Volume 4 Chapter 17 (2/2)

”I don't want to let only those girls fight. Can't we just surrender?”

”If we surrender, people like those soldiers from the other day would begin to come here every day and act as though they owned the place. Also, the taxes will increase five times more than what it is now. Many of you have probably moved here after experiencing a tough life from wherever you lived before but if we surrender, I guarantee you, it'll only get worse. …worst of all, they advocate the discrimination against demi-humans. They're going to turn these children into slaves! As the leader of this city, that is something I absolutely can't let happen!”

I appealed to their emotions and it worked well thanks in part to the euphoria R'lyeh Diva induced. Thus, I pushed more.

”Nevertheless, I understand that some of you don't want to be involved at all in this war. For those that want to leave before the fighting begins, we will set-up a help desk so please direct your application there. We will provide the applicants with compensation money and a ride on one of our golem-pulled carriages. We will be transporting you up to the neighboring city. We expect many to apply for this service so do keep your luggage light.”

Commotion rose from the crowd. They probably couldn't believe that the leader of the city himself was offering to help people escape from the city.

In my opinion, if they wanted to leave, they were free to do so. If I didn't prepare such an option for them, they would just complain later on that I forced them to stay in this city.

Plus, it affirmed my image that I prioritized the citizens of this city first and foremost.

After a while, a man raised his voice. I recognized him; he was the head of the adventurer guild.

”This city is an important location to us adventurers. The charge at the inn and the taxes, they're all so cheap. We can also sell here the materials we got from the dungeon for a good, good price. Losing this place will be a blow to us. So, we have decided that we are willing to cooperate with you in this war. We will use our connections as much as we can and gather war potential… can we expect Procell-san to take care of their remuneration?”

At that, I smiled. For someone to have said as much, it made me quite happy.

”Thank you. We won't ask you to fight for us but we do ask that you protect this city until the war's end. As I've said, we have agreed that the battlefield will be the vast plain outside the city but that doesn't necessarily mean that they will stand by it and not come here to pillage. If that happens, I want to count on you. We will pay everyone's asking price.”

”Are you really sure? We don't mind fighting the enemy troops. We adventurers are stronger than the soldiers, you know.”

The representative of the adventurer guild looked slightly angered. Perhaps he mistook my response for me not believing in their strength.

”Adventurers are professionals on fighting monsters but aren't as well-versed in killing people. However, those that would come to pillage aren't people, they're beasts. And beasts are fair game to you, right?”

The man from the adventurers' guild nodded.

The next to speak up was a male merchant. It was Relic of his Relic Company. He was this city's most successful merchant.

”We, the merchant guild of this city, would like to offer our financial support in this war. There is no need to hesitate on taking it. This city is like a tree that bears money for us so losing it is out of the question. Moreover, this city's taxes are low. We would like to think of this financial aid as just the tax we haven't paid.”

”Should a merchant really say it like that? Shouldn't this financial aid be offered as a loan that will gain interest over time?”

”Fufu, that is indeed the case if the other party has been trying to lessen our profits. You are not like that though. You have always found ways for both of us to come out satisfied in a deal. Thanks to you, instead of a loss, we are gaining even more. For that, we would like to support you with all that we could.”

He said such a delightful thing.

”Thank you. Although it is only slight, there is still a chance that the war will be prolonged and that transportation through the air will become harder. Through the merchants here, I want to stock up on food and, when the war begins, provide it for free to the ones still within the city. Also, right when the war has ended, I wish to hold a celebration party. I shall take care of all those expenses.”

”Are you sure!?”

”Yes. Though the taxes here are cheap, we have gathered more than enough from everyone's huge earnings.”

Our scale of collection differed greatly from other cities. Even with low taxes, we had collected a lot.

That being said, the heads of the adventurer and merchant guilds didn't understand the source of our confidence. It would be natural for them to wonder that if we weren't going to make use of adventurers, conscript the citizens of the city, and take the financial aid to pay for our soldiers, how then were we going to gather enough war potential.

”Now, you might be wondering how we're going to fight without any of those offered help. To explain so, an introduction is in order. This will be Avalon's war potential.”

One after another, the golems that the citizens had grown familiar with appeared. The ones that appeared numbered more than 300. The absurdity of it all left the citizens speechless.

”Everyone here is familiar with the golems but, in truth, the ones dispatched in the city are but a small fraction of their total number. Also, look above.”

I pointed my finger to the sky. Circling there were the huge-winged Darkness Dragons. I let them stay there because if they got close to the humans, their special ability, [Fear], might cause the humans to panic. The humans already didn't know what to do as it was after seeing the huge black dragons that appeared only in fairy tales.

”I think you're familiar with Hippogriffs that do the air transportation for us but they aren't the only beings that Avalon has successfully tamed and trained; we have succeeded at these dragons as well. So, the golems, the dragons, and these children are going to fight for us. Even with just them, I am confident in winning. Avalon still has other fighting force aside from them but in order for it to not be revealed to the enemy city, it'll have to remain a secret for now”

I forcefully declared so. Seeing the over 300 golems and frightening dragons, the citizens were relieved.

…at the same time, some would surely be too scared to remain here knowing that such frightening creatures were here. It can't be helped, not like I can hide them when the fighting begins, I told myself.

”As you see, we can definitely win this war. Even if we lose, we have been promised that no civilians will be harmed. However, if we do lose and are forced to be under their command, life of all of us will definitely be harsher. To prevent that, I and these children will do our best and fight. I might be repeating myself here, but for those that want to leave this city, we have prepared compensation money and transportation. That's all I have to say.”

With that, our forum was over and I descended the stage with Kuina and the others.

As I did, I wondered how many would remain. It would be great if more than 70% of the population stayed, I thought.

◇

It took about three days to process the applications of those that wanted to leave the city.

The percentage that wanted to leave was less than 10% of the whole population. It was even better than what I expected and that put a smile on my face. It would seem Avalon was far more charming than I had thought.

”We have to absolutely win.”

To protect all those that remained;

To protect the place that the ones that left would someday return to;

And most of all, to live up to the trust that everyone has given to me.

Now, it's time to show them what we've got.