I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 5 Chapter 1.2
Nina, the wolf beastkin, is my disciple. In the original game, she was a character who died around the start of the game, but thanks to my intervention, she survived. In other words, she’s a living testament to breaking free from the fate of death.
She may have a somewhat expressionless face, but there’s a lot of passion hidden in her brown eyes. Since her reverse proposal a month ago, Nina’s physical affection has been quite intense. It’s at a level where anyone can see that she has feelings for me.
Because of that, she has earned some grudges from others… but I have no choice but to accept it. While I’ve put off giving her an answer, I’ve already decided to accept her.
“No, it’s nothing,” I replied with a smile to their puzzled expressions.
It seemed they didn’t pay it much mind, as they quickly returned to their casual conversation.
These are my usual companions. The world that was initially just me and Caron has expanded greatly.
They are all important family to me. No matter who it is, I won’t let this happiness be disturbed.
????????
Upon returning to the residence and changing in my room, I was soon delivered the news…
“So, an unidentified elf has entered the capital? Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s almost certain. There have been no reports of the palace’s intelligence unit venturing into the city, and the actions of these elves in question are consistent with those of outsiders who are unfamiliar with the area.”
Shion, who had brought the report, nodded firmly in response to my emphasis.
If they were affirming it like this, there was no doubt. Those who could deceive our Foranada’s shadow operatives would be individuals outside the framework of human society, perhaps even witches. In any case, they were a group to be cautious of.
“What’s the current situation?”
“Most likely, these are elves from the Forest Nation, Shinoku. Given the long standing tension between our Holy Kingdom and them, their presence in the capital raised concerns. We should approach this situation with caution.
Shion continued to explain, “They haven’t shown any movements beyond reconnaissance. It appears they are exploring the city and trying to familiarize themselves with the geography.”
“Hmm…”
Since their intentions were unknown, I considered whether we should let them be. However, Shion unexpectedly spoke up.
“If I may be so bold, I believe it would be best to apprehend the elves immediately.”
As I thought.
I asked again, “What’s your reasoning? Did you propose this because you believe the drawbacks of letting them go are significant?”
As part of the intelligence unit, they should be capable of monitoring the elves without being detected. Shion was aware of this. So, her suggestion likely came from a different perspective.
Shion explained, “Given that these are elves from the Forest Nation, there’s a possibility that there are spirit mages among them. While we’ve received instruction from Lord Noma, we are limited to earth-based magic. If they use magic of other elements, we might be at a disadvantage, especially within the capital. There’s a high risk of being outmaneuvered by unfamiliar spells and having them carry away valuable information.”
“I see, spirits.”
I had completely forgotten about dealing with a nation like the Forest Nation.
Elves, who excel in magical power more than any other human race, often become spirit mages by forming contracts with spirits. Naturally, the main force of that country consists of these spirit mages. As Shion pointed out, it was highly likely that these infiltrators included spirit mages.
As evident from Noma’s magic, spirit magic had greater versatility than human magic. While not as effective as my collaboration with Noma, there was still a risk of being exploited through unfamiliar magic.
If we wanted information, we could simply obtain it through interrogation. There was no need to be hesitant when dealing with foreign spies. Let’s hedge our risks and take action.
“Understood. Let’s capture them immediately.”
“I will relay the orders to the intelligence unit.”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
I stopped Shion from proceeding with her message.
“…I see.”
She seemed to understand my intentions. Truly, she was an exceptional secretary, understanding my unspoken thoughts.
“I will personally capture all of the elves.”
If there was a risk of the intelligence agents being outwitted by the spirit mages, I, with overwhelming power, would take control. I also wanted to obtain samples of spirit mages for future reference. It was a win-win situation.
Now, I’m looking forward to seeing what tactics the real spirit mages will employ.”