Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 365: An Alternative Plan, With Risks
The great Shakyamuni said:
“Abandon extremes and realize the Middle Way.”
Not to indulge blindly in pleasure, nor to run headlong into asceticism that needlessly harms the body—rather, moderate and balanced, even ambiguous choices are the right path.
Rest didn’t exactly follow a saint’s teaching, but the course he chose was likewise neither one extreme nor the other—it sat squarely between the two opinions.
“How about a small, elite force conducting a raid on enemy territory?”
Not an all-out attack, and not pure defense either.
A small squad of elite soldiers—large enough to survive contact with the barbarians—would strike at a barbarian stronghold.
Even if the raid failed, only the few who participated would be lost; the fortress would avoid catastrophic damage.
(Of course, the raiders are risking their lives. It’s a desperate, potentially suicidal mission—but with a small number of men, escape is not impossible.)
At the very least, a skilled mage could fly away to escape.
Dangerous, yes, but not a hopeless suicide squad.
“Sounds fun—my hands are itching! I’m in!”
“Hmph… whatever. I just cut down enemies.”
“Fufufu—sneaking into enemy land brings back memories of my younger days.”
The strike team numbered about ten.
Valeya Catreya (the knight commander’s son), the woman-hating sword saint Wilhelm Lubase, Dible, steward to the Rosemary Marquis family, and several other knights and mages.
They were surprisingly eager.
In this fantasy world, life is taken more lightly—honor and victory often outweigh fear of danger.
And… the plan’s proposer, Rest, was included among the raiding party.
(I can’t very well say “I’m scared, so I won’t go” after suggesting it… besides, I want to end this fight quickly and go home.)
Hearing that the Geisel Empire might be involved made Rest worry for his fiancée and friends back in the capital and his lands.
Viola and Primula, Yuri, Celestine.
Even Urla—she’s a daughter of the Lavender Border Margrave and would be among the first to face arrows if war with Geisel broke out.
Thinking of them, Rest couldn’t afford to dither around a northern frontier. He wanted to finish this as soon as possible.
(Of course, charging into an unknown forest is extremely dangerous. We need a guide.)
“…Are you serious? Asking me to guide you—are you out of your mind?”
They chose, by lot, a young oni boy who had been held as a prisoner in the dungeon.
As Rest learned later, his name was Rou.
At Rest’s suggestion, Rou was freed from his cell and brought along as a guide through the forest.
“You said even in the cell, ‘If there’s mutual benefit, I might cooperate.’ I think this mission benefits you too, right?”
Rest told the boy, trying to reason with him.
A small elite raid—the target wasn’t so much the barbarian villages as the sorcerer who was controlling them.
The barbarians had hostages and could not withdraw; they had been forced into war with the Kingdom of Iwood.
So the plan was to defeat the barbarians and free the hostages by taking out the sorcerer.
“Muu…”
Rou looked reluctant but offered no strong objection.
His own sister had been taken by the sorcerer as well.
If Rest and the others could slay that sorcerer, Rou would be satisfied. Even if not, being freed from his cell provided at least a chance to escape.
(I know it’s a naive thought… but it’s more realistic than continuing to kill until only one remains, right? Probably.)
The fate of the hostages was not trivial.
Still, the sorcerers had to be defeated.
Ideally they would be captured alive to interrogate about their backers. That would be best.
“All right, let’s go.”
For victory—accepting the risk that must someday be faced—the moment to act had come.
Rest and his companions steeled themselves and slipped into the forest.