After finishing our meal, just as we were about to rest, a distant howl echoed.
「It’s intimidation. They’re trying to keep us from sleeping, stirring up anxiety」
「So, they’re actually thinking this through」
I never thought they were acting without thought, but I didn’t expect psychological warfare like this.
「Should we shoot them?」
If they’re within a hundred meters, I think I could take them out with the Lynx.
「No. They’re using rocks as cover. They countered us on the first day」
「Their commander seems sharp」
「They command an army. This much is expected」
So, it’s only natural. Well, yeah, if they couldn’t do at least that, it would call into question the quality of the Demon King Army.
「Should we hand out earplugs to those trying to rest?」
「Already did. There was someone whose snoring was too loud」
Kainzel-san showed not the slightest sign of unease. If anything, he seemed completely at ease. Even with eighteen hundred goblins outside.
Well, I’m the same. We have a gold-rank adventurer, silver-rank adventurers comparable to gold, and a former company commander here. We have the quality to match their numbers. And Miriel and the others are nearby.
As long as we don’t make a mistake, we won’t lose. Of course, we won’t let our guard down. I’m preparing under the assumption that even at the moment of victory, more enemies could appear. The goblin extermination isn’t over until we get home.
「I’m going to Home. Miriel’s presence disappeared」
「Ah. You can get some rest. I’ll be fine here.」
「Yes. Ladarion, stay here. If anything happens, call me right away」
I asked that and entered Home.
「Good work. Did you just arrive?」
「No, we arrived before it got dark, set up camp, and then entered」
We ate first, then spread out a sketchbook and discussed our respective situations, confirming positions.
「Tomorrow morning, once we lure out the Demon King Army, we’ll begin extermination」
「Yes. Once they go into a frenzy, we’ll charge」
The plan is simple. Scatter processed meat in front to trigger a frenzy, then bombard them with grenades. Once their numbers drop, open fire on the remaining goblins. If the Demon King Army retreats, good. If not, we’ll deploy Miriel and the others.
「At this point, I should have made giants into contractors」
「Come to think of it, are you the only one who can make contractors, Takato-san?」
「I wonder? That useless goddess never said it was possible」
But Miriel is also an exterminator. Her reward is five thousand yen, she can enter Home, and she can use the tablet. She’s no different from me. If that’s the case, then making her a contractor should be possible. Or… if I die, does the contractor system end?
No notification sound. I already know that goddess isn’t considerate enough for aftercare.
「No harm in trying. Miriel, give it a shot」
The method is simple. Picture the contractor card and will it to appear. Then have them touch it and say their name to register.
「Y-Yes… Ah… it appeared…」
Yeah. It really appeared. A contractor card. Seriously!?
If this isn’t a dream or illusion, then my assumption was wrong. Even if I die, Miriel and the others can continue as exterminators.
I thought that if I died, a new exterminator would be chosen, and Ladarion and Miriel would lose their status as exterminators. That’s why I entrusted money from this world to Kainzel-san, so they could survive for a while after my death.
I was about to do to their lives what that useless goddess did….
「I chose to become your ally of my own will, Takato-san!」
Miriel grabbed my trembling hand.
「Ladarion too. We are by your side because we chose to be! It’s not something you forced on us! Thinking that way insults us!」
「…Miriel…」
Her grip tightened even more.
「Never insult us like that again. I am here by my own will」
She was smiling, but her eyes were serious. Serious enough to make me hesitate.
「…Alright. I won’t insult you again. If it’s the path you chose, then see it through」
I won’t abandon the responsibility of bringing them in, but I won’t let it weigh on me anymore. I’ll focus on surviving.
「Yes. I will see it through」
This time, her eyes were smiling too.
「If giants can become contractors, we need to adjust the plan a bit」
I opened a new page in the sketchbook, drew the fortress, and explained the revised strategy.
「I’ll likely command from the fortress, so Miriel and Ladarion, take the front and rack up the kills. We’ll make at least five million yen from this extermination」
We exterminators will take down a thousand. Otherwise, future resupply will become impossible.
「By the way, can you sense the goblins?」
「No, I can’t」
So that support ability is unique to me?
「But I can sense magic power. There are two strong sources of magic powers. One is the one commanding the goblins, and the other is a powerful presence right at the edge of my detection range」
Far away? One of the Four Heavenly Kings or something? The kind of situation where defeating a strong enemy brings an even stronger one?
「Then we’ll have to win while holding something in reserve. We’ll execute the plan assuming that it will appear the moment we achieve victory」
I should have Azur Rise stay by my side.
「Yes. If it appears, I’ll put it into eternal sleep」
Very reassuring, but please don’t put everyone around you to eternal sleep too. We’d end up becoming the Demon King Army ourselves…
「Alright. Get some proper rest for tomorrow」
「Yes!」
I went outside once to explain the revised plan, then turned in early.
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