Chapter 167
So Mist conclusion is the same
As expected, you too, onee-sama? Although its an absurd story, I think its true that Marley-sama was captured after being defeated by a mercenary group of 150 men
Thats right, after obtaining this information beforehand, we came to Marleys audience this time.
Although we heard it from the soldiers, we were not convinced by the information that Marley was defeated.
And even though I actually tried to provoke her in the audience room, something felt wrong.
A very natural response. However, If Jessica had really died in battle, she would have been a little more emotional.
Even if you are a noble and a magic sword user who goes frequently to war, its impossible not to feel any emotion at the death of your allies-desuwa.
Moreover, it was the carelessness of the commander, or in other words, Marley, who was caught by surprise that took the life of her subordinate.
Yet, she didnt ask for the defenses to be reinforced, let alone to kill the orcs.
You could say that the orcs have ruined the lives and reputations of her subordinates.
Therefore, I found out from the soldiers that they could have been defeated by the mercenaries.
Though Mist thinks the reason is trivial.
The details are unclear, but maybe the conditions of being released from captivity prohibited Marley-sama from contacting the mercenary group? If thats the case I can understand why Marley-sama would not want to tell the truth
I wonder why though?
Indeed. Have you heard of a mercenary group so capable that can defeat Marley-sama, onee-sama?
No, I havent
Me too. So, the fact is that the mercenaries dont want to antagonize us, so to silence Marley-sama, they released her. Or it could be that there is no mercenary group and it was done by the demi-humans?
Hmm, I dont think its the latter. Theres no reason to hide it. Rather, if they were captured, they would have killed them
Youre right. That would mean that there really is a mercenary group capable of repeal Marley-sama
Should we concerned about that mercenary group?
No, from the way they let Marley-sama escape, they dont want to antagonize us. So, if we pull them over to our side, it will be a good way to increase our strength. In the unlikely event that it becomes a battle
We know about how they attack by surprise and our numbers are almost twice as Marleys. So we can crush them all at once, eh?
Yes, onee-sama
Then, rather than negotiations, lets attack at once and incorporate the mercenaries who will survive as subordinates. If we negotiate from the start we may be underestimated
I agree. If we make the power relationship clear from the beginning, they will calmly listen to us. As expected of onee-sama!!
Its also thanks to you Mist for always thinking about everything-desuwa
Then, I will start preparing for the expedition immediately. However, theres only one thing that worries me
I wonder what could it be?
Yes, according to the information Ive got from the soldiers, most of the 150 members of that mercenary group are composed by goblins, and I heard that Marley-sama was also defeated by goblins
That is of course, impossible. According to the soldiers information, the main reason they were defeated was because their headquarters was destroyed, so that one should be misinformation. Besides, what mercenary group doesnt keep several goblins to several groups of goblins? Since they lost, I wonder if those goblins who had acted as decoy are burned into her eyes?
That could be. I also cant imagine how Marley-sama, who is also a magic sword user can fight against a goblin and lose
When I thought of goblins, I thought it could be the Blood War Mercenaries
Thats impossible, of course. As we have the information that that mercenary group was hired in a country further in the enemys country
Yes, thats what I thought, so I saw the information about a large number of goblins as misinformation-desuwa
Thank you, onee-sama. One less thing to worry about. All we have to do is watch out for any surprises and defeat the enemy. Same as usual
Yes, in a fight, the basics are the most important thing. Now, after winning this fight, well continue going up and up
Yes, lets get bigger and make the life of the people of our territory easier
I reaffirmed our goals with Mist and started getting ready for the expedition.
Side: Yuki
As usual, I was researching magic with Zergis, but that day I got another report.
Yuki-san, someone started moving in the Zilba Empire
Ria, as usual, was sorting through her materials when she suddenly said something like that.
Whats wrong? Eh? Im now receiving those kinds of rumors here too
Weve sent doppelgngers to gather information before when we were scouting in the city of Fail before.
Among them, there was a rumor that the Zilba Empire started moving its army towards the demi-humans.
Yes, there were rumors even before that, but this time we have something to back it up
Really? From where?
It came from Marley-san
Oh, is that right? That girl doing something like that, eh?
Something must have happened. There was also a letter to Jessica-san, and it says that Marley-samas army will return to the battle against the Holy Land and its currently passing thought Fail, so that should be when she sent this
What? That princess stopped by that town? She didnt greet me at all, you know?
In this day and age, a city so close to the front lines has many armies coming and going that I didnt notice at all that she came.
Fail which was taken off from the Holy Land, has a large number of soldiers transporting supplies, recruiting soldiers, and sending them back and forth.
Well, Yuki-san was basically gathering information behind the scenes, and since you gather information in that way, you havent had any kind of contact with Marley-san lately
Indeed, Yuki was gathering information with the tavern as center. So the princess would have no chance of contacting Yuki. In the first place, she cant carelessly contact you. As official stance, the princess is supposed to have succeeded in defeating the demi-humans and the orcs, so it would be bad if she were to be seen with Yuki while feeling mentally weak
From the side, Jessica also gives her opinion.
For the past month or so, Jessica has been working as my close aide, just like Ria.
The information I got of this continent, the way it moves its old. Though Im really grateful to have an unbiased voice telling me the way of fighting on this continent.
Well, Jessica has also been going to Weed and learning to drive away all the common sense shes ever had until now.
She already has the ability to surpass the princess and Narujia-san has given to her given to her a sword that its even stronger than that phony magic sword.
The look on her face when she was handed that sword
Are you perhaps thinking about something rude?
I was thinking. About the expression you had when you were handed that sword.
Yes, Jessica-san burst into tears. Its okay for a prisoner like me to receive such a fine sword? was it?
Please stop talking about that!! I cant help it, this sword is so great to that extent!!
Even so, the performance of this sword is lower than mine
Thats natural!! Were you planning to give me a sword like that of the hero or even better!!?
I was planning nothing, you just need spend your time normally. Like me
Who the hell who be able!! Haa, rather, what army is moving right now?
Tsk, she changed the subject.
Normally, it would be a big problem to know that an army is moving towards us.
Its like Jessica-san predicted. Ori and Pikun (). They have about double the numbers, and as official stance, they will prepare the defenses as well as carry out the reconnaissance against orcs
Im telling you, they are Olive and Mist
Does they have some other objective rather than using this wanting to rise in ranks?
Yes, from what I head from Marley-san, it seems like their goal is to obtain the truth and get us under their control
No, Im asking about real information?
I know you cant build a door in a mans mouth, but Im sure the story of 2500 soldiers led by the princess being defeated by 150 was passed on
Perhaps they interpreted the surprise attack in a convenient way for them. I think its impossible to measure Yukis strength unless they go by themselves, which is what they could be thinking. And as Ive said before, Olive and Mist have a strong desire to rise in ranks. Surely they think that if they defeat the enemy that the princess could not, their reputation will go up and theyll get powerful soldiers called Yuki and the others
I see. Though I smashed the princess head-on, they turned a deaf ear to the inconvenient information? No, they just grabbed the information they could understand, huh?
So what are you going to do?
Come to think of it, its about time I analyze the magic sword, too.
They will be here just in time, should I destroy them?
But Id also like to know the information about the swords they are using, and if its really a dungeon core material or similar, I have a bad feeling about taking it from their magic swords users.
Then well need to capture that Olive and Mist alive.
Okay. Im going to capture Olive and Mist and use them in my magical research experiments. So, it will be the same as that time with the princess
Ill use CALL to summon the heroes from the previous battle.
What?
Steve, in about two months from now, two magic sword users like that princess will be coming with 5000 soldiers
Haa, a fight-ssu? But thats something that can be left to the generals and demi-humans. Its too troublesome to deal with those hot-blooded people anymore-ssu
I see now. Yeah, Ive decided, Steve should lead the demi-humans against those magic sword users
Haaaa!?
If I have to be detailed, its just a way to get those hot-blooded people to listen to us, right?
Ah, I understand, well just let them charge in at random, help them in a pinch, and let them know that what we say is absolute
Yeah. Ill leave the details to you
Yeah yeah, well do anything to repeal them
Ah, he did just say repel?
I have to correct him.
Ah, sorry. Dont repel them, but capture them
Dont be ridiculous-ssu! Even though the demi-humans are gathering right now, we need to make this village bigger and increase its capacity first-ssu!? Right now, we only have about 500 battle-ready at the most-ssu!!
Oh they gathered. Well, they are only about ten times bigger, good luck. At worst, Ill hold back the magic sword users
Is is true-ssu?
Yeah, I dont lie
Whats with that suspicious-looking answer!
Youre going to adjust the budget yourself since Im busy with my magic research
HiiiiIIiiIii!! You arent lying, but arent you pushing the most troublesome thing to me-ssu? The budget has to pass through Seraria-nee-san, the finances through Ellis-nee-san, and then ordering supplies to Lutzs nee-san, isnt this a paper hell-ssu!?
I dont care about what you do with your salary, you know?
Its impossible with our low salary-ssu!! In fact, if you, the general talk, it would pass in one shot!!
No, not really. Just make the paper and it will pass through, you know? Well, Im sure they will fix the little mistakes you do
Well, they are my wives after all.
Damn, Ill do it-ssu! If I say no anyway, Ill be used as a magic research subject, right?
Ooh, you sure know it. I had to observe how far a monster could go with zero magic, and so I was thinking of Steve to
I have a job to do, Im going-ssu!!
Tsk, he escaped.
I think I now know what Steve meant when he said those words during that battle
Jessica looked somehow sad as she stared at the door from where Steve escaped.
I wonder what does she thought that I was talking about?