第２９４堀：火の粉舞い上がる (Part3)
"I must decline. If I were to do that, I would be failing in my duties as a soldier. I am grateful for the offer regarding the chair, so please, go ahead with your investigation. Do call out if you need anything else."
How earnest.
If Jessica were to go out of her way to ask someone like that, "Would you like to come inside?" a soldier this serious would absolutely refuse.
Thinking that to myself, I entered the room. Although books were piled up on the table, no one was actually reading them to conduct research. Instead, everyone was gathered around Yuki-san, staring at the call screen.
"Has some information come in?"
"Ah, Eris and the others. You've arrived."
"Yes, just now."
"I see. Then take a look at this."
With that, the view from Wai-chan’s perspective was projected onto the call screen...
On the screen, soldiers were being carried into the barracks one after another.
...They looked battered, like remnants of a defeated army, no matter how you sliced it.
But it wasn't just one or two of them. A quick glance told me there were over fifty.
"What happened?"
"I don't know the exact details yet. But since they were accepted despite suddenly bursting into the barracks, they must be August soldiers. I can't exactly have Wai-chan talk to them to get the story, after all."
"Doing that would cause an even bigger commotion, wouldn't it? Still, which unit do these soldiers belong to, and where were they brought from? Cleena, do you know?"
Ratz asked this, turning to Cleena, who was from this country.
However, Cleena quietly shook her head...
"...Sorry, I don't know."
"I see. Well, it’s impossible to remember things you aren't interested in. They probably aren't a major unit, so they’re likely soldiers who don't appear in public often."
"Ah, but did Vixen run to the royal castle to report this?"
"Yeah, that might be the case."
"What do you mean? Is Vixen-san not in the barracks right now?"
"Yes, I saw him riding a horse through the city a short while ago."
"That means he’s in the middle of gathering the people in charge at the royal castle... I don't want to be a peeping tom, but since this might affect us too, it’s unavoidable if we want to gather accurate information."
Yuki-san said this and switched the display to the surveillance screen of the royal castle, which had been turned into a dungeon.
Of course, not just August, but all the important locations we’ve visited have been turned into dungeons, and now we are preventing magical power from concentrating in the vicinity of the Academy.
At first, we were worried about the mass generation of monsters due to the diffusion of magical power caused by the dungeonization, but since we’ve unraveled the flow of that power, we keep our allies stationed at the Academy—the collection point—at all times and periodically cull the monsters. Therefore, a mass outbreak caused by us is virtually impossible.
"...The Princess is here, isn't she? Feigel-san is in the same room, too. And the one approaching in a panic is Vixen-san."
We, too, watched the surveillance of the interior on the call screen along with Yuki-san.
They were indeed gathered in a large conference room. Seeing not just those three, but various others gathered as well, it really seemed like a major crisis.
"Excuse me!!"
The screen showed Vixen-san entering in a panic.
"You've come, Vixen. Well, what is the status?"
"Most of them are wounded, and we are extremely busy making arrangements for their treatment."
"I see. And there is no mistake?"
"Yes. There is no mistake. They are the Imperial Guard and local territorial soldiers who accompanied His Majesty on his inspection."
At Vixen-san’s words, everyone in the conference room began to murmur.
Still, it’s quite something for the Imperial Guard to be carried back in such a battered state.
"His Majesty! Was His Majesty not to be found?!"
One man asked Vixen-san.
"No, I do not see His Majesty among the wounded soldiers being sent back."
"Is there no report from a messenger? Sending back only the wounded suggests they are being evacuated, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct. I have received a directive from the Vice Captain of the Imperial Guard, who led the wounded soldiers back."
With that, Vixen-san handed the directive to Feigel-san.
Feigel-san confirmed that the directive was authentic, broke the seal, and read through it.
"...This is a grave situation."
"What does it say?"
"It appears that one of the countries behind August has declared war on our nation."
"What did you say?!"
A feeling of disbelief spread throughout the conference room.
"It seems His Majesty, who was on an inspection—not by coincidence, I suspect—happened to be there and personally led the local soldiers and the Imperial Guard to try and drive them off."
"...Father would do that. So, did he succeed in driving them back?"
"The balance of power was initially 1,000 against 3,000. While His Majesty had the clear advantage in numbers, it is said that every single one of the enemies was equipped with what appeared to be magic swords and fire staves."
"How much of that is true?"
"I do not know. However, perhaps sensing something ominous upon seeing that equipment, they chose to hole up in a fortress rather than clash on the plains. However, the enemy's offensive is fierce, and they seem to be operating under the premise of a retreat. They are currently diverting defensive troops to evacuate the local populace. They are requesting that we send an army to construct a defensive line."
"I see, so that’s why the local soldiers were sent here as well. Vixen, go and immediately ask the wounded soldiers about the contents Feigel-sensei just read."
"Yes!!"
"Feigel-sensei, immediately issue a call to arms to the military to establish a defensive line. The size should be half of the Royal Capital Defense Force. Call upon the regional armies as well."
"Yes."
"Finish the preparation period in five days at the absolute minimum!! If the story is true, it wouldn't be strange if Father and the others returned in defeat at any moment. Make sure the system to accept them is ready!!"
"Yes!!"
"Messenger!! Tell Father we are preparing and will head out immediately!! Tell him the advance party will arrive in eight days, and the entire army in twenty!!"
"Yes!!"
"Bring me a map!! We will contact the regions likely to suffer damage and predict Father’s retreat route. Send out scouts today to find their location!!"
"Yes!!"
The intensity is incredible.
However, this command ability... it might even be superior to Seraria’s.
"How shall we explain this to the people?"
"Even if we hide it, the wounded soldiers in the barracks will give it away. We shouldn't hide it clumsily; just tell them an enemy country has attacked and that we are heading out to intercept them. Do not imply the possibility of a retreat. It will destabilize public order. If Father—if His Majesty—is leading the command personally, no one will anticipate defeat."
"Understood."
Just like that, he was handling not only military instructions but also the strengthening of public order in the royal capital and measures against the rise in banditry without a hitch.
"...Jessica, Samantha, Cleena, if my memory serves me correctly, I heard that aside from the six great powers, including the demi-human nations, most countries are insignificant and rely on the six central powers. Am I correct?"
"Yes. That is correct. They maintain the facade of being nations, but they are vassal states, after all."
"That is true. As Jessica says, there are wars between small countries, but I have never heard of one picking a fight with the six great powers."
"Yeah. In the first place, there is no merit in going to war. They should be getting more benefits by keeping the region stable as a vassal state."
I see. I had heard this from Jessica, but it seems this place is the same as the Weed continent.
They are likely using the great powers as a shield to maintain a form of non-interference.
After all, if a great power were to disappear, they would have to fight against another great power in its place.
The Weed continent also had the added meaning of keeping the Demon King in check.
"In other words, the opponent moved because they took down a great power and are confident they can sufficiently handle the others as well."
"..."
At Yuki-san’s words, everyone fell silent.
Yes, it’s obvious if you think about it. There’s no way the people involved wouldn't realize what we can figure out immediately.
Which means they are truly acting with some kind of plan in mind.
"Furthermore, they all possess a large number of magic swords and what appear to be enchanted staves. This... they might even know about what we are looking for."
"Then, brother..."
"Yeah. We will participate in this battle as a mercenary group. They will likely want our strength as well."
With that, Yuki-san pointed to Amanda and Eoid, who were sleeping due to magic.
"I won't let them do anything dangerous. But, I’ll make use of them right away. Milly, Kirika, you heard that, right?"
"Yes."
"Without missing a single word."
"Milly and Kirika, continue gathering detailed information in the royal capital. We will contact Popuri and Lara."
"Yes."
Good grief, it seems like a relaxing honeymoon is out of the question.
Well, it’s a bit different from the usual promise, but a small country declaring war on August.
What is happening?
What about the mass of magic swords and fire staves?
I’m going to collect all the flags for the new continent that have been scattered until now!!
Also, on a separate note, I caught a cold.
Something is affecting my throat, and the cough is terrible.
It’s been dragging on for about a week; I hope it heals soon.