第７７７堀：国の対応と偵察報告 (Part1)
**Chapter 777: National Response and Reconnaissance Report**
**Side: Mikos**
"Colonel again?! Or rather, what?"
"No, I don't need it."
The voices of General Steve and General John drifted from the pitch-black screen.
"Hah, they’re surprisingly relaxed."
The one who said that was our Master Yuki.
Upon receiving the report this morning that about 10,000 reconstruction support troops from the Kingdom of Seasypho had arrived, he had issued instructions to Generals Steve and John, who had moved immediately.
"I suppose it’s better than being tense, isn't it?"
"That's true. Though, I think it would be more of a problem if General Steve and the others didn't have the leeway to have a conversation like that."
Indeed, as Kirue-san and Sasari-san said, the generals sounded composed, and since the Margrave seemed to be safe as well, I felt relieved that a battle didn't seem imminent.
"Phew."
Without realizing it, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Mikos."
It seemed Yuki-san had heard me, as he called out my name. I hadn't intended to interrupt their discussion.
"Ah, s-sorry. It’s not like I was getting sleepy or anything..."
"Oh, I’m not angry. You just seemed unusually relieved. Did something happen?"
"Um, my family home is near the Margrave's territory... and, well, we are vassals of the Margrave."
"I see. So your parents are in this region?"
That’s right. My parents run a small territory in a part of this region. Well, even if I say it’s a territory, it’s in such a remote area—a corner of the frontier—so it’s as rural as it gets. Still, when I heard that the Kingdom of Seasypho’s reconstruction support army had arrived, I was worried. If a war broke out, they would surely be ordered to provide soldiers, and there’s no way the Margrave’s total forces could win. I wouldn’t want to survive safely only to have my parents die.
Still, I shouldn't burden others with my personal worries...
"I'm sorry. Right now, investigating the movements of the Seasypho Kingdom is the top priority, isn't it?"
I want to confirm their safety, but that can wait for another day. Since no battle has started, they must be fine.
"No, it’s only natural to worry about your family. In fact, why don't we ask your parents to let us place a Gate there?"
"Eh?"
I thought Yuki-san was kind for forgiving me and understanding, but the conversation was heading in an unexpected direction.
"Yuki, what’s this all of a sudden? Why open a Gate at Mikos’s parents' place?"
Even Kagura questioned Yuki-san. Why would my worrying about my family lead to installing a Gate?
"Hm? Well, it would make it easier for Mikos to see her parents, and considering the incident where Mikos and Solo were threatened, I want to have a system in place to help them immediately if the worst happens."
"Yuki-san..."
This is bad. Yuki-san is super kind. And if he’s being considerate of my parents... that means, right? Does this mean Mikos is destined to be Yuki-san’s bride?!
"Well, it could also be used to guard the border against the problematic Seasypho Kingdom."
"But if that's the case, shouldn't we ask the Margrave..."
Kagura, perhaps unhappy that I might be the chosen bride, tried to find fault with the plan.
"I don't have a direct acquaintance with the Margrave, and negotiations for installing a Gate could take time. In that case, wouldn't it be better to go through your parents, whom we can easily persuade through you, Mikos? Besides, it’s not a large-scale territory like the Margrave’s, so it won't attract attention. I want to place it secretly. Ah, that was a rude way to describe your family home. My apologies."
"No, no! It is definitely a rural area. And please, leave the matter of placing the Gate in our territory to me! I will definitely persuade my parents!!"
"..."
It really is just a rural area with nothing to it. *Heh heh heh.* Who would have thought that my parents being humble, poor lords would come in handy here? Kagura, glaring at me won't help! This is a necessary measure to protect Haiden! Including the part where I become his bride!!
"Well, tell them we will pay compensation for the use of the land. I’ll have to hear their requests before I know if I can pay exactly what they want, though."
"Understood. But I don't think you need to worry too much. They are quite timid..."
I don't think they could demand anything from the consort of another country.
"Still, that’s assuming the Seasypho Kingdom is an enemy, right? It doesn't look like the situation is that dire yet, does it?"
"Indeed, the situation isn't critical. Well, that’s a good thing."
*Tsk*, Kagura, you’re doing unnecessary things! Regardless of the situation, if I can just get them to open a Gate at my family home, the rest will follow! As I glared at Kagura with that thought, she glared right back. *Grrr.*
"Anyway, what’s the status of Princess Carrie and Haiden’s movements?"
Yuki-san, oblivious to the woman-to-woman battle between me and Kagura, moved the discussion back to business.
"Eh? Ah, right. As for the Princess—or rather, Haiden—they’ve sent an envoy. It’s meant to serve as a guide to the Royal Capital."
"Are they letting the reconstruction support army into the Royal Capital?"
"The upper management seems to want to lure them in and disarm them. They think that if they can do that, they’ll be safe; if they can't, they’ll judge them as enemies. They also seem to have the goal of exhausting them by making them march all the way to the capital."
Well, I understand that, but for me, I was worried about my family. If the premise is to protect the capital and the country, it’s the right response, but it doesn't protect Mikos’s family home...
"I see. That’s one way to do it. However, if they have intentions of invading, the capital will suffer a fatal blow. How are they thinking about that?"
"They’ve issued an emergency mobilization of the army in the Haiden capital. About 30,000."
"Hard to say if that’s a lot or a little."
As Yuki-san said, it’s a delicate number. Because, within that army right now...
"Those 30,000 include the people who achieved a place in the Mage Corps due to their contributions in the recent battle against Findall."
"So, they’re introducing mostly new recruits..."
"It can't be helped. The previous Mage Corps was..."
That’s right. Many school graduates had just joined, and their proficiency was extremely low. The reason for that was that the captain of the elite Mage Corps, who was Kagura’s fiancé, had been incited by the "Gathering of Wisdom" and became a pawn of Aquenoki. Most of them were captured with the help of Yuki-san and his group, imprisoned, and then executed.
Well, they had also attempted to assassinate the Duke’s family, including Kagura, among other crimes, so it was a natural result. But because of that, Haiden’s magical military strength dropped significantly. Those who were executed were apparently quite talented. That’s why the graduates of the Magic Academy who had achieved merit were filling the gaps.
"It’s not like those elites were the only mages, right?"
"Even so, it turned out that a significant number were part of the Gathering of Wisdom and were punished. The graduates were put in to fill those holes. It’s usually unheard of, but the graduates had the track record of holding the line during the defense of Baide."
"Ah. So that’s where that comes from."
"Yes. In reality, they only survived thanks to you and your group, Yuki, even though they didn't do much..."
Exactly. And yet, because of the recent Aquenoki incident, the Magic Academy graduates who ended up gaining military merit are being incorporated into the Mage Corps units. At first, I was happy that they had secured jobs, but I can't be happy about this. I wonder if the seniors who were happy to be assigned to the Mage Corps in the capital are turning pale right about now?