''Just before Julia kidnapped me, the [analysis] of the earthen vestri was successful. That's how I finally figured out why the defeated demon general would come back to life.

　Hearing my statement, not only Nagi, but Sakura and Garnett also show expressions of surprise.

　I hadn't had time to calm down for a long time after Vestri's [Analysis], so I hadn't told the two of them about the results of this analysis yet.

''I think the basic idea is the same as this.

　He picked up the stuffed bird that contained a message from the Golden Fang Knights.

'The same device that was built into the Mad Golem ...... that was remotely controlled by the White Wizard Bran before, was also embedded in Vestri's body.

　Bran, a white wizard, is a member of the heroic party that turned on the Demon King's army.

　By using special devices buried in the Mad Golem, he was able to remotely control the golem and activate magic that was relayed to him while he was underground.

　The fact that they were embedded in Vestri--

...... There is also a substitute called a fresh golem in the world. It's literally a golem assembled out of biological flesh. If you're remotely controlling the bodies of other dark elves to look like some kind of golem, then .......

　He spoke the rest of his hypothesis while checking the reactions of the three of them.

　They are capable of bio-modification, such as fusing humans and dragons.
　It would be easy for them to implant some kind of magical device in their own kind.

'They weren't resuscitating, they were just preparing a new body.

　The corpse of the Ice Norzuri that was once recovered by the Golden Fang Knights was destroyed by the Demon King's Army's trickery.

　Perhaps that wasn't the purpose of destroying the corpse, but rather they wanted to dispose of the remote control device embedded in the corpse.

　Green Hollow is a town surrounded by mountains and forests, so it would be easy to hide the remnants of the device so that no one would find it.

''So, that means no one has died for the time being, huh? I don't know what I'm doing, d*mn it.

　Garnet spat bitterly, leaning against a stack of empty crates.

　Nagi was also speechless with his eyebrows furrowed, but he quickly changed his mind and asked a question.

''If that's the case, why did you return to the Demon King's Castle after trying to force your way through? If you're remotely controlling another body, you could have just cut the connection and abandoned it.
''It's annoying that I agree with Kirigakure, but you're certainly right. Even if he didn't want his body to be recovered, shouldn't he have run away to some distant rocky mountain?

　Unusually, Sakura agrees with Nagi.
　The two of them have a valid question. I was thinking the same thing at first.

''It's just my imagination, but I think there's a reason why we can't casually exchange them, unlike the Mad Golem. For example, ...... yeah, like if your original body and physique aren't close enough to each other, your fighting ability will decrease.

　If you don't mind just thinking of it, I can think of many reasons.

　It would take a lot of time and money to make the dark elf's body available as a 'vessel', and there could be a limited number of stocks.

　Then why not just use the Mad Golem as a 'vessel'?　This is probably a misguided idea.

　It's clear from what Bran was able to achieve that he can activate magic and skills via the golem, but that shouldn't be the case up to the physical abilities that are the foundation (base).

　The superb physical abilities that Norzuri showed in the previous battle - it's unlikely that the Mad Golem would be able to replicate that.

　In the first place, it's doubtful that the skill that strengthens a creature's body would even be effective if used on a golem.

　If that's the case, then naturally, the level of physical ability he requires of his 'vessel' is likely to be quite high.

　Since dark elves that meet the required performance are rare, it's a pretty convincing hypothesis that the body can't be easily disposable, isn't it?

''At any rate,''

　Garnett turned his sullen face to Nagi.

''You can leave the final decision to the Golden Fang. We'll pass the information on to the Golden Fang and take the white wolf's and flee the Demon King's Castle. That's enough.
You're right. But wouldn't it be a good idea to attack them from the inside?
No, it's an eye.

　With too much careful emphasis, Garnett rushed to Nagi with an angry shoulder.

　Nagi reacted as if she was frightened by the pressure.

''We can't let the White Wolf's fight like this. Even the Golden Fang wants them to be active in the rear, not in the front line, so you told me to rescue them if possible.''
Wow, okay. I'll send you a reply on time anyway.

　Pushing through Garnett's swordsmanship, Nagi used the large empty wooden box as a desk to scribble a reply.

　As she re-stuffed the completed letter into the belly of the stuffed bird, the stuffed bird began to move like a living bird, flapping its wings lightly and flying away through the barred lighted window.

'Let's use the route I broke into for our escape route. The guards were deployed somewhat, but they entered without being noticed, so the fear of them being augmented should be low.
'But that doesn't mean you're still defenseless, does it? We'll see if we can get out of there unnoticed.
Well, it's impossible. But we'll just have to force our way through. As long as you're outside the castle, you're ours.

　Certainly, it would be fatal to be discovered during the break-in, but if it was time to escape, it was only necessary to escape intact.

　Nagi drew a simple map on the leftover paper and began explaining the escape route.

'There is a dark elf's living quarters underneath the Demon King's Castle. All the inhabitants are either soldiers or workers in the field, so the current living quarters should be nearly uninhabited.
'That's because you're being uprooted and mobilized to fight a siege.

　On the human side, the living quarters would be the equivalent of Hollow Bottom Fortress or Green Hollow Town on the ground.

　When they are off duty, they live there, but they take a break from their duties at the front lines, so they don't go back to the front lines every time. I'm sure it's that kind of place.

　So, with most of the force being devoted to counter-siege measures, the living quarters have become almost uninhabited.

"The residential area is divided into several blocks. And the block that I invaded is adjacent to a small underground waterway, and if you aim at the upper reaches of that waterway, you can get out of the Demon King's Castle.

　The diagram on the paper shows a narrower passage next to a narrow waterway.

　Perhaps it is a pathway prepared for the maintenance of the waterway.

　If that's the case, it might be blocked by a door or fence along the way, but in our case, it won't be a problem.

　There are a variety of countermeasures, such as breaking it with all-out force or [disassembly].

''Both the channel and the passage are quite narrow, so it's impossible for a large contingent to enter. It's because they are so narrow that it's difficult to pass each other. But because of that, the number of troops deployed is also small, so it should be easy to break through.

　Nagi folded up a piece of paper with a map on it and handed it to me with a serious look on his face.

'I need to survey another important section of the city. I can't accompany you, but if Shiranui and Garnett are there, it won't be a problem. Then good luck to you.