What the empire didn’t know was Princess Remia’s arrangement with Mitsuha. The possibility of the Lightning Archpriestess getting involved didn’t even cross their mind; after all, she didn’t step in until the imperial army was about to breach the capital of her own country. By all appearances, she simply waited while the imperial army sacked every village and town on its way to the capital, and the provincial armies suffered massive losses as they fought hard to delay the enemy.
The Aldar Empire might’ve assumed that while the Lightning Archpriestess possessed terrifying powers, she only had a small host of soldiers and only defended her immediate vicinity─the capital of Zegleus. It was true that she didn’t have many soldiers, but she was far from being limited to one place.
It was also possible that the empire believed the “Lightning Archpriestess” was a fictional person invented to intimidate other countries. Only a small percentage of the imperial soldiers were on the front line of the battle and witnessed Mitsuha and the Wolf Fang mercenaries. Most of the army commanders and high-ranking officers were killed or imprisoned. The few men who made it back to the empire claimed things like “The enemy possesses unfathomable strength,” and “They have the protection of the Goddess,” but their words were dismissed as nonsense. That was especially easy to imagine of a dictator who believed his country’s actions to be just, and that victory was guaranteed.
Regardless, it was natural to assume that, from a political standpoint, Zegleus couldn’t possibly send their most powerful soldiers as aid to a country they hadn’t entered a military pact with. Even if they were to send support, it would’ve been after a lengthy discussion among the most influential elites in the kingdom. From there, they’d select the commanders, summon the soldiers, and prepare the equipment and supplies. Only then would the reinforcements head for Dalisson…trudging slower than a horse-drawn carriage.
The foreign aid couldn’t have reached Dalisson’s capital in time to save them from the imperial army’s blitzkrieg. In fact, none of the other countries that Dalisson sought aid from had even started mobilizing their armies. If not for the irregular case of Mitsuha and the divine soldiers, the empire’s invasion most likely would’ve succeeded.
Why didn’t the empire properly investigate me and the divine soldiers before launching the invasion? There’s nothing more dangerous in war than the unknown. Sending out a spy or two couldn’t be that hard. Well, I guess it’s not uncommon for someone who’s backed into a corner to make irrational decisions. Trying to analyze their actions might be pointless…
Anyway, the helicopter crews and the six Wolf Fang mercenaries look happy, and Princess Remia should be able to handle any dissenters among the nobility, military, and populace after all we did for her. I mean, I didn’t exactly have a choice considering what would’ve happened if I chose not to help her, but whatever.
The next time a noble gives Princess Remia grief, she can threaten to stick them at the front line of a battle with nothing more than a wooden spear. That should keep them in check. Most nobles think nothing of the idea of others dying for their benefit, but the second they’re put in the others’ shoes? Oh, how the tables would turn.
All right. That job came out of nowhere, but it’s done. Back to my usual routine…
…And now that my meeting with the soldier boy just ended, next up is Lephilia.
The soldier boy changed so much. He seems more dignified than when I first met him. Nothing hardens a man like battle, I suppose. One experience can cause a boy to grow up so fast…
On to the next stop! Jump!
“Oh, Mitsuha! We have a problem!” cried Lephilia. “Larusia Company in the Kingdom of Voftress was attacked! Their inventory was damaged and there were casualties among the staff and guards. Larusia was injured too.”
A vein bulged in Mitsuha’s head.
There was one store in each country of the New World to act as a partner store for Lephilia Trading and distributor for Yamano County goods. Mitsuha had helped found them, and each shop was managed by a young businesswoman. They were her fierce comrades who penetrated the market, contributed to earning profits, and delivered her valuable information.
The girls all had one thing in common: they were born into a merchant family and had a sharp mind for business but were dismissed because of their gender. Before Mitsuha came along, the only fate that awaited them was to be married off to boost their families’ businesses. Needless to say, they all pounced at the chance given to them and tore into the professional world with dazzling smiles on their faces. The girls were courageous heroes.
And one of them had just been hurt in a senseless act of violence. Her youthful, unblemished skin had been bruised. Her valuable employees had been killed and injured.
“…Heh heh…”
“Mitsuha…?”
“Heh, haha…”
“Um, Mitsuha…?”
“So you have chosen death…”
“YEEEK!”
“Anyway, Lephilia, can you give me the whole story?” Mitsuha seethed with a bloodthirsty grin.
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
“Hm,” nodded Mitsuha. “So you think it was the work of some idiots who couldn’t stand the idea of a random little girl monopolizing the famous Yamano County products in their country?”
“Yes. They’d apparently been pestering her for some time to hand over her trade source.”
Lephilia Trading had been attacked before too. That time was different because it happened in Vanel where Mitsuha’s home base was and Lephilia’s guards only suffered light injuries. The culprit was careful not to let things go too far, hence Mitsuha went easy on him. All she did was take back the goods he stole (plus a little extra) and leave the criminal case for the authorities to investigate and suitably penalize.
That wasn’t an option this time. The circumstances were entirely different. The only similarity was that a large company tried to put a young up-and-coming merchant in her place by stealing her business. This time, there were no city guards or merchants who would sympathize with Mitsuha. Other businesses were much more likely to pander to the big company─the culprit─in the hope they could get a piece of their profits.
No one was on Larusia Company’s side. Not other merchants and not the authorities who had likely been bribed.
“Hmm… Hmm… I see how it is…”
“Eek!”
Lephilia was inching away but Mitsuha paid no attention.
The Bride Wore Black.
The Stars My Destination.
Man on Fire.
Bullet Path of Revenge.
The Beast to Die.
I, the Jury.
One after another, titles of books that Mitsuha’s brother recommended as “basic educational literature” popped into her mind.
Search and destroy.
Enemies of women will not go unpunished, thought Mitsuha. That goes double for enemies of my friends.
And triple for enemies of mine…