Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race Chapter 360 - The Call to War

POV: Aisha Greyrat

A sense of worry, unsuited for my age, weighs upon me.

Is this accelerating my aging process?

Hah, who am I trying to kid? This has always been my burden.

Nevertheless, as I reviewed the report Kilian submitted concerning the investigation of Dragon God’s Hole, my mind wandered to the alternate life paths I might have pursued.

Perhaps I could have become a pioneer in magical science. Given my innate talent for magic, I would undoubtedly have made significant contributions to the Kingdom. My skill in devising new spells is exceptional.

Had I committed myself fully to such a path, I could have ushered in an era of revolution for the entire field.

Let me consider... I also possessed the potential to excel as a swordswoman. Or even as a tactician. I suspect Rygar wouldn’t have objected, provided I was actively engaged in something.

That's right.

So then, how did I find myself thrust into the role of acting commander for the Kingdom in his absence?

This is an overwhelming amount of responsibility.

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat, concealing my inner turmoil from Ghislaine, who was seated opposite me.

We were in my office at Star Rise Academy, a space I must say is quite tastefully appointed.

Plants I personally nurtured filled the room, alongside several accolades from various nations affirming the Academy's esteemed status.

It’s a serene environment. Immaculate and aesthetically pleasing. Such qualities appeal to me.

Leaning back in my chair, I adopted a contemplative pose rather than one betraying anxiety.

Master Rygar consistently advised that while a leader might harbor self-doubt, such uncertainty must never be visible to her subordinates.

Thus, I inquired with practiced ease:

"What was the outcome of your visit to the Sanctuary?"

Ghislaine responded with her usual gravitas:

"It unfolded as you anticipated. The majority of the teleportation portals leading to Begaritt have been systematically dismantled. Jino could not utilize them for his return, so he is completing his journey across the seas by conventional means, though this presents no significant obstacle for him."

She paused momentarily, lost in thought, before continuing:

"However, if a large-scale military operation towards Begaritt is contemplated, the Dragon Knights Division represents our sole viable option. This is unless we can rapidly establish new teleportation pathways."

A sigh escaped me inwardly upon hearing this confirmation, and my gaze returned to Kilian’s report.

It’s somewhat vexing to always anticipate the worst-case scenario and find that anticipation realized.

The report corroborated another of my gravest concerns: distinct traces of both the Fighter God and the Technique God were detected in the vicinity of the Labyrinth.

This unequivocally pointed to Master Rygar as their intended target.

Kilian ranks among the world's foremost trackers, yet it also aided that neither of the aforementioned deities made any effort to conceal their presence.

Regardless, Rygar and Eris will have no recourse but to depend solely on their own capabilities if they intend to emerge alive from Dragon God’s Hole.

My finger began to tap rhythmically against the armrest as my thoughts churned.

The notion of obliterating the Ever-White Oasis entirely was increasingly presenting itself as a sound course of action. Had it been feasible, I certainly would have sought to demolish the Labyrinth itself.

My gaze shifted to Ghislaine, and an unexpected curiosity prompted me to inquire about her perspective on the unfolding situation.

"Ghislaine, do you grasp the gravity of our current predicament? I would value your insights."

As I posed the question, I rested my elbows on the desk, meeting her gaze directly, her heterochromatic eyes—one red, one green—holding mine.

Ghislaine maintained her stoic demeanor, yet her ears twitched, and her tail began to sway in a manner tellingly indicative of her concentration. A faint smile touched my lips as I recognized this familiar pattern, signaling her deep cognitive engagement.

Without undue delay, she offered her reply:

"Not entirely, I confess. If you could provide a concise summary, I can then offer my considered opinion."

I began to consolidate my thoughts, organizing the intricate details internally, before articulating:

"Essentially, we currently hold a significant advantage in both intelligence and available military power. Master Rygar and Eris face the most immediate peril, thus our foremost priority must be to position a formidable force outside the Labyrinth, prepared to render immediate support the moment they emerge. However, beyond this critical concern, we possess knowledge of the location, numbers, and overall capabilities of Hitogami’s apostles within Begaritt."

Ghislaine remained silent, allowing me to elaborate further:

"We are also aware of the Dragon God’s faction’s presence there. Jino's report substantiated their involvement. Both North God Kalman III and the Magic God are situated in Begaritt, underscoring the Dragon God’s vested interest in these developments, particularly now that they possess a degree of awareness regarding the events transpiring."

I briefly interlaced my fingers before my face, mentally ordering the remaining points before continuing.

"Despite all this, the only domain where we stand at a profound disadvantage is within the Labyrinth itself. And furthermore, it is an environment where our direct intervention is impossible. Here, beyond its confines, we command the military advantage, the informational advantage, the strategic advantage, and we hold the initiative. We are aware of Hitogami’s true whereabouts and intentions, and we possess the capacity to act."

I paused for a moment, then got straight to the point:

"The sole unstable elements are the Dragon God and the 'target' Hitogami wishes to revive... Orsted is the obvious one. With Rygar, Laplace, and Badigadi off the field, he can shift the entire situation whenever he pleases. I'm counting on the fact that he lacks the mana to freely interfere everywhere..."

I continued tapping my index finger against the armrest as I mulled things over.

"My biggest worry concerns the unpredictability of Hitogami's resurrection target. Master's Future Guide indicates that reviving the Demon God Laplace at this moment is virtually impossible. Frankly, I'd prefer it to be him rather than this mysterious unknown casting a shadow over everything, but not all things can be perfect."

I glanced back down at the report resting on the desk.

"Jino managed to uncover the majority of the scheme during this brief inquiry... there are still numerous subtleties, naturally. For instance, the Treasure Mage Kensai's faction has seen substantial expansion in Begaritt over recent years. They command a considerable force. Considering he likely received Hitogami's assistance in assembling it, this could worsen the predicament. There are also internal unstable factors, though they are unlikely. Nina's situation demonstrated that Hitogami cannot infiltrate our ranks through conventional methods without detection. And, of course, there are political considerations involving the Asura Kingdom, Chaos Breaker Fortress, and the Magic Triumvirate..."

Then, I turned my gaze back to Ghislaine.

"That's the most condensed rundown I could provide. I hope I didn't present the information too hastily."

Truthfully, my decision had already been made.

At this juncture, all I desired was someone's affirmation.

What?

Ghislaine wasn't the most suitable person to solicit strategic military counsel from?

Quite the contrary.

If even someone with a comparatively straightforward mind like Ghislaine reached the same conclusion I had, it would serve to confirm to my wavering intellect that I was merely overthinking.

With that sentiment in mind, I looked at Ghislaine with anticipation.

Then, I observed a hint of confusion on her face, and perhaps even a touch of suspicion. Likely stemming from my expectation being far too transparent.

After a sigh, I could see she was genuinely contemplating everything.

So, I waited with patience.

Following nearly a full minute of reflection, Ghislaine finally voiced her thoughts.

"Even if this situation could readily escalate into a conflict beyond our command, I believe we are more than adequately prepared to confront whatever arises. After all, this is precisely what our training all this time has been geared towards. While I may be somewhat partial, I am of the opinion that we should advance upon Begaritt and utterly eradicate Hitogami's apostles."

A smile graced my lips upon hearing her words.

"I see..."

I uttered it more softly than intended, yet the answer already brought me sufficient satisfaction.

Then, I rose to my feet.

Ghislaine stood simultaneously.

I drew in a deep breath, summoning the most serious tone I could muster.

"I shall draft a mobilization order and personally lead the advance towards the Labyrinth. Instruct Taes to ready the Iron Legion and assemble the Kingdom's primary warriors. We are marching to war."

The instant I finished speaking, an involuntary shiver coursed down my spine.

Ghislaine responded with a smile:

"Understood, Commander."

In the very next moment, she vanished using Wild Dash.

I remained alone in the office for a brief period.

I took another deep breath.

This would not be the first engagement I had participated in. Nor the first I would lead.

However, it would be the first that could genuinely determine the destiny of the entire Kingdom.

I noticed a slight tremor in my hand and instinctively clasped it.

I... was trembling with excitement?

Hm?

Why did I feel so exhilarated?

I glanced at the mirror and only then realized I was sporting a broad grin.

Since when had that been there?!

Had I been smiling when I declared our intent to go to war?

How unsettling.

But yes...

Exhilarating.

Still grinning, I proceeded to the window and retrieved my headmistress's cloak, which was hanging nearby.

Whistling audibly, I immediately called out:

"Helios!"

Then, I plunged out the window of Star Rise Academy's tower.

A powerful roar echoed through the pavilions as I landed directly upon the neck of my loyal companion, already soaring through the air.

"Haaah! Why does this feel so much cooler than usual?!"

---

Meanwhile, beside a particularly magnificent waterfall in the Great Forest, no fewer than twenty children were joyfully splashing and playfully arguing in the water.

On the riverbank, Verdia and Selene were engaged in conversation, seated at a table fashioned through Earth Magic.

Verdia's loose golden hair flowed freely, and her blue eyes and smile remained unchanged from thirty years prior – one of the enduring benefits of being a long-lived elf.

Selene, on the other hand, appeared somewhat more mature than she had in past years. By then, she was already over fifty, yet she still managed to maintain a remarkably youthful appearance.

Among the children, as was typical, Perseus and Aurora were engrossed in a serious competition, vying to see who could endure being submerged underwater for the longest duration.

Aurora was quite obviously employing trickery by utilizing her Magic to accumulate oxygen. Her application of Magic was so seamless that Verdia would have found it utterly unbelievable had she not been a witness to this absurdity from the very moment Aurora entered the world.

Perseus, completely oblivious to any such deceit, was relying solely on his own extraordinary physical stamina to achieve victory through fair means, entirely unaware that he was destined to fail from the outset.

This underwater contest had already been ongoing for more than ten minutes.

Meanwhile, the majority of the other children were engaged in playful activities with Leo, the Sacred Beast.

In the absence of their two diminutive, domineering leaders, the other children exhibited fewer grievances towards one another. Naturally, minor squabbles still arose occasionally, but overall, the atmosphere was considerably more tranquil.

Selene and Verdia continued their leisurely conversation, reminiscing about bygone days.

They even recalled the period when Rygar was a child and the ridiculously amusing antics he used to engage in from a very young age.

Suddenly, Verdia’s communicator emitted a ringing sound.

She quickly glanced at the device.

A noticeable seriousness then settled upon her features as she read the incoming message.

Selene fell silent the instant she observed the shift in Verdia’s demeanor.

Upon finishing her review of the message, Verdia paused for a moment in thought. Then, she turned to bid farewell to Selene.

Subsequently, she called out gently:

"Diana, Aurora, and Nel, would you mind coming over here for a moment?"

In response to her summons, Diana, who had been reclining on the grass gazing up at the heavens, cast a glance in their direction and rose to her feet with a languid sigh, her expression mirroring the same listless, vacant look that Verdia found utterly endearing.

A small chuckle escaped Verdia.

Aurora made a displeased face and abruptly teleported herself over to her mother. She was still clad in her swimsuit, and her vibrant green hair was heavily saturated with water.

The way her cheeks were puffed out made it abundantly clear that she was unhappy about her loss in the competition.

Nel, Nina’s son, who was arguably the most sensible among the three, approached immediately without hesitation.

Verdia spoke as she stood, her gaze primarily directed towards Aurora and Diana:

"Mommy has something urgent that requires my attention. Uncle Ornthorn will be arriving shortly to look after you all, so please behave yourselves and take care of your younger siblings. He should be here any moment now, understand? No squabbling!"

She directed a pointed look at Aurora as she emphasized the last instruction.

The two girls acknowledged her words with a nod, but Aurora immediately inquired:

"Where are you going, Mom?"

Verdia responded with a gentle smile.

"I'm just going to handle a few matters in the desert; it's nothing too significant..."

Then, she turned her attention to Nel and added:

"Nel, please assist in watching over the others. Try to keep Diana from falling asleep, and certainly prevent Aurora from doing anything rash."

Nel nodded with a serious expression upon hearing her directive, exhibiting a level of gravity that was perhaps more profound than the situation strictly necessitated.

As she delivered these instructions, Verdia’s gaze shifted towards Leo, who was currently playing with the assembled children. The Sacred Beast returned her look.

After exchanging a meaningful glance with Leo, Verdia’s eyes then moved towards the periphery of the surrounding trees, where Skoll remained concealed, diligently maintaining a vigilant watch for any potential threats.

Subsequently, her Spiritual Eye flared to life as Verdia uttered a specific name:

"Aerion."

In that precise instant, a form that appeared to be crafted from radiant green light materialized, accompanied by a powerful surge of wind, which immediately enveloped Verdia.

She turned, and while suspended in mid-air, offered a final wave to her children.

"Mommy will be back shortly, my dears. Be good!"

And then, propelled by the mystical energy of the Summoned Spirit, she ascended rapidly into the sky.

----

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