Episode 260. Mine Hunt (1)
-Looks like a success! The elven cavalry are giving up and retreating!
Communication magic flew from Erica.
I must have been watching over the barrier all the time with the observation technique.
Fortunately, it didn’t look like Jin was taking the money.
“It seems that the rebellion is slowly being suppressed.”
Trier looked out her window and smiled reassuringly.
In the first place, it was not a rebellion that I started believing that Asylum would succeed.
I was just desperate because I was cornered.
They must have planned to ruin the relationship between humans and elves by targeting the intrusion of the elves with this commotion.
Of course, that was all expected.
The elves, who hate humans more than humans can imagine, know that there is no way they will miss this opportunity.
Even among the chieftains of the elves, there was one who was kept in Asylum, but he deliberately let go even after hearing his name from the mouth of Count Wigenburg.
It was just today that Jin disguised himself as himself.
Jin ordered the zealots to attack the allies, and the zealots unsuspectingly lowered their clothes and stopped the charge.
As a result, it was possible to prevent a head-on collision between humans and elves.
Also, the elves must have confirmed the seriousness of Asylum today.
Until now, Asylum had been working hard not to attack from the desert side and not to incur the enmity of the elves, but as of today, all of that has gone to nothing.
A gigantic force capable of rising to all sorts of important positions, including tribal chief, without the knowledge of mice or birds, and even causing war if it so chooses.
Now that we have confirmed the reality of Asylum with our own two eyes, the Elf and we can share the same goal.
War against demons and extermination of Asylum.
We can now join hands for this common purpose.
“But is it really okay? Even if I don’t go?”
“·······.”
Trie stared at me blankly and grabbed my hand.
I just noticed.
The fact that my hands are shaking.
“You must keep your strength.”
I wanted to go out.
It would have been much easier to deal with the commotion just by making the Bape bigger and taking it out.
It would have been possible to finish suppressing the rebellion with less than half the people killed.
But I couldn’t.
If my predictions are correct, a greater threat will come within today.
5 Seconds······ No, it was necessary to save ‘selection and concentration’, which only had 4 seconds.
“Your Excellency…”
Then the door opened again and Mahmed appeared.
It seems that the discussion with the tribal chiefs has ended.
He broke out in a cold sweat and looked confused, but then straightened his hair and calmed down again and sat down.
“Have you had enough time to think about it?”
“Yes. That was enough.”
“Then can you hear the answer to the alliance proposal?”
“·······.”
Mahmed’s sharp eyes were directed straight at me.
The expression on his face has changed a lot from earlier when he was just listening to my proposal.
Until just a moment ago, humans and elves were enemies that could never hold hands.
But what about now that we have a common enemy, Mine and Asylum?
I just hoped to protect my useless pride and not make decisions that would harm the future of the elves.
“I am willing to form an alliance. But I would like to change the terms.”
“Tell me.”
“Imperial troops stationed in the desert will not be tolerated.”
“I will accept it.”
“And… Yes? Did you say you would accept it?”
“Yes. Please tell me the next condition.”
“Also extradition treaties and trade treaties, and…”
From then on, the boring story continued.
Until now, humans and elves had virtually no country-to-state diplomacy.
In other words, exchanges continued only in the private sector while treating each other as non-existent countries at the national level.
So, it can be seen as a positive sign that Mahmed brought out such a treaty that would be concluded as a nation-to-state.
The relationship between humans and elves cannot be changed from enmity to friendship right away, but at least it is revealed that there is a will to prepare a foothold.
Of course, this was just basic diplomacy.
It means that friendship level has returned from negative to zero.
I didn’t want to be satisfied with this.
If it’s an alliance you don’t know, you’ll have to give something that feels more friendly.
“Is that the end?”
“Yes, that’s all the changes I want to ask for.”
“I’ll accept all of them. Instead, there’s more I’d like to add on this side.”
“Well, what is that? I’ll listen and make a decision.”
“The elves don’t seem to have any resistance to Asylum’s attacks.”
“That’s right. But why now…?”
“I will share the main characteristics and attack patterns of the Asylum officers analyzed in the Empire to help expel them. I will send an expert there soon.”
“Yes, yes…?”
“Also, there are changes regarding food exports. The ratio of exports to large deserts in desert frontiers has decreased by as much as 5 percent. It is said that this is due to ‘sanctions’ that are not set by law… I understand it. It’s difficult, so I’ll take this opportunity to enact a law. Every year, at least 50 percent of the food produced in desert frontiers is exported to the desert.”
“That’s…!”
“It’s not a condition to be presented here. Is that what you want to say?”
The conditions I added were all advantageous to the elves.
However, it was clear that it could not be omitted.
If the elves are destroyed by Asylum and the eastern front is opened, the burden on the empire will increase.
It was in the Empire’s interest to support the elves so that they could regenerate themselves and fight Asylum.
It was a bonus to be able to pay off the debt to the elves with this and at the same time be condescending.
“Think of it as a favor from the Empire.”
“·······.”
Mahmed carefully looked at the completed treaty several times.
He seemed afraid that I might have scribbled out a strange condition in small print.
But perhaps ascertaining that it was not such an unequal treaty, Mahmed put down the treaty with a bewildered expression.
“I will sign first.”
“Yes, sir.”
I accepted the treaty that Mahmed returned to me and pushed.
Then I wrote my name on a signature line with flash magic.
From Noble mtl dot com
Now it was Mahmed’s turn.
Once this is over, humans and elves will formally form an alliance.
You will get a colleague to join you in the war against the Mine.
It was the moment Mahmed picked up the pen and I gulped nervously.
Kung·······! Thud······! Thud······!
“Your Excellency?”
“Wait a minute.”
A small vibration was felt in the distance.
Mahmed didn’t seem to notice, but when he looked at Trier, he seemed to have noticed.
When I pulled back his curtains and looked out the window, I immediately identified him.
“Anti-aircraft guns·······.”
The salute we fired when we first came to the desert frontier.
It was now spitting fire towards the sky.
I could see the shells exploding from the gun barrels flying into the pitch-black sky and exploding.
“Mahmed.”
“Yes?”
“Evacuate.”
“Oh, where?”
“To the bunker under the fort.”
“Gee, now-“
“Yes! Now!”
The air defense network in the desert frontier is unique on the continent, and can be called the best on the continent.
Because customs and tolls in the desert frontier are famous for being expensive, there are many people who fly airships or balloons to cross the border without going through this area.
In order to catch them one by one, the air defense network naturally became quite thick, and such an air defense network found something in the dark sky and was firing.
As far as I know, there is only one that can fly at such a high altitude and at high speed.
– Sir! It seems that Majin has appeared in the sky over the desert frontier!
Unsurprisingly, Duke Damian’s communication came in, confirming my thoughts.
After watching Mahmed hurry down to the basement, I went outside with Trier and looked up at the sky.
“Duke. Evacuate all troops on the ground.”
-No, sir. There are elite soldiers trained to deal with demons…
“You don’t need them, so just bite them all. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking miserable.”
-·······.
It wasn’t a story that Damian’s elite soldiers were getting in the way.
I’m sure it’s possible to drag the time even against mines.
But they will never escape death.
I wanted to prevent the fear of demons from growing by increasing the number of casualties.
An enemy powerful enough to threaten the existence of mankind, but capable of being dealt with.
I had to instill that kind of awareness in both humans and elves.
“To the tree.”
“Yes… I’m ready.”
A tiny shadow appeared and disappeared with each flash of light as the shells exploded in the clouds.
I couldn’t see it well because it was a fleeting moment, but it was clearly in the shape of a person.
That short stature and body type.
Tilpitz was obvious.
[Quest: Survive 10 minutes from Mine Tilpitz’s attack.]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Reward: 10 Shop Coins]
A quest came to mind.
As expected, Tilpitz was right.
The level of difficulty is 5 stars······.
“Coming! Erica! Get ready!”
At that moment, Tilpitz’s eyes met.
I immediately pulled one leg back and pulled the barfe out of my right hand.
The blue pillar of light that instantly spewed out and illuminated the surroundings became a longsword and was held in my right hand.
Then, with his left hand, he drew out the sword he was wearing around his waist to prepare for the impact.
“Huh…”
Tirpitz’s new model started to fall like a darting.
The anti-aircraft guns, which had not yet detected it, were still only bombarding the empty sky after the Tilpitz had disappeared.
Come down.
At a speed that the eye can barely follow.
Straight to me.
“You got into the mousetrap on your own.”
A smile came to his lips.
Caught.
I was convinced of that.
“Huh…?”
Until a bright flash covers the sky.