New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (1/2 chapters)

 

 

The Advantage of Participation

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After Lorenz had returned, Mika gathered Ayla, Dimitri, and Marcel, the representative of the villagers, in the great room and held a discussion.

“So, something that serious was happening on the northern side of the hills.” (Ayla)

Ayla, who had not attended the meeting with Lorenz since she was still, for the time being, a member of another household, spoke with a worried expression after Mika explained the situation.

“If the people on the northern side of the hills are defeated by the army of plunderers, is it possible that the plunderers might come all the way to this village?” (Marcel)

“Well, that possibility is more than sufficient. If they are defeated, the army led by Lord Mortimer will become unstoppable. Once Lord Mortimer learns of the existence of the Valentine territory, he might target it first as prey rich in food and wealth despite its small number of soldiers.” (Mika)

To Marcel, who had voiced his concern, Mika nodded and replied.

“The lords of the northern hills would not try to stop the plunderers as long as they are allowed to pass through their own lands unharmed. On the contrary, they might even leak information about this village to divert the plunderers away from their own territories.” (Mika)

If Mika were one of those northern hill lords, he would do the same. If one could avoid a threat already approaching their own land, there would be no room to consider the fate of another’s territory. Such was the nature of lords.

And if Mika were Lord Mortimer, upon hearing that there existed a territory with much food and wealth despite a total population of only a little more than one hundred, he would gladly attack it.

That would make things extremely troublesome. A lord whose home and land were threatened with destruction was terrifying, and people driven by the fear of starvation were equally so. Facing a bloodthirsty army of over three hundred in a life-or-death struggle would be a harsh battle indeed.

A grand household ruling over five thousand people would surely have several magic users. Considering that the castle, which was to become the cornerstone of defense for Mika’s territory, was still far from completion, even with his psychokinesis and high-performance weapons, the difference in power that Mika alone could overturn had its limits.

“The engagement between us and the connection with the Yutilainen Household… It seems that against a great lord from another region, such things will not serve as much deterrence.” (Ayla)

Ayla spoke with a look of regret, and Mika returned a wry smile.

The deterrent effect of his familial ties with the Yutilainen and Hewitt Households amounted only to preventing others from underestimating them as a weak lordly house. Moreover, that deterrence extended no further than the economic sphere of Eltpoli.

The Hewitt Household, Ayla’s birth family, was indeed a powerful one in this region, but even so, they ruled over only about a thousand or so people. Even if the Valentine territory were attacked by another domain, they could not dispatch a large army for retaliation.

And as for the Yutilainen Household, where Ayla’s cousin served as head, while they would not be defeated by any other lordly house in the area, the number of troops they could send abroad would at most be several hundred. Even that would only occur under an extraordinary crisis directly threatening their own household and territory, for they would not take the great risk of a large-scale mobilization otherwise.

In terms of population size, the Mortimer Household surpassed even the Yutilainen Household and ruled land too distant for the latter to easily send soldiers. Lord Mortimer would, without hesitation, attack the Valentine territory, which was an easy target, without a thought for Mika’s familial ties or Ayla’s origin, and would ruthlessly devastate the village.

Of course, this was only a possibility. It was not certain that the army of plunderers would march toward the Valentine territory.

However, Mika judged that the probability was not negligible. It was a danger great enough to make it difficult to sleep peacefully while dismissing it as unlikely. As he spoke of the worst possible scenario, Mika’s expression became grim.

“To prevent such an outcome, accepting Lord Meldars’s proposal is the rational course. If we are to fight anyway, it is better to do so as far from our village as possible. Rather than all of us risking our lives as we did last year, it will be easier if only my guards and I go out while the main forces are provided by the lords of the northern hills. Even considering the aftermath of the battle, this would be the more convenient choice.” (Mika)

Truthfully, Mika did not wish to go to war at all. He did not want to expose himself or anyone under his protection to danger. It would be ideal if the lords of the northern hills could repel Lord Mortimer’s army without the Valentine Household doing anything.

However, if they were defeated, the situation would become disastrous. Mika did not want to spend his days praying in fear that the plunderers’ rampage would reach his land. Even more, he wished to avoid a desperate all-out battle within his own domain.

Thus, it was better to participate as reinforcements and increase the chances of Lorenz and his allies’ victory. If the battle were fought far from his own territory and won, the turmoil could be settled without the village suffering direct damage. From a military standpoint, it was also clear that it was far preferable to join the combined forces beforehand rather than face the army of more than three hundred alone later.

Moreover, if they left behind the fact that they had cooperated to preserve peace in the region, it would strengthen friendly ties with the northern hill lords and deepen the relationship already formed with Lorenz. Considering future relations with neighboring territories, it was desirable to offer assistance.

“…There is no helping it. We shall join the battle.” (Mika)

After some thought, Mika spoke with a sigh.

“It will be all right. If we take those ballistae and crossbows with us, we will not have to fight in close combat. We will stand on the battlefield only as supporters, assisting our allies from a distance. Lord Meldars also requested that we do so.” (Mika)

Mika spoke thus to reassure Ayla, who had shown an anxious expression.

That Lorenz was fully aware that Mika possessed expensive weapons such as ballistae was only natural. Mika himself was conscious that importing such weapons from outside his territory was an action that drew attention. Even so, the fact that the Meldars Household kept track of the activities of neighboring lordly houses so precisely showed how high their information-gathering capability was for their size. That too was likely Lorenz’s talent.

Be that as it may, if what was required of him this time was support through the use of such ballistae and similar weapons, then it lowered Mika’s hesitation toward offering aid. If he would not have to stand at the front and engage in close combat, then even should the tide of battle turn against them, it would be easier to retreat. If, after using his powerful weapons to support the main force, they still could not win, then it would only mean that repelling the plunderers at this stage had been impossible to begin with.

Being able to take part in a relatively safe manner to defend his own territory while gaining the opportunity to test new weapons was by no means a bad proposition. It was far preferable to entrusting his territory’s fate to the uncertain outcomes of others’ battles and then being forced into a desperate last stand at home.

“If that is your decision as the lord, then I shall respect it and support you. During your absence, I will do all I can to assist in the management of the village.” (Ayla)

Although still unable to suppress her anxiety, Ayla formed a smile and said this.

“Thank you. It will be a burden, but I am counting on you.” (Mika)

She was an intelligent woman. She naturally understood that there were times when a lord had to risk his life in battle. Mika smiled back at her and nodded, then turned to Dimitri and Marcel.

“Dimitri, I am sorry for the sudden request, but please have our equipment and the tools and supplies necessary for camping prepared by tomorrow.” (Mika)

“Of course. I will begin preparations immediately.” (Dimitri)

To his master who had resolved to go to war, Dimitri nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“Marcel, I am leaving you to assist Ayla during my absence. Manage the village with her. Should bandits, beasts, or magic beasts appear, or should anything happen with a neighboring territory, though I doubt it, rally the men of the village and protect it.” (Mika)

“Leave it to me. I will carry out my duty with utmost care.” (Marcel)

Though entrusted with a weighty responsibility, Marcel answered calmly.

“I am counting on you. Also, I will now call upon the villagers and recruit two volunteers for this expedition. I need one shield-bearer to protect me, and another to assist in loading the ballista, carrying supplies, and handling miscellaneous tasks during travel and encampment. Please help me gather everyone and explain the situation.” (Mika)

“Understood.” (Marcel)

Then, without delay, Mika and the others began to act. To complete their preparations for departure by the next day, each immediately set to their assigned task.

 

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