue to avoid traps and proceed, it will take time to arrive. Why not force a breakthrough through the traps?"
The Baronet spoke without panic.
"That would result in attrition. Besides, if an army of this scale moves, it will reach the opponent's ears whether they like it or not. If not, the opponent is conversely incompetent. There's no need to worry. Even if the enemy's numbers are higher than reported, we have more than three times their number. There is no way we will lose."
Bread thought about it after hearing that opinion.
(So we won't be pushed into a disadvantageous situation by taking the shortest route and reducing our numbers while incurring damage, huh. I heard they didn't reach ten thousand in the report, but we have thirty-five thousand. Normally I would have wanted four times, but the elite units do not fear death for the sake of Celes-sama. This breakthrough power is not something that can be easily defended. The possibility of the opponent coming out for a field battle is low... but we've also prepared siege weapons. Even if they shut themselves inside South Banseime, we have the advantage!)
Bread decided that if he could obtain victory either way, there was no need to force the advance. And so, he decided to move the main force while avoiding the traps—.
—Night.
Eva was of the elf race. Moreover, she was approaching the enemy camp where the clan living in the forest was camping, leading them.
Dark elves were positioned around Eva to protect her, and the fast-moving ones returned from reconnaissance.
Wearing navy blue cloth instead of black, they seemed to have scouted the enemy camp while blending into the darkness. And they reported to Eva.
"It seems there's no mistake. The Baronet's men have placed markers. With this, we can sufficiently aim even with fire arrows."
Eva looked into the distance.
"I can't see them, though?"
The surrounding elves laughed. And while saying sorry to Eva.
"Life becomes problematic for us if we can't use night vision. Unlike the clan that left the forest, we pride ourselves on our legs, eyes, and archery skills."
As the dark elves moved separately, they prepared fire arrows and released them. Eva started running while being protected by those around her and saw fire arrows pierce the tents of the supply wagons and burn.
And perhaps because they ignited the oil inside, the supplies were burning.
The elves immediately extinguished the fire and headed toward the nearby forest, and arrows were released at a place completely different from where they had been just now.
In an instant, hundreds of arrows were released, and the elves, who were reminded of the difference in quantity, thought.
"It's truly enviable. To be able to keep firing that much. Even so, the distance is short and the aim is poor. It seems they lack skill."
Eva followed along so as not to fall behind.
"I had a fair amount of confidence myself, but you guys are beyond that."
Then, a dark elf woman near Eva spoke.
"You don't need that. You just make sure to be liked by that man. The chief said that if you do, it will lead to the improvement of our status."
The reason the elves were cooperating with Eva seemed to be not just because she was of the Nihil clan. Eva smiled, having gained such shrewd comrades.
"Leave it to me. Even so, I have a beautiful voice. I'll seize Lyell's heart with my singing. More importantly, it looks like horses have come."
Looking back, a knight on a horse was holding up a lantern and checking the surroundings. But the dark elves released arrows while running.
"No problem. Besides, we'll enter the forest soon. Once we get there, horses are just targets."
The released arrow shot the lantern out of the knight's hand, and another arrow hit the horse, causing it to rampage and the knight to fall.
"Not bad."
"This much is natural. Look, we're entering the forest. Don't stray."
Surrounded by dark elves, Eva entered the forest—.
—A village around Beime.
Because adventurers and soldiers were not leaving Beime, the one hundred and fifty men of the Baronet who entered the village for the purpose of looting had collapsed to their knees before just two people.
No, there were one hundred and fifty until a moment ago. Around the Baronet, there were already only a few knights and soldiers. A girl sat atop the tent of the supply wagons the Baronet's group had brought.
And a giant woman standing on the ground—just these two had annihilated the Baronet's group with their bare hands.
As the giant woman pressed her right fist into her palm.
"No resistance. Is this all you've got, even though you surrounded us?"
The Baronet's soldiers, who fought by surrounding them with spears and having archers provide support, lost to just two women. Moreover, one was a girl.
"What... what are you people!"
Even if it was close to Beime, that was a story in terms of Beime as a whole. The girl who had been on the supply wagon stood up and jumped, landing in front of the Baronet.
However, at the same time, the knights and soldiers around were blown away.
Blown away, they rolled on the ground and stopped moving. On a moonlit night, the Baronet thought he was dreaming. Sitting down, he looked up at the girl, who had the full moon behind her.
"Sorry. But you guys seem to have rampaged quite a bit, so you don't need me to hold back, right? You came all the way here to rampage... you're prepared to die, right?"
The Baronet saw something sharp emerge from the girl's right hand, and when it was swung sideways, his vision moved abruptly. And as he watched his own body crumble, his vision began to darken—.
—Mei, after the battle ended, looked at the village chief who approached.
He seemed to have been an adventurer originally, but now he had gained fat around his stomach and couldn't wear his old armor, so he only held a weapon.
"A-are you adventurers? That fighting style... you're quite skilled, aren't you? Please! Protect our village!"
To the pleading village chief, Mei shrugged. Marina seemed to have no intention of negotiating from the start. Mei thought.
(Marina should be more suited for this than I am.)
"Unfortunately, we're not. We're Lyell's party members... former party members, actually. We were kicked out of the guild and just happened to be passing by. But we have business, so we have to go now."
The other party knew Lyell's name and, perhaps knowing they had been kicked out, slumped his shoulders.
"I-I see. Speaking of Lyell, at Redant Fortress... I certainly don't have the money to hire such adventurers. But why did you help us?"
Mei crossed her arms.
"Because I couldn't leave you alone. But we can't protect you forever. So, you all should flee. Banseime is rampaging in various places, and many of the attacked villages have been annihilated."
Saying so, Mei left the village together with Marina.
Then, once they were away from the villagers, Mei took the form of a kirin and soared into the sky. Marina rode on Mei's back and looked down at the ground.
"...That boy is truly thorough. If those people we saved enter Beime, the rumors will definitely spread. Beime—no, the guild and merchants will definitely be blamed."
Mei wondered at such human behavior, but still.
"That's Lyell's way. Truly... humans are scary."
Saying so, Mei searched for villages being attacked. Mei and Marina were being sent to help villages being attacked by small-scale units. Mainly to rescue villagers and have them flee to Beime, in order to spread rumors in Beime—.