第１８０８堀：捕虜たちの心情 (Part1)
Chapter 1808: The Prisoners' State of Mind
Side: Stasia
"Phew..."
I finish processing the paperwork and take a breath.
Even though I asked for this position myself, having my workload increase is, as expected, not a pleasant thing.
"Good work."
It is Fiora who says this as she enters the office.
Like me, she came here because she wanted to be out on the front lines.
That said, there is work that must be done, so it is difficult for both of us.
"No, Fiora, you have the support of the South to worry about as well. Someone like me has it easy."
"That goes both ways. Commanding an army in unfamiliar territory is hardly easy. Compared to that, I am merely a subordinate. In the South, we have Tori and Agil, so it is easier in that regard."
"Indeed, it is not as if one is easier than the other. Both are quite demanding."
"Yes. So, how are the prisoners? I heard that Lilishe and Hairen are handling them..."
"Ah, those two."
I offer a bitter smile and send the video data to Fiora.
"This is?"
"Footage from the scene. We cannot exactly leave those two to their own devices without surveillance, after all."
"Ahaha... That is... out of concern for the two of them, right?"
"The fact that you have to ask that tells me you already know which one I'm worried about, don't you?"
"Ahahahaha."
Fiora laughs with a pained expression.
Even if they are goddesses, those two are clearly of the martial school, no matter how you look at them.
It is only natural to worry about the prisoners.
As for the footage in question...
"...Are you not going to watch it?"
"Er, could I just hear the summary?"
"That is fine. It is... an interesting sight, but you will likely be more at peace if you just hear the report."
It truly is an interesting sight.
If you were just a spectator, it would be entertaining.
But for those of us on the side responsible for cleaning up the mess, it is nothing but a headache.
There is no reason to burden Fiora with that kind of stress.
"Then, just the report. Lilishe and Hairen, as planned, made contact with those who follow the Clearstream Church. Well, since it was the first day, I had hoped for something peaceful, but..."
"But?"
"Well, both of them are quite attractive, so just like with Kagura and Enora, they were hit on. Moreover, since their injuries have healed, the prisoners were even more emboldened. They are former soldiers, after all."
"Ah, that sounds like something that would happen."
Or rather, that is just how men are.
Those serving in the military are in a state of abstinence, you see.
They are looking for a place to vent.
The primary example of that is sexual desire.
After trading lives on the battlefield, those urges surface accordingly.
Even I feel that kind of excitement sometimes.
Fiora, having served as a general, seems to know the reality of such situations, so she does not seem surprised.
Normally, those in higher positions would have women brought to them for such purposes, or they would buy them in town, but this time they are on the losing side and have been taken prisoner.
That is why they are trying to lay their hands on the women here, but...
"Those two, having handled medical treatment on the battlefield, are used to such types and have promptly beaten them into submission. Since they are doing the healing themselves, they are—well, I assume they are holding back—but the opponents are being knocked out in a single blow."
"A-ahahaha..."
"And so, the two of them are currently in the middle of a conversation—or rather, extracting the reasons for the resistance—from those who support, or should I say, believe in, the Clearstream Church."
"Oh, come to think of it, unlike the other prisoners, they aren't exactly obedient to us, are they?"
"Yes. Since they were defeated and captured, they don't seem to consider that obeying us would lead to a better environment. Well, it is understandable that they refused to pretend to return home alongside Baron Siana and the others."
"That is to be expected. Even if they were defeated, they cannot simply betray their motherland—or rather, their church. It shows they have a certain kind of loyalty, at least."
Yes, that is something we should be relieved about.
It seems they weren't fools enough to sell out their lord or their hearts just to save their own skins.
Though, Yuki and the others have judged that it is simply because they fear the Church that much.
Still, the fact that they can make people obey through fear demonstrates the power of the Church.
Even in the Haiden region, there was no such absolute authority...
Well, the Hairen religion is somewhat similar, I suppose.
Is it a case of zealots running rampant?
However, the damage is limited to demi-humans.
To us, they are precious spirit priestesses and warriors, but the value changes depending on the continent.
I am once again struck by the differences in culture.
To want to exclude them precisely because they are capable...
Since even people of the same kind pull each other down, it is not entirely strange, but still.
"Stasia, is something wrong?"
"No, I was just wondering what the reason for the demi-human exclusion is. In the end, even when those two ask, the answer is always that the Church's doctrine dictates that demi-humans must be defeated. Or rather, that they should be killed."
"Ah, Yuki and the others have gathered people from the If Continent, where the environment is similar, to ask about it, but they say it is a matter of indoctrination from childhood, or a history of deteriorating relations. It won't be easy to change their mindset. Just as slavery exists everywhere."
"...I suppose so. I have heard that as well. Still, in this New Continent, that history doesn't even exist. The consensus is that it is because they are just low-level grunts."
"Well, since it involves historical issues, it might be difficult for the general public to know the truth."
Indeed, facts are often hidden when it comes to this kind of history.
The state has things it wants to keep hidden, so it is only natural that the general public would not know...
"Along with Baron Siana and the others, Kirika's subordinates have also gone out, so I hope we can obtain some information from that."
"Indeed. Just defeating the enemies as they push toward us is not good for morale, and yet, even if we were to go on the offensive, we lack the manpower."
"Yes. It would be possible if we were to turn everything to ash, but..."
"We would never fight in such a way, and we have no desire to do so, either."
"I hope, as much as possible, that we can make them understand."
That is exactly why I hope we can have a dialogue.
In the Northern Kingdom, the Church's believers are basically everyone.
If we cannot have even a shred of conversation, we will have no choice but to engage in a war of annihilation—to turn everything to ash.
"So, does that mean conversation with the prisoners is possible?"
"That was it. I digressed, but after being beaten, perhaps they have understood the hierarchy—or rather, the difference in power—because they seem to be talking quietly now. However, there is no crucial information yet, and it seems that repentance, or rather conversion, is still a long way off."