I received a message from the elven chieftain through my communicator, instructing me to come to his village. I had been training with the Lady Knight and Redhead Shorty, so I decided to take them along as guards. Guards weren’t really necessary, but I could use that as a pretext to let them enjoy a bit of sightseeing. The others were assigned either to training, hunting, or studying.
Redhead Shorty and I rode on Jiro, while the Lady Knight rode on Saburo as we headed toward the elf village. Given that it was already known that I had integrated humans into the group, there were no significant issues when we arrived.
That said, there were elves who looked at us with rude, disdainful gazes, as if we were mere livestock, but they were quickly forced to avert their eyes when I used Intimidating Gaze to remind them of our respective positions. Eventually, we arrived at the elven chieftain’s mansion and made our way to the room where I had been received previously.
While waiting for him, I sipped on the tea that had been served. Redhead Shorty and the Lady Knight, both of whom were visiting for the first time, looked around curiously, and I didn’t stop them. Instead, I busied myself with compiling the information my distant clones were gathering.
It was about five minutes later that the elven chieftain arrived, carrying elven wine and cups. Behind him was his daughter, the one I had saved before, holding a platter of what looked like snacks. Upon inquiry, I learned it was a dish called Ragout Mush, made from lightly roasted white mushrooms with butter—a popular treat at elven feasts.
The elven chieftain began by apologizing for the delay and then offered us a drink. The daughter poured the wine from a translucent bottle, and the rich aroma tickled my nose. Naturally, I downed it in one gulp, then gave the snack a taste. The food and drink complemented each other perfectly, each enhancing the other’s flavors. Infused with butter's richness, the mushrooms made the elven wine go down even more smoothly.
I lost track of how much I had eaten and drunk, not due to intoxication but simply because of how delicious everything was. The excellent refreshments put me in a great mood. After exchanging some pleasantries and sharing information, we got down to the main topic.
In summary, the chieftain proposed that my group and the elite elven forces launch a surprise attack on the enemy’s main forces. He wanted to drive the enemy leaders away before the village could be surrounded and their escape routes cut off.
A prolonged war was undesirable for both sides. The enemy, already under high tension with other nations, risked being attacked by those nations if they continued their war with the elves. On the other hand, despite their superiority over humans, the elves had already suffered significant casualties and didn’t want to increase their losses further. They also wanted a safe place where the wounded could recuperate. From their perspective, there was little to gain from this war, and they wanted it to end quickly.
As mercenaries, we couldn’t ignore the wishes of our employer. We had been given the freedom to operate as we wished and had received ample compensation for our efforts. It was time to end this. After all, greed could lead to ruin.
After our discussion, we began making our way back. During the journey, the Lady Knight approached me with a request. She asked if I could send the medicine to cure the princess’s illness to her country.
“My loyalty is willingly given to you,” she said, “but as my final duty as a noble, I want to deliver the medicine.”
I turned the request over in my mind. It could be advantageous to earn favor and establish a connection with the country’s leadership. Having the nation’s backing could make a significant difference in times of need, providing access to information and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.
However, delivering the medicine personally, as a black ogre with the Divine Protection of the Great God of Terminus and Origin, presented numerous potential complications. Even if I sent a representative, it would be clear that I was behind it. The main issues that sprang to mind were around religion. The blessings of the five Great Gods, who command most of the faith in this world, carry immense significance. Specifically, the First Queen of the Kingdom is a devout follower of the largest religion, the Pentatheistic Church, which could only lead to trouble.
Frankly, it was a bothersome issue. I decided against personally delivering the medicine or sending a proxy, but a new plan formed in my mind. After considering and evaluating its benefits, I decided to implement it.
Now, preparations for tomorrow’s decisive battle are in order.