Chapter 361 – 361. Struggle, and Struggle (9)

– One –

“… They say yes, honey? What do you think?”

“Hmm…”

Jose gets into trouble.

However,

Seed profit.

Soon the corner of his mouth rises.

“If you had a sister at a time like this, you would have come up with a way to take advantage of this situation, right?”

José asked that question and looked around him.

All of his colleagues who met his eyes were smiling like villains.

“I’ve earned enough time. However, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with adding a little more free time.”

“Foda’s brother is right. Although Mamang and you guys went out and shot mid-ranking officers several times, it wasn’t a decisive blow. Besides, the imperial army is just retreating in an orderly manner after defeating the rebels. , It doesn’t look like they are running away in a hurry. It’s still not enough to judge with certainty that they have broken the momentum of the Imperial Army.”

The Octopodas agree.

As if the thoughts of the others were not too different from the couple’s, they just nodded their heads without comment.

When everyone agrees with the direction he’s going to take, Jose nods his head in satisfaction.

“Then, to exceed my goal, I want all of you to help me a little bit.”

Everyone vigorously nods.

“First of all my love. The enemy’s mobile fortress, um,”

“It’s Stras-Isla.”

“Yes, where is that Stras-Aila passing by now?”

Tok.

Margarita points to a point on the map with her index finger.

“Here. We haven’t even entered the frontier yet.”

“I see. The Imperial Army,”

Swoop.

Jose creates closed curves on the map with his fingertips.

It was farther north than where Stras Eila was located.

“Are you passing around here?”

“Yes.”

“Umm… If I calculate based on the information my love has found out, assuming they travel in a straight line toward each other, they will meet in about four days.”

“Maybe it takes less than that. If you run at maximum speed, you’ll need a full day’s charging time after 72 hours, but if you’re running slower than that, you might be able to run more efficiently. Maybe you’ll run out of emergency power sources, so you can march faster than that. Might as well.”

After hearing José’s speculation, Demosi gives his opinion.

She was warning me to keep in mind that things would be different.

José nods her head without any rebuttal, as if she is absolutely right.

“Then we’ll have to hurry up a bit.”

“Of course it will be safe.”

Tok, tok, tok.

Margarita repeatedly taps on a spot on the map.

“If there are no obstacles between the Imperial Expeditionary Force and Mobile Fortress as they move towards each other, I think they will meet around here.”

Hearing her words, everyone glared at a spot on the map.

Octopoda nods her head and opens his mouth.

“I think so. Even if we go ahead and set up obstacles, it won’t be easy to slow down the movement of the Imperial Army. It’s not difficult to remove obstacles because there are a lot of people, and there’s a high risk of being discovered if we install them close. If you install it, it will be easy to bypass, so tying down the Imperial Army seems inefficient.”

“In the first place, since the Imperial Army doesn’t move that fast~ That~ That Stra~ Why don’t we tie that up~?”

Now, Jose does not directly prevent others from participating in planning the plan.

It is because they judged that they relieved a lot of anxiety and generally recovered their reason.

Rather, we actively engage in dialogue with them and encourage their participation.

“It makes sense. No matter how magisterically engineered it is, it is a mobile fortress capable of transporting tens of thousands, maybe even a hundred thousand people. , I’m sure the people on board won’t last. Should we ever get into rough terrain, that mobile fort will become a huge vomit dump.”

“Uh, uh uh… Sa, you imagined it, Octopoda oppa…”

Margarita shakes her head palely.

Octopoda raises both of her hands in an apologetic gesture of her apology to her.

“I’m sorry. In any case, even considering the appearance of the fort as measured by the wind by Margarita, I’m pretty sure it was never designed for running on rough terrain. Besides, if you look at the route it’s taken so far, it’s all been running on level ground, hasn’t it?” ?”

“That’s right. I came by avoiding slopes and even swamps.”

Margarita did not detect Strath Ayla’s presence in real time, but once she did, she discovered its route in more detail than the Emperor’s faction.

She even penetrated the magic of invisibility and grasped its true nature in detail.

Even visually transparent objects did not disappear.

Since she did not use her light as a medium when sensing something of her own, it was not particularly difficult for her to see through the optics created by her magic and its true nature by penetrating the illusion.

Therefore, it was not unreasonable for her to observe Stras-Ayla.

Match.

Jose claps his hands, attracting everyone’s attention.

“Then, the operation will be divided into three stages.

“First of all, we move to the enemy’s expected convergence, then we create obstacles in the path of the enemy’s mobile fortress, and finally, this operation will be concluded with a big blow.”

“Of course, returning safely is the final step, right?”

Ada looks at everyone and shows a worried expression.

As if it were natural, Jose nodded her head cheerfully.

“As Ada said, the operation will be divided into four stages. First of all, in the first stage,”

Swoop.

Jose looks back at Urmama.

“Jesu-san will have to suffer a little. Take the weapons I’m talking about,”

Jose gives detailed instructions to everyone.

Everyone nodded and read Jose’s instructions.

Although there was only a slight tension, it was difficult to find any sign of anxiety in them.

Judging from the fact that he successfully cleared everyone’s insecurities, Jose was admirably proving his leadership qualities.

And all members of the community, no one will be able to deny that fact.

– 2 –

A few days later

– Lord. Did you have a good mood after the gas?

“Um…”

A tall man in black leather, who supervises everyone aboard the Strath Aila, greets Regal.

Looking at his sharp face reflected on the display panel, Regal makes a happy expression.

“I heard about it from the butler, but I never really thought you’d come out, Absinthe.”

– Rumors that the lord’s whereabouts are unknown have spread far and wide throughout the empire, so how can you, as a subject, sit still and wait for news of your lord to come? Even if the lord did not come out to organize a second party, his conviction was first to prepare to go north to follow the lord.

“Is that so…”

Even if there were only Strass Eila and the 100,000 privates and operatives on board, Regal would have been able to feel at ease.

But in addition to that, Absinthe took over the role of Stras-Ayla’s captain and came all the way to this place with numerous troops.

Among the combat personnel he trained, if he were to choose someone who reached the pinnacle of armed force, and yet had the most outstanding capabilities as a commander, Regal would pick absinthe first without hesitation.

He was someone who was deeply trusted by Regal.

“Did you keep a stand-in in your estate?”

– It is the first duty of Sosin to ensure that the lord does not have to worry about other servants, including Sosin.

“Won, people are hard…”

Regal grumbles, but smiles friendly.

It was a smile, without any pretense, that only those who were competent could see.

“So, why did you request communication from me in the first place?”

Absinthe bowed his head deeply toward Regal, with an expression of regret.

– I’m sorry, but it looks like your lord will have to march a little longer than initially expected.

“Hmm? Tell me more.”

He said something regretful, but Regal’s expression did not distort.

Regal could be convinced of how thoroughly he had tested various possibilities for this one report, even without asking Absinthe.

It was because Regal never doubted the fact that he was such a man, through his achievements and achievements accumulated over the decades.

– When your lord went north, didn’t you say that the northern unexplored land was a desolate plain where trees sparsely grew?

“That’s right. Occasionally, I saw areas with shrubbery, and sometimes areas with thick bushes, but mostly it’s areas with sparse growth of short trees. The entrance to the unexplored land is more desolate.”

Cold sweat slowly formed on Absinthe’s face.

Having seen him nervous for the first time in a long time, Regal was very surprised.

“…Have the topography or vegetation there changed?”

– Yes. Contrary to what the lord said, the forested terrain surrounds it on all sides. Shrubs that grew to about 7m grew like a castle wall, so we stopped for now and dispatched a patrol. If we can’t find a suitable entry point close by, it looks like we’ll have to cut down some trees to make way for it before we can resume our northward move.

“Ummm… Are they guys again…”

Regal groans.

He knew it too well.

Stras Eila is literally just a fortress optimized for transport on flat ground, and cannot be an all-weather weapon.

Because it was designed with the judgment that only troops and supplies needed to be transported covertly and quickly across the continent, its limitations are as clear as its usefulness.

However, I had never imagined in my dreams that the moment to reach its limit would be now.

– When you say them, who are you referring to?

“I’m talking about the test subjects here in the northern wilderness.”

– … Are you saying that among them, there is a person with a great sense ability that can detect Strasilla from a distance, and a person with a plant type ability that is powerful enough to change the terrain in a short period of time?

“…I’m assuming that… Umm… I didn’t expect someone to interfere even while retreating like this…”

Regal’s expression darkened.

He gets into trouble

Absinthe’s eyes shine.

– Lord.

“Hmm? Tell me.”

– It looks like they prepared a trap.

“It will.”

Regal decided it was natural, so he nodded his head without looking too surprised.

Having watched the imperial army suffer so badly, he seemed to have somewhat resigned himself and detached himself.

“Ah, are there any trees with white flowers growing around where you are?”

– That’s right. Since it is an unfamiliar plant, I warned soldiers and agents to be careful.

“I don’t know the name of that plant, but it’s quite vicious. Never light a fire near it. If the temperature rises above a certain level, the sap will spontaneously ignite.”

– … All right. I will give you an order right now to be very careful.

Absinthe gives instructions to his men without delay.

Regal pondered for a moment as Absinthe gave instructions to his men, trying to determine what type of trap could exist.

His brow narrows a lot.

– … It is. Lord. Lord?

“Hmm. I didn’t hear it for a while because I was thinking about all the tricks they’ve been doing. What did you say?”

– Yes. I told you that thanks to the Lord’s early warning, he was able to defend in advance without damage.

“That’s fortunate. But no matter how much I think about it, that doesn’t seem to be the end…”

Regal grumbles about his own experiences and the things he suffered from them.

Absinthe silently listened to Regal’s lamentable testimony.

“…I said. So how could I not worry about anything?”

– Uh…

Absinthe is also troubled.

But the trouble didn’t last long.

– Lord.

When he calls out to Regal in a firm voice, Regal looks up and makes eye contact with him.

“Do you have any good ideas?”

– Their schemes are cunning, but in the end, it seems to be nothing more than a shallow operation carried out by a small number of elites.

“That’s true. However, the problem is that because the test subjects with various abilities are well connected, they dig into unexpected places and stab painfully well.”

– Also… So, isn’t the answer simple?

“Tell me.”

Regal emits an anticipatory gaze.

Absinthe was no stranger to it, so he felt no pressure whatsoever.

– In order for the enemy to block the advantage, it is judged that the best method is to push the enemy with overwhelming force. If it’s to annihilate such a small number of people, pushing it by force may not be appropriate in terms of cost. But isn’t the lord’s purpose to supply and retreat? So, it is judged that it is necessary to achieve the purpose by pressing it with force before resorting to tricks. So, if we don’t waste time looking for detours and rejoin our lord as quickly as possible, all other problems will be secondary.

“Hmm…”

Regal quietly ponders.

Even in his judgment, it seemed that there could be no more adequate solution.

He nods.

“I’m saying this out of desperation, but don’t choose firefighters to urgently clear the road. The Imperial Army ended with soldiers and food burned a little, but if you do that, in addition to people and goods, Strath Isle It might even burn.”

– I’ll keep that in mind. We will actively mobilize combat personnel and enlisted soldiers to clear the road only through physical means. Also, after reconnaissance is finished today and we know the point of confluence and expected time, we will contact you again tomorrow morning, lord.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

– Chung.

Piririk.

Regal terminated communications.

Take a moment to organize your thoughts.

Swoop.

Get up,

Jerk, jerk, jerk.
Flutter.

Get out of the barracks

Through the cool night air, I headed for the warden’s barracks.

In order to ascertain the exact schedule and route of the march, Regal intended to have a brief interview with him.

Naturally, five or six people follow him.

Naturally, all of them were Regal’s personal bodyguards, composed of people with special abilities.

‘Fortunately, he hasn’t fallen asleep yet.’

No sound could be heard in the warden’s barracks, but the light was still leaking.

The moment I approached his barracks,

Whoops.
That buck

“Hmm…?”

Sensing a slight sense of difference, Regal stops his steps.

Regal’s expression is subtly colored.

His bodyguards also naturally stop their steps.

“…Is.”

“…Did…”

Only then can the voices of the warden and other people be heard from inside the barracks.

As if his bodyguards felt the difference that Regal felt, they looked around with sharp expressions.

“Who else is there, Your Highness…?”

Flutter.
Squeak.

The warden comes out of the barracks.

Whoops.

The sense of heterogeneity disappears as if washed.

Whoever saw it, it became clear where the source of the sense of heterogeneity came from.

“How can I… At this time?”

The warden blinked and asked Regal a question.

Regal does not say a word about the sense of heterogeneity.

As if he doesn’t know anything, as if he’s never felt anything, he smiles with a calm face.

“I have some things to discuss. I don’t know if I’m too late anyway.”

“Oh, no, Your Highness. Please come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Instead, I just contemplated the color of his desire.

Even his secret desires, Regal began to thoroughly examine them.

Regal’s smile deepened.