[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 19 - 11

19-11

Ruined City Merkwell

Translator : PolterGlast

That day, we stayed at an inn and spent the night. Since Port Ake is the largest trading port in the Coastal Provinces, it was overly well-equipped when it came to inns. Thus, just past noon the next day, we were allowed to board the flagship of the Hez Company, and began our return journey to the Empire. During that journey, having them drop anchor at Salzland, the gateway to the Coastal Provinces, to achieve the mission indicated by the bizarre book was also one of my aims.

――――――――――――――

- Exploration -

【Reach the gateway of the Coastal Provinces, Salzland】

·         Reward: EXP 10

――――――――――――――

「Eh, eh, eh, what is going on here!?」

And one more thing. I wanted to return as quickly as possible, so I made a certain proposal. When I told her to connect all the ships with chains using the flagship (she wouldn't tell me the ship's name for some reason) as the axis, it was immediately rejected. However, I persisted and persuaded her, saying I would listen to whatever she said if nothing happened. The result went exactly as planned. The flagship, affected by the Movement Speed LV 2 correction, forcefully towed the other ships, leading the sailors and Carral to raise their voices at the bizarrely high-speed cruise.

「Impossible...」

「It's Zirant's blessing. For some reason, the vehicles I ride accelerate unconditionally.」

「Even so, it's impossible... It's certainly fast, but it's a bit dangerous, and if I get used to this speed, I won't be able to go back!」

「Then you should just keep taking Shinza and sessha around with you!」

「That's even more impossible, I tell you! Please, just don't break the bottom of the ship, okay!?」

「P-Please don't say scary things, kyan...」

「Wahaha, I have no trust!」

「I still haven't forgotten that you tried to use fire on the deck!!」

A sea voyage with Sigrun is terrifying. Even Sigrun wouldn't do something so nonsensical, I think, but she could mess up at any moment.

「How about we take turns keeping an eye on her, kyan...?」

「That's our only choice, huh...」

「Sigrun, absolutely do not enter the ship's hold. Even I'm starting to get anxious...」

「Don't be a fool, what's packed in this hold is the reward of the chivalrous thief Pretty Bell! There's no way I'd sink it!」

「Eh, what's that...?」

「It's the name of the chivalrous thief. I didn't like being called 'Terror', so I claimed this name instead.」

That's a topic I don't want to remember... Thanks to Sigrun acting on her own and declaring "The chivalrous thief Pretty Bell has arrived!", I had ended up becoming the true identity of Pretty Bell... Terror is much better...

「Heh...? But, Shinza is a man, right...? Why, Pretty Bell...」

「I hit it off with Zira-chan over it! I liked it so I went with this!」

Talk about a terrible story...

「Umu, I don't think it's bad. It's been a while, Carral.」

Since Zirant unnecessarily manifested with light, startling the sailors, and began talking about the magical girl Pretty Bell, I fled into the cabin... Terror is better... Terror is still much better...

Thus, the next day, due to the high-speed cruise that surprised even Carral, we arrived at the anchorage of Salzland in just a single day. In the past, there was apparently an elf country with that name, but it vanished due to annexation, and this land inherited its name. Regardless, when I checked the bizarre book wondering how it was now—

――――――――――――――

- Exploration -

【Reach the gateway of the Coastal Provinces, Salzland】 (Completed)

·         Reward: EXP 10

――――――――――――――

――――――――――――――

- Exploration -

【Reach the ruined city of Merkwell, west of Salzland】

·         Reward: EXP 1600, Acquisition of Relic(s)

――――――――――――――

――――――――――――――

- Table of Contents -

·         【Name】 Ashley

·         【Lv】 49

·         【Exp】 10770 → 10970 (Abyss Ant Battle) → 10980

·         【STR】 118 → 120

·         【VIT】 302 → 305

·         【DEX】 273 → 275

·         【AGI】 260 → 263

·         【Skill】 Shovel LV 5 Scoop LV 1 Imperial Bonds LV 2 Sense of Direction LV 1 Movement Speed LV 2 Digging x30 (Active)

『Merkwell, huh... It makes sense, but... how strange.』

 ――――――――――――――

This was a hit, just as expected. A new challenge had been added to the page. The reward experience points were also exceptional, and this "Acquisition of Relic" thing was quite suggestive.

「Carral-ojousama, a bad report has come in from the sailors who went ashore ahead of us...」

「Eh, then I don't want to hear it...」

「Don't say that and please listen. It seems there was another disturbance in the court of the Imperial Capital.」

「What did you say!?」

However, just as a delicious reward was dangled right under my nose, an urgent report arrived.

「Prince Julius and Prince Yord staged an uprising in the court and aimed for the Crown Prince's head, but they failed and were eliminated instead. Prince Julius and Prince Yord are currently missing—that's what we heard.」

「A coup d'état! Wahahaha, shedding their haughty blood in the court of all places, what idiots!」

In that case, we must hurry and return to Erin. But what the bizarre book points to is the farthest west from here. It indicates for us to go to the ruined city, Merkwell, located across the sea. However, if our return is delayed, our response to this suddenly changed situation will also be delayed. Aneue and Puis will probably complain too. I hesitated over this captivating detour.

Zirant, what do you think? In the first place, what does "ruined" mean?

『Umu, I'm glad you asked. I shall specially explain it to you.』

You just love explaining things, don't you... And so?

『Merkwell is located in the farthest ends of the world. It's on the extreme frontier, south-southwest even from the hidden village of the Horned species. There, beautiful minerals called magic stones can be obtained. Because of that, settlement took place there long ago.』

Magic stones, that's a gemstone with quite a dangerous-sounding name...

『They had utility value for some people. But, you see, the wasteland of the farthest ends crept closer to the city year by year, and when it was finally swallowed up, it was unavoidably abandoned. One would normally think—that even if you go, all you'll get are magic stones.』

If the grotesque monsters we fought in that farthest wasteland appeared around the city, it wouldn't be an environment for mining or living. However, my interest was piqued. I want to go. But, this situation...

『Go. You just need to pack the necessary personnel into a schooner and have the others head to the next anchorage. There will be a delay in the schedule, but with Carral's and your abilities, you should easily be able to catch up.』

That is true, but... Zirant, is this a detour worth risking the fate of the Empire over?

『Strictly speaking, Merkwell has not fallen to ruin. If you go, a new encounter will surely await. If you want military strength, you should go.』

I see. Understood, let's go. If Yord and Julius are truly dead, it's safe to say the situation has improved. If the major successors to the throne decrease, the number of conflicts will decrease accordingly. But if Yord and Julius are alive, that is the beginning of a massive civil war. We will need even more power.

「Shinza, you've been silent for a while now, are you okay...?」

「No, I was just thinking a bit. More importantly, I have a proposal.」

「Yeah, we have to hurry back...」

「Take me to the ruined city of Merkwell.」

「Ruined!? What's with that hot-blooded ring to it!? Good, I like it, sessha is going too!」

「Wait a minute, the Empire is in a terrible situation, so why... wh-where is that!?」

「Apparently, it's the farthest west from here.」

It's probably better to keep the troublemaker Sigrun under my supervision here rather than on the other ship...

「Umm... I will return to Kaha, kyan. I need to gather information here and report back to the King... For what it's worth, I'm a diplomat too, kyan...」

「That's a great help. If we are to move the army to Fimbul, it seems better to hurry.」

It's this kind of situation, but Zirant says it's worth going. In that case, I have no choice but to go. Making Sigrun and Carral my main force, along with a very small number of sailors, I decided to hastily aim for the farthest west in a schooner. Bringing back magic stones as a souvenir for Aneue doesn't sound bad, either.

-----

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 397

Chapter 397

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Southern Front ⑬ –The Essence of the Demon King

Translator : PolterGlast

For Grat, the next Emperor of the Gryphonia Empire, this day became the most astonishing, and an unforgettable day in all the days he had lived up until now.

First, the primary surprise was the appearance of reinforcements he hadn't even anticipated, which showed up just when he was surrounded by the enemy army and had prepared himself for the worst. While his allies shifted to the offensive, several familiar faces from among the reinforcements ran up to him and collapsed beside him.

「Your Highness, Your Highness Grat!」

「Your Highness... it's a blessing, it's truly a blessing that you are safe...」

「Thank goodness, I am truly glad!」

They all shed tears in unison, rejoicing at their lord's safety and their reunion.

「You all... have truly done well... I am covered in the dirt of defeat and a ruined body, but I am safe. This is all thanks to the soldiers... huh?」

While Grat was responding to them, he noticed the figure of a person who shouldn't be here walking over on horseback from a short distance away, and his voice cracked from too much surprise. This was the second surprise.

「Your Highness Grat, first of all, I am glad above all else that you are safe. We have also arrived in response to our friendship with the new Empire.」

Choking on his breath for a moment, Grat hurriedly turned back to his smiling sworn ally and uttered words.

「T-Takuhir-dono, why are you here? No... first of all, I deeply thank you for your assistance, and the people of the Empire and I will engrave this favor in our hearts and never forget it for the rest of our lives...」

In the middle of that, Takuhir intentionally interrupted his words. As if looking like he wanted to say he didn't need something so heavy...

「Our battle starts from here! Sieghart-dono is also waiting eagerly at Big Bridge, so let us first make a triumphant return.」

『As someone who will become the Emperor, you must not say such things carelessly』, is that what he means...? Grat misunderstood that he was being considerate in front of the soldiers, and hurriedly changed the topic.

「But I believe Big Bridge is also surrounded by a large army...」

Saying so, he was made to think deeply once again. 『These people who are Sieghart's subordinates should have also been stationed at the fort. How on earth did they get out of the fort? Much less, how did Takuhir-dono arrive here?』 When he calmed down, he also felt doubtful about that point.

「Ah, that's right. When we arrived, we kicked about the 30,000 surrounding the fort, but probably by now they are surrounded again by the Sura Principality's military forces that have turned back from various places, so...」

「That must be so, it wouldn't be so easily... No! Takuhir-dono, what did you just say! I thought I heard that you entered the castle after kicking about 30,000...」

『No, did I mishear? Because a story like that is impossible.』

「Ah, I did say that... but you're certainly right. Accurately speaking, the ones we kicked about directly were 10,000. Because they were an enemy three times our size, I devised a plan for them to self-destruct, and it just happened to go well.」

「Wha...」

『So it is the truth after all! Even though it's an unbelievable story. Defeating an enemy of 30,000 with 10,000... isn't that a military exploit that sways the war situation!』

Grat was at a loss for words from too much surprise. This was the third surprise, and it continued further.

「However, on the way back, the Sura Principality army of about 40,000 has probably also turned back and besieged the fort. So, we might not be able to enter the castle easily, but we can probably manage somehow with just our army, right? Well... it will be a slightly noisy castle entry, though...」

Well, if it's just entering the castle, there are a few other operations, but... using that would probably be the best.

「...」

『No, the enemy army is forty thousand! Why is the Archduke smiling brightly? He says he's going to break through that and enter the castle with a military force of ten thousand? It's absolutely impossible, no wonder the enemy soldiers point at him and fear him, calling him a Demon King...』

At the fourth surprise of the day, Grat's mouth remained half-open, as if he had forgotten to close it for a while.

「Now then, Your Highness, let us go into hiding once again from here on. Tonight's... no, tomorrow you will surely be able to rest on a proper bed. So until then, please bear with it for a little while longer.」

Exactly as Takuhir's words said, when the Demon Territory Knights Order led by Weiss who had completely defeated the enemy army returned, the party that became a total of 17,000 cavalry departed aiming straight for Big Bridge amidst the approaching dusk. Accompanied by Grat who was still half in doubt.

※

The Demon Territory Knights Order and the Empire Army, who joined up in the western direction of Gaitei, hurried west without dropping their speed even when the sun set and the surroundings began to grow dark, and even when the sun completely set and it became pitch black, they lit lights and hurried on their return journey with the Empire Army who knew the way taking the lead. And then, deep into the night before dawn, when they finally came out to the north side of Big Bridge Fort, he issued a strange request to the accompanying Empire soldiers.

「I apologize, but starting with Your Highness, I would like everyone in the Empire Army to wait here with our army's main force until our signal. From here on, we will lead two thousand elites and go prepare the flower path for Your Highness's return. Because it will be a slightly lively return, I ask that everyone dismount your horses, wait on foot, firmly grip the reins, and try to calm the horses. Because horses experiencing it for the first time will surely be surprised and act violently...」

Grat could not understand what that explanation meant at all.

·         Does he mean he will clear the way with a military force of merely two thousand?

·         Furthermore, in this darkness, how on earth is he going to kick about the enemy country's army?

·         What on earth does he mean by the horses acting violently?

『Damn it! For me to be like this, I can't understand anything at all.』

Thinking so, he couldn't help but call out to Takuhir who was about to depart.

「I am sorry for causing you the trouble of coming for our sake. By the way, Archduke, what on earth do you intend to do?」

Certainly, if carrying out a night attack, a small number of people is harder to expose and easier to throw the enemy army into confusion. But... against the enemy army, this number of people is far too few. This King, who generates terrifying tactics one after another, must be intending to do 『something』 completely different. Grat became wanting to know what that 『something』 was.

「No, well, we will just have the uninvited guests waiting outside the gate exit once. We will prepare a grand flower path to drive them out, so I think it would be fine if Your Highness makes a dignified return taking that as the signal.」

Bothered by the way of speaking as if intentionally hiding something, Grat pressed Takuhir again.

「I am fully aware this is an impudent request, but... couldn't I also accompany the Archduke and be allowed to observe the operation by your side? I promise I will absolutely not get in the way.」

「Hmm... let's see. But, you know...」

At Grat's offer, Takuhir looked down and thought deeply for a while. His dilemma had two major premises.

First, he wanted to fight so that the expeditionary dispatched army this time would not produce casualties as much as possible. Although it was an action that would ultimately link to the Demon Territory Dukedom's defense strategy, he did not want to pointlessly produce casualties among many officers and soldiers when it wasn't even a defensive war of their homeland. Even knowing how arrogant that thought was while surrounded by an enemy several times their size. If so, he wasn't reluctant to use his trump card, the concealed weapon, which was a tactic to win easily.

Second, even if he were to use it, he wanted to keep the existence of the concealed weapon a secret as much as possible. Once a weapon is used, the tactic is exposed, and it is undoubtedly imitated by human wisdom and will bare its fangs at oneself next time. Even suppression bullets using catapults were like that. The Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army flawlessly imitated it and used it towards the Kingdom in the next battle. And a 『first-time kill』 tactic has no next time once it has been used once.

『However... even if I cover the eyes of the Empire Army here, Sieghart will probably be watching from the fort. If so, is it smarter to obtain a pledge from the highest person in power here, and forbid all snooping?』

Reaching that conclusion, Takuhir turned back to Grat.

「Understood. However, Your Highness, there are three conditions for you to accompany us.

·         First, only Your Highness and a limited entourage will accompany us, and you will follow operational actions.

·         Second, I cannot answer any questions regarding what you see from here on out.

·         Third, I would like you to state clearly that you forbid the Empire side from snooping regarding our tactics from now on.

If you can agree to these, I will comply with your intentions.」

「A-Ah, of course. The Archduke's conditions are perfectly reasonable. Staking the honor of the Grifonia Empire, I promise upon my name to respect and protect the secret arts of the Demon Territory Dukedom.」

『Hehehe, I got the pledge after all.』

Takuhir said so in a quiet voice that couldn't be heard by Grat, and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. The light of the lamp, lit slightly so as not to stand out, boldly colored that expression. Almost like a Demon King, easily reaping tens of thousands of lives...

At this time, even though he was an ally, Grat could not help but feel an unfathomable terror upon looking at Takuhir.

Thus, the troops of over two thousand dismounted their horses, and secretly crept in the darkness to the rear of the enemy army deployed 2 km ahead and arrayed on the north side of Big Bridge Fort. After this, the fifth event crossing over into the next day, the one that would make Grat the most astonished and make him fully realize the essence of the Demon King, was right now about to begin.

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