[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 17 - 4

17-4

The Ark at the Farthest End

Translator : PolterGlast

When I asked where the Ark was, Plea laughed at me. Told that I would understand if I waited a little, I quietly waited for the ceremony to end, and we had wandered into a strange space.

A pure white world. A single butterfly was flying there. Since Plea had told us to chase it, as we advanced through this otherworldly realm, surprisingly, the land of the Ark lay ahead.

「Uwa... What is this place... It's beautiful...」

「Muu, so this is our sanctuary...」

「Hey, is it alright for an old man like me to be here? I'm feeling massively out of place, y'know...?」

The sanctuary of the Horned race, the land of the Ark, was beautiful. It was enveloped in clear air and radiant light. Even so, looking up at the sky, there was no sun. Towering barriers standing high into the heavens lined all four sides, narrowly and oppressively confining the world. That world was far too pure; it felt unnatural and artificial. Even being told that there was a gate leading to the Abyss in such a place, I simply couldn't believe it.

「Tagging along with us was the end of your luck. Keep us company until the end.」

「Yeah, that's my intention, bro.」

「Ah, there's a town!?」

As we proceeded, we approached a residential district. However, there were no residents. No matter which house we checked, it was empty, yet not a single speck of dust had piled up.

「What a strange place...」

「Rather than strange, this is scary...」

「This is what you call ruins.」

It wasn't a very pleasant sight. It was a paradise without people. I couldn't help but feel an eeriness at the reason why people vanished from such a comfortable land.

「The folks who were here could only live here.」

When I looked back, Zirant, who should have disappeared, was walking beside me. A tone of pity was mixed in her voice, and drawn by her words, I looked around in all directions once more.

Unable to leave this world. Stepping outside means death. Just imagining it for a moment makes my throat feel suffocated.

「The surface world in the past was polluted by the poison of gods. Until the first Emperor of A-Zir went around cleansing the world, the ancient races had no choice but to live fleeing from the poison that robbed them of their power.」

Zirant looked proud. Her manner of speaking was as if bragging that the first Emperor had saved the world. There are many things to think about, but relying on the map we received from Plea, we proceeded along the path. A beautiful but lonely world. It felt more like a gravestone than the land of the Ark.

「The folks here yearned for the outside world, but couldn't even leave this place. What was born as a result is this Black-Horned race. By crossbreeding themselves with other races and even monsters from the Abyss, they supposedly created a new Horned race.」

「Ooh, you know more about it than me, Zira-chan!」

Zirant says the black horns are not pureblood Horned race. I was starting to get bored of the scenery by now. I decided to keep her company in her display of knowledge.

「Then, where did the non-black-horned Horned race go? The folks in the village were all black, you know.」

「I know that much! Our ancestors abandoned this world!」

「That's strange, isn't it. Why would they need to abandon it when the world was cleansed?」

「Th-that is... I don't know that, ask Zira-chan!!」

In front of Sigrun, even Zirant is just a petite young girl. Not understanding what it meant, the female hero lifted Zirant up in a princess carry and clung to her, asking for assistance.

「...They segregated their habitats. It seems the pureblood Horned race had far too high intelligence, and ultimately the Horned race side deemed coexistence impossible.」

Zirant is unperturbed. She wears a cool face without protesting.

「Mu, mumu... Even though our ancestors were superior, why would they need to abandon the world...? What does that mean, Zira-chan!?」

「The ancient Horned race, if they felt like it, could have completely dominated the world with their intelligence and magic power. To coexist and prosper together with other races, they were extremely far too superior.」

Not understanding the meaning, Sigrun tilted her head. Sigrun's thought processes are quite simple, after all...

「I kind of get it, but then again I don't really get it either. I guess that's just how those folks whose brains are built too well look to guys like us~」

「If this is how their descendant turns out, the ancestors will never find peace... In short, Sigrun, your ancestors were graceful and fiercely proud. They simply grew sick and tired of the endless cycle where the rulers and the ruled merely swap places.」

Despite Zirant thrashing about telling her to put her down already, Sigrun still hadn't released her restraint while keeping her head tilted. When that tilted head straightened and was directed at Zirant, she said this:

「...I don't understand it at all!!」

「Eei, you simpleton, just put Wagahai down already!」

「I refuse that! After all, Zira-chan feels the best to hug, wahahaha, so smooth~!」

「Nyaaah?! What an insult to Wagahai, who is a god, what tyranny!? Stop it, wabuh, ah, I'll tell on you to that gyaru village chief!?」

In front of Sigrun, it seems there are no gods or anything. Zirant had her cheeks vigorously rubbed against Sigrun's chest and writhed in agony saying it tickled.

「No sense of tension at all, huh... Oh, ain't that the entrance in question?」

「Seems like it. Look ahead, Sigrun-sama, we're going underground so please take the vanguard. Otherwise, I'll just leave it to Shinza.」

「That's troubling! Alright, I'll give this to you!」

「Eh... Uwaah!?」

Sorry it is exactly as the words say, but Zirant danced through the air. Sigrun threw her away. As expected, if something like that is thrown at her, Kachua would be crushed. Needless to say, I hurriedly stepped in to cover. If I do something seemingly apostle-like for the time being, she might be in a better mood later.

「I-It is nothing... I-I am used to flying through the sky and such, ha, hahahaha...」

「Then you can stand up right away, right?」

「That is impossible, my legs have given out...」

「Ooooi, hurry uuuup? If you don't hurry, I'll go on ahead, y'knoooow?」

Truly an uninhibited level of arrogance. At those words, Zirant's anger flared up and she said this:

『That simpleton!! Once I regain my power, someday I'll completely crush her!!』

Zirant, please say that directly to the person herself... Even if you did say it, Sigrun might misunderstand it as you playing around with her and draw her sword, though...

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 367

Chapter 367

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Southern Front ⑥ – Thoughts of Repaying Debts of Gratitude

Translator : PolterGlast

By the time the First Army under Marquis Gorman and the Second Army under Marquis Solis had thoroughly shattered the Cain Kingdom army and were raising their victory anthems, the Empire forces under Viscount Durul, confronting the ten-thousand-strong Ville Kingdom army positioned at the absolute westernmost sector, were enveloped in a delicate, suffocating tension. Confronting an enemy unit of ten thousand with his own force of eight thousand, they were virtually evenly matched. Mutually recognizing the other as a formidable adversary, both armies remained completely locked in place, staring each other down without making a definitive move. To be precise, there had been numerous minor feints, provocations, and probes, but because both sides read the field flawlessly and reacted with instantaneous precision, they systematically neutralized each other's strategic baiting traps. As a result, the engagement had dissolved into a perpetual stalemate, resembling an endless game of "Sennichite" (a repetitive, deadlocked position in Shogi/Chess).

「 Your Excellency, is it truly wise for our army to simply continue staring down the enemy unit in this manner? We have already received confirmed updates that the two generals under His Majesty the Archduke's direct command have utterly crushed the Cain Kingdom army and secured an absolute victory…… 」

The man offering this counsel was a warrior named Dlements. He had originally served as a knight under Marquis Bradley, but after being taken prisoner alongside Viscount Durul during the grueling siege to capture Teigoon, they had spent their captivity together as foundational members of the Imperial Comrades Association. Following their formal return to the Empire's service, he had remained at the Viscount's absolute right hand, braving the brutal campaigns against the Sura Principality by his side. To him who had supported him with excellent capability time and time again, Viscount Durul had exceptionally selected him as his second-in-command in this battle.

「 That too is our vital role, 」 the Viscount responded calmly. 「 From what I can deduce, the army deployed before our eyes is the single most formidable opponent on this entire front. Keeping them completely pinned down so they act as idle troops, entirely unable to contribute to the shifting wider warzone, is itself a paramount duty. 」

「 A reasonable point…… We absolutely cannot afford to let them break this containment and advance any further to the west. 」 Saying this, Dlements let out a confident smile as he looked upon his commander.

「 I—Indeed, 」 the Viscount cleared his throat, a sudden stiffness entering his posture. 「 We must stand as an unyielding defensive wall for the western sector. Most specifically, we cannot permit a single enemy soldier to trespass into the mandate territory governed by Count Kampfer. 」

「 Naturally, Your Excellency. I highly doubt any of those reckless bandits possess the sheer lunacy required to overextend their lines all the way into the Lorelei region…… right? 」

「 O—Of course not! We must absolutely prevent it at all costs. Even if it demands my very life…… yes. 」

『 What an easy-to-understand person, 』 Dlements thought to himself, thoroughly amused. 『 He is clearly sick with worry over that beautiful lady. Ever since I departed from Teigoon, I have not been uniquely blessed with an opportunity to meet her firsthand. Yet, I too am an individual whose very life was salvaged by her grace. Even if the rest of us do not harbor a secret romantic longing like His Excellency, every single one of us holds an extraordinary, deep-seated devotion toward her and her companions. 』

In this specific northern campaign, besides Dlements himself, all 120 of the elite Empire soldiers who had been formally returned after the prisoner-exchange and now served the Third Prince's camp had passionately volunteered to march. Driven by a fierce, unyielding desire to repay the immense debt of having their lives saved, and to return the profound kindness they received during their care at Teigoon, they had steeled their souls for this war. Furthermore, Alexis had formally imparted into his reports the critical intelligence that Rosa had personally departed for the ruined capital of Lorelei, dedicating herself to persuading the stubborn local church, the orphanage, and the residual citizens to evacuate.

『 That person truly treats even the common citizens of the Empire without a shred of discrimination, her entire being overflowing with profound benevolence. The passage of time has done nothing to alter her beautiful heart. It seems she has gone and added yet another immense debt of gratitude that we can never repay…… 』 Within Dlements's chest lay a deep, reverent affection for Rosa, operating on a slightly different wavelength than Viscount Durul’s pure romantic longing.

In the midst of their quiet exchange, an entirely unanticipated cascade of urgent scouting reports walloped their headquarters, striking the command structure with an immense shock.

「 Urgent report! An urgent report has just arrived from our espionage unit! A massive hidden detachment from the Ville Kingdom army, which lay concealed deep beyond the border lines, has initiated a sudden, aggressive advance and broken straight into Count Kampfer’s mandate territory! Their numbers…… are estimated to be roughly five thousand troops! It is highly projected that their marching trajectory is locked directly onto Lorelei! 」

「 Reporting! The ten-thousand-strong enemy army deployed right before our eyes has initiated a brand-new maneuver! They are maintaining their rigid tactical formation but are systematically drifting their entire line further to the west! 」

「 This is bad! Rosa-sama is in danger! 」 The exact instant the words left the messenger's lips, Viscount Durul surged to his feet, his chair scraping violently against the earth.

Yet…… the main enemy unit directly before his eyes was already moving in tandem. If he were to recklessly detach his forces to launch a rescue mission, the veteran general steering the Ville forces was hardly naive enough to let such a glaring vulnerability slide. His rear division would be instantly smashed, or worse, the enemy would sweep southward to ruthlessly strike the exposed flanks and rear of their allied forces.

「 Guh! What should I do…… 」 Caught in a suffocating vice between his deepest human emotions and his absolute, unyielding responsibility as a military commander, Viscount Durul froze for a single, agonizing second. He felt a crushing weight wallop his chest, his heart hammering violently against his ribs as panic threatened to seize his mind.

「 Your Excellency, please allow me to humbly present a definitive tactical proposal! Lead one thousand elite cavalry and depart for Lorelei this exact instant! That person is the ultimate benefactor to our entire Empire. Under no human circumstances must we allow even a shadow of catastrophe to befall her! 」

「 B—But, Dlements! If I leave— 」 「 If you cannot even protect the very person you care about, what will you accomplish?! Furthermore, she is the benefactor of our people! Even at this very second, she has placed her own life on a dangerous front line specifically to ensure the escape of our Empire citizens! 」

「 But…… this is a purely personal matter, and as a commander…… 」 Viscount Durul continued to falter, trapped in immense hesitation, entirely unable to make a decision.

「 Your Excellency! 」 Dlements bellowed, his voice cutting through the tent with absolute intensity. 「 To protect the people of the Empire—this, too, is an important, sacred role entrusted to us directly by His Excellency the Chief of the General Staff, Sieghart! Do you honestly mean to suggest that we, who survived the fierce, unyielding meat-grinders against the Sura Principality, would fall behind just because 1,000 cavalry are missing?! If those 1,000 cavalry act as an iron shield, it mathematically guarantees we can let them escape into the safe zone! If you are going to continue to agonize like that, I shall go! 」

Confronted by the sheer, unyielding weight of Dlements's roar, Viscount Durul’s hesitation shattered, and he made his decision. 「 I'm counting on you…… 」

To Dlements, that brief, absolute command was more than enough. Gracing his commander with a crisp, brilliant smile, he snapped a sharp military salute. Without wasting another breath, he hurried out of the command tent, instantly issuing commands to organize the soldiers.

※

The Ville Kingdom army, which suddenly began moving from the deadlocked confrontation, also had a corresponding set of internal circumstances.

「 Good grief…… What a troublesome person, even though I explicitly advised him so much not to advance too deeply. No matter how much there is no enemy army deployed west of here, one never knows what will happen in enemy territory. 」

Letting out a massive, weary sigh toward his close aides, the old general had begun dynamically shifting his military formations to match the rapidly developing situation. He had also not been informed in advance that the main unit led by the King would make a deep advance that could be called a reckless act.

「 Even so, it seems the commander steering the opposing military possesses a remarkably flawless grasp of reason, 」 the old general muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon. 「 I systematically exposed multiple glaring openings and left tantalizing gaps in our formations specifically to bait them into a reckless frontal assault, yet they refused to swallow the bait. As expected, the military forces of a country used to fighting are quite something. Completely different from the greenhorns of Lute and Cain. 」

「 Indeed. Had they politely launched a brute-force charge against our lines, we could have used that weapon to systematically annihilate them all at once…… 」

「 Well, a campaign simply does not go as one thinks. Let us devote ourselves to whittling down the enemy army while closing the physical distance with His Majesty's army just in case. The detachment that went out earlier was about 1,000 cavalry; no matter how foolish they are, they won't fall behind 5,000 against 1,000. 」

The latter half of those words was driven strictly by the old general's desperate expectations—no, rather, a silent prayer echoing in his soul. Turning his aged eyes toward the western sky where his master the King must be advancing, he let out yet another deep, heavy sigh.

「 Just in case…… huh. Yet, I can hardly sit idly by and watch him march to his doom. What a high-maintenance person. 」 Muttering this to himself, he began to issue a string of brand-new operational instructions across his lines.

※

There were several critical circumstances as to why the Ville King’s direct army, which initially deployed outside the Third Prince's mandate territory to watch from a high vantage point, began moving. The 1,000 troops placed as their vanguard, completely ignoring the collection of spoils and plunder, were spending all their time preparing out of concern for the crisis of the allied forces. Although it was an advance route he had personally chosen and commanded, there were only few notable towns and prosperous villages, leaving his direct spoils of war profoundly lacking. He was violently driven by envy and a severe sense of impatience upon learning that the other two nations had already obtained corresponding supplies through their own ruthless looting. The Cain Kingdom army had been thoroughly defeated, and the vast majority of the defending military turned towards the Lute Kingdom army furthest east. It became clear through espionage that the enemy army could not place a proper standing garrison anywhere across the western sector. And above all else, if they pushed themselves a little and executed a deep advance, there was the Royal Capital Lorelei of the former Roland Kingdom. The direct army led by the King of Ville was composed solely of cavalry and light infantry, without carrying extra heavy decisive weapons. Consequently, their speed of march was exceedingly fast compared to the other three invading units. Much less, because they were moving directly along the main highway connecting the Empire and the Demon Territory Dukedom, their speed was absolute. Therefore, the King intended to pierce the gap in the enemy army, intrude deeply into hostile territory, and conduct looting exactly as his black heart desired in the former Royal Capital.

※

Rosa, who had successfully secured the clergy's agreement to depart Lorelei, was growing severely frustrated that the church's preparations were progressing at a staggeringly sluggish pace. With the local church making its stance clear to abandon the city, the remaining residents of the regional town also prepared for evacuation individually and departed early on. However, the clergy was actively attempting to load a mind-bogglingly massive amount of cargo, demanding a considerable, absurd window of time just to finalize their departure.

『 Good grief! What part of this is a minimum of sacred cargo?! This is the maximum! They've literally packed everything! 』 The reason Rosa inadvertently grumbled so was that she had reached the absolute limit of her patience with the church side's slyness and unvarnished audacity.

「 Rosa-sama, since their evacuation trajectory has been officially finalized, I believe your paramount objective here has been successfully achieved. I strongly advise that we too evacuate the danger zone early on, but…… 」 The advice presented by the elite soldiers Alexis had assigned to serve as her personal escort was fundamentally reasonable. But there was a reason Rosa remained unable to move.

「 I know, you are entirely correct. It's just…… the children…… 」

Had they permitted the immediate, swift escape of the orphanage ahead of the convoy, Rosa and her hundred-man knightly escort would have also followed them and left the city. Deeply paranoid of that exact scenario, the corrupt clergy had actively mobilized the innocent children, forcing them to labor as pack-mules for the work of loading the massive items to be taken out!

『 The absolute second this war concludes, I am permanently banning anyone from mediating jobs for those people. Surely nothing good will come of it. 』 Rosa steeled her heart with a fierce vow.

At that exact juncture, the loading preparations were finally completed.

「 Alright, listen to me, everyone! We are going to hurry through the main highway and move directly to Kusanagi! Once we get there it'll be safe, and we won't have to worry about food! 」 Saying this, Rosa forcefully cheered and encouraged the children.

Yet…… the walking pace of a massive convoy dragging very young, fragile children is structurally bound to a torturously slow velocity, a crisis severely exacerbated by the many horse-drawn wagons loaded with a massive amount of heavy cargo. The march progressed sluggishly, and they were physically incapable of generating any legitimate distance. Taking her position at the absolute rearguard alongside the soldiers protecting her, Rosa did everything possible to forcefully accelerate their collective pace. Yet, the universe proved entirely merciless. Looking across the long horizon, a dense column of dark, billowing black smoke was confirmed rising from Lorelei far in the rear. Simultaneously, a massive, towering cloud of dust kicked up by a thundering storm of pursuing hooves rose rapidly catching up to them……

The exact instant the King of Ville penetrated the streets of Lorelei, he simultaneously discovered several still-fresh wheel ruts that seemed to have carried a massive amount of cargo. Without wasting a single second, the King dispatched a high-speed strike force of 300 elite cavalry to reconnoiter, while simultaneously arranging to send overwhelming reinforcements at any time.

「 Rosa-sama! We will somehow hold them off! For now, abandon the cargo and pull back! If possible, please evacuate not on foot but on horseback from here on! 」

「 I am truly sorry…… please, everyone, never push yourselves too hard! 」

Urged forward by her desperate escorts, apologizing to them, she instantly took the children along and started sprinting forward. The church personnel who had accompanied the horse-drawn wagons quickly gave up on the heavy cargo they had been so particular about, and had already fled like rats into the wilderness.

『 This is my fault…… Because I was careless…… everyone, I am truly sorry. 』

Clutching the trembling hand of a tiny child in her own, Rosa sprinted forward on foot, not yet on horseback. She was utterly incapable of executing a personal escape on horseback while abandoning the many children fleeing on foot. Within her chest, a relentless cascade of silent apologies walloped her heart, her thoughts consumed by the soldiers and the innocent souls beside her. And then, shortly after, the terrifying screams of charging warhorses and the violent, metallic screech of clashing swords began to be heard from right behind them.

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[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 17 - 3 Part 2

17-3 Part 2

The Abyss and the Cursed Child

- The Girl Born with Calamity -

Translator : PolterGlast

「Certainly, if the Empire falls into a civil war, the surrounding countries will be put in a difficult position. However, it doesn't directly affect us living at the Farthest End.」

「So you have no reason to cooperate.」

「Nn... I want to lend a hand, but it would be correct to say that I cannot. Haa... I see Sigrun hasn't told you anything...」

「Again, my deepest apologies. But do you think that would tell us the detailed circumstances?」

「She wouldn't... Then I will explain in order. This is not just a village. We are the people who guard the Ark. That is why we do not want to take risks.」

Ark. That's a word that appears in stories from the other world too. It's mostly a stage device, and I haven't really seen developments where it's actually used, though.

「The Ark, huh. As if this world is going to be destroyed someday?」

「I don't know about that. The Ark is like insurance for the world. In the event the world is destroyed by some trigger, the Ark's role is to sprout seeds on the new earth. And it is us who guard that Ark.」

Non-interference with the world. That exactly is correct, Plea says. The logic is sound. It's not wrong either. The system called the Ark won't save the present, but it will probably save some future.

「Don't be stupid, there are guys from the Abyss behind the enemies!! Is there an idiot who would just shut themselves up in here without fighting back!!」

「I'm fine with being an idiot. We only uphold the ancient covenant. In case of emergency, use the technology of the Horned race to preserve every species. Since Yulan-sama ordered us so, that is absolute.」

Suddenly, unexpected words jumped out. Is that referring to that Dragon God Yulan, who is frequently compared to Zirant and irritates her?

「Then I'll say it again, you idiot!! Yulan does not desire such a thing, he would surely say to lend a hand to A-Zir, without fail!!」

「Sigrun, we are different from ungrateful humans. Even if eternal time flows, Yulan-sama's words must be absolutely obeyed.」

「This is a crisis of the A-Zir Empire that Yulan created, you know!」

I'm starting to not understand what they're talking about. Neither opinion is wrong. That's why persuasion is difficult. It even seemed impossible.

「Kukuku... Yulan, huh. Then, how about if it's Wagahai's request?」

The last resort is only Zirant. That last resort manifested with light right above the study desk and landed on top of the documents. Zirant, why do you always want to specifically appear in conspicuous, high places... I won't be held responsible if your feet get pitch black with ink.

Ignoring my thoughts, Village Chief Plea opened her eyes wide, surprised by the young girl with dragon characteristics, and jumped up from her chair.

「That appearance, could it be, Yulan-sama...!?」

「Incorrect... My name is Zirant. As for Yulan—well, you can think of him as something like a relative.」

Zirant didn't try to get down from the desk. I'd like to pull her down saying it's bad manners, but I stopped because I felt like I'd get kicked.

「Fuhaha, look, does this dragon not enter your eyes!!」

「Uwa, I'm flabbergasted...」

During the journey, Zirant had hidden her figure. For that Zirant to suddenly reign divinely, the old man's surprise is natural. On the other hand, Village Chief Plea pondered deeply about something, and after a while, she raised her face.

「Zirant-sama, in that case, I have a condition for an exchange.」

「Very well, the magnanimous Wagahai shall at least listen.」

「Yes. It is embarrassing to say, but one concern remains in the depths of the Ark's land. If you remove that problem.」

「Umu, and then you will prostrate yourself before Wagahai's majesty, correct?」

「To Prince Ashley, whom you favor, we shall provide the elites of the Horned race, technical advisors, and put in a good word with our brethren scattered across the world.」

She completely changed her attitude just for Zirant. To me, she's nothing but a gluttonous young girl who tends to overstretch herself, but Plea seems to be another one who feels divinity in Zirant. I don't understand...

「If you had joined the seat from the beginning, the talk wouldn't have gotten so complicated.」

「Kukuku, there is such a thing as timing in matters.」

When I held out my hand asking her to get down already, Zirant jumped down towards me. When I caught that light body, unbelievable for a dragon, and stood her on the floor, Kachua was looking this way enviously. It seems Kachua is still at an age where she wants to play.

「So, what should we do?」

「If it is an existence of the same rank as Yulan-sama, you might be able to seal that.」

「What is that, that's the first I've heard of it!? Why didn't you rely on me back then!?」

「...Eeeeh~? Cause like~, if I said it, it's Sigrun we're talking about~. I could see you charging right into the Ark's land~, so why would I say it~? Y'know?」

「Eeei, having your character changed suddenly seriously pisses me off, so stop it!! I've been telling you since the old days, next time I'll hack you to pieces!!」

Sorry, but I agree with Sigrun. While holding down the hilt of Sigrun's sword, I let out a sigh at the village chief who throws off my pace. Being good friends with Sigrun, her personality is even thicker than her makeup...

「I'll ask again. What should we do?」

「Before that, I will explain the circumstances. ...Once upon a time, in a very distant past, our ancestors were about to be destroyed by the hands of the evil god Samael. Because Yulan-sama betrayed Samael and sealed him in the heavenly prison, we were no longer hunted by angels, but—due to certain circumstances, our ancestors had no choice but to flee to this Farthest End.」

The woman with black horns gazed at the village from by the window. This is a beautiful village, but looking at it another way, it resembles a birdcage. The ancient promise became a cage, confining them here. I felt a little sympathy—no, something akin to empathy.

「Umu, it is a fact. The Creator Samael was a god who trifled with life. That is why Yulan, finally unable to bear watching it, betrayed his precious friend Samael.」

Zirant added that matter-of-factly.

「Among the numerous races, we, the Horned race, were the species that excelled most in intelligence. In order to ensure the survival of the species, our ancestors poured their technology into this land, and at the same time—seeking a way to retaliate against the evil god and humans, they created numerous hidden treasures. One of them is currently in a somewhat bad state.」

「Eeei, how roundabout! In short, what should we do!?」

「In the land of the Ark. Please close the Great Gate of the Abyss located in its underground.」

「Mu, what is that? Is it connected to the Abyss or something?」

「Yes.」

「Wahahaha, were our ancestors idiots? What's the point of creating such a thing, were they planning to invade the Abyss or something!?」

Invade the Abyss. Sigrun is probably the only one who could come up with such an idea. In the first place, that there is a gate leading to the Abyss, that it is normally open, and that it is still left unchecked now, is very hard for us to believe.

「Our ancestors tried to take the world itself hostage. If you intend to seriously destroy us, we will unleash this gate, they said.」

「Taking them down with you, huh... A terrifying method, but the effect would be certain. Understood, I'll go close that gate as requested.」

In Ratatosk, I was able to gouge out and destroy the Abyss Gate with the Shovel's power to pierce everything. I'm sure we can manage somehow this time too.

「Umu, there is no need for Wagahai to take action. This Prince Ashley will manage something of that level.」

「Please. The likes of Abyss entities cannot cross the barrier of the Ark, but I want to remove the unease just in case.」

And so it was decided. After preparing ourselves and undergoing a troublesome ceremony, we entered the world of the Ark guarded by the Horned race at the Farthest End.

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

・The Black Horn

That year, the village of the Horned race was struck by strange phenomena. Wells boiled, a white rainbow considered an omen of misfortune floated in the sky, and livestock birthed half-human half-beast offspring. That was not all. All the babies born that year were stillborn.

The people of the village trembled in fear at these terrifying omens of misfortune, and gasped at the tragedy of their beloved children dying one after another. In such a year of calamity, a single baby received life. From the womb of a mother who died of illness, that child appeared in the world as if crawling out on her own, becoming the only living baby that year.

The people of the village feared that baby as a cursed child, and the mothers whose children were stillborn were especially harsh towards her. You killed my child, it would have been better if you had never been born, they said.

Even so, the baby grew up rapidly and energetically, or rather, she grew up too energetically, and despite her unfortunate birth and environment, she developed an extremely bold, audacious, and highly troublesome disposition. But perhaps that disposition also made her incompatible with the people of this land. The cursed child, with martial arts talent bestowed by heaven, defeated the strongest man in the village at just 13 years old, and flew out of the village at 16. Her name is Sigrun.

Even so, I'm glad she came back. I'm truly glad to be able to see her safe and sound. No matter how badly the people of the village speak of her, because I am the only one who is Sigrun's friend――――like, you know? Seriously, her personality hasn't changed at all~, it's super hilarious~♪

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