To begin with, my comprehension of magic is still shallow, and I haven't been able to handle it to the full extent of my satisfaction.
While having Amelia-san help me arrange my accessories, I rotate my thoughts.
My "Chieftain Mode"—the method where I essentially fire myself up to intimidate my surroundings. Back in the highlands, that was an exploit where one could only hope for a stun effect against opponents of a lower tier, but in this human society, it can be said to be the sole negotiation card I possess. I've thought about how grand it would be if an opportunity to learn about the negotiation affairs of this world presented itself, but to be frank, I don't possess the leeway to do something else while looking after the children at present.
Just having Amelia-san teach me mana manipulation on the side already leaves me at a considerably tight level. Given that I'm counted as a Special Tactical Force and ended up snapping and slaying the Beast King—who was the ruler of a nation and a Special Tactical Force himself—I will likely have to stand as the representative of the ostriches in scenes of negotiation from here on out, but... I wonder if I'll be perfectly fine with just this hand, I sometimes find myself thinking.
In this world where violence-first is the dominant ideology, I have come to comprehend that this hand is considerably potent, but I have also comprehended that against an opponent where it doesn't pass, or an opponent stronger than myself, it will absolutely never pass. In the past, I picked a fight in the highlands and came one step away from dying, after all. For that reason, I'm considerably anxious, you see~.
(Whoops, my thoughts drifted.)
And so, this Chieftain Mode. To put it bluntly, it's just pure "Intimidation." It's an expression of intent that pushes things like mana or overwhelming aura to the forefront, telling the opponent: 'If you try to do anything strange, I'll smash you to pieces, you bastard!' While it is effective against weaklings who lack resistance to death or overwhelmingly superior tiers, it is something that doesn't pass against peers or those above. Having memorized mana manipulation, I have become capable of controlling the directionality of this intimidation to a certain degree.
Until now, it was an indiscriminate area-of-effect attack that merely discharged mana aimlessly, but it has evolved into an area-of-effect attack where I can determine the directionality to a certain extent. It means I've become capable of decreasing the range of effect and adjusting the power and density in a grand fashion. Thanks to the battle with the Beast King, my total mana pool increased as well, so it feels like it has likely been reinforced to a grand degree, yeah.
(Though according to Amelia-san, my mana manipulation is apparently at a 'baby level.')
When I heard that, I sustained a rather grand amount of emotional damage, but once a practical example was brought forth and compared, I had no choice but to be convinced. I was shown the mana manipulation of the magician of this town whom Amelia-san had halfway kidnapped, but even for that person, their thread of mana was at an udon-noodle level. In contrast to him, who apparently possesses ordinary capability and is at an udon-noodle level, I am at a French-bread level—a thickness difficult even for an adult male to consume.
It truly makes me feel like it might be at a baby level, doesn't it~. No, listen? Handling mana itself was something I managed to do immediately, you know? It's just that, because my total mana pool became too massive, the handling is exceptionally difficult. If an ordinary person's mana is a single cup, mine is at a gargantuan lake level. If I attempt to execute the same thing by using a certain percentage of the whole, the amount of mana I handle alters as well, so...
(I-I'll have you know I'm doing my absolute best here!)
As a result of various consultations with Amelia-san, it seems that if I continue practicing mana manipulation on a scale of a few more years, I can elevate the pressure of this "Intimidation" to the point where it goes from an all-target attack to a single-target attack, but... the path appears long and steep.
Eh? What happened regarding the utilization of attribute magic?
On the day before I received that explanation regarding mana manipulation, I became a bit curious about that sort of magic, and as a playful whim, I once raised my arm to the heavens while shouting 'Mini Fireball!', you see? Simultaneously with the sensation of my mana dropping with a clunk, a colossal fireball roughly equal to the diameter of the town we are currently staying in floated above my head. In a panic, I threw it away toward an unpopulated direction—the place where I fought to the death with the Beast King-chan.
(A beautiful mushroom cloud rose up, didn't it~.)
In an instant, my vision was dyed in crimson, and a tremendous blast wave whipped up. An accident occurred where a great number of ostrich-chans, including myself, went into an "I Can Fly" state while saying "Wow!" It brought about an outrageous amount of damage, causing the majority of the earth where the magic was struck to turn into glass, yes. For that reason, I was prohibited from utilizing attribute magic until I became proficient in mana manipulation by a genuinely furious Amelia-san, but... well, it can't be helped, or rather, it's only natural.
Though to the ostrich-chans, it apparently looked like an exceptionally exciting amusement park attraction.
"Amazing! Mama amazing!"
"So cool!"
"So pretty!"
"Flew! Flew!"
"More!"
"One more time! One more time!"
"""One more time! One more time!"""
And so, it was exactly like this. I comprehend that you guys are incredibly cute, but I'm sorry. If I fire this in rapid succession, I'll genuinely be certified as a Demon King and turned into a target for subjugation, so... if we're going to do it, let's do it in the highlands, okay. While this scale wasn't exactly an everyday occurrence back there, it wasn't non-existent either. If it's over there, no matter how much you destroy the ground, the monsters residing inside the earth will level the terrain for us, so it's perfectly safe, you see~.
"...Yes, completed. It's done, Lais."
"Thanks, Amelia-san. Sorry for the sudden request, okay?"
"Don't worry about it."
While listening to her voice, I return my thoughts to reality. I complete the final check while peering into the mirror Amelia-san holds out toward me. Yes, for the time being, have I become attired in a fashion fitting for a Chieftain? Good, good. Well then, switching my mode...
"ッ! ...A-As expected, or rather, even though I should be used to it, my consciousness almost flew away again because your mana rose further."
"Ah, sorry! Are you okay?"
"Yes, don't worry about it. ...Furthermore, with that, you haven't given it a directionality yet, have you?"
"Yeah, right now it's indiscriminate, I guess? When I speak with the Strategist-san, I'll try narrowing down the range."
"...How pitiful."
Flowing past Amelia's voice, I express my gratitude and exit the tent. Waiting there are our children, who already felt my overwhelming aura and drew close. Perhaps because they became a bit cleverer, they have sharper, grander expressions compared to before, don't they~. Mmh, mmh, those faces are exceptionally cute too. Mama wants to take a photo; does anyone possess a white telephoto lens? I'll buy it at whatever price you name~!
"Mama? Enemy?"
"No, that's incorrect, Dele. We're going to have a 'chat.' Come along with me."
"Mmh!"
Keeping Dele waiting by my side, I walk slowly at the front toward our destination. I have heard from Matilde which direction the Strategist-san and his party are coming from, and roughly around where they plan to station themselves. I had the town's people informed through Matilde that I would be executing this kind of action, so let's do it without limits. I refuse to be weirdly looked down upon and suffer a disadvantage, after all.
(Counting as a 'Special Tactical Force' solely by means of intellect. In short, an existence capable of surviving the highlands purely through sharpness of mind. ...It would be grand if my intimidation passes, though.)
◇◆◇◆◇
And so, while Lais was starting her march with the children while scattering her overwhelming aura all over the place in a state of considerable anxiety...
Let me ask you in reverse: do you think it won't pass?
That's right, far from not passing, it's a critical hit.
Lais originally possesses a pool of mana akin to two Demon Kings performing a tap dance. If she controls that mana toward a single direction and intimidates, what happens? That number equates to roughly five people's worth when converted into Demon Kings.
That's right, the completion of 'Demon King Squadron Ostrich-Ranger.' It carries the vibe of a sentai show where a colossal explosion of a level that alters the shape of an island occurs in the background, as if they decided to use up all the gunpowder brought to the location rather than suffer an accident while bringing it home. Everything is already a disaster; to think she's around the middle tier among Special Tactical Forces makes one recoil slightly at how outside the specifications the strong of this world truly are.
Now, now, though it is pitiful, we must advance the story. Let's rewind time just a tiny bit and look upon the state of the Strategist and his party.
Around the time Lais-chan initiated her costume change, greetings between representatives were being conducted at the western entrance of this town.
From the Heed side—the Ostrich faction—there was the Guardian of Plaque and Captain of the Ostrich Helper Squad, "Knight" Matilde-san, and the pitiful Lord of this town, who had completely comprehended the terror of the ostrich-sans deep within his heart.
From the Nagan side—the Strategist faction—there was the representative, the Strategist himself, and the "Red Knight"-chan, who was the strongest within the accompanying army, following behind.
Though they are currently ally nations, the relationship between the two countries—which were in a rival state until just the other day—is not particularly grand. The Nagan side has been thoroughly educated by the Strategist, so they are responding with a state of mind akin to a clear stream, but the Heed side is a bit on guard. And it was no wonder; Matilde-san had just had her town attacked by the Nagan Kingdom, and the Lord of this town had only just heard the tale of the alliance the other day.
The soldiers positioned atop the town's defensive walls are considerably prickling with tension as well.
Well, there was no way the Strategist would fail to see through such a state. Unleashing a voice intended to put them at ease, he slowly lowered his head.
"I am the 'Strategist' entrusted with the command of this reinforcement unit. On this occasion, we failed to make it in time for the battle; I am terribly sorry. Though it is unofficial, please accept my apology."
Lowering his head deeply, he wove his words. From his tone of voice, anyone who listened would feel emotions such as "apology" and "remorse" swirling about in a chaotic jumble. As a person entrusted with the governance of Nagan, lowering his head so easily was normally unacceptable, but as long as there was no suspension-of-hostilities negotiation from the Beast Kingdom, it was still wartime, and this was an unofficial venue. Consequently, he was capable of conveying his thoughts—it was part of that sort of performance.
If this were the highlands, the instant you lowered your head would be the conventional time to be told 'Thank you for the meal!', but this is a civilized society. Thanks to the ostriches, no damage had emerged within the town; consequently, there was absolutely no anger toward Nagan regarding the delay of reinforcements. Rather, the fact that they were bringing a massive quantity of supply goods had already been communicated via a forerunner. If anything, it was a state where the Heed side had to express gratitude.
For that reason, they had to have him raise his face in a hurry. As the representative of the Heed side and the existence closest to the ostriches, Matilde raised her voice.
"Lord Strategist, please raise your head. Fortunately, absolutely no damage has emerged on our side. Rather, we are the side who must express gratitude for your coming; please do not pay it any mind."
This sort of exchange continued a few times, and by having the Heed side accept the apology and the Nagan side accept the gratitude, the matter finally settled, and the Strategist returned his posture to normal.
When raising his face, he peered just a tiny bit at the expressions of the soldiers atop the defensive walls and the soldiers behind Matilde, and it appeared their guard against the Nagan Kingdom had settled down slightly. It didn't seem to have attained the level he desired yet, but it was likely sufficient as a stepping stone. Confirming the procedure within his brain, he opened his mouth once more.
"Therefore, if it is permissible, I would like to meet those 'Ostriches' directly and offer an apology..."
The instant those words emerged, Matilde's body stiffened slightly. The breakdown of the reinforcement supplies Nagan brought along had already been grasped via the documents the forerunner brought. From what Matilde could see at a glance, they were ordinary supplies, and except for the quantity being abnormally massive, they were nothing special. However, to her, it could only seem as though the Strategist was saying 'It's perfectly fine to disclose information to this extent, you see~.'
At any rate, the opponent was someone who became a Special Tactical Force purely through intellect, and unlike ordinary Special Tactical Forces, he was an opponent who would display that capability without regret not just on the battlefield, but in single scenes of daily life like this. An opponent who seemed likely to utilize even the fact that she harbored suspicion in this manner. To be frank, she couldn't trust a single thing. However, the opponent's argument was proper, and if it became a request from an ally nation, she couldn't refuse.
"The communication we received was just a tiny bit before the forerunner arrived, you see; currently, Lord Lais is in the middle of preparations. I have heard she will arrive at this venue, so please wait a mo...ッ!!!"
Please wait at this venue—the instant such words were about to be woven, the air alters.
In a flash, color vanishes from the world, and what is felt is pure terror. The existence known as death is right in the immediate vicinity. The humans existing in this entire area comprehended—no, ended up comprehending—that. An existence dubbed a "Special Tactical Force" was drawing close to this location while possessing an overwhelming aura. Everyone present at this venue comprehended that fact.
"ッ!"
Within the world where color had vanished and stiffened, the one who moved the fastest was Strategist-kun. Whether it was because he had met existences other than himself as a "Special Tactical Force" before, or because he had established his resolve in advance, he immediately confirmed his personal grooming and issued commands to the subordinates waiting behind him. They were individuals who had already incurred resentment, but since the nation had processed that attack as the 'reckless rampage of a single noble,' he couldn't apologize formally as a nation.
Rather, it was better not to apologize. According to the intelligence gathered beneath the Strategist-kun, the existence known as Lais was an opponent with whom conversation could unexpectedly pass, and her values were relatively close to ordinary ones. For that reason, if it was 'Our subordinates went on a reckless rampage, and I am truly sorry!', there was a possibility she would sympathize and forgive them. However, if he said 'It is my fault, I am sorry!', there was a possibility the entire nation would be destroyed on the grounds of taking responsibility.
It was a choice made precisely because the former was overwhelmingly preferable.
(I must hold my spirit strongッ!)
In the instant everyone present likely thought so and braced themselves, their figures entered their field of vision.
The bird beastmen, totaling 300.
A spectacle where they are led by a single chieftain.
Every single one follows the chieftain's command, advancing their steps slowly.
And, the instant the eyes of "Lais"—the Queen of the ostriches—and the "Strategist"—the pride of Nagan's Special Tactical Forces—met.
Every single piece of it is destroyed.
The overwhelming aura Lais had been scattering about until then fixates toward a single direction. The direction where Nagan's soldiers were positioned.
In that instant, the overwhelming aura doubled.
Not to mention Nagan's ordinary soldiers, even Heed's soldiers—who should have been notified in advance—fainted. The Lord of this town, who had heard of it but hadn't been resolved for it, scattered various things while departing to the dream world, and even Matilde found it difficult to remain standing as she was, inadvertently dropping to her knees.
And, as for the crucial Strategist-kun...
(This is bad, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad...ッ!!!)
He was grandly, spectacularly misunderstanding.
Lais-chan was currently in the middle of grandly regretting 'Uwa, I might have messed up,' while feeling exceptionally worried about whether the collapsed people were alright and if they had sustained injuries, but from the Strategist-kun's perspective, it looked entirely distinct.
It could only look as though she was walking slowly while taking his measure in order to blast away the enemy known as Nagan, who had picked a fight once before and fled using cowardly methods. To the Strategist, who didn't know that this was an ostrich's habit, he couldn't explain the fact that she elevated the pressure of her intimidation the instant her eyes met theirs, or the fact that she came to this venue alongside her other subordinates.
(What is, what is the correct answerッ!)
The Strategist kept rotating his intellect; if he had been standing at this venue without any sort of resolve, he—who possessed capability only a hair above an ordinary person's—would have likely relinquished his consciousness immediately. However, perhaps because of the state of the Red Knight waiting behind him—who displayed the disgrace of trembling her body, making her full-plate armor rattle noisily while leaking meaningless delirium from her mouth—he managed to maintain his sanity somehow.
And, his past experience of fighting through against similar Special Tactical Forces—though they didn't quite equate to his own tier—comes alive. While on the verge of being crushed by the heavy pressure, his thoughts continue to rotate.
As stated earlier, if he acknowledged it as the nation's responsibility, it would end. There is a timing to apologies, and if he apologized immediately, it would merely deepen her distrust. The method of apology must not be that he himself was evil, but an apology that could convey the intent that his subordinates had gone on a reckless rampage and he was sorry. However, he didn't comprehend the timing at which the opponent's anger would detonate.
Though his thoughts swirled, time advanced, and the closer she slowly drew the distance, the more the dropouts increased. The Red Knight waiting behind him fell as well, and in the instant he finished constructing a strategy that could reliably connect to Nagan's survival, she arrived before his eyes.
"Hey there, are you the Strategist?"
"Yes. Nice to meet you for the first time, Lord Lais."
While enduring the pure violence, the terror of death raining down upon his person solely by the power of his will, he answered so while suppressing his trembling.
And then...
"Nice to meet you for the first time as well, Lord Strategist. Therefore... I ended up doing it a bit too much, tehe-pero☆ (teehee)!"
In an instant, she returned to her raw self.
"...Huh?"
What remained at the very end was the Strategist-san, who currently comprehended the situation the least in this century, the soldiers who had leaked various things and turned into a grand disaster, and the ostrich-sans, who had started playing around on their own whim since their hunting schedule had vanished and they became free.
"? Hunt, finished?"
"None?"
"End?"
"Mama~? No hunting?"
"Ah, yes, we won't. Today's work is finished! Go play."
"Play?"
"Play!"
"Something smells a bit stinky."
"True."
"Wow~!"
"Run away~!"