Chapter 161. Recruitment (1)
The upper floor of the Elsyde Fortress. A heavy silence permeated the interior of the modern and stylish library where no one else was present.
On the other side of the sofa was Teano. On the long sofa across the glass table, Enoch and Sirocco sat side by side.
And next to Enoch's sofa, Lien, who had just brought tea, stood with her hands clasped in front of her apron.
A light ripple once spread across the surface of the water in the teacup.
Enoch had just been briefed on the whole story by Teano. The contents were sudden but not surprising.
He slowly raised his head and gazed at Teano.
“I'll confirm one more time. Are you saying that nearly 2,000 magical beasts are amassed in the forest border area outside the 19th outsourcing district of the Victoria Kazimieśi Domain, and the Victoria Main House has sent a request for support, fearing their attack.”
Teano, with her hands placed on the skirt of her uniform, calmly nodded.
“That is correct. The nearly 2,000 experimental magical beasts are all showing coordinated movements, and there has been an incident where they directly attacked the citizens of the outsourcing district.”
Teano took out several photos from within her uniform and laid them out. The photos were lined up on the glass table. They were photos I had seen somewhere before.
“According to our analysis, it is expected that the magical beasts gathered in the forest will launch a massive attack on the city of the outsourcing district.”
Enoch calmly lifted his head and gazed at Teano.
“Is there an expected objective?”
“The magical beasts are said to cause a so-called ‘infection,’ turning living humans into magical beasts. The intelligence department analyzes that this is to increase their numbers. They also believe a black mage is behind it.”
“Hmm, 2,000?”
Sirocco, who was sitting next to me, perked up her ears once, then pulled my arm and raised her eyes.
“You know, even the magical beasts that spawned naturally near our village didn't flock in such numbers.”
The number of magical beasts controlled by a leader-class was, at most, a little over a hundred.
Even Legypion, who reigned as the absolute ruler in the southern Elsyde domain where Sirocco's tribe lived, did not deviate much from that scale.
Naturally, 2,000 was a number that far surpassed that.
Sirocco added in a low, confident tone.
“If we leave this be, all the city folk will be annihilated.”
“To prevent that from happening, the Victoria Main House sent us an emergency rescue request.”
Teano said, quietly bowing her head.
“Therefore, I would like to request this mission from you, Lord Enoch. Are there any other questions you may have besides what has been explained so far?”
“To be honest, I have one question.”
“Ah, what might that be?”
“It’s a question about you, Sir Teano.”
“Yes? About me, you mean?”
Enoch nodded. Experimental magical beasts. A number as high as 2,000. The ability to infect. These were all stories I already knew well. So, there was nothing new. But Teano's choice was the most surprising.
Enoch quietly spoke as he faced the female knight before him, clad in a jet-black uniform.
“I never thought that you, of all people, the Deputy Commander of Nemesis, would say that you trust me.”
“……Ah.”
At those words, Teano’s eyes widened slightly. It seemed she hadn't expected such a question.
However, from Enoch's perspective, it was a natural question.
I could understand up to the part where Teano was ordered by the Executive Officer to choose a ‘trustworthy direct lineage for the mission.’ But for Teano to choose Enoch as the right person for the mission?
Nemesis had already been openly suspecting me of being involved with black magic since last time.
In the first place, had I done anything separately to earn Teano's trust since then?
Just as I was racking my brain to grasp her intentions, Teano was the first to part her lips.
“I do not know if you will believe me, but it is not a lie that I trust you, Lord Enoch.”
Teano bowed her head slightly.
“…Because I remember what you said during the joint operation in the beast-kin village last time, Lord Enoch.”
“What I said?”
Teano looked at Enoch with a composed gaze.
“That day, Lord Enoch, you said you wanted to stop the atrocities of the black mages.”
Enoch nodded with a straight face.
Come to think of it, did I say something like that?
The memory of that time flashed through my mind.
「─Through the Exemption Missions so far, I have seen the evil deeds committed by black mages with my own two eyes.」
「─I want to stop the atrocities of the black mages.」
It was definitely a conversation we had inside the operation vehicle during the joint operation. Enoch tilted his head for a moment. My memory of it was also a bit hazy.
“I didn't know you would remember those words.”
Teano’s eyes shone as she straightened her back.
“Of course, I remember. Clearly.”
“That's an honor. May I ask why, if you don't mind?”
Teano nodded her head gently.
Her violet hair flowed down her cheek.
“Because what you said at that time, Lord Enoch, is the same reason I wear this uniform.”
Teano placed a hand on her chest.
“I am still lacking, but I rose to the position of Deputy Commander of Nemesis to save people suffering from black mages.”
So that was why she remembered what I had said during the operation and used it as a basis for trusting me.
Enoch stared at her with a blank expression.
At least, it wasn't a lie. She didn't seem like the type of person to do so. If anything, she was too upright. The very act of saying such things openly in front of a direct lineage of Elsyde proved it.
Enoch tilted his head slightly to the side.
“So, what exactly are you requesting?”
Teano took a sip of her tea and closed her eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them. Then she lifted her head.
“I would like you, Lord Enoch, along with your squad member, Lady Sirocco, to cooperate with the small number of soldiers from the Victoria Kazimieśi Domain deployed on-site to protect the safety of the people from the magical beasts' attack.”
“You're saying something tremendous so suddenly.”
“I believe it will certainly be possible. For you, Lord Enoch, who personally killed the 10th Rank black mage named Tantalus last time.”
Teano looked straight at Enoch with an expression that was clearly sincere to anyone who saw it.
Enoch received her gaze and stared at her blankly. It was undeniable that this attitude of Teano's was, in its own way, surprising.
I had assumed that the female knight before me would continue to watch me from the shadows, but to think she would approach me so frankly, using a mission request as a pretext.
…No, rather, is that what makes her Teano?
When I glanced ahead, my eyes met Teano's violet ones, half-hidden by her violet hair.
Just then, Teano slowly bowed her head.
“There is one thing I must tell you.”
“What is it?”
“As you may have already guessed from hearing the details, this will undoubtedly be a dangerous and difficult mission.”
Teano continued in a calm tone.
“Elsyde cannot dispatch a large number of members to another Main House's domain due to concerns over political issues. Furthermore, your squad, Lord Enoch, is powerful, but you may be lacking in numbers.”
It was certainly a condition that would make one sigh.
Without additional support from the family, Enoch's Follower Family strictly consisted of only Sirocco and Saintess Amelia.
No matter how strong they were, it was highly likely to be a very demanding mission for Enoch's squad alone, which currently took the form of a small elite team of three in total.
Anyone would agree it was the worst of the worst conditions.
Her words about it being dangerous were not a lie.
“It is a mission with a very high risk. I hope you will not overlook this part, Lord Enoch.”
Enoch glanced over at Lien.
She was looking down at me from the side with an emotionless gaze. Seeing that chillingly cold stare, Enoch almost swallowed dryly.
But even so, the work that had to be done did not change. Enoch turned his head and looked at Teano before him.
“Although it is an outsourcing district of another Main House's domain, the lives of innocent people are at stake. Please, would you be willing to undertake the mission?”
Teano said, bowing her head.
For the Deputy Commander of Nemesis, she was being overly frank. Enoch slowly nodded his head.
“Very well. I will accept the mission as you've requested.”
“……!”
In that moment, Teano's eyes widened in surprise and she quickly lifted her head.
Enoch narrowed his eyes slightly.
In the first place, this mission was part of a major event connected to the main story. I had to take on the mission.
If I were to neglect or fail this mission, the risk would surely come back to Enoch Elsyde in five years.
The flow of the Official History flashed through my mind like lightning.
「─The 19th outsourcing district of the Victoria Kazimieśi Domain was a city that met its ruin 5 years ago due to magical beasts.」
「─The magical beasts that appeared there infected people, turning them into magical beasts, and their numbers multiplied like crazy. The area around the Victoria Kazimieśi Domain was surrounded by infected magical beasts.」
「─The experimental magical beasts that appeared there showed many similarities to Tantalus's magical beasts, which had madly pursued the direct lineages of Elsyde.」
This part was what was important to me.
「─The infected experimental magical beasts showed movements of trying to track the direct lineages of Elsyde.」
Enoch calmly closed and opened his eyes. The flow of the Official History that had been shimmering before his eyes scattered.
Magical beasts that track Elsyde.
…In fact, it might be a matter of course.
If the experimental magical beasts were truly related to Tantalus in some way, it wouldn't be strange to find similarities to the incident connected to Enoch's death.
Of course, originally, Enoch would have already been dead, so he wouldn't have been involved with them, but not anymore.
If so, what would happen was also clear.
─The swarm of magical beasts that would take over the 19th outsourcing district and multiply like crazy would attack Enoch, who had survived the destined future.
Enoch turned his head and looked at the sky outside the library window. The endlessly blue sky with white cumulonimbus clouds was reflected in his eyes.
I didn't know how I would be able to stop the endlessly multiplying magical beasts in the future.
If so, I had to stop them in advance now.
As I was thinking that far, Teano, who had been looking at me with a slightly concerned gaze, opened her mouth.
“It may be a mission with difficult aspects for you, Lord Enoch. Are you really sure you will be alright?”
“Of course.”
In fact, accepting the mission was an obvious thing to do.
In the first place, as Enoch saw it, this situation was undeniably good fortune. An immense stroke of luck at that.
If it weren't for the connection with Teano, this mission might not have come to Enoch from the family's side.
If things had flowed that way, who knows how things might have gotten twisted. It was to the point where I could consider it a stroke of heavenly luck.
However, that was that.
Separately, I had to steadily acquire what I could by taking advantage of this lucky situation. Enoch added, calmly gazing at Teano.
“However, in exchange for accepting the mission, I would like the family to grant a few of my requests on a family level.”
“Requests, you say?”
Enoch nodded.
This was, in fact, the main point.
Enoch held up one index finger.
“First. I have few squad members, and it is difficult to expect additional combat personnel from the family, so I will recruit a large number of temporary cooperation personnel for the squad on-site.”
Teano's eyes widened as if surprised.
“If you mean temporary cooperation personnel for the squad, are you referring to the freelancers of the outsourcing district?”
“That is correct.”
“But the freelancers of the 19th outsourcing district in the Victoria Kazimieśi Domain are already… due to the recent magical beast commotion.”
Enoch shook his head.
“No. First, including freelancers from other regional outsourcing districts, I will try to employ people from different affiliations into the squad at once as much as my power allows.”
Teano nodded as if she understood.
“Supplementing personnel temporarily like that…?”
“I need support from the family for that. Especially in all the various cost-related aspects.”
Teano nodded her head silently.
“I will deliver the message myself. I will do my best to ensure you receive the support you desire.”
“Good. And the second condition is─”
Enoch looked straight at Teano and opened his mouth.
“─I would like to speak directly with one of the members belonging to the Victoria Main House's direct elite unit, the [Dragoons].”
“What? The Dragoons……?”
Teano's eyes widened in surprise.
Dragoons were professional soldiers of Victoria who operated mechanical horses that worked with special magic engineering and handled giant magic gear combined with a firearm called the [Bombardment Lance] as their main weapon.
The unit they belonged to was called the Dragoons.
The majesty of the Dragoons was very impressive even in the original work. Even among the fandom, there were often cases of debating and comparing the Dragoons to Elsyde's elite, Nemesis.
Of course, most of them predicted Nemesis's victory.
This was because Nemesis's actions in the Official History were too overwhelming from the start, and also because the combat power among the Dragoons themselves varied greatly.
However, that was not what was important.
What if I thought about it a little differently?
It also meant that five years later, among the Dragoons, there were definitely powerful ‘skilled individuals’ to the extent that they could be compared to the elites of the Main House that governed combat magic.
If so, what needed to be done was also set.
Enoch narrowed his eyes and continued.
─A skilled individual of the Dragoons.
I already knew for sure. Because that was the key to the success of this mission.
“I understand that it is not easy to approach members of the Dragoons as they are elites among the soldiers directly under Victoria, but I would like Sir Teano to create an opportunity for me to speak with them.”
“Wait a minute. Hey, what you just said.”
Just then, Sirocco suddenly poked her head in from the side.
“I'm asking just in case, is it another female?”
“That's right.”
I had no intention of denying it. It was clear that the one he wanted to meet this time was a woman.
“Hmph, I knew it.”
But Sirocco raised her chin slightly and glanced at me with coy eyes.
“Are you planning on increasing the number of females around you again without getting tired of it? I thought the scent of a female was clinging strongly to your body when you came back from going out last time…!”
Enoch tilted his head for a bit, then looked ahead. There, Teano had a visibly flustered expression.
“What? A female……? Sir, could it be that Lord Enoch is……?”
“I don't know what you're thinking, but no, that's not it.”
Teano's cheeks, which looked flustered, were already slightly red. She averted her gaze slightly to the side.
“Ah, ahem. I understand. My apologies.”
I didn't know what on earth the female knight before me, who usually seemed so composed, was thinking, but in any case, that wasn't the most important thing.
“First of all, to return to the main point we were discussing.”
Enoch looked straight at Teano and added.
“For this mission, we need a connection to the Dragoons. This is also absolutely necessary for this operation.”
But Teano asked, looking a bit puzzled.
“But Lord Enoch, as I explained, the Victoria Kazimieśi army cannot be mobilized for this operation. The Dragoons are no exception.”
“I know.”
Enoch replied calmly.
“Then, why the opportunity to meet with them……?”
Teano's eyes were colored with doubt. She looked as if she couldn't figure out what I was thinking.
“Ah, about that.”
However, Enoch added with a serene gaze.
“It's just that I have some connections of my own.”
“What? Lord Enoch, you have connections on the Victoria side…?”
As if she couldn't quite understand the words of Enoch, who should have been nothing more than a direct lineage shut away in a corner of a room, Teano's eyes widened slightly as she stared blankly at me.
Well, of course, if I were Teano, I wouldn't have easily believed it either.
How could a direct lineage who had been confined and despised until now have such a convenient connection?
But it really wasn't a lie.
Yes, surprisingly, I did have connections.
The mining city I went to on the last Saintess escort mission. The strong character from the original work I met in Pangaeon. Where did Equistelle, the 「Cavalry of Breakthrough」, have her disciple belong to in the original work?
A faint smile formed on Enoch's lips.
I already knew that much well enough.
Naturally, there was no reason not to make good use of it.