第１３８４堀：交渉決裂からの開戦準備 (Part2)
Even with the power of a dungeon at my disposal, there is no such thing as a guaranteed outcome when lives are on the line. Yet, in this particular scenario, it was painfully obvious which side held the greater risk. I did not believe we would lose, nor did I expect anyone to be injured, but to think that way was nothing more than arrogance. There is always a loophole in every situation, which is why I had suggested that avoiding involvement altogether was the safest path. But...
"It’s okay! Mikos-chan will fight! It’s not like we’re doing this to kill, right?"
"Well, I suppose that’s true, but..."
I felt a twinge of confusion. I had sensed that Mikos harbored a mild trauma regarding war, so why was she suddenly so eager to jump into the fray?
"Then I—no, Mikos-chan—will just write article after article and promote this properly! Live, firsthand accounts! That’s the key, isn't it?"
"Ah, I see. That would certainly be appreciated."
In this world, the concept of a paparazzi or a journalist has yet to be recognized by society. It is viewed more as the work of a spy. That was precisely why I valued Mikos’s ability to gather information and translate it into the written word. Well, the fact that she was a darling wife was the most important thing, of course.
Wait. Does this mean I’m just surrounding myself with cute girls? If I justify it by saying it’s for their talent, am I treating them like mere tools for my own ends?
"Hm? What’s wrong, Yuki-sensei?"
"Leave him be. Our beloved husband is just agonizing over how to treat us. Now, fighting is fine, but don't push yourselves. Especially you two, Menou and Shou—you are our guests."
"I know, I know. Besides, I’m not worried about getting hurt. I’m just looking forward to testing the magic I’ve mastered since coming here."
"I shall do the same. Magic that strips away the enemy's combat capability... yes, all that study with Rurua has finally paid off."
"Um, Shou? That magic is notoriously difficult to balance."
"I am well aware. I have experimented with it countless times; now it is only a matter of seeing if it holds up in actual combat."
It seemed Menou and Shou were just as fired up as the rest. Just what kind of magic had they been cooking up? Still, this was no time for me to be wallowing in doubt.
"Listen, if you’re participating, you must move as a cohesive unit. Given that you are women and acting as envoys, there is a high probability they will target you first. Cleena, Samantha, prioritize defensive magic."
"Understood. Leave it to us."
"You have my word."
"For the vanguard, we have Ria, Kagura, Kaya, Menou, and Shou."
"Understood. I’ll do my best."
"Yes. I’ll blow them away with a single spell."
"I won't be holding back."
"As you command."
"Physical defense falls to Enola and Difes. I don’t expect anything to slip through our magical barriers, but do not let your guard down."
"Whether it’s arrows or spells, I’ll just smack them right back."
"The defense is in my hands."
"Deryu, you are on roving duty. The Royal Guard will be moving as well; use your combat experience to cover them. And if it’s too much, don’t force it."
"Leave it to me."
"Lilishe, Claudia—you are on recovery and support. I’m counting on you to keep everyone in fighting shape."
"Leave it to me! If anyone gets hurt, I’ll have them patched up in an instant!"
"Yes, you can count on us."
"Finally, for command: Agil, you are the Commander-in-Chief. Jessica, you handle the offensive coordination. Stasia, you take the defensive. My directives are not absolute; the battlefield is unpredictable. I am leaving the tactical decisions to those of you with the most experience."
"Leave it to me. I won't let anyone get hurt, and I'll make sure the strategy goes off without a hitch."
"Understood. I am well-versed in coordinating attacks."
"Defense is my specialty. Leave it to me."
With my orders issued to everyone, all that remained was to wait for the outcome. Now, I just have to hope it all goes according to plan.