Vol 4: Chapter 21
★ Underground City Military Headquarters ★
The Marshal was looking at a detailed map of the surrounding area spread out on a table. If Reiji had seen that map, he would have been surprised like, “It’s a map that includes the Kruvan Holy Kingdom, the Saint Knight Kingdom, and the Lev Magic Empire.”- it was that detailed of a map.
The underground humans have a special “sense” that allows them to intuitively grasp the terrain and understand the characteristics of the surrounding land, as well as having a constitution that does not deteriorate even if they continue to live underground without being exposed to the sun.
They grasped the terrain that was changed from moment to moment by large-sized monsters, and used it for the continued survival of their race.
「We fought with the dark elves three times yesterday and once today.」
「You were able to avoid them, huh.」
「Yes. Head-to-head combats are definitely decreasing.」
「Good.」
The underground humans were forced into an unfavourable situation in the battle with the dark elves. Because the dark elves are simply that much stronger.
Therefore, the underground humans made the best use of locational advantage to avoid fights as much as possible, and launched surprise attacks when a fight was unavoidable.
At present, the situation can be called a draw.
「The strategy you came up with is on point, staff officer.」the marshal said.
「I-It’s embarrassing to be actually called a staff officer〜」
A young female soldier who is in a “staff officer” position said while scratching her head.
Every night at bars, she asks middle-aged men a particular type of riddle and says, “If you can solve the riddle, you can bang me, if you can’t, then you’ll pay for my drink.” A brave woman who has been drinking alcohol for free while maintaining her virginity.
The marshal scouted her directly after hearing the rumour about her.
「The next report is from me.」
A man in his mid-30s with short hair made into a soft mohawk said. He has been with the marshal longest among the subordinates, and is known as the “Hundredman Chief” who leads a group of one hundred soldiers.
「The number of skill orbs discovered today is eight!」
「Hou!」
The hundredman chief unfolded a cloth bag, which contained eight skill orbs.
【Cardiopulmonary Function Enhancement ★】
【Flute Technique ★★】
【Dexterity ★】
【Lightning Magic ★★】
【Grip Strength Enhancement ★】
【Grip Strength Enhancement ★】
【Leather Processing ★★】
【Sense of Smell Enhancement ★】
It was an indescribable lineup.
「Wonderful. There is a magic skill orb, too.」the marshal said.
「There are redundant ones too.」
「No, this is enough. You guys risked your lives to obtain these skill orbs, so we have to use them wisely.」
While encouraging the hundredman chief who was vexed that he couldn’t do more, the marshal was pondering who to give these skill orbs to.
The hundredman chief was the marshal’s first subordinate since he first joined the army. In terms of reliability, he is the best candidate even among the ones who were in the room.
「It pained me when Sarume took that 6-star skill orb…」the hundredman chief grumbled.
「Oh, the first skill orb you discovered?」the marshal asked.
「Su-chan’s mind was broken because of that. That orc really gets on my nerves.」
Su-chan is a young girl, who is a distant relative of Sarume, in military employment. Her full name is Sumeria.
She is an outstanding swordsman who was expected to become a hundredman chief in the future, but regrettably, her personality does not get along with Sarume at all.
Without thinking beforehand, Sumeria said, “Sarume-obasan, you have to lose weight. Otherwise you’re not going to live long, you know?”. Which put Sarume in a bad mood for the next 10 days, and her wine inventory diminished rapidly.
「That skill orb… it was called【Insane Blade ★★★★★★】, wasn’t it?」
「Oh yeah, that was its name… Su-chan became a completely different person after that.」
「You know, I think Sarume probably knew that higher star skill orbs, power which is too much for a human to handle, will make people insane.」
It was only a guess, but the Marshal had to think so. Skill orb discovery only spiked recently. It was treated as a treasure before then. Sarume ordered the military, “Look for【Beautiful Skin】and【Beautiful Hair】skill orb!”
That led to the discovery of the 6-star skill orb by the hundredman chief.
It was also an opportunity to find a place where skill orbs could be found regularly, but Sarume became aware of the existence of【Insane Blade】when a loose-lipped subordinate of the hundredman chief leaked the secret.
Although it was a valuable 6-star treasure, Sarume immediately gave it to Sumeria.
「That might actually be the case. Su-chan… no longer hesitates to kill dark elves, and even during mock battles, she tried to kill her opponents without a change in expression.」
「Yeah, but there’s no point in lamenting over what has happened. There might be a way to save Sumeria, something like a skill which can pull out other skill orbs.」
The knowledge about skill orbs has been passed down in the underground city, but it has been a long time since it became a rare treasure, and it was only fragmentary knowledge these days. Little is known about skills such as【Orb Destruction】and【Orb Detachment】.
「The only thing we can do is to slip past the dark elves and gather as many skill orbs as possible.」the Marshal said, clenching his fist.
「Marshal… the orc will find out about this sooner or later.」
One person said, sighingly. He is the member of the team that designs the root of the patrol unit, and does all the substantial work alone — considered by many in the patrol unit as a “negative, gloomy bastard”. However, the Marshal noticed the passion burning within him, and pulled him into his group of trusted subordinates.
Eventually the marshal wants to entrust the marching design of not just the patrol units, but of the entire army to this man–the “Strategist.”
He is still pessimistic at his core, but it is a pessimism backed by thorough realism. The marshal did not deny the strategist’s words, but rather nodded in agreement.
「You’re right. If someone among us suddenly has improved physical strength, some of the soldiers in the military will get suspicious and inform Sarume.」
「Then what are you going to do?」
「First and foremost, we have to become stronger. When our monopoly of skill orbs comes to light and Sarume denounces us, we just need to have enough strength to strike back.」
The marshal said without batting an eye.
「No way! Are you thinking to–」
「Once we have enough power, we will overthrow Sarume and take control of the underground city.」
The marshal’s words were soft, but powerful. A coup declaration.
All three of his subordinate’s were silent. Were they excited or simply afraid?
「Don’t tense up. It’s not something that’s going to happen tomorrow or the day after.」
「But you revealed it to us, marshal.」
The strategist sniffed. There were tears in his eyes.
「I’m so happy that you trust us so much.」
「Well, even if my father is a council member, I am powerless in front of Sarume. My only weapons are you guys.」
「Marshaaal!」
「Hey, don’t cry.」
「Uuu…」
The marshal smiled, looking at his subordinates who gathered around and started crying.
He thought, with them by his side this momentous plan would be possible.
「Come on, now. The debriefing session is not over yet. Next is about the dragonewt tribe’s airship. Relay the information about the deputy captain who betrayed his dragonewt tribe–」
However, the Marshal was unaware.
That one of his tearful subordinates was laughing inwardly.
