I am back in the guest room. 

“That’s, yea, you were in the wrong.” (Sedam)

“Seriously. And now Arnogia-sama’s face is all smashed up. I can’t believe you.” (Claura) 

(T/N: His figurative face, not physical.)

Sedam’s and Claura’s opinions are unanimous. 

“Wait wait wait, if killing anki is supposed to be the Order’s raison d'être, then……” (Gio)

“If you wanted to simulate real combat, you should have made it 2 vs 20 instead of 6 vs 20.” (Sedam)

…… Ahhh, I see. So these are the market prices for the fighting that goes on in this world. 

“6 knights can easily handle 20 small demons. It’s just…… fundamentally, anki are existences that should be engaged with whole armies.” (Sedam)

True to that, the Carbanera Knight Order is deploying two whole companies for this operation, which adds up to more than 400 people altogether.

“Speaking of which, how strong are adventurers then? Sedam, if it’s your party, can you guys take down one large demon?” (Gio)

In response to my question, Sedam pulls a difficult face. 

“When Claura is in the party, we can defeat several large demons. When she isn’t, we would struggle quite a bit against a single one.” (Sedam)

“Since I can use even upper rank magic.” (Claura) 

So even Sedam’s party, which looked quite experienced to me, would have trouble against a single ogre—large demon—huh. 

“Then how about those humans called heroes?” (Gio)

“If we’re talking about those specialized against anki, then there is the warrior called ‘Anki Killer’ Leid. He can probably handle 5 or 6 large demons at the same time. Might even be able to take on a rock demon.” (Sedam)

“As for magicians, Pelishura-s.h.i.+, 1st Seat of the Lusick Magician Guild, can kill rock demons. It is rumored that she can use the super rank magic Ice Coffin.” (Claura)

(T/N: The -s.h.i.+ suffix for Pelishura is not the usual one used for equals, but the one for masters or teachers.)

“While we’re on this topic, the strongest adventurer party in Sedia is ‘Cabran of the Purgatory Flames,’ the leader of which is a magician. At that cla.s.s, they can fight against several rock demons at the same time and win.” (Sedam)

“Well, they’re based in the capital of Shulendal, so we can’t count on them this time around.” (Claura)

Anki Killer, magician guild 1st Seat, and even Purgatory Flames, huh. If this was a TRPG, they would be important NPCs that I’d definitely meet some time in the future…… 

“Mumu.” (Gio)

I slap my own cheeks a few times to dispel the unnecessary thoughts. This is reality. 

“This b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Doryahhh!” (Gillion)

“Aniki, behind you! Tah!” (Lioria)

The Carbanera siblings’ shouts are currently reverberating from the courtyard. 

Arnogia, as well as the knights under him, have also begged with me to allow them to continue training. 

Right now, the people that I should rely on, as well as protect, are those three and Sedam and Claura. 

♥♦♣♠

“Sei!” (Lioria)

“Gugyaah!?” (Ogre)

To everyone’s surprise, two days before the sortie, Lioria managed to kill one ogre. 

There was some coordinating with Gillion and her subordinates, and the ogre was bare-handed, but she is growing at a speed that can be seen by the naked eye. 

“Wizard-dono! It’s all thanks to you! Thank you so much!” (Lioria)

Despite being covered with ogre blood from head to toe, her pure smile was truly beautiful. 

“d.a.m.n you, Lio! Don’t you get c.o.c.ky! Since I’m gonna catch up with you!” (Gillion)

“Gillion-dono, you should probably work more on commanding your subordinates……” (Gio)

Gillion has also shown some growth, and Arnogia is freezing up less often while commanding. 

There is no doubt that these three have what it takes to become heroes one day. 

Which is all the more why they should never be sacrificed. 

♥♦♣♠

All 430 members of the 1st and 2nd Companies, as well as 20 attendants, eventually gathered in full. 

With all of us on horseback, the Grand Cross saw us off. 

“...... May the fortunes of war blow your way. Victory to the White Sword! Ruin to the anki!” (Amrand)

“VICTORY TO THE WHITE SWORD! RUIN TO THE ANKI!!” (Knights)

But well, despite the gallant start of the campaign, it's not like we went straight off to fight anki. After all, we didn’t even know the exact location of the nest. 

As such, the subjugation force first headed for the fort where Jyagul used to be at. A base is necessary for setting up a defensive line to prevent runaway anki from getting close to the highway or nearby settlements. 

Furthermore, messengers were also  sent ahead of us to Yuule and Lelis to warn them. 

Because my [Meteor] destroyed the straight mountain road, we had to take a narrow, twisty animal track. Although it was only a few days, laying eyes again on the fort that was my starting point gave me a slight twinge of nostalgia. 

“What on earth……” (Knight)

However, the sight of the fort being on top of the cliff that I’d created with my [Renovation] apparently did not instill the same sentiments in the knights. 

♥♦♣♠

After the fort was returned to its original position, the transporting of the supplies into the fort began. The fort was way too small to hold the almost 500 people of the expedition. However, after converting some nearby land into a campsite, the whole place started to look a lot more like a proper base. Incidentally, about all the plunder that the mountain bandits had stockpiled, I secured what used to belong to Irudo, then allowed the knights to confiscate all the rest. The fact that they did so for the sake of alleviating the cost of this expedition almost brought tears to my eyes. 

“Alright, we shall now confirm our strategy.” (Espine)

After gathering all key persons into the command room, the strategist Espine is now reviewing our strategy. 

“With this fort as the point of reference, the 1st Company will set up a cordon in the north, and the 2nd Company will do the same in the south. The duration of the operation has been estimated to be 3 days, but there is a possibility that it will last longer than that, so a.s.sign your men with that in mind. In that time, the Elite Squad, with Sedam-dono, Claura-dono, and Margils-dono as the core, will go up the valley, locate the nest, and destroy it. The Elite Squad will then return immediately and help eliminate the leftover anki caught by the cordons.” (Espine)

In other words, this is a strategy that relies 100% on Sedam’s searching abilities and my firepower. At the time of the first meeting, I had only intended to serve as a support role. However, after seeing the training, I had to change my thinking, and pressed the knights into altering the plan. I had no choice, after being shown so clearly the difference in power between anki and humans. When I thought of my position, I had some reservations, but this is the only method I could think of to make sure no one dies. 

“About the target, the anki nest itself, I will do the explaining.” (!)

The middle-aged man serving as the Vice Commander of the 1st Company picks up where Espine leaves off. If I remember correctly, his name is Gunnah. He is an old-timer who was part of the force that had destroyed the anki nest 10 years ago. 

“An anki nest is different from the nests of normal wild beasts or monsters at the conceptual level. Its appearance is a pitch black sphere, but we fear that it does not actually have a defined form.” (Gunnah)

“Umu……” (Gio)

I’ve heard this before at the last strategy meeting, but an anki [nest] is not an actual [habitat]. 

“What I saw with my own two eyes 10 years ago was the size of a cow. And anki were being born from within it.” (Gunnah)

No matter how many times I hear it, it still sounds disgusting. I now understand full well that this world’s anki cannot be explained with the knowledge that I’d gleaned from games and novels. 

“Just to confirm, that nest can indeed be destroyed by swords and magic, yes?” (Gio)

“That is indeed so, Wizard-dono.” (Gunnah)

Well, whatever the method, as long as it can be damaged with physical attacks and magic, then it should be destructible.

“By the way, is the Elite Squad only us three?” (Sedam)

So asks Sedam suddenly. Oh right, we haven’t talked about that yet. 

“Please take me along as well.” (Arnogia)

“Don’t be stupid! Of course it’s already decided that I’m going too!” (Gillion)

“O-, Of course I’m also going!” (Lioria)

Arnogia and the Carbanera siblings all reacted loudly to Sedam’s request for confirmation. Well, it's not like I didn’t foresee this. To be honest, if the location of the nest was known, I would have liked to go just by myself…… 

“Both of you are Company Commanders! Please think about your positions!”

Gunnah berates the three of them. That scar on his face gives his words all the intensity they need. 

“B-, But……” (Arnogia)

“Forget it, forget it! I am a Carbanera! The anki must die at my hands!” (Gillion)

“Aniki, shut up! I’m also a Carbanera!” (Lioria)

Well, when you think about it, both next-generation Grand Cross candidates going to the most dangerous place on the battlefield is indeed quite nonsensical. But I don’t want to step any further into the Order’s internal matters, so I’ll just keep silent. 

“I personally would recommend Gillion-dono, Lioria-dono, and Gunnah-dono accompanying Wizard-dono…… I can fill in for the command of the 2nd Company.” (Espine)

“Ohhh, is that so! You say good things every once in a while, Strategist!” (Gillion)

“Yes, please!” (Lioria)

The Carbanera siblings become all smiles after hearing Espine’s suggestion. Arnogia lightly bites his lip. Chances are, the strategist’s opinion is also the Grand Cross’, but is it really alright to let the Carbanera siblings take so much credit? But if his suggestion was based purely on fighting prowess, then I guess I can understand. 

“In that case, we shall then be relying on you three.” (Espine)

“Yeah! Leave it all to me, Wizard-dono!” (Gillion)

“I swear I will definitely ensure your safety!” (Lioria)

To be honest, I don’t foresee needing their help with anything though. 

♥♦♣♠

The next day. 

Us ‘Elite Squad’ are currently standing inside the valley where fragments of charred anki remains are scattered all around. What we are now about to do is go up this valley in search of the anki nest. 

“From here on, we may be ambushed by anki at any given moment. Never let your guard down, understood?”

“Roger.”

Sedam and Gunnah start discussing what formation to take and who to take which position, but in the meantime, I concentrate and look for a certain spell in the Inner World. After confirming that everyone is within range, I release the power of the level 9 spell that I’d found.

“By means of this spell, I, as well as all allies within a 3m radius, shall have our very existences transferred to an alternate plane while retaining freedom of movement. [Move Outer Plane].” (Gio)

“ “?!” ”

Due to the effects of the spell, all 6 of our bodies have been transferred to an alternate plane that overlaps the physical world. From our point of view, it is as if the world around us was suddenly hidden behind one of those fish tanks at an aquarium that makes the other side look like it’s swaying and tinted blue. We should have completely disappeared from the physical world without leaving even a trace. Of course, now that we are in an alternate plane, it is impossible for us to be detected or attacked by anki or whatever else. As long as we remain in this plane, we cannot affect anything in the physical world, but the best part about this spell is that we can still move about while in here. In other words, for the next 6 hours, we can search wherever and however much we want without having to fear being discovered. 

“Seriously, anything goes with you, doesn't it.” (Sedam)

After hearing my explanation, Sedam shrugs his shoulders. 

The siblings’ stares, his filled with awe and hers filled with admiration, both p.r.i.c.k me, but I’ve already decided to not hold back. 

As of now, I am going to get serious.