The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 244

The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I’m a “Farmer”, Not a Demon King! ~

Chapter 244   Responding to enemy complaints

“I am Cozor Soak, ruling the Soak Viscounty! I can no longer overlook your repeated misdeeds. As a noble and a citizen, I cannot allow it any further! Therefore, I have risen to subjugate you for the sake of justice!”

Is this some kind of declaration? But why is he doing this now? Normally, isn’t this something you do before a battle? I’m a bit disappointed that there wasn’t one, but to do it now…

Lilia is beside me, showing an excited expression as if she finds it enjoyable, but is it really that fun?

Well, coming forward like that is probably because of some unexpected events or to regroup and buy time for a strategy meeting.

Also, maybe to assert a presence? Many territories collaborated to come here. Even if, by some chance, they were to win, being one of the collaborators would mean getting fewer rewards. However, by declaring like that, one can insist on having done their best.

Though whether he came up with this himself or was influenced by someone behind the scenes, I don’t know. Because that kind of declaration seems like asking to be targeted. Honestly, it’s like being a decoy.

“A declaration, huh? Honestly, I think it’s ridiculous.”

“Isn’t it good for boosting morale?”

Boost morale? In this situation? …I don’t think it’s possible. After all, about half of the front-line troops are already beneath the soil. If the vanguard is defeated, unable to do anything, and around ten thousand have died with their noses bloodied, I doubt morale will rise no matter how hard you try. At least, if I were a common soldier, I’d run away.

“But why now? Normally, isn’t that something you do before an attack? They’ve already attacked, haven’t they?”

“Come to think of it, you’re right. …Why is that?”

Yeah, I wonder about that too. Bell and Kyle are tilting their heads, but I don’t know either.

“Is that person perhaps the enemy commander? Why draw so much attention like that?”

As Kyle said, the declaration just now felt like that. Maybe not a commander, but definitely an important figure. I don’t think they’re a decoy either. I mean, they wouldn’t make someone with such a protruding belly a decoy. Even if they were to use one, in a situation like this, they would usually choose someone who looks more presentable.

“Are they buying time?”

“Buying time?”

“Yes. Originally, they planned to charge in, overwhelm us with numbers, and capture this town. However, the earlier attack literally annihilated the vanguard. Plans fell apart, movements are restricted, and even if they try to regroup or come up with something new, it takes time. So, aren’t they buying time? If it were closer, they might have continued the assault, but there’s still a considerable distance. Using a noble for a declaration might have been to delay us. Or maybe, it’s simply to show off.”

Sofia answered our questions like that.

Well, that makes sense. That declaration is a stall tactic, and that imposing figure is a decoy. It seems reasonable to think that way.

I didn’t consider the fact that we’re dealing with a noble, but it’s true in the sense of drawing attention.

“Also, there’s a possibility that they’re waiting for reinforcements.”

“Reinforcements? …Are there allies coming from somewhere other than there?”

While the current attacking force is a coalition of several territories, there’s no guarantee there aren’t other collaborators. In simpler terms, it could be an ambush. There might be a force observing us somewhere, and they could launch a surprise attack. That possibility can’t be ruled out.

“Yes. I don’t know the nature or scale of those reinforcements, but it’s buying time for their movements. If you think about it that way, it’s somewhat understandable.”

“I see. Well, if you look at it that way, it sort of makes sense. But it still feels pretty foolish to charge in all confident, get your nose bloodied, and then try to regroup!”

Trying to rally after confidently attacking and getting slapped down is quite unimpressive.

“Nobles who have never experienced battle are just like that, after all.”

“Hmm. I guess so.”

If Sofia, a former noble herself, says so, then it must be true.

“So, what do we do? Are we going to respond with a declaration as well?”

Kyle asked while looking at us, but there’s no way we’re doing that. While it might be battlefield etiquette to respond to a declaration, honestly, does it even matter? Is it not stupid to willingly expose yourself to danger? If the commander dies, it’s game over.

“No way. What would we do if we were targeted while doing that? Normally, if you don’t respond and just attack, you might be criticized, but we’re already the ‘bad guys’ to begin with. There’s no need for that.”

“So, are we just going to attack?”

“Yeah…”

Agreeing with Sofia’s words, we were about to launch another attack, but…

“Waiiiit a minuuute!”

“…Lilia. What’s with the sudden shout?”

Lilia, who had been quiet until then, suddenly burst out.

“Hey! Do you really not have to go out and respond?”

“Weren’t you listening? There’s no advantage in going out to respond. On the contrary, there’s a tremendous risk of being targeted if you go out.”

“Ugh. Then, can I go?!”

“You? There’s a risk, and I just said there’s no advantage.”

“I heard you, but, like, isn’t it super attention-grabbing if I go out?!”

Well, if it’s about being attention-grabbing or not, there’s no doubt it would be attention-grabbing. What’s the point of… Oh, right, I remember now. Lilia wants to stand out, advertise herself, and gather followers in a ridiculous way.

“How about leaving it to Lilia?”

“Huh? Her? …Isn’t the declaration the face of our side? Can we really leave it to someone like her?”

I didn’t understand what Sofia was saying for a moment.

What’s with this! That’s what it sounds like, but let’s just ignore it.

“To be honest, it’s kind of iffy whether she’ll be useful or not.”

“Iffy?! What does that mean?!”

I heard some noise, probably just my imagination.

“There are certainly various issues, and I can’t completely trust that there won’t be any problems, but I think it’s worth letting her try.”

“You seem to be saying something subtly terrible… Worth, huh.”

Sofia’s words led my gaze to Lilia, who was confidently striking a pose, putting one hand on her face, and making a showy expression.

…Are we really leaving it to her? Hmm…

“Do you have no intention of going back quietly? If you want sweets, you can get them at home, so help yourself and wait, okay?”

“No, no, no! I’ll accept the sweets later, but the stakes are different when it comes to the words I can throw!”

“Fine, you’ll get your sweets.”

“Huh, sweets are delicious… Wait, no, that’s not it! Why don’t you say, ‘leave it to me’? You didn’t call me last time, but this time, you should trust me!”

Speaking of last time… when was it? Was it during my mother’s battle? Certainly, at that time, I left Lilia behind and went to fight first. She caught up later and only assisted in treating my mother and other soldiers.

“Do you have no declaration at all? What a bunch of spineless fools. Do you lack even the courage to come forward? You and your boss, you’re just mere thieves compared to me. Trash!”

As I pondered what to do, the enemy added more words. They sure know how to complicate things.

“Ugh… this is a pain.”

“If we don’t respond, won’t it be bad?”

“Even if the battle ends, won’t they come back later with something to say?”

“Yeah…”

Even though we’re criminals and don’t care about honor or pride, there are situations where we can’t ignore the need to maintain a certain image as criminals. If we don’t respond to the enemy’s words and come forward, it would be a sign of weakness even to our supposed allies.

Unlike Karakas, we’ve gathered somewhat quiet people here, but still, being from Karakas doesn’t change. We could win like this, but if we end up being underestimated, the aftermath could be troublesome. That’s why we can’t avoid going out.

But a declaration…

“Hmm? What’s up? Something on your mind?”

Almost unconsciously, I turned to Lilia.

Lilia, seemingly unaware of why she was being looked at, tilted her head. But… she’s still striking that pose. Oh, well, it’s subtly different from earlier.

…Are we really leaving it to her?

At least compared to me, who couldn’t come up with a declaration at all, it might be better, but I can’t shake off the unease no matter what.

However, she does seem suitable for confidently returning a declaration. She probably won’t get nervous.

“Lilia, do you really intend to step forward as the representative of this place, where people around us keep saying ‘evil’? Do you have that intention?”

I thought that might be the case. I asked Lilia something I would never usually ask.

“Huh!? Is it okay!?”

“Do you really want to do it? You might not have the confidence not to mess up… but can you keep up the act until the end?”

While there is anxiety, if she occasionally shows her seriousness and competence, it should work out nicely. Besides, if we’re proclaiming legitimacy, an elf like Lilia is more fitting than a criminal like me. There’s the sacred tree here, and if we say we’re protecting it, it could be a decent reason.

“It’s okay. Leave it to me! A declaration is like that, right? Before a battle, we just need to say what we want to each other, like they did earlier.”

“Well, it’s something like that. While I’ll be going out as the representative myself, I’ll leave the declaration to you.”

“I’ll do it! Yay!”

Her excitement is a bit… no, it’s quite worrying, but now that I’ve decided to leave it to her, I’ll believe in her. …I’m incredibly anxious.