Editing Toaru Majutsu no Index:MvM Chapter5 (section)

===Part 20===

They had asked Patissiet and the other longbow-proficient elves to stage a diversion from the front, but it didn’t look like that would be necessary.

''Crash!!!!!

Several beam-like artillery blasts shot out into the clear sky from a distant position. Apparently that was what the elves’ magical bows could do at Level 9999.

The simple firepower was impressive, but they could also convey a lot more information in a single instruction using their voice, eyes, fingers, and long ears. Not only could they coordinate to corner the enemy, but it didn’t look like the elves were at any risk of being hit by friendly fire even if they entered the labyrinthine capital.

“But more than that…”

The people in the capital were too busy fighting with their allies(?) to fight back.

If they couldn’t coordinate, they were no better than a disorganized mob.

White pigeons flew from the castle floating overhead. Those were carrier pigeons. 50 to 100 of them filled the sky like confetti.

Mikoto looked up.

“What do you think they’re doing?”

“From their upper layer, they must have noticed our big diversionary army, so I bet that king is sending commands to all the kingdom’s different territories demanding they send troops to protect the capital. Threatening to charge them with treason ability if they disobey, of course.”

“What an idiot.”

“He really is, isn’t he? Even if the people risk their lives to fight in the war and win, the bankrupt kingdom is in no position to reward any of them. No one’s going to join that war unless they’re a bloodthirsty freak who just likes the fighting, the bloodshed, and the killing ability☆”

For one thing, wars fought to prevent invasions, protect strategic positions, and suppress uprisings generally made no money.

When defeating a foreign kingdom, they could take land and force the defeated enemy to pay war reparations so they could distribute rewards to the lords who sent troops, but winning a defensive war only won back their current territory. It turned a negative into breaking even, so they didn’t win anything new that could be distributed as a reward. No matter how much money and how many lives the lords had spent on the king’s command.

Suppressing an uprising in your own territory was bad enough, but who would look after someone else’s land like that? It was a waste of time, not to mention money and lives.

Of course, the power structure normally made it so the king could in fact order the lords to do it anyway, but…

“If the king demands they fight a war for free and threatens to throw them in prison for treason if they don’t die at his command…those lords might just decide its easier to kill their incompetent monarch and declare independence. Or they might sell off their entire territory to some other kingdom, whittling down this kingdom’s borders in the process.”

“Good grief. Every world is a cruel place to live, isn’t it?”

Apparently there were no storybook knights in shining armor who proudly fought out of honorable allegiance to their king.

And whatever the reasons, there were no reinforcements coming.

That just left the debt-ridden king and the disorganized mob that was too confused to actually function.

“Now, then☆”

Shokuhou walked to the city’s entrance and gave her TV remote a wave. After brainwashing the guards refusing to let anyone through, the capital’s people rushed out of the city. Once that had begun, group psychology kicked in and the soldiers, who had been trying to stop the hemorrhaging of population and private property, exchanged a glance and fled outside the city too. Maybe they didn’t want to be made the target of criticism against the king’s rule, but a lot of the soldiers left their proud armor and helmets on the roadside before they left.

The empty capital was full of doors off their hinges and broken windows. The place had been devastated in a single day.

The only people remaining were the collared and chained elves, dryads, and others humanoid monsters who had been left behind along with the unneeded furniture.

The sudden economic crash meant the humans had no idea where their next meal would come from, so they must not have wanted to bring any extra mouths along with them. They must not have even wanted the expense of killing their slaves. Unlike legendary swords, real weapons broke quite easily.

Of course, this was quite convenient for anyone who wanted to safely rescue those enslaved people.

Mikoto whispered in some of the enslaved girls’ ears.

“Go gather up everyone you know and leave through the city gate. A new life awaits you there.”

That was all she said before looking up.

At the higher layer.

The castle floated 50m above the capital. That was within reach of a magnetic leap.