Chapter 112
(Kyle
Calendar Year 507: Age 14)
Sudden
Visitors ③
Translator : PolterGlast
"Prepare for
annihilation volley! Target 800 m ahead! Adjust firing angle!"
"Number 1, number
2, number 3, all adjustments complete!"
"All Mages
ready!"
"Blue flag is up!
Observers have completed evacuation from the target zone!"
Receiving the reports,
I prepared to give the command.
"Diffusion Magic
Cannon, prepare for simultaneous fire... Fire!"
A similar exchange to
before was repeated atop the walls of the fort under construction in the Demon
Realm.
"Oh!"
"I-Incredible..."
"Heheh."
Compared to His
Majesty the King's exclamations of admiration, Knight Commander Gouras was
speechless, while Margrave Hastburg watched with a satisfied smile, their
reactions varied.
I reluctantly demonstrated
the fort's annihilation attack using catapults, which had been installed in the
Demon Realm, at the Margrave's insistence that "His Majesty must
absolutely witness this."
Before firing, I
carefully explained, despite the impoliteness, that:
This weapon's
repurposing and installation in other regions was impossible.
The information had to
be kept secret or it would be meaningless.
The detailed mechanism
(and Mage operation) could not be revealed.
After all, even if
they asked us to build it elsewhere, it couldn't be replicated without the Mage
Yoltia. And only a very select few were watching the firing from atop the fort:
only those whom the Knight Commander trusted within the Royal Capital Knights,
and then myself, the Commander, and the Mages and personnel involved in the
projectile launch. Everyone else was below (inside) the fort and couldn't see
what was happening above.
This time, we
demonstrated a simultaneous firing of three catapults, including two newly
installed ones. Each launched 100 metal spheres, and the targeted area was
engulfed in a roar and dust cloud, with shattered trees being pulverized and
sent flying. When the dust settled, the targeted area revealed gouged earth,
leaving a remarkably large scar of bombardment in the dense forest.
"I see, so this
is how you will face tens of thousands of troops, then."
"Yes, Your
Majesty. In addition to this, I believe that if we set up traps and trenches
throughout the area and are resourceful in their use, we can sufficiently hold
back tens of thousands of enemy troops."
"So, you plan to
fortify this area and create a safe zone in the Demon Realm, is that it?"
"Yes, it will
require time and significant expense... but from here, even the Southern Gate
plains can be reached quickly by cavalry. We aim to coordinate effectively and
serve as a shield protecting the Kingdom."
"Margrave!"
"Yes, Your
Majesty!"
"Regarding the
border fortress construction you mentioned, I hereby officially grant permission
now. As part of its construction, you are to secretly and effectively manage
the expenses for this location as well, under your command! There are
bothersome individuals around, so ensure they don't catch wind of it."
"With gratitude,
Your Majesty."
"Gouras!
Immediately impose a gag order on everyone who witnessed this. From now on,
anyone who speaks of what they saw will be charged with a crime
accordingly!"
"Yes, Your
Majesty!"
"Baron... If it's
a tactic utilizing only Wind Magic, it might be possible to imitate it
elsewhere, might it not? I believe there's also a tactic to use it as a
defensive weapon at the southern and eastern borders, by reducing the weight
loaded onto catapults and utilizing Wind Magic."
Saying that, His
Majesty chuckled softly, just for me to hear.
"...Yes, Your
Majesty! As you command!"
His Majesty's words
strangely bothered me. I could only conclude that he, for some reason, knew my
secret (Yoltia's power). Because of this, I stiffened the moment he spoke.
However, his final chuckle, "No need to worry," somehow made me feel
reassured, even without words.
"Even within the
Kingdom, we must urgently reconsider how Mages are utilized. Simply cherishing
and keeping them as entertainment is not their only purpose. Gouras, Margrave,
each of you, consider how to handle front-line operations and utilize Mages.
You surely can't be satisfied with Mages only wielding power in one-on-one
combat or against small numbers, can you?"
"Yes, Your
Majesty!"
"Understood, Your
Majesty!"
Thus, the King's
inspection of the Demon Realm, which had caused quite a stir, successfully
concluded. I received unofficial but national recognition for the construction
of the Demon Realm fort, under the Margrave's support. All that remained was
tomorrow's supreme tournament.
※
The supreme
tournament, which His Majesty the King had suddenly attended, proceeded
smoothly thanks to my comrades' efforts. The biggest change was that this time,
none of our Mages participated as players. Honestly, things have been too busy
since last year. Because of that, we didn't even have the leeway to participate
in the regular tournaments held in Est. By this time, it was already a
well-established route that regular tournaments were held in Est, and the
supreme tournament in Teigun.
There was another
reason. My sister Chrisia, as well as some of the citizens, had begun to figure
out the winning patterns. Well, since my comrades always won, it was only
natural. For these reasons, this year's odds were quite unstable, with no clear
favorite. While the voting was split due to the lack of standout individuals,
if anything, female contestants were popular.
This was a result of
the increased female participation in regular tournaments following Carleen's
and Lilia's victories in the past, and consequently, an increase in female
participants in the supreme tournament. This time, five of the 30 participants
who won through the regular tournament were women. Among them, two were roughly
the same age as Carleen, and ultimately, popularity gravitated towards them
rather than their pre-tournament reputation.
Incidentally, the two
young ladies bustling about entertaining His Majesty also bought winner's
voting tickets during brief breaks. They had been actively serving under my
mother's command as attendants in the guesthouse during His Majesty's stay.
"This time, with
so little information, it's hard to narrow down our bets."
"Yes, and Brother
is constantly with His Majesty..."
"So, the next big
target is two years from now, isn't it?"
"Yes, and by
then, we'll have thoroughly gathered information and won even more than last
time!"
They were enjoying
their betting in a very practical manner, with significantly less money than
before. Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a slight chill run down my
spine, imagining two years from now.
※
"The total voting
amount this time... it exceeded 10,000 pieces, no, it greatly exceeded
that!" Claire's surprise was understandable. Following the prosperity of
the war victory, the joint competition, and the subsequent large-scale
development, the entire Teigun area was experiencing an unprecedented boom.
In addition to this,
the residents of the city were given a grant from His Majesty the King, in the
name of their valiant efforts in the recent war and as a token of hospitality.
It was truly a lavish expenditure. Many citizens carefully kept the gold coins
they received. Some even said, "I'll make it a family heirloom!"
However, they also
spent their newfound wealth on entertainment. Perhaps they also wanted to
greatly enliven the tournament attended by His Majesty. As a result, the
tournament became so lively that security struggled to contain the crowds, and
the arena was overflowing with people. And, of course, many votes were cast.
In the end, the third
champion disappointed many expectations, or rather, those who made the most
practical choice were rewarded.
Winner: Regular Army
Soldier
Second Place: Female
Citizen Participant
Third Place: Male
Citizen Participant
Nevertheless, His Majesty
the King, his retinue, and the members of the Royal Capital Knights, who were
unaware of Estol Territory's customs and the high level of shooting skill among
the citizens, were extremely surprised.
"Hey! Many of
them are citizens who don't even go to war!"
"They can hit
that?! What skill!"
"As archers...
aren't they better than us?"
"...I've lost a
bit of confidence."
Many members of the
Royal Capital Knights watched the rest of the tournament with mixed feelings.
Later, it is said that quite a few knights, after seeing this tournament, began
to train in crossbows.
"What Gouras
said, was it true then...? I never imagined the citizens would be so
skilled."
His Majesty the King
was also surprised that the second and third place winners were not soldiers
but ordinary citizens.
"We, the people
of the southern frontier, following the Baron's initiatives, have begun similar
policies. We've also started a joint tournament every three years, gathering
the strong from each house to compete in skills," the Margrave said. His
Majesty the King immediately reacted to the Margrave's words.
"Is that so!
Then, that will be something to look forward to next!"
...Margrave, please
don't plant landmines yourself for two years from now, I muttered in my heart.
And what pleased His
Majesty the most was the demonstration shooting by past winners, which was held
at the end.
"Your Majesty,
they did not participate in this tournament, but they are individuals who won
past tournaments and distinguished themselves in the recent war. They were
originally citizens, but their outstanding strength has made them protectors of
this land."
Carleen, Christoph,
and Lilia bowed to His Majesty and took positions even further away from the
target than in the tournament.
"Are they trying
to hit the target at that distance?"
"No, it's
impossible."
"These women and
children are past tournament winners?"
The members of the
Royal Capital Knights, as expected, voiced their impressions.
But they easily
pulverized all the targets. When all fixed and moving targets were shattered,
the venue fell silent, then erupted in thunderous applause. Frankly, they
displayed a level of skill completely different from even the winners of this
tournament.
"Magnificent!
Truly magnificent!"
His Majesty the King
was overjoyed and mesmerized by their skill. As a result, in addition to the
top three winners of the supreme tournament, they also received special
commendation money from His Majesty.
※
"Baron, this
time, the harvest was more abundant than expected, and it was truly worthwhile.
Next, we'll meet in the Royal Capital."
The supreme tournament
concluded successfully, and His Majesty the King left Teigun looking extremely
satisfied. Honestly, I was a little uncertain about what His Majesty's true
objective had been...
"Well done! I can
now rest easy." The Margrave praised me greatly.
"Takuhir-sama, I
will return to the Viscountcy for now, but I will ask my father and come here
again," Lady Yuka said, also preparing to return to her Viscountcy.
For six months, she
never once complained during Commander (demon)'s training. I, who had assumed
she was merely a sheltered young lady, deeply regretted underestimating her.
She could already proficiently use the Gorman family's unique skill, Wind
Magic, and had reached a level where she could sufficiently provide support
(offense and defense) for archers on the battlefield. Furthermore, her crossbow
shooting skill was far superior to mine. She was good enough to place high in
regular tournaments even without using magic.
"I've caused you
a lot of trouble over the years. I'll leave my daughter in your care after the
official wedding. I ask for your continued favor."
Saying that, Viscount
Gorman also departed with his daughter, along with the elite cavalrymen,
trained by the Commander.
"I've also
consulted with Mother, and I'll return to Est for now until the New Year. May I
come here again?"
My sister also
returned to Est with our parents.
After a major task was
finished, and I finally took a breather, my surroundings suddenly became quiet.
It felt almost lonely.
However, the feeling
of loneliness lasted only for a moment. We still had a mountain of things to
do.
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