第９６９堀：予想するよ (Part1)
Chapter 969: I’ll Predict It
I’ll Predict It
Side: Show
"Your Majesty. It is almost the scheduled time."
In a room provided to me at the lord's mansion in Aurelia Port, I was speaking to the wall.
『I suppose by now, Yuki and the others are making contact with the Hein fleet.』
The Emperor’s voice returned from that wall—or rather, from the radio set leaning against it. I am currently in communication with His Majesty. I am certainly not so lonely that I’ve taken to muttering at walls.
"Yes. If everything is proceeding according to plan."
I replied while looking at the operational schedule handed to me by Yuki. Indeed, Yuki and the others from Weed have headed out to the open sea to negotiate with the Hein fleet approaching Aurelia Port.
『...They really didn't have to go out of their way. I understand the desire to keep them out of the port, but they could have just spoken outside the bay entrance.』
"Your Majesty. That assumes the other party is willing to negotiate. If they were to scatter and engage in hostile actions from the start, allowing them to breach the port, the damage to Aurelia could be catastrophic."
『I see. No matter how large it is, it is impossible to hold back a large number of ships simultaneously, isn't it?』
"That is correct. It would be undesirable to fight with a recovering Aurelia Port at our backs. That is precisely why the negotiation is taking place offshore."
『And what if they just bypass them?』
"There is no use worrying about that. That ship they call a 'carrier' is remarkably swift; if there is enough time, individual destruction is possible. If the fleet is capable of advancing beyond that, then defense by a single ship would be impossible anyway."
Well, the fact that Weed only possesses one such ship is merely our own optimistic speculation. Furthermore, we saw during the incident with that foolish messenger that they can easily sink enemy ships without even needing to pull alongside them, using the attack methods they displayed at the Imperial Capital.
So, while I don't believe defense is impossible, it wouldn't do to overestimate them too much. For now, I must simply report the facts I have witnessed.
『True enough. Still, to think they would commit Aslin and the others to battle...』
"As Your Majesty mentioned before, it simply proves that they are not mere children."
Indeed, Aslin and her companions—whom His Majesty favors and calls friends—are participating in this operation. As generals, no less.
『Honestly, Yuki is outrageous. To put such small children on the front lines...』
"I understand your sentiment, but... Aslin is truly worthy of the position of general."
『Hm? What do you mean by that?』
"Oh? Were you unaware? Aslin’s talent as a Monster Tamer is truly genius. She commands a diverse array of monsters: not just land-based ones, but flying types, and even those that traverse the depths of the sea."
『What did you say!?』
A voice of astonishment returned to my report. Well, I was quite surprised when I first heard it as well.
"Using that talent, she is currently leading sea monsters on an advanced reconnaissance mission."
『...To think they would teach such a vital secret to Show. Usually, such talent would be a top-secret matter.』
A Monster Tamer. That talent is something the current Zurable Great Empire would give anything to possess. While the operation of monsters via Magic Gear is progressing, we have yet to cultivate personnel capable of handling monsters should that Magic Gear become unavailable. The current blockade of trade goods by the Gusdo Kingdom has confirmed the importance of Monster Tamers. Without Magic Gear, we still cannot even command a single Wyvern.
Of course, our military does have individuals capable of commanding multiple monsters, but they are limited to a few Goblins or Orcs. That is the extent of it.
"I suspect they never intended to hide it from the start. Furthermore, they likely wanted us to know that Aslin and her companions are warriors worth a thousand."
In contrast, Aslin’s talent as a Monster Tamer is on a completely different scale. When I first heard the operation outline and was told that Aslin would be leading a multitude of sea monsters into battle, I was bewildered. I naturally asked just how many she could command, and the result was shocking. I had expected them to be vague, but...
『Um, a lot. I don't know the exact number.』
『Aslin, that doesn't tell us anything.』
『It can't be helped. There really are a lot. The monsters of Weed are, um... about how many, Steve?』
『Yes, the exact number changes constantly, but as a monster army, it’s around 10,000. Well, for Princess Aslin’s sake, even monsters not officially in the military will gladly join the fray, so if you include them, it’s about 30,000, I suppose?』
They revealed that quite nonchalantly.
『...30,000? 30,000 monsters! That is, surely...』
His Majesty likely intended to say "that must be a lie," but he realized it immediately and the words never left his lips. Because...
『...There is no reason for them to lie.』
"Exactly. Weed has no reason to lie to us. Well, I don't think they would honestly tell us every detail of their military strength, but considering the carrier and the weapons we saw at the Imperial Capital..."
『It means that at the very least, it is impossible for the number to be lower than the 30,000 they claimed.』
"Well, of course, the possibility that it is a lie is not zero, but Aslin did not have the face of someone lying. She simply didn't know because there were too many, so she asked. And that was the result."
『That talking Goblin general, Steve, was it? He is an unusually small specimen for a General Goblin, but I know he possesses tremendous strength.』
Indeed. Moreover, the Goblins of Weed, starting with Steve, are not merely monsters that are directed and commanded; they are military personnel. The framework is fundamentally different from the monsters we command. They are monsters capable of thinking and acting on their own. And there are at least 10,000 of them. It is nothing short of astonishing and threatening. I can understand that Aslin, who can command such an army, is in a truly formidable position.
『Umm. I told Aslin and the others they were welcome to visit anytime. Did I make a mistake?』
Having realized the true power and standing of Aslin, His Majesty seemed to worry that he might have blundered.
"Who knows. But it also means you have had an opportunity to speak directly with the heavyweights of Weed, so it is not necessarily a negative. Well, Yuki and the others are surely checking the items that Aslin and her companions bring out of goodwill, so I doubt we can expect much in the way of intelligence leaks from Weed. You knew that from the start, didn't you?"
For my part, I consider it a stroke of luck. My intent seemed to reach His Majesty...
『Well, perhaps. I had thought that the information obtainable from such children wouldn't be of much consequence anyway. Nevertheless, it is important for understanding the nature of the other country. And as you say, Show, it is a good thing that a general feels comfortable enough to come and play. Perhaps some good information can be obtained.』
That is true, though there is the risk of having information extracted from us in return. Well, there is no need to point that out to His Majesty now.
『Very well. I understand that Aslin and the others are exceptional. Now, regarding that military strength and the negotiation with the Hein fleet using a single carrier... how do you think it will turn out?』