Chapter 97
Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: An Appropriate Punishment
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Shouldn’t you have come up with a more believable excuse? Going to the bathroom leisurely in an emergency like this… Honestly, it’s ridiculous.”
“Would that have worked?”
“Hey now, what do you take me for?”
…What was I supposed to do?
Since it had come to this, I dropped all pretenses and laid it out honestly.
“Yeah, that was me. I snuck out one of the residents to find a way to break the brainwashing, but he woke up the moment I touched him. So I bolted.”
No, saying about half the truth would be more accurate.
My reason for saying that much was simple.
No matter how sharp Elbert was, he couldn’t possibly know the exact spot where I’d hidden the guy.
And it seemed to work.
“You must think you can break the brainwashing yourself?”
Instead of digging deeper into our actions, Elbert asked about our intentions.
I nodded confidently.
“Yes. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I’m certain I can do it.”
“Huh. Is that so.”
Elbert pressed his lips together.
He was pondering something again.
After a moment, he nodded once and spoke.
“Alright, I get it. Come on in.”
At those words, I glanced around subtly.
Whether Elbert had ordered it or not, the only ones here now were me, Barundel, and Elbert.
No one else had overheard our conversation.
Just in case, I asked.
“You’re not going to just let this slide, are you…?”
It was a situation worth hoping for.
But before I could even finish.
“Do you think I would? You acted on your own outside of control. You’ll get an appropriate punishment. The dwarf over there too.”
The verdict was firm.
As expected, Elbert wasn’t the type to show that much mercy.
“…Yes.”
“…Understood.”
Only after Barundel and I nodded in stunned silence did Elbert turn away.
Moments later, an announcement echoed throughout the building.
It came through the broadcast artifact commonly used in wartime.
-Ahem- Attention, troops. There was a brief disturbance at the temporary shelter. But we’ve identified the culprits, so resume resting. That is all-.
It lasted just a few seconds.
A simple broadcast that conveyed the cause and resolution, calming the chaos.
Straight to the point, no fluff—it was clear he’d done this more than once or twice.
I’d sensed it yesterday too, but Elbert was truly a veteran commander.
So then.
What exactly was this “appropriate punishment” from such a veteran commander?
Worried, I whispered to Barundel lying next to me.
“Barundel, we’re not in big trouble, are we?”
But I couldn’t hear Barundel’s reply.
Zzz… Zzz!
He’d fallen soundly asleep at some point, looking utterly at peace.
“Whew, this is all because of who again.”
Seeing that carefree face made me want to smack him one.
But I couldn’t do that to someone who’d worked hard today.
Suppressing the urge, I tried to sleep myself.
Worrying wouldn’t change a thing anyway.
Best to wash up and crash.
***
The day after war broke out.
Contrary to my worries last night, Elbert didn’t come by with any word on punishment.
He just briefed us on the changed situation today.
-Based on observations from the demonic energy detector, the demon legion’s invasion is expected at 8 o’clock. Also, at least three rifts will form today, likely right here. We’ll be reassigning troops accordingly, so take note-.
Elbert added that the invasions would continue even at night.
This was exactly the change in Wave 2 of the Prophecy of the Red Moon as I knew it.
Additional rifts forming, invasions happening day and night unlike yesterday.
It meant no more breaks from here on.
Of course, the royals had taken proper measures.
-Starting this evening, reinforcements will guard the rifts. We just need to hold until then, so give your all to your duties today. That is all-.
They were sending extra reinforcements right away.
With rifts almost certainly forming here, they were pulling soldiers from elsewhere.
Of course, they couldn’t send too many.
The rifts forming here was just a prediction based on the legendary artifact, the demonic energy detector—no one knew exactly where they’d appear.
A new rift could suddenly open in District 1 or 2, where the higher-ups were.
They’d likely stationed top forces like Asion Gail there as a precaution.
Of course.
‘Either way, they’ll all converge here in time.’
As always, the war from the Prophecy of the Red Moon ended where it began.
Meaning the war would conclude right here where we were.
When the time came, rifts elsewhere would merge into new ones here.
The royals would pour all their forces here to close them too.
The moment Asteron’s military and the demon legion fully assembled.
In a way, that day would be the war’s climax.
Anyway.
“We’ll proceed the same way today. Thompson and Barundel, sync up with me. Kayla, support from the rear. They’ll be tougher than yesterday, but if the knight commander’s right, we just hold till afternoon. Should be doable.”
We just needed to do our assigned roles well.
That’s when I finished briefing.
“Hey, mage. A word.”
Someone called me. Turning, I saw Elbert Tairan.
My heart dropped for a second.
So it had finally come.
“Barundel too?”
“No, the dwarf can sit this out. Just you, mage.”
“Hm?”
I didn’t get why just me, but I nodded and told the group.
“Go on ahead when it starts. I’ll join as soon as I can.”
With that, I followed Elbert.
Elbert gestured for me to follow, then headed off silently.
My mind raced with guesses about our destination.
‘Where are we going? The punishment room? Holding cell? No way… he didn’t find where I hid the resident, did he?’
If so, no excuses left.
I’d broken protocol twice now—whatever punishment came, I’d have to take it.
Maybe that’s why he called just me.
Fortunately, no.
“This is…”
“The command room.”
Elbert had led us to the temporary unit’s command center.
Not a place for doling out punishment.
“I know that, but why bring me here?”
“Because you’ve got work to do here.”
“Huh? What am I supposed to do here?”
Instead of answering, Elbert tapped a large desk twice.
On it sat a massive map of the area and dozens of pieces.
They varied in shape but resembled chess pawns…
A bad feeling hit me.
“You’re not telling me to command, are you?”
“Command? You think pretty highly of yourself.”
The tone was a bit sharp, but thankfully not what I feared.
Fair enough. Someone who’d only learned magic and trained his body here couldn’t possibly command.
I sighed inwardly in relief.
I hated high-pressure stuff like that anyway.
But then.
“Though it’s similar.”
“Huh?”
“You remember my broadcast earlier? About reassigning troops today.”
“Oh, yes. I do.”
“I’m putting you in charge of that today.”
“…Huh?”
Reassigning troops—to me?
Elbert’s follow-up was overwhelming.
“Why all of a sudden…? I thought you called me about punishment.”
“If you want to call it that, this is your punishment.”
“What? That doesn’t—”
Absurd.
Reassigning troops as punishment?
I’d played Devil Fantasy for ten years, committed plenty of crimes with various characters, but never gotten a punishment like this.
Hell, was this even punishment?
“…Sorry, but that’s impossible. I’ve never done anything like this. Troop assignments are huge in war, aren’t they? Handing something that critical to me…”
I tried refusing outright.
From my position, I had to.
Why risk a botched assignment with my lack of skill?
This wasn’t moving chess pieces—it was positioning living people.
Lives hung in the balance. I couldn’t accept that as punishment.
But my excuses fell on deaf ears with Elbert.
“That’s why it’s punishment. No arguments. Follow orders. I’ll take responsibility.”
His face was resolute, decision made.
‘This guy’s stubborn too, huh?’
Once he set his mind, he saw it through.
But my stubbornness wasn’t slacking either.
“No. I absolutely can’t accept this. It’s too critical, too much.”
“Too much? You saying the punishment’s harsh compared to what you did?”
“Yes. For sneaking into the shelter once, this is a bit…”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
Clack, clack.
He suddenly headed somewhere in his military boots.
The spot with the black cloth that had bugged me since entering…
He yanked it off and said.
“How about this then?”
And there.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Was the man, bound even tighter by someone.
Yes—the sturdy guy from District 7 I’d smuggled from the shelter. Him.
How the hell did he find him?
The moment our eyes met, I was speechless.
“…”
“Still too harsh a punishment?”
I’d thought it earlier.
If getting caught smuggling him meant any punishment, I’d take it.
Same now.
“To me, this seems perfectly fitting. Accept it nicely, and I’ll lighten the dwarf’s sentence too.”
Elbert dangled a sweet carrot.
And.
“Or I file the official report, and you both go to the royal prison.”
I could tell the whip was vicious without seeing it.
The royal prison was infamous, then or now.
Once in, no way out.
“Sigh…”
No more deliberating.
Only one choice left.
Checkmate.
“Got it. I’ll do the assignments.”
The clash of stubbornness ended in Elbert’s perfect victory.