Elf Tensei Kara no Cheat Kenkoku-ki - Book 4: Chapter 5-3

「We give them food and a place to live and this is how they respond? Cheeky little punks.」

「They barely escaped their former villages alive and made it here. Of course they’ll be perplexed and anxious. And besides…I didn’t simply give them all this for no reason. These people are necessary, so I made the investment.

We’re equal, see. Them living here will connect to Erucy’s safety. Had they not begun living here, this area would already be taken by the Empire. It’s not actually possible to protect this supply base from the Empire with elves alone.」

After hearing all this, it seemed that Roleau finally acknowledged the necessity.

Kurao back in Erucy was quicker on the uptake with these sorts of issues. Roleau also has a fairly good head on his shoulders, so he was able to understand what I meant as long as I spoke with patience.

「Also, this is actually where I’m going to set the base of operations that will fulfill my dreams.」

I haven’t told anyone yet, but in the future, I want to straight up turn this place into a commerce city like Erin.

I made this location in the first place with the intent of simultaneously blocking the Empire’s invasions and collecting taxes from the neighboring villages, so the outer wall is sturdy and easy to defend from its position, centered between many villages and easy to have trade along its perimeters.

In addition, we are currently spearheading the achievement of having every kind of race living together.

I don’t know whether it will take five, or ten years, but I will make sure that this place becomes the center of culture and commerce.

◇

「Cyril-sama, we apologize for the wait. The Five Great Chieftains have all assembled.」

After a little while, the kobold chief Johann brought over four men, ranging from middle-aged to slightly middle-aged.

The five who had control over Bell Erucy had now gathered.

In addition to Johann the kobold, there was a human, a white rabbit, an ape man, and a tiger man. These five species made up the majority of this town.

「Thanks for coming, everyone. You know why we’re all here today, I presume.」

「Of course, Cyril-sama. The hateful Empire and its cronies are coming to take this land of repose that we finally managed to secure, yes?」

「Those punks trampled all over Cyril-sama’s mercy.」

「Anyone who tries to take advantage of our leader Cyril-sama’s kindness deserves a thousand deaths.」

「I’ll slaughter every last one of them！」

The Five Great Chieftains each spat out hot-blooded words.

Uhh, did I mess with them a little too much？

I questioned myself inwardly.

It was essential to enlist the help of multiple races in order to operate Bell Erucy.

They were in a pinch at the time, and when I told them they could live here, that food and clothing would be provided, and that I would provide farmland and seed rice, they jumped at the opportunity, saying they would cooperate.

However, I couldn’t fully trust them. For instance, they might switch sides without resistance if emissaries from the Empire were to arrive. Another possibility is that they would care only for their own race and chase out everyone else. There was a good chance that we would have to spend more time and effort in quelling factional disputes than in actually developing Belle Erucy.

There was simply anxiety after anxiety when thinking about this.

That was why I tampered with the heads of the chieftains and their assistants, making sure they became members of Nettle.

I also made them a little stronger than the regular members.

There were three main areas in which I modified them.

・Inflating their hatred toward the Empire

・Increasing their happiness when following my orders

・Decreasing their happiness when disobeying my orders

Just these three areas. With this safeguard in place, I would be able to perceive them as allies and turn my back in comfort, and I would be able to dislose important information as well.

「Everyone, let’s calm down and have a constructive conversation. We currently estimate the enemy to arrive in three days’ time. The soldiers are a thousand in number and are geared toward quick movement, so they don’t have the kinds of weapons that can break through the walls of this base. They’ll likely latch a ladder or something onto the wall and attempt to climb up.」

As expected of a fortress originally built to protect the vital point of the Empire, it was impossible to break the walls of Belle Erucy with normal equipment. You had no choice but to scale the walls.

「Since you’re here, Cyril-sama, that means we can enlist the help of the elves, right？」

Johann raised his hand to ask that question.

「That’s correct.」

「Then I’m not sure that we need a particularly complicated plan. Because as long as we have the power of wind from the elves, the soldiers on the wall will not fall.」

If any soldiers were to latch a ladder or rope against the wall to climb up it, they would be completely helpless, guaranteed. Aiming for that weakness from our side would be easy. In order to prevent such an outcome, the general idea in battle is to kill the soldiers on the walls with the bow-and-arrow, or perhaps keep the soldiers in check so that they can’t move, but as long as elves are in the vicinity, their wind magic would block the arrows, and any attempts made by archers would have little effect.

The elves simply being here already meant that defense would be several times more solid.

For that reason, we always have four people from Nettle stationed in Bell Erucy.

「That’s correct. This battle will likely be won just by normal effort. But giving it only normal effort means that the fight will last longer than it should. That would damage the already fragile state of affairs in Bell Erucy. Everyone came here to escape from the Empire, so they’ve got to be worried about this battle. Just this once, I want us to win with ease and instill the belief in everyone that everything is going to be alright.」

Cooping ourselves up in the walls and intercepting attack after attack every day?

No, that would be extremely tiring and a waste of time.