Ch.109Magic Corps #6

As I mentioned earlier, waging war against elves in the forest was akin to having a death wish.

The irregular, densely packed trees blocked the army’s path, and the abundance of shade and cover made it difficult to secure visibility.

Conversely, for elves who moved freely among the treetops, it was an incredibly advantageous environment.

The geographical advantage of looking down from above was too stark, not to mention their vicious long-range tactics centered on magic and archery.

Everything worked in their favor.

Helena focused on this viciousness while simultaneously conducting training based on the assumption of fighting on open ground.

“Tactics can be viewed as similar to swordsmanship. The more you hone your skills, the more paths you have to extend your sword.”

Around lunchtime, Helena released the half-exhausted group to rest freely, then sat down to eat and talk with Eve alone.

She explained that while it was important to personally hone magic for actual combat, the truly crucial skill was leadership ability.

“Eve, you are the head of the army. The head must be able to see, think, and move appropriately. Training and building your physical strength as you have done is excellent, but…”

“You mean I need to develop my abilities as a leader further?”

“Exactly. However, I’m not saying you need to become as harsh as a renowned or experienced commander. You just need to become familiar enough to effectively utilize the army under your command.”

Abilities as a leader.

Eve’s eyes sparkled at the thought of receiving a new assignment.

While most people would dislike being given homework, her reaction was quite different due to her researcher’s nature.

Though her life had been short, this was characteristic of someone who had always wrestled with assignments.

.

“She’s a diligent child.”

After training together for several days, Helena assessed Eve as diligent.

It was a somewhat surprising evaluation, given that she must have already known Eve wasn’t one to slack off.

“Of course she’s diligent. How could someone be a mage without diligence?”

“Jion’s right, but… it’s easy to work hard at something you love. However, it’s not easy to diligently fulfill a role that’s unfamiliar and carries great pressure.”

“…That’s true.”

I nodded while lying on the bed.

Ellen, who had received particularly intense attention today, had long since passed out with her eyes rolled back, which allowed me to detect both leisure and dissatisfaction in Helena’s voice.

Helena had also wanted to be embraced to the point of fainting, but I had deliberately moderated myself.

“Still, make sure she doesn’t collapse from overexertion. I’m counting on you.”

Since I only had superficial knowledge of military matters, I had no choice but to rely on Helena, the expert.

An army needed proper professional training; one couldn’t approach it with shallow knowledge.

Helena nodded without argument, understanding this, but wore a distinctly sullen expression.

She was probably jealous because I had asked her to look after another woman while in bed.

“Kyaa!”

A youthful scream rang out as I grabbed Helena’s arm and pulled her into my embrace.

She pretended to be surprised and flustered, but unmistakable joy permeated her voice.

I held the woman’s smooth, firm waist tightly with both arms and whispered into her impeccably clean ear.

“You don’t have to go to training today. I’ll… make sure you can’t go anywhere.”

Afterward, cries of pleasure stimulated my ears until morning.

Thanks to that, I may have moved more vigorously out of excitement, but overall, I spent a very satisfying night.

As always.

“Haven’t you been getting too good at handling women lately?”

Some time later, Ellen, who was walking with me to the office, asked with a short sigh.

Helena was still collapsed asleep on the bed from excessive climaxing, so it was just the two of us.

“Me? No way. There are only two women—you and Helena.”

“But you’re becoming more and more relaxed. I’ve heard that men are supposed to get more tired when bodies mingle…”

I pondered Ellen’s complaint while sitting on the sofa, yawning.

It was true that in bed, men were the ones who released while women received… so it made sense that men would get tired.

In fact, men typically tire more easily as they age.

Still, there were occasionally men who maintained their vigor even as they aged.

They were quite exceptional and rare, but they did exist.

“It’s because you and Helena feed me so many good things.”

“Oh. Is… that so?”

“From that expensive blood onwards, I’ve somehow been receiving thorough care. It’s good and I’m grateful, but you shouldn’t complain, Ellen. You and Helena are the ones who’ve made me this way.”

“You raised me this way, so don’t complain and take responsibility.”

It might easily sound like nonsense from a corrupt person, but strangely, Ellen seemed secretly pleased to hear it.

There was something curious about the way she smiled broadly with a slightly flushed expression.

I cleared my throat to shake off an inexplicable embarrassment, trying to change the subject.

“Ahem. Anyway, how’s the management of the slaves? No major problems?”

“The elf slaves? Yes, they’re fine. I’ve occasionally observed them secretly without revealing myself, and they’re all behaving well.”

“Really? Even without you there?”

“Yes. I even eavesdropped on their conversations in case they might show signs of unrest… many seemed relieved.”

Public opinion was favorable because we hadn’t abused or pushed them like when building the Great Wall.

Ellen said this with an indescribably strange expression. It was understandable to find it odd that elves were voluntarily continuing their slave lives that had begun involuntarily.

“Then… Ellen doesn’t need to supervise them directly anymore.”

“Really?!”

When I suggested that Ellen no longer needed to supervise, she was extremely happy.

Her eyes sparkled, and she unconsciously raised her voice.

“Yes. Starting tomorrow, we can just send someone to get simple reports.”

“Thank you. Thank you…”

She was so happy that she kept bowing her head and expressing gratitude.

It seemed she had accumulated quite a bit of stress from being separated for a while, even though it was only during daytime hours.

Seeing this, I held Ellen in my arms and comforted her, thinking to relieve the stress that had built up.

It might seem no different from soothing a child, but I was glad she was satisfied.

Additionally, I lightly satisfied Ellen’s desires, like sneaking a treat.

She seemed very satisfied since she rarely got to be embraced one-on-one.

As a result, I accumulated some fatigue, but that was all.

“Ah.”

After cleaning the soiled office and coming out of the bathroom where I had washed off sweat with Helena who had risen from bed, I unconsciously let out a sound.

It was because of a thought that flashed through my mind like lightning, intense and fast.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

Helena, who had been washing me amicably until just now, asked with concern.

She seemed worried about me after having just fought another battle in the bathroom and then dealing with Ellen as well.

“I’m fine. Thanks for worrying. By the way, when did Randall say he was coming?”

“Randall? Since the knights’ training is scheduled for the end of this month… it’s not far off. About a week and a bit more? But why?”

“I just had a good idea.”

The timing was perfect. As they say, if you can’t get a pheasant, a chicken will do—even if we couldn’t use the magic battalion, we could gain experience by roughly deploying the elf slaves.

Moreover, Eve could practice commanding, and the knights could benefit from fighting elves, which they rarely encountered.

I shared these thoughts with the two women and, as soon as I had changed clothes completely, called for someone.

To summon Eve, who had unexpectedly been given the day off today.

.

“You want me to engage in practice combat with the knights?”

“Yes. I’d like to arrange an opportunity to test how well Eve can command in actual combat. After all, practice is ultimately for real situations.”

After arriving at the mansion office and catching her breath, Eve showed surprise when I got to the point.

It was understandable that she would be startled when suddenly told to command a battalion of elf slaves.

“Of course, when I say ‘actual combat,’ it’s not truly real. It’s close to real combat but still training. Anyway, are you willing to do it? Your inclination is most important, so please answer honestly.”

Not just answer honestly, but give me your answer.

The difference between “please answer” and “answer” is subtle but significant in meaning.

Eve seemed to understand this, as she swallowed dryly and pressed her lips together.

It was understandable that she would be flustered when suddenly asked to conduct practical training.

Only then did I realize I was pushing things too hastily in my excitement, and quickly added:

“Ah, I apologize. In my haste, I’ve made Eve anxious too. I’ll give you a few days to think about it, but if you don’t want to do it, you can refuse right now…”

“No, I’ll do it.”

While I was flustered and backtracking, Eve answered with great determination.

There was still a hint of tension, but it was faint and not enough to significantly influence her decision.

She seemed to have thought carefully and reached a conclusion in a short time.

“You’ll… do it? Are you sure? I called you in haste, but I’m not pressuring you at all.”

“I’m not accepting because I feel pressured or because I feel I should. I know your words are sincere.”

“Even so, you’re saying you’ll accept?”

It was ridiculous to ask again after creating this situation, but I inwardly sighed with relief that things seemed to be going as planned.

It was a moment that freshly reminded me how calculating humans can be.

While I was in the midst of reflecting on my own actions, Eve silently nodded.

Indicating that her decision remained unchanged.

“Yes, I’ll accept. I actually had something I wanted to test, and it seems good to verify it against the knights.”

“Test…?”

“Yes. I haven’t mentioned it to you or the Duke, but I think I’m about to complete a spell. I was planning to try it out quietly as originally scheduled, but… this seems to work out well.”

A test. Hearing that word, I realized that Eve wasn’t accepting reluctantly under pressure.

Mages are a type of scientist who research and experiment, and Eve is one of them.

So naturally, she would need to verify whether a spell she had created works properly.

I was grateful that the timing had coincidentally aligned so well, and continued the conversation with a much more relaxed mind.

“…Thank you. Then, let’s discuss how to handle the elf slaves right away.”

“Yes. You said there are about ninety elf slaves in total? Coincidentally, that’s similar to the number of dark elves gathering in the dark elf village.”

Come to think of it, that was true. As I nodded as if entranced, Eve continued the conversation quite smoothly, seemingly encouraged.

From organization to training plans and methods of using the slaves.

People can change this much despite only a few days of education from Helena?

When I turned to the side with a surprised expression, Helena was there, smirking and nodding lightly.

She looked as if she knew exactly what I wanted to say.

“The purpose of this training is practice and verification, so this seems sufficient… is there anything lacking?”

Lacking? How could there be?

I shook my head as I looked at Eve sitting across from me, indicating there was nothing lacking at all.

If we were actually going to war, we would need to be more meticulous, but as we all knew, this was training.

Training is done to build and check skills, so this was enough.

“It sounds sufficient to me… Helena, what do you think? Anything you want to add?”

“Nothing. It’s enough. She has excellent absorption and comprehension, as expected of someone so talented.”

When Helena also nodded, indicating it was more than adequate, Eve’s cheeks turned red.

She was probably feeling shy from our praise.

Ellen remained silent, seemingly indifferent. It made sense that she wouldn’t be particularly moved by this.

“Very well. Eve, please go to where the elf slaves are tomorrow. I’ll send someone today to notify them so there won’t be any disruption. I’m sorry for calling you during your rest.”

“Ah, yes. Excuse me.”

Once the conversation was over, Eve left the office with a subdued demeanor, as if her previous assertiveness had never happened.

It was hard to believe she was the same person who had been speaking so decisively just moments ago.