I finally returned to Erucy after nearly two months.
First I headed to the Chief House to receive any information I had missed in my absence. I had messaged that I would returned today, so I was frankly a little disappointed that no one came out to greet me.
I had received some information about the situation back home through letters, but there was plenty to worry about. Both I and Roleau had to leave the village for this plan, so I had chosen a secondary representative and trained them over the winter. They were fairly open and honest so I didn’t think they’d do anything weird.
We were late coming back because we needed to thoroughly crush any supply lines that approached and it took 2 weeks for all of the soldiers to starve. After that it took us 3 weeks to empty out the base and gather refugees to live there.
As I had expected, the soldiers who escaped on the way, the soldiers from the supply base, and the soldiers that had arrived there all turned to banditry and went wild creating quite a large number of refugees.
Their evil deeds spread around and I managed to gather around 300 people who were willing to listen to me and come to the base to start a new life.
Some of the refugees’ food was covered by the things we robbed from the incoming supply chain. However, that wasn’t enough and I had to use 1 ton of wheat that I had bought from the city Erin as emergency supplies.
After Kuu had burned the grain in the supply base, we divided the members of Nettle into two teams of 9 elves and 1 Fire Fox that took weekly shifts returning back home. They were all at their mental and physical limits so they had to rest.
Unfortunately, as I was the one negotiating and leading the refugees, I had been unable to go home even once.
The supply transports had no guards at first, but after the second time they started to have escorts. Thankfully there weren’t a large number so we could deal with them. Perhaps the status of the invasion force and the supply base hadn’t been properly conveyed back to the Empire.
「Ah I might cry, I’m so happy. It’s the same old Erucy, but after being away for so long it feels so heartwarming…」
「Cyril, thank you for your efforts. You never returned even once did you…」
Lucy said as she walked beside me.
「It’s already spring huh…」
The weather had warmed and green returned to our lands. The hard long winter had finally passed.
Now we’ll have to harvest the turnips planted by the Fire Foxes and replace them with potatoes and wheat.
「I wonder if everyone at the base will be alright?」
「Kuu it’ll be fine. I left them enough food for two months and gave them seeds and potatoes for planting. That base was originally half military and half agricultural so they have the soil and water to maintain a farm. It’s already spring so we can find even more things to eat in the forest so we can deal with it. Even those people have been living out in these lands for all their lives.」
It was a secret to everyone, but the soldiers had purposefully ruined the farm land before they left so we couldn’t use it. However, I turned into the dwarf Kuiro and used my earth magic to return it to the optimal planting condition. If they couldn’t succeed after I made that much effort, then they were doomed to fail from the start.
It may be cold to say, but I could only go so far.
「As expected Cyril-kun is amazing. You saved that many people and for free!? I respect you!」
「It’s not for free though.」
I smiled wryly at Kuu who was looking at me with reverence.
「The potatoes and seeds will have to be returned two-fold after they’re harvested and the Supply Base goods left by the Empire are ours as well. Plus if the Empire attacks they will have to contact Erucy and hold out in a siege. I will be using those people as Erucy’s shield. This is simply the outcome of a fair deal.」
Some of those people had experience from being conscripted in the army, so in between planting they would teach the others how to fight.
The Empire should have been dealt heavy damage in this invasion, so they couldn’t put together a new army soon. They would have time to learn to fight.
A siege battle would favor the defenders unless an army several times as large attacked, even if they did manage to invade it would gain us enough time to formulate countermeasures.
The biggest thing is that they didn’t have another supply point near Erucy. If they wanted to attack us again they would have to bring double the food supply and double the equipment.
Elves and Fire Foxes couldn’t permanently man that supply base, it would be preferable for the refugees to stay there even if it cost food and money.
「Mm, but Cyril is still kind. Those terms are fair and honest I think. You’re even giving them free food.」
「It’s just like Lucy-chan says~ There’s lots of places that would have said ‘give us 5 times the amount of food back!’」
Kuu and Lucy are well educated amongst the others in the village so they were probably right about that.
As they said, I could have definitely squeezed them for more…but…
「I needed to create a bond of gratitude. If I went this far, they are very unlikely to betray us…..normally. Plus like this we can squeeze more money without actually squeezing them.」
「Exploit?」
「From who?」
They didn’t understand my intentions? I thought of the mark.
「The one we’ve caused so much trouble for, the loser Empire of course.」
「But there’s no way they’ll ever pay us.」
Certainly she’s right. In order to get war reparations we would have had to take land from the Empire or set things up for a third party…both of these were impossible for Erucy at the moment.
「If there’s collateral then they’ll gladly pay for it. So we’ll have them buy the things from the supply base.」
「Cyril are you talking about their equipment?」
「That’s exactly right. Their Iron equipment. Rather than making new equipment they would much rather purchase it back from us.」
We had burned the food for all the soldiers, but most of their equipment was still perfectly usable.
As expected, even when the soldiers were starving they had the presence of mind to steal the money and easy to carry things, but there was no way they would carry heavy equipment away.
We could sell this armor to other countries, but transporting this heavy equipment to Erin would be a harsh task.
Because of that, it would be far easier to wait for the Empire to come attempt to purchase the armor instead. We would be able to set the location of the trade, so we can lay a trap in case they try to steal it back by force.
If I were to imagine a situation in which we couldn’t overcome them, it would be if the three Dukes (princes) that guarded the other directions came together with their full armies. Well, if that happened then I would have to use my final trump card, but against a force of that magnitude it would be a worthy trade.
「I think they’ll buy the equipment, but I don’t think we need to return their weapons.」
「That’s right I think it’s dangerous~」
「That depends on how you think of it. In our case their iron weapons aren’t that scary. It’s more than enough for us to rip off their monetary and military power. I’ll be ripping them off to the point where buying back the iron equipment is barely profitable. I have a lot of things I want to do with that money.」
The base has enough iron equipment for 3,000 soldiers. Their full force was around 4,500 so it seems they couldn’t procure enough for everyone.
Even so, if we sold it all we would have enough money for Erucy’s operations for several years. Actually there seems to be a commotion ahead.
I felt the presence of people in the town square.
「Is there some kind of event going on?」
「Fufu, I don’t know~」
「Yup, I dunno either.」
They said, but I could see the impish smiles on their faces. They definitely knew something.
I entwined our arms together tightly so they couldn’t escape.
Then we entered the square and….
「WELCOME BACK!」
「Yo, it’s the return of a Hero」
「Cyril-sama! Marry me~!」
「I’m jealous you’ve got two beauties on your arm.」
「Thank you!」
I was greeted by warm words and a round of applause.
The people of Erucy all gathered together with alcohol and cups on a large table.
So this is why they didn’t come to greet me? I felt feelings welling up in my heart as I looked around.
Lucy and Kuu moved to push me onto a short stage set up in the center.
At that moment Kemin and Kurone appeared.
I stopped moving forward and knelt down to match our height.
「What’s up girls?」
「Thanks for keeping your promise Cyril-niisama. Kuro is happy that Yukino-chan came back safe.」
「I’m grateful too. Also this is from everyone in Erucy.」
The two of them took out two necklaces made with flowers and put them around my neck as I heard applause break out.
These were made with the first flowers that bloomed in spring. A sweet smelling scent wrapped around my neck.
「Well even so, I didn’t watch over her properly and she collapsed. I’m not qualified to receive your thanks for that.」
If I had kept my eye on her properly, I could have discovered her abnormal state. I had become too absorbed in the battle and let my field of view narrow.
「No, Yukino-chan is thankful to Cyril-niisama. So thank you anyways.」
Kurone said and the two of them moved around and gave me a kiss on both cheeks.
An adorable kiss from two adorable girls. Was this the most important thing they were talking about?
「I’m happy, thank you. Is this the most important thing you mentioned?」
「Uh-uh, not this. We’ll send you our most important thing later. It might fight a bit, but we’ll deliver it. Really…not honest.」
「Just look forward to it! We’ll pack it up nicely and send it. So now you have to do your best elsewhere.」
I couldn’t imagine what these girls were talking about.
They sent me up to the stage and everyone focused on me.
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
「I think you’ve already heard, but we are victorious! Erucy has defeated the 4,500 soldiers the Empire sent to crush us! They won’t be able to prepare another attack for quite a while so we’re safe for now!」
Everyone cheered loudly. The difference in our strength had been overwhelming and we overcame that.
「We won because of the desperate battle waged by Nettle, the Fire Foxes Kuu and Yukino, and the support of all of you. Thank you all!」
They were sweet words, but they matched the situation so I could say them with confidence.
「Let us celebrate our victory with a toast! Everyone raise your glasses!」
They had readied cups of Erucy Wine…but no one moved.
Why? I tilted my head in confusion.
Then I heard Lucy and Kuu giggle next to me.
「Everyone it’s just like we thought. Cyril tried to say things like this.」
「Cyril-kun, you left out someone who worked harder than anyone else. You know who that is, right everyone!?」
Kuu called out and everyone nodded. The most important one?
「Then everyone all at once」
Lucy shouted as silence spread….
「「「Thank you Cyril!!!」」」
A cry of thanks for me echoed through the square.
「As you said Cyril, everyone worked really hard, but the one who did the most out of everyone was you.」
「This isn’t just our opinion. Everyone agrees. So…thank you…and good work Cyril-kun.」
I started blushing deep red. I think this may have been one of the most bashful moments in my life.
I felt tears threaten to fall from my eyes so I quickly wiped them away with my shirt.
「Now let’s toast! Hurry up and toast! I’m so embarrassed. Hurry up and let me get off of here.」
I shouted in embarrassment. But…I didn’t feel bad.
Surely this development had been planned by Lucy and Kuu, but I could feel that they weren’t lying to me. Their true thoughts were conveyed. I couldn’t hold back the boiling emotions inside of me.
This time everyone raised their glasses.
「Cheers!」
The sound of glasses clinking together spread.
Then we all enjoyed the taste of our hometown wine.
I took a sip…and even though it was only the second time I could taste the nostalgia.
Well even so…to think I got done in by those two. I had to get them back somehow. In order to pay them back for the incredible embarrassment I felt up here…this is a good chance.
「Everyone, now that the battle is finished for now I have an important announcement to make. You can keep drinking while you listen.」
Once again everyone focused on me. Lucy and Kuu seemed puzzled.
So I quickly held them and brought them close.
「Kyaa, Cyril what’s this?」
「Umm, why so suddenly in public…」
They were shocked at my sudden actions but it was too early to be shocked!
「I will be getting married. I use the Chief’s rights to marry both of these girls. I’ll be holding a grand ceremony so look forward to it!」
PICTURE
I cried out and kissed the both of them. I heard various shouts from the crowd.
A high pitched scream at the most famous people in Erucy getting married suddenly, a man’s voice crying about the two most beautiful women getting taken, and a woman yelling because she had been aiming for me as well as several that wished us well.
The two of them were blushing bright red as they quietly mumbled small complaints.
Serves you right~
「How mean Cyril…my heart wasn’t ready for that.」
「Me either. My heart is still pounding.」
「Honestly I feel the same.」
I said and they looked stunned for a moment before I giggled.
「That was so embarrassing…but it didn’t feel bad, right?」
They looked blankly at each other before slowly shaking their heads. They were so adorable. I’ll do my best from now on to live happily with them.
Epilogue End
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