Chapter 26: AND THEN, IT’S WAR!
「We are at war」(King)
The king called Mitsuha with Sabine flight suddenly said so .
So suddenly…
「So, I want Sabine to take refuge in another country」(King)
Oh, so that’s it .
「But I refuse!」(Mitsuha)
(T . N: In case you don’t know, this is Jojo meme: Daga Kotowaru)
The King and the Prime Minister were dumbfound .
「Because I finally have shop with a lot of hard work and money spending, it’s the last resort to throw away」(Mitsuha)
「No, it’s an evacuation just in case, once the war is over, you can return anytime」(King)
「Is it an evacuation because there’s a possibility that we won’t be able to return?」
The King became silent .
「Anyway, I will protect the shop by myself, when it comes to an emergency, the shop will self-exploded」(Mitsuha)
「Self explosion, what is it?」(King)
Oh, because there’s no bomb here, they don’t know about self-exploded? However, it’s different from self-destruction .
Even if I say self-exploded, I don’t feel like committing suicide .
I just need to teleport the shop to some unmanned zone of the Earth, once again acquired land in one of other countries, teleport again, and so on .
I can do it, the whole store transition . It’s easy .
It just disappears and I will make it look like it’s destroyed .
Therefore, it’s okay for me to stay till the last minute .
Information is transmitted very slowly in this world and there are no pictures .
So, if I use another name in a distant country, I don’t have to worry about being chased, maybe .
After a few years, it will be more safe because I will grow more and the age won’t match .
Sorry, I will not grow any more, because I am 18 years old already .
After that, I will return . I don’t want to engage in war or something like that .
Yeah, but in the unlikely event, I will bring Sabine along .
I can go anywhere with Sabine, who is highly adaptable .
Even in other countries or the earth .
I returned to the shop and thought of various things .
The customers don’t come today .
I guess the news about war has already spread .
Well, they can’t keep it secret and it also has no meaning .
They can’t hide it because they move a lot of regular staff, inviting militia, gathering food and other various munitions supplies .
The social season had ended and many of the aristocrats had returned to the territory .
Beatrice-chan and everyone also unwilling to come back with the Earl .
Some aristocrats leave management of the territory to their sons, subordinates, etc . and other aristocrats without territory settled in the kingdom .
And it takes time to call up troops .
According to the King’s story, he thought that the opposed country was fishy but he never imagined that they would take action so soon .
It seems that we are expecting that the current situation will continue for a few more years with both side’s military and financial .
The two countries were conflict with each other before .
They didn’t have sufficient of winning chance .
But now we have an amazing information .
The neighbor country seems to add monsters as part of the military power .
And the betrayal of a number of aristocrats who have territories near the border .
Since the lord near the border, which should halt the enemy and earn time for the country, now helping the enemies . The enemy troops mobilized in a little time without meeting resistance, then suddenly attacked other land without advance information .
Right now, It seems that they are approaching the Capital city while kicking out the regional lord army who can’t have enough soldiers to resist .
Our country had used many horses and messengers exchange to send orders to various land, but it seems only the closest lord army will be able to make it in time and stand before the enemy .
The army to defend the kingdom won’t make it in time .
Regardless of betrayal, it’s impossible to understand why monsters which can’t communicate with, are also acting with enemy’s forces .
Hmm, aren’t they too desperate?
They are stuffed, aren’t they? (詰んでる: Tsunderu)
No, it’s not Tsundere . (ツンデレ: Tsundere)
Oh, the Earl Bozes is on the other side of the enemy troops’ progress .
Because his land is facing the sea at the extreme end of this country, it’s probably safe but he also will not make it in time…
The speed of the military’s progress is much slower than the coach, but the enemy army still seems to have the upper hand than the kingdom .
Well, it will take time for information from observers to come .
Hmm…
OK, I decided .
Let’s go to the royal palace .
If there is something bad, I can come back soon with the teleport through the Earth .
Anyway, the information is important .
And I would like to be with Sabine’s side .
I will go with the complete equipment .
Three guns on the blade protector . Dagger, knife, reserve magazine .
The security system of the shop is set to absolute defense mode .
When someone enters the building, the smoke or fireworks will rise and I will see it wherever I am in the Capital .
Okay, departure!
When I arrived at the Royal palace, They allowed me to get in easily .
Well, is this okay?
Ah, the guards remembered my face and the King also had an order to let me pass through, is that so?
Well, thank you for let me go inside for now .
No, I will not go to the king .
It hasn’t been so long since the last time I saw him and it will be hard because he is too busy .
I will search Sabine for the time being .
I can not find her easy even if I say so .
I have to ask someone .
Wait, if it like this, aren’t I a suspicious person who wandering around in the royal palace to find where the princess is?
As I was wandering around, I was caught by the Prime Minister .
After all, the king seems to be busy .
I thought about asking him to guide me to Sabine, but I was forced to go somewhere else because I was asked if I wanted to attend some meeting .
This isn’t 『I won’t let you get away』, is it?
So, what was the interesting meeting he was talking about?
Business relations? Purchasing goods or something .
Or…is it a military conference?
The meeting room that I was brought in .
There are twenty people sitting in a simple chair facing the forward,
on the front side there were several great people sat down behind the long table and faced this direction .
Eh, you’re pulling me so far into the front?
Being the furthest in the back is fine!
See, the big-wigs are glaring .
「The Prime Minister, is that the girl?」(Some great person or the commander)
Here it is .
「This girl is that Mitsuha」(PM)
「Oh, that…」(Some great person or the commander)
No, what is『that』? What in the world did you hear?
「Mitsuha!」(Alexis)
A young man suddenly opened his arms and rushed up to me .
I opened my arms …, of course, I will not hug him!
Do~su! (SFX)
Yeah, it worked . The result of the captain’s guidance .
The young man took the body-blow to the belly and crumbled down… Huh, Alexis-sama!?
「So mean…」(Alexis)
While being laughed at by the front people, Alexis-sama protests with watery eyes .
When did you became someone that like hugging in public? No, it’s not allowed even if you are not in public .
Anyway, Earl Bozes received a courier service, immediately got his soldiers ready and have Alexis-sama, the eldest son headed to the kingdom acting as a liaison and information gathering .
Oh, it’s serious responsibility .
So is he going to the conference like this?
It was also a seat in the front row .
He is the representative of the Earl .
Moving by fast horse riding and he arrived in only 3 days, when he arrived, it was tough .
The main army led by the Earl will take seven days to arrive .
Well, the soldiers are moving with heavy equipment, it’s already very fast!
It’s common saying 『a forced march』
Then, I was also sitting and the meeting began .
No, my seat is towards the end rather than in the middle .
The agenda will progress one after another, such as current status report, the latest information, prediction of enemy actions .
The enemy will arrive at the Capital tomorrow evening .
After that, they were supposed to take a rest and started the capital siege on the dawn of the day after tomorrow .
About 20,000 enemy soldiers .
3,000 are Goblins, Orc, Orge, and other 『monsters』
The ally is about 2,000 .
We can’t count the number of soldiers who sorted out for our time earning .
As expected the strategy is a town defend .
The King’s army, guards, and mercenaries will protect the capital until the troops rush from various places .
The leading commander is the midst of the great men in front, Marquis Icebringer .
Even though he is old enough to be called elderly, but he is one hell of a brutal warrior, a fighting warrior .
From when he inherited the rank of the faction until now, he was wielding a big handed sword at the forefront, everyone placed their trust on him .
And it’s said that no other commanders think they are good enough to be the lead .
When assigning position to intercept the incoming war, a soldier who looked pretty tired was guided by guard and passed through the room . He has a short sword on the left waist and wearing an iron armor .
『Message is coming! I will report the situation of the enemy army!』
He declare loudly and then put the large leather bag from his shoulder in front of him and open it .
Mitsuha’s body is moving without thinking .
She rises up from the chair and jumps out of front of the Marquis Icebringer .
Her body acts even before the brain does the thinking .
『Strange weird long-distance messengers would wear light armor
If it’s a written report then no need for extra luggage
His beyond bloodshot eyes are too dilated for being nervous in front of a big-wig
Though the bag’s skin is tough something hard is
His eyes are like looking at prey
If I shoot it’ll hit the person behind
Ah stupid even if I die
If the Marquis dies I gotta stop the confusion
It wasn’t a stab vest but a Kevlar bulletproof Fatal misahh』
Mitsuha planned to take everything with her body like a keeper of a handball game .
Even though it is her body that moved without thinking, but she didn’t regret it .
Perhaps, even if she had time to think slowly, the results would have been the same . Because she is Mitsuha, Yamano Mitsuha!
Someone else came out in front of Mitsuha right before the arrows were launching it with a special construction that could fire five arrows at once, with a shape similar to a bow gun, a small consecutive bow that a messenger took out of the bag .
Don! (SFX)
Mitsuha fell to her back with a burning sensation and shock running to the left shoulder .
And a young man was falling on her body .
A small arrow bullet stabbed in the right shoulder and abdomen of the young man .
The assassin knew that the arrow bullets didn’t reach the target, took out the short sword and ran to the marquis .
There were many people inside the castle and sitting on the chair in a narrow conference room, many already put their hands on the sword, but nobody reacted quickly enough .
Mitsuha pulled out the 93 R with her right hand and pointed forward with a trembling left hand .
There is a severe burning sensation on the left shoulder, but she doesn’t feel pain whether due to adrenalin or dopamine is overflowing in the brain . It’s just her left arm doesn’t stop trembling .
Mitsuha already fell on her back on the floor .
The assassin was running towards the marquis with the short sword .
With low angle, off the mark bullet will hit the ceiling . All right!
Papa pan, papa pan, papa pan! (SFX)
Three successive gunshots lasted three times, and the assassin’s body fell on his back .
The whole room was silent . Nobody speaks, nobody moves .
「… Mitsuha… as your… knight… am I passed…」(Alexis)
「Alexis-sama!!」(Mitsuha)
Alexis was too weak to speak .
「…It’s useless, isn’t it!」(Mitsuha)
「「「「「Whaaaaaaaat!!」」」」」(Everyone)
Men in the room raise their voice but some keep in their mind .
((((You called that’s useless!?))))) (Men)
「Here, this arrow hit in my left shoulder, doesn’t it?」(Mitsuha)
「Ha…ha…」(Alexis)
Alexis seems doesn’t even have enough power to speak .
「But, I will accept the effort . Because you had failed and not disqualified . Let’s do it better next time」(Mitsuha)
「Next time…」(Alexis)
「Yes, next time」(Mitsuha)
((((So, that’s what she plan to say!!!))) (Men)
Everyone admired .
However, the veterans knew . That there’s no next time .
The right shoulder can be treat . But that Belly wound .
Even if it’s okay now, that belly wound will decay .
That courageous young man will die while suffering in a few days .
It is very regrettable…
The young man closed his eyes because of pain .
「Ahaha」(Mitsuha)
「Ah, hahahahahahahaha!」(Mitsuha)
Mitsuha is suddenly laughing, everyone gets a surpirsed .
(Too much fear and sorrow make her goes crazy!?) (Men)
「I was holding, I was holding back too much」(Mitsuha)
(What is she saying?) (Men)
「Don’t go crazy about the progress of this world, so that serious people can take a break, and it ends with a overkill .
But right now, because I start to holding back .
The result is … this … He is dying, I can’t protect people close to me, this…」(Mitsuha)
(I do not understand what you are talking about, are you regretting?) (Men)
「I quit … I quit holding back!!
I will show them no mercy!」(Mitsuha)
「Marquis Icebringer .
I will return by the dawn of the day after tomorrow .
So please don’t put anything in the courtyard and don’t let any people enter from the night tomorrow」(Mitsuha)
「Ah, yes I do not mind that, but … what in the world are you going to do?」(Icebringer)
To the question of the Marquis, Mitsuha answered .
「Prepare, an unbeatable armies, and by the dawn of the day after tomorrow, enemy soldiers will know…」(Mitsuha)
Mitsuha laughed .
「The true meaning of fear, despair and hell in this world」
The next moment, the appearance of Mitsuha disappeared along with courageous youth .
Don (SFX)
(This part seems more like Captain’s POV than Mitsuha’s POV)
Mercenary group Wolf Fang’s home base .
The base is considerable large because the land fee around this area is cheap .
At the room in the end of hallway of a two-story building, the game room .
The captain was holding a cigarette and playing billiards, his eyes were open wide with the cue in his posture .
Suddenly someone appeared in the air, several tens of centimeters above the billiard table, and falling on the platform . It’s the client young lady that visit them recently, she hugged a young man in blood .
「It’s hurt, it’s hurrrrrt!
The ball!
The ball is digging into…!」(Mitsuha?)
I see, so that’s more painful than that one stuck on your shoulder…
「Bring me a doctor, he have become a shield for me, don’t let him die」(Mitsuha)
As the captain heard that, he arranged a doctor at once, he also moved steadily with a first aid guy .
Don’t pull out the arrow because it will cause bleed .
I don’t even know what happened .
But if this young man used his body to protect the young lady’s life then I have to do something .
The other guys must think so, too .
However, I can’t accept that one arrow passed through .
The young lady was injured .
Would you guys also like to do something about this later?
And other mercenaries gathered .
「Captain, you told me that you didn’t have a big job for a while, right?」(Mitsuha)
「Ah, yes」(Captain)
The young lady had a fearless smile .
「I would like to hire all Mercenaries of Wolf Fang .
Before the dawn of the day after tomorrow, the enemies are about 20,000 includes monsters .
The payment is minimum guaranteed 40,000 gold coins, in some cases there will be an additional amount, can you accept it?」(Mitsuha)
Ga~chan! (SFX)
Someone dropped the glass . Weak minded .
Even if you try to complain you are thirsty, there’s nothing in your hands .
What is it? the one dropped was me?
「And before that, Young Lady」(Captain)
「Yeah, what?」(Mitsuha)
「First of all, let’s go to the hospital and have treatment」(Captain)