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Chapter 97
"Couldn't you have come up with a more plausible excuse? Casually going to the bathroom in this emergency... Honestly, it's absurd."
"Would it have worked if I did?"
"Ahem, what do you take me for?"
...What does he want me to do?
Since things had come to this, I gave up making further excuses and confessed honestly.
"Alright, fine. I did it. I tried to sneak out a resident to find a way to break the brainwashing, but they woke up as soon as I touched them. So I ran away."
Well, it's more accurate to say I was only half honest.
The reason I said that was simple.
No matter how perceptive Elbert is, he wouldn't be able to find out where I hid the man.
Perhaps that worked.
"So you think you can break the brainwashing?"
Instead of digging further into our actions, Elbert asked about the motive.
I nodded confidently.
"Yes, I don't know how long it will take, but I'm confident I can break the brainwashing."
"Huh, is that so?"
Elbert pursed his lips.
It seemed like he was contemplating something again.
Then he nodded once and said,
"For now, I understand. Go on."
At his words, I glanced around.
Perhaps because Elbert had taken control, currently, only Barundel, Elbert, and I were here.
This meant that no one else had heard our conversation.
Just in case, I asked,
"You're not going to just bury this, are you...?"
It was a situation where I could reasonably have some expectations.
However, before I could even finish my sentence.
"That's absurd. You acted without permission, deviating from control. You will receive appropriate punishment. And so will that dwarf over there."
A firm judgment was passed.
As expected, Elbert wasn't that merciful.
"...Yes."
"...Understood."
Only after Barundel and I nodded with dejected faces did Elbert turn away.
And not long after, a broadcast rang throughout the entire building.
It was through an artifact frequently used for broadcasting in wartime situations.
-Ahem- To all troops. There was a brief disturbance at the temporary shelter. However, the culprit has been identified, so return to rest. That is all-.
It was barely a few seconds long.
It was a broadcast that conveyed the cause and effect simply, stabilizing those who were confused.
It wasn't long-winded and was neat, seeming like this wasn't his first time doing this.
I felt it yesterday too, but Elbert was indeed a veteran commander.
Then.
What would be the appropriate punishment that such a veteran commander would give us?
Worried, I subtly asked Barundel, who was lying next to me,
"Barundel, we're not in big trouble, are we?"
But I couldn't hear Barundel's answer.
Zzz, Zzz!
I don't know since when, but he was sleeping soundly.
"Ugh, this is all because of you."
Looking at his carefree face, I wanted to smack him.
But I couldn't do that to someone who had a hard time today.
Suppressing the rising urge, I also tried to sleep.
There's nothing to gain from worrying anyway.
In times like this, the best thing to do is wash your feet and go to sleep.
***
The second day of the war.
Unlike my worries last night, Elbert didn't come to deliver any news about punishment.
He only briefed us on the changed situation for today.
-Based on the Mana Meter readings, the expected time of the demon army's invasion is 8 o'clock. Also, at least three or more rifts will be generated today, and their locations are estimated to be here. Accordingly, the deployment of the troops will be rearranged, so be aware of this-.
Elbert added that today's invasion would continue into the night.
This is exactly the change that occurs in the second wave of the [Blood Moon Prophecy] that I know of.
Additional rifts are generated, and unlike yesterday, the invasion continues day and night.
It also meant that there would be no time to rest from now on.
Of course, the royal family also took appropriate measures.
-We've received notification that reinforcements will guard the rifts starting from the evening. We just need to hold out until then, so let's do our best in our duties today as well. That is all-.
They're sending additional reinforcements.
Since the generation of rifts here is almost certain, it seems they're sending soldiers stationed elsewhere.
Of course, sending too many reinforcements wouldn't do either.
Even the prediction that the rifts will be generated here is based on the legendary artifact, the [Mana Meter], and no one knows exactly where they will be generated.
This means new rifts could suddenly appear in areas like Sector 1 or Sector 2, where high-ranking people stay.
They would have deployed the strongest forces like Asion Gale to those areas in preparation.
Of course.
'Well, it's only a matter of time before they all gather here anyway.'
As always, the war caused by the [Blood Moon Prophecy] ends where it begins.
In other words, the war will end here where we are.
When the time comes, all the rifts generated elsewhere will be newly generated here.
The royal family will pour all their forces here to close the rifts.
The moment when the forces of the Asternon military and the demon army gather.
In a way, that day could be seen as the climax of the war.
Anyway.
"We'll go with the same method today. Mr. Thompson and Barundel, please coordinate with me, and Kayla will provide support from the rear. Stronger ones will appear than yesterday, but if the Knight Commander is right, we only need to hold out until the afternoon, so it will be more manageable than we think."
We just need to do our assigned roles well.
It was at that moment after the briefing.
"Hey, mage. Let's talk for a moment."
It seemed like someone was calling me, and when I looked back, it was Elbert Tyran.
My heart skipped a beat.
I felt like the inevitable had finally come.
"Will Barundel join us as well?"
"No, the dwarf is fine. Just you come, mage."
"Hmm?"
I don't know why he only called me, but I nodded and told the others,
"When it starts, go ahead. I'll join you as soon as I can."
With that, I followed Elbert.
He gestured for me to follow and silently headed somewhere.
My mind was filled with thoughts about our destination.
'Where are we going? The punishment room? The detention center? Or... could he have found where I hid the resident?'
If that were the case, there would be no room for further excuses.
Since I violated the control twice, I would have to accept any punishment given.
Perhaps the reason he called me alone was to talk about that.
However, fortunately, it wasn't.
"This is..."
"The command room."
The place Elbert headed to was none other than the temporary unit's command room.
It's not an appropriate place to impose punishment.
"I know that, but why did you call me here?"
"Because there's something you need to do here."
"Excuse me? What am I supposed to do here?"
Instead of answering, Elbert tapped on a large desk.
There was a large map that accurately depicted the terrain here and dozens of figures.
They had different shapes, but they reminded me of chess pieces...
Suddenly, an ominous thought crossed my mind.
"You don't want me to command, do you?"
"Command. You seem to overestimate yourself."
Although it was a slightly aggressive tone, fortunately, it wasn't the answer I was worried about.
Indeed, there's no way I could do something like commanding when all I've done here is learn magic and train my body.
I was inwardly relieved.
I hate such burdensome tasks.
But.
"But it's similar."
"Excuse me?"
"You remember the broadcast I made earlier, right? About rearranging the troops today."
"Ah, yes. I remember."
"I'm thinking of entrusting you with that role today."
"...Excuse me?"
Entrusting me with the troop redeployment?
Elbert's following words were quite burdensome.
"Why suddenly... Didn't you call me to talk about punishment?"
"Well, if you must ask, you could say this is the punishment I'm giving."
"No, what does that..."
What nonsense is this?
Redeploying troops as punishment?
I've played [Demon Fantasy] for ten years and committed countless sins with various characters, but I've never received this kind of punishment.
No, in the first place, can this even be called punishment?
"...I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do that. I've never done anything like this in my life. Besides, troop deployment plays a very important role in war, doesn't it? If you give me such a huge task..."
I first tried to decline.
Honestly, I had no choice but to do so.
Why would I risk making a useless deployment with my lacking skills?
This isn't about moving pieces on a chessboard; it's about positioning living people.
It's a matter that could determine someone's life or death, so I couldn't accept this punishment.
However, this excuse didn't work on Elbert at all.
"That's why it's a punishment. Stop whining and follow my orders. I'll take responsibility."
Elbert had a resolute face, as if he had already made up his mind.
'That man is stubborn too, huh?'
It seems like he has a personality that must carry out what he has decided.
But my stubbornness is no joke either.
"No. I absolutely cannot accept this. Not only is it too critical, but it's also too much."
"Too much? Are you saying the punishment is too harsh compared to what you did?"
"Yes. To receive such a punishment for sneaking into the shelter once..."
"Oh really? Is that so?"
Thump, thump.
Wearing his military boots, he suddenly headed somewhere.
It was where the black cloth that had been bothering me since I first entered was...
He pulled off the black cloth that was covering something and said,
"Then how about this?"
And there it was.
"Mmm! Mmm!"
There was the man, tied up once more by someone.
Yes, it was the same sturdy man from Sector 7 that I had smuggled out of the shelter.
How on earth did he find him?
The moment I made eye contact with him, I was speechless.
"..."
"Is the punishment still excessive?"
I had that thought earlier.
If I were to get caught smuggling the man out, I would have to accept any punishment.
That remains the same now.
"I think this is a very appropriate punishment. If you accept it willingly, I'll even pardon the dwarf's crime."
Elbert offered a sweet carrot.
And.
"Or, there's the option of officially reporting it and sending you to a royal prison. Of course, that includes the dwarf."
He even added a whip, which you could tell was fierce without even being hit by it.
The royal prison, whether 100 years ago or now, was infamous.
A place where once you enter, you can never leave.
"Sigh..."
There was no reason to hesitate anymore.
Because there was only one option I could choose.
Checkmate.
"Alright. I'll do the deployment."
The clash of two stubborn minds ended in Elbert's complete victory.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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