Volume 5, Chapter 36 – People and Pawns

The next morning, at the request of Governor Yan Lu and the garrison, we attended a strategy meeting for the defense of Chi Tien.

“Saint-sama, I am grateful for your cooperation in dealing with this Monster Stampede, even though it is unrelated to the request from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Not at all. But the fact that we were called here means that…”

“Yes. The Scouts we dispatched have confirmed the presence of a Goblin Lord. The Goblin hordes are already advancing toward Chi Tien, and we expect them to attack Chi Tien tomorrow morning.”

“I see, so a Lord has indeed emerged. Hmph, a worthy opponent. And the numbers?”

“We estimate around three thousand.”

“Your basis?”

“A rough calculation based on the density of the Goblins and the area they cover.”

“I see. In that case, assume there is a separate detachment of another thousand. We shall operate under the assumption of four thousand.”

“Yes, sir!”

I see. So Goblin Lords possess enough intelligence to create separate forces.

“The battlefield will be the area around the southern fields. Give up on the harvest. We will strike the Goblins as they cross the river to the south.”

“Yes, sir. It is a painful blow since it’s just before harvest, but it cannot be helped.”

“Hey! Saint! You have a knight among your attendants, yes? Does she have experience leading others?”

“Um, I believe she served as some kind of vice-commander.”

“I have experience leading a squad,” Chris interjected.

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“Is that so. Then I shall give you fifty soldiers. Go out as a mobile force, locate the separate detachment, and reduce their numbers as much as possible. Saint, you will wait at the relief station. You may assign the remaining two attendants as you wish.”

“Eh? Chris-san is going out alone?”

“I said you may decide the placement of the other two attendants. However, I will not permit you to take the field.”

“…”

If I am the only one left and something were to happen to Chris-san, what would I do? Could I truly say I wouldn’t regret that choice?

“I have a general understanding of your attendants’ abilities. The weak ones are weak, but surely they won’t be outmatched by mere Goblins.”

“But…!”

“Fiene-sama, thank you for your concern. However, I have no intention of losing to Goblins. For your sake, Fiene-sama, I shall certainly sweep away the separate detachment and return safely.”

“But I’m worried about you, Chris-san…”

“Hmph. You seem to have very little trust in your attendants.”

“…It’s not that…”

I’m just worried about Chris-san.

“Saint. A warrior only truly shines once they have earned the trust of their lord.”

“But…”

“Besides, your attendants have done nothing thus far. If she has experience commanding a unit, let her at least be useful there. Or is your attendant such a coward that she shrinks away from Goblins?”

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I mean, I get it. I really do. If this were a simulation game, I’d probably make the same tactical decision.

But this is reality.

The thought of something like what happened with Suikyou happening while I’m not there absolutely terrifies me.

And I can’t stop remembering the sight of Chris-san returning bloodstained and with a swollen face after I left her in charge during the fight with Yoshiteru.

That’s why a flicker of anxiety crosses my mind—the fear that Chris-san, Lu-chan, or Shizuku-san might disappear.

“Furthermore, even if they are only Goblins, there are many of them. There will be many casualties at the main battlefield in the south. If you are at the relief station, you can save more wounded. Is not the job of a Saint to heal others?”

“…That is…”

I couldn’t find the words to argue. But I still have a terrible feeling. I can’t shake this anxiety.

As if seeing my plight, Shizuku-san stepped in to help.

“Fiene-dono, trusting your subordinates and sending them forth is also the duty of a lord, yes? Besides, Lumia-dono and I shall also deploy with Chris-dono. I am returning to top form, so I shall not be outclassed even if a Goblin Lord appears. Moreover, with Lumia-dono, who possesses unrivaled power within the forest, we shall not lose our way. Well, Lumia-dono’s archery is… that , but we can expect support from Mashiro, so there are no openings, yes.”

“Wait, what do you mean my archery is ‘that’!?”

Lu-chan, who had been listening in silence, raised her voice in protest, but Shizuku-san elegantly ignored her.

“Furthermore, Fiene-dono shall be safe. If the Goblins were to surge into the relief station in the middle of town, this town would already be finished, yes.”

“…”

I know the logic is sound, but I’m still anxious.

“No, but we cannot leave Fiene-sama alone…”

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Seeing my expression, Chris-san spoke up in concern.

I appreciate it, but I’m not worried about myself; I’m worried about the safety of Chris-san, Lu-chan, and Shizuku-san.

“…Good grief, Chris-dono is hopeless. In that case, I shall remain with Fiene-dono. Lumia-dono, I leave Chris-dono in your care, yes?”

Eh? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

“Ehehe, leave it to me! I’ll keep a close eye on Chris-san so she doesn’t do anything reckless!”

“Wh-Shizuku-dono! I am…! Lumia too!”

Watching their exchange, I couldn’t help but let out a small giggle.

“I understand. Then, Lu-chan, please take care of Chris-san. But Lu-chan, you mustn’t do anything reckless either, okay?”

“Yes, Onee-sama!”

“Even Fiene-sama!?”

The atmosphere brightened slightly, but I was eventually persuaded and reluctantly agreed to Chris-san and Lu-chan’s deployment.

“…Trivial. A warrior should be satisfied to lose their life in battle. …Hmph, very well. I shall entrust the northwestern mobile operation to your attendants.”

But at that one comment from the General, I suddenly snapped.

“Please don’t say that losing one’s life is ‘contentment.’ There are people who cherish those individuals!”

The General is as bad as ever.

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Just how far does this man intend to go in provoking my feelings before he’s satisfied?

“Hmph. A cleric lecturing on the ways of the warrior. Clerics are always like this.”

“I think that’s true even for people who aren’t clerics, though?”

When I said this without hiding my displeasure, the General glared at me. I glared back, but he quickly averted his gaze, perhaps noticing Yihua-san standing behind me.

“Sigh. So, what will you do, General?”

“Naturally, I shall strike the main Goblin force and slay the Goblin Lord. I will wait until the Goblin Lord reveals itself. There isn’t enough combat power here for the operation to succeed using me as bait.”

“Won’t the mobile force be isolated then?”

“That is precisely why I am not sending them south. If they are surrounded despite that, then so be it. If you are entrusted with a mobile operation, you should be prepared for that level of risk.”

“! General! Are you saying you’ll use Chris-san and the others as pawns!? People aren’t pawns!”

“…In war, everyone is a pawn, including myself. Besides, to call such a minor mission ‘using pawns’… if that’s how you wish to think of it, so be it. It is of no concern to me.”

“You…!”

Just as it was about to turn into a full-blown fight, Chris-san stepped in between us to stop it.

“Fiene-sama, please calm down. If I find myself in a dangerous situation, I will retreat properly. My purpose is to protect Fiene-sama; I have not forgotten that.”

“…Chris-san, I understand.”

And so, after nearly turning into an argument, the deployment of Chris-san and Lu-chan was decided, while Shizuku-san and I remained on standby in town.