Chapter 345 - Chapter 337: Preparations and Departure
About a week had passed since the preparations for the wyvern subjugation began. Jeremy, an officer of the Grand Duchy army who had now been formally appointed as a retainer, arrived at the conference room of the House of Grand Duke Arqvist.
"Thank you for your reconnaissance. Despite it being a dangerous mission, you carried it out well."
"I have merely fulfilled my duty in accordance with the orders of Your Excellency, to whom I have sworn my loyalty."
Jeremy, who had originally received training primarily as a scout in the Lancel Kingdom army and had been forged as a direct subordinate of Radley since becoming a citizen of this land, excelled more than anyone in the techniques and abilities required to scout dangerous areas and return alive.
For that reason, he had entered the Lestio Mountains with a small number of subordinates to "search for water sources around the point of encounter with the wyvern and, if possible, discover the wyvern's lair."
Even for Jeremy, who was skilled in reconnaissance, and several beastman soldiers, the journey through the mountains took over two days one way. After completing several days of scouting, they spent another two-plus days to return safely.
Now, he stood in the conference room to report before Noein, Yuri, and Pence.
"You are a paragon of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's military. As your sovereign, I thank you... Now then, I ask for a detailed report."
"Yes, sir. I shall now report the results of the reconnaissance."
Despite having taken only a brief rest after returning from the grueling mission, Jeremy stood before the map placed on the conference table with a posture and expression that betrayed no fatigue.
"First, the point where the maintenance personnel encountered the wyvern is this location on the trade route currently under repair. In the mountains approximately one kilometer or so to the west of here, there was a lake. It is believed that the shores of this lake are the wyvern's current lair."
As he explained, Jeremy pointed to the map.
"Do you have evidence?"
"Yes, sir. On the shores of the lake, there is a flat area created by knocking down trees, and judging by the scale of the destruction, it is believed to be the work of a wyvern. Furthermore, carcasses of monsters and what appeared to be wyvern droppings were seen in that flat area. From these circumstances, it is almost certain that the wyvern is eating and resting here."
Jeremy answered Yuri's question without hesitation.
"However, I was unable to actually confirm the wyvern flying into this flat area. I am truly sorry for failing to fully complete my role as a scout."
"It's alright. Approaching a wyvern to a distance where it can be visually confirmed is far too dangerous. Rather, the fact that you successfully avoided encountering the wyvern, confirmed definitive information, and returned is an achievement."
According to the historical knowledge Clara possessed, wyverns occasionally have short awakenings even during hibernation to forage for food near their nests, and conversely, they take short sleeps every few days even during their active periods. If they had staked out the lair, they probably could have confirmed the wyvern's return.
However, as Noein just said, approaching a wyvern with a small number of people is far too high a risk. Noein had originally cautioned Jeremy to avoid encountering the wyvern, so his current apology was formal, and Noein's response was intended to negate his guilt.
"With this much evidence gathered, there is no mistake if we devise a plan to stake out the shores of this lake."
"Indeed. Yuri, could I have you further refine the details of the operation?"
"Understood. I will get to work immediately and proceed so that we can deploy as soon as preparations in each sector are complete."
If the lair where the wyvern returns to rest is known, ambushes and raids become easier to execute. Thanks to Jeremy's success, the success rate of the subjugation operation was expected to rise significantly.
...
A few days after receiving Jeremy's report, a guest arrived for Noein.
It was Frederick Koenitz, the acting lord of the Earl of Koenitz's territory, and a skilled mage employed by his house.
"Grand Duke Arqvist, I thank you for granting me an audience today."
"I am glad you came, Acting Lord Frederick Koenitz... It has been a while, Frederick-san."
In the reception room where he welcomed the guest, Noein first returned the greeting from an official standpoint, then immediately softened his expression as a close relative. In response, Frederick also shifted to his face as a brother-in-law.
"Yeah, it has been a while. Lately, we've both been busy, so we rarely meet directly."
Once one becomes a ruler holding a territory or a country, even if they are only half a day's distance by carriage, they rarely meet unless it is a very important matter. Their wives and children occasionally visit one another, but it had been several months since the heads of the houses, Noein and Frederick, had met.
"And you as well. It's been since the Betumia War that we've met, Lane-dono."
"It has been a long time, Excellency Arqvist."
Turning toward Noein, the one who bowed beside Frederick was Lane, a fire mage serving the Earl of Koenitz's house as an honorary retainer. Noein had met her several times, and specifically during the previous Betumia War, she had fought alongside him as a member of the Western Army.
During the Betumia War, she guarded the main camp, where defenses had become thin because Noein had stepped to the front lines, and she exerted herself to repel the Betumia Republic Army's special forces when they infiltrated the main camp. She was one of those who showed heroic activity in the Western Army during that war.
"As I mentioned previously, regarding the wyvern subjugation by the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's army, I wish to send her from my territory as reinforcements. She is a skilled practitioner who wouldn't be out of place serving as a Royal Mage. She will surely be of use. Regarding the assistance to the Grand Duchy, I have, of course, confirmed my father's permission and His Majesty the King's approval."
Noein had used Foreign Minister Bart to notify the surrounding regions that a wyvern had appeared to the north of the Grand Duchy. While the possibility was not very high, it was conceivable that the wyvern might leave its current territory and appear in nearby noble territories.
Furthermore, the Grand Duchy expressed its intention to undertake this wyvern subjugation to those around it, and notified both the royal houses of Lordberg and Lancel.
In response to this, the House of Earl Koenitz, as neighbors and relatives, offered assistance in the form of lending their employed mage and her guards.
"Since my country has no mages capable of engaging in combat other than puppet mages, it is a great help to be able to borrow Lane-dono's strength... But is it truly alright? Our army intends to face this with as much preparation as possible, but even so, wyvern subjugation involves danger."
"The crisis of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist caused by the wyvern is also a crisis for my neighboring Earl of Koenitz's territory. Besides, my brother-in-law's crisis is as good as my own. My father would say the same as your father-in-law."
Frederick answered Noein's question forcefully. However, there was likely more than just simple kindness there.
If he lent a mage as a major combat asset, the Earl of Koenitz's army would also be spoken of as a contributor to the subjugation upon its success. They could involve themselves in the story of a wyvern subjugation—the first in this area in several decades—and it would add prestige to the Earl's house name.
As for the House of Grand Duke Arqvist, they could borrow a major combat asset simply by sharing some of that prestige, increasing the success probability of the wyvern subjugation and reducing the danger to their own army. If the opponent was the Koenitz family, there was no worry that they would overstep their bounds in an attempt to steal the position of the main force of the subjugation.
This was a cooperative relationship intertwined with the political intentions of both houses. However, neither Noein nor Frederick brought that to the surface.
"Besides, if it's Lane, she probably won't die so easily even in a wyvern subjugation. After all, she is a person of skill who has served as an honorary retainer since the time of my house's previous head and has fought through numerous battlefields."
"Fufu, it is an honor to be evaluated so by the young master. I intend to continue working as an employed mage even during the young master's generation, so I have no intention of dying."
"Hey, I told you to stop with the 'young master'."
Seeing his brother-in-law being treated like a child, Noein laughed softly.
"As the Grand Duchy army, we will ensure that Lane-dono is properly protected. Since it is a battlefield, I cannot make an absolute promise, but we will take care to ensure that danger reaches her as little as possible."
"I thank you, Noein-dono."
"Thank you. However, I have fought on many battlefields while protecting myself, so please be at ease."
Frederick answered while adjusting his expression somewhat awkwardly, and Lane replied with an expression that radiated the confidence of a half-elf who had lived for many years.
...
Approximately two weeks after the first report of the wyvern sighting, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist's army finished preparations for the subjugation operation.
Fortunately, the wyvern did not descend upon human settlements during this period, and Noein and the others were able to face the departure in perfect condition.
The military force consisted of Noein, who manipulated the giant golem, and his guard, Matilda. Then Pence, and eight members from the Guard.
The main combat force, the Claymore, consisted of twelve people, including Gustav and Alain. Furthermore, to protect the puppet mages who become defenseless while operating golems, and for other purposes such as patrolling or, in some cases, distracting the wyvern, parts of Radley's unit and Rick's sniping unit were also mobilized.
Additionally, since the party would be divided into two, Military Chief Yuri would also go as the commander of the separate unit.
Including the reinforcements Lane and the soldiers of the Earl of Koenitz's territory who served as her guards, the total strength of the subjugation force was over fifty people. It was small for a wyvern subjugation army, but considering the power of the golems, it was equivalent to a force of several hundred people. There was ample chance of victory.
Among the martial subordinates, only retainer Dant would remain behind. This was so that in the event Noein and the others were forced to retreat, or the wyvern drifted toward human settlements, he could command the remaining forces to respond.
On the morning of the departure, Noein stood before the personnel gathered at the Grand Duchy army headquarters. Behind him stood the giant golem, a symbol of Noein's prestige.
"...I thought there would be more anxious faces, but everyone is calm."
"Everyone is a veteran who survived the Betumia War. Even if it is a wyvern, there is no one who would lose heart over monster subjugation at this point."
Yuri, by his side, answered Noein's mutter. Noein thought that was true, and opened his mouth to address everyone.
"Everyone, please look at the sky. It is clear and the weather is mild. It is a perfect day for lizard hunting."
Laughter broke out among the members of the subjugation force at those words.
"Well, jokes aside, the weather seems to be on our side. In these two weeks, we have made as many preparations as possible and completed training assuming actual combat. We have also been joined by encouraging reinforcements from the Earl of Koenitz's territory."
As Noein pointed with his hand, Lane bowed under everyone's gaze.
"We can win. Of course, the wyvern is a powerful enemy. We must not be careless. However, there is no need to fear excessively. We shall definitely defeat the wyvern and protect the peace of this land, our homes, our assets, our families, and our happiness!"
"""Ooh!!"""
The mages and soldiers responded vigorously to Noein, who raised his voice loudly with a clenched fist.
"Baronet Granat. Depart."
"Yes... Everyone, depart! Officers to horses, mages and soldiers to carriages!"
Movement would be on foot from the mountain paths near Kilde, but due to appearances and the problem of golem transport, the departure from the capital city Noeina would be by horse and carriage.
While receiving the cheers of the subjects on the main street of the capital city Noeina, Noein and the others departed.