𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫
The Lintrite Royal Army is advancing on Gaillia.
This news, of course, was not greeted with joy.
ㅤ
“But everyone is feeling motivated now! That’s good, Mommy Nel!”
ㅤ
Asuka, the most enthusiastic of all, smiles.
As she says, there were hardly any people who started feeling hopeless and decided to run away.
Rather, the feeling of anger was stronger.
ㅤ
The goal of the Royal Army is to seize the wealth of this region.
Gold, food, precious metals, and humans as hostages. These are the things the Lintrite Kingdom desires.
Naturally, there’s no way we could hand over these resources.
ㅤ
“Apparently, the volunteer recruitment office is overflowing with people.”
“The Supreme God Church of Gaillia has declared a holy war.”
ㅤ
Meg and Meisha informed us.
Everyone is full of motivation.
It’s a battle to protect our families and property.
To us, the Royal Army trying to take those things away are no different from monsters.
ㅤ
“Even I, who have nothing to protect, want to protect Mrs. Mary.”
ㅤ
These were Miliaria’s words.
Asuka and Meisha nod vigorously.
ㅤ
She’s talking about the elderly woman who lent them money for equipment when they first started adventuring.
Moreover, it seems that she had saved the money they repaid for their future.
ㅤ
A wealthy philanthropist.
If the Royal Army storms into the city of Gaillia, she’ll probably be targeted first.
Her large mansion stands out, after all.
ㅤ
“I’ve requested help.”
ㅤ
Salieri, who had been out somewhere, came back looking flustered.
ㅤ
In the city of Gaillia, there’s a remote outpost of the Masrur Kingdom.
There’s no signage or anything, and its location seems to be a secret, but apparently it has a facility that can contact the homeland.
ㅤ
It’s a one-way system, and while instructions from the other side usually arrive by foot, it’s still quite something.
The time difference is halved.
But, whether it’ll be in time is questionable.
ㅤ
From the city of Gaillia to the border of Masrur, it would take about fifteen days on foot, and if you want to move an army, you should expect it to take a few more days.
If you were to dispatch a unit from the capital Lisan San, it’s safe to assume it would take about thirty days.
ㅤ
In other words, the main force of the strategy would have to be Count Dros’ private army, the volunteers, and the mercenaries.
By numbers alone, we might reach about thirty thousand.
Only about half of that could be used effectively.
ㅤ
“On the other hand, the Royal Army will mobilize between fifty and eighty thousand.”
ㅤ
Not only the kingdom’s regular army, but they will also tempt the nobles to send out their troops, so it might even reach a hundred thousand.
They have a kind of permission to claim the lands they conquered in the Gaillia region as their own.
ㅤ
“No matter how you look at it, we’re outnumbered. What do we do, Mother Nel?”
“If they take full advantage of the difference in numbers, we don’t stand a chance.”
ㅤ
Not all of their hundred thousand can fight at the same time.
We also can’t deploy all our forces at once.
Unless it’s the final battle or something.
ㅤ
In the early stages, there will likely be a prolonged battle involving smaller numbers of troops.
ㅤ
“For instance, like us!”
“That’s what I’m saying. Asuka.”
ㅤ
What I am entrusted with is a force of a thousand, centered around adventurers and volunteer soldiers.
ㅤ
It’s absurd, isn’t it?
I, the leader of the tiny clan [Hope], ended up commanding a thousand-man force.
ㅤ
Both General Kytes and Count Dros overestimate me.
Even in the [Gold-lined Butterflies] era, I only ever commanded fifty people at most.
ㅤ
Ah, but there were a hundred the other time.
But those were elite troops under General Kytes, people who could move without my orders.
During the Piran Castle episode, I merely gave advice and it was Zachalant who issued the commands.
ㅤ
“Don’t you have confidence? Mother Nel.”
“It’s not that I don’t. I suppose I can do it.”
“What’s this? I thought I’d encourage you if you lacked confidence. Physically.”
“That’s right. The five of us are inseparable.”
ㅤ
Look here.
One man and five women, that’s nothing short of torture.
But I won’t say that.
ㅤ
And then they’ll tell me to choose one, and I’ll just get sucked into a quagmire.
I can feel the war approaching, everyone’s getting a little excited.
The amount of dirty talk is increasing.
ㅤ
It was the same with [Gold-lined Butterflies].
To relax a tense mind, nothing beats a stupid and vulgar story.
ㅤ
“From what I gather, the Royal Army will show up in about twenty days. Until then, we’ll focus on enhancing our coordination and building morale.”
“Staying in this cabin will rather bring our morale down.”
ㅤ
Except for Salieri who made the utterly sensible remark and is staying in a city inn, the other five are sleeping in the clan cabin.
ㅤ
It’s convenient because Lionel’s squad is training nearby.
I feel sorry for the soldiers who have to travel half an hour from the city every day, but it’s a modest privilege of being a Captain.
ㅤ
However, no one wants to stay in the clan cabin, nor take a dip in our homemade bath.
And that’s only natural.
