“I am Mikael Sin, Hero of the Allied Forces. Guide me to your commander.”
Upon arriving at the Keibeck encampment, we approached the country bumpkin serving as a sentry… or rather, a diligent soldier. When I inquired, I was met with a suspicious glare and a question, “And where are you from?”
It’s written in the wartime textbooks! You should read them, they detail everything as meticulously as health insurance. It states, “The Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces shall be referred to as the Hero.” I’m also not used to calling myself a Hero, so it’s embarrassing enough.
“Mikael Sin, Hero of the Allied Forces, belonging to the Harmonian Army. I am the Captain of the Annihilation Brigade, a mercenary, and the Captain of the White Lily Corps. I am also a quasi-Earl of the Ashtal Empire. I wish to meet the commander of the Keibeck Kingdom.”
That was long! To think I have to introduce myself with all that. If my name were also long, I’d bite my tongue. The country bumpkin sentry couldn’t quite catch it all, but he understood “Earl” at the end.
One of the sentries guided me, and I, as the sole representative of the Annihilation Brigade, went to meet the Keibeck commander. I left the brigade to rest and to manage the movement of supplies, praying that Heshuhanto’s rough mercenaries wouldn’t cause any trouble.
“Welcome, Hero.”
Yes! This is the correct way to address me. It’s not good to look with jaded eyes, sentry-boy. I’m an important person, you know. I don’t wear magnificent armor like this person, nor do I have a magnificent chest.
“Meredith McGregor, Marquis of the Keibeck Kingdom. I am aware of the strategy, and the siege weapons are also on the move.”
Among the group in white armor, this exceptionally tall woman possessed a stature, beauty, and chest rivaling Priscilla’s.
“Doesn’t that armor feel restrictive?” I wanted to ask. But I can’t. I’m the Hero. For now, I want you to see me as just a man. I’m used to being looked down upon.
“I am Mikael Sin, the Hero. And also…”
I introduced the Annihilation Brigade, confirmed the strategy, and shared my hobbies and special skills. I also revealed my lack of a girlfriend, but I judged that a quick seduction wouldn’t work. I decided to aim for a long-term approach.
“Is the Hero somehow related to Maruthe Sin?”
I was surprised to learn there were others with the surname “Sin.” Everyone in this world has such long names, so I’m amazed anyone has a surname as short as “Sin.”
“No, I don’t know anyone by that name… Is there something about them?”
I suppose when someone becomes famous, there will always be people trying to profit by using their name. I can’t afford to get bogged down by every little thing, but it would be troublesome if they did something bad. Especially since I’ve been promoted to Hero.
“This Maruthe Sin was instrumental in getting Keibeck to join the alliance. I assumed you were of their lineage.”
They did something good, then. But I don’t know this Maruthe Sin. Could it be a sister I was separated from at birth!? I don’t have any siblings, and in this world, I’m all alone.
“I would like to meet them someday. What kind of person are they?”
“I haven’t met them directly, but I hear they never part with a single knife. They are currently at a convent in the Royal Capital.”
A nun who carries a knife is a scary person, perhaps? I was drawn to the name “Sin,” but a wise person avoids unnecessary risks. If the opportunity arises, I’ll meet them.
The conversation has drifted, but after confirming the strategy with Marquis McGregor, we regrettably had to hurry. Even without siege weapons, we’re the ones taking the longest route to Klinshberbach.
What’s more challenging is probably Alana’s reconnaissance team. I had Alana, along with a few members of the White Lily Corps, sent ahead to scout Klinshberbach.
If the drone, our unmanned reconnaissance vehicle, had a longer flight range, the reconnaissance could have been conducted from a safe distance. However, the drone hadn’t been upgraded that much.
I had Orietta mass-produce weapons with ultra-vibrations, and was also having Railguns made. While a Railgun is too large for a person to fire, Richarda’s three-meter-tall Golem could handle it.
We have four Railguns. If necessary, we also have Sophia’s Platinum Laser and Rufina’s cursed wood weapons. Whether there are traps to the west or Sand Dragons appear, it won’t be a problem!
The only potential problem would be… the lack of anti-air weaponry. If Harpies approach at low altitude, Christine could use her supportive magic. But what if something larger than that appears?
If something like a Red Dragon flies in, will it fall for the same feint as last time? It just happened to work out then, but it might not work again.
They say, “Hit and break,” but if something is going to break, I want it to be a dragon’s head. If my head were to break, Sophia could heal me and send me back to the front lines. Broken and healed, broken and healed, I’d die mentally.
I should ask Sophia to conserve her strength. If absolutely necessary, I’ll have her fire the Platinum Laser at full power. Last time, it felt like she was aiming at me rather than the dragon, and the dragon was just hit “on the way,” so I need to be careful.
We waited in the forest, just a short distance from the road leading to the West Gate. Tomorrow morning, we will depart from here, and at noon, approximately 40,000 Allied Forces will attack Klinshberbach from three directions.
With those arrangements made and the supply troops in place, I, the Supreme Commander of the 60,000 Allied Forces, am currently serving tea. Your superior is working hard to ensure everyone can fight comfortably.
“Mikael, a refill.”
I’ll pour, I’ll pour. I’ll even pour tea for Priscilla, who will be leading the charge tomorrow.
“…”
Even without you saying anything, I understand, Christine. Another refill, right? While I’m at it, I’ll pour you some “love” too.
“May I have some too?”
Of course. These tea leaves were prepared by Sophia. Feel free to have as many cups as you like.
“Captain, me too!”
Good work, Alana. How was the reconnaissance? I’d appreciate it if you reported before drinking, but please do so after you’ve had your tea.
“I want one!”
Tomorrow, even if it’s a wasted shot, it’s fine. Each shot costs 500 gold, which is enough to buy a carriage, but don’t hesitate to fire.
“Captain, I require blood.”
Die! You die! I have no intention of serving anything other than tea. Tomorrow, if there are Giants, crush their vital points without hesitation. At that time, I will close my eyes and cover my ears.
“Richeaunda, would you like some? Another refill?”
“Huh!? Ah, well… I’ll take it. Um… Is it alright? For the Hero to do something like this for me…?”
Normally, it would be wrong, I suppose. But the White Lily Corps, and I, are not ordinary. This war will likely be the end one way or the other. Either we defeat the Demon Lord, or the Allied Forces are annihilated. But Alana has brought us a ray of hope.
“There are no enemies to the west!?”
Alana informed me that no enemies were spotted on the west side, the weakest point with no castle wall. Even when she sent the drone high into the sky, risking its destruction, she reported that there were no enemy figures visible.
In that case, will there only be traps? If there are traps, we can proceed with caution, or use Rufina’s cursed wood to destroy the traps along with everything else.
Once inside the castle walls, we can bypass the town and attack the castle. Of course, the castle itself has walls, but they are lower than the town’s surrounding walls. I could jump over them, and Richarda’s Golem, as large as a Giant, could simply step over them.
Can we consider ourselves victorious? The Demon Army has sent its main force to Runbergzach and it was annihilated by Magic Cannons. Even if reinforcements are sent to the Royal Capital, there shouldn’t be as many as before.
If we had more time for reconnaissance, I might have been able to get a clearer view of the inside of the castle walls, but I was the one who stopped that. The overall strength of the Demon Army will become clear as they approach.
“Good work, Alana. Now, please rest.”
Tomorrow, all will be revealed. Tomorrow, everything will be decided. For now, let’s focus on conserving energy and boosting morale for tomorrow’s decisive battle.
“Are you going to sleep already?”
I need to conserve my energy for tomorrow’s decisive battle. As a Hero, I get to leave the small tasks to my subordinates! If you touch me, I’ll lash out, you bastard!
“Tomorrow is the decisive battle. Priscilla, please rest early. Please refrain from drinking!”
“I already had some. Don’t I need a nightcap?”
Is “don’t drink” a forbidden phrase for a drinker? If I say “drink,” they’ll drink. What should I say? From now on, I should mix sleeping medication into the unit’s standard alcohol.
“A nightcap? You can’t sleep? Shall I lie with you?”
“W-what are you talking about! Of course not!”
Why do they pull back when I approach? Is Priscilla shy? Despite that, she does bold things too.
“I would like that.”
Oh, the daring Sophia. There are only girls from the White Lily Corps around; is it truly alright? Since a request has been made, I brought Sophia into the sheets and we embraced face-to-face.
“W-what are you doing!”
Is Priscilla angry because she was beaten to it? Priscilla, are you coming too? My back is free… Unfortunately. Christine clung to my back. She really is one of the few people who can get close to my back.
“Me too!”
I immediately looked up from where the voice came from. The energetic Alana jumped about two meters, performing a flying body attack, cracking my ribs as she landed.
“A-Alana… you’re too energetic… My ribs… Sophia…”
“Prime seat, boss.”
Sophia lazily cast a healing spell on my ribs and was buried under Orietta.
“Orie-chan, join us~”
“I shall join as well.”
Rufina climbed on top of Christine, and a single mountain of people was formed. The weight on me, at the bottom, was immense.
“Stop messing around and go to sleep!”
Priscilla, as she left, kicked my head as if to shave it, making me think a helmet might be necessary for tomorrow’s battle.
