Preparations

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Hearing the news from Nakuha village, everyone there froze.
 
 The worst news.
 News of disaster.
 
 The monster swarm was coming this way.
 
 Pressing my temples, I spoke to the telecoms officer.
 
 “Tell the soldiers who sent the report, they must evacuate immediately.”
 
 “Understood!”
 
 Turning back to the communications machine, the telecoms officer immediately began tapping away at the telegraph key.
 
 ——— I don’t know the situation over there.
 
 I’ve been told that everyone there has headed out, but is it really fine?
 
 Won’t the monsters catch up to them while they escape???
 
 
 
 Amidst the gloomy atmosphere, Senior Commander Virgil of the kingdom’s expeditionary force spoke up.
 
 “We ought to make preparations. Preparations for war.”
 
 Hearing this, Lionel, the commander of the territory soldiers, nodded.
 
 “That’s right. ——— Say, Miss. Is it fine if we barricade ourselves in this city and engage them here?”
 
 “I don’t mind, but… Before that, we need to think about gathering everyone from the northern area. Walking on foot from Nakuha village, that should take up to 2 days I guess? But if the monsters catch up…”
 
 Tightly gripping my fists, I stared at the map spread out on the desk.
 
 Seeing me like that, Lionel spoke to me in a low voice.
 
 “I know you’re worried, but all we can do is wait here. If we were to poorly head out to pick them up, we’ll run into the wagons of evacuees headed this way to the city. That’ll definitely hinder the evacuation.”
 
 His cold words made the blood rise to my head.
 
 “Then, are you saying I must just sit here like this?!”
 
 “What can 200 soldiers do against 4000 monsters?! If we have the soldiers die in vain, this city will fall in the blink of an eye!!”
 
 “…!!”
 
 I know that.
 The things Lionel said are correct.
 
 It’s just———
 
 
 
 “I’ll go.”
 
 “… huh?”
 
 Lionel appeared caught off-guard.
 
 “If it’s me, I can fly to the site in less than an hour.”
 
 “No, Miss, as expected, that’s———”
 
 While Lionel tried stopping me in a panic, I thrust my finger at him.
 
 “It’s aviation scouting. While confirming the evacuation conditions of everyone, I’ll pass over the monsters from the sky and take pictures. If I do that, won’t we be able to accurately understand our enemy’s numbers, composition and movements?”
 
 “-! That, that is something that Miss can do, but… it’s too dangerous. You know there’s also the flying-type^[1] Devil Crow amongst the monsters, right?”
 
 A Devil Crow is, in short, a huge crow.^[2]
 
 It would appear to be a serious threat to an ordinary person.
 
 However, as far as I’m concerned, I’d say they’re a much better opponent than wyverns who just spew flare balls^[3].
 
 “No, well, that is true, but…”
 
 Seeming troubled, Lionel put his hand to his face.
 
 He mumbled 『Hmmm…』 for a while, then eventually looked up.
 
 “That’s troubling. I can’t think of the words to stop you.”
 
 Seeing him like that, I smiled.
 
 “It’s okay. I won’t do anything unreasonable. I’ll be leaving things to you in my absence.”
 
 “… Got it. Take enough precautions, and absolutely come back.”
 
 “Of course.”
 
 Hearing my response, Lionel gave me an exaggerated look of doubt, then gave everyone orders.
 
 “Come, prepare for war! The First Territorial Troops are to assist the Local Defense Unit in preparing to receive evacuees. Send out notices to the Second Territorial Troops deployed in the northern region to gather the evacuees in Cocomel while protecting them. ——— Virgil-dono, please join me in discussing the defence plan.”
 
 “Understood,”
 the veteran commander nodded.
 
 “Alright, move it!”
 
 With a clap of his hands, everyone began to move.
 
 
 
 I turned to face Sofia.
 
 “We could use this plot as the evacuation spot, is that ok?”
 
 “Of course. Leticia-sama can use it as you see fit. ——— It’s just, I think it’s best to not let anyone other than the injured and the ill inside the mansion.”
 
 “Right. Other than that, let’s accept pregnant women and families with infants. Make good use of the many guest rooms. Can you arrange for the mansion’s servant to be instructed on how to nurse the sick and injured?”
 
 “Will do.”
 
 “After that, use the preserved food supply for those who’ve evacuated. I wonder if we could ask each town council to do the food distribution. At the earliest, evacuees from the vicinity will probably arrive in the evening.”
 
 “I shall immediately make the arrangements.”
 
 Once I told Sofia 『Please do』, this time I turned to Loretta who stood with her eyes rolling at the edge of the room.
 
 “Loretta. Can you call Duncan at the workshop for me?”
 
 “Y-, yes!”
 
 She rushed out of the meeting room clumsily.
 
 
 
 “Anna. I believe you have the mini camera prototype I gave you. Uhm, is it useable?”
 
 “Yes! It’s being properly used. I’ve taken so many cute photos of Ojou-sama that it could fill a room!!”
 
 “Eh…”
 
 I was taken aback.
 
 “Ah, no, I made a mistake. Only a few. I only took a few pictures of Ojou-sama!”
 
 “… right. It’s already too late. Turn in the recording magic stone later.”
 
 “Whaaat?”
 
 Anna cried crocodile tears.
 
 “Let’s use that camera for the aerial scouting. Can you go get it from your room?”
 
 “Ok! But in exchange, no confiscating the magic stone, ok?”
 
 My attendant (read as “stalker”) approached me with a straight smile.
 
 “… fine.”
 
 I gave up in a flash.
 
 Yep. It’s already too late.
 
 Even if I confiscate the recording magic stone, she’ll just find a different means to take peeping photos of me.
 
 Shrugging my shoulders, I headed to my room and fetched my magic rifle.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 “Well then, I’ll leave it to you, Workshop Chief Duncan!”
 
 Having gone out to the back garden, I turned around to face Duncan, who was smiling boldly after having gained presence from setting up Cocomel’s workshop.
 
 “Yeah. Leave it to me. You too, be careful as you head out.”
 
 “Hehe. Who are you saying that to?”
 
 Saying so, I returned the smile.
 
 What I entrusted him with was the aforementioned mystery noise.’s investigation.
 
 He will probe the identity of the noise using the two magic power detectors and the magic power analyser at the workshop, as well as the two communications machines in the communications room and the meeting room.
 
 Since Duncan participated in the restoration of the communications machine, as well as the development of the detector and analyser machines, he is second only to me when it comes to measurement devices like these.
 
 He’ll surely get some sort of results.
 
 
 
 “Anna, you ready?”
 
 “Spot on!”
 
 “Alright. Then, we’re off!!”
 
 Thus, Anna and I took off north, where a swarm of monsters awaits.