Waiting for Aldis back at the inn were Ted and Orphelia, sitting across from each other at a table for four in the dining room.

　This restaurant, which provides sleeping quarters and drinks to mercenaries, can become noisy with the voices of drunken customers as the night wears on.
　But today is a different story.
　It is noisy as well as noisy, but the air in the restaurant is filled with an atmosphere that has nothing to do with cheerfulness. This is because there are no people holding a cup of wine.

Where's Norris?

　Aldis asked them as she sat down in an empty chair.

'I'm having them go get some information for me.

I don't know if we'll ever get an accurate picture with all the chaos over there and over here.

　The two of them also seemed to be exchanging information with the inn's owner and their fellow mercenaries.
　However, the other mercenaries, like Ardis and the others, did not have a direct view of the situation outside.
　It seems that all they heard was a hoax with little credibility.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to wait,

　Just as Aldis ordered food and drinks to the waiter, Norris returned.
　He took the liberty of gulping down a glass of water from the desk and sat down roughly on the remaining seat to catch his breath.

'Good evening,'

　Orphelia poured a glass of fresh water from the jug and offered it to Norris as if to thank him.
　When the second cup of water was drunk in one go, Norris, who was finally comfortable, began to report.

It looks like things are a bit hectic upstairs. But they seem to be moving fast. They're waiting for the dawn to break.

I don't know if there are that many regulars in the Leytin Army.

That's right. I think it was around 500 people or so, right?　No matter how much of a beast it is for the most part, you can't deal with that many: ......

　Norris answers Ted and the others' questions in a matter-of-fact manner.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's not. Moreover, looking at the battle at the west gate, it would be tough to deal with demons. Even if they are against beasts, they might be dangerous if they are of the 'Beast King' class. That's why I heard that we mercenaries will be asked by the government to participate in the war as well.

That's kind of a no-brainer.

'But hey. I don't know how many mercenaries there are in Leytin, but I'm guessing at most a hundred or two hundred.　There aren't 1,000 or 2,000 of them. We can't deal with that many beasts, even if we are dealing with them.

'That part, well, I guess you'd call it a blessing in disguise.　Just now, it seems like this city is attracting talented mercenaries from both here and abroad.

　Norris counted out a party of famous mercenaries, including the Jiyuuuun, the Dragon's Peak, the Spirit's Guide, and the Red Three Swords, all of which are strong and powerful men who have made a name for themselves across countries.
　All of them were strong men who had made their names known across the country.

''There are five hundred regulars, and one hundred mercenaries. There are five hundred regulars, and one hundred mercenaries. I heard that the militia will be called up as well, so I'm sure there are more than 2,000 of them if you just count the number.

　The population is over 50,000 in Leytin. Even if you're not a soldier in your day job, just gathering citizens who are skilled will be a good number.

　Of course, since they couldn't afford to prepare for a sudden situation, they wouldn't be able to spread their equipment around or train in advance.
　However, if the beasts broke through the city walls and poured into the city, what awaited them was the death of their families and loved ones.
　This is a battle that the militia cannot afford to lose. Morale will be high.

"We'll take on the demons, the regulars will take on the beasts, and the militia will be outnumbered to fight the beasts. ''Is that about it?''

'Yeah. It seems the country is thinking just as Ardis said. We mercenaries will receive two gold coins per person as a reward for participating. And for every demon they kill, they'll get three more gold coins.

　Three gold coins for one demon. Normally, this is an unthinkably high amount of money.
　However, in the predicament of failing to defeat them, even the collapse of Leytin, the country seems to have no intention of sparing the reward.
　I don't know how many demons there are, but if we defeat ten of them, it will be quite fruitful.

''But?　If the mercenaries' employers don't shake their heads, it's just a theory on the table, right?　As I recall, the 'Dragon's Peak' and the 'Red Three Swords' are the examples of - well, what were they called?　Gin...... somehow business association--

Gimbalil and Company.

Yes, you're here on behalf of this Gimbalil Corporation, right?

　Ted was right.
　The mercenaries operate at the request of their employers.
　In most cases, a contract is signed between the mercenary and his employer, and he is required not to sign any other contracts during the term of the contract.

　For the employer, it would be unacceptable if he were to be thrown out of the contract midway, saying, "I'll pay you better there.
　Mercenaries, who are seen as little more than lowlifes by the public, have barely earned their citizenship by honoring their contracts.

　Of course, there are not a few undesirables among the mercenaries who do not mind flouting their contracts.
　But the famous mercenaries Norris spoke of would not be like those ragtag mercenaries around here. They are not the kind of people who would neglect their contracts.

　On the contrary, they are also bound by contracts.
　If their employers were selfish and prioritized the protection of their own lives and property, they would not be an asset to the war effort, even though they had great strength.

That's the thing.

　Norris opened his mouth to say that he was glad you listened to him.

I've heard that the Zimbalil Chamber of Commerce got wind of the situation and personally asked the mercenaries to help them in their fight against the enemy. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this, but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

　Originally, Ted and the rest of the "Byakuya no Meibei" had also come to Leytin after receiving a request from the Zimbalil Chamber of Commerce. It's not surprising that the Chamber of Commerce had approached anyone other than the 'Dragon's Peak' and 'Red Three Swords'.

''This is because the Zimbalil Chamber of Commerce has expressed their full cooperation with us. If the Chamber of Commerce had said that they wouldn't let the mercenaries participate in the defeat: ......''

　The chances of victory will be very thin, Orphelia said.

　If it was just the beasts, the regular soldiers and other mercenaries would be able to manage it, but with the demons in the mix, it would be difficult.
　No matter how strong Ted and the others are, it is physically impossible for them to take on all the demons that are everywhere.

''In addition, it seems you are actively providing weapons for the militia and materials for repairing the city walls. I've heard that the reputation of the Gimballian Chamber of Commerce is soaring in the country and in the military.

What's the rest of the Chamber of Commerce doing?

　Aldis remembered the chaos of the Litte Chamber of Commerce.

'Well, you know. I didn't even hear about the other Chamber of Commerce. Maybe they didn't know what was going on, and they were just going through the motions.　That's what makes the Gimbalil Chamber of Commerce so good at what they do. Wow, wow, wow.

　Norris laughs in a sarcastic tone.

　It has not even been half a day since the situation was discovered. Probably no one but the top brass of the country have little understanding of the situation.
　In such a situation, making a quick decision and offering your cooperation is somehow "too good".

　In addition, considering the fact that information is circulating so easily, there was even a possibility that the people involved in the Zimbalil Chamber of Commerce had been passing it around.
　You can't say that they are strong as merchants, but Ardis is not the only one who feels a bad taste in them.

　Apparently, Norris was also concerned about that. You may not be able to get a good look at it, but you can see the unfavorable feelings towards the Zimbalil Chamber of Commerce, even if you don't say so in words.

We need to fight off the beasts first, and then we can go to the other side. Our first priority is to fight off the herd of beasts.''

'Norris is right. I don't like that scrawny merchant, but it's good to know that at least we have a chance of winning.

　Ted must have understood Norris' feelings. I'm happy to see you, and I'm also happy to hear you say slanderous words.

What is it?　Ted, are you still saying that?　You don't think you're screwing with the chairman of the Zimbalil Trading Company just because he's handsome, do you?

There's no way!

Definitely not!

　They both strongly disagreed with Orphelia's misguided point.

　The three of them began to argue lightly with each other, while Ardis, who has never met the chairman of the Zimbalil Trading Company in person, began to work on the food.
　The warm, steaming broth soaked into his tired body, and the saltiness and gravy of the bread with crispy bacon sandwiched in between satisfied his appetite.

　Because of the nature of the place where ingredients from the East and West were gathered, there were several dishes that Aldis had never seen before.
　While Ted and the others continued to argue, they were silently gobbling up the food that was lined up on the table.

　The taste was decent. At the very least, compared to the annihilation weapons (Meryl's dishes) in the Seseragi-tei, there is a vast difference.
　It's the kind of thing that should not be called a dish," Ardis said, muttering the impressions that she would never share with others.

You, my dear ....... I'm not going to be eating a meal while people are arguing with each other.

　Seeing such an Aldis, Ted and the others put away their contraptions as if it was ridiculous, and began to eat.

　It was about an hour later that the soldiers touched up the formation of the defeating force and the next morning's sortie to the inns and taverns in the city where the mercenaries hung out.