CH 267

[…So, is it another war?] Captain

[Yeah.] Mitsuha

If it’s just one helicopter that’s not attack-spec, then maybe it’s for some special purpose. But then, there’s the order for a large team with fully-automatic firearms and grenade launchers. So there’s bound to be a large-scale battle.

[Alright, 59 members of Wolf Fang in total, we’re ready to go at any time!] Captain

Somehow, the captain is very motivated, but I’m sorry to inform you that…

[Ah, no, besides the helicopter crew, we only need about six people from Wolf Fang.] Mitsuha

[……Eh?] Captain

[No, as I’ve said, about 6 people from Wolf Fang are fine…] Mitsuha

[Eh?] Captain

[About six people…….] Mitsuha

[E e e e e e eh ~ ~ ~!!!] Captain

After that, he was very insistent, but I have my own reasons.

Then, we discussed the specific amount of ammunition and so on.

The captain was annoyed and kept insisting that I needed more people, but somehow he went with it.

He kept saying that if the number of members is so small, it will rain blood on the selected members.

……No, I don’t know about that……

I was told that the helicopter can’t be flown by a member of Wolf Fang. And not only the pilot, but also all the combatants on the helicopter should be from the same place that owns the helicopter. There is such a thing as teamwork and I don’t think an attack from an aircraft is going to go well if someone who is not used to it is doing it on the spot.

In the first place, it’s easy to lose balance and fall on a swaying helicopter.

So it’s definitely safer to leave all helicopter-related matters to the people over there.

But I’m worried about hiring only people I don’t know and I’d like to have a minimum number of people from Wolf Fang as support personnel for our ground team. That’s what I mean by <six people>.

……Also, the personnel that will take out the helicopter team in case of emergency.

This time is different from the previous <Zegreius Kingdom, Absolute Defense of the Royal Capital>.

It’s not that I’m not that tight on schedule and it’s not that the kingdom I live in is under attack. On the contrary, it’s a third party’s country. That’s like side-stepping in from the other side of the war.

But, I can’t just do everything myself.

I am only acting as support this time. Moreover, the battle must be won by Princess Remia and the people of the Kingdom of Darisson.

If I go all out from the start… and take all the Wolf Fang with me, we might be able to defeat the Imperial forces with few to no casualties on our side.

……But that’s not good enough.

For the Kingdom of Darisson, for the enemy Alder Empire, for me and my own Kingdom of Zegreius, for…… and for the nations of the <Grand Alliance> who are united in preparation for an invasion from the nations of the New Continent.

It is sheer arrogance and selfishness to think that a war can be ended without a single casualty on our side.

……No, if I do it unreasonably, I might be able to do it, indeed.

But that’s indecent, and if people start to appear in the center of the country who take that <indecent> move for granted or think that they can count on it every time, then……

So I shouldn’t do that.

So, no matter how many casualties may result from it…

We have to protect our own country by ourselves.

There is no need for a country, no need for soldiers, and no need for people’s efforts and dignity if their wars are getting solved by a convenient deus ex machina that appears out of nowhere every time.

……And depending on God, I may be gone sooner or later.

No matter how much Princess Remia asks me, there is always a <limit> to what can be done.

So I’ll decide what to do and how far we’ll take it.

There is no one else but me who can take responsibility for what I do and what I have done.

I’m forced to ask Wolf Fang for a few helpers to hold down the helicopter, the helicopter team, and to follow up with our soldiers in Yamano territory, but the truth is, I’m not willing to do that either.

But it can’t be helped. You can’t do everything the way you want and I’m too worried about our soldiers alone……

Well, I’m the client. So they have to do as I ask.

[I’ve got a deal on the chopper, the guy who has two of them is going to give us both.

I heard that they have two choppers reserved in case of breakdowns and scheduled maintenance, and to ensure that one of the choppers can be flown by cannibalizing maintenance if both choppers get into trouble, but it seems both choppers can be flown.] Captain

Fumufumu.

If we have only one helicopter, we can’t use it for a long period of time, and it becomes difficult to get the job done by selling their helicopter.

……But two helicopters…….

Actually, one hardware was fine, but two would have been more reliable and would have saved us a lot of time.

Besides, with only one helicopter, we may have a last-minute problem with the aircraft.

I guess we should be thankful that we can use two helicopters here.

……And for those two helicopters, three portable anti-aircraft missiles would suffice.

Everyone in Wolf Fang is a professional when it comes to surviving against enemy helicopters, even if they don’t have a helicopter themselves.

And without refueling, maintenance equipment, and replacement parts, helicopters can’t operate that long away.

Without a carrier, base, or support system, any aircraft would be a disposable piece of junk.

Well, we should be happy that it’s two helicopters, but there’s just one problem.

[Hey, captain. How much did you ask?] Mitsuha

……Yes, like the paycheck. It’s a commission after all.

Especially with two helicopters, the cost of the helicopters along with its equipment and the cost of labor are all doubled. How much will be the expense?……

[300,000.] Captain

[Eh?] Mitsuha

300,000 dollars? In Japanese yen, that’s over 30 million.

The previous reward for Wolf Fang was 60,000 gold coins with additional rewards in the end, but at the time of the request, I offered a guaranteed minimum of 40,000 coins, or a little over 1 billion yen. Dividing it by 57 people, is it less than 18 million per person, right?

On the other hand, if there are 7 people per helicopter, that’s 14 people for 2 helicopters. At 30 million yen, that’s only a little over 2 million yen per person.

It may be an unbelievable amount of money for 1 day, but I feel that it is too cheap for a <life-threatening job> where you are literally risking your life.

Besides, the cost of a helicopter is supposed to be ridiculously high, so even if it turns out to be profitable if you don’t consider depreciation without damage, it would be a <job that is not worth the risk>……

[Well, of course, that doesn’t include the cost of weapons and ammunition, does it? But still, isn’t that a bit too cheap?] Mitsuha

The actual cost will not be in the form of a <fee> but will be paid by Princess Remia’s country in the form of a gratuity or an offering to the goddess that our country believes in.

……I’m going to threaten Princess Remia a bit if she is reluctant to pay, but it’s not like she can’t recover from it.

No, what’s so sad is that I have to first pay from my own pocket to help someone else’s war!

Well, there’s really no need to haggle. I can’t be that shameless towards a professional who took a job that could cost them their lives!

[Eh?……. Should I make it higher? They’re not bad guys, I just don’t want you to torment them too much……] Captain

[Eh?] Mitsuha

[Eh?] Captain

……What is it that you’re not telling me?

[……Etto, you’re talking about the request fee, right? To get two helicopters and their crews to enter the war……] Mitsuha

[……Isn’t it for the participation fee?…… For letting them participate in a battle in another world.] Captain

[E e e e e e eh ~ ~ ~!!!] Mitsuha

What? So instead of paying a request fee, you’re going to charge them a <participation fee> by saying <we’ll take you to another world and letting you participate in the battle>?

……What the hell is thaaaat?!

[No. It’s a man’s dream to shout <I’m overpowered>, be a hero or a heroic warrior in a different world, to protect the people, and to return triumphantly.

Plus, we’re both mercenaries, you know, that thing, HOORAH…….

Besides, knowing what happened to us the last time we did it, of course, they’d think about doing it as well.] Captain

Ah……

It’s no surprise that Wolf Fang’s fellow mercenary groups know that they made a fortune in the dragon business. It’s only natural that they would want to do the same.

And if they could get that chance, they’d be willing to spend all their money to get a platinum ticket to participate……

[In fact, you can do it for free, but if you do, other mercenary groups might be jealous or complain about it later…… and that’s for sure. It’s a good idea to make a contract with a high participation fee so that we don’t get accused of favoritism.

But even then, the mercenary corps, in general, isn’t doing so well, can you let them join for three hundred thousand dollars?] Captain

[I’m not that greedy, I’ll have you know!!] Mitsuha

Actually, I was going to pay a lot of money for it, and of course, I don’t mind if it’s free at all, but well, if that’s the reason for the industry, then so be it. It can’t be helped… or rather, thank you.

However, it would be too bad if they had to work for free, or if they had to take money out of their own pocket and make a big deficit.

I guess I’ll have to offer them some money-making material as a reward for their success.

Animals can be dangerous if you put them in an uncontrolled environment, so I’m thinking plants or minerals.

Now, that’s something I’ll have to think about……

Author’s Note:

Sorry, as usual, I will be taking two weeks off for the New Year’s vacation.

During the vacation, I will be slowly working on the book. (^^ゞ

No, I’m not overwhelmed with deadlines at the moment, but I’m not used to “resting without doing anything”, so I feel restless if I’m not working…… 〇|￣|＿

That’s why I’m taking it easy, doing a little bit of “work that’s not under deadline”…….

I’m looking forward to working with you again next year.

Have a good New Year, everyone! (^^)/