"Ah, so it feels like we're staying right here for now."
"Yes, there was a request from this town's Lord, and I personally believe that course of action to be for the best as well. Though naturally, the final right of decision rests with you, Lord Lais."
After the recovery of my kids was concluded, I exchanged words with Matilde while being thoroughly jostled by the ostriches, who had become brimming with energy.
Amelia-san the elf apparently ground her spirit down to the absolute limit due to the conversion of mana and the recovery of the children, so she is currently resting. I had just watched her enter the pavilion prepared specifically for her use, and sent Dere along, since she looked like she desperately wanted to follow Amelia-san inside. I mean, after looking back and forth between me and Amelia-san, she softly drew near to me and stared right at me with those watery, glistening eyes. There's no way I could possibly refuse!
(When looked at with eyes like those, you know? Or rather, hasn't Dere-chan become incredibly clever? Is this just my doting parent bias?)
"Well, I don't particularly mind remaining here, but... as expected, are there reinforcements or something along those lines?"
While saying so, I exchanged opinions with Matilde regarding the future.
The discussion was that because I had slain Beast King-chan, attacks from the Beast Kingdom would likely cease for the time being. However, that is a story on a national scale; she said it cannot be declared with absolute certainty that some independent unit won't go out of their way to sortie on their own whim. Furthermore, it wouldn't be strange if behind the thirty-thousand-strong army I annihilated, reinforcement troops had been prepared. Even assuming their Beast King was killed, whether they will temporarily pull back to their country or charge over here for the sake of a vendetta remains an unknown variable.
From the perspective of the Lord of the town we are currently staying in, it seems to be a feeling of: 'We can't handle this on our own, pleeease save us~!' And from Matilde's perspective, it appears to be along the lines of: 'A ceasefire hasn't been concluded yet, so if we suffer another invasion on our way back, it'll be disastrous!'
"I see, huh. For us, there's no meaning in remaining in this place, but honestly, there's no meaning in leaving either. If a Special Tactical Force stronger than the Beast King emerges, I'll seriously look into fleeing, though..."
"If we speak of possibilities, the ally nation of the Beast Kingdom—their 'Special Tactical Force' would fit the description, but... that country borders the Empire, you see. She should constantly be stationed upon that border line. In all likelihood, she will not come."
Just like the Heed Kingdom and the Nagan Kingdom whom I am indebted to, the Charda Beast Kingdom apparently had a country with which they had concluded a non-aggression pact. In that country to the northeast, there is also an insanely strong Special Tactical Force, it seems. However, according to Matilde, that country is on terribly bad terms with the Empire, so they are constantly having border conflicts left and right. It seems to be standard for the Empire's side to station multiple Special Tactical Forces there as well, so she said it's highly unlikely that this supposedly insanely strong woman will move.
"That said, given that our intelligence failed to discern that the 'Beast King was present in this place' during this conflict, how far can we truly rely upon it..."
"Ahahaha..."
Come to think of it, that's true, isn't it? According to the advance intelligence, the Beast King wasn't supposed to be there! Yet he was just normally present. It's tedious, but it seems better to face matters by assuming every single possibility. Even Matilde is becoming anxious, thinking that she herself can't quite trust the intelligence she's bringing in. It seems better to keep it around the level of a reference point, yeah.
"If that's the case. For the time being, unless a discussion of a ceasefire comes from the Beast Kingdom's side, it seems better to stay here."
"That is how it stands. I am truly sorry, but I must ask this of you, Lord Lais."
"It's fine, we're friends, aren't we, Matilde? ...Ah, that's right. If that's the case, should I give the Beast King's corpse a makeover and preserve it instead of just burying it on our own whim?"
It's unfortunate for him, but I've left the Beast King's corpse abandoned on that field. Or rather, the other soldiers my kids killed are exactly as they were left too. If possible, it would have been better to bury them on the spot, but that thought did not surface inside my head at the time.
I mean, look, if we only look at the final result, no casualties occurred, right? But at that moment, I was in a state of: 'My kids were battered! I don't know if they're going to survive! I have to ask the townspeople to heal them!' ...Even if I had reached a certain level of acceptance, if it's between the corpse of an opponent who harmed my children and the children whose life or death remains unknown... naturally, one would choose the latter, is how the story goes.
(If there were corpse-scavengers or strange monsters around, I might have at least carried the Beast King away, but there was nothing there, so...)
Well, I just left it abandoned with a feeling of: 'I can just bury it later, it'll probably still be there anyway.'
"I don't quite understand the values over here yet, but as expected, leaving a King's corpse exactly as it is... is bad, right?"
"Yes, it would undoubtedly incur the displeasure of the Beast Kingdom. Let's see... let us retrieve the Beast King's corpse at least on our side, apply a state-preservation magic, and store it away. As for the corpses of the other soldiers..."
If they merely bury them on the spot, there is a possibility that undead might naturally generate at worst. Consequently, they apparently have to ask the church to cleanse the buried location or perform a requiem? Consecration? Well, they have to perform that kind of ritualistic magic, it seems. However, currently, they have exhausted their mana due to the treatment of the ostriches. It seems better to ask them on a later day.
I could give them a mana transfer, but if either side slips up and a member of the clergy turns into a human bomb, it'll be a massive problem, after all...
"Given that there are issues such as infectious diseases as well, for now, it would be best to at least bury them, erect a simple grave marker, and offer a prayer. It might be nothing more than a small comfort, but it is better than nothing."
"OK, then let's bring my kids along too. We kicked quite a large number of them flying, so just digging the holes will be a considerable amount of heavy labor, right? We'll help."
At any rate, we are just waiting around after this; it's practically free time. Even though they were fighting until just a moment ago, my kids have already started playing, and mealtime is still a bit further away. There was a discussion that the townspeople would prepare various things, but it seems the preparations have only just begun, after all.
It's tedious to fight some incomprehensible undead later on, and if it's just digging holes, my kids should be able to help out while enjoying it as a game.
"That is a help. I offer my gratitude, Lord Lais. That said, because there are preparations on the soldiers' side as well... once we are ready, I shall go to inform you from our side. Please wait for just a while longer."
"Roger that. Well then, I'll wait while giving my kids a thorough, chaotic wacha-wacha petting."
""Wacha-wacha?!""
""Wacha-wacha! Love it!""
""Do it!""
""Love you, Mama!""
◇◆◇◆◇
In a room within the royal palace of the Heed Kingdom, he—the "Strategist" of Nagan—was receiving a report.
The fact that his mother country of Nagan and the Heed Kingdom had concluded a military alliance was a well-known reality. Until the other day, they had been mere enemies to one another, but now they were allies standing back-to-back. If Heed—the new friend of Nagan—was being attacked by the Beast Kingdom, sending reinforcement was the proper form to take as an ally.
For that reason, the "Strategist" headed toward Heed with reinforcements exactly as planned, and arrived at the royal capital.
And then, he initiated his movements. First, for the sake of the scenario where 'the ostriches were defeated by the Beast King,' the final confirmation of the anti-Beast King traps secretly installed in the royal capital. And simultaneously, the true intent of the Young Queen. While making inquiries regarding the aftermath of her death, he moved to integrate Heed into his strategy in a superior form.
The result was a success.
The traps were items that allowed him to harbor the conviction that they would definitely bring down the Beast King, and furthermore, he drew out the words 'Do as you please with the rest' from the Young Queen. The Strategist—who had noticed that "while the Young Queen's governance capability is high, she is immature as a ruler, and simultaneously possesses a powerful suicidal ideation"—executed movements that were swift, and moreover, accurate.
In short, whether she was killed by the Beast King, killed by the enraged ostriches, or if she carried out her revenge to completion. As long as she did not reform her mind in the future, he had established the methods to definitively annex the Heed Kingdom. To be sure, immediate annexation would be difficult, but it was at a level where making it a practical vassal state was possible in less than a few months.
Setting aside the response to the human-supremacists within Nagan for the time being, the groundwork within Heed and among the chief vassals was perfect. Fully utilizing the personal connections he obtained when he visited during the conclusion of the alliance the other day. There were many nobles whose minds had wavered upon witnessing the Special Tactical Force known as the ostriches for the first time, but every single one had already become the Strategist's "friend"; no matter what occurred, matters would proceed in a favorable direction for him.
Yes, the "Strategist's" operation was proceeding entirely smoothly.
Except for one, single point. Furthermore, a single point that might utterly destroy his strategy right from its very foundations.
"One more time. Please, one more time."
『...Ha! The Beast King and the Beast Kingdom invasion army of 30,000 are literally annihilated! Zero survivors! Furthermore, no casualties on the ostriches' side! It appears roughly forty wounded emerged, but they are already completely recovered! In addition, the 'Beast King' and forty percent of the Beast Kingdom army—12,000—were annihilated by the leader of the ostriches, 'Lais,' entirely on her own!』
A room within the royal palace of Heed. A room where personnel had been dismissed, and furthermore, anti-espionage measures such as soundproofing via magic items were perfectly established. There, the "Strategist" receives the report from the Nagan intelligence operative who had been lurking in the town where the ostriches are currently staying.
『Furthermore, though it was from within the town, a mana reaction grander than the Beast King was detected! Judging by the timing, it is presumed to belong to 'Lais'! The quantity of mana is at an unmeasurable level of abundance! Moreover, it apparently increased further during the combat! In addition, near the town's defensive wall, I visually confirmed the individual utilizing the 'Mana Cannon,' which was a technique of the 'Beast King'!』
"Th-The re-port, is...?"
『That is all. I shall continue the investigation and gather information from here on...』
"Understood, it is. For the report, thank you, very much. You may step down, it is fine."
The contact from the intelligence operative cuts off.
A few seconds later.
The strength drains from his entire body, and the Strategist inadvertently collapses prone upon the spot.
However, his brain had begun to think at high speed.
It was an unpredicted event, a matter that made him want to inadvertently begin crying, but before that, his survival instinct and his responsibility as the "Strategist" accelerated the rotation of his brain.
(Defeating that Beast King completely unscathed? Impossible... No, since it rises as a report, it is a reality! That Beast King is a magic-type Special Tactical Force, yet he is a fierce warrior of a level who can twist away a lower-tier Special Tactical Force with just his physical reinforcement! To defeat him single-handedly...?!)
Within the Strategist's mind, the worst "answer" floats up. The chieftain of the ostriches, 'Lais,' is an individual Special Tactical Force. Furthermore, that she possesses a capability of the mid-tier or above. Because the matter of compatibility exists, it cannot be said unconditionally, but a detached chasm exists between lower and mid-tier, and mid and upper-tier. Lais claiming victory against the Beast King unscathed means it can be considered that an uncrossable discrepancy existed in their capability.
In short, she fits into the "upper-tier," an existence possessing a standout capability even among Special Tactical Forces.
(...No, wait. Do not be danced around by that information alone. In the report just now, it stated that 'Lais' single-handedly annihilated 12,000 and the Beast King. In short, what of the remaining 18,000, the sixty percent of the Beast King's army?)
If only Lais had been present on the battlefield, one would think she defeated them. However, in that place, the three hundred troops led by Lais should have been present. And from among them, forty wounded emerged, and they are already completely recovered? Complete recovery a few hours after their encounter with the Beast King was reported? No matter how much recovery they can receive at a church or the like, that speed is far too bizarre.
The Beast King's offensive power is half-baked; it is an output where even a clumsy Special Tactical Force would be blasted into nothingness. If her subordinates took it squarely, they should have been counted as dead. In short, in short...
Thus, the Strategist deepens his thoughts.
An accurate report has not arrived yet; consequently, the information on hand is that of an urgent verbal communication. With the passage of time, new information might increase. While it was not at a level where he could obtain certitude just yet, there was only one thing the Strategist could state with absolute certainty.
"Special Tactical Forces... two?"
The collective known as the "ostriches," and the individual 'Lais' herself. Initially, he had thought these two combined constituted a single Special Tactical Force, but he reconsiders that perhaps two Special Tactical Forces have gathered together.
This is exceptionally bad.
The nations currently existing on this continent—every single one harbors one Special Tactical Force per nation. Perhaps the possibility that Special Tactical Forces ungrasped by nations are lurking somewhere is not zero, but one person per country. Thanks to that, the current continental situation was relatively stable. Even if one nation attacked, the Special Tactical Force of the attacked side would repel them.
Even if a vast amount of damage emerged due to war, it was not to the extent that the system known as a nation would crumble. That was the continental situation until now.
"That is crumbling."
A Special Tactical Force is an existence capable of altering a battlefield entirely on their own, and the strongest existence extending their influence not just to the battlefield, but even to politics. Though they possess a wide variety of capabilities and ideologies depending on their respective individuality, areas of expertise, and unique talents, no one harbors doubt regarding their strength.
And there are two.
Currently, the military alliance with Nagan, who should have been hostile to the Heed Kingdom, and the slaying of the Beast King by the Heed Kingdom. In an instant, the power balance of these three nations crumbled. The Beast Kingdom, which possessed the strongest individual among the three nations in the form of the Beast King, will immediately desire a new King. And culturally, they are strongly attracted to the strong. Furthermore, the "ostriches" are beastmen.
It is not difficult to imagine that the Beast Kingdom, having lost its strong leader, would seek a new chief in "Lais." If it turns out that way, what will happen?
It is the absolute worst.
He viewed the contract exchanged between the "ostriches" and the Heed Kingdom just now, and within it, he was able to see conditions regarding food and residential land. Combining the information from Alan—who is currently infiltrating Plaque in the form of a purveyor merchant—what they truly seek are these two things. If one becomes the Beast King, that can easily be obtained.
The place of belonging known as the Beast Kingdom, and the massive granary region located there. And, the enraged ostriches, having realized they were deceived by the Heed Kingdom's Young Queen. There is already no necessity for them to adhere to the contract, and they will likely charge into the royal capital in their rage. If that happens, no one can stop them anymore. Neither the current Heed nor Nagan possesses the strength to halt two Special Tactical Forces.
The anti-Beast King traps existing in the royal capital might be usable against "Lais," but it is visible to the eye that they will be destroyed by the other definitive Special Tactical Force, the "ostriches."
"No matter how I struggle, halting it is impossible...!"
Even if he fled from here right this instant, the reality that we of Nagan had come to this place does not alter. In short, it cannot be helped if it is perceived that the nation known as the Heed Kingdom and the nation known as the Nagan Kingdom are colluding. It might not be impossible to deceive them skillfully, but he does not think that can be achieved against an enraged Special Tactical Force.
And above all else, we of Nagan have already picked a fight with the ostriches. The battle in Plaque; because of that, they have definitively been marked by the ostriches. Currently, they managed somehow thanks to the alliance with Heed, but if that disappears, there is no longer anything to shield them.
As long as the ostrich is the Beast King, she can manufacture as many reasons to invade Nagan as she likes. She can easily manufacture them. The compatibility between the Beast Kingdom composed of beastmen and Nagan, which has gone out of its way to hoist human supremacy, is overwhelmingly terrible.
In short, the instant Lais becomes the Beast King, it is checkmate.
"Bad, bad, bad...!!! Someone! Is someone there! Immediately! Immediately to the border with the Beast Kingdom! To the location of the ostriches!!!"
While enduring the heavy pressure that felt like his inside was being gripped tightly, the Strategist screams.
If it fails, the nation ends. And, the only one who can realize that and move is himself.
Leading his personal troops under the pretext of reinforcement, he must go.
Before the Beast Kingdom moves and turns her into the Beast King.
〇 The Ostriches
Happy to be petted~! Give me more chaotic wacha-wacha! Love you, Mama! Eh, Mama? Mama says she doesn't want to become something called a Beast King! The ostriches know! Great? We're great, right! Praise me~!
〇 The Strategist
Just when he thought a Special Tactical Force was born next door, in reality, a "crazy strong" Special Tactical Force called Lais is leading a group of Special Tactical Forces as a flock?! Furthermore, she won against the Beast King, and since those guys are beastmen, the possibility of her becoming the new Beast King is high?! At worst, not just Heed, but Nagan will be destroyed too?! Waah... aaah... (He started crying!!!)
F-For now, to survive, he has to go rub elbows with her...! Everyone of the Nagan army~! We are moving under the pretext of reinforcement! Off to the location of Lord Ostrich!