Chapter 345 – 345. Everyone’s Preparations for Second War (4)

– One –

-Right now, Regal is leaning closely. There is one he trusts the most among the people with special powers he brought as an escort, but Estrus’ sister stirred up the Imperial military camp and burned that person’s optic nerve. He has excellent vision and senses, so damage to the optic nerve is fatal to him.

‘Keeh… Great, haha… Kihik, except for the saintess, hehe, it must be an injury that cannot be treated, cologne, right?’

– Yes. Regal also asked a senior healer to treat his eyes, but ultimately failed. Since then, Regal has become incredibly neurotic. While he is on the march he is only in his carriage, and when he is stationed he does not leave the barracks.

‘If that’s the case, I guess I won’t attend the meeting either.’

– Yes. You don’t have to worry about getting caught, so Honey asks you to take control of the Imperial Army as you please.

‘Hey, hey…’

Slammer prostrates himself in front of the warden, only rolling his eyes to check his face.

Slammer is tense.

They are not nervous to measure the success or failure of the plan, but they package it as having faced a big man in the Imperial Army.

“Raise your head.”

“Yes, yes…”

Swoop.

As directed by the warden, I quietly lift my head.

But Slammer quickly lowered his eyes, so he didn’t make eye contact with him.

“Hmm… Where have we seen it before?”

“Kok, kohok… It’s never like that… The dwarf has only lived his whole life in rice, kuluk, and the outskirts… My, the Imperial Army, Kihik, the dwarf will be meeting for the first time in his lifetime. …”

“I see. But I’m used to it…”

The warden may have seen one of the wanted flyers that Regal had distributed in the past.

A medium-sized hunchback with thinning hair.

Since it was an absolutely uncommon appearance, it may be that he remembered such a characteristic.

But the montage and physical characteristics of Slammer on the wanted flyers would have also included the fact that he had one eye and two of his limbs were cut off.

Therefore, unless Slammer could infer the relationship between the secret of recovering his eyes and limbs and the saintess, it was clear that it would be a long way for the warden to find out Slammer’s identity.

“It must be an illusion.”

Swoop.

The Warden opens his arms.

I put my upper body forward and approach the slammer a little.

Slammer immediately grasped that the warden had let go of his weak guard.

“Will you tell us your eyewitness accounts of the rebels? What atrocities they did to you, where they went, and where they are now. If you tell us in detail, we will protect you and provide you with food. If anyone is injured, I will help them get treatment through the priests.”

Cooong.

Slammer bangs his forehead on the floor.

Shake her shoulders

“Go, thank you, Kii, thank you…”

With his forehead on the floor, he began to testify against the rebels.

How they perpetrated the massacre, how they moved afterwards, they report everything in detail.

“It must have been a lot of trouble.”

“Kee, keehuu…”

As the warden comforts him, Slammer weeps.

He was a man who knew what acting was.

“If you’re right, it would mean that at the time of the massacre, only a part of the rebels moved south to the island, while the rest were still there.”

“That, yes, yes…”

“The rebels are encamped under the cliffs about 40km northeast of here?”

“Yeah…”

“How many rebels?”

“Four, three, forty thousand is enough, cool, something will come…”

The generals who were observing the conversation between Slammer and the warden suddenly came out one by one and asked Slammer questions.

No matter how thoroughly they prepared, Slammer faithfully answered their questions without hesitation.

“Huh… Are there still so many rebels here…”

“In the end, His Highness’ words were true.”

“Was the charge of devil worship against Your Highness just a conspiracy…?”

“Then what about the saintess? I don’t understand at all what the relationship between the saintess, the rebels, and the devil is like…”

The generals murmur.

The officers nodded as they listened to them, as if they were thinking the same thing.

Between the complicated tangle of events, I couldn’t figure out what was the truth.

Confusion mounts among them.

Cooong.

“Quiet.”

The warden stamps his foot and silences everyone in the commander’s barracks.

Among them, this is because the confusion did not have to be exposed in front of the slammer.

“Have you ever witnessed the saintess walking among the rebels?”

Instead, ask Slammer directly.

It’s something that needs to be confirmed by directly bumping into the rebels, but I’m going to ask Slammer a question.

This is because the warden also had his own goals.

“Sonin is…”

Swoop.

Slammer slowly raises his head.

I look at the small intestine with a sad face.

The warden looks down at him with sharp eyes.

– 2 –

Late night.

Jose and Margarita are lying in bed.

They were naked and facing each other, giving each other warmth.

But there was no sign of a love affair.

They were still loyal to Monohorn.

“Honey. Why did you tell Mr. Slammer to tell him that he saw someone who looked like Ada?”

To Margarita’s question,

Seed profit.

Jose smiles cheerfully.

But Margarita somehow found his laughter to be sinister.

“Why did you do that, my love?”

“Uh, um… Honestly, I don’t know. Wouldn’t it be the best choice to just say I’ve never seen it? If you’re one of the few survivors of the massacre of the rebels, it’s normal to run away trembling at the sight of the rebels’ shadows.”

“I guess so.”

“…”

Boo Woo.

Margarita puffs up her cheeks.

He glared at Jose with a slightly pouting expression.

“Tell me, Jose.”

Startle.

Hearing his name through her mouth for the first time in a while, Jose trembles.

Before she gets any further upset, he decides to reveal her feelings.

“In the 2nd Expeditionary Force, only Regal and his limbs are the only ones who know for sure that the rebels and Ada are not together.

“Uh…? Then Honey, and we stepped in and helped Regal prove his innocence…?”

Margarita blinks her eyes.

Confirming that his title for himself has returned, José feels a deep sense of relief.

“That’s right. Thanks to Slammer’s testimony, the identity of the rebels has been proven, and it’s clear that the leader of the rebels is Ada, and at the same time, it’s proven that they’re separate from Regal.”

“Is it okay then? Wouldn’t it have been better to reveal that the rebels and the Regal colluded, or that the Regal was behind it? It would be more advantageous for us if there was confusion within the 2nd Expeditionary Force…”

Swoop, Swoop.
Rumbling.

Jose strokes her hair.

She quietly closes her eyes and rests her cheek on Jose’s chest.

Hear Jose’s heartbeat.

A little bit of anxiety goes away.

Confirming that her anxiety is gone, José opens her mouth in a low voice.

“What does my love think is my purpose?”

“Honey’s purpose? Hmm…”

Margarita closes her eyes.

A weak wind blows through the room.

Soon she

“Ah…!”

He exclaims and opens her eyes wide.

“Are we pulling you deeper into our trap without giving you time to think?”

“It’s accurate. And there’s never been a time when it didn’t cause chaos. I just focused it on Regal.”

“Ah… Ah ah…”

Margarita was intelligent.

At the same time, she had the widest field of vision in a physical sense.

She was the only one who could see Jose’s battlefield at a glance, so she could understand his thoughts most accurately and quickly.

“Is it like that?”

“Yes. While Regal hesitates in a shrunken way, the situation will spiral out of control.”

“That’s right…”

Seed profit.

Margarita smiles sinisterly.

Wrinkle your eyebrows.

Her smile was exactly like Jose’s.

“I’m so excited I can’t even sleep.”

“Right? But there are still a few more left. So expect more.”

“Aren’t you going to teach me too?”

“Yes.”

Jose replies firmly.

Before the sadness settled in her expression,

“Rely on me completely this time. I’ll embrace all of your anguish and anguish. I’ll borrow your expression. I’ll be the driver who gives you the best ride experience, so tell me what you think about the ride later.”

José smiled a little awkwardly and quickly added:

“Um, is this the right way to use it?”

“Puhuh. Honey, it doesn’t suit you, that kind of tone.”

Still, thanks to his smirk, Margarita was not disappointed.

It seemed that it had become a pleasant feeling again.

It was because he properly confirmed once again what kind of intention he was trying to hide from her.

“Oh… I look too old to use a playful tone.”

“Uh, that’s not it… Heh heh. Honey, a serious look is the best.”

Poo Ok.

Margarita breaks into Jose’s arms.

Her Jose hugs her.

“I’ll be busy tomorrow too, so stop sleeping now.”

“I have to. Honey, good night.”

Another day draws to a close

– 3 –

‘Benison. Leave this note in the hut at the far southwest corner.’

‘What is this, Jose?’

‘It’s a memo written by Fraffin.’

‘Uh? Then it’s not that you shouldn’t show it carelessly… ?’

‘Of course it’s a fake memoir. Originally, I was going to send a letter, but things got twisted and I couldn’t deliver it. After thinking about how to use it, I’m going to use it in this form.’

‘Aha! Then Benison just needs to bring this to me?’

‘That’s right. Also, keep a close eye on the situation of the Imperial forces as you move. If, by any chance, the cabin is discovered by an Imperial Army scout before you get the letter, you must immediately cancel the entire plan and return. Got it?’

‘Yes!’

Whee-ae-ae-ae-ae-aek!
Shashashashashak!

Benison gallops across the plains.

It runs like flying, stepping only on the rocks in the overgrown bushes.

“Aww!”

Benison bites it.

He was running faster than ever before, as if squeezing even the sucked energy and pouring it into the sprinting.

– Benison, give me a little more strength. If I keep going at my current speed, I think I’ll be able to get to the cabin before the Imperials find out.

Nod, nod

Because time is running out, he runs while saving even the strength to answer.

Although José had told them to give up without hesitation if the Imperials found it first, it was to their advantage to succeed as much as possible.

If this one failed, he had devised other plans, but if this one succeeded, it would have been much easier.

Because of that, Benison was running with all his might.

‘See… !’

A cabin in the distance catches Benison’s eye.

Naturally, his senses had been feeling the presence of the Imperial Army from a long time ago.

– Be careful. There are Imperial Army scouts within easy enough sight to spot you.

Nod, nod

Benison nodded his head,

Easy profit.
Squeak.

Slowly hide their presence

Move as carefully as possible so as not to create dust.

Step only on solid ground to avoid leaving footprints.

Run through the shadows behind cover, so you can’t easily see him.

Unless they use witchcraft or magic, they move as stealthily as possible so that no artificial traces can be seen with the naked eye.

– As you know, there are no wizards or shamans in the scouting party. Just watch out for the angle of view.

Nod

Through the whispers, her tension is clearly conveyed.

Tension settles on Benison’s face as well.

“What if I find out that Benison is there…?”

Benison asks Margarita in a low voice.

There weren’t any Imperials within hearing distance of his voice, but her nervousness seemed to let out a naturally small voice.

– For a moment…

Margarita seemed to ask Jose about it.

I leave all judgments to Jose, even the smallest things.

It was Jose’s request, and now it is the number one principle they abide by.

Thanks to this, their burden was significantly reduced.

– If the imperial army finds out, they will kill everyone without exception. Of course, the body has to be covered up. They say there’s no need to act clumsily pretending to be a rebel.

“Yes…!”

Benison laughs.

Of all the members of the community, the one who has the least worries and concerns must be Benison.

Most of his interests were limited to estrus, sex, and valentines.

As Estrus was safe and completely out of harm’s way for the time being, there was nothing to worry about as far as his interests were concerned.

It was a very primitive way of thinking, but in the midst of severe psychological pressure in an extreme situation, such simplicity could be a great advantage.

Shasha shak.
Creak.

Benison enters the cabin.

His body naturally penetrated into the room as much as the expression “Permeation” Would be appropriate.

“Can we put it on the table here? There’s no furniture, anyway.”

– Huh. Leave it there and come out right away.

Squeak, squeak.
Took.

Benison takes an old notebook out of his pocket and puts it on the table.

It was clear that the notebook, which must have been made in less than a week, looked so worn that it had been deliberately damaged.

Perhaps Urmama created a worn-out notebook, or it could have been written in an old notebook that Octopoda or Demosh had in the first place.

Benison looks at it curiously for a moment, then he takes a step back from the table.

“Um… That’s awkward.”

– What?

Swoop.

Benison points to the note.

“This is a cabin that’s been empty for a long time, even the notebooks that look incredibly worn, only the table is dusty, and there’s no dust on top of the notebooks.”

– Ah… That’s right.

Unexpectedly, when Benison made a sharp point, Margarita seemed taken aback.

It was only then that Margarita was able to recall that Benison was acting as if he had some kind of infantile regression, but that he was actually a normal 21-year-old former mercenary.

– It’s definitely strange. Should I put some dust on it?

“Yes. Hold on. Watch while Benison dusts it up.”

– Huh. Hurry.

Benison goes to the corner.

She crouches near the corner of the cabin, gathering gray dust and placing it in the palm of her hand.

She comes back to the table again.

Squeak, squeak.
Tuk-tuk.
Pang, Pang, Pang!

Shake off the dust from the palm of your hand over the notebook.

Scatter

At that time,

– Uh, huh? Beh, Benison!

Margarita’s urgent voice hits his ear.

“Yes?”

Benison raises his head blankly.

– Run away!

Benison’s pupils widen.