第１４１６堀：戦いの爪痕 (Part2)
"Ah, Ria might be right. It’s easy to forget when we’re in Weed, but even when goblins gather in groups, they consume supplies recklessly and their calculations are sloppy. I highly doubt they’re keeping any ledgers."
"Agreed. I’m with Rari and Ria on this. If Steve and his lot were the standard, the Rogari Continent would have been conquered by goblins long ago."
"True enough. If there were goblins capable of planning strategies with that level of precision and diligence, no nation would have survived."
"Aye. That’s how I see it, too."
I see. Now that they mention it, that is certainly true. I have become accustomed to the monsters of Weed, haven't I? In all my years of wandering, humans were the only ones who maintained proper chains of command and discipline like they do in Weed.
"So, weapons were secondary, and food was the priority?"
"Yes. If I recall correctly, after we crushed the Great Stampede, the records showed that the points where they were gathering supplies were based on food. There weren't many weapons, armor, or tools to be found."
"I remember reading a report like that. I had assumed they were just depleted from equipping their troops..."
"That’s probably true, too. Goblins can make do with kitchen knives or cleavers from houses. Besides, even if they had proper weapons, they wouldn't know how to wield them."
"And the idea of carrying spare weapons wouldn't even cross their minds."
"Goblins lack that kind of foresight, and higher-level monsters usually possess their own powerful armaments from the start."
I felt convinced by the explanations from Kuko, Ovik, and Saadia. Indeed, I cannot imagine them having the presence of mind to prepare reserves, and as for the higher-level monsters, they are few in number and would not bother carrying inferior equipment as spares.
"So, what now? Shall we check the contents of this room in detail?"
"No, that can wait. Let’s focus on surveying the rooms first. Let’s move on."
At Rari’s suggestion, we left the guest room that had been turned into a supply depot and moved to check the room across the hall.
"...It seems they were using this place for medical treatment and meals."
"Looks like it."
Whether it was another guest room or a parlor, I couldn't tell, but the floor was stained with blood, and bandages and empty potion vials were scattered about, alongside pots, plates, and spoons.
"Still, there are no bodies here, either."
"I’d like to say they all fought, but there must have been those who couldn't move."
"Unless they died instantly, they would have been carried here, right? In that case, could it be a Lich?"
"Likely. There are no bones scattered here. Just bloodstains, but no corpses, and despite it being used for treatment, it’s a wreck. The door looks like it was forced open, too."
The doorknob was indeed hanging by a thread. There was no barricade here, but by the time the enemy had pushed this far, the office must have become the absolute priority over defending this room. Regardless, there were no documents to be found, so this, too, would have to wait.
"Right, the office is next."
At my words, everyone nodded, and we left the room to head toward the final destination. A hallway ran between the two rooms, leading to a door at the far end. Between them, tables and beds—presumably used for barricades—lay in ruins, splattered with blood and littered with bones.
Confirming that they had fought to the bitter end, I slowly pushed open the door to the office. Inside, though it was in shambles, I could see a desk, bookshelves, and scattered documents.
However...
"As I thought, the lord’s body isn't here either."
"Perhaps the Lich took the lord captive to find the supplies more efficiently?"
"That makes sense. It would save them from having to search the entire town."
"...The efficiency is undeniable, but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth."
I agreed with Saadia’s sentiment. To be killed and have one's information extracted... and for a lord, having to reveal the location of food meant for the townspeople would be a fate worse than death.
"It’s a complicated feeling, but the documents we need are here. Let’s start searching."
"Right!"
And so, we began our search, hoping to find even a shred of information regarding the Great Stampede.
Fighting to the very end. It is a difficult thing, but when it happens, one exhausts every ounce of strength, leading to heavy casualties. As the attacking side, it is a situation I would very much like to avoid, but since the opponents are monsters, perhaps this is just how it goes?