Side: Yuki
"So this is what the world looks like from the sky... How magnificent..."
As planned, we are taking August VIII with us on our journey back to the royal capital.
But this isn't over yet—in fact, things could get troublesome from here on out.
They'll probably prepare themselves as thoroughly as possible, then lie in wait for the army that comes marching in with its formation arranged like a bunch of idiots, turning them into target practice and wiping them out for good.
The enemy has a Dungeon Master on their side. In that situation, getting defeated on their turf means becoming DP. And if that happens, their strength will increase even further.
And I'm not just talking about military strength.
If August loses this battle, their next course of action will be to notify foreign nations and launch multi-front attacks, or attempt to cut off supply lines. However, as long as Hiffy uses their home advantage—relying on numbers and traditional formations—there is no way for anyone to win against a army wielding firearms... Literally every single soldier would end up performing like a warrior worth a thousand men.
As for cutting off their supplies, that wouldn't be a problem either if Hiffy has plenty of DP after the initial battle. And in the worst case, if they have enough DP to spare, they could prepare an aerial force like our Flying Dragon Corps. If their strength increases that much, there's no hope of winning anymore.
I still don't know what their actual objective was in starting all this. I'd like to somehow get to the bottom of their true intentions, but under the current circumstances, we don't even have the luxury of listening to what they have to say.
"Your Majesty, if you remain out in the open cage and exposed to the wind for too long, your body will grow cold."
"Vixen, what are you talking about? After being shown a world like this, how could I not experience it? You understand, don't you? We really are flying through the sky. This cold wind striking my body is perfect for cooling my overheated heart. Isn't that right, Lalaina? Don't you agree?"
The person the King is addressing is Lalaina, one of August's Magic Sword Wielder and one of the King's close attendants—a Wind Magic Swordsman.
Coincidentally, she is the same type of Magic Swordsman as Jessica's former superior, Marley.
She has chestnut-colored hair, lightly waved and tied into a ponytail, and is about 160 centimeters tall. She has a slender figure, though her chest is neither particularly large nor particularly small. Her eyes are slightly sharp, probably because she has spent so much time on the battlefield.
Attending to all of this must have been quite a ordeal for Vixen too.
"Yes. I agree as well, Your Majesty. The wind high in the sky... For me, this experience can be called destiny—a step to mastering this Magic Sword even further."
"Indeed. I hope you will embody this freezing wind, acquire even greater power, and prepare for the next battle. Most likely, the most effective defense against that weapon is you and your Magic Sword."
"Understood! Please leave it to me. Next time, I shall completely block the enemy's attack!"
As a matter of fact, one reason our casualties from the firearms and artillery were surprisingly low was thanks to Lalaina.
She blew gusts of wind to deflect the trajectories of the bullets. Instinctively sensing that the enemy's weapons were projectile-based, she had summoned the wind. That was the correct judgment.
The biggest external factor that causes a shot to miss its target is wind. At short range, it isn't much of an issue, but at long range, wind can push a bullet off course. That's why they say sniping at distances beyond 500 meters, where wind begins to have a significant effect, is impossible.
Then again, there are monsters in the world—like a certain Golgo, or the White Death—who operate on an unbelievable level. Those guys hit targets over a kilometer away using handguns or submachine guns—weapons not even built for sniping... According to them, they "just aim and shoot." Yeah. Common sense doesn't apply to superhuman people.
Anyway, non-humans don't matter right now. What's crucial right now is what kind of action August will take.
From what I just heard, it seems they intend to launch an invasion into the Holy Nation of Hify.
Hmm... Isn't there any way we can buy some time...?
"However, Lalaina, Vixen. I am considering sending an envoy to the Holy Nation of Hiffy first."
Oh?
The flow of the conversation just shifted.
"May I ask why?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty. The enemy declared war upon us. Furthermore, damage was inflicted upon our army, our city, and our citizens. Such an act cannot be forgiven."
"That is certainly true—if the Holy Nation of Hiffy was truly the one who initiated this war. But what if this is the work of a third party stirring up trouble?"
"A third party, Your Majesty?"
"Indeed. There are too many inexplicable aspects to this battle. First, the fact that the enemy claims to be the Holy Nation of Hiffy. We have maintained good relations with that country until now. In particular, the Saintess of Hiffy has healed our nation's gravely ill and severely wounded. I cannot believe that she would go out of her way to start a conflict that results in bloodshed."
"That is true..."
...Hmm. Saintess, huh?
She sounds suspicious as hell to me, but it seems she has a great deal of trust from the people of August at the moment.
"Next, the enemy force numbered less than a thousand. It is true that they emerged from the Holy Nation of Hify and claimed to be their army, but their numbers were far too small. They possessed terrifying weapons, yes, but my assessment is that even without Dragon Knight Amanda, they would have eventually retreated. With those numbers, occupying the fortress we were at was the very limit of what they could achieve. To say they prepared that to take on a major power is far too sloppy."
"When you put it that way, I suppose you're right..."
Yeah.
This King doesn't seem to be a warmonger. He's carefully gathering and examining the information available to him before making a decision.
It's certainly possible that someone else is pulling the strings and deliberately started this war.
"Finally, by sending an envoy, if we confirm that the Hiffy Holy State truly intends to wage war, we will have a legitimate cause to act. The surrounding smaller nations will answer our call and attack the Hiffy Holy State as well. And in that case, there is a strong possibility that the Hiffy Holy Maiden herself has been taken prisoner. We could rescue her and return the Hiffy Holy State to her. Either way, we simply do not have enough information. Since there is a possibility that another country is using this as a diversion, moving our army carelessly would be foolish. The envoy will be taking a great risk, but I cannot put the entire country in danger."
Exactly as the King says, there's no way to know for certain without going to Hiffy.
We had considered that possibility ourselves. However, if August immediately sends its army, we won't have any time left to investigate. This battle is still in the middle of an information war.
Well, judging from the fact that high-altitude reconnaissance by the flying dragon unit confirmed defensive fortifications being built, the other side is clearly raring to fight, so it's almost certainly Hiffy's own doing.
"However, Your Majesty... who do you intend to entrust with the duty of an envoy, given such a high risk of death?"
"Hmm. That is the issue. First, we must assume that if Hiffy has turned hostile, the envoy could be killed or taken prisoner. To prepare for that, it should be someone expendable, yet capable enough to escape on their own... but finding such a person is no easy task."
If such a convenient person existed, nobody would have trouble.
Besides, anyone possessing that level of individual skill while also being suitable to act as a national envoy would be far too valuable to throw away as expendable.
Do they really think anyone could just be dropped into the middle of enemy territory and escape on their own? What is this, The Great Escape?
"...Forgive my presumption, but I would like to undertake this mission as the envoy."
"W-What!? Lalaina-sama, you cannot do that!"
Vixen frantically steps in to stop her at the sudden declaration.
Well, she is a crucial combat asset, after all. But if there's anyone who might actually have a chance of escaping on her own, it would probably be a Magic Swordsman like her.
Well, the King seems to have reached the same conclusion as I have. Rather than rejecting her outright, he simply stares into Lalaina's eyes.
"...I cannot make the decision here and now. However, I will put your name forward as one of the candidates at the council in the royal capital."
"Your Majesty!?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."
"Vixen, I understand how you feel, but she is also a daughter of the Hausen family. It is in her blood. Still, we do not know what the outcome will be. Be sure to tell Hausen—her father—about this matter. It may be the last time you see him."
"Understood."
"Now, enough of these difficult matters. For the moment, let us enjoy the sky together."
With that, the King ends the discussion and returns to enjoying the view.
Hmm... Depending on how we look at this, this could be a chance for us to get directly into the enemy's inner circle. It would be useful for gathering information, and we might even be able to confirm the enemy's situation firsthand. Of course, there would be danger everywhere, so we'd have to think very carefully about who to send.
Worst-case scenario: control over our doppels gets hijacked.
Best-case scenario: we wipe out the enemy's top brass right on the spot.
Either way, we'd be able to measure the enemy's strength, so it would be beneficial for us. We should definitely get involved with this envoy mission.
* * *
And so, we returned to the conference room in Weed, where our meeting is currently underway.
"Hmm. I agree that obtaining information is a benefit. August's envoys will have to gather information and bring it back with them, but in our case, we can share information immediately while we're there."
"Indeed. I agree with Seraria on that point. However, the risk is extremely high, so the question becomes who we should dispatch."
"That's right. Furthermore, Amanda will be absolutely essential for this plan. If we offer our cooperation, there's no way they won't make use of her reputation as a Dragon Knight and her mobility."
Seraria, Ratz, and Eris are all thinking seriously about the envoy mission.
The risks and rewards are difficult to weigh. Especially considering who our opponent is.
"But wait, as far as Poppuri is concerned, is it really okay to use Amanda as an envoy? Personally, I'm most worried about her safety."
"Yeah. Wy-chan is originally wild, so she won't be under anyone's DP control unless she agrees to it herself. So we don't have to worry about that, and in an emergency, she can escape on her own. But Amanda..."
"She isn't strong enough. She's a weakling."
"Kaya, you could've put that a little more gently..."
Riel, Tori, and Kaya are worrying about Amanda, who would inevitably have to join this envoy mission.
If control of our Doppels were taken away, it would leave only Amanda and Eoid. In that situation, I think it would be better for them to surrender quietly rather than try to flee.
...Though there's a pretty high chance they'd be executed to make an example or display power, too.
"...Personally, I don't want Amanda and Eoid to take such a risk."
Naturally.
"...But if we turn this down... does that actually settle anything? It brings us right back to that question."
Right. The core issue is whether postponing this actually solves anything.
"...That would probably be impossible. If Amanda isn't involved, we won't have a reason to tag along with the envoys. Those envoys would just end up killed, and that would be the end of it."
"Indeed. Momento-san—ah, that's the name of the mercenary I spoke with at the diner—said that the Holy Nation of Hiffy seems completely eager to fight. Expecting those envoys to successfully negotiate a ceasefire is far too naive."
"And in the end, the battlefront will expand. Which means Amanda will likely be dragged out as a Dragon Knight eventually anyway."
Derieu, Milly, and Rurua all believe things will only get worse from here.
I agree with them.
Once war breaks out in earnest, the one profiting will be the Holy Nation of Hiffy. Taking action after the fact will only be harder.
"So, what do you three from the New Continent think?"
I turn the question over to Jessica and the others.
Aside from Jessica, Cleana and Samantha haven't been here very long, so they've mostly just been listening during the meetings. But they might still have some surprisingly good ideas.
"...Personally, I think we should accompany the envoy even if it means taking a risk."
"I agree with Jessica."
"So do I."
"May I ask why?"
"Yes. First, as Cleana deduced, their objective is to collect DP. Delaying that is an obvious necessity."
"Nn. And by disguising ourselves as part of the envoy, we can directly investigate Hiffy's objectives. At the moment, all we know is that we suspect the Hiffy Holy State intends to lure enemies into its own territory and collect DP from them. That is still only a hypothesis. Even if collecting DP is the purpose of this war, unless we learn what comes after that, even if we stop the war, we'll ultimately be reacting too late."
"I haven't thought as deeply about it as Cleana-san, I'm embarrassed to admit... but if we go, we can gather information, and above all, minimize the bloodshed. With our capabilities, handling a bit of trouble shouldn't be an issue. After all, this is highly likely an issue within our own circle. I believe we ought to resolve it ourselves."
The three of them make total sense.
Especially as Samantha pointed out, since a former Dungeon Master has shown up, in that sense, the true involved party isn't August—it's us.
...Well, we're basically involved parties who had it forced upon us, though.
"I also think I should accompany the envoy. If that otherworlder is the one behind this, there's a chance that I or Yuki-san could reason with them."
Taiki-kun is in favor too, huh?
Well, an otherworlder is an unpredictable variable that worries me as well. That's why I want either Taiki-kun or myself to meet them directly and talk. If things go well, we might even be able to bring them over to our side.
"I agree. I think there are advantages to taking the risk."
"Hmm... I don't really get the complicated stuff, but I don't think it's a bad thing to stop more people from getting hurt."
"It'll be okay! Narjia-san and I will work really, really hard to make lots and lots of armor and charms!"
Sheila is in favor too.
Aslin reached her own conclusion, and Filia is rearing to go.
"Fufu, that's true. Fortunately, none of us are pregnant right now, so a little damage to our doppels won't be a problem. That was your main worry, wasn't it, Yuki?"
Yeah. That's right.
If it were just my own neck on the line, I'd have infiltrated solo long ago, but my wives are precious to me.
"Ria and Killue, what do you two think? It seems pretty obvious that I'll be going as one of the envoys..."
"To be perfectly honest, as your protector, your wife, and as a Hero, I am completely against it."
"Indeed. As a maid and as your wife, I also oppose MIlord going somewhere so dangerous."
They're against it, huh?
Well, I can't blame—
""However,""
Before I can finish the thought, their voices interrupt in unison.
"I will definitely protect you, so it will be fine."
"A good wife follows the decision her husband has carefully arrived at. Please fulfill your goal without worrying about us. I do not think this decision is wrong, either. I will strictly guard the place you return to."
"Yes, yes, Master! I'll protect this home too, so please go all out! I'll guard this place alongside Senior!! If necessary, I'll even go as an envoy alongside Samantha-sama!! ...Wait, did you forget about me!?"
In the end, Ria, Killue, and... Sarsari are all in favor too.
Just as I was deciding this internally, Narjia-san rushed into the meeting room, looking flustered.
"Ah, thank goodness! You're still holding the meeting. Regarding the mages Steve and the others captured as prisoners... just as Yuki-san and Labyris suspected, those people really are undead after all. I don't fully understand the mechanism, but they're using dead bodies with spell formulas applied to them... rather than a resurrection using high magic. Well, it might sound bad to call them 'materials,' but unless they have extremely suitable corpses—that is, bodies highly skilled in magic—they wouldn't be able to create Liches like that. For instance, someone like Poppuri-san, the Holy Sword wielders, or perhaps barely Magic Sword wielders, if we're going by the standards of the New Continent..."
Those words sealed the deal.
Lalaina, the Magic Sword wielder with a high probability of becoming the envoy. If something happens, she is likely to be targeted first.
If we lay a trap, we might be able to uncover all sorts of things. Conversely, if we don't tag along with the envoy, there's a chance the enemy's strength will increase even further.
Now then.
Who should make up the team?
Should we go in with maximum fighting force, or deploy with the minimum possible team?
