第１７２８堀：あいかわらずの兄貴分 (Part2)
It is essential to establish the narrative that Weed did not seek war, but rather that it was forced upon us by an aggressor. The crux of this strategy lies in the sequence of events: we must demonstrate that we sought dialogue, were rebuffed, and were subsequently attacked. There could be no clearer evidence than that. Incidentally, for the sake of the international community, Seraria reigns as the Queen of Weed, which places the moral high ground firmly with our kingdom.
"If the opposing side chooses to lower their spears at that point, then all is well. But if they insist on drawing their bows, we will be fully justified in mounting a counterattack."
"Indeed. If we are to act as a sovereign nation, that is a necessary precaution."
"Precisely. We require a legitimate pretext to openly assist the Ohe Kingdom. Without one, the only remaining narrative would be that we are kidnapping citizens through summons, which would leave us with no choice but to denounce the Ohe Kingdom ourselves."
"I see. So, that is why you must go to the front lines to initiate this dialogue. But is that not dangerously reckless?"
"It would be meaningless if it weren't dangerous. That said, I do wish to ensure our safety, and for that, I would like to request permission to bring in escort forces from our own country. Would you grant us that?"
"I have no objection, but... can you truly mobilize your forces so easily?"
I must admit, the Ohe King’s skepticism is well-founded. Under normal circumstances, a nation cannot simply deploy its military strength on a whim. Even in times of crisis, gathering troops takes time—not to mention the sheer absurdity of intentionally provoking a war just to justify a deployment. Who in their right mind would court such danger? To invite the wrath of both the North and the South is unthinkable. Any nation other than Weed would have abandoned the Ohe Kingdom to its fate. But Weed is different.
"Deploying our forces is not a problem. We are talking about a contingent of around two hundred. I also wish to test whether our current military capabilities are effective in this theater."
"Hmm. If it is only that many, then perhaps it is manageable. I would prefer to avoid open conflict, but if it is merely a skirmish, then..."
Around two hundred. From the perspective of traditional warfare, where infantry and cavalry are arrayed in rigid formations, that number constitutes nothing more than a single detachment. The Ohe Kingdom likely envisions a standard mix of foot soldiers and horsemen. But that is far from the truth. In reality, this force will be, at a minimum, modernized and mechanized infantry. At worst, I can already foresee the inclusion of tanks and mortar units.
Then again, with only two hundred personnel, would tanks and mortars even be feasible? Each tank requires a crew of four; to field a meaningful number, say ten tanks, would consume forty men—a full fifth of the total force. And what of the medics and logistical support? Ah, but Yuki-san’s units are equipped with Item Boxes and possess healing magic, so those roles are largely redundant. Even though they must carry supplies—since an Item Box becomes inaccessible if the bearer falls in battle, scattering its contents—the burden is negligible. In this fantasy world, even the diminutive goblins and our female soldiers possess enhanced physical capabilities due to their levels, allowing them to haul heavy equipment with ease.
In other words, they are more than capable of operating tanks, mortars, and any other heavy weaponry.
"It still worries me slightly, but I shall provide an escort from our side as well. If you are with them, I will permit a single engagement with the enemy. But you must withdraw immediately afterward."
The Ohe King offers a generous response, as one would expect. After all, Yuki-san is crafting the very justification the Ohe Kingdom needs to survive. He likely feels that this is a small price to pay. And as for Yuki-san, upon hearing that answer...
"Thank you. Now, that is a relief. Let us begin the preparations immediately. I would also like to be briefed on the current tactical situation at the front..."
He says this with a beaming smile. You’ve done it now, Ohe King. It is clear that Weed will be seizing the reins of this war. While they will maintain the facade of providing various concessions to the Ohe Kingdom for the sake of appearances, Yuki-san is going to take everything he wants. He is already demanding battlefield intelligence, after all—a transparent ploy to gain total situational awareness of the entire theater.
The most important thing is to be "legal"—to have the "permission" that everyone acknowledges. And pulling strings to extract information is merely a standard part of that process. After all, the Ohe Kingdom is in no position to push back against Weed.