第１５９掘：まっとうに戦いますよ？ 無論俺たちが戦いやすいようにな (Part1)
**Dig 159: We’ll Fight Fair and Square? Naturally, in a Way That Favors Us**
**Side: Yuki**
I’ve finished my reconnaissance and have returned to the ruins.
Following the plan, I spent three days there, keeping the princess occupied while gathering information from various sources.
I relayed the results to the elders of the demi-humans—or "demi-humans," as they are collectively called on this new continent to distinguish them from the human race. It’s a term likely steeped in contempt, but let’s set that aside for now.
"That’s the situation. I haven’t counted the final numbers, but from what I’ve heard, it’s around 2,500."
"…2,500, you say?"
Only the elder spoke up. The other members present at the meeting, even Set, remained silent.
"The number of people in the village capable of fighting is seventy at most, and you lot have a little over a hundred…"
The goblin unit has been reinforced since then. They’re just so convenient! In more ways than one!
"Even if we throw in the women and children, two hundred is the best we can hope for."
"Surely, adding these hundred mercenaries to make three hundred won’t be enough to do anything, right?"
Finally, acknowledging the disparity in strength that the elder had pointed out, voices of retreat began to surface.
Honestly, where did that bravery go, you demi-humans?
"Speaking of which, didn't you say you were going to coordinate with other demi-humans? It’s been two weeks since we captured those soldiers; have there been any responses?"
"That’s the thing. Whether they’re reluctant to accept help from your kind, or they simply don’t believe we can win, the replies haven't been good. They’re just watching from the sidelines."
"Hmm. It’s a nuisance for us, but I can’t say their judgment is wrong."
After all, no one wants to risk their lives without knowing if they can actually win. Especially when the command is being handled by us—a mercenary group of humans they can’t even trust.
"Still, some have gathered, haven't they?"
"Aye. Even if the cooperation from each village is sparse, there are those who have come."
"Then we’ll just have to make do with that for now. Once we manage to overcome these overwhelming odds, the ones sitting on the fence will likely change their tune."
"That is true."
"The enemy won't be here immediately, either. They’re preparing for a large-scale march. It’s not the same as just walking. We’ve got at least another month."
The primary mode of transport here is horses. But since this new continent is a land of warring states, horses are incredibly valuable as they are used in battle.
By the way, I haven't told the elders this, but for the Zilba Empire, this subjugation of the demi-humans was actually unplanned.
In truth, the raid on the demi-human village was a blunder by a high-ranking military official of the Zilba Empire who had failed in a conflict with another nation. This was supposed to be his way of cleaning up his mess by either exterminating or capturing the demi-humans.
In this new continent, demi-humans are targets of discrimination, and there is, of course, a reason for it.
I haven't investigated the root cause, but as Luna says, the depletion of magical energy has lowered the birth rate of demi-humans, causing their numbers to dwindle.
Luna claims that because of this, demi-humans have evolved to utilize magical energy more efficiently than humans just to survive.
In other words, beastmen excel in physical ability, and elves excel in magic.
Well, that’s not true for every single individual, but that’s the general trend.
Before the magical depletion, it seems they coexisted with humans, much like on the continent where Weed is located. But once their numbers began to drop, the beastmen and elf nations could no longer sustain themselves.
Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that human-supremacist nations conquered them as their numbers dwindled.
Since the common enemy—monsters—had decreased due to the magical depletion, the next threat became the demi-humans, who were individually superior to them. I suspect that is how the discrimination began.
That’s just my hypothesis, based on the history I heard from Jessica and the history of the demi-humans I heard from the elder.
In short, subjugating demi-humans on this continent is perceived much like exterminating monsters.
However, they use weapons and strategies just like humans do. And on top of that, their individual performance is higher.
If they succeed in the subjugation, they gain a fair amount of fame. That was the goal of the noble military officer who attacked, targeting a village of only women.
If we hadn't shown up, it would have gone perfectly for them!
Ah, why did we have to arrive at such a timing?
Anyway, as a result, the subjugation failed. Nearly 300 soldiers brought by that noble were captured.
That created a problem. While the empire is busy with wars between humans, they’ve gone and provoked the demi-humans in a region officially considered their own territory.
Having 300 men wiped out by a small group—they don't want internal turmoil. If that happens, the Zilba Empire’s invasion of other countries will slow down.
That’s why they sent the "Wind Princess Knight," one of the Zilba Empire’s top knights, hoping for a swift resolution.
She herself said she was the lead general for the invasion force against the neighboring Enaria Holy Kingdom, and that she had returned because her rear was being threatened.
It really is just a cleanup job.
That’s how things have played out so far.
For the finer details, the 2,500 soldiers are under the direct command of the Wind Princess Knight.
Rumor has it that the quality of these soldiers is top-class even for the Zilba Empire.
Under normal circumstances, there would be no chance of winning. If it were normal, that is.
"A month, huh..."
The elder finally said, as if chewing on my words.
"Yes, a month. If you’re going to run, you need to start in about half a month, or there’s a chance you’ll be caught. If you wait until the last minute, you won’t be able to take your belongings with you."
"If we were to run, what would you lot do?"
"I’ve been saying it from the start. We came from those ruins, and we have to protect them, so we have no intention of moving from here."
Please, just run away already.
If you do, I won't have to worry about you dragging us down.
Reinforcements have arrived from elsewhere, but I’m still worried about whether they’ll follow our instructions.
"Are you truly saying you came from those ruins?"
"Not the ruins themselves, but a land elsewhere. The world is vast. There are still many worlds out there that you elders don't know about."
"…You intend to stand your ground and intercept those 2,500 enemies?"
"Yup."
Besides, I’ve already contacted my allies, and I’ve had Steve change the construction of the defensive lines.
It should be finished in about a week, right?
We’re building something that can stop not just 2,500, but ten times that number.
What I had Steve do wasn't the defensive construction for the ruins, but a defensive construction to deal with the 2,500.
The ruins... the dungeon’s defensive construction is already complete. It has become a place that can be called a "rule-breaker," with a near-zero chance of falling given the tactics and combat methods of this new continent.