Handcuffs and spider, and sortieing

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 『We have located the whereabouts of the spy.』
 
 Having received the report from Lionel at the mansion’s turnaround^[1], we moved to the hall that had newly become the headquarters a little distance away, in order to listen to what he had to say in detail.
 
 By the way, the headquarters were moved this morning.
 
 To begin with, as of yesterday, not only military personnel but also those of the local defence units, the women’s associations and the town council began going in and out of the headquarters, making it extremely cramped.
 
 Then with the addition of reinforcements coming from the royal capital, New Territory and Main Territory, it was only a matter of time before we reached capacity.
 
 Taking the initiative, we switched to a hall with more space.
 
 And as it turned out, moving the headquarters in advance was the right move.
 
 Hung above the hall’s entrance was a signboard saying 『Joint Headquarters』, and upon the central table, a map of the Ainsworth territory, an enlarged diagram of Cocomel’s surroundings, and a city map of Cocomel were spread out.
 
 
 
 Amidst that headquarters, Lionel was now pointing to a particular spot on the city map with a pointer.^[2]
 
 “As a result of narrowing down the source as we intercepted correspondence, we ended up with this building. From where one of my subordinates on the street observed, a resident on the third floor opened a window at the same timing as the correspondence, and confirmed that he put out something looking like an antenna.”
 
 “… That already leaves no room for any doubts.”
 
 In response to my words, the territory army’s commander nodded.
 
 “Having spoken to the landlord, that room has been rented out for living purposes by a company employee since about two months ago. As far as their contract goes, he’s a middle-aged, taciturn man named Morgan.”
 
 “I wonder, does he have any friends?”
 
 “We’ve been posted since last night, but, up till now it hasn’t seemed like there are any… So, what should we do? Do we break in?”
 
 I nodded at Lionel’s question.
 
 “Break in and suppress. I don’t care if he’s dead or alive, so don’t mistakenly give your life for theirs. ——— Wait a moment.”
 
 Walking over to the desk prepared for my personal use, I took out a certain something from the drawer.
 
 
 
 “These are… handcuffs?”
 
 “That’s right. A magic tool that seals spells. Use it.”
 
 Saying so, I handed it over to Lionel, who took it with mixed feelings in his heart.
 
 They’re handcuffs designed to stop the flow of magic power within the body, and seals the invocation of spells.
 
 『Magic Sealing Handcuffs』
 
 They’re almost identical to the ones I wore before the redo, when I was detained and executed on false charges.
 
 It makes me feel a little bit of self-hatred.
 
 
 
 (——— Come to think of it, I wonder who made those handcuffs?)
 
 In the Heielland of those days, there shouldn’t have been a magic-toolsmith who could make something like this.
 
 The reason I could reproduce it now was because I myself had been restrained with them, and I knew how they worked.
 
 (Now that I think about it, it somehow looks similar to…)
 
 “Then, we’ll head out to suppress them right away!”
 
 My thoughts, which had been wandering aimlessly, were pulled back by Lionel’s voice.
 
 “…? Is something wrong?”
 
 “Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
 
 I put on a smile.
 
 Right.
 This isn’t the time to be absentminded.
 I need to pull myself together.
 
 “Lionel. Please have everyone return safely. This is an order as the lord.”
 
 “Of course!!”
 
 Saluting with a fearless smile, he turned around with his back to me and left the room.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 As a result, the suppression strategy was half successful, half unsuccessful.
 
 When the territory soldiers broke in, the man was alone, sitting on a chair.
 
 Echoing throughout the room was a harsh warning sound.
 
 Beside him, the fireplace was alight.
 
 He placed the cup in his hand on the table with a smile, and died just like that, vomiting up blood.
 
 Lionel immediately noticed things burning in the fireplace and extinguished it, but a large portion of the notebooks and memos were destroyed by the fire.
 
 The symbol-like writing on what remained was something no one had ever seen, so it seemed restoring/deciphering it would be difficult.
 
 However, there is one thing.
 I saw something that was quite intriguing.
 
 That is, the burnt-out simplified communications device that the spy was communicating with someone with.
 
 It was a single huge feature possessed by 『that thing』 which was one size larger than the signal box used to signal the wyverns during the royal castle assault incident, and had a telescopic antenna-like thing attached to it.
 
 
 
 “This is…”
 
 Looking at the wreckage, I gasped in surprise.
 
 “——— a spider?”
 
 On the box’s facade, a small spider had been stuck.
 
 A black, eight-legged spider.
 
 At first glance, it even looked like a real baby spider, but looking closely you could tell it was an emblem made of metal.^[3]
 
 By touching it, I understood that it was something made of Mistreel.
 
 A black spider.
 Mistreel.
 
 For me, this combination brought back disturbing memories.
 
 ———Of course, it was thanks to that matter that I got to meet Theo.
 
 Even so, it was a design that stirred up indescribable anxiety.
 
 Now that I mention it, the original magic communications device from the aforementioned trial evidence had two small holes on the box’s front panel.
 
 That time, I thought they were traces of a plaque that was ripped off, but perhaps, was it this emblem that was affixed there?
 
 That evidence should be stored in the royal capital’s courthouse.
 
 ——— Once this matter is over, I’ll confirm it.
 
 I decided as such in my heart.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The next morning.
 The day of the decisive battle.
 
 I had planned to go on reconnaissance early this morning, but had to hurriedly call it off.
 
 The reason is simple.
 
 The monster horde had already neared 10 kilometres from Cocomel, and that black carpet could be seen with the naked eye from the northern castle walls.
 
 
 
 “The predicted time of arrival at Cocomel is three hours later at 11 o’ clock.”
 
 Hearing Lionel’s words, we all had bitter expressions upon our faces.
 
 “And the construction progress?”
 
 When Otou-sama asked that, the territory army’s commander looked at the memo at hand.
 
 “The overall progress is about 90 percent. The western forest and southern evacuation routes’ encampments are complete. The northern side’s public works is nearly complete, but installation of obstructions such as barbed wire and the finishing touches to the exchange trench still remain. Work on the multi-encampment in the east has been delayed, and the foundation for the second layer has just been completed.”
 
 “How far can we get with the time left…”
 
 My father was deep in thought.
 Seeing him like that, Graham-nii-sama made a suggestion.
 
 “What about prioritising the installation of obstacles on the northern side, where there’ll be the most pressure? While the east side’s first layer endures, we’ll have to finish it up while fighting.”
 
 This time, Commander Virgil shook his head at Onii-sama’s comment.
 
 “It’ll probably be difficult to do that while fighting. Even if it’s a rushed job, I think we should get the construction work done.”
 
 “Hmm…”
 
 My brother pondered.
 
 Then I began to speak.
 
 “Alongside the installation of obstacles in the north, the east’s second and third encampment layers, even just trenches, should probably be completed. Even just support fire from the behind the first layer’s slope would make a considerable difference… Next, all citizens under 18 should be given instructions to evacuate, but would this be an issue?”
 
 Otou-sama nodded at me.
 
 “No. If you think that’s what should be done, then please do so. You are the lord.”
 
 “Thank you! ——— Sofia, could you?”
 
 “Of course. We’ll have all of them evacuated by the time the war begins.”
 
 Standing up, my secretary headed over to the room next door, where representatives from each of the organisations were.
 
 Otou-sama then gave an order.
 
 “Then, each of you, move ahead with your preparations. Such that you’re at your posts by ten o’clock.”
 
 ““Understood!!””
 
 “Dismissed!”
 
 Like this, the last meeting before the outbreak of war ended.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Some time past ten
 
 Having safely sent the young evacuees on their way, I stood atop the northern city walls.
 
 “Letty, are you really going to do it?”
 
 I nodded at Otou-sama with his bitter expression.
 
 “Because this is something that only I can do.”
 
 Saying so, I smiled.
 
 “Ojou-sama… Can I really not go with you, no matter what?”
 
 My attendant had on a pitiable face.
 
 Seeing her like that, I hugged her.
 
 “Because it’ll be dangerous for two of us. Besides, you and Otou-sama are the only ones I can ask of for this.”
 
 “Uuuuuh… Ojou-samaaaa.”
 
 Sniff sniff, Anna cried as I hugged her.
 
 “… come on now, Anna. I need to go.”
 
 Pat, pat, I patted her on the back, then our bodies separated.
 
 
 
 I looked at the northern edge.
 
 The monster horde had already reached a spot about 5 kilometres away.
 
 Beyond the hill, the black carpet advanced, dodging the forest.
 A grotesque horde.
 Countless crows danced in the skies above.
 
 Even without using a telescope, I could see each and every one of them.
 
 
 
 “Coco, Mel, let’s go.”
 
 At my call,
 ““’Kaaayy!””
 the two flew out from my bag.
 
 Leaving my bag with Anna, I received the magic rifle from Otou-sama.
 
 And then, I turned to face the two.
 
 “Well then, I’m off.”
 
 Saying so, I smiled at them.
 
 “Leave this side to us. So don’t do anything reckless. Make sure to come back!”
 
 Shouting this, Otou-sama’s eyes became wet.
 
 “Please come back safely!!”
 
 The tears over here were sopping wet.
 
 
 Nodding, I turned my back to the two of them.
 
 
 “——— I’m off!!”
 
 
 Thus, alone, I soared into the battle in the sky.