第３０３堀：な、なんだってー！？ (Part3)
That was the reason I had Labyris sitting on my lap.
Labyris has a skill that allows her to read minds. It’s a difficult ability to use because it requires a certain level of intimacy, but by doing this, she can peer into the things that snag in my mind, offering me a third-party perspective on my own thoughts and considerations.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Labyris herself is cute.
"Hey, stop thinking about how cute I am. I’ll attack you, you know."
"Sorry, sorry."
Knowing Labyris, she would genuinely try to ambush me right here, right now, without anyone else noticing. I’ll pass on that kind of thrilling, shameful play.
I turned my focus back to the declaration of war.
"So, yeah. Hmm. I think I’ve got a general idea. The whole thing lacks a clear objective."
"The whole thing, you say?"
"Exactly. The entire operation. They picked a fight with a major power, yet they retreated from the very first battle. And that’s despite having enough strength to win—they didn't even try to capture the position."
"Could it be that the power of their guns and cannons was lower than expected?"
"Hmm. We’d have to investigate to be sure, but even setting that aside, they had people with the skill to escape from John, and others with enough talent to challenge the Wyvern Corps. The gap in power was obvious—the enemies who picked a fight with the unit Steve was leading were captured, after all. But even if they lost, that’s no reason for them not to be able to take the position, even if their guns and cannons lacked punch."
"Now that you mention it, that’s true."
"That’s why you’re troubled, Yuki. It looks like a diversion or an experiment, but from the perspective of the Holy Kingdom of Hifi, there’s no real merit to it. If the diversion was meant to lure the main army out of the capital by attacking the King, the capital would be left empty, but there’s no route to attack it. You’d have to go through another country. And as an experiment for firearms, you wouldn't go out of your way to pick a fight with an opponent you might lose to just to gather data. Monsters or bandits would be more than enough for that."
"Hmm. You’re right. It’s strange. It’s too strange."
"Furthermore, look at the enemy's actions after the Wyvern Corps arrived. They immediately began to retreat, but the commander, seeing they couldn't escape, attacked their own soldiers to silence them. I don't understand the point of going to such lengths to cover their tracks."
"Wasn't that to prevent information from being extracted?"
"Information? They’re just common soldiers, aren't they? They wouldn't have any high-level intelligence. It seems they were worried about the usage of their firearms being leaked, but that’s been dismissed pretty quickly."
"Why is that?"
"Ratz. If you were to get your hands on the guns from Yuki’s world, how long do you think it would take to understand them from scratch, master them, and set up a production line?"
"Ah... yeah, you wouldn't be talking about a few years. It might even take over a decade. For starters, we don't even know the method for forging steel that can withstand a gunshot. So, now the reason for silencing them makes even less sense..."
"Overall, their movements are truly incomprehensible..."
I re-examined my own thoughts, and just as Labyris said, it made absolutely no sense. I had considered the possibility that they were launching a diversion against a major power to conquer a smaller nation in the meantime, but the risks outweighed the rewards. They would have to spread their forces too thin, leaving them short-handed. In that time, August would crush their home country and it would all be over.
"It really makes no sense. I don't see the benefit in starting a war."
Jessica tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Even if they wanted to expand their territory, the idea of taking over a major power's land... that’s impossible."
Samantha was also deep in thought, but she didn't seem convinced either.
"...It’s a fact that the enemy had no real intention of winning. We shouldn't look for a different objective; we should see the act of provoking the country as the objective itself."
"Eh, Cleena? What do you mean by that?"
Hmm, provoking?
"Mm. Simple. The enemy said they achieved their goal. In other words, the act of picking a fight with August itself might have been the goal."
"Hm? What does that mean?"
...Wait a second.
"I don't have proof yet. But they had the strength to win and didn't try to. That means they have no intention of seizing territory right now. And given that they started preparing to retreat as soon as the Wyvern Corps arrived..."
"They intend to lure us in."
"Mm. They can invade once they’ve kicked out the nuisances. They should choose a battlefield where they have the advantage. For August, having a small nation bare its fangs at them is a matter of pride. Since they’ve already sent reinforcements from the main army, I think August will invade as they are. After all, they’ve already succeeded in defending once."
"So, even if they faced guns and cannons, the damage was light, so they’ll underestimate them and invade?"
"Mm. Exactly. In a sense, we might have made a painful mistake."
"Because the Wyvern Corps took the lead and scattered them, we didn't drive them off ourselves, so there’s no sense of crisis regarding the guns and cannons."
"Exactly. I don't know what the King will instruct, but at most, he’ll just urge caution. They won't just sit by and ignore this invasion. I’m certain they will invade Hifi as a reprisal."
...This is bad. Cleena is right. Even if the King, August VIII, saw the power of the guns and cannons and knows there is a disparity in strength, he can't deny the result of a successful defense, nor can he tell them to stop the retaliation.
"Wait a minute. If that’s the case..."
"It’s just as Rurua thinks. If things continue like this, the main August army will be wiped out on a battlefield prepared by the Holy Kingdom of Hifi. If it were me, I’d deploy bunkers and trenches all over that battlefield to make sure of it."
Jessica continued, agreeing with Rurua.
"Budgets and supplies are limited, after all. They’d want to finish it with as little consumption as possible. I see, that makes sense."
Ratz is right. Budgets and supplies are limited. That’s why a quick resolution is desirable.
"I think I understand, but why did they kill their own allies then?"
"..."
We had figured out a lot, but we couldn't answer Ria’s question.
"...The doubt Ria raised is still a mystery. It’s possible they did it for a different purpose, and my theory is just that—a high probability. I think we should carefully analyze the information the Wyvern Corps brought back. Fortunately, they won't make a move today or tomorrow, so we should think about it during that time."
"That’s true. But my thoughts are starting to come together. Thanks."
I said that, intending to take a real break, but then a message arrived from Cole.
『General!! It’s John!!』
"What’s wrong?"
『The female mage I fought... it turns out she was a predecessor!! A Dungeon Master!! It’s Comet Tail herself!!』
John’s voice reached everyone. And then...
"W-what did you say!?"
Wait, hold on!? Huh? Why is the top brass showing up!?
『I showed Zargis her arm and staff, and it seems she’s been turned into an undead. A high-ranking Lich type. The staff is made from a dungeon core, just like a Holy Sword or a Magic Sword. And I had Popuri, Sia, and Kishua confirm her identity, so there’s almost no mistake.』
Are you serious!! This can only mean trouble. Also, I didn't think they’d actually say "What did you say!?" in unison.
MMR. Does everyone know it? Come on, let’s say it together!!