Chapter 80

Chapter 80

A moment later.

The special forces agents were neatly seated on the floor of the room.

They ate their late-night meal with a precise, rigid movement.

They used a knife-like action to pick up their food with a fork, opened their mouths like robots, popped a bite in, chewed precisely ten times, and swallowed.

All five of them, as if performing synchronized swimming, repeated the same actions simultaneously.

...

Watching this spectacle was making me feel nauseous, even though I hadnt even touched my late-night meal.

"Hey, um, that..."

I finally couldnt stand it anymore and spoke.

"Just stop being so stiff, eat comfortably..."

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Godhand, who had been sitting on his knees, laid down his fork with a perfectly perpendicular movement and smiled mechanically.

"Were perfectly comfortable right now."

"No, Im telling you, Im not comfortable! If youre all being so rigid, it makes me uncomfortable!"

Cant you at least move in a more organic way? Stop with the right-angle eating, its making my joints freeze just watching you!

***

Finally, the late-night meal time was over.

The five special forces agents, with clean mouths, were sitting neatly in front of me.

"We will treasure the grace, similar to a heavenly command, bestowed upon us by Your Highness in the depths of our hearts."

As Godhand bowed his waist in gratitude, the other four followed suit. I touched my aching forehead.

"No, its not some heavenly command or anything, its just a late-night meal."

"You, Your Highness, have personally bestowed kindness upon us who were starving, if thats not a grace like a heavenly command, then what is?"

"Just stop it, please..."

Originally, I planned to make them relax by feeding them and then ask them some questions, but seeing their defensive attitudes, getting an honest answer seemed unlikely.

It wouldnt be that easy for them to open up anyway.

So, instead of asking what I had originally intended, I decided to start with a less direct question.

"When did the five of you become a team?"

It was an intended question to break the ice by asking about their stories, as they seemed relatively close to each other.UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

However.

"Our Team 8 was only formed one and a half years ago. But, as we were all being trained as special forces candidates, weve known each other since childhood."

A somewhat heavy answer came back.

I asked nervously.

"Special forces candidates? Being trained?"

"We, the elves, who lost our country and land, have only us as remaining resources. We are selling human resources in various ways."

"..."

"Children with combat aptitude are trained from an early age as prospective special forces. They are even deployed in minor combat. Then, according to the strategies set by the higher-ups, those with suitable skills are combined to form a team."

Godhand lowered his eyes and answered slowly.

"For this one operation, we were trained as a team and deployed..."

"...Regardless of the success or failure, you are discarded?"

"Yes."

I clenched my mouth shut.

From the perspective of a human and the empire, this approach is highly efficient.

No matter how dangerous the operation, they dont risk the precious lives of humans.

The risk is low. If they succeed, thats great, if they fail, they can just discard us.

Its the deeds committed by the other race, the elves, who once were the enemies of humans. There are likely various reasons to discard them.

Politically, pragmatically, the risk is virtually nil, and the gains are easy. How efficient is this?

However.

However...

How cruel is this?

The concept of using the lives of other races, unabashedly as bullets. How...

"Whos the supreme commander of the Aegis Special Forces?"

I asked cautiously.

"Who?"

I wanted to know who made this cruel decision.

Godhand hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

"Why would I hesitate to tell you now? You probably already know. You must just want me to confirm it."

No, I really didnt know...

"The supreme commander of the Aegis Special Forces has always been the royal familys domestic policy head. Currently-"

Godhands eyes were briefly filled with terror as he spit out the name.

I might even have to wage a war against a human army if things go south.

In the game, they were easily absorbed.

Though the Monster Frontlines belonged to the Empire, they didnt have much to do with the war against the Bringar Kingdom.

But now, Ive accepted the egis Special Forces Team 8, who could be seen as the spark of that war, into my party.

No one knew how this would impact anything in the future, in what direction, or in what way.

As I grappled with these thoughts, I turned the corner of the corridor.

"Ah."

Lucas was hiding there, watching in my direction.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence lingered between Lucas and me for a moment.

I was momentarily stumped, unsure whether to ask Lucas why he was hiding or if he wasnt uncomfortable crouching with such a large frame.

Nevertheless, I couldnt just stand there, so I asked,

"What are you doing, Lucas?"

"I was preparing to rush in, in case something happened to you when you entered alone, Your Highness."

Lucas cleared his throat awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.

"Anyway, they are convicts suspected of treason. It seems necessary to monitor them."

"I think there wont be a big problem as I have their leashes on them, but..."

There is a possibility, however remote it may be.

I should keep an eye on them for Lucass sake.

I raised my voice towards the inside of the mansion.

"Aider! Get over here, quick!"

After a brief wait, Aider came rolling in, making a clattering sound. He seemed to have been on the second floor.

"Yes, yes! My lord! How may I assist you?!"

I gestured towards the room where the Aegis Special Forces Team 8 was.

"Monitor them in case of any emergencies, and report back immediately if anything happens."

"Me?! Me?!"

"Who else? Youre the only one available. Should we, who are always in defense or going on free explorations, have to do it?"

Of course, its not that he should guard with that frail body of his. I meant that he should use some kind of system. He had plenty of methods, didnt he?

"But, my lord, you know... theyre not the type to betray..."

"Mmm~ I cant hear you~ Youll have to suffer a bit~"

Leaving Aider muttering sadly, Lucas and I left the place. This should be enough.

***

The next day.

[STAGE 4]

- Start in: 5 days

The start of the next stage was getting closer.

It was time to step up the preparations for the defense battle.

And so, at the blacksmiths shop.

"These are the results of the equipment dismantling you requested last time."

The blacksmith master respectfully handed me a box.

I swallowed dryly and accepted it. Please!

I dismantled four SSR grade equipment pieces even though they were broken. The chances of getting a SSR grade magic core are high enough!

Please! Please, come out, please!

I prayed and checked the contents of the box. Did it come out?!

Rumble.

Inside the box, a golden magic core was rolling around.

"It came out-!"

Picking up the SSR grade magic core, I let out a shriek of joy.

[Standard Special Magic Core (SSR)]

It might seem like a loss since four were used to get one, but where did I even get the four from in the first place!

Now I can make that equipment!

Plans for how to use the magic core quickly fell into place.

With a smug grin, I promptly tucked the SSR-grade Magic Power gem into my inventory. Ill put you to good use.

"Also, the three Magic Cannons you ordered are completed."

As I was cheerfully dancing with the Magic Power gem in my hand, the Blacksmith handed over the weapons wrapped in silk.

Three Magic Cannons, each made with Ratman Champion Magic Power gems.

They were finally finished.

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