novelraw Chapter 79: Directory Government - An Ace Up The Sleeve
Chapter 79: Directory Government - An Ace Up The Sleeve
The next morning arrived.
I woke and stretched. A succubus, Gremory, had infiltrated my dream somehow—bothersome, yet surprisingly, I felt no fatigue. She claimed she'd only had a 'taste'. Recalling that 'taste', I immediately suppressed the thought.
First thing, then...
"Excuse me, Marquis!"
I was just thinking that when someone entered the tent. I almost flinched, but it was Shandra, smiling brightly as always.
"Shandra, what is it?"
"A letter, from the Dilrus emissary."
"Ah, thank you."
"Haha, I'll be off then."
Shandra's bright smile and quick exit made sense as I examined the letter. It bore the Aquitaine crest and a magical seal.During her stay in Lumiere, Shandra had pointedly asked if I'd truly massacred those responsible for Christine's injury in a rage...
The magic seal implied importance.
I held Christine's letter and subtly tested my magic. No world-shaking occurred; I only felt magic circulating within me.
It didn't seem to be another trick of that damned succubus.
To think I'd reached a point where I doubted a letter from Christine...
Injecting my magic, I broke the seal, and the news of the capital she sent was revealed.
A list of people who had joined the Central Party, along with brief information about them, and a report on current political affairs, including Talleyrand's successful stabilization of the Revolutionary Party, which had been in turmoil due to Jidor's death.
Information that the Aquitaine merchant group had acquired the facilities of the Abyss Corporation's Francia branch and the shipbuilding facilities of the former Duchy of Bretagne, which were comparable to Aquitaine's, becoming an important axis in the development of the Republic's navy.
The news that domestic conditions had begun to change as grain, which had no suitable trading partners, began to be exported, and that several signs indicating that the Germania Empire was preparing for war had been detected.
Christine had meticulously classified and organized each item into a report, giving me a thorough update on the domestic and international situation that had changed while I was in Iberia.
I checked the lengthy reports and turned to the last page.
[The Saintess asked me to pass along her thanks for the artifact. She says it's helping her have a cool summer.
I've heard summers on the Iberian Peninsula are scorching, though I'm not sure about your specific location. I'm sure you're taking care of things, as always.
I'm still feeling a bit lonely and hope you return soon.
Your Christine.]
I quietly kissed the last page.
It's very like Christine to write the confidential information that needs to be incinerated and the information she wants me to keep on different sheets of paper.
I also want to go back quickly and see her.
And...
I remembered Christine's face looking up at me with hazy eyes.
Ah, damn succubus.
How can I face Christine now...
*
Kroxx's army moved to the vast Rolling Hills, encountered the enemy, then set up camp in a standoff.
I want to return to Lumiere right away, but the Abyss Corporation is openly selling weapons to the Germania Empire, while that empire is aiming for Francia and preparing for war.
Eris acts as insurance against their justification, but if our power gap is too obvious, they might invade regardless, so I can't return until I can somewhat stabilize the Iberian Peninsula.
The emissary's investigation showed their mines had reasonable profitability, and the mithril mined there is beyond human or orc technology, but it is very useful for dwarves.
Above all, Paimon's comment, the intent of which I don't understand, bothers me greatly.
Despite knowing Kroxx's power, they were quite confident. There's definitely something else.
During the strategy meeting, while considering this, I looked at a picture I had never seen before.
"What is this?"
At my question, Kroxx stroked his chin and asked.
"Don't you know either?"
"I've never seen it before."
It looks like a spear, with a slightly thick end to a long pole, but no matter how I look, it's not a blade?
"Is this drawn correctly?"
When Shandra conveyed my doubts, Ostel, Kroxx's fifth subordinate and a leopard-faced beastman, slightly frowned and replied bluntly.
"It's drawn as accurately as possible, and the soldier who drew this is said to be good at drawing."
"Hmm."
I tilted my head after hearing Shandra's translation.
We are looking at images of enemy weapons, observed by beastman scouts. The problem is we have no idea what they are.
"It looks like... a new weapon made by the Abyss Corporation."
I know there's a new weapon, but how can I deal with it when I don't even know what it's used for?
No matter how good the scouts are, they can only see the shape...
"What do you think?"
Kroxx stroked his fangs and asked.
Though Kroxx was incredibly cheerful when we set out, he is now cautious, perhaps because he took my warning seriously.
I'm definitely grateful for this.
Since the Abyss Corporation clearly has something prepared, it would be a big problem if we fought recklessly and got hurt.
"Honestly, I don't know what it is..."
Still, there is one definite truth throughout history.
"Anyway, since it's the enemy's weapon, we just have to destroy it."
*
Late at night.
I moved with a group of people, hiding in the shadows.
There's no rule that says only they can launch a night attack, right?
No, rather, the operation of inducing confusion and attacking the main force carries considerable risk for the attacker...
Our group, less than 100 strong, is moving through the Rolling Hills in darkness.
With this number, we won't be easily detected.
That being said...
Even with my magic-enhanced movement, I'm still quite impressed by the beastmen moving so quickly ahead.
The beastmen are excellent as scouts, and it's not just empty words.
They are not only fast, but also move naturally even in the dark, their eyes shining like daylight.
Behind the beastmen leading the way, Gaston, and...
"By the way, is it okay for a king to participate in this kind of operation?"
"The representative of the foreign emissary and my brother is going, and you want me to stay at the base?"
Kroxx, who was following the beastmen with us, answered with a smirk.
This cheerful brother was also aware that he had brought the representative of the foreign emissary to the battlefield...
"The Marquis also insisted on participating directly. I'm glad to be participating in the same operation as Sir Gaston."
Shandra smiled, showing her white teeth in the dark, and Gaston cleared his throat.
What should I do? I feel sorry for that cheerful pagan warrior, but Gaston doesn't seem to be adjusting to her presence...
"It's an operation I proposed myself."
I answered simply.
Gaston is here, and I believe I can handle myself. Above all, if the operation I insisted on, as a foreigner, fails without me, the problem will escalate.
Regardless of whether Kroxx trusts me, this is important for me as I am here to foster the relationship between our countries.
The leopard beastman, Ostel, who was leading the way, raised a clenched fist, and everyone lowered their posture and stopped.
Kroxx and I quickly stepped forward, and the enemy's base came into view beyond the hills.
I can clearly see those who are lighting bonfires and standing guard.
The scouts' drawing, made before we arrived, included a map roughly showing the enemy encampment's structure and the new weapon-like object's location.
I memorized it in a hurry, but I wonder if I can find it accurately in this dark night.
I glanced at Kroxx, and he nodded.
As I took out the bow I had on my back and strung it, some of the beastmen from the scout team followed suit.
The beastmen and I quickly pointed out the guards one by one, and simultaneously drew and strung our bows.
3.
2.
1.
Swish-
As I released the string, I heard the sound of air being cut, and the arrows flew through the dark night sky.
The enemy soldiers guarding our side were struck by arrows in quick succession and fell without even screaming.
Everyone started running as soon as they saw it.
In the dark, the feathers tied to our headbands fluttered as we moved.
It's a sign to identify allies even in the dark, and it means that anyone without these feathers can be cut down.
As I ran diligently, I saw a ferocious smile spread across Kroxx's lips.
Anyway, he likes to run wild, even though he's a king.
Just as we were getting close to the enemy's base, a commotion began.
It seems that someone witnessed the bodies of the guards who were attacked by us.
The beastmen ran on all fours, quickly rushing into the enemy lines, and I drew my sword.
While Gaston and Shandra drew their swords and followed me, Kroxx, who was running with a thudding sound, bent his knees and - soared.
No, what the?
Kroxx, who split the dark night sky, fell into the enemy lines and swung his axe at the tent right next to him.
The tent, struck with brute force, tore in half, spewing blood from the unlucky person inside.
"Al-ardho!"
Kroxx, who had split the tent in half, roared -
"Akbar!"
Kroxx's lead was taken up by his subordinates who were jumping into the enemy lines after him, and the quiet enemy base was instantly thrown into chaos.
I ran straight ahead and cut off the neck of an orc who had just come out of the tent and was in a panic.
"Ha, this is how you do a night attack!"
Right after, I stabbed a dagger into the forehead of a human who crawled out of the tent next to me, and Gaston swung his greatsword with a shout, splitting a huge orc in half.
I saw Shandra jump into the air and stab another orc's head with a dagger, then I looked around.
I think this is the right direction.
In the distance, I saw Kroxx swinging a huge axe like a whirlwind with a destructive roar, crushing everything in sight.
Meanwhile, a human who hurriedly popped out of the tent saw me, was terrified, and tried to escape to the other side -
"Krrrrraaaang!"
A beastman who ran on all fours jumped up, bit his neck, and shook it wildly. He fell to the ground, splattering blood with the sound of flesh tearing.
"Grrrrr..."
That beastman, Ostel, glanced at me with blood dripping from his mouth, then turned his head and started looking for his next victim.
He's scary, even though he's on our side?
Looking around, the enemy camp was in complete chaos.
The enemies were in a panic in the darkness where they couldn't distinguish between friend and foe, while our allies with feathers were showing off their barbarity and valor, smashing everything in sight.
I stopped needlessly cutting down enemies and started running, diligently recalling the map I had memorized in my head.
Damn it, all the tents look similar so it's confusing. A tent big enough to store weapons...
A large tent guarded by three fully armed soldiers. Found it!
I stabbed a dagger into the forehead of a soldier who was pointing at me and shouting something, then jumped right in.
An orc, much taller than me, swings his sword.
I held my sword diagonally to deflect it. The orc's eyes widened at the rapidly closing distance. I pulled out a dagger from my waist, stabbed it into the orc's neck, then twisted and pulled it out.
The orc, who was making a wind-whistling sound as blood poured out, slowly fell. Another guy started screaming and running away.
I immediately threw the dagger that I had just used to kill the orc and stabbed it into the back of the fleeing guy's head, then lifted the entrance of the tent.
There it is.
There are a lot of things with thick objects attached to long poles, covered with something that looks like cloth or leather.
It's written in the letters of the Abyss Corporation.
Ro... Rocket?
"Your Excellency, Marquis!"
"Gaston, get some fire from a nearby bonfire."
"At your command!"
I don't know what it is, but it's made of wooden poles, cloth, or leather, so it'll burn.
Gaston came with a decent-looking torch, I don't know where he got it.
"I brought it!"
"Good work, Gaston. Find King Kroxx and tell him to prepare to withdraw."
"Yes!"
I confirmed that Gaston had moved away and threw the torch at the R somethings piled up neatly.
The fire soon spread and caught easily.
"Hmm. Not much for an Abyss Corporation product."
At that moment, Piiiiing-
A strange sound was made.
Huh?
The R something, the rocket, where I first threw the torch, shot out of the pole, and pierced through the tent.
Uh... uhhh?
Then, with a bang, sparks flew in the distance.
Trembling, I gazed as the fire spread to the rockets, then immediately turned and ran.
This is crazy!
While running frantically, Kroxx approached with a familiar thudding sound.
"Hahaha, brother! You succeeded?"
"Kroxx, run, run! Tell everyone to run away!"
"What?"
Immediately, with a Fyuuung- sound, a huge explosion erupted on the opposite side, and nearby tents were engulfed in flames.
"Brother, what the hell did you do?"
"I don't know either! Anyway, run! There's a lot of that stuff!"
I saw Kroxx inflate his chest muscles and take a deep breath, and I instantly covered my ears -
"Tarajue-!"
Even with my ears covered, a deafening roar resonated deep within me, shaking the entire base.
That should be enough to get everyone pulling out.
Then...
Fyuuuuuuuung-
"Oh, shit!"
A strange, roaring rocket sound was closing in fast.
I instinctively shielded myself with magic just as the rocket zipped past us, impacting a tent just ahead and detonating.
"Uwaaaah!"
Fragments and sparks scattered everywhere, slamming against both Kroxx's and my magic barriers.
I swallowed hard, staring at the precariously shaking barrier.
"Oooh, this is hot!"
"You wouldn't be saying that if it landed on your brothers!"
"Hahaha, you're right!"
Even as we scrambled for safety, a strange roar continued from behind, punctuated by more explosions.
The same thing was happening not just where I'd initially set the fire, but on the opposite side too.
Paimon, just how much of that crap did that lunatic bring!
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Excellency, Marquis!"
Fortunately, the surprise attack had worked, and the number of people joining us as we fled the base seemed mostly unchanged.
Their skills are truly impressive.
"Hahaha, everyone's safe. That's enough, let's get back!"
Then, with a colossal explosion, a massive pillar of fire erupted from the enemy base.
As I stared blankly at the inferno that was once the enemy base, Shandra approached and spoke.
"As expected of Marquis Lafayette, it's an almost divine tactic. To obliterate the enemy base with so few people, it's truly terrifying."
Shandra's eyes were filled with pure admiration, and while the others seemed to share her sentiment, I felt differently.
"...I'm a little scared too, actually. What was that?"
What in the world were these insane demons planning...