[WN] Shut-In : Chapter 144

Chapter 144

To Zwaarth

Translator : PolterGlast

「Please gather the severely ill in one place; I will heal them all at once.」

The number of injured, particularly those unable to return to the front lines, was roughly 500. My AoE casting skill was still immature at LV 3, but if they were packed tightly together, I could heal about 30 people at once. Repeating that process roughly 20 times, and healing those with relatively minor injuries along the way, about an hour and a half had passed by the time I was finished.

「A-Amazing... The patients in the first-aid ward are practically all gone...」

「Am I dreaming...?」

The middle-aged medic tilted his head while pinching his own cheek. It seemed that even to a veteran like him, something impossible was taking place. What's more, thanks to maintaining a proper pace, my MP consumption was a surprising 0. I'm still just getting started, you know.

(Or rather, that gesture exists in Aristella too, huh.)

After thinking about something so trivial, I slowly exhaled.

「Warrant Officer Sae, is it alright if I go get some fresh air outside?」

「Of course, sir, Masaru-dono!」

Receiving a salute that was a notch sharper than the ones before, I offered a wry smile and climbed the stairs. Stepping outside, the morning sun had gradually risen high, and the time was approaching noon. Perhaps because I had been stuck in that stuffy place until just now, the air tasted delicious. Staying in the first-aid ward with its pungent stench of blood and grime seemed to be quite tough for me.

「Sae-san, may I ask you something?」

「Sir! Anything at all.」

Apparently, seeing my Recovery Magic left an impression on her, because Sae-san's attitude had changed to a highly courteous one. I wondered how this battle appeared through her eyes as a soldier.

「Battles like this one in the Doog Wasteland... there are many of them happening all over the world, right?」

「Sir. Currently, this is the only one in the Empire, but this officer has heard that wars have opened in the Kingdom and Dragonia respectively.」

「I know I might get scolded for saying this to a soldier, but... it's better if there is no fighting. Peace is best.」

「I would lose my job, but I share the same opinion. However, we fight for the peace behind the lines. This is a necessary battle to maintain that peace.」

I wondered if 'behind the lines' was an Empire-style turn of phrase for the home front... They are fighting, even at this very moment. So that the people will not be trampled by the demons who threaten humanity.

「You are kind, Masaru-dono... This officer shall protect you. Even if it costs me my life.」

「You're exaggerating.」

「No, among those saved by your Recovery Magic were my peers and seniors. You saved them... That fact alone makes you worth risking my life for.」

A beautiful woman like her is fighting with the resolve to throw her life away. On this battlefield, the value of life is just that light. That way of being as a soldier seemed sublime to me. At the very least, far more than me, who came to the battlefield without holding any grand ambitions.

(—I've decided. I feel bad for Lirica, but I'm going to put an end to this battle in the Doog Wasteland.)

Power leveling against crazy strong monsters in a dungeon would probably be more efficient than dealing with 1000 demons anyway... That's probably just an excuse I'm making to myself. I just simply cannot forgive this. This current situation where medics and humans are being hurt like this. And—my own lack of imagination, having never even considered that things like this were happening.

(Ever since coming to Aristella, I had somewhat treated this world like a game.)

Game-like parameters such as stats, a safe haven like my Home, and skill LVs that went up even if I did nothing... Of course, I've fallen into life-threatening danger many times, but I think I even enjoyed it on some level. But while Aristella is another world to me, for the people born here, it is undeniably reality itself.

(It's not like I'm trying to atone for my sins, but...)

I have power. Power enough to conquer dungeons... Power enough to change the tide of battle. If so, then I shall wield this power. By my own will, and no one else's.

「Sae-san, I am going to... annihilate the demons now. Please tell me their location.」

「...Umm, what exactly do you mean?」

From the perspective of her, who thought I was just a healer, it's only natural she didn't understand what I meant. Therefore, just as I had demonstrated at the Adventurer's Guild before, I smiled while cloaking my fingertips in Lightning Magic.

「Literally. I'm going to defeat them all, leaving not a single one behind. So that there will be no more casualties on this battlefield. This place is not worth a beauty like you throwing her life away.」

「—Wh-!?」

Sae-san, her face turning bright red, mumbled something with her mouth. After that, she slapped both of her cheeks with a smack, and told me the position where the demons were attacking from and the direction of what seemed to be their base.

「Well then, see you later.」

「A-Are you truly going!?」

「Yeah.」

I gave a firm nod while activating Perception. Before the demons start getting any funny ideas, I'll wipe them all out at once. I also wanted to verify the strength of a feudal lord-class demon once, anyway.

「Let's meet at the victory celebration next time.」

Using Jaunt, I left the spot. My destination was the demons' base... the Demon Territory Zwaarth, located beyond the wasteland.

-----

Thank you for my Patrons !!

[Platinum]

-

[Gold]

B random

Nepheos

[Silver]

Corey Hicks

Creris

Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon

Jake Seagraves

Matthew Fraser

Tbaum56

Xavier O'Donoghue

[Bronze]

Anton Lim

Baelee

Christopher Feliciano

Ctdela

Curious Panda

nick nasca

SD Fox

Sébastien Dionne

Z

Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon

-----

<<Prev << ToC >> Next>>

Read More

[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 19 - 13 Part 1

19-13 Part 1

Zirant the Dimension-Crossing Dragon and Samael the Traitor 1/2

Translator : PolterGlast

The commonality between the Lizardmen and me wasn't just our eyeballs. They lived in a massive cavern that spread out underground. Moss that emitted light grew in clusters on the walls, and looking up at the ceiling, something vaguely dark was radiating light. No, that wasn't the only surprise. To think that even though this is a country of Lizardmen, an angel welcomed us. That is not a metaphor; it's a real angel...

「Nice to meet you all, I am the wife of Azato, the king of the Lizardmen. ...It's been a while, Zirant.」

「Aaa... It's been a while.」

When we talked to the Lizardmen, they were simple and good guys, but they were a bit short on words, so communicating our intentions was a little difficult. Guided by the woman with wings, we advanced through the dark underground cavity.

「First lizard humans and now a real angel, wahaha, what's going to pop out next!」

「A Dragonoid.」

「What, how boring, I've already seen a dragon... Sorry, but I'm full with just Zira-chan!」

「No, you should be surprised first that there's a being the same as Zirant-sama!?」

Wondering if she had an opinion on that interpretation, the wife turned back to us while walking backwards.

「No, my husband and Zirant are different species.」

「Umu, a Dragonoid is not a god. But let me see... If there were an existence identical to myself in this world, it would be no one but Ashley over there.」

「Don't drag me into this. I'm just a slightly unusual normal human.」

「No, you are wrong. Ausar is Ausar. To us, you are none other than Ausar.」

I don't understand, but anyway, it seems Azato and Zirant are different creatures. We entered one of the caves in the great cavity, and as we went a little deeper, a door with a different design from the others appeared.

「This is our home. Come now, right this way.」

When the wife with angel wings opened that door, surprisingly, there was culture beyond it. The style was quite old, but the house was furnished with high-quality furnishings no different from a noble class mansion. Inside a hole like this, surrounded by Lizardmen, they were living a life not much different from ours.

「W-What a cute house...」

「Thank you. Now, my husband is this way.」

Perhaps this wife is managing it. At Carral's honest impression, the wife showed a smile full of affection for her husband. We were then led to an inner room.

「I'm home, dear. I brought some rare guests today.」

In that room, there was an old-fashioned study, and sitting in that seat was a human with the scales of a red dragon. Indeed, this is a Dragonoid. If a Lizardman is a lizard-type human, the Dragonoid Azato is a human with the appearance of a dragon. He slowly raised his face at his wife's words, and dropped his pen on the desk, remaining in a state of surprise. His eyes were looking only at my face and hands, not at Zirant.

「That face... No matter how many times I see it, it's bad for my heart... Even though it's a thing of the past, I still can't get used to it...」

He came towards us from the study. Staring only at my face, he directed a self-deprecating smile towards his wife.

「Bad for your heart? Don't tell me my ancestor caused you some kind of trouble?」

「No, Ausar was a good guy... When I was told the truth, I was truly surprised, but... I also understood.」

「The truth? Wahaha, you're suddenly acting suggestively!」

The conversation suddenly jumped, and I, who had come seeking assistance, was at a loss. But it seemed Zirant was different. Upon coming here, she had clearly stopped being the usual Zirant.

「Tell him. Now that the Demon Nobles of the Abyss have started moving, I can no longer stay silent. ...It's somewhat difficult for me to say it myself.」

「Just when I thought they had completely laid low, they started moving, huh.」

「Hmph... There's no way those guys would give up. They want to make a comeback to the heavens once more. If they discard that dream, they'll just lose their reason and go mad, like the monsters of the Abyss.」

I felt an interest in this Azato. And in his angel wife as well. They know a Zirant that I don't. In other words, they must be existences that have lived for an unimaginable amount of time.

「Your name?」

「Me? I am Ashley. Ashley Gnose Urgos. Prince of the A-Zir Empire. For what it's worth.」

「A-Zir, and the Urgos family... What a nostalgic name...」

「That's right... I miss that golden wheat field... And the flowers and fruit trees blooming in the town...」

Perhaps they had very happy memories, the couple immersed themselves in deep emotion.

「Wait a minute, the First Emperor is someone from the extreme distant past, right? If so, how old are you two now?」

「Age, huh... We don't count anymore, but it's certain that we are older than Zirant over there. As for my wife, she's an even older existence than me.」

「Wahahaha, what is it, Zira-chan? Does that make you unexpectedly a youngster~?」

「Shut up... No matter my age, the fact that I am great remains unchanged. Respect me a little more...」

That request is an impossible demand for Sigrun. Give up. Being younger than these two was honestly unexpected, though. I should bring up the main subject of asking for their help to resolve the civil war that will eventually break out in the Empire, but I was interested in their story. We might be able to learn the truth about the Zirant we adore.

「Now then, where should we start talking from...」

「Then, I think starting with the story of Samael is best.」

「That's true, too. Then first, I'll talk about the reason I was surprised by your appearance. Because all the roots of this disaster started from Samael's betrayal and evil deeds...」

「I used to serve that Samael. It was my role, ordered by Samael, to hunt the races of failed creations. But, that suddenly ended.」

「It was Samael's whim. The Creator Samael seemed to have decided to play with me, who had crawled up from the Abyss; he deliberately misinterpreted my wish, robbed the intelligence of an angel right next to him, and turned her into an unaging human. That is her.」

「I was offered as his wife. To make me give birth to the Lizardmen, a race meant to play the role of getting beaten up...」

Even though it should be a tragic story, the couple flirted and held each other's hands. However, his wife's current appearance is an angel. Various things happened, but it means she was able to return to her original form. Anyway, that seems to be how these two met.

「Isn't that just a grand boast of your love...」

「Well, I suppose so. But I wanted you to know.」

「Samael committed countless sins. He toyed with the world, races, and all kinds of lives...」

「I don't understand. In other words, what are you trying to say...?」

「Then I'll get straight to the point. Your ancestor, the First Emperor Ausar—is the same existence as Samael.」

That is also a hard story to believe. If that were the case in the first place, it would be strange. If so, why didn't the people of the Abyss harm me? I went to the Abyss. The other side invited me. Why did they forgive the descendant of the one who dropped them into the Abyss?

「In fact, after Ausar reached the Heavenly Realm, he admitted that he himself was the Samael of a different world, not this one. As Samael, and as the Emperor of the A-Zir Empire, he continued to watch over the world with an immortal body. That is why my husband was surprised by your appearance.」

To summarize, it seems I am the descendant of the savior and a lookalike of the worst Creator who tormented the world. It's a very hard story to believe. But as long as Zirant maintains her silence, it must be a legend that actually happened. Even though I am a blood relative of the traitor to the people of the Abyss, they treated me with a fair attitude and returned me to the surface. The more I know, the more I couldn't completely hate them. Well, no matter what my ancestor did, the fact that I am me doesn't change anything at all. I don't care about the truth of Ausar, so I want to know Zirant's secret.

-----

Thank you for my Patrons !!

[Platinum]

-

[Gold]

B random

Nepheos

[Silver]

Corey Hicks

Creris

Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon

Jake Seagraves

Matthew Fraser

Tbaum56

Xavier O'Donoghue

[Bronze]

Anton Lim

Baelee

Christopher Feliciano

Ctdela

Curious Panda

nick nasca

SD Fox

Sébastien Dionne

Z

Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon

-----

<<Prev << ToC >> Next>>

Read More

[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 400

Chapter 400

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Southern Front ⑯ – The Arrival of Reinforcements

Translator : PolterGlast

The paddy fields surrounding Big Bridge Fort encompassed a vast area, spreading over 1 km from the fort, so the military forces laying the encirclement always set up camp at a location nearly 2 km away from the fort. On this day, a change visited that encircling camp once again.

「I have a report! A massive number of men and horses are heading this way from the north side!」

In response to the scout who rushed into headquarters with a changed complexion, the reaction of the top brass on the receiving end was calm. Rather, they all smiled fearlessly, looking as if they had been waiting for that report.

「Glorious, has he finally decided to take action?」

「That's right, Takuhir-dono and I have thoroughly discussed the preparations to welcome him, so I'm glad it didn't go to waste.」

「Hahaha, just as everyone says, this means all the guests have finally assembled. We can finally enter into our 『hospitality』.」

Because the Third Prince, who was the supreme commander of defense, Sieghart, and I were acting like this, the scout who reported it was instead agitated in a different sense.

「Umm... how should we deal with it?」

「It's fine to let them do as they please for a while. After all, they will probably avoid properly capturing the fort and exhausting themselves.」

「Huh... Understood.」

The scout didn't seem fully convinced, but the answering Sieghart and I possessed firm confidence. Right now, the Sura Principality army had dropped below 40,000, and the Empire Army led by the First Prince was also 30,000; if they lost this, neither of them had a future. If one side's numbers were greatly reduced, there was the example of the Turncoat Kingdom, and they would fall into a situation where they didn't know when they'd be betrayed. Therefore, they would avoid forceful, pushing attacks and gradually pressure us by laying an encirclement. Because a thing like that was easily predictable.

「I have a report! The military force that appeared in the north is advancing rapidly and throwing sandbags into the northern paddy fields!」

Receiving that report, Sieghart and I looked at each other and laughed. Because it was a development that was far too much exactly as expected.

「Yeah, it's fine to leave that alone too. Until the landfill reaches a distance of 500 meters from the fort, we just have to quietly observe while maintaining a battle-ready posture.」

「To start on it the moment they arrived, does that mean they formulated an operation and prepared in advance?」

「Just as Takuhir-dono pointed out, that fool (Glorious) also has a great raccoon dog (Harry) attached to him who cannot be caught off guard. He would have made that level of preparation.」

「Hahaha, I also had a hard time with a raccoon dog, you see. Though... it was the Kingdom's raccoon dog. Then, shall we also have a look at the skill of the Empire's raccoon dog?」

The reason we were having such a carefree conversation was actually because we had been eagerly awaiting this situation, and we had thoroughly piled up discussions for that purpose. Only... I couldn't help but feel that Sieghart still had other things hidden, though... Now that we had escaped our predicament, I felt like there was something that made me feel that way.

※

Receiving the report, we climbed the watchtower feeling almost as if we were on a pleasure trip from an outsider's perspective. And the sight we saw was... Nearly 20,000 soldiers advanced carrying sandbags all at once, throwing them into the paddy fields to secure a place where they could move safely, and began to expand it with tremendous momentum.

「When nearly 20,000 soldiers move, the landfill progresses at quite a speed. Using the northern hidden passage as a starting point, those bastards are expanding a solid foothold to the left and right, but...」

「Your Highness, right now they are out of our range and we have no means to do anything. Other than Takuhir-dono's that... Since the enemy is taking the trouble to approach within our firing range, let us take advantage of their kindness.」

「But it sure was a waste. Even though there are this many fields, with much effort...」

This was my true feeling. If there were paddy fields this vast, the rice harvest volume wouldn't be half-hearted either. In our homeland (Izumo), the maintenance of waterways wasn't yet perfect, and the water volume was insufficient in the first place. As a result, large-scale paddy field development like this hadn't been achieved yet.

「Well... this much can't be helped, but we'll leave it as a post-war enterprise to be done by the prisoners of war we will newly add eventually.」

「Sieghart, by the prisoners of war to be newly added, you are naturally referring to those in front of our eyes, right?」

「Yes, it will turn out that way eventually. Thanks to Takuhir-dono, the war situation has reversed. So, undoubtedly, right.」

At that time, Sieghart showed a smile with a dreadful intensity. Hahaha, as I thought, this is his true nature. Everyone gets fooled, though...

「By the way, Sieghart, is it alright? Seeing their movements, it seems the Sura Principality side is also similarly proceeding with the landfill on the south side, though?」

「Yes, Your Highness, there is absolutely no problem. I would have been quite troubled if they had taken this method previously, but right now we are lying in wait for them to come to the wings of the stage. Both north and south will probably stop just short of our catapults' effective range. And... the first to move will be the north.」

Sieghart's words were correct. The First Prince currently had a weakness toward his allied forces. Therefore, he had to take the initiative and act as the vanguard. We gazed at them with composure, and were simply waiting for the 『time』 to come.

※

The day after they began the landfill operation, the movements of both armies stopped. Exactly as Sieghart's words said, the landfill operations in both north and south had progressed to a distance of 500 meters from the castle walls. After that, exactly as anticipated again, the First Prince's side showed a new movement. After they advanced their entire army to a position 600 meters from the fort, which they considered a safe zone, a man with a banner with the words 『Royal Command』 written on it tied to his horse advanced forward alone, passing through the hidden passage and up to the front of the castle walls.

「Soldiers holed up in the fort, compatriots born in the Empire, listen closely!」

Boldly advancing to the front of the castle gate, he began to raise his loud voice.

「I am one who has come to convey the Royal Command of His Merciful Majesty the Emperor, receiving the orders of His Highness Glorious, the next Emperor of the Grifonia Empire. I convey His Majesty the Emperor's Royal Command to the officers and soldiers vainly holed up in the fort!」

Saying so, he respectfully took out a parchment from his breast pocket and read it aloud.

『The Empire has decided on peace with the Sura Principality by my will. Therefore, any further battle is useless. Open the castle gates immediately and enter under Glorious's command. I order you again, stop your resistance immediately and surrender the castle.』

The messenger who read it aloud held out the parchment with the Grifonia Emperor's Royal Command written on it before his eyes, bowed, and after respectfully putting it away in his breast pocket, turned back to the castle wall again.

「His Majesty the Emperor's will has been decided. Follow His Majesty's words, surrender immediately, and fulfill your duties as Empire's soldiers. Pitying you who would idly scatter your lives on the battlefield from here on out, these are words His Majesty the Emperor has taken the trouble to hand down to you!」

The moment he heard those words, the Third Prince held his stomach and was laughing.

「Hahaha, if the plot is third-rate, the actor is also third-rate. That bastard probably hasn't even had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. Above all, that Majesty pitying the soldiers? I have never seen such a sight!」

However, the Third Prince's laughter did not reach the messenger. He continued his spiel further.

「Prince Grat, who caused a useless rebellion, vanished like dew on the battlefield; to whom are you bastards showing your loyalty now! Stop your idle resistance and acts contrary to the Empire's will, and surrender immediately. His Highness Glorious is also making efforts so that a lenient punishment may be handed down to you. Do you not understand that going against His Majesty the Emperor's will and troubling the heart of His Highness the next Emperor is itself a double disloyalty to the Empire!」

However... the reaction of the soldiers stationed at the fort was completely different. As the messenger's words echoed, loud laughter erupted from various places in the fort.

「Wha-! What are you laughing at! What insolence!」

The messenger, who had been acting arrogantly, became enraged that his own dignity and the Empire's majesty were disparaged, and turned bright red in the face, but the loud laughter never subsided. Here, when Sieghart exchanged glances with him, the Third Prince stood atop the northern castle wall with an expression suppressing his laughter. It was a place where recent construction had been deliberately added just so he could be seen exceptionally well from below.

「Well then, the stage preparations are complete. Here, I would like to borrow Takuhir-dono's power. Please, take care of it.」

「I have certainly accepted Sieghart-dono's request. Diffusion Magic Cannons, all units prepare to fire! The range is over 1 km, absolutely do not drop them in front of that. All units, hit them with your maximum range!」

Receiving my words, following the shooting commander, the four of Yoltia, Karleen, Lilia, and Katarina started running toward their respective positions.

「Well then, for the sake of fire control, I will also move to the adjacent watchtower, so communicate via the designated method as arranged.」

Saying so, I also descended the watchtower and moved to a slightly lower watchtower on the left side. Because from the previous position, I couldn't see the magic cannons deployed directly below, making it difficult to command. Now, from here on out begins the battle to intimidate the 30,000 Empire Army! For this one, it was prepared after both the stage and the 『direction』 had been thoroughly refined. It's completely different from the third-rate play from earlier!

-----

Thank you for my Patrons !!

[Platinum]

-

[Gold]

B random

Nepheos

[Silver]

Corey Hicks

Creris

Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon

Jake Seagraves

Matthew Fraser

Tbaum56

Xavier O'Donoghue

[Bronze]

Anton Lim

Baelee

Christopher Feliciano

Ctdela

Curious Panda

nick nasca

SD Fox

Sébastien Dionne

Z

Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon

-----

<<Prev << ToC >> Next>>

Read More