第３６１堀：敵の正体 (Part2)
"That is certainly a possibility. However, the probability is infinitesimally low. If their goal were to assassinate Lady Hifi and the others, they would have already sent an assassin instead of sending a letter like this. No one goes out of their way to declare their intent to kill before dispatching an assassin."
"Indeed. So, in other words, Noble truly desires our cooperation?"
"Yes. I have restricted the usage of my firearms and kept them hidden, so it seems they haven't noticed them yet. However, it is now confirmed that the Kingdom of Ex was behind the mass production and inflation of magic swords. This means they want Lady Hifi and Lady Comet to provide technical cooperation. A military strategist can only devise tactics based on the resources currently at hand; they cannot simply conjure something new out of thin air."
"That is true."
If they could create something new, they would have already built a peaceful world without needing to rely on Comet.
"War and battle are also a contest of technological development. How to achieve higher performance than the enemy, minimize one's own losses, and maximize the damage to the opponent—this is the most important factor for any strategist to prioritize. However, technological innovation does not happen easily; it is primarily a matter of steady, incremental improvements. Besides, even if tools of war based on a completely different system were created, there are no soldiers to use them. Until they complete their training, old-fashioned weapons will yield better results simply because the soldiers are accustomed to them. New things tend to be disliked by soldiers on the front lines, making new development extremely difficult."
Indeed, on a battlefield where lives are at stake, soldiers would likely prefer to reinforce their offense and defense rather than spend time and effort training with a new weapon that might not even work.
"Lord Noble is likely well aware of this. Bringing in the two of you, who created magic swords with their restrictions removed, is a strategy to ensure they do not fall behind in technological development compared to other nations. It means they can copy, but they cannot create. Looking at the removal of the Holy Sword's restrictions, that was a very recent event. If that technology had existed long ago, the Holy Swords of every nation would have already been stolen. One can read that much from this letter as well."
"I see. In short, Noble covets our technology and is unaware of Yuki and his group. Is that it?"
"To summarize, yes."
"But if that is the case, wouldn't refusing them certainly lead to them threatening the Holy Nation?"
"That is a given. For Lord Noble, the technological prowess of the Holy Nation is something they would do anything to get their hands on. They will try to obtain it by any means necessary. Well, since brute force usually creates resistance, they likely sent this letter first, hoping to gain our understanding."
"However, we are already in a cooperative relationship with Yuki and his group, and now that we accurately grasp the situation on the continent, there is no reason to side with Noble."
That is correct. We have learned that conquering the world is not the end of the story.
There is no reason to join hands with Noble at this late stage.
However, if we refuse, war will surely follow.
What on earth should we do...?
"No, there's no need to force a refusal. Why not just accept the proposal?"
"What!? Are you sane!?"
"No, no, I'm not saying you should actually defect. This is the perfect chance to infiltrate them, isn't it? They want you there at all costs. If you refuse, things will get dangerous, but if you cooperate, they should accept you completely, right? Don't you think?"
"C-could it be..."
"They won't suspect that Hifi and Comet are working with us. Both of you are pillars and leaders supporting your nation. Even in the letter, they're openly claiming ignorance. So, I'm counting on you for intelligence gathering. This will make it easier to collect and scrutinize information from both the inside and the outside. Know your enemy and know yourself, and you shall not be imperiled."
He really intends to use us as pawns for intelligence gathering.
"Ah, if you can persuade them somehow, maybe we can end this without a war. That part will depend on Hifi's skills."
"Understood. We will pretend to accept Noble's proposal and infiltrate."
I replied immediately.
It was only then that I understood.
If I refuse, war is inevitable.
The ones who will suffer the consequences are the people around us.
So, he is telling me to face this to stop that from happening!
I immediately turned on my heel and began preparations for the infiltration.
***
Side: Taizo
"Yuki-kun. You pushed them at the end, didn't you?"
"Of course. They seemed to want a legitimate reason, and if we can really stop a war, it's a gain for us too. It's not just killing two birds with one stone; we'll also gain information, so it's a win-win."
"Make that three birds. You're also planning to throw the Royal Capital of Ex—no, Noble himself—into chaos, right?"
"Naturally. With Mauve and the others, plus Hifi and her group, they'll serve as a sufficient distraction. Once the information is gathered, we'll suppress them all at once."
A natural judgment.
...Lady Hifi, your thoughts and feelings are by no means wrong, but you should have considered the military strength that Yuki-kun and his group possess as a premise.
The result has already been decided.
The only question is whether it will be more certain and perfect.
I have no intention of being complacent, but that Lord Noble hasn't mentioned firearms even once. I highly doubt he can even be considered an enemy from the start.
Yuki-kun, if we hadn't been here, you certainly would have led the charge through this era, but...
"Man, it really helped that the enemy told us their true colors on their own."
Exactly as he says.
With this, the tide has turned in our favor in one fell swoop.
They say information is the greatest weapon, and it's true.
Now then, I shall take over the work Lady Hifi left behind.
Sorry it's not choosing slaves.
But the enemy's true nature has been partially revealed.
And with Hifi and Comet infiltrating, their security is now riddled with holes!
Now, how will the enemy crumble away?
Look forward to it!