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Shuuran! Kii! You're okay!
It was close... but it's as you see.
Shunran-sama! You saved us!
I'm glad you two are safe. Losses... were big, it appears.
Yes. But, thanks to them, even though they broke through our fortification, we had minimal casuality. Civilians are all safe too.
...And they are?
...We're the militia. We raised soldiers to fight Yellow Turbans, but... (Why does everyone know that name already?)
Near the girl that looked like a warrior was...
Kazuto: Ah!
...What, all of sudden.
Kazuto: Come on, Karin. Don't you remember? When we went on the inspection before, there was a girl with a weird gadget!
Don't call it weird gadget! That's not how you pronounce an amazing gadget!
...I remember now. Why are you in such a place?
I'm also a part of militia. I see... so nee-san from back then was a shuboku of Chinryu...
Sis, do you know them too? (So do you, but you barely talked then)
That's right. Before, in the clothes shop...
What's wrong, Shunran-sama?
N, no, nothing, it's nothing!
I'll keep it a secret, so let go of me!
...So, what about that militia?
Yes. We never expected for Yellow Turbans to reach that scale, so we ended up being saved by Kakoen-sama...
I see. Putting the fact that you overestimated yourself aside... your resolve to protect the city is impressive.
I have no words of apology.
That aside, if it wasn't for you, I would've lost my precious officers. Thank you for saving Shuuran and Kii.
Yes!
Umm, so, Karin-sama. About Nagi-chan-tachi... can you make them your subordinates?
You mean to take militia under my command? (AWWWW YEAH!)
I heard Sousou-sama is worrying about this country's future. We're not much, but allow us to lend our strength to your cause...
...What about the other two?
I'm fine too. I've heard a lot about Chinryu's shuboku... if that person rules the continent, it'll be more peaceful than now, right?
If Nagi-chan and Mao-chan decided on that, I'll also go with that. (You... well, fine, friends are good, but how about you actually try thinking?)
Shuuran. What about their ability...? (Nagi and Mao are strong and useful. Sawa is weaker than Kazuto)
Yes. I fought alongside them for a night, they'll all become a full-fledged officers if we train them well.
I see... Kii is using their mana too... fine. What are your names?
Gakushin. Mana is Nagi... I entrust my life to Sousou-sama.
Riten. You can call me by my mana Mao. Pleased to meet you.
I'm Ukin. My mana is Sawa. Yoroshiku. (I don't like Sawa much, but her way of speaking is fun)
Nagi, Mao, Sawa. Right... Kazuto. (Here it comes...)
Kazuto: Hmm?
This man will be in charge of you three. Unless at times when you have different orders, you are to follow his instructions.
Kazuto: What...!? (You're a squad captain now)
Will this onii-san be okay? He broke my gadget before... (Well... don't blame your fails on Kazuto... though more incoming...)
Hmm? I think it'll be actually okay. He's quite cool. (He is. Finally someone understands)
If it's Sousou-sama's order, I'll obey it.
Kazuto: Hey, hey, wait a bit, Karin!
Sure, I commanded a small squad before... but leaving all the militia to me all of sudden, as well as three of Karin's officer candidates, I don't know about that!
Oh. Is there a problem with that?
There's a lot! Don't give subordinates to this thing...! (NO! Just die right here and now, Keifa. Shut up your delusional mouth!)
Kazuto: ...Ah, Keifa. So you were here.
Unlike you, I'm actually working. Karin-sama, sending scouts and pursuit unit is complete. Distribution of relief supplies to citizens started as well.
Good job, Keifa. So, what were you talking about?
About Hongou! Entrusting Karin-sama's precious subordinates to this pervert... subordinates will get tainted!
Kazuto: Hey, hey, hey! Don't give weird ideas to people we just met! (Too late...)
Kazuto: No, that's misunderstanding...! (When did anyone listen to you in that matter?)
Whoa, what's with those cold gazes. The three... are stunned, I guess.
...Hmm, getting assaulted after we just met is kinda troubling.
Right... What about Nagi? If it's an order?
...I question my rights of going against superior's irrational order.
Kazuto: As I said, that won't happen!
...I'm not looking over them, so if you're going to do it, make sure you get their consent first. You three, if Kazuto assaults you, feel free to hurt him.
Kazuto: Even Karin! (Yeah, for now, I'm your only ally. And maybe Shuuran)
If that's the case, understood... well, pleased to meet you, captain.
Understood. Captain.
Yes. Captain-san.
Kazuto: Captain... huh.
Does anyone have objections? (Keifa does, but it follows no logic)
There's no problem. (Yeah, you're a good girl, Shuuran)
Good for you, you three! (You too, Kii.)
What about Shunran? Is there a problem with Kazuto's ability?
No, I just thought it might give Hongou some awareness as Karin-sama's subordinate.
Kazuto: I thought I already have that awareness...
People with as little awareness as you have are actually rare.
Kazuto: Eh...
Well then, it's decided. After distribution of goods is finished, we'll decide on policy. Everyone, back to work.
Understood!
And the time for meeting arrived fast.
Well then. We need to decide what to do next... There's Nagi-tachi who just joined too, so we need to organize the situation... Shunran.
Yes. Our enemy is a mob called Yellow Turbans. The details... Shuuran, I'll leave em to you.
Kazuto: Fast!
Sigh...
The members of Yellow Turbans are mostly young people, who engages in violent activities... but they don't have any particular claims, so their goal is unknown.
And we only know that their commander is a girl bard named Choukaku.
So there's tons of things we don't know.
I'm not sure it has anything to do with their goal... but they allied with our local bandits and went on a rampage. Is it different in Chinryu?
Similar. With Nagi-tachi's village as an example, the situation is going for the worse.
Worse...? What do you mean?
You saw the giant army here? From a mob that only made a stupid fuss, they're getting formed up as an organization around their commander.
In other words... they won't run just from Shunran roaring anymore.
Ah, I see.
...I'm not sure if you really do.
They made Shuuran and Kii struggle. That much is clear. Don't make fool of me!
Kazuto:
Anyway, it won't be so simple. We're lucky we gained more allies... but does anyone have suggestions about what to do next?
The best way to defeat an organization like this is to aim for the head and defeat Choukaku, but...
Where is this Choukaku?
They were bards to begin with, so there's no clear location.
Or actually, the possibility of them not having a headquarters like us and moving from place to place is fairly high.
Kazuto: Not knowing where their main camp is and where they'll strike next... means we're in for difficulties. We can't go on attack.
Right. But, even though, if we defeat such an opponent, Karin-sama's reputation will raise a lot.
...Excuse me. I know you're in the middle of meeting.
What's wrong, Sawa. More Yellow Turbans appeared?
No, not that...
What. Hurry up.
We're running low on provision we're distributing to the civilians. Can distribute the army's provisions instead?
...Keifa, do we have any spare provisions?
For a few days... there's an effect of militia joining us, so if we use it all up here, we'll be unable to do long-term actions.
...Though, there'll be a commotion if we don't. Fine, we'll wait for three days for now.
Three days. Understood.
Keifa, after meeting is over, arrange the replenishment of provision.
Understood.
I'm sorry. Most of the provisions we had burned in the previous battle...
Kazuto: ...Say.
What.
Kazuto: I've been thinking, but if the size of the force increases, the consumption of provisions also increase, right?
Why are you stating the obvious?
...I see. (Good job being useful, Kazuto)
We have that option.
What do you mean?
You've noticed a good detail, Kazuto.
Captain, you're pretty good.
H, hey...!
They have that large of a force moving. There's no way they can get that much provision from local supplies. They should have a supply base somewhere.
Your will. We'll send scouts right away and gather information.
Keifa, use the map to find places suitable for the supply bases. Calculate it so the scouts would return at about the same time. Can you?
Leave it to me! (Scouts return at the same time... yeah, sane move)
Everyone will depart when Keifa's route is decided. Until then, make preparations and remain on standby!
Yes!
Understood!
Kazuto: ...Do you really understand?
We're scouting, right?
Kazuto: And only that!
That's more than enough for me to know!
The enemy movements are very fluid. To defeat them, we'll need to fight with the speed of our information gathering. Act as fast as possible!
Yes!
We'll send Sawa on scouting as well. Kazuto, explain the strategy to Sawa. You'll take over the distribution of provisions.
Kazuto: Understood. I'll manage somehow. (Nah, you'll screw it up big, right after you achievement. But luck will save you)