Mile Chapter 299: King Palace

『As expected, it was really so…』(King)

In the royal palace, the king had received a report from the officer who was dispatched to investigate.

Normally, there was no opportunity for the low-rank officer to report directly to the king but he insisted to report directly to gain the king’s favor.

He changed what Raik said, things that he didn’t confirm himself, etc. to what the king wanted, or reported it in a predictive tone.

…In short, “G.o.ddess hasn’t appeared. The report back then was just made up story of a unit’s commander to escape responsibility”

The conclusion that the officer, himself created.

『No matter how many monsters we pushed over the border, there wasn’t much damage to them.

On the contrary, our damage was large.

It wasn’t strange that the soldiers made statements to escape their responsibilities.

Okay, we will immediately carry out another invasion operation.

This time we will cross the border, advanced to the edge of the forest in their side.

All of the monsters will be pushed to their land』(King)

『『『『『Huh……!?』』』』』(Everyone)

Not only the officer but also the n.o.bles, the military commander raised their surprised voice.

『But, Your Majesty, military transgression is considered as an act of aggression! Unlike what we have been doing until now…』(Military commander)

The king just brushed off the commander.

『What’s wrong with that?』(King)

『Haa!?』(Military commander)

『We will expand our territory.

For now, we will merge that forest and the territory beyond it to our country.

We will be ready soon!』(King)

『Ha… haaaa~!』(Military commander)

It’s an open war.

Expand the territory of your homeland and get the wealth and labor of other countries.

As it’s not a defensive battle but an invasion operation, plunder, and new territory will be obtained. In addition to territory, the existing n.o.ble family or a new n.o.ble will be found with their achievements.

The n.o.bles were surprised but it wasn’t a bad deal for the n.o.bles.

Those who die in battle are mainly the soldiers and recruited soldiers.

It’s not strange for the commander to command from behind. In case of losing, they only need to surrender.

By doing so, they can return to the country safely if the country pays the ransom later.

n.o.blemen are treated better even as prisoners of war.

During that time, they only need to worry about『the condition of their body tomorrow』

So, compared to the merits of winning, those possibilities aren’t a big disadvantage.

Although their relations.h.i.+p with the neighboring countries wasn’t very good. People wouldn’t think they will start aggression suddenly.

So, the neighboring country, Marein Kingdom would be late in response to the sudden invasion.

『 That forest has become a barrier of nature which prevented us to fight for territory for many years.

But that’s it for today.

“Put the army in front of the natural barrier to protect the land” is the basis of military affairs.

If we considered the middle of the forest as the border, then we don’t have an advantage compared to them.

However, if we took all of the forests to our side, we could use it effectively as a barrier.

After that, we will concentrate our force to the front, we can collect the resources from both the forest and mountain range.

Then we will cut down Mafan next.』(King)

『『『『『Ooooooooh!!』』』』』(Everyone)

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『It seems to be “that” though…』(Pauline)

Pauline says so while looking at a sticker for mercenaries in the guild branch of the capital city.

Red Oath would not have any new movement until that officer reported to the King. Therefore, the girls stayed in the capital and slowly doing various requests to kill time. They have checked the request board and information board every day.

And that sticker is…

『The recruitment of mercenaries.

Meal allowance, combat allowance, achievement allowance.

You can get the details in National Army Mercenary Department』(Notice)

Of course, even though it doesn’t say anything about crossing the borderline.

Everyone at the guild knows that. So are the army and the royal palace.

Just like usual, this time, it was a call for hara.s.sment with the name『Revision of the last Monster Pus.h.i.+ng Operation which ended in unwilling results』

There’s no misrepresentation. Hunters or mercenaries have no right to object the action of the military.

Besides, at the time of accepting the request, the military will give some explanation like『there’s a possibility of an interpersonal battle occurrence』or something…

It’s the hunters’ self-responsibility if they didn’t check the information given to that extent. Once they take it, they must do it or it will become a breach of the contract.

『They even post it in guild’s free request board…』(Maevis)

Well, recruiting hunters are also counting as mercenaries, it’s no doubt that it is most effective to post it here.

If the royal palace request “let me paste it here”, the guild can’t refuse.

Apart from the fact that the guild doesn’t intervene in the employment contract, it can’t be said that they violate the principle that “the hunter guild doesn’t intervene in the war”

Of course, for professional mercenaries, they would formally make requests via the mercenary guild.

Until now, they didn’t request to the mercenary guild because they didn’t expect the interpersonal war. But this time is different.

Other than that, the military also tries recruiting people around the city and people who are in need of money as disposable p.a.w.ns to put out before regular soldiers and recruited soldiers.

『Hey hey, stop, stop!』(Hunter)

『You will be the disposable p.a.w.ns before you can get money』(Hunter)

『And for you girls, you might die even before the battle starts.

You are on the way of a training journey, then you’d better go to the next country right away!』(Hunter)

Seeing all the members of Red Oath checking the sticker, all the hunters who were present advised the girls by saying so.

『That…』(Hunter)

And one hunter speaks with a different tune…

『It’s still okay if it’s that much.

Actually, it’s a “Red Request”

At the time of the last monster pus.h.i.+ng, it seems that “something extraordinary” has appeared.

The soldiers and villagers are threatened to keep it a secret but it’s not the case for us.

After the last operation, there are no locals or decent hunters partic.i.p.ating anymore.

Only those who don’t have the ability to detect danger, those who can’t afford to find a job, and fools.

So there are few partic.i.p.ants except soldiers and forced recruitment farmers, which means that they will surely become the disposable p.a.w.ns.

… Well, I think that they are likely to be forced to “another mission”

So, are you going to receive that request?』(Hunter)

『I will not accept it!』(Rena)

Rena answered immediately.

『Then, it’s okay.

Well, it doesn’t matter if you really want to get the request.

Because in that case, you are just like the soldiers, who are heading to the battlefield knowing the risk to fulfill their duty.

Still, it’s better to avoid the area with soldiers when you are moving.

After all, the request is to move to the other country right away.

You’d better choose a different way if you want to go back』(Hunter)

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『 Isn’t that fine? Don’t you get it?

If we are inside the enemy, we could easily get information and it would be easier to sabotage them …』(Pauline)

While searching for an inn after leaving the guild branch, the evil-looking Pauline said that, but Rena shook her head.

『No.

If we get a contract and get hired, we can’t betray the employer unless it’s an obviously illegal act, a breach of contract, or a forced out-of-contract act.

It’s not illegal to hire mercenaries for war, and it’s an inter-state issue whether they declare war or not, regardless of the hired mercenaries.

Even if the soldiers attack us, it’s a personal matter, unless the employer ordered it, it’s still not a breach of contract.

So, unless the officer forced us to do something illegal or out of contract, we can’t turn our back to our employer.

Isn’t that bad?』(Rena)

『Uuuu…』(Pauline)

Pauline seems to be a type that accepts lie and betrayal for the right thing, but Rena seems to be a type that obeys the norm as a hunter.

And Maevis, needless to say, is a shameful act as a knight, and a shameful behavior is unacceptable.

Mile is…

『 Rena-san, isn’t it just “That’s it, this is this” or “Make a shelf in your heart?”』(Mile)

『Noisy!』(Rena)

Anyway, “the plan to be hired by the military” seemed to be dismissed.

『Well, anyway, we won’t accept deaths or injuries which may be caused by us even indirectly.』(Mile)

Rena’s Trio looked at Mile with the face like “I expect you’d say something like that”