[WN] Emperor's Seventh Son : 15 - 8

15-8

Carral Hez's Love and a Boy's Heart

Translator : PolterGlast

A small bonfire was lit at Erin Port. Deviating from the dark highway and advancing through a grassland unsuitable for wheel traffic, it eventually turned into a bedrock ground. Catching sight of the dazzling bonfire and a group of sailors on standby ahead, we seemed to have let out a sigh of relief.

After all, what we are doing is thievery. Furthermore, having pushed overloaded carts all the way here in two shifts, everyone was exhausted.

「Good work, everyone! We'll handle it from here, so take a rest!」

At Carral Hez's words, even those beastmen slumped down onto the ground. With this, divine punishment is brought down upon the lowest pervert. Since we weren't caught, we are not thieves, but chivalrous thieves. Every one of the beastmen looked satisfied.

「Shinza, glad you're safe, good work!」

「There were some accidents, though. Setting that aside, shall I help?」

「No, you have to rest, otherwise it reflects poorly on our merchant company. Besides, Shinza, not just this, you built this port and even scraped the rocky reefs, right? Don't take away any more of our turns.」

She has a point. Trying to do everything by myself is probably my bad trait. There was also the psychology that I absolutely couldn't involve them in my self-righteousness. But now it has come to this. What a strange turn of events.

「However, I can't settle down unless I'm helping with something...」

「Oh, then may I leave the Admiral to you? We won't be able to see you for a little over a month, so even just a brief farewell—」

「W-Wait a minuteeee?! Wh-Why are you setting things up on your own?!」

「No, he has a point. I'll be lonely if I can't see you for a while.」

「Heh...!? You'll be lonely... I see, is that so... Ehehe...」

Together with Carral, we moved a little away from the bonfire to the dim shade of the trees. The amount of cargo is massive, after all. Over there, the sailors raised noisy voices, hurrying to load the stolen goods.

「Captain, this is crazy, aren't these platinum coins?!」

「This is good, weapons and armor from the Imperial Knight Order should fetch a good price over there.」

「You guys, let me tell you this, don't pocket anything! These are stolen goods, if you leak them to the wrong place, your necks will be hanging from the gallows!」

Carral looked at such comrades and laughed. They were clearly the reliable partners who had braved the voyages by her side.

Carral holds in her hands a dream that I, bound by the Empire, can absolutely never grasp. Half feeling envious, I was also happy as someone who had shared board and lodging and supported her back then.

「Sorry, those guys are noisy, aren't they...」

「Yeah, but someday I'd like to join that too.」

「Eh... really? Do you really, truly mean that?」

「The outside world is my aspiration. I have a half-baked birth, but I've lived my whole life tied down to this land. How fun it would be if I could cross that sea together with you...」

Part of it is also that having rough adventurers or sailors as neighbors is more calming than the refined court.

「Yeah, I'll let you on board anytime. Because that fleet started with me and Shinza, after all. Shinza always has the right to join it.」

「I see. Then when it becomes peaceful, work me hard as a sailor. Even I can't dig the sea, though.」

「You intend to start from a mere sailor...」

The loading seemed to still take some time. The armor and swords of the Knight Order were excessively heavy, making things difficult. It meant I could stay together with Carral for just a little while longer.

「Hey, Shinza.」

「What is it, did you get hungry? I am.」

「Gramps... Gideon-san came to see me. It seems he remembered me.」

「Yeah, far from just remembering, Jii talked about you whenever he had the chance.」

「Is that so. Gideon-san is a cute grandpa, isn't he.」

「...And a fine man. He dotes on his children too much, but I am grateful to him. But what about him?」

Carral, who had been laughing, suddenly erased her expression. With a serious look, staring this way, after tightly closing her eyes, she seemed to have prepared herself for something.

「Gideon-san wished for Shinza's happiness. That goes for me too, I'd be sad if Shinza died. Ever since I learned of Shinza's true identity, I've been worrying over it far across the sea. I wished, that you would be safe...」

「You're beating around the bush and being gloomy. What's the main point? —Carral?」

It seems I was slow to notice because of the darkness. Carral Hez was shedding tears, shaking her body as if struggling painfully, and spat out words.

「Please... Marry Princess Yumil-sama...」

「Marry, Yumil?」

「Gideon-san said that a marriage proposal has come... That if Shinza marries Yumil-sama, Shinza won't have to be frightened of assassination anymore... Gideon-san, apologized to me...」

It seems talks had been proceeding arbitrarily without my knowledge. Because of that, Carral is shedding tears and suffering. She will be departing for the Coastal Provinces carrying a broken heart.

「Father and the others are truly a handful. And Yumil... ah, so that was why she was so angry back then..」

「Knowing Shinza, you intend to refuse, right.」

「Naturally. If I do such a thing, I'll be bound to the Empire and unable to move. It's true my position would probably improve, but there are far too many inconveniences.」

「No. Shinza is always doing reckless things as it is, you know? At this rate, you'll die someday... So, use Yumil-sama's Fimbul Duke House as backing...」

Zirant, you had a hand in this matter too, didn't you. The reason you read me a romance novel was because of the marriage proposal with Yumil, wasn't it?

『Never mind Wagahai. Keep Carral company right now.』

How brazen of you to say. That Carral was crying, you know.

『Then can you guess the reason why she is crying?』

Who knows. It's certain she's worrying about me to the point of crying. Even so, being told to marry a woman I met just a few days ago is troubling.

『U-Umu... This might indicate that Gideon's words pointed to the truth...』

Zirant's words could no longer be heard after that one utterly exasperated line. More importantly, Carral. Let me comfort her in my own blockhead way.

「I will not marry. If I am bound to this land of the Empire, my life is over. Rather than that, Carral, let's go to the Coastal Provinces together someday. Show the outside world I've continually yearned for to this pitiful man who was raised confined in a tower. And let's eat lots of delicious food there!」

Carral said the fish in the Coastal Provinces tastes bad, but I've heard there's a mountain of other delicious foods. Taking Carral's hand and shaking it, I smiled towards her.

「Shinza's heart is, still that of a boy, isn't it. Then, does that mean I still have a chance too... Ah, but you see, if marriage with Yumil-sama is necessary, do it. If you want to make the elves outside the country your allies going forward, you should marry Yumil-sama.」

「I suppose so... I'll consider it if I can divorce later.」

「If you don't mind every single member of Yumil-sama's family taking a turn punching your lights out, then by all means—why don't you give it a try?」

Looking beyond the bright bonfire, the loading of the stolen goods was nearing its end. About time to wrap things up? Perhaps Carral thought the same thing, she looked at me again.

「About a month or so, I'd say... I'm gonna go make a quick killing with the cargo Shinza 'borrowed,' alright, Boy?!」

「Calling a man this big a 'boy' is a bit much, don't you think... hey—?!」

It's déjà vu. The day Carral departed for the Coastal Provinces, she did this exact same thing to me. Clinging to my shoulder as if pouncing, our lips were pressed together.

「Did your heart throb...?」

「Naturally...」

「There there, grow into an adult little by little, boy!」

「I'm asking, what's with this treatment...」

「See ya! I'm off, Shinza! No, my Prince Ashley-sama!」

Carral ran down the stairs of Erin Port and left for her ship. It's departure time. While being cheered on by both the beastmen and the sailors, I watched over the departing fleet of the Hez Company. I wonder why. My chest tightens more than that day, that time I parted with Carral at Naglfar Port. Lonely. I thought I wanted Carral to come back quickly.

「You guys go back ahead. I want to stay here until the ships disappear from sight.」

Carral Hez. It seems she is a very important person to me.

◆ ◇ ◆

When I checked the Book of the Evil Dragon on the dark coast, only a certain page was faintly glowing. Opening it, it was Carral Hez's page.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

- Emperor of the Round –

N01. Adventurer Sigrun of the Black Horn

N02. ――――――

N03. ――――――

N04. Court Alchemist Durin Andvaranaut

N05. ――――――

N06. ――――――

N07. Admiral Carral Hez

N08. ――――――

N09. ――――――

N10. Archer Kachua

N11. Administrator Puis

N12. ――――――

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

NO. 07 Admiral Carral Hez

【Bond Lv】 3

【Growth Limit】 +100%

【Achievement Effect 1】 Headwind canceling effect when acting with Ashley

【Achievement Effect 2】 Business Acumen LV +1, Big Sister Adoration Rate +50%

【Achievement Effect 3】 Bonus worth 10% of Ashley's VIT

【Achievement Effect 4】 Sailing speed of owned fleet +25%

【Achievement Effect 5】 Sailing speed of Carral's ship +100% (Unacquired)

【Next Lvup】 Depends on the other party

【Target's Lv】 17 / 100

【Trust Level】 Trying to dedicate everything

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Dedicate everything...? I thought she had already repaid the favor sufficiently, but to think she felt indebted to that extent for that matter. I really shouldn't be looking at things like this.

If the fleet's sailing speed has increased by as much as 25%, does that mean Carral will return to the Empire within a month? It seems that if I am with Carral, headwinds will be canceled out. I want to quickly finish cleaning up the Empire's mess and travel the Coastal Provinces together with Carral. That ship is promised a swiftness that knows no headwinds. Those feelings towards the Coastal Provinces grew even stronger.

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[WN] A Hero From a Remote Village : Chapter 263

Chapter 263

Absolute Trust

Translator : PolterGlast

Although a dozen or so flying monsters managed to escape, the annihilation of almost all the monsters was complete. Partly thanks to the confusion caused by my gravity magic, the annihilation itself was extremely easy to carry out. That being said, because there were so many of them, the fact that it took a considerable amount of time was a miscalculation.

I think I could have defeated them more easily with magic if I had been able to hold back on using 【Absolute Zero】... well, I managed to finish them off safely, so let's not dwell on the minor details. While sorting things out in my head like that, when I returned to Usman and his squad whom I had left in the rear, the figures of the Guild Master and Spencer were also there. It seems they had caught up and joined them while I was fighting.

「Hm? Graham has returned, hasn't he! Hey, what happened to the monsters?」

「Did you really manage to escape safely? Just... who in the world are you?」

Spencer and Usman were surprised that I had returned. Seeing the surprised two, the Guild Master looked triumphant for some reason.

「That's why I told you. Graham-san is fine. Besides, saying he 'escaped' is far too rude. Since it's Graham-san, he must have finished them off, or at the very least driven them away... he should have!」

Although he added a slightly worried "should have," the Guild Master placed absolute trust in me. It was a good thing I was able to properly annihilate them this time, but his display of confidence was such that it made me wonder what he would have done if I had actually just escaped and come back.

「What do you mean, 'should have'? So, Graham. Just as Dwayne said, were you really able to finish them off?」

「Yeah. I defeated all the monsters that tried to attack. A dozen or so managed to escape, though.」

Hearing that reply of mine, the one who showed the most surprised expression was Usman. Partly because he had received the reports, he likely thought it wasn't a number of monsters that a single person could defeat.

「I can't believe it! I can't believe it, but... since I actually saw Graham-san's magic with my own eyes, I can't doubt it! ――However, as expected, I cannot believe 'defeated all of them'!」

「Wahahaha! I understand that feeling of disbelief well. However, if it's Graham-san, it's possible. Because he is a man who deviates from common sense.」

「If you really defeated all of them, that's outrageous. Defeating a horde of Ogres and Trolls alone, I haven't even heard of that in heroic tales.」

「That's why I told you. Graham-san is amazing.」

「He deviates even from the level of being amazing.」

Although it bothered me that the Guild Master was acting smug the entire time for some reason, it was good that the general reaction was favorable. For a time, it was a situation where it wouldn't have been strange to be suspected as a spy, after all.

「If your doubts haven't cleared up, I want you to go check. I left the corpses exactly as they are.」

「No, there was information that a monster horde was approaching, and the fact that it's this quiet means I don't doubt you, but... I am simply curious about the aftermath of the battle.」

「I am curious as well. Guild Master, shall we take the troops and go take a look?」

「Yeah, let's do that. From your perspective, Graham, it might look like we're doubting you, but... my bad. I'm simply curious.」

「There's no need to apologize. I'd appreciate it more if you went and checked.」

And so, Spencer led the gathered troops of soldiers and adventurers and headed off to confirm the monsters I had defeated. Perhaps because of Usman's words, the soldier group all saluted me every time they passed by my side. However, the adventurer group seemed to think their achievements had been stolen, and it was memorable how they passed by with dissatisfied looks. Well, soldiers are likely paid a salary, while adventurers are paid by performance, so I suppose a difference in their reactions can't be helped.

「Huh? Aren't you going to take a look with them, Guild Master?」

I completely thought he would follow everyone and go around bragging as if it were his own achievement just like earlier, but for some reason, he remained behind with me.

「My desire to go see is strong, but I can't let Graham-san, the person of merit, wait alone. After returning to Flimble once, I plan to come back and properly check it by myself.」

「That goes beyond just doing things twice, you know. Besides, there's a possibility they'll be cleaned up.」

「I-In that case... I w-won't go look... right now. I can see Graham-san's exploits anytime, after all.」

He looked like he wanted to go see, and he was actually starting to go, but it seems his reason somehow won out. I was planning to do maintenance on my katana, so I wouldn't have minded if he just went without worrying, but well, forcefully recommending it wouldn't be right either.

「Understood. Then I won't force you.」

「Y-Yeah. Let me hear your story, Graham-san.」

While almost laughing at the Guild Master who had a terribly sad face, I decided to give a light report on how I fought. Since I didn't even struggle, I couldn't make a significant report, but... well, if it's the Guild Master, he'll gladly listen.

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[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 349

Chapter 349

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

A Future for Whose Sake

Translator : PolterGlast

Regarding this battle, I felt a keen sense of my own naivety and a desperate anxiety that came from having no "cheat" powers to rely on. Right now, we are proceeding into a completely unpredictable future. And moreover, the situation is heading in the worst direction... Cursing my own worthlessness and shallowness of thought, I unconsciously slammed my fist hard onto the table.

「Takuhir-sama...」

I heard the voice of Yuka beside me, and felt the warmth of her hand placed over my fist. Her eyes were looking straight at me.

『I will accept any decision, and completely believe in what you do.』

As if to say just that...

Yoltia, who was on the other side, placed her hand on my back. As if to gently and softly push the back of the bewildered me...

『That's right... thank you. But everyone...』

It was when I thought so.

「Takuhir-sama, allow me to dare to convey this representing everyone's feelings.」

Saying so, the Commander stood up from his seat and knelt beside me.

「Our beloved His Majesty the Archduke, please proceed on the path you desire. No matter what kind of order it may be, we will joyfully follow, and offer these lives.」

「No... I have no such worth.」

「Yes you do! My King, all of us have been equally saved by the policies the King implemented. The great flood, the great famine, the war damage, the epidemic, the great drought, and the crisis of the Kingdom's destruction by the Empire's invasion. If one looks back on the path the Kyle Kingdom, the land of Estol where we live, has taken up to now, anyone would understand. The people gathered here are all those who understand that better than anyone else.」

Receiving the Commander's words, everyone stood up from their seats, and then... knelt.

「All of our futures are with the path chosen by the Archduke. Please give us a path to repay you.」

「But...」

「Please give us one word of command. Follow me! Strike the enemy! Like that.」

「...」

No words came out of me. Because while I was happy that everyone thought that way, on the other hand, I felt the heavy pressure of the decision I was about to make, and the weight of everyone's lives.

「Everyone... thank you. I want to thank you anew. Truly, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart.」

For a fleeting second—though it felt like an eternity of agonizing doubt to me—I wavered, but at last, I was able to make my decision. Yes, there is only one thing I must do right now!

「Alexis!」

「Yes!」

「Sixteen thousand... this is all I can leave behind right now. Can you defend with this many soldiers? For the time being, you just need to defend. Can you hold out until reinforcements from the Kingdom arrive?」

Alexis seemed to understand the words I was trying to say, slowly nodded, and smiled fearlessly.

「If it is your command, we shall fulfill it even at the cost of our lives! For the past year, we of the Izumo Garrison Corps have devoted ourselves to constructing defense lines in preparation for this very day. And here, we have the veterans and heroes who fought to the bitter end to protect Rasetsu and Ishtar. Even the soldiers who have returned from the Empire will surely unite and lend us their strength to protect their motherland!」

「Gail!」

「Yes!」

「I am asking you all to endure another bitter struggle, and once again, I must leave our homes in your hands. Can you fight this through to the end?」

「Up to now, it has been a continuous series of painful battles for us. This time is the same. However, there is one major difference. We have been granted overwhelmingly greater power compared to before. If we do not repay you with that, we would be a disgrace to men.」

「Do you all feel the same? Are there any objections or anxieties?」

I looked back anew at the faces of everyone kneeling and staring at me. Everyone was staring back at me with eyes holding strong will.

「My heart is set. I will head south.」

「「「「「Ooh!」」」」」

「Even so, my absolute priority remains protecting all of your lives, the people of this nation, and the innocent citizens living within the Empire. I... do not wish to lose a single person gathered here. Please understand that to me, a victory with casualties is no victory at all.」

「「「「「Yeah!」」」」」

「Our current strength is 16,000, but we have reports that at least 10,000 cavalry reinforcements from the Royal Capital Knights of the Kyle Kingdom have already departed. Until they arrive, I need you to focus entirely on defense and hold the line at all costs. If worst comes to worst, fall back to the absolute defense line of Izumo and defend it to the death!」

「「「「「Yes, Sir!」」」」」

「I ask the head of the Kempurna Trading Company. Did Lord Sieghart desire reinforcements from us?」

「Yes, my lord provided an answer in advance, should you ask that question. I was told only to convey this: 『Why use an O-dachi (Greatsword) just to butcher a chicken?』  」

「I see... When you heard that, was there anyone else around?」

「My master raised his sword and spoke those words in front of all the assembled generals.」

I see... There is undoubtedly a hidden meaning behind those words. Think! !!! Is that what he meant? If so, the weight of this message is immense... To me, it felt as though three distinct intentions were hidden within that single phrase. First, a meaning that is the exact opposite of what the words literally say. Second, a deliberate attempt to make everyone around him perceive that opposite meaning. And third... it’s likely that. He must have spoken those words knowing that, in the end, I would be the one to see through to the truth behind them. If that’s the case, then he truly is incredible...

「If so, we have firmly accepted Lord Sieghart's request. I want to ask you for guidance and leading the way for us who are unfamiliar with the geography.」

「Yes, sir... no, um... even without using the O-dachi...」

「Your lord is saying, 『If the O-dachi is there, we will win,』 is he not?」

「Y... yes!」

「Everyone, I'm sorry. We could take a safer strategy right now. But that is... the worst move considering what lies ahead. You don't need to think about such a grand thing as supporting the Third Prince and saving the Empire. We just fight to grasp our own future.」

「「「「「Yeah!」」」」」

「Commander of the Demon Territory Knights!」

「Yes!」

「We will dispatch an expeditionary army to the southern part of the Empire. Immediately have only those who meet the following conditions prepare. Because the expeditionary army has the possibility of annihilation, we will only take those who volunteered. There must be circumstances for the former Iron Cavalry in particular. Also, the entire unit will be composed of light cavalry archers. You understand?」

「Yes, understood.」

「Commander of the Special Fire Corps!」

「Yes!」

「One thousand cavalry for the expeditionary army, and two thousand cavalry for the national defense unit. The garrison forces may find themselves facing the people of the Imperial Kingdom. Make that known and call for volunteers!」

「Understood. This time I will also accompany you. This is the only thing I will not yield on, so please forgive me. I will entrust the command of the 2,000 men to Glenn.」

「Commander of the New Territory Garrison Corps (Alexis)!」

「Yes!」

「I hereby grant you full command over every unit tasked with defending our homeland in this battle! You are to take charge as Supreme Commander. As was mentioned before, ever since you entered this land, you have looked toward this day and prepared for it faster than anyone else. Utilize that insight of yours and protect the people of both the Dukedom and the Empire to the very end!」

「Yes! I will exert my meager strength to meet your expectations.」

「Marquis Gorman, Marquis Solis, Count Falmus, Viscount Bold, please support Alexis as his lieutenants. Because everyone is here, I can move forward with peace of mind.」

「That exactly is the path the Archduke should advance on.」

「Understood, leave it to us.」

「As the Archduke desires.」

「We firmly accept.」

「I order the commanders of each army corps!」

「「「「「Yes, sir!」」」」」

「Some among you will probably desire to participate in the expeditionary army. But, please bear with it here. The defense battle of the motherland is also in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation. Alexis needs commanders accustomed to battle.」

「「「「「Yes, sir!」」」」」

「Now then, what's left is the Headquarters Escort Army... Sigurd, Carla! There are also newly hired ones. We can't take everyone. It is a major premise that it's volunteers only, but besides that, we will limit it to those accustomed to horseback riding. Ultimately we will select them here, so I want you to make that known to everyone.」

「Understood. First, I shall begin the call for volunteers.」

「The ones hired in the Royal Capital the other day will be allocated to the defense here.」

To be honest, although calling it an expeditionary army sounds nice, if handled poorly, it's a repetition of breaking through enemy lines. Some might become exhausted from battle and drop out before reaching the target battlefield. But in this case, we cannot send such people back, nor can we leave them behind. The distance to the battlefield, and the fact that it could be a march through enemy territory, was the biggest problem.

「To put it badly, the origin of this battle stems from a succession dispute in another country. To an outsider, it's a worthless battle, and some might think it's collateral damage. That is precisely why I dare to say: we will win this battle and wrest our future! I want everyone to convey this earnestly to the soldiers.」

Everyone here will probably understand my words and not object to the decision-making. However, our organization has already become too large. We must unite our feelings not only with old companions but also with newly joined ones.

「Precisely because it's a worthless battle, we must win. Depending on whether the Third Prince or the First Prince succeeds the imperial throne, peace or war, the aspect of this world will change. We will end the worthless wars with this one as the last, and not leave seeds of battle for the next generation. I want everyone to understand that it is a battle for that purpose.」

「「「「「Yes, sir!」」」」」

「We will immediately begin preparations and actions from here on out. Please entrust everyone's lives to me for a while.」

「「「「「Roger!」」」」」

In the Kyle Year 515, the battle between the Griffonia Empire, the Sura Principality competing for hegemony, the Turncoat Kingdom aiming for the lion's share, and the Eral Knight Kingdom, an eerie existence whose intentions are unknown, would further drag in neighboring countries, developing into a great upheaval unprecedented in history where a staggering 9 countries would engage in a chaotic melee.

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