Chapter 86 - March to Subjugation (Part 1)
The creature that had appeared was a mid-sized magical beast called Bit Viper. For now, I kept the possibility of its metamorphosis form being a Hydra from my elder brother. After all, it was only a possibility—and reporting uncertain information would only throw the situation into confusion. More importantly, if the creature truly was a Hydra, there was no way my elder brother would leave this town.
The threat posed by a “Bit Viper” and that of a “Hydra” were leagues apart. I couldn’t allow the father of my nephews to be exposed to such danger.
“...Something troublesome has come into this world, hasn’t it? A mutant, was it?”
“Most likely... But the exact form it's taken after its transformation remains unknown.”
“...Very well. I’ll begin mobilizing the main force. Have the guerilla unit monitor the target closely and prepare to guide the vanguard. I’ll take command myself.”
“About that...”
“What? You object?”
“My Friend has proposed a concrete countermeasure. The odds of success are promising—though I can’t say it’s perfect. What I can say is that the creature will be weakened. That’s certain. So in preparation for the worst, I’d like you to lead as many townsfolk as possible to the High Countess’ estate. If we declare a full state of alert now, it will only incite unnecessary panic. Entire towns and villages could fall into chaos.”
“...You're telling me to use my younger brother’s wedding as a pretext to evacuate the people to the High Countess’ territory? What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking of the peace and stability of the knightly family’s lands. If word of this gets out and panic erupts, even Second Brother’s reputation may be tarnished. His marriage has already endured enough strain. And should he hear of this—there’s a very real chance he’d insist on leading the vanguard himself. If that happens, he might very well miss his own wedding...”
“...What about Father?”
“I won’t tell him. He’s just as hot-blooded, and I’ve no idea what he might do. He could end up doing something reckless just to show off in front of his grandchildren. That’s why I’ve come to you, Brother—you’re the one who can stay calm and see the bigger picture.”
“...You really are...”
“A man of the knightly house.”
“Don’t you dare die.”
“I intend to make sure I don’t. I’m weighing all our options as we speak, and time isn’t on our side. Please.”
“...You’re the type who never listens once you’ve made up your mind. Stubborn, self-centered... and yet, your arguments always carry weight. Impossible to deal with. You even put my children’s safety on the scale, didn’t you?”
“Indeed, Brother.”
“We’ll announce everything after the wedding. I’ll return immediately and place the main force on full reserve to protect the town. I’ll issue a standby order in the meantime.”
“Thank you. Until your return, I’ll either maintain the current state or act on My Friend’s plan—depending on how things develop. I’ll keep watching closely until the very last moment.”
“Don’t go charging off on your own.”
“I won’t.”
“I pray for your long-lasting fortune in battle. But promise me this, at least: come back.”
“...Yes. I’ll do everything in my power.”
“Tch... You absolute idiot!”
I ordered the troops stationed on site to continue their surveillance. Ideally, the monster would remain dormant until we were ready—but that was wishful thinking. No one could control the movements of a monster. I’d already ordered them to report back immediately should anything happen. It was going to be a grueling assignment, but for now, they were our lifeline. I’d at least arranged for rotating watch and reinforcements.
――― Securing the monitoring system was truly a matter of utmost urgency.
Since then, My Friend had shut himself away in the research room he had set up next to the guest suite in the fortress. A few prototypes had been completed, but he didn’t seem satisfied with the results. He said he’d need a few more days. We didn’t have time to spare, but since the core of the strategy was his, I gritted my teeth and waited. The selection of personnel for the guerilla unit was quickly finalized. The hunters brimmed with tension, and the shooters wasted no time maintaining their guns.
As for matters concerning the town and our governed territories, my elder brother had spoken firmly with both the head steward and the housekeeper. Although we couldn’t make an official announcement yet, he had confided to them the presence of a monster that posed a critical threat to the knightly territories’ peace. In effect, a state of emergency had been declared within the very heart of the knightly family. Acting openly now would only worsen the confusion—that much, both the steward and the housekeeper had agreed upon. Thus, they promised to handle matters behind the scenes.
It went without saying that their decision was due in part to their trust in the guerilla unit’s proven ability to handle monsters and magical beasts. The magic communication network we’d established in the Shallow Forest now made it possible to relay warnings to the fortress in real time. Where before we had always responded too late, we were now in a position to strike first—to cut off the head of the threat before it could grow. I couldn’t afford to be complacent, but the worst of the unease had been lifted. With my second brother’s wedding date locked in, there was no avoiding this course of action. It was the only way forward.
――― I had no complaints about it.
When I considered my second brother’s happiness—and the stability of the northern frontier—there was simply no way I could suggest postponing or canceling the wedding. As the only member of our frontier knightly family free to move without restriction, the duty naturally fell to me. And I would carry it out, with pride. That was what was expected of a man born into a knightly house. Still... no matter how you looked at it, things just never went smoothly, did they?
All I could do now was wait—wait for the final report that preparations were complete. Under current conditions, I’d already made every move available to me. All that remained was to see it through. To obscure our true intentions, my father, mother, elder brother and his wife, along with the town’s leading figures, had all departed together to attend my second brother’s wedding.
That sharp, unyielding light I’d seen in my elder brother’s eyes... That would remain a secret between just the two of us.
...And then, the day arrived.
The handpicked soldiers of the guerilla force had completed their preparations, the reserve troops were assembled, and all that remained was the order to move out. That was when My Friend walked into my office, shadows heavy under his eyes. The state of his disheveled formal robes from the Magitech Academy made it obvious—he’d been pushing himself well past the limit.
...Was he really going without rest?
“It’s finished. Good enough to use. What did you expect? I am a genius, after all.”
My Friend’s arrogance rang as clear as ever. But one look at him was enough to see how much he’d burned through. His complexion was pale, and his eyes were clouded. His hair had lost its usual luster, tied up in a careless knot like he’d just crammed it together. Even his clothes—despite being formal wear—were a mess. His shirt was half untucked from his slacks, and his cloak hung askew, one shoulder exposed when it should’ve been neatly draped.
“You’re saying you want to accompany the guerilla unit? In that condition?”
“Opportunities like this don’t come often. I want to see it with my own eyes. This so-called ‘Demonic Forest’—a real extreme environment. I won’t lie and say I’m not worn out. But compared to what I endured in the slums of the royal capital, I’ve still got room to spare. I can still wrap myself in body reinforcement runes. I’ve left enough in the tank to keep up with the march.”
“You really are the kind of man who follows his intellectual curiosity to the bitter end... Seems like trying to stop you would be a waste of time.”
“Exactly. You get it. That’s precisely why I can throw myself into it so fully. You can’t create magitech tools while worrying about what other people think. Anyway—are your preparations complete?”
“There’s just one thing left.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“The standard-issue gear for female personnel in the guerilla unit. I had it passed to your attendant already. Put that on, and we’ll be ready to move.”
“Then I’ll get changed at once. You have my gratitude.”
“If you don’t wear it, you’re not coming. I’m glad you understand.”
“Of course. That’s only natural. It’s just like you to care that deeply for your troops. Honestly, I’m excited to see this ‘Demonic Forest’ for myself. I’m sure it’ll surprise me again. Right—off to change.”
With that, My Friend turned on his heel and left my office. So—it was finished. He hadn’t said what kind of item it was. Whether he’d forgotten or done it deliberately, I couldn’t say. But if My Friend said it was complete, then it had to be something layered with complex runes. I was looking forward to seeing it. And I had to continue observing him, right to the bitter end—just as I’d promised my elder brother. My Friend’s creation was a contingency, a failsafe to use if the situation spiraled out of control. Our main objective remained a reconnaissance-in-force. Still, I made the decision to formally include “My Friend’s plan” as an auxiliary measure in our operation.
In the fortress courtyard, the vanguard assembled. There was no need to invoke our family creed—me leading them was the natural course of things for a knightly house. After addressing the troops, I entrusted command of the reserve forces and the backup strategy to my adjutant. They would be our lifeline. I had selected only soldiers with the strength required for such a role.
Now then—time to get to work.
The trumpet sounded, signaling our departure. Only My Friend and I rode on horseback. The rest were assigned to carriages for the journey to the edge of the forest. There was no point in wasting energy needlessly. The supply convoy followed behind. Fifteen carriages in total, and two mounted riders—that was our formation.
In the crisp morning air, we traveled down the road toward the nearest boundary of the forest.
The brilliant morning sun and the refreshing wind pressed gently at our backs, as if giving us a push onward.
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