SWNOVELXO Chapter 117 - The divine cat Mii-chan finally settles down a little.
117 The divine cat Mii-chan finally settles down a little.
Jin, who had been staring blankly, has also recovered, and now everyone present is intently studying the map.
“How did you obtain this information? I thought I asked you to confirm the frontline situation.”
“Well, that’s where the misunderstanding occurred. I mistook the money you gave me as funds for preparations, so… I thought investigating the enemy’s information was part of the job.”
“And?”
“I hired two parties of skilled hunters from the Quint Hunter Guild and sent them to investigate.”
“Your name is Nero, right? Didn’t you take any knights along?”
Commander Wilibald of the knights seems curious, after all.
“I did consider taking them since Lord Bernhard of the Third Knight Corps requested it, but unfortunately, as they say, it’s about the right person for the right job. On the day, I judged them unsuitable and declined to have them accompany me.”
“You think knights are useless?”
“I don’t think that’s true of all knights, but in this case, they were unsuitable in terms of dignity, character, and ability.”
“…What was this person’s name?”
“If I recall correctly, it was Ike.”
“Ike of the Third Knight Corps…”
“Indeed, there is a son of Conradin with that name.”
The chancellor and Wilibald are whispering to each other. Mii-chan, your hunger must be a bit more satisfied now. I subtly jabbed at them.
“Mii~”
Right, right.
“So, Nero, how did you manage to negotiate a temporary alliance with this monster?”
“Some high-ranking monsters can understand human language. In fact, Sera’s grandfather and Rudy’s father, who are with me, can speak human words.”
“You mean the Lord of Brocken Mountain? I’ve heard about that from Annaliese. Did the leader of those insect-type monsters speak as well?”
“They understood words but couldn’t speak.”
“Then how did you form an alliance?”
“My cat, Perro, who is a Cait Sith, can communicate with monsters to some extent, so I had them act as a mediator.”
“A Cait Sith, a fairy folk…”
The chancellor glares at me.
“And you expect us to believe this?”
“They were also desperately defending themselves against the goblins. While we couldn’t fight together, not having to worry about attacks from behind benefited both us and them. So, I proposed a non-aggression pact, which they accepted.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
“But when we were attacked by goblins, they helped us. And when we camped in their territory, we weren’t attacked at all. I understand if it’s hard to believe, but I don’t think we need to make more enemies by attacking them needlessly.”
“…”
“Indeed, Nero is right.”
It seems the King and Wilibald agree.
“So, Nero, how do you view this situation?”
“Wolfgang asked me the same thing, and I answered, but he laughed it off as the opinion of an amateur. Would you still like to hear it?”
“Go ahead. But Wolfgang, huh?”
Mii-chan, I threw another jab. I’ll say more about it later. Leave it to me.
“Mii~”
I explained exactly what I told Wolfgang.
“Hmm. Indeed, as things stand, the fortress may fall.”
“Is it unsustainable?”
“Just as Nero says, it will be tough if things remain the same. It all comes down to time.”
“Annaliese, can’t we borrow your father’s strength?”
“This is where the foolish nobles really become a hindrance. I’ll try to request an attack on the main base. There happens to be a unit at Brocken Mountain, but we must ensure they don’t clash with the foolish nobles. What’s the situation, Adelbert?”
“Many are participating. It seems the Duke of Wittelsbach is reaching out to both noble houses and newly titled nobles indiscriminately.”
“So, what will you do?”
“Most of the lords are leaving the military command to their sons. They will remain in the royal capital and plan to rise up from within. We will gather information with the help of Lord Siegmund. The actual uprising will likely happen after the battle with the goblins has begun. Is that acceptable, Lord Siegmund?”
“Y-Yes, leave it to me…”
“Please, Lord Siegmund. It seems we still have some time before things escalate. Adelbert and Wilibald, finalize the details.”
“Understood.”
“And lastly, Nero, I’d like to hear your honest opinion of the frontlines.”
Should I say it? Should I sugarcoat it?
“Rest assured, I won’t punish you for whatever you say. Just tell me what you saw.”
Well, if the King says so, then I guess I’ll go ahead.
“The Third Knight Corps is composed of nobles and lacks common sense. The Second Knight Corps has a strong elitist attitude and won’t listen to others’ opinions. The Hunter Guild is aware of this and has no intention of cooperating. If a mercenary unit is added to this…”
“If added?”
“It would be as good as having no command structure. They’ll be easily attacked by the goblins and defeated.”
“Defeated by goblins?”
“The goblins have a strict command structure with a King at the top. Even if one goblin isn’t a threat, I don’t see how we can win against 100,000 well-organized goblins in our current state.”
“So, we need strong leadership. That’s the hardest thing to achieve right now…”
Everyone seems troubled. Honestly, if we make Mii-chan the figurehead, I bet no one will complain.
“Mii?”