Chapter 62: Debating Tails

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"Your joke was not funny in the least. Please study harder." The central nobles sipped their tea as they cursed us.

"Well, your joke was not funny too. Saying that the tailfolk needed to take Northlangard by themselves. Why do we need to thank you for saving us when you literally ordered us to die? You should know how much peril assaulting undead lands should be." Lily mimicked them by also sipping her tea. The atmosphere was tense as the surrounding lord sighed. I could even see some lord facepalming their face at the stupidity of these nobles.

"Resse. Tell your underling to shut up. Or I shall charge them with treason of the high magic." Alistar spoke out. His annoyance was blatantly shown to everyone.

"I-I am not betraying high magic under any means." The central nobles spoke out, "It is a fair trade, right gentlemen?"

"It is only a fair trade if we also joined them. No, we are the ones who profited the most. We should spearhead this expedition." Ghander spoke out.

"But. We could not afford it. These tailfolk are….”

"Please mind your tongue now, gentlemen. Or you will lose your life swiftly despite being a lord." Resse finally spoke out.

I turned my gaze from the heated debate to students of the lord's curriculum. They stared at the discussion with agitated looks. Some could not even contain their mouth and spoke out, defending or cursing us.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, Let us talk about another matter. How is your preparation to assault Northlangard? Lord Lily, Let us start with you."

"Yes. I could spare about thirty percent of my populace. We are currently equipping them now. Lhorne said they would be ready in another two or three years. I can provide about five thousand tailfolk troops. With an elf commander." Since the prejudice against humans was strong, we purposely omitted Mattheus's name and nominated Lhorne for the leader's role.

"Hmph! Lies! How could you arm those troops? You are a cruel lord! You will send them to their death! You would not escape punishment if that were the case! Elven law forbids that!" The central nobles picked a fight with us whenever they could. How annoying.

The other lords looked upon us with curiosity. All of them are now on the central nobles' side. They didn't seem to support sending armless troops to die despite all of them being tailfolk. Good thing they still have some modicum of morality despite the previous mockery.

"Edenthal Region is blessed with an abundance of wood as the area is surrounded by forest. We planned to fashion our troops with wooden spears, shields, and helmets. The wood in the Edenthal region should be hard enough to withstand arrows and swords by those skeleton soldiers. And spears from those woods should be able to penetrate vargmuth skin."

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"I see. Using wood, huh? So you opted to use wood for everything, including spearheads and arrowheads? And what about armor? Will you carve them from wood too?" Alistar spoke out.

"No. Our troops will be the light armored and skirmish type."

"I see. Just like the forest rangers. That will certainly put down the cost." Silvainesse spoke out. "We were planning to send out only 50 men. But with your plan, we could probably send out a thousand more.."

"But that's reckless! Soldiers are not forest rangers! They could not withstand the battle. The standard soldiers should wear at least a breastplate armor, a sword, a spear or halberd, a tower shield, a helmet, vambraces, and leggings! Anything less would risk their lives!" The central nobles spoke out. If we send fellow tailfolk without training with that getup, they would be unable to move because of the weight.

A heavy infantry, huh? It was a good combination against the skeleton. Their rusted swords or clubs would do nothing while every swing would crush them. But I doubt it would prove effective against vargmuth and those new elven archers. Varhmuth was quick, and their arm could crush bones while those archers could aim at the weak spot of these armors. These elves are hard to adapt to new enemies. But despite our plan, we could not turn everyone into light infantry like us. We still needed other's heavy infantry. Maybe I could turn to Ghander for this.

"If the tailfolk thinks it is fair, why not let them? This is your plan, right?" Another central spoke out.

"Lord Lily, Please bring 100 of your troops for mock battle as soon as possible. I want to see them in action." Ghander asked us directly. His gaze was sharp and uncompromising.

"Alright."

"They are probably worthless." The central nobles mocked us again

"That remains to be seen. If those hundred soldiers could beat fifty, no, just twenty of our elven soldiers, we could use that, no?" Alistar spoke out.

"The casualties…." The central nobles spoke out.

"This is the chance! It would become fair if tailfolk sent 5000 of their troops while we sent only 500 of elven soldiers if their qualities are like that!" Silvane shouted. "Moreover, I will personally take the field. Lord Ghander will as well, right?"

"Of course. This expedition will require all battle-ready lords and magicians as well." Ghander nodded.

"I will attend as well!" Silvaine Shouted. "I have a blessed magician tailfolk in my region. Let us go all in on this!"

"Yes! I concur. I will attend as well. I hope in the worst-case scenario; My son will be able to take the mantle of leadership for me." Alistar nodded.

"I will also fight in the frontlines as well." Edelweiss nodded.

"Oh! Will you fight directly? I haven't seen you fight with a sword!" Lily commented, but the atmosphere turned silent at once. Everyone, including Ghander, turned away from us while coughing.

"Ehm… Lily. I didn't mean with a sword, of course. I mean with magic. I must admit that I am not very good with the sword or other melee weapons." Edelweiss twitched.

"Ah. My apologies. You said you were going to fight on the front lines. I thought…"

"The king has arrived." an announcer shouted from the door. "We kneel before King Garme!"

All the lord knelt, and a bulky man passed through the door. His clothes were adorned with various pieces of jewelry, while his crown was pure white with numerous gemstones embedded in it. It was making a radiant white glow.

He is the king of the elven country. It was the first time we saw him.