第５２７堀：本当に忙しい半日 夜之部 (Part2)
I can’t quite recall the details, and the interrogation was only just getting started, anyway.
"This is Steve, Captain of the Baide Security Force. Identify your affiliation."
"G-goblins in the sky!? N-no, never mind that. We are the Saber Magic Battalion, under the direct jurisdiction of the Royal Capital of Haiden!! We have been tasked with the escort of Princess Carrie and Duchess Kagura, and have arrived here. Requesting guidance to them immediately!!"
Ah, right. They did mention something about "Saber."
That means they are indeed from the same unit.
Suspicious...
Still, they claim to be on a mission.
I suppose I should verify that.
"Steve. Check their mission orders. Be careful."
"Understood, boss. Alright, I’d like to see your orders."
"Here."
They handed over the documents without any sign of hesitation.
Steve checked them over, and they appeared to be official.
Hmm. Well, that was to be expected. Using the current chaos as a cover to kidnap them is a viable strategy, after all.
They could just shift the blame, claiming the princesses were already gone by the time they arrived in Baide.
As for Duke Kamishiro, he was clearly intent on killing them, so I’ll need to interrogate him thoroughly about his motives later.
The Duke himself has a high level of magical power, so I’m curious why he was so focused on elimination.
"Hmm, hmm. It’s official, boss. So, what’s the plan? The princesses aren't actually in Baide right now. Should I send them home?"
"We could pretend they’re here, try to bait them using what we heard from Duke Kamishiro earlier, or just suppress them all at once. Or, as you suggested, send them packing. Either way, I don't want monsters being unleashed in the middle of Baide, so let's try to bait them. If they don't bite, we suppress. Besides, I don't want them knowing that a force like yours is stationed in Baide."
"Understood."
In the end, the only option is to capture them.
I can’t afford to leak our information.
"I’m returning these. Now, I’d like to invite you in, but we can't exactly let a group that controls monsters—like the 'Gathering of Wisdom'—into our city."
"Tch! So the women of Baide really were receiving intelligence from the Empire. That’s exactly why I said we should have crushed them sooner!!"
Oh? They spilled the beans quite easily.
So that was the real reason they attacked Baide.
Well, they likely had the goal of increasing the number of war-proponents among the influential, but they also wanted to crush Baide because they feared we might have caught wind of this "Gathering of Wisdom" due to our proximity to the Empire.
And on top of that, they planned to snatch the Princess and Kagura in the confusion.
Talk about killing three birds with one stone.
"Fine. The Empire’s withdrawal threw off our schedule, but we’ll just have to finish off those harlots ourselves!! They’re just five goblins that can fly!! We’ll take them out in one go, break into the lord’s mansion, and take the Princess and the Duchess!!"
"Sir!!"
How straightforward.
Without another word, they drew their swords and began firing magic at us.
Unfortunately for them, they were in the sky.
And since we were a fair distance from Baide, there were no restrictions on using weapons.
Which means...
*Click.*
With that sound, Steve and his squad raised their assault rifles in unison.
"Fire!!"
*Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat...*
Along with the sound of gunfire, the members of the so-called "Gathering of Wisdom" began to plummet.
"Hey. You didn't kill them, did you?"
"They didn't die instantly, so we're good. But man, it’s a pain in the neck to have to carry two people per person."
"Do your best. That’s part of the job."
"Ugh. It’s not worth the pay. Alright, we’re recovering them and heading back."
The call ended.
"That was... incredible."
"If we couldn't fight like that, I wouldn't have dared to take on the Imperial Army the other day."
"Indeed..."
"Now, let’s head back to Duke Kamishiro and continue the interrogation..."
Just as I thought that, the next trouble came knocking.
"Yuki-san!! It’s Taiki!! The Princess approached the member of the Gathering of Wisdom we had in the dungeon, and before I knew it, she started stabbing him repeatedly with a sword!!"
"What!?"
"I left them alone for a second to see what they’d talk about, and this happened! I’m sorry!! I’m heading there to stop her now!! Yuki-san, you can heal people, right!?"
"Got it. I’m heading there right now!!"
Good grief, why did that flighty Princess do something like that?
Damn it. It looks like I’m pulling an all-nighter tonight!!
And so, Yuki’s long night had only just begun.