The Elves became my subordinates
It’s not the preparation or execution of battles that proves difficult, but rather the aftermath. This realization dawned on me after delving into historical wars, and it holds true in our skirmishes against monsters. The hardest part, you wonder? It boils down to a single task:
Tidying up.
That’s it.
For this particular battle, we had forged a pact with Senior Forusha to collect the corpses of all the monsters we had vanquished. The fate of these corpses varies significantly.
Some are dissected for their meat and fur, but more importantly, they serve as raw materials in various facilities within ‘Mamiya,’ where they are transformed into a range of drugs and fertilizers. Currently, our group relies on the vast reserves stored in ‘Mamiya.’
The advantages of space compression technology are boundless, and these reserves will not be depleted any time soon. However, despite my royal lineage, I appear to have an innate penchant for frugality. Frankly, it’s disconcerting.
Additionally, I have made arrangements to receive a substantial number of slaves from Berg as part of my reward this time. I cannot perpetually deplete the wealth accumulated by my ancestors. While I have devised several strategies for resource acquisition, this marks a crucial initial step.
So, reverting to my original point…
The talk is easy, but implementation is challenging. Although we had practiced utilizing the corpses from our first siege, it proved to be a formidable challenge.
Firstly, we are faced with the grim reality of the absence of a vast, flat plain suitable for ‘Mamiya’ to land. Consequently, we had to transport the corpses using the Flying Cargo, a colossal self-navigating metal box, ferrying them one by one via aerial transport. Even with the use of various heavy machinery to construct the hidden village, it was an undeniably arduous task.
Just clearing the corpses around the settlement was strenuous. Managing the bodies that fell in the forest was even more taxing.
This is where Keaton and the other two humanoid modules came into play. They tirelessly executed the work equivalent to that of dozens of elves. Thanks to their efforts, the efficiency of our operations significantly improved.
I attempted to keep their existence a secret, believing that the fewer who knew, the better. Yet, even in the absence of a dragon attack, their presence would inevitably become public.
On a related note, one of the three humanoid modules, ‘Tok,’ commented while transporting corpses:
“My first job, cleaning up corpses, huh…”
Please forgive me. Given the high demand for salt in industrial and chemical applications, and as a specialist of the sea, your labor will soon be in high demand.
With this in mind, we aimed to complete the cleanup within a few days… Currently, our group is being celebrated with a grand reception in the elven village.
It appears that victory feasts are a common tradition among both humans and elves… They offered fresh monster meat, stocked food, and alcohol for a lavish celebration.
Held in the square, everyone relished the herb-infused dishes and vintage wine that would make Berg jealous.
This could be considered our most significant reward. After all, the elven ladies serving drinks were universally beautiful, likely a trait of their race… they were all breathtaking. Even the youngest member of the samurai group, who frequently received compliments from the girls responsible for Ente, was ecstatic.
Me? As for myself, I refrain from engaging in such festivities because the glare from my wife is fearsome. More accurately, when a stunning woman approached to serve drinks, I thought, “Wow!”… only to realize she was Ente’s mother.
Consequently, our conversation turned exceedingly formal and slightly awkward as she expressed her gratitude for saving her daughter… Ultimately, despite the festive atmosphere of the victory feast, I found myself unable to fully enjoy the moment.
Therefore, Uruka… please cease stabbing the steak with your fork. What’s that? You’re simply unaccustomed to it because you usually use chopsticks? I understand! No wonder you managed to pierce through a wooden plate!
Feeling a sense of dread, I hadn’t experienced even during the battle with the monster’s leader, Ente’s mother refilled my drink.
“Hmm…”
Up until now, Ente had been staying at the chief’s residence with her father… Emerging alongside Senior Forusha, she made her way directly towards me. Dressed in short pants, she continued to rub her well-formed little buttocks as she approached. It seems even elves resort to spanking as a form of reprimand.
Her mother, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, stepped aside… And there stood Ente before me as I sat on a log repurposed as a chair. She then gracefully knelt on one knee.
But it was more than that… It was an act of profound respect, bowing deeply as a knight would.
“Prince Asuru… I am deeply grateful for your assistance with my impulsive actions this time.”
Although her speech is somewhat awkward and her pronunciation uncertain, I can tell she’s making a sincere effort.
“It’s not merely a thank you, but I also swear here and now, as the future Senior. All of us, the elves of the Harkin Territory… From this moment forward, we will regard you as our leader and will come to your aid whenever needed, surmounting all hurdles.”
I noticed that both my companions and the elves had ceased their conversations and were now focusing their attention on Ente and me… A profound silence enveloped the square.
“Hmmm…”
I crossed my arms and pondered for a moment. Then, I exchanged a glance with Senior Forusha, who stood quietly behind Ente. Senior Forusha nodded slowly. There’s no need to overcomplicate this with a drunken mind… In any case, my aim is to have the entire Lombard Kingdom within my grasp.
This is the first step, and the support of the elves will undoubtedly prove beneficial in the future.
Looking at Ente, I declared,
“I’ve duly accepted your oath! From this day onward, we stand together as comrades!”
At that moment, I raised my overflowing cup high.
“Cheers!”
The cheers resounded throughout the village. And thus, I brought the elves of the territory under my wing.