[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 17 - 1 Part 1

17-1 Part 1

Shinza, Wanna Drop By My Place!?

 - Whim –

Translator : PolterGlast

Recap of the Previous Chapter

To accept a big job at the Adventurer's Guild, Ashley revealed the secret of the Book of the Evil Dragon to his older brother Georg. However, his brother's interest was solely on the single point that he himself was not listed in the Skill 'Emperor of the Round'. Therefore, Georg performed a knight's oath with Ashley's Shovel. Then, the bizarre book acknowledged Georg, inscribed his name in the Skill 'Emperor of the Round', and granted him a great blessing. It was an unexpected development, but having safely obtained his brother's backing in this way, Ashley headed to the Adventurer's Guild as Shinza. Accepting a request to subjugate Abyss Ogres at the reception desk, he and his party, along with Kachua, Sigrun, and the usual drunkard adventurers, departed for the west. During the journey, there were incidents where Shinza suddenly glowed due to a skill growth, and the carriage accelerated. Thus, the party arrived at their destination, the town of Enes, in just 5 days. With the covering fire of crossbows, ballistae, and Kachua's surefire bow, Shinza and Sigrun rampaged as the vanguard. They were defeating the horde of Abyss Ogres with a rapid advance, but then an unidentified monster that could be called a burning demon appeared. It was a formidable enemy that rejected not only arrows but even Sigrun's swords. But when Shinza connected a pitfall to a waterway to create a pool of water, and Sigrun pushed the enemy into it with her Herculean strength, the burning demon turned into a carbonized humanoid remnant. The truth that Shinza and the others would never know... That demon was a human. Vowing revenge, he met the white knight of the Abyss, and desired to become a burning demon himself. The Abyss possesses a terrifying power that turns even gods into monsters. The last thing the demon burning with revenge saw was a Valkyrie with a single black horn.

――――――――――――――――――――

To the Village of the Horned Race

Sigrun's Homecoming

――――――――――――――――――――

17-1 Shinza, Wanna Drop By My Place!?

The majority of people in the frontier never leave their land for their entire lives. Their lives are self-contained in their own world, and unless there are special circumstances, they almost never leave the land where they were born and raised. Therefore, the feelings of frontier people towards travelers are diverse. Like that Corin Village, there are lands that welcome guests with expectations, and there are also lands that direct strong vigilance toward them, viewing drifters as troublemakers.

This town was somewhat exclusive. When we entered a tavern reputed for its delicious food, the preceding customers didn't pick a fight with us, but they were directing vigilant gazes at us from a distance. Actually, we parted ways with the adventurer group from the guild. The reason of that, of course, was a whim of that female hero whose actions can never be read, Sigrun.

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

「Oh, right. Since we've come all this way, won't you drop by my village?」

After defeating that burning demon, we reported to the local guild. It seems the guild in the Imperial Capital is special; the branch here didn't have that rough tavern attached to it. And right at the storefront after finishing the report, Sigrun said something unexpected.

「Don't tell me that refers to the village of the Horned race?」

「What obvious things are you saying. Can't you see this horn of mine?」

Tapping her single black horn tap tap, Sigrun laughed heartily. It was far too sudden a topic.

「Is Sigrun-sama's parents' home close to here?」

「Umu, if you say it's close, it's close. If you say it's far, it's far. Anyway, I want to guide you two to my hometown. ...Oh right, how about you guys too!?」

Contrary to Sigrun's energetic smile, the expressions of the middle-aged adventurers were bitter. What are you talking about, they conveyed through their attitude alone that it was out of the question.

「Your birthplace is that Farthest End, right!?」

「It ain't close at all, you massive idiot!」

「Who'd willingly tag along to such a super-frontier of frontiers, and a super dangerous zone to boot!」

「Oi Shinza, decline! We don't even know if we'd be able to return alive!?」

With the above collective retorts, I grasped the general situation. But this is a chance. Speaking of the Horned race, they are famous as wise men with high magic power. I want to pull them in as our allies.

「Understood, I'll tag along.」

「Eh, eeeh, w-we're going!?」

「Wahahaha, that's how it should be! Now let's go, to my parents' home at the Farthest End!」

We just have to return within a month. If we can gain the wisdom of the Horned race, we, the Shadows of Bergelmir, will gain great power.

「You're quite the crazy bastard yourself... Well then, this is where we part ways.」

「Aww man, he was a good guy too... See ya, Shinza.」

「The Farthest End is seriously dangerous apparently, so be careful, alright?」

「If you come back alive, us old guys will treat you to a drink. See ya!」

There, we parted ways with the middle-aged adventurers. It was decided that we would receive our share of the reward, minus expenses, later when we returned to the Imperial Capital, and so I, Sigrun, and Kachua made the world of the Farthest End our new destination. Gaining a connection with the Horned race has great meaning. However, to go to the Farthest End, which is the village of the Horned race, it seems we have to cross a terrifying desert called the Wasteland of the Farthest End.

Jumping onto a shared carriage, we headed west from the large city where the guild was located. The coachman and the passengers seemed quite surprised by the horses accelerating to double speed, but we pushed through with a 'we know nothing, it has nothing to do with us' attitude.

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[WN] A Hero From a Remote Village : Chapter 273

Chapter 273

Days of Sleep

Translator : PolterGlast

While calming Blut down, I called for Bane. He was crying with joy that I had woken up, but I brushed him off appropriately and asked what in the world had happened.

「I am truly glad you have woken up! I was wondering what I would do if you didn't wake up at this rate.」

「Bane, the crying really isn't necessary. Tell me what in the world happened after that.」

「You fainted from magic power depletion, Graham-sama. And you have been sleeping here continuously for three days.」

Three days...? Certainly, my hair is unusually stiff and messy, and come to think of it, I'm hungry. Now that I'm aware of it, I've become hungry enough that my stomach is rumbling loudly.

「I was asleep for that long? ――Ah. I might be causing Ginia and the others to worry.」

「There is no need to worry on that point. Because I went to explain the circumstances. However, I apologize for breaking my promise and going to the city of Biodasdal. I did not meet with anyone, so I believe it will not cause a commotion.」

「No, you don't need to apologize. It would have caused a bigger commotion if I hadn't returned for three days without any contact, after all. It was a help that you went to report it.」

Taking action on his own judgment even when it's something prohibited is one of Bane's good points. Because when he judges it must be done, he acts immediately.

「I am relieved to hear you say that. Both Ginia-san and Aoi-san were worried, but I explained it to them thoroughly, so I believe they are fine.」

「Thank you for taking action. Even so, to think I slept for three days.」

「Have there been times in the past where you suffered magic power depletion and lost consciousness like this?」

「No, magic power depletion itself was a first-time experience for me. Sleeping for this long is also... a first-time experience.」

I don't think I have a talent for magic, but when it comes to magic power, I have the self-confidence that I possess more than a normal person. I'm also good at magic power management, and although it was my first time experiencing magic power depletion, sleeping for three days was totally unexpected. Even when I lost my arm while subjugating the Ancient Dragon, although I slept for a full day, I woke up after all. Waking up from the pain in my arm might have been a factor, but the sluggishness in my body is worse than it was back then.

「The fact that it is your first time experiencing magic power depletion is just what I'd expect from you, Graham-sama!」

「Do you have experience with magic power depletion, Bane?」

「Of course. I can count on one hand the times it has happened since I obtained this body, but when I was a Ghost Wizard, I experienced it countless times.」

「So that's how it is. And when magic power depletion occurred, did you lose consciousness?」

「I did not lose consciousness. If you say I developed a resistance to magic power depletion, that might be true, but as for my symptoms, they were just a severe headache and my body becoming unusually heavy. Even then, after half a day, I would become able to use magic again.」

Even compared to me, the symptoms are far too different. Living creatures are adaptable, and as Bane says, it is possible the symptoms were severe because it was my first time experiencing magic power depletion, but still.

「Even if it was my first time, it feels like I slept way too much.」

「I think so too. That is why I was truly worried, you know?」

「My bad for making you worry. As I thought, giving a name too easily is not good.」

When it comes to this, I feel like I'm consuming things other than magic power too, so easily bestowing names really isn't good. It might be fine to casually give them to low-ranking monsters, but I need to be careful when naming monsters like Blut.

「...Hey hey, are you not done talking yet~?」

The one pulling on my sleeve was Blut, who had been left alone all this time. We had only been talking about my fainting, but I need to hear about Blut too.

「Wait just a little longer. Bane, when did Blut become human-like?」

「She took on this form the day after you fainted, Graham-sama. She transformed into a humanoid form just like myself, Aka, and Yoru, but... Blut is slightly different.」

「Different? Is there some difference?」

「Yes. Blut, please show Graham-sama that.」

「Eh! Is it okay to do that!?」

Saying so, Blut happily jumped up and down. I could tell from the conversation that it's usually prohibited, so it might be something dangerous.

「If it's dangerous, tell me beforehand. I want to brace myself.」

「It is not dangerous. However, I believe you will be surprised.」

While staring closely at Blut wondering what would happen... she began to shine radiantly. That light gradually began to grow larger――and when the light subsided, Blut in her dragon form was there.

「...Hm? Blut can return to her dragon form as well?」

「Were you surprised as well, Graham-sama? I was surprised when I first saw it too, but it seems she can freely change her form.」

「Guruu!」

She seemed to still be able to understand words even in her dragon state, as Blut was flying around happily. In this form, there doesn't seem to be any difference from before she was named.

「I'm surprised she can change freely. Are there any changes to her abilities?」

「No. Her appearance is the same, but her abilities have improved remarkably. She's now able to breathe fire, she can use magic, and her flying ability has improved remarkably as well.」

So she's become a completely different entity. As expected, I think the effect of naming is far too amazing, but considering I had enough power sucked out of me to be bedridden for three days, I can't help but think it's an appropriate result.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 361

Chapter 361

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Southern Front ⑤ The Fall of Ende

Translator : PolterGlast

The defense captain, seeing the suspicious movements of the First Prince’s army, felt a sinister foreboding and hurriedly turned on his heel. He felt the absolute necessity of shifting to their pre-arranged course of action to order a retreat.

As he moved from the outer moat back toward the demilune, he purposefully walked with slow, measured steps, raising the command baton in his right hand high into the air, tracing a large, deliberate circle.

At that exact instant……

「 Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! 」

The 1,500 soldiers hidden within the northern demilune raised a simultaneous, thunderous battle cry. That roar reverberated heavily all the way across the moat, reaching the encampment of Glorious, who was preparing his assault.

「 Tch, so they really intend to fight. It seems Grat's arrogance has thoroughly infected even his lowliest subordinates. Excellent—we no longer need to hold back. Wipe them out completely! 」

「 Your Highness, should we not at least launch an initial warning strike to prompt their submission before—? 」

「 Absolutely not! Those wretches are clearly bursting with hostility. To be looked down upon by such a pitifully small force would severely compromise my dignity! Grant them their wish and execute them for their insolence. 」

With even Harry finding the First Prince a handful to manage lately, it was utterly impossible for the aides to restrain him.

Of course, this massive roar from the defenders was a calculated provocation meant to convey high morale, while simultaneously serving as the secret signal to initiate an immediate retreat.

However, the attacking Imperial forces had absolutely no way of knowing this.

「 Do it! Reduce anyone who dares block our path to ashes! 」

Glorious swung his arm down in a grand arc. Simultaneously, countless cracks of thunder boomed like explosions across the cloudless sky. Searing lightning bolts and blazing spheres of fire raced through the air, relentlessly assaulting the demilune.

The blinding flashes of lightning swept across the city walls, raking the defenses, while the cascading fireballs submerged the entire area in a raging inferno.

As the soldiers of both armies shuddered at the sheer terror of this merciless, one-sided onslaught, the First Prince wore a thoroughly satisfied smirk, watching the demilune being scorched, shattered, and torn to pieces.

Even after the initial volley, intermittent magical bombardments continued from well outside the defenders' counterattack range. The demilune protecting Ende's outer perimeter was utterly helpless, reduced to cinders and collapsing into ruin.

Presumed dead alongside it were the 1,500 garrison troops who held the line……

「 Buhahaha! Fragile! Utterly fragile! Before my presence, the clever little defense grid of that petty fox is nothing more than a castle built on sand! 」

In stark contrast to Glorious's booming laughter, his aides twisted their mouths in grimaces, averting their eyes from the sheer devastation.

Naturally, they too had marched into this campaign with considerable resolve, and they fully understood who their true enemy was. Had it been a proper, legitimate battle, they would not have hesitated, even against allied forces. But what had just unfolded before their eyes was nothing short of a one-sided massacre of defenseless allies.

To laugh boisterously like their lord was something they could never bring themselves to do.

「 Even so, that bastard Harry managed to prepare quite a magnificent trump card. I was completely under the impression that they had been scattered and lost during the previous conflict. 」

Indeed, the asset entrusted to him by the elder who ruled the darkness was the remnant of the magic corps originally provided by the rebel army of the Fearalt Principality—roughly 30 surviving Mages out of the original 50. In the midst of the chaotic retreat from the prior war, they had been secretly sheltered by the Clan of Darkness, escaping capture by Takuhir and his forces.

Following that war, Takuhir had thoroughly investigated the Demon Territory to ascertain their whereabouts, and had even requested confirmation from the Imperial Third Prince and the King of Fearalt, but their status had remained entirely unknown.

Given that the conflict had taken place within the treacherous Demon Territory, if they had been ambushed and slain by monsters, confirming their deaths would have been virtually impossible anyway. Furthermore, the post-war period was a relentless cascade of consecutive campaigns, leaving absolutely no luxury for a prolonged investigation.

With the rebel forces of their homeland completely annihilated, these Mages no longer had a country to return to. Consequently, they had chosen to gamble their ultimate fate on the fortunes of the First Prince.

「 Now then, utilize the rubble to fill in the moat, secure our path forward immediately, and advance. If they continue to resist us after this, we shall simply burn the entire city to the ground as well. 」

This ruthless command from Glorious, however, was never executed. Whether entirely demoralized by the overwhelming, one-sided magical assault or executing a planned withdrawal, the soldiers guarding the perimeters outside the northern sector fled.

In their stead, the remaining resident representatives of the city voluntarily opened the gates and welcomed them in. The massive gates of the city of Ende were thrown wide open.

With this, the base city of Ende, belonging to the Third Prince Grat, had fallen.

The army of over ten thousand soldiers marched through the city gates, loudly proclaiming themselves the saviors who would protect the Empire and Ende. Yet, it was a victory utterly devoid of welcome. And exactly as could be expected, their savior masks were stripped away almost immediately.

Upon entering the city, Glorious instantly attempted to requisition the opposing military's food supplies. But……

「 Are you mocking me?! What do you mean there is absolutely no food? This is supposed to be that bastard's primary logistics hub! 」

「 Report! The military supply granaries were completely empty. It appears they fled while taking every last grain of food with them. 」

「 Tch, it seems their master raised them well. Even when tucking their tails to run, their very first thought is to secure the rations…… Then what about the civilian storehouses? I was informed that a substantial amount of provisions and supplies had been amassed there to support the military. 」

Indeed, the primary reason Glorious had departed from Griffin so ahead of schedule to seize Ende was precisely to lock down these supplies. By doing so, he could bypass the tedious, roundabout process of procuring and transporting goods from Griffin, allowing his army to procure locally on the front lines.

「 About that…… we have thoroughly searched every single warehouse in the city, down to the private storage vaults of the merchants…… but there is nothing. 」

「 What?! How can that be?! 」

「 According to the statements from the citizens' representatives, this city ceased functioning as the primary logistics base the moment the fortress at Big Bridge was constructed. Currently, local stockpiles are minimal, and any surplus was entirely forwarded to the front lines in preparation for the current conflict. 」

「 Even so, there must be enough food for the common rabble to feed themselves day-to-day! Several tens of thousands of people reside here, do they not?! Simply requisition it from them! 」

「 Requisition from the citizens……, Your Highness? 」

「 I preferred the term 'procure.' Tell the citizens: 'Do you truly wish to be trampled by the savages of the Sura Principality?' Use that to compel their cooperation. 」

「 And…… for those who refuse to provide supplies? 」

「 To cooperate with us, who have received the sacred duty to safeguard the Empire, is the absolute obligation of every Imperial subject. Anyone who forgets this and throws a tantrum shall be deemed guilty of aiding the enemy; arrest them and throw them into the dungeon! I do not care if you must use a measure of brute force. That ought to make them fall in line. 」

「 To go that far…… 」

「 Ah, but it is only natural. They are essentially the subjects of enemy territory. They must reap what they have sown. Anyone who dares voice a complaint about it will simply vanish in this war. 」

Following this sequence of events, the inhabitants of Ende were subjected to the crushing weight of the tyranny enforced by Glorious.

However, this marked nothing more than the opening curtains of a grand game of deception between the fox and the raccoon.

As if they had fully anticipated this exact outcome, the citizens had meticulously hidden their food supplies, acting flawlessly as though the entire city were completely destitute and devoid of sustenance.

「 We truly have no food to spare! Please, feel free to search until you are satisfied. Besides, if the remaining food is requisitioned, we won't even have a single meal for tomorrow! 」

Such were the desperate cries they used to completely baffle and smoke out the First Prince's soldiers. This was all possible because they had already enacted thorough countermeasures based on a prior decree issued by Sieghart.

Decree

·         To ensure that Ende is not engulfed in the flames of war in the upcoming battles, the logistics functions currently held by this city shall be entirely transferred to Big Bridge.

·         Any surplus food that is not transported shall be distributed equally among the citizens of the city.

·         Taking advantage of the confusion of war, lawless individuals with wicked intentions may visit the city. Be thoroughly prepared for this.

·         Every household must conceal their food supplies in a secure location to prepare for requisition by military force.

·         In the unlikely event of an emergency, we ask that you remain calm. The defending soldiers will secretly hide in the city, dedicating themselves entirely to your protection.

Every single resident of the city passionately revered the Third Prince, the savior who had rescued their town after it was brutally overrun by an enemy nation and who had successfully developed it into a thriving metropolis supporting the front lines.

Therefore, when the First Prince labeled the people of Ende as enemy nationals, he wasn't entirely wide of the mark in terms of their allegiance.

Alongside the 1,500 garrison soldiers who had defended the northern sector—and were widely believed to have been utterly annihilated—the citizens carried out a highly coordinated campaign of sabotage under various plausible pretexts.

Though he had technically occupied Ende, Glorious and his army found themselves profoundly agonizing over a populace that was superficially submissive but actively uncooperative.

They were left with no choice but to scrounge for meager scraps and remain completely pinned down in Ende, forced to wait until Harry arrived with his fully supplied army of twenty thousand.

That being said, the forces of the Third Prince, having lost Ende, were also left thoroughly isolated within a flawless, suffocating encirclement.

To the First Prince, who had already crossed the line, there was no longer any hesitation or compunction toward those they once called allies.

And as for Takuhir, whom the fully surrounded Sieghart desperately relied upon as his sole beacon of hope and vital lifeline—he was still only midway through his journey, rushing southward through the vast Imperial territory at absolute breakneck speed.

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