Gandalf and I set up a tent in the ruined ruins of Dale. Of course, it was a modern tent I had brought for such occasions. I also set up a camping bed and a wood-burning stove. Gandalf watched take things out and set them up, fascinated.
"What an unusual magic. How does it work?"
After a mont's thought, I said:
"Hmm... To put it simply, I expand space to store objects. It's actually quite difficult."
I showed Gandalf a small-capacity subspace bag I had purchased in Konosuba. Even a small one was quite expensive.
"This bag has my magic on it. Try putting sothing inside."
Half-doubting, he put his staff inside. The long staff disappeared into the small bag.
"Oh~ Remarkable. The bag is small, yet it holds objects much larger than itself."
Gandalf seed to enjoy testing the bag, putting things in and taking them out.
"Enough of that. Let's eat."
I used the wood-burning stove to make a simple al, and we ate together. During the al, Gandalf asked:
"Could you give this bag? You have your own magic, so you don't need it, do you?"
He really seed to like it. It made sense — for soone who traveled constantly, a bag like this would be very tempting.
"What are you talking about? It took 50 years to make that bag."
Of course, that was a lie.
Suddenly, we heard murmuring outside the tent. Gandalf and I went out to find a crowd of hungry children drawn by the delicious sll.
"This is a problem. Do you have any food?"
"Geez, wait a mont."
I took out a massive pot, made a large batch of soup, and handed it out with bread. Adults ca as well, and soon Bard ca to help.
"A year's worth of food from the tower is gone."
"Don't be so glum. Doesn't it warm your heart to see their hunger sated and the children playing?"
Gandalf was right. Seeing the children play after eating did make feel good. Bard also thanked when the distribution was done.
A day passed, and the next day, the children ca again. I handed out soup and bread once more.
"This is the last. There's no more."
I said to Gandalf as I made the soup.
"I see. Thank you for giving away your food."
I actually had plenty of ingredients left, but if I kept giving, they might beco complacent.
Gandalf called Bard, who had been helping, and told him.
"I see. Understood. I hope the elves' support arrives soon. Thank you for everything. We'll manage from here."
When the food distribution ended, Bard announced that supplies were exhausted. He then organized hunting parties for the mountain and fishing parties for the lake. Bard was a good leader.
"Hmm... Bard, was it? I like him."
"Indeed. The people have gained a good lord."
They brought back just enough to barely stave off hunger. With the weather growing colder, finding food was becoming difficult. To stretch it as far as possible, I turned everything into soup. Gandalf and Bard then distributed it to the people.
After the distribution, Bard took his bow and arrows to go hunting again. Gandalf stopped him.
"Wait. The elven army is coming."
True to his word, ard elves in disciplined formation entered Dale.
"Finally."
At the rear of the elven army, riding a massive elk, was Thranduil. Recognizing Gandalf, he greeted him.
"Gandalf the Wizard. I see you here."
"Thranduil, Elvenking of Mirkwood. It's been a long ti."
"Who is the young man beside you?"
Thranduil asked who I was.
"Hmm... He's my apprentice."
Gandalf hid my identity. I didn't particularly want to hide it, so I looked at him. He smiled and patted my shoulder — an unspoken request to play along. Thranduil looked slightly suspicious, but it wasn't important, so he let it go.
"I see. Anyway, I brought so supplies. Who is the leader of this town?"
Bard stepped forward.
"I am. I am the lord."
Thranduil signaled to his elves, and several supply wagons entered. The people cheered, and Bard thanked him.
"Thank you for your help."
"We must help each other in tis of need."
I took the elves' supplies and began preparing als for the people. Because they knew my cooking skills — and because I was the only one with a large pot — they left all the supplies to .
While I cooked, Gandalf and Bard discussed future plans with Thranduil. I didn't need to listen — it was obvious. Gandalf would try to guide negotiations with the dwarves. Bard would seek compensation. Thranduil would use this opportunity to reclaim the White Gems of Lasgalen. Their interests aligned perfectly — a fascinating situation.
When the food was ready, Gandalf and Bard ca out to help with distribution.
"The talks must have gone well."
"Yes. We've decided to try negotiating first."
After the al, Bard organized a militia. With the elven army present, the humans couldn't just sit idle. But compared to the elves, the human militia looked pitiful.
Having barely escaped Lake-town, they had no proper weapons. They made crude spears from scrap tal or used farming tools. So of the militia were even won — whether due to a shortage of n or simply to boost numbers.
"Good grief... And they expect to fight?"
"What can we do? That's their situation."
"More to the point, I never said you could keep that bag, so why is it on your belt?"
Gandalf was wearing the subspace bag on his belt.
"Hehehe, I couldn't just leave such precious magical equipnt lying around. So I've been keeping it safe."
"Sigh... You're so shaless. Just take it."
At that, Gandalf was overjoyed. I had originally bought it to hide my inventory ability, but now I could simply use [Ability Grant] to make one — just grant [Inventory] to any bag. It wasn't such a precious item anymore.
"Oh~ Really? Then I won't refuse. Does this magic bag have a na?"
"Not really... Hmm... Let's just call it 'Jean's Magic Bag.'"
"Understood."
The next day, the elven army and the human militia marched together to Erebor to negotiate with Thorin's Company. Gandalf went with them, but I stayed behind in Dale, cooking als for the people and children. I had no business there, and Thorin would be shocked to see . Besides, Erebor was a dwarven city carved into the mountainside — I could see everything from a tall building in Dale. So I moved my tent to the tallest building in the center of Dale and watched Erebor.
For two days, nothing happened — the elves and humans simply faced off against Thorin's Company inside Erebor. Gandalf was buying ti. Then, from the Iron Hills, east of the mountain, a dwarven army appeared. Now it would begin.
"Finally."
The elven and dwarven armies faced off, their shouts amounting to little more than "Get lost." It looked like they would fight, and Gandalf ran between them, shouting that they were mad, but it seed to have little effect.
I sat in front of my tent, eating popcorn and watching. This was why I had stayed.
'I can't resist a fantasy war.'
The elves and dwarves finished shouting, and the dwarves mounted giant goats and charged the elves. The battle began.
I was watching with interest when Gandalf rode up to , looking frantic.
"Please, stop them!"
"Huh? Why should I? They're fighting for their own interests. Why should I interfere?"
"There's a massive orc army coming! This is no ti for them to be fighting each other!"
Gandalf was clearly frustrated by my relaxed deanor.
"As I said, this has nothing to do with . This is their choice. If the orc army attacks while they're like this, it's their own fault."
Gandalf pointed at the children playing nearby.
"What fault do the innocent children bear? At least protect them."
"Hmm... That's true. I've grown fond of them while feeding them. Fine. I will protect Dale until this is over."
When I agreed, Gandalf looked relieved.
"That's a relief. I must summon the eagles before it's too late."
He rode off. Then, the ground trembled. A massive earthworm burst from the ground between Erebor and Dale, creating a tunnel. Countless orcs poured out.
Seeing this, the elves and dwarves stopped fighting and united to face the orcs. Whatever their differences, they had to deal with the common enemy first.
Thus began the battle between the alliance of Elves, n, and Dwarves against the orcs and trolls. The alliance was already exhausted from their earlier skirmish and outnumbered — the odds were against them.
A question occurred to .
'Why do I always wonder this while watching the original? Where do so many orcs co from?'
According to The Lord of the Rings author, female orcs do exist. Thinking about that, female orcs are likely used for food production or breeding. They certainly have no rights. I imagined they are produced factory-style.
'Geez... Why did I think that?'
I pushed the unpleasant thought away and watched the battlefield.
Despite being outnumbered, the elves and dwarves fought hard. The problem was the trolls. Few in number, but massive — wielding blades or clubs attached to their arms. They were like Ultralisks from StarCraft. And behind them, even more orc reserves waited.
Suddenly, a horn sounded. The orc reserves began their advance toward Dale. I stretched and stood up.
"Phew... Watching ti is over."
I walked slowly and stood before the advancing orcs at the gates of Dale. Then, I summoned my Shadow Soldiers — from Monster Hunter — ten Teostra and ten Lunastra, lion-like Elder Dragons.
The sudden appearance of the giant monsters startled the orcs. They stopped their advance, murmuring in confusion.
"Destroy them."
ROOOAR~~~!!!
At my command, the Teostra and Lunastra breathed fire and swung their claws, slaughtering the orcs. Trolls tried to fight back, but their bladed arms were no match — they were simply swatted away or left shallow wounds that healed instantly. As long as I had mana and wasn't dead, they would regenerate endlessly.
anwhile, Bard and the townsfolk, ard, ran to defend Dale.
"What the..."
They stood dumbfounded at the sight of the Teostra and Lunastra slaughtering orcs.
While they were confused, I transford into my dragon form and took to the air. The front was mostly cleared, so I decided to wipe out the reserves all at once.
"Gasp!!! Arkad Jean!!"
The townsfolk were so shocked they froze or fell to the ground. So soiled themselves. Ignoring them, I breathed toward the reserve orc army.
RAAAAAAGH~~~!!!
As always, the Black Dragon Fatalis's breath was wide-ranging, long-lasting, and incredibly hot. Even stone glowed red and lted. The orcs, being living creatures, stood no chance.
When the front was completely incinerated, I stopped breathing. Nothing remained on the red-hot ground but smoke. Orcs and trolls had been reduced to ash.
I landed, transford back into human form, and called back the Teostra and Lunastra. They disappeared into the shadows. Perhaps I had overdone it — even though winter was approaching, the temperature had risen.
They could handle the rest themselves, I thought, and returned slowly to my tent. People parted without a word, not even daring to look at . When I returned to the tent and looked around, the elves and dwarves were still standing in shock. The surviving orcs were busy fleeing.
"Maybe I should have let them fight longer. Wars like this are hard to see."
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