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“Your Grace, that sound just now…”

“Oh, I have two bodyguards guarding me in the room just in case.”

The white-haired Duke who looked somewhat uncomfortable answered Muriel’s question and threw a glance at the wall where the noise came from. At first glance, it only looked like a bookshelf built into the wall, but there is probably a door leading to a room his guards are hiding in.

(So he wants to draw our attention to the guards who were found out and leave the rest hidden…)

The Duke glanced back at Muriel as if he had just shown her his hand, but I was aware that other guards were hiding beside the ones hidden behind the wall with the bookshelf that had a secret mechanism. I was vaguely aware of their locations the first time we entered the room, but after spending time inside, I was now sure about their whereabouts. 

Meanwhile, the wall on the other side of the room where the rest of the undiscovered guards were still lurking was ingeniously disguised with designs and ornaments, but I bet one of those wall panels would rotate.

(I worked as a guard for the nobility during my mercenary days after all!)

As I was casually recalling a nostalgic memory, the Duke took interest in me after exchanging greetings with Muriel.

“And this young man who has accompanied Lady Muriel, what is your name?”

I modestly responded and did the semi-formal bow that I learned from my mercenary days so I wouldn’t appear rude.

“My name is Archer, an Adventurer from the guild in Zelgra, your Grace.”

“An Adventurer… Then, we’ll be in your care in that case. Good luck.”

“Yes, we’ll do our best. (And try not to get hurt at least…)”

“Kyuuh!”

Have you adjusted to the situation? The small fox proudly chirped while Muriel carried her in her arms as she took a seat on one of the chairs that were opposite the Duke’s desk. I promptly took the seat beside her and we started to talk about the issue at hand.

“Now, regarding the report I received from you, Lady Muriel, is it true that the Valley Ants are equivalent to a Threat Level A if the Queen Ant and her offspring attacked all together?”

“I’m afraid so, yes…”

By the way, it’s not so easy to take down a monster who is classified as a Threat Level A. It requires an elite group of Adventurers of “Silver” rank and above led by either a Knight or a Sage.

Well, since such a force isn’t readily available, the only way was to get ready to make mass sacrifices to push the monsters back, but the Duke’s expression clouded over as the damage was too great.

There was no way that the two guests in front of him could have known, but…

The Duke’s anxiety only grew as a mysterious monster known as the “Holy Beast of Selkram” who both defeated the Tempest Witch who led the Magic Knights in a royal match and one of the Seven Plagues was also lurking in the forests within his territory.

“This is worrying. The core city has about 120 soldiers, while the guild has about 60 Adventurers, making our forces to about 180 men. Do you think it’s enough?”

“Uu, it might be tough since there are a lot of Valley Ants.”

But suppose the city mobilizes its residents to fight against the monsters, the numbers would be enough, but the number of war casualties will only increase. Besides, if one were to think how many families would lose the heads of their families, the outcome would not be ideal for the people and their finances.

That said, the city could put out recruitment for mercenaries from all over the country, but they would probably still be under contract and avoid moving during the winter. The earliest time those additional forces could come is around early spring, but the Valley Ants and the damage they would cause would have increased by then.

“…My Grace, what if we asked for additional forces from the royal capital?”

It would be hard to ask for additional support from the nobles in the neighboring territories since they also have to protect themselves, but if we asked help from the royal capital, they should have enough reserve troops to send, and the good-natured King Alexius would not ignore the request of one of his vassals who is also related to him.

“Sir Archer, are you aware that the misers from the League of Free Cities are reaching out to the Wilm territory? The situation has only gotten worse since there is also involvement from the “neo-pagan” Church.”

During my stay in the royal capital, I may have heard Ernesta and the Steel Sage talk about the League of Free Cities economically encroaching on the neighboring Wilm territory of the Riastize kingdom, but….

“Hmm, so they’re in quite a dangerous situation themselves.”

I could only scowl at the trouble that was still brewing in its early stages.

At first, they merely invaded the territory’s economy, but it seems they had also penetrated through the teachings of the “neo-pagan” Church which is a strong force within the alliance.

Their argument was simple: “It is not against the teachings of the Lord to accumulate wealth for worldly gain” through trading. They deny that amassing wealth is a sin, and they strongly reject the traditional way of the Holy Church which asks for large amounts of donations.

(Ah, then it’s favorable for the merchants and nobles from the commercial cities.)

Curiously, since members of the merchant families from the League of Free Cities have intermarried with the nobles from the Wilm territory, there is news that some of these noble households are likely to switch sides and bend to the teachings of this new faith.

“In addition, the nobles governing the cities and towns along the national border are colluding to gain autonomy from the Margrave Wilm, and backing them is the Neo-pagan Church and the League of Free Cities.”

“In other words, after the territory recognizes their autonomy, then the League of Free Cities would gain new members…”

So far, the invasion is being carried out behind closed doors, but if the number of neo-pagans in the cities increases, then the nobles governing these cities will be unable to retreat and the territory will be thrown into chaos.

“So since the Magic Knights are privately working on that matter, asking for reinforcements from the royal capital would be difficult.”

“Urrgh, religion is so troublesome.”

As I watched the red-haired Mage who had been quietly listening to the conversation voice out her frustration, I understood that we needed to destroy the Valley Ants’ nest with our current forces.

“Muriel, would it be too much for a mixed strike force of regular Soldiers and Adventurers?”

“Hnn, we could probably take them on, but… it’s going to take a lot of sacrifices.”

“… But if we fail to stop it, the damage will increase.”

After pondering for a while, the white-haired Duke faces Muriel and strongly states his will.

“First and foremost, we have to protect the residents at all costs in emergencies like this, so Lady Muriel, I would like to borrow your insight regarding this.”

“I-I’ll do my best, your Grace…”

Muriel nodded in response to Duke Ferias’ request, and after discussing countermeasures against the Valley Ants, it was decided that a mixed strike force composed of Adventurers and Soldiers would be sent to the northeastern plains in a few days.

This translation is brought to you by Nocturne Translations.

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