[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 14 - 4 Part 1

14-4 Part 1

The Underground Empire of Rebellion Built with a Single Shovel 

- 95% Match -

Translator : PolterGlast

The next destination is the old capital A-Zir. Zirant is quite attached to this land, and seems to believe her plan will bring about a dramatic effect.

「By the way, what kind of place is this A-Zir or whatever?」

「You'll understand when you go there. Long ago, that place was where our god was. But not anymore.」

「Trying to be mysterious, huh? Well, I guess I'll understand when I go.」

Leaving the palace, we headed south through the Fimbul Duke's territory by carriage. This territory is vast, and possesses a rich granary region in its southern part. Passing through that rich land to the south, we eventually got off the carriage in front of a forest.

「It's deep inside here. It's beyond here.」

「Was there really a capital beyond a forest like this?」

「I told you you'd understand when you go, so just follow me quietly.」

By the way, to conserve energy, Zirant undid her materialization when we left that treasury. Right now, she's doing her usual peeping from inside me.

Advancing through that mysterious forest and passing through a pathless path, a decayed structure appeared deep inside. It looked like an abandoned fort.

「Is this A-Zir?」

「Strictly speaking, no. A-Zir is beyond this.」

Guided by Yumil, I entered the fort that looked like it could collapse at any moment. Inside that fort, there remained one well-maintained passage, and beyond that was a strange hole. The elf young lady, as if it were only natural, lit a light magic and proceeded down the hole leading underground.

「We're going through there...?」

「Hurry up and come.」

「Understood. Now that it's come to this, I shall stay with you to the very end.」

I had my bewilderment, but having come this far, I have no choice but to follow. Chasing after her back, I descended into the underground cavern.

「The Imperial Capital, you see, was originally here. This place is the true Imperial Capital. Bergelmir is a fake.」

「It was at the bottom of a cellar like this?」

「Yeah. Humans have short lifespans. That's why they frequently alter history. This place is one of them. It's the true starting land that was made as if it never existed.」

「First I've heard of it.」

「I suppose so... That's why, actually, we've always doubted whether the current Emperor's family is truly the bloodline of the first. But after being shown that appearance, we have no choice but to believe it.」

「Is that so. I still don't really get it.」

Seemingly having no intention to explain in detail, Yumil said nothing more. As we proceeded down the underground path drawing a spiral downwards and downwards, we eventually arrived at a wide space.

Looking ahead, there was some kind of giant gate in the back. When we got closer, it was even bigger, so big that Zirant could probably pass through it.

「We can't pass through there anymore. I heard we could in the past, but now it remains firmly closed, and no matter what we do, it won't open. Think of it as a part of the ruins.」

「But this is amazing. To think something like this exists in the underground world; it's a mysterious sight that expands one's dreams.」

「Hmm... You're quite the curious one, aren't you. Want to take a closer look for a bit?」

「I'd be happy if you'd do that.」

I approached the door together with Yumil. She strengthened her illumination magic, and a bright radiance lit up the giant gate. The closer we got, the bigger it truly was. When I touched the door, it seemed to be made of metal, and it was freezing cold.

「Match rate 95%... Identity confirmed...」

Zirant, did you say something just now? Even when I asked in my mind, Zirant gave no reply.

「Um, Ashley. This is a strange question, but didn't a strange voice just come from the door...?」

「You heard it too. What is this... Tch—this is bad, this door! It's shaking violently for some reason, we're running, Yumil!!」

「Eh... ah...」

It's an old ruin. For safety, I hurriedly pulled Yumil's hand and distanced ourselves from the door.

「Welcome back, Samael-sama. Did you find what you were looking for?」

Then, spouting nonsense, the door began to open with an earth-rumbling sound. Samael? Looking for something? I don't know what it's talking about, but anyway, this is amazing.

「I-It opened... No way, for this door to open, that's...」

「Yeah, I'm surprised. But this is...」

If what lies beyond the door is the true Imperial Capital, A-Zir, then what on earth happened here. In that space named a capital, nothing existed. An excessively desolate grand cavern, with only pale blue lights lit here and there, spread out there.

「I heard what's glowing are embers. Once, there was another sun here.」

「A sun, underground? That's the ultimate contradiction.」

More importantly, Zirant, it's about time you reply. The Samael from earlier, does it mean the Absolute God Samael? Or don't tell me, did that door react to you? Even when I concentrated in my mind, Zirant wouldn't give a proper reply.

『What is the meaning of this... Why did this gate react...』

All I could hear was someone muttering to herself. It's useless. It seems Zirant won't be reliable for a while.

「Well, shall we go. The path is terrifyingly steep, but well, we'll manage somehow. Yumil, do you know the underground path connecting to the west?」

「Y-Yeah, more or less... Understood, I'll guide you. Watch your step, okay.」

Together with Yumil, I descended that grand cavern, and when the slope finally leveled out, we proceeded west across the bedrock land.

「Nn, something has fallen over there.」

「Eh, ah, you're right. It's sparkling, but...」

I was curious, so I approached and picked it up. It was a pebble about the size I could grasp in one hand.

「This stone is strange...」

「Strange, kyaa, i-it started glowing?!」

However, when I picked it up, it floated in midair on its own and began emitting a dazzling orange light, which surprised me.

『A fragment of the sun, I suppose... I never thought such a thing still remained...』

Her tone sounds as if she's about to say there really was a sun underground. Anyway, this is convenient. I tied that fragment of the sun or whatever with a spare shoelace and attached it to my clothes.

「I don't really get it, but we won't need a lantern with this.」

「I wonder if it's okay to use it like that... Isn't that something that illuminated this A-Zir in the past...?」

「Yeah, it might be a historical discovery. But usable things should be utilized effectively. More importantly, guide me to the western tunnel or whatever.」

「Understood. Ashley, you might be a more amazing person than I thought...」

Guided by Yumil further west, a large side hole certainly spread out there. Proceeding inside, it was a mysterious sight; the hard bedrock was splendidly cut out, and a wide passage was completed there. Did he really dig an underground tunnel like this alone...? There's no mistake, the first Emperor is a massive idiot.

「Doesn't the air run out here?」

「I heard there are air vents connecting to the surface. Though there's a possibility they are blocked...」

「This is a suspicious place. Let's turn back if it gets suffocating. ...Nn, is that a collapsed section?」

「Yes. But what will you do?」

「Because there's someone telling me to remove it, I'm just following the demand.」

「Eeeh...?」

It's faster to show than to persuade, so I pierced the collapsed hard bedrock with the Shovel and activated the 30x skill.

「N-No way...」

In the blink of an eye, the collapsed section was pierced, securing a passage for people to pass and clearing the rubble.

「Wh-What are you?! With this, we can really restore the underground tunnels of A-Zir... Amazing!」

「It's one of my few redeeming features. That said, underground bedrock is quite troublesome...」

Looking at it, the Shovel is getting chipped. What's in this place is not soil but bedrock. I can understand the mind of the guy who created such a place even less.

「Sorry, but keep me company a little longer. It's easier to work when it's bright.」

「Alright. I've been curious about what lies ahead since I was little. I'll help too, so let's keep going!」

「Yeah, you're a surprisingly tomboyish young lady, aren't you.」

「How dare you call a Duke's daughter "tomboyish"!」

From there on, it seemed monotonous, a repetition of noisy work and bickering. Every time we found a collapsed section, we repaired the passage and proceeded deeper and deeper.

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[WN] A Hero From a Remote Village : Chapter 246

Chapter 246

Monster's Stronghold

Translator : PolterGlast

While probing for presences, I headed north at high speed. With a presence that strong, I thought it would be easy to find if it was around, but... I couldn't track down its presence as easily as I had thought. I continued moving for about an hour, and just as I started to doubt whether north was truly the right direction――.

I sensed a strong presence coming from the northeast. It was the same presence as the Curse Mystery I had fought earlier, and the corners of my mouth involuntarily rose. I was glad that my deduction—that the main body was in the direction it instinctively moved—was correct, but the joy of being able to finish off a target that had once escaped was even greater.

Erasing my presence so it wouldn't escape, I headed toward the Curse Mystery's location with the utmost caution. Where I arrived was a small cave hidden in the shadow of the rocks. There was no doubt that the Curse Mystery was deeper inside this cave. While feeling happy that I could definitely finish it off since there was no escape route, I also realized that if this was the Curse Mystery's dwelling, there might be captured people deep inside.

Even if they had been captured, the possibility of them being alive was infinitesimally low. Bracing myself for various possibilities, I stepped foot into the cave. The smell was peculiar; it was filled with a scent like crushed grass. Mixed within that was the stench of death, and I understood without even looking that something was going on deeper inside.

The path widened as I progressed, and after a few minutes, an open area came into view. Several cages were lined up there, and inside the cages lay scattered bones that had likely belonged to humans. Although I checked to see if anyone was alive, there was no sign of any living creature in this room, at the very least.

After confirming that the Curse Mystery wasn't there, I approached the cages to examine them. I thought they might be cages prepared by the Curse Mystery, but their intricate craftsmanship wasn't something a monster could make. Most likely, the Curse Mystery was reusing a place that people had used in the past. Given that it was a secluded location away from human settlements, it was probably a former hideout for thieves or bandits.

While making such deductions, I pulled myself together and proceeded even deeper. Aside from the prison cell from earlier, there was a room like a treasury and a room like a garbage dump. And then, I discovered a room where suspicious plants were being grown.

The smell of grass that filled the cave was undoubtedly emitting from these plants. They were plants with an overly suspicious appearance that I had never seen before. I harvested just one stalk and tried rubbing it on my skin as a test; a sharp pain ran through me, but at the same time, I could tell my magic power was recovering.

The true identity of the unknown plant seemed to be a relative of the magic grass. If the Curse Mystery deeper inside possessed a large quantity of this, it would mean it was a troublesome opponent that wouldn't run out of magic power. Fed up with the sheer nuisance of highly intelligent monsters, I left the plant room and went further in.

About twenty minutes had passed since entering the Curse Mystery's dwelling. I was surprised by the unexpectedly spacious dwelling, but... it seemed I had finally arrived at the innermost depths. Just as I had calculated, a massive amount of the magic grass relatives from earlier was piled up in the back right of the room. And the ones being made to pile up that magic grass were, unmistakably, humans.

I could see three people slowly carrying and piling up the magic grass. In the back left was the Curse Mystery, sitting on the ground and devouring the magic grass like a beast. Beside it lay chunks of meat in the shape of humans, making it clear that it was performing the devilish act of making kidnapped humans work and eating them when it got hungry.

I was driven by the urge to give in to my anger and attack immediately, but as long as there were people alive, I had to act cautiously. Keeping calm, I first activated the magic 【Absolute Zero】 so that no harm would come to the survivors. I created a wall of ice on the right side, and confronted the Curse Mystery there.

By creating a wall for protection, a surprise attack was no longer possible, but with the wall of 【Absolute Zero】, they were safe. If I had to raise one point of concern, it was that if I didn't finish off the Curse Mystery quickly, my 【Absolute Zero】 wall could potentially cause them hypothermia. After moving this cautiously, it would be a colossal failure if they died because of me.

Having witnessed the Curse Mystery's evil deeds, I wanted to finish it off slowly and agonizingly... but it couldn't be helped. I flipped my combat switch and pointed my katana at the Curse Mystery, which had finally noticed me.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Interlude 12

Interlude 12

Emergency Situation Drill

Translator : PolterGlast

While the Archduke of the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom, Takuhir, was away visiting the Royal Capital Kylar, his direct territory was enveloped in an abnormal sense of tension. And rightfully so, because time and time again, only when he was absent did those seeking an opening make their move. Moreover, right now, battle-hardened neighboring lords like Marquis Gorman, Marquis Solis, and Count Cornell were all absent together. That sense of tension had transmitted down to the lowest-ranking soldiers.

「Is it about time?」

At the Roadside Station connecting Aegis and Termira—although general public use of this place has not yet been permitted—the guard captain there muttered alone while gazing toward Aegis. He was someone who applied from among the laborers and became a soldier in the early days when the city was being built in Teigoon. Having served in battles against the Empire Army countless times, it is no exaggeration to call him a veteran soldier now. As Takuhir's army expanded, he was appointed as a guard captain leading 30 men.

「What is it?」

The one who asked that was a new recruit who had recently been appointed, one of them.

「A night emergency drill. I feel like it might come around today. Just in case, while it's still bright out, we'll inspect the passageway on the elevated bridge from now to see if there are any small stones, unevenness, cracks, or anything. No matter how many lanterns we have, we can't confirm the condition of the road surface. In the darkness, such things lead to accidents.」

「Um... even if it's a drill, is it really possible to make an emergency movement at night? Considering common sense, isn't it quite dangerous?」

「I suppose so. The enemy would think so too. But we are the ones who do that unconventional thing. That's how we've won our battles. Besides...」

Saying so, the guard captain smiled wryly.

「Above all else, our boss, who loves alcohol, apparently hasn't drank a single drop since His Majesty the Archduke departed. Even though he’s the type of person who lives for that one glass after work... well, of course it never actually stops at just one glass, but he works for the sake of enjoying that pleasure, you see.」

The new recruit had heard from his colleagues. That the Commander and the guard captain were originally laborers in Est, and it seems the Commander (Gail) was the crew boss at the time, and the guard captain and the current Vice Commander of the Demon Territory Knights (Gord) both worked under him. Due to such a history, the guard captain still calls the Commander 'boss' with respect and old familiarity. For those who were called laborers and made their living doing physical labor on site, the glorious rise of Commander Gail and Vice Commander Gord, who climbed all the way to Baron from there, is a success story known by everyone.

「Understood. We will divide the work in my squad and conduct inspections in both directions!」

「I'm counting on you. The Roadside Station we guard is closest to Aegis. If the worst happens, we’ll be the ones with the least amount of time. Once the inspection is finished, remain on standby in combat readiness.」

「Y-Yes... Stand by in combat readiness, is it?」

The face of the new recruit who answered clouded a little. Speaking of stand by in combat readiness, because even at night they can only take turns taking short naps.

「When it comes to actual combat, we might even fight for days without sleep or rest. Don't throw in the towel over something of this level.」

Looking at the back of the new recruit who had a pathetic face for a moment but corrected his posture anew and ran off vigorously, the guard captain muttered.

「To make the new recruits usable even a little earlier, huh. It really doesn't happen overnight. I feel like I can understand the boss's struggles...」

※

That day, Gail had finished his patrol of the Demon Territory and entered the fort of Aegis. Then, after the usual dinner, he summoned his close aides.

「How is it? I think it's about time.」

「I agree. I think it's just the right time for a night rapid-response interception drill.」

「Regarding this matter...」

「Even the commander class of our army knows nothing.」

「Alright! We'll execute it tonight after lights out. I'm going to tighten the screws hard so they don't get arrogant just because we've only had winning battles. As someone entrusted with watching over the house in Lord Takuhir's absence, I'll put the fear of God into the slackers! You guys advance as the vanguard of the main unit and identify the issues in each location.」

「Yes! And what is the scale?」

「The code is 5. Excluding the defense personnel, we're taking the entire operational standing army of Aegis, the Rasetsu barrier gate, and Ishtar, as well as the part-time soldiers who were able to rush over. We also include those who, despite being off-duty, were constantly prepared and commendably rushed over.」

Hearing those words, they subsequently scattered. And then... a little while after lights out, amidst being enveloped in darkness and falling silent, suddenly the two-consecutive strikes of a bell rang out in the fort and town of Aegis.

「It's the two-consecutive bell strikes! The code is 2, 2, 2, 5!」

「It's 5! Damn it... he's really fired up.」

「Tch! Seriously, at this time? Call an assembly immediately!」

「All squads! Leave the stragglers behind! Only those who can gather, follow me!」

「Don't fall behind other squads! Think that our arrival will determine the lives we can save!」

While the angry roars of the captain class of each squad flew about and the soldiers ran around, the territory residents living in Aegis were calm. There was a reason for that. Because the bell being struck was the two-consecutive strikes. Takuhir had implemented an initiative to make many people understand the situation by the way the bell was rung.

·         If it's just a simple rapid striking, it's an emergency notification to the territory residents.

·         In the case of two-consecutive strikes, it's a training action targeting the military.

·         If it's three-consecutive strikes, it's a military mobilization under a real state of emergency.

He also included several meanings depending on the number of rapid strikes. And the code, this is the number of bells rung after repeating the two-consecutive strikes three times, which includes various instructions. This time was '5', which meant a sortie using the entire operational army.

While each squad changed the color of their eyes and gathered, those who happened to be assigned at that time also began to move busily.

「Dispatch a vanguard unit ahead onto the passageway immediately to set up lights!」

「Watchtower, what are you doing! The communication beacon is top priority. Tell them to light the fire immediately! Otherwise the march will stop ahead!」

「Lookouts, observe the response from Rasetsu and the First Roadside Station! Please... notice it. If there is a response from the First, report it immediately. At that point, the night march begins.」

Saying so, they stared at the southwest and east of the Demon Territory enveloped in pitch-black darkness with feelings like praying.

※

At the facility called the First Roadside Station, set up 10 km away from the fort of Aegis, the guard captain in question was assigned. Here, normally, to avoid stimulating the monsters, lights are kept to a minimum at night. The outer wall spreading in a circle with a diameter of 200 m; lights are lined up inside it, dimly illuminating the inside of the outer wall, and other than that, small lights are only lit indoors or at key points.

「Captain Lars! Contact from the observer, we have confirmed lights in the direction of Aegis!」

One of the soldiers assigned as a lookout rushed in vigorously.

「What is the number?」

「Sir! The top is 2 and the bottom is 5.」

「2 and 5, huh... the boss is really fired up. Wake everyone up immediately! 21 people, immediately set up lights on the road up to the Second Roadside Station. The watchtower, relay the signal while continuing observation! The rest, after setting up lights for 200 m on both sides from here, begin preparations for water supply! We don't have time, a large number of guests will be coming in droves from now on.」

Lars issued instructions in rapid succession, then went up to the watchtower himself to confirm. In the darkness, a faint light is lit far away in the direction of Aegis. He peered into the telescope the observer had pointed in that direction. Through that, he was able to accurately identify the communication beacon fire set up high on the watchtower of Aegis. And even with the naked eye, he could confirm light stretching out slowly from the direction of Aegis onto the elevated road that had become pitch-black.

「Hmph, that's fast... Hey, you there, go to the stable immediately and prepare 10 fresh horses at the south gate. Could you give them water and fodder there?」

「Yes, understood!」

The man who answered so was the new recruit he had exchanged words with during the day. Although he was somewhat tense, there was absolutely no agitation or sense of aversion in his expression. That's right, the accumulation of such training leads to action in actual combat.

「Do it properly.」

He said so and saw off the new recruit's back. While they were having such an exchange, the south and north gates opened. To the south, four horse-drawn wagons fully loaded with lanterns boarded 4 people besides the coachman, and an empty horse-drawn wagon ridden only by the coachman followed at the very rear. The lead wagon advanced up to 200 m and temporarily stopped, and from then on, dropped off 1 person and 4 lanterns every 100 m. The subsequent 3 wagons overtook it, advanced 400 m ahead from that point, and the next wagon repeated the same process. The empty wagon at the very rear picked up the soldiers who had set up the lanterns one after another, and caught up with the wagon stopping 400 m ahead. Then, it advanced ahead of the leading 3 wagons and repeated the same process. By repeating this relay method, they connect a road lit by lights up to the area the next Roadside Station is in charge of. By doing so, a path is secured, albeit dim, in a very short time. And in the depressions where the lanterns are set, metal plates polished to a mirror finish are set up in advance, a device to efficiently light the way, not just as markers.

After his wife Yuko collapsed, Nishida worked frantically to earn their daily bread. By chance, among the jobs he did then, he also worked a part-time job setting up restriction lines over a distance of several kilometers in a short time for night construction on a highway. Based on his experience at that time, he obtained the idea for this relay method.

※

Shortly after the order was issued, receiving the report that the relay beacon fire was lit at the First Roadside Station, Gail commenced the movement of the military forces gathered at that point. Following the observing (grading) unit advancing at the front, leading the 150 people who gathered immediately.

「If it's a rapid response for just Aegis, is this considered a lot gathered?」

「Well... because they gathered not only from the military but also from mercenary groups, farmer-soldiers, and armed vigilante corps... Since it's a rapid response drill at night, furthermore, we couldn't issue a summons to the soldiers stationed in Teigoon, Gaia, and Deimos...」

「I see...」

To his adjutant's answer, he himself didn't know how to evaluate it. Because this drill itself is an unprecedented drill that has never existed before. Because he was told by his lord, Takuhir...

『I maintained the roads and thought of a method to operate them. But I don't know if it will go well or not. I want you to actually try it and report if there are any issues. Also moving as an army, and the time it took to arrive.』

Right now, following him were 60 cavalry and around 90 infantry continuing at a run. And before his eyes, the First Roadside Station brightly illuminated by the beacon fire came into view.

「Hmph, it seems Lars has managed to make arrangements well. Order to the entire army, we will take a short break for water supply at the Roadside Station, but tell them we depart immediately.」

Saying so, he passed through the thrown-open gate of the Roadside Station. Beyond that, numerous tables were placed so as not to hinder the march, and cups filled with water were lined up. And a single man ran up to him.

「From the guard captain of the First Roadside Station, reporting to the Commander. From here onward, the deployment of guide lights up to the Second Roadside Station is complete! From here on, our squad will also leave behind response personnel and 20 people will participate in the rapid response drill.」

「Hmph, as efficient as ever, I see.」

「Well, I’ve known you for a long time, boss. At this point, I can read you like the back of my hand.」

The face of Lars answering so seemed as if he was smiling fearlessly illuminated by the beacon fire.

「The start is good! But our destination is still far ahead. Izanami has enough food prepared to feed you all until you're stuffed. To those who arrive in the first group, I'll treat you to plenty of alcohol starting from the morning! Now, we depart for the Second Roadside Station!」

They became one and dashed off again. From far behind them, the second group that departed Aegis late, the unit that departed Rasetsu, and from far behind them the unit from Ishtar followed.

It is said that Takuhir, who received the report from Gail at a later date, praised them, listened to the issues and revised the response, and... deepened his confidence in operating the soldiers. In preparation for the coming emergency, continuing untiring efforts even in peacetime, their struggle continues.

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