259 - - 257. Countermeasures

"Lord, give me my life for yours."

I went to the grocery store and Cal kneeled down on his knees.

He is wearing a white collar with a wrinkled look, which I think is fine sometimes, but he still wears a seamless outfit. He often wears a gentle and somewhat ambiguous smile, but he never looks weak, and this may be the reason why he has an atmosphere that should not be underestimated. But is that black in his left hand?　It's shaking. And this is a hallway.

And Lapidus, my Lord!

Me too.

The hold came from both sides of the two little ones, even as Cal was kneeling. No use trying to look good in the grocery store (here), handsome knight. With that in mind, I stroke the fluffy touch of Lapis' hair and Noel's moist and silky hair and ears. The touch has become unimaginably good since we first met. Lapis' cheeks are soft and fluffy, and Noel's face is smooth for a child, but both of them look healthy.

I checked the items given to me as I stroked them and found that they were event items. The core of the inhabitants who have high sensitivity or who can be obtained through negotiation. If you are killed in battle while holding a core, the core is transferred to your opponent, and the number of cores you have at the end of the event is the number of points you receive. Even if you do not have any other cores, you can get points as a reward for protecting a resident.

Players can also deposit their cores. A player deposits a core to a player, who in turn deposits it to another player ......, and usually the clan leader has the final core.

Leaders can form alliances by exchanging cores with each other. As this is a large scale battle, it is easier to get points by forming a large alliance.

Even if you leave your cores to someone else after depositing them, you will receive points for the amount of cores deposited. However, if the person who has the core is not defeated in the end, it is ....... Therefore, we should deposit cores to those who seem to have a high survival rate.

When the core is received, Kal will stand up and store the black in his pocket as usual. When he gets into his pocket and changes his position, Black sticks his head out of his collar and shakes his head at Cal. Black is not happy, but thanks to him, I am not bitten, and I am a little sorry that I am making Cal look bad.

"I'm sorry, thank you."

I stroke the black throat and thank Cal.

"Oh, you're here. My life is in your hands.

Galahad moves to the living room on the third floor of the liquor store.

"Homura, take it."

Camilla twines her arms around me and kisses me on the cheek.

"I know I'll be safe with you."

Eagle hands it to me with a small smile.

It was the first day of a 24-day event in game time, the first of three days of preparation. This server is not ...... at the legal speed limit, but at the legal limit of the perceived difference between the real world and the flow of time.

I chose to participate in the big battle when I logged in, but it feels strange because only the residents react differently than usual, while the scenery and life remain the same.

All the inhabitants know what the event is. It seems that they are not aware of it as a game event, but rather as a period of time when all the creatures become belligerent and a war of desire and confusion occurs, perhaps due to the magical elements.

"Well, the general store might be attacked, so I'd like to take measures."

"Yes."

Everyone gathered in the living room and began discussing how to respond. We had prepared refreshments, but other than tea, nothing was touched, and everyone looked serious. Lapidus and Noel are also present, but rather than feeling relieved that they don't look frightened, I'm worried that they've been through quite a rough patch before coming to the general store (here).

What is your countermeasure or direction?　It is a chance to obtain powerful skills, skills that should not be manifested to you, but in the Lord's case, there is a high possibility of being targeted. We have already received several requests for cooperation, so if you wish for a reward or a connection, you can choose one of them."

What Cal seems to be asking is whether to go on the offensive or the defensive. And from where - a neighborhood store, perhaps?　They say they have a request for cooperation.

When we all get together, Cal usually asks my opinion, Galahad offers a counter-proposal, Eagle and Camilla add to the discussion, and Reno steps back and asks questions. This is also the case this time.

"For now, Lapidus and Noel are in danger, so I'm going to have them evacuate to my house, and I and Kuzunoha are going to serve the guests at full throttle. ......

So, I'm going to talk about a way that I've been thinking about for a while now, and it's going to be easy.

"Lord ......"

"Homura ......"

Kal and Galahad look at me like I've swallowed a stick.

"How could they come to that conclusion?"

"Really."

And Camilla and Eagle, stop sighing and looking like you have a headache!

"Homura, that's the most disturbing way. It may not look like a conflict, but it's not good for a lot of things, okay?　I can't tell you where, but no."

"Lord, as a knight, I would appreciate it if you let me fight fair and normal. The same is true for the knights who may be my enemies.

As Galahad reminds me, Kal seems to have regained his composure. Funny ...... how I don't seem to be playing fair. I've discarded my choice to hide out in Fuso or on an island, but would it have been a bad idea to stay out in the open?

"I wonder what direction Homura is going?"

"It looks worse than an empire corrupted by a fox. ...... It's also worse when you can't say exactly where it gets worse. ......"

What Eagle and Camilla are talking about is also terrible. But it is certainly not bad when you think of widespread brainwashing, I reflect.

"Well. Well, let's make sure everyone is safe and hopefully the general store (here) won't be destroyed. The rest of you are free to go?"

Apparently it is true that they are getting belligerent, and somehow I can see that they want to fight. If this is the case for the non-Knight residents, they can participate in the event without feeling guilty.

"May I accept your request for cooperation?

"As long as it's not too much trouble."

I answer Cal's several confirmations.

"Homura, would you please go see Mr. Partin if you can?

After a pause, Reno says, "I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that.

"Yes, that's fine. What's wrong?"

"I have heard that if the core is entrusted to someone, it can be resurrected like the Gentiles, although there will be a pause, as long as the one who entrusted it does not die. Lord Parthin is also powerful but an easy target. The proud Master Pertin has never been willing to entrust his core to a stranger, but he is willing to entrust it to you."

It was explained that during the event, residents who can be used as units will be resurrected like players. However, they will not be able to fly to the temple immediately, but will have one day to return to the temple. Both players and residents will be resurrected not at the temple, but at the place where they have set as their base. If the temple is hostile to the player, it is not a bad idea to resurrect the player there, so it seems reasonable. I have my own , and the kalu who took care of my core will also be resurrected in my .

I don't feel comfortable with the description of inhabitants as units, as if it were a simulation game, but a large-scale battle may actually be an event to enjoy strategy. In many ways I can't do it.

"Understood. I don't know how Paltin will react, but let's just meet.

"Please."

By the way, Reno has entrusted the core to Paltin. When he receives the core from Paltin, he automatically receives Leno's share as well.

"Lord, I would like to keep the cores of my acquaintance, too.

"Yeah, if the goal is to revive them, why not?　If there's a burden on Cal, like preventing raids, I'll have to think about it."

"Yes, sir. Lord, just to be sure, are you planning to attack any particular group from our side?"

"No, but if it's necessary for our safety, we'll go for it."

It's a chance to get skills, but what's the use of adding more skills if you can't even learn the ones you have?

If I may say so, I would like to have a [Shijin]. It makes even Leo look cool when he gets it right, and stopping enemy skills is great for the safety of the party. But I'm the rear guard in the party, so I feel it's pointless.

"I left it alone because I said I wasn't good at it, but I really should have learned how to strategize."

Finally. But this time I won't make it."

No, wait. Why are we talking about subterfuge, informing, and scheming with the enemy?

"My Lord, I have a map of the area. Fortunately, there are branches of the Commercial Guild and the Temple in the area. We do not know the movements of the Gentiles in the temple, but I am sure that High Priest Kyle will give us his full cooperation. The same goes for the commercial guilds. I will talk to the lords, but there is a possibility that the lord's mansion will be attacked. If they lend us troops, they will only be a hindrance to us, and it would be sufficient if they only recognize us as a means of gathering information and as their allies."

The map Cal unfolded was as detailed as a house map. I see that you already know your neighbors and the gentiles.

"The commercial guilds are in contact through the employees of the liquor store, but it seems that some of the less-than-honorable nobles are taking advantage of this opportunity to get the recipe for the production of alcohol. --It seems that some of them are mistakenly thinking that it is easy to attack a small store for the sales."

"How often do fools spring up here?"

Galahad grins.

"The assassins' and thieves' guilds are not organized and do not seem to be actively looking after the gentile cores. Aside from the others, the recently emerged assassins called <> are dangerous to antagonize."

Black Assassin: ....... The name from Cal brings to mind a freshly smiling Peter, though the word that comes with it is assassination.

"He's a Gentile, rumored to be the guy who killed the slum boss."

"And an aristocrat with a taste for infants. He's good. If he is a Gentile, he's been here a short time and then some.

"At first I had no idea who assassinated him, but recently I've been hearing rumors from the gentiles. There must be some jobs that don't get mentioned."

Galahad and others are coming forward with information. Unlike me, they seem to be diligent in their work.

"I don't have to worry about this assassin, because I know him, but there might be others. It's a problem when you don't know when they're coming. I've made some warding charms and I'll put them on the counter."

When a key is installed, only those who have been given the key can enter the house and the store, and only the display area is free during the store's opening hours. It is a rather unpleasant system that allows people to break the locks and steal the stores, but during the event, they are likely to do so aggressively. I have set the most expensive key, but be careful. --By the way, if you are blacklisted, you cannot enter the free space either, but you can enter by breaking the lock, I heard. It seems strange to break a lock that is open during the opening hours. The penalty for being turned in by the guards is severe.

"Lord ....... May I ask you once about your friendships?"

As I was thinking about security measures, everyone was looking at me with a dumbfounded look on their faces. I didn't do anything!　Tell Peter, tell Peter!