Chapter 94
Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Cyclops Awakens
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm, I'm sitting out this subjugation. You got some romantic notion about dying like a dog or something, do you?"
His thin mustache quivers.
Reinhardt impassively takes in the sight of the vice commander's ample belly and double chin jiggling as he opens his mouth.
"If you've been in that position until now, shouldn't you bear the responsibility that comes with it?"
"What nonsense is that! You think anyone chooses to be stuck in this backwater hellhole? Drop the self-righteous act and start packing your bags right now. The imperial forces will send a subjugation unit soon enough if we just hold out a little longer. You can't be that shortsighted?"
They'll send one, sure. But only after this whole area turns to ruins, the commoners flee in terror from the nobles' tyranny and taxes only to meet their end in droves, and a few unlucky minor territories get swept away.
Only then will the fat cats in the capital, having squeezed every last drop from the territories next in line, finally get around to starting the subjugation.
And afterward, to recoup the money they've poured into the royal coffers, they'll squeeze the people dry all over again.
Reinhardt lets out a low breath at the vividly unfolding future in his mind.
"I'm taking the gate out right now. I'll step down from my vice commander post. I'll handle the formal resignation in the capital, so make sure that's noted!"
Vice Commander Hummer, his body so bloated from easy living in this backwater that sweat pours off him with every movement, hurriedly packs his gold inkwell and crystal wine glass.
Reinhardt grabs the man by the collar, gritting his teeth as he speaks slowly.
"No, Hummer, you won't be able to do that. We're already in a near-wartime state, and we've requisitioned even the magic stones needed to operate the gate."
"W-What? What are you talking about!"
Reinhardt hurls Hummer to the floor like discarded trash as the man spits and jiggles his jowls.
The slumbering Cyclops is now in the final countdown to rising.
They had discussed selecting the strongest to assassinate it, but if they fell even slightly short, the consequences would be unimaginable.
They'd considered gathering the magic stones stockpiled from past monster subjugations at the forward base—where certain death awaited—and evacuating the nearby residents via gate. But while it might work for one or two people, there wasn't enough time or resources to evacuate everyone in the area.
Even using every magic stone from all previous subjugations wouldn't suffice; gates were mana-devouring monsters.
Better to throw everything—every person and resource—at killing the Cyclops or inflicting heavy damage to buy time.
As Hummer rolls on the floor, black ink splatters over his fine clothes from an uncapped inkwell. Reinhardt reaches out, and Hummer curls up, squeezing his eyes shut.
"So, Hummer. Now you have to pay the price for consuming the supplies our troops bled for in this barren wasteland."
He might not make a good torch to light the fire, but he can at least hold the seat until the flames die out.
Reinhardt glares, gripping the man's greasy, thick jowls and chin in one rough hand, his voice scraping like gravel.
"If you want to live, pray. Pray this place doesn't fall."
An authority held only by the supreme commander, vice commander, and the twelve subjugation captains. For the mana barrier over this forward base to hold until the last moment, at least one of them must remain.
Reinhardt and the twelve captains, including himself, would all walk the line of death—no one was fleeing. They would stay for the sake of the servants and their families who'd chosen to remain. He releases Hummer's face like shaking off filth and turns away.
* * *
Caaaaaaw!
At first, it seemed the Cyclops would rise any second and swing its massive hand, so Familiar No. 8 had cowered far away, screeching in fear.
But a day passed, then two, nights and days cycled several times, and this dumb, stinking behemoth showed no sign of stirring.
Thanks to that, after getting plucked repeatedly by Familiar No. 1 and slamming its head into the ground, the glossy down on Familiar No. 8's crown looked a bit worn and sparse.
Caw! Cack! Kiiiiiaaack!
Its cries had been so hoarse at first, but now they rang out loud and clear, full-throated without that half-choked rasp.
Now it fearlessly shoved its head into the Cyclops's ear canal, snapping its beak wide and screeching. And it paid off—the shoulder of the Cyclops, snoring thunderously in sleep, twitched, sending the hill of dirt piled on it crumbling down again.
Flap flap—
"Crawk...."
The sound of a bird taking flight echoes from somewhere.
The Cyclops rolls its eyes under their sandy, gritty lids, still closed.
It had stuffed countless monsters into its belly before sleeping, enough to last another two or three years. But the piercing bird cries in its dreams gradually roused it far earlier than expected.
Its stomach rumbled, though it wasn't starving yet. It could sleep years more without eating.
Caaaaw!
That irritating crow cawing.
Rumble—
One of the hills heaves, then erupts skyward.
Dust mixed with wind spreads like waves in all directions. Small trees and rocks tumble to the ground, and tiny animals scatter in blind panic.
The chain of high and low hills is gouged out like with a shovel, exposing the red inner soil as the Cyclops uncurls from its crouch. It rubs its single massive eye with the back of its hand, then gapes its mouth.
Its jaws, big enough to chomp most monsters in one bite, part wide, snapping the tree roots tangled in its beard-like chin with a crunch.
"Grooo...."
It hadn't felt hungry until waking, but now that it moved, it sensed the pre-sleep energy reserves draining rapidly.
It had shoved every beast that rubbed against its territory into its gut before bed, leaving only puny appetizers in the vicinity.
Venturing deeper or sideways meant sensing auras on par with its own.
"Gruk. Groooook!"
They'd been equals before, and even after long slumbers bulking up, no clear hierarchy had emerged.
Still the same. This was the perfect timing to devour many and claim supremacy.
The problem: nothing but mana-less common animals around.
Caaaaw!
That cry again.
The crow's screech trails long and fast into the distance.
And faintly, at the end of it... life forces.
"Gruk, kekeke."
Humans. Weak-skinned, brittle-boned, but their mana tasted good. Devour them all, build power, and it could rule this mountain range.
It heaves up its massive rear. The soil it had crouched in crumbles between its feet, leaving enormous footprints.
Snapping trees brushing its legs, the Cyclops begins heading south.
* * *
"Move it, faster! Gather all the supplies!"
"You idiot, you think that thing's gonna sit still and let us hold? Stuff it in your bags!"
Shouts echo everywhere.
For days now, they've been setting traps between here and the hills, hauling in supplies and weapons.
Unlike Keycho and Raylen, who'd come griping about the contract with sour faces, Vincent had brought his entire crew to the base early.
"Young master, I slipped back to the village— the mood there isn't great."
"Figured as much. We sent out the official notice saying anyone who wants to flee can go."
Still, who would've thought it'd come this far? Most staying figured the regular subjugation unit would handle even a legendary colossal monster, or so Luna said of the majority.
"I can't fathom why they're staying."
Zero glances worriedly at the powerless civilians as Rachel scratches her head and speaks up.
"What else? They got nowhere else to go."
In a pinch like this, they can't sell off a tavern or shack and leave—what would they even do elsewhere?
How many among those gathered at the monster border have clean slates? Most fled something, were driven out, hounded here to this village, licking wounds like injured dogs.
Mercenaries too. They claim big scores, but coming to this backwater instead of a metropolis like Labyrinth City means each hides a secret.
So even the sour-faced ones would've slunk off without a word if they truly meant to flee, once I said no compensation needed.
For some, the looming colossal monster battle is fate; for others, unreal; for yet others, just a passing storm.
But the underlying anxiety spreads like plague, even stirring unease in me despite my buoyancy trait.
The Cyclops's strength had flashed by briefly in the original as Reinhardt's backstory.
That event broke him into a ruined hero, fueling his wall-building obsession to prevent repeats.
Key point: even without Kane back then, Reinhardt had held it off, at the cost of his ruin.
So. That's why.
I believed. We knew in advance this time, had time to muster full strength and sharpen our blades.
I believed we could hold. And most crucially, no one in our party could die.
'That's the priority.'
[It's coming.]
Charr.
As I fiddle with Kruger's ring out of habit, Kane's voice pierces my mind.
"What, the lump's moving."
Rachel rolls off the bed at the same time.
Bells ring frantically somewhere; people pour out, rushing off.
"Assemble!"
"Kid, we'll meet on the other side alive!"
—Administrator.
"I get it. Luna, Zero. Let's go."
"Young master. You absolutely can't get hurt. Don't forget our promise."
"Am I a kid?"
I grin playfully. As the frailest here, I was paradoxically safest.
[You got random coord scrolls, right?]
"Yeah, Repit hooked me up. But you know?"
I don't use 'em solo.
I step out, someone brushes my shoulder tensely in passing.
I nod to Zero and Rip holding back, then lead.
"See you soon."
All-in against a single Cyclops charging down—not a wave—means full force.
I'd love to stick Aegis on Luna, but she'd get trussed up and stashed underground.
With Luna, Zero, Rip, and Rachel all tied to Kane in a separate unit, I hunkered in command using status and incompetence as excuses.
Even the objectors relented tearfully when I quipped about selling intel here.
"Be back quick. Supreme Commander."
No boot now; I bow first, no posturing. The woman behind Reinhardt flinches.
"Not bailing even now?"
"Why spoil the fun? I'll leave after this subjugation succeeds—just keep mouths shut till then. Who'll remember I was here?"
Sure, some Kruger kin might sniff for crumbs on my status, but Reinhardt's gate lockdown nixes that.
So, boost Kane's rank here, keep this guy intact, and I'm done.
"Enforcing every rule would've meant leaving you behind, but no need now."
When all might die, what's one more drop of noble blood?
He shakes his head—like arguing with me's pointless—and heads out. I follow.
-----------------------------------------------------------------