Konbini Ossan Volume 10 — The Reason to Live, The Meaning of Living || Chapter 1 — Emergency Return
The Naitō-group has invaded. Upon receiving that report, we immediately turned back toward the Runegard Kingdom.
I left overall command of the forces to Joan, while I returned ahead with only a small elite group. The goal was to obtain detailed information from Otogi Company’s headquarters as quickly as possible.
Accompanying me were Yashiro, Metidovan, Tiana, and Tio. Along with them, only the minimum number of personnel required for high-speed travel.
Because we advanced far faster and more efficiently than on the way there, it only took two days to return to the Otogi Company outpost closest to the border of the Great Forest Autonomous District.
Upon arriving at the outpost, I immediately used the facility’s communication system to contact Arisa at headquarters.
“Arisa. Tell me the situation.”
“Yeah. The ones invading the Runegard Kingdom are three neighboring countries: the Duchy of Barometz, the Kingdom of Adeltand, and the Kingdom of Sadalkhan.
…
Among them, it looks like the Duchy of Barometz is acting as Naitō’s base, since it originally split off from the Runegard Kingdom’s grand ducal house.”
From there, Arisa provided further detailed information.
The enemy force, the Naitō-group, numbers twenty thousand, including the standing armies of the three nations as well as conscripted civilians and volunteer adventurers.
Moreover, most of them appear to be under the influence of Naito’s skill «Brainwashing/Conditioning».
Even though they resist internally, their march shows no signs of slowing or stopping. Such a situation would be impossible without some kind of coercive force from a skill.
Additionally, among the invading forces advancing from the border with the Duchy of Barometz, there are also summoned individuals, Arisa’s classmates, who have been incorporated into the Naitō-group.
Kanehama and Mimori have already engaged these summoned individuals in combat.
And just like the other enemy soldiers, or perhaps even more strongly, the summoned individuals were affected by «Brainwashing/Conditioning».
Though they hated fighting, they still attacked relentlessly without holding back, which caused even Kanehama and the others considerable difficulty.
As a result, our side has suffered a significant amount of damage.
“That’s troublesome.”
“Yeah. At this rate, we can’t even launch an offensive. Most of them don’t even want to fight, they’re being forced to. Defense is one thing, but attacking and suppressing them… who knows how many casualties that would cause.”
Even if they are enemies, they are people forced onto the battlefield against their will.
To treat them as nothing more than enemies and cut them down without question would be an inhumane act.
“In that case, we’ll need to weaken their forces without direct combat.”
“Yeah. What would you do, Yūichi?”
Asked that by Arisa, I think for a moment before answering.
“First, we cut off their supply lines and starve the enemy army out.”
“Figures. I thought you’d say that. I’ve already started preparing for it.”
It seems Arisa had reached the same conclusion, which is reassuring.
For an army to function, coercion through brainwashing alone is not enough. They need food and all kinds of supplies.
We will use Otogi Company’s power to cut off those supplies.
Block the flow of goods from the Runegard Kingdom into the three nations, and at the same time, buy up resources from those nations to drain them dry.
If we do that, then even if they are being forced, the army will no longer be able to function as an army.
Even if it doesn’t render them completely unable to fight, it will significantly reduce their combat capability.
Compared to continuing a drawn-out slaughter through direct combat, this should keep casualties much lower.
“Alright, I’m counting on you, Arisa. We’ll head back as fast as we can.”
“Got it. I’ll be waiting.”
With that, the communication ends, and I begin moving again, determined to return to Otogi Company headquarters as quickly as possible.
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E/N:
New Volume and Ossan and his Company heading for another war supression!
Stay tuned!
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