Would she be able to look the bereaved family members of the fallen soldiers in the eyes?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t originally intend to do it all myself,” said Mitsuha. “But I didn’t want the soldiers of this kingdom to die meaningless deaths. If they had to risk their lives, it should be because they were truly needed to protect their country and their loved ones.”
Princess Remia just stared at her.
How can I win her over here─oh, I know!
“What if you just claimed that your soldiers fought in the battle too?”
“Absolutely not! I’d be a laughingstock if the public found out the truth! And claiming someone else’s war accomplishments is one of the worst things a person could do─whether they’re a royal or noble or military commander! My kingdom’s reputation would be permanently tainted, and it’d only be a matter of time before we fell to ruin!”
Damn, so much for that idea…
The conflict was over for now. Next came the political talks like indemnities and atonement. The question was if the peace talks would take place strictly between Dalisson and the Aldar Empire or if other countries would try to meddle.
The other countries might use Dalisson’s presence in the Great Alliance and the need for collective security as an excuse to insert themselves. That would’ve been a guarantee if they’d sent aid and participated in the battle. Fortunately for both Princess Remia and the empire, the war ended quickly.
It was possible Dalisson would take advantage of the massive blow Mitsuha dealt to the imperial army and respond with a counter-invasion. Princess Remia and her vassals were good people, but they were shrewd politicians. If Dalisson didn’t do it, another country─Coursos, for instance, which was the kingdom with the haughty old king─might see a chance for profit and invade the empire themselves.
But while the imperial army had lost its commanders and devolved into a disorderly mob, the damage done to them was minor─that is, in terms of numbers, not ranks and positions. That meant the army could easily be restored to its full strength as soon as a few promotions to replace the commanders and officers were approved and the lost weapons and armor were replenished. As such, it was unlikely any other countries would actually try anything.
The empire would have to lay low for a while. The invasion attempt might spur members of the Great Alliance to form military alliances against them.
I don’t want to weaken the empire too much and throw off the balance of power on the continent. Other countries might start flooding into their borders and fight over the territory, which could spark a world war. I flat out refuse to let that happen. I am thinking these things through, believe it or not.
I can’t hear the word flat without thinking of my─never mind! You didn’t hear that!
Anyway, none of that has anything to do with me. As far as Zegleus goes, the king and his vassals will handle international affairs. That’s their job.
I should get back to the Wolf Fang base. I doubt mercenaries take long baths. Maybe I’m stereotyping…
Okay, jump!
As it turned out, bathtime wasn’t over. The mercenaries were taking turns: first the Wolf Fang members, and then the helicopter teams.
The Wolf Fang guys washed off first so they could prepare for the debriefing and the after-party while the helicopter teams were taking their turn. The helicopter crews were currently in the bath.
Most of the prep for the debriefing and the party were done before the operation, so all they really had to do was wait for the food and alcohol they ordered to arrive. Hiring a catering service was out of the question because they were going to talk about their scuffle in the other world, which left delivery as the only option. They’d have to set the tables and clean up after themselves, but rugged soldiers like them could surely handle that.
The debriefing began a little while later. The operation went flawlessly with no casualties and barely any damage to the equipment. There were no urgent topics to discuss or any mistakes they needed to figure out improvements for.
It’ll be over before I know it, Mitsuha thought.
That expectation was betrayed in spectacular fashion. The debriefing lasted for quite some time as the helicopter crew members shared one harsh critique after another.
“Did we really needa descend that low? The goal this time was to kill as few as possible─except the command center. We were way too close to the soldiers who were withdrawin’, and we shot more that we shoulda,” one of them said.
“Were the landmines really necessary?” another challenged.
“Descendin’ that low just so we could use the tracers as incendiaries was unwise. Underestimatin’ spears and arrows sounds like a good way to get ourselves killed, and we coulda crashed too. Did you not consider the possibility of bolas or ballistae?”
Mitsuha and the Wolf Fang members didn’t give the helicopter crews specific orders. Doing so would’ve been asking for a horrific accident considering none of them understood how difficult even hovering was. The instructions they gave were loose and open to improvisation.
They could’ve just done their own debriefing later… Well, they probably wanted to get the Wolf Fang guys’ opinions, and I’m the client, so naturally they’d want to hear my thoughts too.
Wait, what’s this “next time” they’re starting to talk about? Are they inviting themselves back?!
Hmm… I guess they performed as I asked and didn’t try to play any funny games. They seem like a trustworthy group. I wouldn’t mind hiring them again if the opportunity arises… Although I hope it never does. My only concern is that hiring them again might anger other mercenary groups that Wolf Fang knows. Others probably want a chance to go too. I’d feel bad if I ended up putting an irreparable dent in Wolf Fang’s professional and social connections.
The rather critical debriefing wrapped up, and it was time to wind down with an after-party.
I guess this is all part of how soldier-types party and drink after a day on the battlefield…
Hey, keep your hands off me and stop pressuring me to drink!
It’d been a few days since the battle against the imperial army in the other world. Mitsuha was visiting the Wolf Fang base.
“Hey, captain. I feel like I should do something to make up for the helicopter mercenaries’ losses. They’re decent guys, right? Do you think they might be in a tough spot after using their own ammo and paying that participation fee?”
She felt terrible if the mercenaries who lent her the helicopters were going bankrupt because of her.
“Don’t bother. They’ve been rakin’ it in since the mission,” the captain said.
Mitsuha didn’t expect that.
“Huh? Are they getting more job offers from the publicity of going to the other world?”
“Don’t be stupid. Takin’ a ton of jobs at once is a great way for mercs to dig themselves an early grave! Those who don’t take the time to rest and heal their injuries are the first to bite the dust.”
“Makes sense─wait, then how are they making so much money?”
“They auctioned off the soil and weeds they brought back from the other world.”
“Huh?”
Mitsuha did give them permission to do that, but it was because she didn’t expect ordinary soil, grass, and flowers to sell for anything.
The captain saw the confusion on her face and kept talking.
“Yeah, they were sayin’ stuff like the samples may look like common weeds but there’s a chance they could be totally different from the ones on Earth. Somethin’ about isotopes or genomes or helixes spinnin’ clockwise or counterclockwise or whatever. I don’t really get it myself. Anyway, some dude who wanted to study the weed won it for a shit ton of money. Then the mercs put up ‘Other World Weed #2’ for auction, which also sold for a fortune. Then they trotted out ‘Other World Weed #3’…”
“My god, they’re just weeds! That’s like when Mil Máscaras’s masks went for sale at a charity auction!”
“Yer a pro wrestling fan, li’l lady? That’s a really obscure piece of trivia, too. Where’d you learn about that?!”
“I’m surprised you know what I’m talking about!”
I guess dudes who fight enjoy watching other dudes fight…
“Anyway, the ‘Other World Weed Series’ went on for a bit. When that finally finished, they started the ‘Other World Soil Series.’”
“D-Don’t tell me─actually, I already know how that went…” Mitsuha sighed.
“Then after the ‘Other World Soil Series,” they moved on to the ‘Other World Pebble Series.’”
Mitsuha was speechless. Leave it to mercenaries to figure out how to squeeze every last dollar out of an opportunity.
“They’re also holdin’ screenings of their videos. They’re only invitin’ folks who already know about the other world, so they’re not breakin’ any of your promises. The ticket prices’re obscene, but that ain’t stoppin’ government employees and researchers around the world from payin’ to watch them over and over again. Those mercs are gonna be filthy rich. They don’t let anyone film the screening, so the viewers got no choice but to pay every time they wanna watch. Even though one viewin’ costs a few thousand bucks.”
“That’s evil! But I guess they’re not breaking any rules… Are the videos really that valuable, though? I can’t imagine watching the mercenaries dig up dirt and grass is that interesting.”
Why pay to watch sweaty middle-aged men play in the dirt when you can find children doing the same just about anywhere?
“Oh yeah, they’re screening the videos as proof of where the soil and weeds came from. But the battle scenes are what the audience is really payin’ to watch,” the captain said.
“Huh?”
“They filmed ’em from the choppers, apparently. One chopper filmed the other, and vice versa. That footage must contain all kinds of juicy info for the countries here to obsess over. I imagine a bunch of ’em are gonna want that soil and grass too. There’s no tellin’ what discoveries could be made. Anyway, those mercs are rollin’ in it right now. I guarantee they’ve forgotten all about the participation fee and ammo expenses.”