Episode 21: The Cannon Fodder Jailer Discovers a Talent for Sniping
Katiana blinked at Eret’s appearance.
Her gaze then shifted to me, who was standing behind Eret.
Well, with the magic item cloak that Eret made to obstruct recognition, there shouldn’t be any worry about being noticed—
“W-Why is even Lugas-dono here!?”
I was found out immediately.
I grabbed Eret by the scruff of his neck and started a little interrogation.
“Why was I found out so easily?”
“Recognition obstruction doesn’t work on those close to you. It just means your presence is that significant to her.”
“…I see.”
It was a mix of happy and complicated feelings…
“L-Lugas-dono. Eret-dono aside, you should probably go back…”
“Ah, well, don’t be so distant. I came all this way to help. Though, I’m not sure how useful I’ll be.”
“No, that’s not it—”
“That’s right, Rugasussu-kun. You’re a man I’ve acknowledged. There’s no need to belittle yourself. So, here’s a present from me.”
With that, Eret rummaged around in the cockpit of the Ultimate Golem and pulled something out.
It was an unusually large and long gun.
“What is this…?”
“It’s an Anti-Material Beam Rifle. I made one of the things you mentioned in my spare time.”
“Please don’t make super weapons in your spare time.”
The rifle, which could be called a small cannon, was quite heavy and difficult to carry.
“I can’t handle something this heavy. I’ve never actually fired a gun before.”
“Come on, don’t say that. Try aiming at one of the ballistae on the ramparts surrounding the Royal Capital from here.”
“There’s no way I’ll hit it…”
“Just do it, just do it.”
Urged on by the forceful Eret, I lay down on the ground and took aim with the Anti-Material Beam Rifle.
It even had a scope, so I carefully aimed at a large ballista on the Royal Capital’s ramparts, several kilometers away.
I pulled the trigger with a click.
“Huh?”
It hit.
A purple beam shot out from the muzzle of the Anti-Material Beam Rifle, instantly vaporizing the large ballista.
Thinking it was just beginner’s luck, I fired a second shot.
It hit, it hit. It hit like it was nothing.
“I might have a talent for sniping.”
“You probably do.”
“…I’m kidding. You’re supposed to say, ‘Don’t praise yourself!'”
“No, it’s an objective fact. You have good eyes. And you’re good at grasping spatial relationships. A weapon that keeps distance from the enemy suits you.”
“I-Is that so?”
Being praised so directly made me a little embarrassed.
As Eret and I were talking, Katiana suddenly spoke.
“You two have become quite close while I wasn’t looking…”
“Ah, that’s right. I forgot. After this battle is over, I intend to marry him.”
““!?””
I widened my eyes along with Katiana at Eret’s unexpected words.
“Why are you surprised too, Lugas-dono!?”
“W-Well, I thought you were joking…”
“Oh, I’m serious. If I can be with you, I don’t mind betraying humanity.”
““!?””
This is bad. How much does Eret like me?
It’s kind of nice to be liked this much by a heroine.
A little while later, a strategy meeting was held.
The participants were Katiana, a high-ranking officer from the Regular Army, Eret, and me.
Lacia, meanwhile, had gone out hunting.
She had left as soon as she saw the food that the military had pulled out from their meager supplies, which didn’t look very appetizing.
I wonder if something happened…
Well, Lacia still has a bad habit of looking down on the weak, so if she stayed, she might have caused trouble.
In a way, this was for the best.
“But it’s strange. Why are the enemy holed up in the city? Aren’t they more numerous?”
“Ah, there’s a reason for that. Well, it’s just a guess…”
When I voiced my question, Katiana began to explain the situation.
“The cause of this rebellion is that the country imposed heavy taxes on the people for the war with the Demonkin. Therefore, most of the rebels are commoners.”
“Ah, well, that’s a common one.”
“…It’s not good that it’s common. Anyway, most of them don’t know what war is. We don’t have conscription in our country. Even though they know they have the advantage in numbers, they’ve become passive, finding comfort in the walls.”
“So, if we just leave them alone, the rebels will run out of food and self-destruct, right?”
“No, they’ll move before that happens. They’re not stupid. If they’re cornered, they’ll use their numerical advantage to launch a full-scale attack.”
If that happened, the Regular Army would be defeated for sure.
So, the plan is to launch an all-out attack on the Royal Capital before that, making them think it’s safer inside the walls, and then wait for their food to run out.
I wonder if it will work.
At least, if I don’t interfere, Katiana should become a prisoner of the enemy.
Just then, it happened.
“I-It’s terrible!!”
“What is it!? Did the rebels move already!?”
“N-No, the woman who came with Eret-dono, she, uh, seems to have taken down a huge monster and carried it back… It’s kind of a panic!!”
What is the messenger doing, throwing away his report?
While thinking that, I went to see what was going on since it seemed like Lacia had done something.
Then, in the center of the camp, there was the corpse of a huge boar monster.
Lacia was standing next to it.
“What are you doing, La—san?”
That was close. I almost revealed Lacia’s real name.
Lacia snorted at my question and explained.
“Hmph, even if I’m served such unappetizing food, I won’t eat it!! Master, please show them real food!!”
Hey, you.
You were the one who said that cooking makes the body weak until recently, right? What are you talking about?
But, the food that the soldiers had prepared for the welcome was indeed questionable.
…Alright, I’m getting hungry too, so should I make something?
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Afterword
A trivial side story
Author: “The feeling of alienation when a couple you haven’t seen in a while is getting along well, it’s sad, isn’t it?”
Lugas: “Even if you say that suddenly…”
If you thought, “Eret is cute,” “Lacia is completely smitten,” or “The author is sad, lol,” please leave a comment, bookmark, star rating, or review.