Squinoa Mountains
“No way... a mobilization order? Does that even make sense? What did the territory office say?”
“What's with the sudden war?”
“Hmph, looks like the Jo family has trouble reading. It clearly says the ogres are invading in the letter, doesn't it?”
“What? This dwarf?”
“Hmph, grow a little taller and there won't be much difference.”
“Everyone, quiet! My head hurts, so shut your mouths.”
After receiving the emperor's letter, I temporarily closed the Beauty Tower and gathered all the staff in the employee lounge. This wasn't just my problem—it concerned everyone.
“As you've all seen from the imperial letter, the subhuman alliance has declared war on the empire from the Squinoa Mountains, which span the West and East Continents.”
The Squinoa Mountains were a massive, treacherous range uninhabited by humans, home to orcs, ogres, and other subhumans. It was so feared that West Continent parents commonly warned, 'If you don't listen, I'll abandon you in the Squinoa Mountains!'—a true unknown terror to humanity.
“Subhuman alliances are rare in imperial history, and the empire's military casualties are already massive.”
“That's strange. A subhuman alliance led by orcs and ogres? Everyone knows those two races famously refuse to cooperate with each other...”
If even Walter, who'd traveled the entire continent, was saying that, this situation was clearly far from ordinary.
“Because of this, the imperial court has ordered all medical practitioners from every magic tower to mobilize. That includes me, the Jo family witches, and even Res.”
“But then the Beauty Tower will be left with just me, Walter, Ravi, Kellogg, and the half-elves? What if patients come? We won't be able to treat them. And Walter has to guard you, Director, so he can't stay either.”
“Hey, why are we excluded? We're staying too!”
“Yeah, Ollie and I are staying!”
Jeff and Ollie bristled at Cache's explanation.
“Jeff, Ollie—everyone, calm down. You two are precious manpower who'll guard the Beauty Tower while Walter's away.”
“Heh, as expected of my bro—he gets us.”
“Don't worry, bro! We'll take good care of the Beauty Tower!”
Honestly, compared to Walter, Jeff and Ollie's combat prowess was negligible, but their faces were unrivaled in the world. Leaving them behind might actually make things safer than before.
“Hmph... Still, a forced mobilization order is a first. No compensation for damages caused by it?”
“I'll explain that now.”
I nodded slowly at Cache's question. I'd rushed to the territory office right after getting the letter to verify its authenticity.
“I checked at the territory office. They said the imperial court will pay medical staff twice their usual wages.”
The war was graver than expected—the perks didn't stop there. They'd also waive the monthly territory fees we had to pay during the mobilization period.
“Even if operating funds aren't an issue, how do we handle treatments? Adventurers will keep entering the dungeon.”
Rebecca followed up, arms crossed.
“And emergencies could come in anytime.”
“The territory office has solutions for that. Starting tomorrow, imperial knights will limit dungeon entries. They'll check minimum potion stocks beforehand to minimize casualties.”
Actually, when I went to the office, I'd grilled Rachel about it. Why limit entries like that? Just send all the adventurers to the front lines and offer bounties like they do for doctors.
Her curt reply was simple: “You wouldn't know, cooped up in your room, but war isn't child's play. Thousands, tens of thousands—who knows how many? You think you can command that mob?”
Rachel was her usual prickly self, but she wasn't wrong.
“I wanted to leave even one medic behind, but they said handle injuries with potion sales.”
“Miner! What if we don't go? Fines?”
Fines... If it were just that cute, it might be better. My wallet would lighten, but my lifeline wouldn't be at risk.
“You must arrive by May 12th, this Friday—a week after the order. If any medic refuses, their magic tower gets forcibly shut down, and refusers are hunted down for labor reeducation. No choices.”
“Th-that's insane! It's basically forced!”
It was forced. I didn't want to go either. I'd dodged mandatory service back home as an orphan. Who'd have thought I'd end up drafted in another world?
“Bottom line: no options. We Beauty Tower staff must safely treat the wounded knights, and all come back alive.”
My resolute words sobered everyone. They were realizing no one had a choice now.
“It's a day and a half to the Squinoa Mountains on foot—two days to be safe. We'll depart next Wednesday, May 10th. I'll tell you what to pack. First, Kellogg.”
“You called?”
“Our sky turtle carriage seats four. Expand it for all our medics.”
“Got it.”
“Rebecca, stockpile as many potions as possible. Hazel, prioritize emergency patients. Stella...”
I assigned tasks to the executives, wrapping up the emergency meeting. Five tense days flew by.
* * *
May 12th, Year of Ailene. Day two heading to the Squinoa Mountains in the sky turtle carriage.
“O Hecatos in the heavens, grant us our daily bread today, forgive our sins, and deliver us from evil...”
Unlike the past two days of mundane scenery below, as we neared the Squinoa Mountains border, the view through the windows changed drastically. Plumes of smoke rose like feathers here and there. Endless ranks of figures filled the landscape.
“The dark new moon shall shine light! The dark new moon shall shine...”
The ex-Black Moon Jo family members muttered in prayer-like dialect, their old faith resurfacing as we approached.
“Director, almost there. Preparing to land.”
“Everyone, check seatbelts! Landing now!”
“Eeeek! Maiiiineeer!”
“The dark new moon shall shine light! The dark new moon shiiiines!”
Shoooo—!
The Beauty Tower's official scaredy-cat Res and the Jo family wailed, but Walter's hands steadily manipulated the crystal orb to land the carriage.
“Gaaah! Save meee!”
“Kyaaaah!”
“Maiiiineeer!”
Their shrieks amid the sharp descent made it real—we'd arrived. I half-wanted to jab propofol or midazolam into them.
Quuuuuum—!
The sinking sensation stopped, followed by a heavy jolt.
“Director, landed.”
We'd reached the mobilization site.
This is the Squinoa Mountains... Damn it.
I nodded to Walter instead of replying, clapping to snap the still-panicked Jo family and Res to attention.
“Focus, everyone! We're basically in a war zone. Arm disinfection first, then mana meters. Then we head out.”
““Yes!””
Once the ground vibrations stopped post-landing, my tension spiked. The coordinates were the imperial-specified safe zone, far from the front lines.
Stay sharp from here. Even a safe zone has risks in wartime.
The deadline was tonight, May 12th, but arriving early morning let us scout the area in daylight—for our staff's safety.
Kiiik—
Mana meters attached, Walter opened the sky turtle carriage door.
Definitely the rear lines—tension's low.
Various sky beast carriages dotted the landing area. But before we could admire, knights in griffon-emblazoned armor approached.
The lead knight bowed. “Our thanks to the magic tower mages who answered the call. I'm Felix, your guide.”
Answered? It was an order, jerks.
The retort nearly escaped, but knights were like Korean soldiers—powerless cogs.
“Baron Miner Gold from the Beauty Tower in the Frederik Dungeon Zone. With our medical team, one guard knight, and a blacksmith.”
They were just following orders too, so I swallowed my rising anger.
“No need for formal speech, Baron. One moment... Ah, here. We'll guide you to your quarters for the duration.”
Knight Felix searched our tower's name on his crystal orb and led the way.
“Work faster, or the knights won't die fighting—they'll starve!”
“Move it!”
The rear lines bustled with more laborers hauling supplies and food than knights.
“Pardon the noise. Rear lines, so no real danger.”
“It's fine. War means chaos.”
“Thank you. And this will be your quarters for now—”
“Hahaha, who do we have here? Fancy seeing a familiar face again!”
As Felix finished guiding us to the temporary barracks, a familiar, obnoxious voice rang out.
Servius...