[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 18 - 6 Part 2

18-6 Part 2

Those Who Maneuver in the Shadows 2 / A Picnic Just for Siblings 1/2

Translator : PolterGlast

・The Third in Line to the Imperial Throne

My name is Olive. People call me Marquis Beck. Although I am the third son of the Emperor's family, because my mother is from the Duke Einbeck family, the leader of the North, I was yielded the headship of the family from my uncle at the age of 25. In contrast to the second son Julius, who is in a similar position and resides in the Imperial Capital, I am keeping an eye on the South from here in the land of Einbeck. While strengthening cooperation with the northern nobles, I was planning how to move to connect it to profit, intending to outsmart my brothers and acquire the Imperial throne if there was an opening.

「Morac-sama has arrived.」

「Morac... going out of his way to come here? What an energetic old geezer.」

OrdEring the servant to show him to the usual place, I slipped my arms into a jacket that cost 50,000 Crowns and burned civet incense. Then, waiting until the scent had sufficiently transferred to my body, I headed to the museum I am so proud of.

「Finally, huh. You are a man who makes people wait at every opportunity... That makes you just like a princess.」

「Did you go out of your way to come all the way to this north just to say sarcastic remarks, Uncle Morac?」

Uncle was captivated by my collection. This is the most glamorous space in the Empire, crowded with every conceivable antique and work of art.

「Obviously I came because there is something to discuss. I have also brought a souvenir that you would likely favor.」

Uncle Morac placed a paulownia box on the desk. An antique, perhaps? But the box is something made recently.

「This is... a horn. No, it is not just an ordinary animal's horn, is it.」

「Hmph... I paid a hefty sum for your sake. I would be troubled if you told me you didn't need it.」

Through silk gloves, I took that single horn out of the box. It resembles a certain item I possess. I returned that white horn to the box, and returned holding a black horn from the back of the museum.

「This is... the horn of the Horned race...! And a white-horned species, which is said to have disappeared in the distant past at that!」

「Hmph... It seems you like it.」

「I like it! You are giving this to me, are you not!? What should I do in return!?」

「Olive, it helps that you are quick to understand. I want to make the other troublesome Princes learn from you.」

Morac frequently offers me bribes. I did not refuse them either. Only a fool would not accept what is given. Valuable things ought to gather in my museum.

「Beautiful... This is what the most prosperous and glorious race on this surface raised upon their foreheads... truly a masterpiece befitting me...」

「Olive, we probably both have our own thoughts and positions, but how about we join hands for now?」

The terrifying thing about this old man named Morac is not just his position as Chairman. It is that he is completely accustomed to all sorts of political strife. He is the Emperor's older brother in name only, a thoroughly despicable piece of trash, but if turned into an enemy, I could easily end up surrounded.

「I will do anything if you give it to me. To think you found such a masterpiece for me...!」

「Do not underestimate the elderly; it is something I have prepared since 10 years ago as a trump card to persuade you.」

「If that is true, you have a lot of patience... So, what should I do?」

「Hmph... If the succession dispute becomes a clash of power against power, we will be at a disadvantage. Julius who unifies the southern nobles, Yord of the Knight Order, Georg of the Imperial army. All of them will be formidable enemies.」

The northern nobles unified by Einbeck are also a correspondingly large force. However, as Morac says, while the North is rich in mineral resources, its population is small due to the temperature. If we fight with the South, food imports will also be cut off.

「Then what do you intend to do?」

「Create a new law in the Imperial Capital. The name is the State of Emergency Act. Limited to the Imperial Capital, it is a law that makes my orders as Chairman absolute during emergencies such as a civil war.」

「In short, I just have to persuade the northern lords, right?」

「That is right. With the votes from your side, the rest can be managed with the usual bribery.」

I thought about it. Whether this law would be to my benefit or not. The one who will be most troubled by this bill is the guardian of the Empire's center, Georg. He will be forced to choose whether to obey Morac or to rise up in revolt.

「Understood, I will cooperate. However, persuading the lords will require bribes.」

「Of course, I will provide that as well.」

「I heard that a new port was born in the land called Erin, and your financial situation has been poor lately; will you be alright?」

「Tch...! That is exactly why we must crush that Ashley's backing!」

「Ashley, huh... Uncle Morac, you may be detests him, but I do not hate him. I have always wanted that dragon's eye. Once Father and Georg are gone, catching him and gouging it out would be nice too...」

And inside my museum, that dragon's eye will pass down the history of the pitiful Prince's existence.

「But if you corner Georg too much, he might become disappointed in us and cause a coup d'état, you know?」

「In that case, we should have a legitimate reason to defeat Georg. We just have to make the successors fight each other and wait for one of them to perish.」

「That is not bad. Understood, I'm on board with this talk.」

In reality, things probably won't go so conveniently. But I liked this gift. I'll keep my story straight with Morac for just a short while. The other imperial family members know my nature anyway. If a more wonderful tribute is offered, I will abandon this pitiful old man.

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

・Younger Brother

The picnic with Aneue ultimately ended up being at a place a 5-minute walk from the Lord's mansion. Because it would be meaningless if Aniue couldn't join us. We decided to do it at a place with a good view within the premises.

「I wonder if Georg is here yet... Hey, what is Zirant-chan saying!?」

「Don't rush so much; she says he will arrive shortly.」

「You said that just a while ago too! Haa... should we start without him...?」

「Please calm down, Aneue is a little strange today.」

Laying a sheet on the manicured lawn, we are waiting for Georg-aniue on top of it. Aneue repeatedly stood up and sat down, restlessly turning her eyes toward the mansion's entrance. The daytime's white sunlight made Aneue's beautiful blonde hair translucent. The figure of the ideal Imperial Princess that everyone admires was there.

「Jeez, that's because Ashley disappears so quickly! Since it's precious sibling time, your big sister wants it to last even a little bit longer!」

「...Then, will Aneue and Durin tag along on the next expedition?」

「Oh my... is that alright?」

「No, it's a joke. Even Aniue wouldn't permit that much.」

More importantly, is he still not here, Zirant? If this keeps up, there's no telling what Aneue will start doing.

『He just now, passed through the gate, over there... Your brother is, surprisingly, ugh... rough...』

What does that mean?

『You will understand soon enough even if you don't want to...』

I also stood up next to Aneue and looked towards the entrance. Then—

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Special 3

Volume 4 Release Commemoration Special Chapter:

Another Battlefield ② Lurking Malice

Translator : PolterGlast

The solemn funeral convoy carrying the mortal remains of Gale did not linger inside Kusanagi, but steadily proceeded onward along its trajectory. Alexis had meticulously considered the logistics to ensure he would be cremated within the borders of Termira—in the ancestral land of the Kingdom of Kyle, which was his true homeland—at least so that his wife and young daughters could watch over his final rest. It was a profound, deeply protective manifestation of the young commander's enduring respect.

After seeing off the funeral procession past the gates, Yuka turned back to address Raymond.

「 Now then, I too shall personally depart for the primary checkpoint down the highway from here on, and take direct command of everyone at our reception office to oversee the arrays. 」

「 Yuka-sama, I implore you, please maintain absolute vigilance and safeguard your person. 」

「 Yes, Yuka-sama! As for my duties, I will immediately head towards the temporary refugee camps and get the housing arrays and preparations for acceptance ready there, 」 Chrisia added with a supportive nod.

「 Understood, Raymond-sama. And thank you, Chrisia-san, 」 Yuka responded, gracefully executing a smooth military pivot to mount her warhorse, and driving her boots to lead her escort out from Kusanagi.

The high command had finalized an absolute directive to receive the ten-thousand people of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy refugees not directly at Kusanagi, but strictly at the border checkpoint established earlier on the primary highway, intentionally choosing to halt their footsteps before they could breach the main city lines. This structural deployment was anchored by two specific reasons:

·         First, the raw metropolitan infrastructure of Kusanagi was currently stretched so catastrophically thin that, even temporarily, packing an uncoordinated mass of 10,000 people directly into the city center would be unreasonable and physically plunge the grid into absolute chaos.

·         Second, considering the intense, mourning atmosphere following Gale's funeral procession, they must not permit a massive wave of foreign outcasts to immediately flood the streets and receive the volatile, burning hostility of the grieving original territory residents, which would inevitably trigger something untoward to happen.

『 That would completely and wretchedly ruin the sacred sacrifice Gale-san executed, risking his life to protect these people. We must just fight through our own battlefield to absolute perfection. 』

On horseback, Yuka thought to herself, forcefully whipping her mind into an ironclad focus as she scolded herself. Sweeping behind her were the twenty veteran cavalrymen Raymond had personally arranged to serve as her iron wall.

To ensure the success of this monumental humanitarian operation, Captain Claire had meticulously summoned a formidable reinforcement unit of 300 highly expert administrative personnel from the reception office staff across the Demon Territory Dukedom domain she had raised with great care, sending them straight to Kusanagi's jurisdiction. Consequently, combining their strength alongside the originally assigned local city staff, a massive force of 500 professional processing agents had been successfully accumulated—out of which 220 elite specialists were gathered directly at the highway checkpoint. However, because this campaign had evolved into an absolute, all-out war requiring the deployment of an expeditionary force to the southern front, the commander-class officers of the reception office—namely Isla, Crawla, and Laila—were also currently marching and serving in the active military warzones this time. As a direct consequence, the checkpoint lines completely lacked an expert officer to stand above them and take overall macro-command over the entire grid.

「 I extend my deepest apologies for keeping you waiting with a delayed arrival, everyone! Tell me, how are the current preparations and configuration of our processing lines? 」 Yuka called out the exact second her warhorse cleared the checkpoint barracks.

「 Yes, Yuka-sama! 」 an authoritative voice rang back instantly. 「 The twenty specialists forming our core command structure have successfully pounded all information and upcoming projected plans directly into their heads. Prior to the arrival of the guests (refugees), ten of our elite handlers will rapidly disperse to convey the content of the strategic orientation to the staff they are respectively in charge of. The remaining ten will be permanently deployed around Yuka-sama to flawlessly handle various transmissions and manage your executive commands! 」

「 Magnificent, as expected of Camilla-san! It is flawless perfection. I can see why Yortia-san affectionately revered and relied on you, calling you her 'big sister'. I look forward to working with you, and humbly place the success of this front into your hands. 」

Saying so, Yuka let her mind trace the fascinating, resilient trajectory of her background. Years prior, inside the treacherous underworld of the Teigoon brothels, Camilla had operated with a fiercely protective, big-sister disposition, uniquely doting on and taking care of the young maiden 'Yoru' (Yortia) in various ways. Following the war, receiving a passionate recommendation from Yortia herself, she had successfully taken up the post to serve as the chief administrator of the newly established entertainment sectors within Ishtar. Afterwards, blessed with a magnificent marriage, she permanently washed her hands of the night world to stay close to her husband as a devoted wife, while proudly applying for and being hired as a staff member at the newly established reception office in Termira. Having started working at the administration, her natural capability distinguished her within a mere six months, and this time, acting under Captain Claire's instructions, she had come to Kusanagi leading the dispatched vanguard detachment from Termira.

『 That's right…… across an administrative reception office composed exclusively of highly independent, strong-willed women, coordinating and steering their ranks is her exact specialty. 』

Thinking so, Yuka smiled at her anew with a radiant, gentle warmth as she drove her proposal home.

「 Camilla-san, regarding the immense gravity of this upcoming processing response, could I humbly request that you officially assume the mantle and assist as Vice-Commander? 」

「 Eh? But Yuka-sama, I am still…… nothing more than a fresh newcomer who hasn't even been at the reception office for a year…… is it really tactically alright to entrust a high command to my un-tested caliber? 」

「 Yes, that doesn't matter at all. An individual who can stand at the absolute apex of leadership is the exact same regardless of what place they go to. I implore you, please lend me your hand. 」

Gracing her with a profoundly gentle smile, Yuka felt an immense wave of satisfaction, knowing she had successfully secured a terrifyingly reliable right arm to lock down her flank.

※

Around that exact same moment, Lars, leading the precise allocation of the one thousand shield titans together with the Holy Shrine-Maiden Sior, was aggressively driving the massive refugee convoy ahead, desperately hurrying to reach Kusanagi. The collective marching pace of the party, heavily saturated with frail elders, defenseless women, and children, was structurally slow. To aggressively break through this limitation, they put those with the slowest walking paces onto the horse-drawn supply wagons Alexis had arranged on the way, forcefully accelerating the march's overall speed.

「 Listen to me, everyone! Kusanagi is almost here, right over the next horizon! Tonight, although temporary, proper beds and hot meals are meticulously prepared to receive you! Do your best and push forward until there! Those who can no longer walk, or are injured, please do not hesitate to call out your distress to the surrounding soldiers! 」

Riding on horseback and spurring his mount to move through the column many times, Lars went around calling out to them, relentlessly injecting courage into their hearts.

Originally, he desperately needed to deliver them to Kusanagi even a little earlier, allowing his accompanying 1,000 troops to immediately execute a full-speed pivot and return to the Third Army. Although he maintained a flawless mask of composure on the surface, his soul was ruthlessly driven by a suffocating sense of impatience.

『 Because our vanguard forces are already at a catastrophic, overwhelming disadvantage in terms of soldier numbers…… 』

As he was thinking so, his vision locked onto the figure of a young boy taking his mother's hand and advancing forward across the road.

「 Hey kid! Is your mother okay? You can easily get a ride packed onto a wagon if necessary, you know? 」 Lars called out, easing his mount down to ride parallel to their steps.

The boy spoken to whispered a soft confirmation with the woman thought to be his mother, and although he silently and solemnly bowed his head, they chose to maintain their steps on foot, seemingly having no such request in particular to accept his hospitality.

『 So he's managed to cheer up and regain a little focus, has he……? Well…… because he ultimately ended up bearing a torturous shackle far too heavy for a child…… 』

After the exact moment his blade stabbed Gale, the boy, realizing his own horrific sin, had become utterly distraught and his psyche shattered into a state of pure confusion and madness. Lars, acting on the fallen Gale's absolute dying wish, had continuously cared for the boy, dedicating his strength to soothe his panic and striving to calm him down many times afterwards. Because he had been glued directly by Gale's side during the melee, his veteran intellect fully understood the structural circumstances and variables at that time.

『 That nightmare was an unfortunate, cruel accident. In the first place, it's an impossible story under raw physical laws for a child's arm to pierce through specialized armor forged from monster skin. It invited such a fatal result strictly because the weight and dense momentum of several people violently leaning and slamming into his back simultaneously focused straight onto the dagger…… 』

In that logical sense, although he couldn't confirm who they were in the swirling confusion at the time, the adult provocateurs who deliberately and simultaneously attacked Gale were the true perpetrators harboring genuine, sickening guilt. However, those cowards smoothly disappeared into the chaotic panic, leaving it physically impossible to verify who they were at this point.

『 The grown adults commit the atrocities and vanish into thin air, letting a defenseless child bear the absolute weight of the sin…… it's thoroughly unbearable and sickening. 』

To break the boy out of his self-reproach, Lars repeatedly admonished him that it was an unfortunate accident, hammering home the truth that with the boy's mere strength he couldn't have pierced the armor, and he continued to track and care for him, calling out to him at every opportunity. Perhaps thanks to those tireless efforts, the boy had successfully emerged from his madness, though he had almost completely stopped speaking words. Merely saying, 『 I will apologize to that person's family, and I wish to atone for it by consecrating and risking my life from now on 』, it felt precisely as though that singular, grim purpose was the absolute reason he was following along and continuing to draw breath.

In the midst of that, across the processing train, there were substantial numbers of adult men who stepped forward to present various requests—claiming to have sprained their ankles, or that their dormant old wounds ached so they could no longer walk—and they successfully secured slots to be put onto the wagons.

※

Rattling and groaning, the horse-drawn wagons finally cleared the dirt trails and became a remarkably decent, comfortable ride after entering the high-quality primary highway and proceeding on the well-maintained road.

「 Hmph, it finally became a piece of decent infrastructure. Up until now across those wretched back-roads, it was a state where you'd bite your own tongue off even if you tried to talk…… 」

One of the adult men who had fumbled through a medical pretext to board the wagon began to speak, dropping into a remarkably low, chilling voice.

「 Yeah, but even so we are incredibly lucky. This too is a magnificent testament to the sacred will of God Ishtar, isn't it. 」

「 Exactly, without a doubt. So, what do we do from here on? 」

「 The first stage of our strategy wretchedly failed by that domestic rebellion. Then we simply transition and move to the second stage. The absolute second we enter their city, we will locate and set fire to their primary food storehouses. Since their administration is already harboring a suffocating, massive number of refugees, and that will newly increase by 10,000 souls tomorrow, they will have absolutely no leeway or luxury to send a single grain of food to the front lines once the supplies are burned to ashes. 」

「 Hahaha! Which implies that the march by the 'Apostles of God' is still actively continuing forward. Without the outcasts themselves even knowing. 」

These hidden entities were exactly the ones who, receiving Azel's secret orders, had meticulously embedded and mingled among the defenseless refugees.

The man who raised the low, cold laugh was none other than the armed provocateur who had forcefully pulled out his fake family to the front row amidst the Shield of Gaia lines. This man, to break the situation, violently pushed the woman he had curried favor with and called his makeshift 'wife' straight into the large steel shields together with his comrades. He had surgically executed that disgusting act thinking that if he could severely injure her before the crowd, it would be possible to incite a towering wave of hatred and toxic hostility across the masses.

However, the situation dynamically rolled into a vastly more fortunate direction for his black heart. Seeing the civilian woman faint after hitting her head and collapsing against the steel corner of the shield, her fake, deluded 'son' violently erupted into madness, and holding a concealed dagger he originally shouldn't possess, he desperately attacked one of the defending generals.

『 We must not let a golden opportunity of this magnitude escape! 』

Thinking so, the hidden operatives had pounced all at once, violently slammed their combined mass into the boy's back to push him down, simultaneously clamped their hidden fingers tightly over the hilt of that dagger, and deeply drove the steel straight through the enemy commander's vitals.

「 Fufufu, it was an incredibly magnificent surprise that the fool turned out to be the Supreme Commander of their enemy front line, but we should probably execute a big job once more. The absolute second we enter the city, we will surgically lock onto another of their commander-class officers and offer his head up as a blood sacrifice. 」

「 Right…… if that happens, this time their local garrison will surely go mad with towering anger and ruthlessly massacre all 10,000 of the refugees. And with that bloodbath finalized, our fanatical countrymen will…… be called to God in the truest sense, transformed into a sacred sacrifice to become the absolute sustenance for our ultimate victory. 」

「 Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos of the mass execution, we will systematically set fire to the city and burn all their food infrastructure to cinders. Listen, men—until the match is struck, we are strictly pitiful, innocent refugees who were blown the falsehoods preached by the church and thoroughly believed them. Don't dare forget your lines. 」

「 Yeah, understood. May the dark grace of the Dark Clan be with us…… for the glory of our master, and to extract absolute vengeance for Serpens-sama, who struck His Excellency and fell in regret as well…… 」

These hidden monsters were exactly the absolute final survivors of the Dark Clan that Azel had historically taken root deep within the infrastructure of the Istoria Imperial Kingdom, and which his successor Serpens had subsequently taken over. Trapped on the opposite side of the board, there was absolutely no way Lars and his veteran riders would know of their toxic schemes and conspiracy. Fulfilling their sacred duties to protect the surrendered refugees they sheltered, they maintained their hurried march, unaware of the profound irony that they were personally bringing them along straight toward the throat of Kusanagi. Accompanied by a pack of venomous wolves who would bring explosive turmoil……

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Can a Mob Highschooler be a Normie: Chapter 155

Mob Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #155

Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain

 Translator(s) note: If all goes well, by next week, we should be able to go back to one update per week like before~

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 155: Scroll of Doppelganger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"————And so, I've decided to Calm all the dungeons in Ikebukuro."

 

　After returning to Tachikawa, I explained the situation to Anna and Oribe.

 

　I would Calm all of the dungeons in Ikebukuro and wipe out all the monsters on the surface in exchange for them lifting the shelter's barrier and let me in...

 

　Kurohara-san's—or rather, the Izayoi Shoji's reaction to my proposal had been something along the lines of, "Hmm... well, if you can actually pull that off, then by all means, please do?" but he did promise that once I completed the task, they would lift the barrier and welcome me in.

 

　As a note, the moment he gave his word, a formal contract was established through Frigg’s Authority.

 

　He might have thought it was just a casual promise, thinking, "There's no way he can do that," but Frigg's Authority doesn't require both parties to fully grasp the gravity of the pact, so long as a ‘fair exchange’ is being made.

 

　Therefore, once I fulfill my end of the bargain, a binding force would compel Kurohara-san to 'execute the contract'. If he fails to honor it, a penalty equivalent to the value I provided would be imposed.

 

　In this case, since Kurohara-san negotiated and contracted with me in his capacity as 'the Senior Managing Director of Izayoi Shoji', should the promise be broken, the consequences would fall not only on Kurohara-san but on Izayoi Shoji itself.

 

　Specifically, the barrier would be forcibly deactivated or nullified.

 

　It may be a form of ‘sneak attack’, but I see no moral issue with it. After all, the barrier will be lifted only after I have already eliminated the surrounding threats.

 

Now, once I Calm all the dungeons in Ikebukuro and sweep away the monsters on the surface, my entire family will finally be reunited. However...

 

"The problem is the new B-rank dungeon that have popped up in Ikebukuro, yes?"

 

　Anna said after hearing my explanation.

 

"With your current strength, Senpai, any number of C-rank dungeons or lower shouldn't be an issue. You can clear them right up to the Boss rooms, then sweep the surface monsters. Take down the high-rank dungeons in turn. For each cleared dungeon, seal its entrance with a Cross-space card to prevent it from having its Calm state lifted. Depending on the situation, completely Calming or eliminating D-rank or lower dungeons should be fine.  This should allow you to achieve region-wide dungeon Calm."

 

　The task itself was simply a larger-scale version of the Calming of all the dungeons on Oragashima. You could say the manual for how to do it was already in place.

 

"The remaining hurdle is whether or not you can conquer the B-rank dungeon. That's all there is to it. Since we have to defend the school, we won't be able to assist you with the dives. ...In other words, this will be a solo challenge."

 

　Anna leaned forward slightly, peering into my eyes as she posed the question,

 

“I’ll ask you straight: What are your actual odds of success?"

 

Odds of success, huh?

 

　Only a dozen or so people worldwide have confirmed solo B-rank dungeon clears. Even then, most of them were backed by nations staking their prestige on the outcome. The number of truly solo conquests was said to be only a handful globally.

 

　In other words, soloing a B-rank dungeon would be synonymous with standing among the world’s most elite adventurers. When asked if I had that kind of confidence...

 

" Honestly, I can only say it depends on the field effects and the total number of floors..."

 

　The field effects of a B-rank dungeon are said to be double of a C-rank. This applies to both main and sub-effects, meaning challenger often deals with four overlapping effects per floor.

 

　If even one of the main effects includes heavy debuffs like Transfer Nullification, Skill Sealing, or Summoning Restriction, clearing the dungeon would be virtually impossible.

 

　Furthermore, multiple corridors become the default in B-rank dungeons, and branching paths often appear at relatively shallow floors. It's common to deal with three or more separate paths simultaneously.

 

　The depth of a B-rank dungeon was said to be between 51 and 100 floors, but the actual number of floors could be several times that.

 

"But Calming it down like that is just a last resort. It shouldn’t be a problem," I said.

 

"Last resort?"

 

"Clearing the dungeon isn’t the only method to Calm a dungeon. It can also be done by defeating the dungeon Boss that has come up to the surface. Since there’s at least one A-rank in the Ikebukuro area..."

 

"Then, defeating it can lead to Calming without having to complete a full dive?"

 

　Anna said, also finishing my sentence. I nodded in response.

 

"I see. That would significantly reduce the effort required to Calm. If that's the case, you'd only need to clear the C-rank and lower dungeons?"

 

"Hmm... But what about the possibility that the A-rank monster came from elsewhere? Or the risk that the actual dungeon Boss has traveled to another area?" Oribe pointed out.

 

"That’s possible."

 

　I admitted, acknowledging Oribe's concern,

 

"But the likelihood is quite low. Timing-wise, A-rank monster emergence on the surface should be at same time as the spatial isolation. There wouldn't have been enough time for an A-rank to go to another area or for an A-rank to wander in from another place."

 

　Until I entered the dungeon where the Pied Piper of Hamelin lurked, no A-rank had been seen on the surface.

 

　It was only after the spatial isolation that A-ranks began appearing. Considering that, it made sense to assume the A-rank in the Ikebukuro area was the dungeon's boss.

 

　With an "I see," Oribe nodded, seemingly satisfied with my reasoning. I continued,

 

"Besides, even if your concerns are right and I’m forced to tackle a B-rank dungeon, it still doesn’t mean I have to clear it to the very end, you know?"

 

"Why is that?"

 

　Anna asked, looking puzzled. I answered her question,

 

" Even if I can't break through the B-rank dungeon, if I can get a card or magic item that can breach the shelter's Absolute Barrier during the attempt, that's good enough. Right?"

 

　Absolute Release skill—a skill that nullifies the effects of all other skills, except for pseudo-safe zones.

 

　If I can get my hands on that, the Absolute Barrier is as good as gone.

 

　My primary objective is, and always has been, to reunite with my dad. If I secure a counter-Absolute Barrier skill along the way, there’s zero need to bother grinding through to the end of the B-rank dungeon,

 

　Going so far as to draw up a contract with Izayoi Shoji using Frigg's Authority was merely a contingency plan for when no other means was found.

 

　Anna and Oribe nodded in understanding. I kept going,

 

"Besides, since the Phases advanced, the monsters' behavior patterns have changed too. Depending on the situation, B-rank dungeons might actually be easier now than they were before Angolmois."

 

　The fact that monsters now possess egos akin to cards means they won't necessarily resort to violence upon sighting humans.

 

　Sometimes things can be worked out through negotiation. If a floor has a Skill Sealing effect, passing through it by hiring the monsters guarding that floor as escorts... that might even be possible.

 

"Hiring dungeon monsters as escorts, huh? I never thought of that," Oribe said.

 

"That's the kind of idea only Senpai, someone who actually makes deals with domain monsters, would come up with!" Anna smiled.

 

　The two of them seemed impressed after hearing my idea.

 

　Getting praised like this by smart people made me feel rather proud.

 

"Fortunately, my father's safety is more or less guaranteed for now. I'll approach this with a safety margin, building up my strength."

 

"Yes. I think that’s the right call,"

 

　Anna said, her smile laced with relief.

 

　... I suspect she would have tried to stop me if I’d planned to tackle the B-rank dungeon with nothing but blind hope.

 

　Even if it meant leaving my dad behind and ruining our friendship, she would’ve stepped in if she thought I’d lost my mind.

 

　Seeing that I had a proper plan thought out clearly took the weight off her shoulders.

 

"That’s the deal. I'll be back up to solo action for the time being, so..."

 

　I bowed my head, feeling a bit guilty, but they both just laughed—the sign for “you don’t need to finish that.”

 

"Ah, please don’t worry about that," Anna said.

 

"Besides, you’ve already paid us in advance. Leave the fort to us," Oribe added.

 

　I breathed out a quiet sigh of relief, realizing that they seemed willing to let off this level of absence with the cards I had given them earlier.

 

"By the way, about the the Star Mother Association..."

 

　Once that conversation had settled, Anna broached the subject,

 

"Star Guide and Five Star General, was it? They mentioned granting you a position with quite a few privileges…"

 

"Yeah. Apparently, they’re generous enough to offer a dedicated B-rank deck for the Five Star Generals."

 

"B-rank, and a deck at that..."

 

　Anna placed a hand on her chin and pondered... Then, her red hair swayed as she firmly shook her head,

" It seems tempting at first glance, but it's far too dangerous. It could become a worm in the lion’s body¹."

 

"Mhmm. There is a high probability—no, a certainty—that the shackles on those cards have been removed. You shouldn't accept that," Oribe also commented.

 

　I nodded in agreement with their words.

 

A B-rank deck sounds promising, but considering the shackles are off, it's no different from a deck of cursed cards.

 

　There was no reason to invite a potential spy into my inventory.

 

"Why not tell them you don't need the cards, but you’ll take magic items instead? If it's a replacement for a B-rank deck, surely you can get something really good?" Anna suggested.

 

"Good point… I might even snag some Key Items that way. It doesn’t hurt to ask."

 

　While I can't accept cards—since they're likely cursed cards—siphoning resources not only strengthens me but also weakens the other party.

 

I should actively ask for magic items and supplies. ...They probably—no, definitely—won't turn me down.

 

“That means it’s better to choose the Five Star General that offer more freedom for expeditions and such rather than the Star Guide who's bound to the shelter, isn't that so?"

 

"Seems so. No point in getting stuck with their internal affairs..." I replied.

 

"And if it's the Five-Star General, there's also the chance you can use Star Mother Association personnel for the surface monster cleanup operation in Ikebukuro..."

 

　Oribe added, before a thought seemed to strike her,

 

"Star Guide and Five Star General. Both positions hold a certain level of personnel authority, don't they? What if we used that to stir up some chaos inside the Association?"

 

Sabotage from the inside, huh?

 

　I considered Oribe’s suggestion for a moment but eventually shook my head,

 

"...No, that’s no good. Right now, openly showing hostility is far too scary."

 

　Indeed, using my authority over personnel to disrupt the Star Mother Association from within—an organization with such a rigid class system—might inflict significant damage.

 

　If I arbitrarily promoted someone who hadn't made any major contributions before Angolmois and demoted someone who'd made substantial donations all the way to the lowest rank, it would provoke the believers' anger. Ultimately, it would lead to a loss of faith in the Saintess for appointing a ‘latecomer’ like me to the second-highest rank in the first place.

 

　But that would also draw the Saintess’s direct wrath.

 

　I shouldn't poke the beehive until I have a solid counter-strategy in place.

 

"You're right. For now, it's better to focus on building up as much strength as possible while they’re still in 'appeasing mode'."

 

　Oribe, apparently not being all that serious, backed down easily.

 

　At that moment, Anna clapped her hands together,

 

"Oh, right. While you were in Ikebukuro, we got word from the Tachikawa Guild."

 

"Hoo, within the same day? That was surprisingly quick."

 

　I’d expected them to spend at least two or three days bickering in meetings before getting back to us...

 

"They must have caught a serious case of cold feet after seeing your cards, Senpai," Anna told me.

 

"Humm. Any apology?"

 

"There wasn't one. They just said they wanted to discuss accepting evacuees as soon as possible."

 

　Well, they weren’t going to wave the white flag on the very first move. They likely want to engineer a 'soft landing'—resolving the situation while keeping the question of who’s actually at fault as vague as possible.

 

The Guild has its pride, after all. On the surface, they won’t offer apologies or formal recompense; instead, they’ll probably try to frame the compensation as 'special measures' or 'support'.

 

We aren't obligated to play along, but we want a soft landing just as much as they do. There's no need to unnecessarily escalate things.

 

But in that case, compensation that isn't directly tied to support the evacuees' livelihoods might be difficult? They probably won't want to part with their cards either, so is there anything else I actually want from the Guild...? Hmm, tough call.

 

"Will Senpai be present at the meeting?"

 

"Let's see... where will the negotiations take place?"

 

"They said they'd be coming over. I suggested we could head over to the Guild, but they politely declined."

 

As expected, they're on guard, aren't they? At least they’re aware of their own scheming.

 

"It would help a lot if you could attend..."

 

"Hmm, I don't mind going, but..."

 

"Is something bothering you?"

 

"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder how things are going on Oragashima.”

 

　It had been over a full day here, meaning nearly ten years had passed there. Of course, if new dungeons had appeared on their side during that timeframe, the time difference would be reduced, so it would actually be less than that. Still, several years would have passed.

 

　I told them to contact me if a critical emergency occurred, so the lack of news likely means they're safe... Still, I'd like to go check on things there around this time.

 

"Ah, I see. Oragashima..."

 

"Hey, Anna, are you maybe not too fond of the idea of moving to Oragashima?"

 

　I asked the question directly, noticing the subtle, conflicted look crossing her face.

 

"It’s not so much that I’m against it, it’s more that I just can’t quite reach a decision... Because of the difference in time flow, we have no idea how much the island has changed since you were last there. And if the time flow difference has somewhat narrowed, it means the number of dungeons over there wouldn’t be much different from here, right? And so, I’ve been wondering… just Calming the dungeons and sweep the monsters right here in Tachikawa instead of forcing a move to Oragashima might be a viable option too...?"

 

Ah... I see. That’s a fair point. If the dungeon density is roughly the same, securing Tachikawa is a perfectly viable alternative…

 

The Guild here remains a thorn in our side as a potential enemy, but from Anna’s perspective, Oragashima holds the same risk.

 

In fact, if Oragashima has managed to keep up with the dungeon Calming work all this time and maintained its safety, their forces likely surpass even the Guild’s.

 

Arguably, their latent danger level might even exceed that of the Tachikawa Guild.

 

On the other hand, if Oragashima didn't have that kind of force, the whole benefit of moving there vanishes anyway…

 

"Of course, Oragashima's seafood is something very desirable, and maintaining friendly relations with Oragashima to establish trade is very welcome. But moving to live there is another matter entirely, I think," Anna told me.

 

" I should add that, from our perspective, we're also uneasy about you transferring around to various places, Senpai. You know, like, what if we get separated again?" Oribe chimed in.

 

"Regarding Ikebukuro, we understand it's necessary for you to reunite with your father. But as for other transfers... we'd prefer it if you keep them to a minimum whenever possible. That's our honest feeling..."

 

I see...

 

　Their fears were perfectly justified. I’d always had a nagging worry in the back of my mind that I might get stuck at a destination, unable to return. That was exactly why I hadn't been popping over to check on Oragashima while I was in Tachikawa.

 

　Given that I could move freely between Ikebukuro and the Star Mother Association shelter, I was 99% certain it would be fine. Still, imagining the worst-case scenario definitely put a psychological brake on making transfers lightly.

 

...Well, even if transfer using the Hamelin's Flute became impossible, I still have the Star Mother Association route as insurance. But that is a lifeline that depends entirely on Star Mother Association—hardly something I can fully trust.

 

　I understood perfectly why the two of them felt uneasy about it.

 

"Why not try contacting them via Card Gear before you actually teleport? That should also tell us how much the time gap has narrowed."

 

"That's true. I'll give it a shot."

 

　Nodding at Oribe's suggestion, I decided to send a message to Yujin-san.

 

Hmm, what should I write?

 

『You doing okay? Still alive?』

 

...That should do. It sorta feels like sending a LINE² message to an ex-girlfriend after years, but in the current situation, there's probably no more fitting wording than this.

 

　About a minute after hitting send, a reply came back,

 

『Alive and kicking (lol). How about you? (lol)』

 

　He replied in this kinda annoying tone, probably matching mine.

 

『I’m good. I managed to reunite with my friends. No luck with my old man yet though—it’s complicated. How’s the situation over there?』

 

　Two or three minutes passed before the next reply arrived.

 

『About seven years have passed here since you left, Kitagawa. Been through a lot, but we're managing somehow. Dungeons have spiked lately, so the difference in time flow seems to have narrowed a lot? I don't really feel any lag even when we're texting like this. There’s a lot I want to catch you up on, so it’d be a big help if you could drop by soon.』

 

Hmm... Looking at this, it seems like we’re messaging in real-time. If the time flow difference were still extreme, his reply should have come back instantly from my perspective. The fact that it took a few minutes means the time gap isn't that big.

 

"How was it?"

 

　Anna asked as I stared at my Card Gear, deep in thought.

 

"It looks like the time gap has largely closed up. They’re safe, but he mentioned wanting to talk about various things and wants me to visit as soon as I can."

 

“Humm... The time gap is closing up, meaning the number of dungeons is probably about the same as here, but the connections³ Senpai left behind are still intact? Is that it?"

 

" Personally, I’d like to see it with my own eyes once, but..."

 

　My words were met with “”Hmm…”” as the two of them crossed their arms, letting out a troubled groan.

 

"...Well, since you are able to travel back and forth just fine, perhaps we're worrying too much," Oribe said.

 

"Even if the worst happens, there are still Freyja and Yomotsu-Ōkami. And although it's better not rely on them, but the Star Mother Association option is technically an insurance, after all."

 

　They nodded, albeit reluctantly.

 

 ...But, well~, yeah. Let’s be extra, extra cautious.

 

"If you’re that worried, how about I just send a card over to see first?"

 

　The moment I suggested it, both of their faces lit up. ““Oh!””

 

"That sounds good!" Anna chirped.

 

" While we're at it, maybe we should send cards too?"

 

"Yeah, why not?"

 

　Seeing it ourselves through the eyes of our card would definitely give us a better grasp of the situation on the there.

 

“The problem is, while the cards are sent out, we’d need to stay outside Hesperides to keep the isolation from breaking...” I noted.

 

“We can just wait inside your Fensalir, Senpai. It shouldn't take more than a day at most... or wait, if the cards can’t make it back, that would be a disaster, wouldn't it?" Anna’s face fell.

 

“If we’re planning for the worst-case scenario, we each need to use a card that we’re willing to let commit suicide or abandon ownership of..." Oribe remarked.

 

Ugh, that’s a bit much... I’m not comfortable with either forcing a named card to commit suicide or treating a card as disposable.

 

　Oribe seemed to share that sentiment as her expression soured the moment she voiced it.

 

Is there any other good way... Oh, wait!

 

“How about using the Scroll of Doppelganger?”

 

 

　Scroll of Doppelganger: When used, it will create a copy of yourself for 24 hours. You can have it perform tasks on your behalf, and its experiences and memories will be integrated into your own after it disappears. However, it cannot speak, so it is not suitable for work that involves meeting people. One-time use, set of three scrolls.

 

 

　With this, memories and experiences will integrate back into the user after use, so it should be no different from seeing things with their own eyes.

 

　Plus, perfectly enough, it came in a set of three—one for each of us!

 

"Ooh! There’s that!" Oribe shouted.

 

"You're a sharp mind, Senpai!" Anna complimented.

 

　As I basked in their unreserved praise, Oribe suddenly said after remembering something,

 

"But, weren’t the clone created by the Scroll of Doppelganger unable to speak?"

 

...Was that part of the specs? Uhh, that is a bit of a problem. And I have quite a few things I want to ask too...

 

“What about communicating via writing?”

 

"I've never used a Scroll of Doppleganger myself, so I can't say for sure, but if the clone can't speak, doesn't that imply it lacks an ego or communicative capacity altogether? " Oribe replied.

 

"Yeah, that’s possible. So it’s just a magic item meant for simple labor based on the original's memories and experience, huh..."

 

"In that case, even if we send the clones, wouldn't they be limited to just wandering around the island and looking at things?” Anna asked.

 

"Mmm, well, that’s better than nothing, but......"

 

　I racked my brain while listening to their exchange.

 

Isn’t there a better way?

 

『Master, may I have a moment?』

 

　Audrey spoke up then.

 

『Hm? What is it?』

 

『 How about applying Dress's Equipping skill to a Nameless Goddess Handmaiden⁴ and having her assist the clone?』

 

"Oh!?"

 

　I let out a surprised exclamation at Audrey's unexpected proposal, causing Anna and Oribe to turn toward me with startled expressions.

 

"Wh-what's wrong?" Anna asked.

 

"Ah, well, Audrey suggested applying Dress's Equipping skill to a Nameless Goddess Handmaiden subordinate to assist the clone."

 

　Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a look.

 

“Using a subordinate to assist the clone? …That could work,” Oribe said.

 

"May we hear the details? Why choose the ‘Nameless Goddess Handmaiden’ and why equip Dress-san?"

 

"Audrey."

 

　I called Audrey’s name, passing the baton to her. Audrey revealed herself and began explaining,

 

"Certainly. First, the reason for summoning the Nameless Goddess Handmaiden is because I possess the Subordinate Maintenance skill. A typical subordinate would only last about an hour, but with my combination of Subordinate Maintenance, Magic Recovery, and Magic Consumption Reduction, I am capable of maintaining the subordinate long enough for the clone to scout the island.

　Next, the reason for equipping Dress is for the clone’s protection and to share acquired skills. Dress possesses Subordinate Enhancement and Maid Master skills, which inherently include the Secretary skill. The Subordinate Enhancement skill will elevate the mid-level dependent body, the Nameless Goddess Handmaiden, into a high-level dependent body with an ego equivalent to the original. Furthermore, the Secretary will allow her to handle communications with the islanders on the clone's behalf."

 

"""Oooh~"""

 

　The three of us let out a collective sigh of admiration at Audrey's logical breakdown.

 

...I see. Having a clone that can't speak assisted by someone with Secretary skills makes perfect sense.

 

Using the ‘Nameless Goddess Handmaiden’ because she benefits from Subordinate Maintenance buffs, then reinforcing her with Dress, was a rock-solid plan.

 

Plus, with this method, I can still collect Garnets from the secret dungeons I discover during my travels at the same time.

 

All I'd have to do is use Eliza's Hamelin's Flute to send over subordinates equipped with the Celtic Trinity Deities or Kimaris.

 

If they're subordinates, even if they somehow can't return, it won't be a loss.

 

"Sounds good to me? Though I guess I should give them a heads-up that a clone is coming instead of the real me."

 

“Yes, this way we can scout the situation over there with zero risk,” Anna agreed.

 

"As for why a clone is going, you can just say that there’s some unavoidable reason preventing your real self from leaving Tachikawa," Oribe added.

 

　And so, it was settled. The two of them were clearly satisfied that I wouldn't have to leave for the island personally.

 

　Still, who would have thought that the Scroll of Doppelganger—which had been sitting in my inventory gathering dust—would prove to be so useful in a situation like this?

 

Seems like even the magic items I've left idle might hold some unexpected potential.

 

Next time I hole up in the Tamatebako for an extended period, maybe I should have everyone research different ways to utilize our magic items.

 

Or maybe creating a dedicated department for it would be a good idea.

 

　Those were the thoughts drifting through my mind as we wrapped things up.

 

 

 

【Tips】Absolute Skills

 

　As the name suggests, these are skills with absolute performance.

 

　They are currently considered the highest-tier skills, with only a select few cards possessing them even at B-rank.

 

　The six Absolute Skills currently confirmed are:

 

・Absolute Hit (絶対命中): A skill that guarantees a hit on any target, except those within a pseudo-safe zone. It is nullified by Absolute Evasion and blocked by Absolute Defense.

・Absolute Attack (絶対攻撃): A skill that pierces through any defense, excluding pseudo-safe zones. It is nullified by Absolute Defense, and while it doesn't hit Absolute Evasion, the skill also doesn't count as having been used.

・Absolute Release (絶対解除): A skill that can dispel the effects of all other skills, excluding the pseudo-safe zone. Since it does not negate the effects of skills after they've been applied, it cannot nullify damage already taken or revert healed wounds.

 

 

・Absolute Evasion (絶対回避): A skill that allows the user to evade any attack. It is nullified by Absolute Hit. Although its function overlaps with Absolute Defense, it is count-based (usually once per day) unlike the duration-based Absolute Defense.

・Absolute Defense (絶対防御): A skill that can defend against any attack. It is nullified by Absolute Attack and can block Absolute Hit.

・Absolute Barrier (絶対結界): A skill that creates a barrier completely separating the inside from the outside. While it prevents interference from the inside as well as the outside, it can block even Absolute skills, with the exception of Absolute Release.

 

***

 

Notes:

1  The raw of the idiom is 獅子身中の虫になり(Shishishinchu no mushi). A similar idiom in English is ‘a snake in one's bosom’.^↩

2  The LINE app. A lot of Japanese people use it for communication ^↩

3  The raw is 伝手 (tsute), which can mean 'connections' or 'influence'. We are not so sure which one it is, but we decided to go with ‘connections’. ^↩

4  Audrey’s subordinate^↩

 

Translator(s) note: Here’s where you can buy the Author’s books:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/stores/author/B075TBZ2QF/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=e78c100a-ced9-4562-a21a-36e8a17339e5&ref_=ap_rdr

 

 

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