第２２０掘：各報告 (Part1)
**Chapter 220: Respective Reports**
My apologies for the delay in updating.
This chapter focuses on the other wives rather than Steve.
***
**Side: Ria – Handling the Fortress Diversionary Force**
"Ria, you truly are my Hero!"
"Oh, stop it. I’m only fulfilling my duties as a wife."
"That’s right. Before being a Hero, you’re my wife. And because you work so hard as both, it’s my duty as a husband to reward you properly. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Ah... w-well, I... I want a child..."
"Is that all? Then let’s get to work right now!"
"E-eh? Are you sure!?"
"We’re a married couple; it’s only natural. And since you’ve been working so hard, everyone will understand."
"Yes."
And so, Yuki-san and I returned to the inn to engage in the loving task of making a child until morning.
"Hehehe..."
"It’s not happening. Stop thinking about that and let’s get to work."
Jessica ruthlessly cut through my daydream.
"Geez, Jessica, you have no sense of romance. If we finish this job, Yuki-san will definitely give us a reward."
"It is true that Yuki rewards us well. However, if we were to request such intimate favors, everyone would have to become pregnant. It is impossible for only you to conceive, Ria. I would have to conceive as well. It would be unfair."
"Yuki-san would do that, wouldn't he? I guess it’s fine then."
"That is exactly why it is impossible. We went through the trouble of staggering our pregnancies to ensure we always had people available to move; I cannot allow a request that would render that meaningless. Besides, we shouldn't be the ones asking. Do you intend to leave the investigation of the New Continent entirely to Yuki?"
"I would never let him do that. Yuki-san always pushes himself too hard."
"Yes, I agree. So, while I understand your feelings, please do not ask Yuki for a child right now."
"...Ugh, I understand. I’ll hold back."
"Yes, as expected of a Hero. Therefore, as a reward, you should just have him be more vigorous with you at night instead."
"I see. Yeah, that gives me motivation!"
"Now, Ria. We went out of our way to leave Yuki’s side to provide security. We cannot return empty-handed. As you can see, the enemy is right before us. What is the plan?"
While saying that, Jessica donned her full-face helmet to hide her expression and turned toward the Enaria army approaching the fortress.
I also deployed the Hero equipment crafted by Yuki-san and Narjia-san and faced the enemy.
"Naturally, we won’t use any tricks. We’ll crush them head-on as planned. Remember, this is also practical training for you, Jessica, so keep a close eye on your own condition."
"...It feels strange to be told that by Ria, who has less combat experience than I do, but since my strength increased so suddenly, I suppose you’re right. Please stop me if I go too far."
"Yes, leave it to me. I’ll make sure to stop you with a single strike, so don't worry."
"...I won't die, will I?"
Jessica looked back at me, sounding anxious, so I instinctively looked at my sword.
*Hmm, a gun-sword would be bad, so just hitting them with the blade should be fine, right?*
Yeah, it’ll be fine.
"Leave it to me!"
"The greatest enemy is the ally behind one's back..."
Jessica, clad in silver armor, and I, in my black dress-armor, charged toward the enemy simultaneously.
My dress-armor fluttered, drawing the enemy's gaze.
...Ugh, I don't feel happy about drawing that kind of attention from the enemy.
"I really should have worn dress-armor too! This is so boorish; it’s not a look I want Yuki to see me in!"
"But Jessica, you’re well-known here, which is why we chose armor that makes it impossible to tell if you’re a man or a woman, right?"
"I know that, but ever since I put on this armor, the difference... the scouts we encounter only look at Ria... If Yuki were to treat me that way, I’d want to die."
"No, I don't think that would happen. After all, Yuki-san is the one who designed that armor."
That’s right. This rugged armor was Yuki-san’s idea.
Although Jessica has trained, she has never fought through a Doppelganger or while her abilities were restricted.
That’s why she was given full-body armor—to ensure she wouldn't get hurt, even if she were a Doppelganger.
"Actually, I’m the one getting weird looks, and it’s extremely unpleasant."
"...That does sound unpleasant. Perhaps this armor was the right choice after all."
With that, we both came to a halt.
"How was it? We’ve finished off the enemy."
"Indeed. It’s clear there is a difference in ability between a Doppelganger and one's original body. But..."
"But? Was something wrong?"
"No, I just felt I didn't have a chance to test my sword at full power."
"That’s to be expected. The only time you or I get to use our swords at full power is during training with Yuki-san."
"...Yuki trains with you?"
"Oh? Have you never trained with Yuki-san before?"
"No, whenever I was training, Yuki was always busy maintaining the 'Betan'."
"I see. Well then, let’s train with Yuki-san together next time. It’s not good not to know the full extent of your sword."
"I suppose so. Though, I can't really imagine Yuki fighting... Anyway, let’s hurry and collect the supplies."
"Yes, let’s collect the supplies and have Yuki-san praise us."
We said that and moved to collect the supplies, but...
"W-wait... even if you are Magic Sword users... I cannot retreat here."
A man was using his sword like a cane, desperately trying to stand.
"To think you would deploy Magic Sword users alone... but Enaria will not lose!"
He didn't look like he had the strength left to swing a sword, but he raised it high and ran toward us.
I was wondering what to do when Jessica stepped forward.
"Knight of Enaria, I have etched your resolve into my heart."
As Jessica said that, blood sprayed from the man’s neck, and he collapsed.
...This wound is something we can't heal.
"...As a fellow knight, I dealt with him."
"...Yes. I understand your feelings, Jessica. And I don't think there’s any problem with what you did."
"But you don't look convinced, Ria."
Jessica must have noticed my expression was complicated. So, I decided to be honest.
"Having been saved by Yuki-san, I can't seem to understand this 'honorable death.' Even if I have to crawl, I want to live and return to Yuki-san’s side."
"Ria, I think that’s fine for us."
We treated the body of the man who had pointed his sword at us until the very end with care, placed him beside his comrades who would eventually wake up, and left the area after collecting the supplies.
I wish war would just disappear.
***
**Side: Kaya – Handling the Sueat Diversionary Force**
Shera and I are currently preparing to use a certain type of magic toward the forest where the enemy army is likely approaching.
"Alright, here we go."
"Yes, leave it to me, Kaya-san."
Shera and I were entrusted with the most troublesome area in the enemy's multi-front invasion strategy.
Why is it troublesome? Because Sueat is surrounded by forests.
In large-scale warfare, one usually chooses a location that plays to their strengths, but in Sueat, that’s difficult to utilize.
If you intercept them in a narrow passage, you can negate the advantages of a large army and fight favorably.
For this reason, I don't think the Enaria army, which considered attacking the open plains of Betan, is stupid.
However, the Enaria army that came to the Sueat front took a troublesome approach.
They dispersed.
In a sense, to avoid being wiped out by utilizing the advantages of a large army, they split their main force in half and used the other half for scouting.
Because of this, the 2,500 Mist soldiers in Sueat couldn't move.
If it were entirely their own land, they could have sent out scouts and lured them into traps, but it hasn't even been a year since they arrived here.
If they sent out scouts who weren't used to the land, they would just be killed in vain.
In reality, since the defense of Sueat is led by the goblin Britt, I don't think they would lose even if they suffered casualties, but since we arrived, we decided to handle the situation to prevent confusion. Now, we are here to deal with the dispersed half and the main force.
"Then, I’m going."
As Shera said that, water began to pour into a large hole created by magic.