第１７３７堀：現場の情報 (Part1)
Chapter 1737: Field Intelligence
Side: Yuki
"This is... an incredible vehicle."
The one who spoke wasn't King Ohe, nor was it the Captain of the Royal Guard, Martin. It was the captain of the 2nd Company of the Ohe Royal Army, the man assigned as my escort for this mission. Unlike Martin, he wasn't a beastman; he was an elf, just like King Ohe.
Well, that aside, we had already departed the Ohe capital and were currently en route to the northern town, ostensibly to provide reinforcements and transport supplies. It was in this context that the elf, Captain Tsunai, let slip his surprised impression upon riding in a car for the first time.
Incidentally, King Ohe and Martin’s group had also test-ridden the vehicle and had been making such a ruckus about how they could reach their destination in no time that they had to be stopped by everyone else from tagging along. Honestly, I’d have wanted to stop them too—it’s not like we fully trust each other yet. Or perhaps they were planning to stir up trouble and pin the blame on us? Regardless, the fact that they were restrained meant their attempt to join us was definitely unplanned.
I offered a wry smile at the memory, but I needed to respond to Captain Tsunai.
"It doesn't require horses, you see. It doesn't need daily care, either; as long as you have the equipment and fuel, it functions perfectly well."
Since I wasn't sure if he was offering a compliment or just observing, I stuck to explaining its performance. It was only natural for someone riding in a car for the first time to react this way.
"I see. It truly is a marvelous thing. With this, we can transport a great deal. It is a fine piece of engineering."
"Yes, I'm glad to hear you say that."
He seemed genuinely pleased. I had been worried that if the opinions of the higher-ups and the field personnel differed, we might be treated with hostility, but Captain Tsunai was being very professional. Perhaps things would be fine? I decided to probe a little further to be sure.
"Now then, I imagine you were mobilized quite suddenly. Are you fully briefed on the operation?"
"Yes. I understand our mission is to accompany you, Yuki-sama, and strike at the coalition forces currently arrayed near the northern town."
"Correct. The goal is to gauge the effectiveness of our current combat strength. Beyond that, we are to deliver supplies and help stabilize the situation in the north."
"Understood. My subordinates will handle the delivery of the supplies, so please focus your efforts on combat preparations. I will handle the administrative chores, such as negotiations."
"I see. That is a great help. However, I would like to meet with the officials in charge of the northern sector and the military leadership. Would that be acceptable?"
"By all means. I have been told that we will be coordinating with you moving forward. It is essential that you speak with the northern leadership and the military to better grasp our tactical situation."
I see. So, Captain Tsunai had been explicitly instructed to keep us informed. It was a reasonable request, but in situations where people were plotting something, they would usually try to prevent us from meeting the higher-ups.
"And Captain Tsunai, have you heard anything regarding the war situation in the northern and southern towns?"
"I have been gathering my own intelligence, though I suspect His Majesty and his circle are better informed."
"Your own intelligence? So, you suspected that something might happen suddenly?"
He was speaking a bit too candidly for someone involved in a potential rebellion. I wondered why he was digging into this.
"His Majesty and the others tend to narrow their information down to only what they deem necessary. I suppose it’s to avoid causing unnecessary confusion among the populace and the soldiers, but it’s debatable whether that approach is entirely correct."
"I see. You’re concerned about the disconnect between the field and those receiving the reports."
"Exactly. To put it bluntly, the people filing the reports often act as foolish intermediaries, twisting the truth as they see fit."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ah, it’s difficult to explain, but to put it to an extreme: we believe this war is in a dire state. That is why Princess Suena summoned you to bolster our strength—a fact we’ve tacitly accepted even knowing it was a kidnapping. Yet, among the soldiers, there are those who boast that a mere gathering of humans is no match for us..."
I see. Racial prejudice exists here as well. Well, considering they are being attacked, it’s only natural they would look down on their opponents.
"When that type files a report, they claim there are no problems, even when the situation is dire."
"...That is troublesome."
It was something that had happened in Earth’s armies, too. The front lines would report a lack of supplies and manpower, pleading for reinforcements, but the people receiving the reports—out of self-preservation or overconfidence—would downplay it. By the time it reached the top, the report would be twisted into something like, "We are facing minor resistance, but there are no issues." It sounds absurd, but it happens. The higher up the chain you go, the more distorted the truth becomes. It’s not limited to the military; it happens in corporations, too.
"So, based on the intelligence you’ve gathered yourself, what is the situation? From what I’ve heard, the human coalition in the north is keeping their distance, focusing on burning fields and cutting off merchant trade routes."
"Yes, that much remains true. But there is another problem."
"And that is?"
"This is something I suspect His Majesty and the others have intentionally kept from your ears, Yuki-sama, but I believe it is better that you know. It is a rather unpleasant story..."
He trailed off, closing his mouth. Ah, he was being considerate of us. It was going to be that kind of story.
"It is fine. We have seen our fair share of cruelty as well."
Not just Stasia, Enora, and Holly, who were by my side, but Prof, Orelia, Hobis, Yayui, and Riel all nodded in agreement. Having seen Riel’s true form, they had built up a certain level of resistance to such things. Seeing their reaction, Captain Tsunai slowly opened his mouth.
"...There are many places other than our own where demi-humans live. Especially in the countries near this forest, there are demi-humans whose status is somewhat guaranteed due to trade. It seems the coalition is putting pressure on those areas, capturing them, and using them as human shields."
"..."
We remained silent, but I could clearly see the veins bulging on Orelia, Hobis, Yayui, and Riel in their fury. Stasia and the others from the military were angry too, though they were better at keeping it contained.
"They have attempted to rescue them by force, only to be met with counterattacks, and the casualties are mounting."
"We can't just ignore that, can we?"