kscans

Chapter 202 - The General's Decision

In response to the Imperial Command, General Goltor exclaimed, "What?! Are you sane, Your Majesty?! We still haven't found the monsters' leader, and we're in a situation where we can do nothing!"

His shock was so great that his voice became a roar.

And rightfully so. To advance recklessly when the enemy's location was unknown was extremely dangerous.

"I am well aware," Yorune replied. "However, the situations in the other countries do not allow for it. I just received a communication from the other rulers. They are launching a counteroffensive. Do you understand what will happen if they execute such a plan while we remain in our current state?"

Her cold words made the General think calmly.

So the other countries are launching an attack because they have been pushed that far. Even if their plan succeeded, as long as they didn't defeat the root cause, more monsters would just keep appearing.

All that would follow would be a slaughter.

The fact that the other countries had informed them of their plan should be taken as a form of pressure.

"I understand," the General said, his resolve clear. "I, too, will go to the front. We have more than a few wounded from the previous battle. My presence should serve to boost morale."

Hearing this, Yorune said, "I pray for your safe return and good news."

With that, she cut the transmission.

The General stood up. "So this is where I die," he murmured.

With a sense of nostalgia, he left the room.

In the hallway, he encountered Chevre. "Chevre, I have an urgent order for all soldiers and adventurers. Have them assemble at the main gate of the base."

"Is it an emergency?" Chevre asked.

The General walked on without a word.

His back radiated a strong will and determination.

"May you return safely," Chevre said, her face filled with sadness. She didn't know the details, but she felt that he was going to his death.

At the main gate of the base, we had assembled as per the General's instructions.

All those within the base who could still fight were gathered. The "Mad Dog" party remained in the infirmary, their wounds too severe.

"What's all this about?"

"It's an order from the General, so it must be something important."

"Probably about our future defense plans. The monsters' boss hasn't shown up at all."

Various speculations were flying around.

"A summons from the General," I said. "Think it's something different from before?"

"It's a possibility," Tina replied. "If things were to continue as they have been, there would be no need for a summons. And it's an order from the General himself. It's best to assume it's something completely different."

That was true. If it was business as usual, there would be no need to gather everyone. But if it was the opposite, did that mean they were going on the offensive?

But as long as the source of the monsters hadn't appeared, they couldn't do anything rash.

A year ago, they had defeated the Minotaur and the Centaur, which had made the monsters quiet down for a bit. This time, high-level monsters had appeared, but they didn't seem to be leading all the others.

"If that's the case, Tina," I said, "this is going to be a very dangerous job. Don't die on me."

"Isn't this where you're supposed to say, 'You can back out if you want'?" Tina teased.

"You'd just get mad if I said that," I replied with a grin. "We've been together a long time. I know you pretty well."

"Well, of course," Tina said with a smile. "Otherwise, there'd be no point in being together."

Tina was, in fact, extremely happy and a little excited, but she managed to control herself in front of the large crowd.

Just then, the female knight in purple armor, Chevre, announced, "General Goltor has arrived."

At her words, the General appeared. Everyone fell silent.

When a superior speaks, you listen quietly. It was the same everywhere.

"I have gathered you all here today for one reason," the General began. "We are going to advance and defeat the monsters' boss."

At this declaration, an adventurer asked, "Does that mean you've found the boss's location?"

A slightly brighter mood settled over the crowd. It was the best possible news to overturn their disadvantageous position.

However, the General's face was grim. "No. We still do not know the boss's location. But we cannot allow this situation to drag on any longer. The reason is that our supplies will not last. Therefore, we will advance, defeat any monsters we encounter, and continue to advance. By causing a commotion, we will lure out the monsters' boss."

At this, another adventurer asked, "Wait, isn't that dangerous? If they don't show up, does that mean we just keep fighting indefinitely?"

A stir of unease went through the crowd.

This plan meant they wouldn't be able to return, let alone rest, until the root cause appeared.

It was, in short, a march to their deaths. Not just the adventurers, but the soldiers too, were bewildered.

"Of course, I am not sending you alone," the General said. "I, too, will stand on the front lines and take command. But even so, there is no guarantee you will return alive. Adventurers, and soldiers as well, you are here by contract. I want you to think once more about your lives. Your families. Your loved ones. All are precious and irreplaceable treasures."

"I will be leaving for a short while. In that time, I want you to choose whether to remain here or to leave. And now, the adventurers will be paid their reward for their service thus far. You are free to stay after receiving it. For those who leave, I swear on my name, Goltor, that there will be no breach of contract fee. As for the soldiers, I have no intention of discharging you. I also swear here that those who leave will be considered on paid leave. Finally, thank you for fighting with us until now."

With that, he walked away.

After he left, Chevre announced, "Now, all adventurers, the knights over there have prepared your rewards. Please form a line."

She pointed to a line of knights standing behind simple desks and large wooden boxes.

The adventurers seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then one by one, they began to form a line.

"We're adventurers, so we should get in line," I said.

"That's right," Tina replied with a small smile. "You and I have already made our decision."

I felt the same way. After receiving a bag containing my reward from a knight, I checked its contents.

Twenty gold coins. Forty between the two of us. They were being quite generous.

"If this is the end," I mused, "then I need to figure out what to do with him. It'll be hard to sneak him along in a situation like this."

To this, Tina replied, "You're right. But there's no need to rush. After we defeat the root cause, the monsters will surely retreat. An army without a leader can do nothing but flee. The humans will also withdraw without giving unnecessary chase. They'll probably have a feast afterwards. If we're going to take him, that will be our only chance."

It was a concise plan.

I nodded silently.

After everyone had received their pay, one party began to pack their things.

Seeing this, another adventurer asked, "Are you guys leaving?"

The party's leader replied, "Yeah, we got our money, so we have no reason to stay here. The General said it was okay to leave. We joined up from the capital partway through. If the fighting gets any more intense, we'll definitely die. We value our lives."

The other members had the same expression.

"I see," the adventurer said. "Maybe we should think about it, too."

He went back to his comrades.

After discussing among themselves, several adventurer parties began to pack their things. And among the soldiers, too, there were those who were packing their belongings.

Seeing this, a senior soldier confronted one of them. "You... Are you planning on abandoning your duty as a soldier?"

At his somewhat intimidating attitude, the soldier replied, "The General said we'd be put on paid leave. I won't be spoken to like that. Besides, I have a frail mother and a wife who takes care of her. I don't want to die now and leave them behind. I don't even have children yet."

He muttered this with a look of regret.

As the senior soldier was about to say something, their superior, the soldier-captain, intervened. "Stop it. You heard what the General said. To think about our loved ones. I apologize for insulting your decision. Take care of your family. And come back again."

At these last words, the soldier cried.

He had been prepared to be called a coward, but to hear such words, it was only natural that the wall within him would crumble.

Seeing this, the other soldiers also reconsidered and began to pack their things.

Thirty minutes later, the General reappeared.

The numbers had dwindled from before. About a quarter of the people were gone. Not just adventurers, but soldiers as well.

"Your presence here means you have accepted your resolve," the General said. "I want to swear on my name, Goltor, to bring you all back alive, but even so, there will be deaths. I am not a hero who can save everyone. I am just a man, like you. There is a limit to what I can do and who I can save. Will you still follow me?"

The warriors who remained stood in silent determination.

After looking around at everyone, Goltor declared, "Very well. Then let us go! To victory!"

He raised his great hammer high.

The warriors all raised their weapons in kind.

"""Ooooooooooh!"""

They let out a battle cry. We, too, joined in.