Chapter 168
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168
The Final Barrier.
It stood as the outermost of the three great walls protecting the human realm, the one closest to the lands of the demon world.
“Is everyone assembled?”
“Yes, Family Head!”
The knights and elite soldiers of House Devalis had gathered for a short expedition to subjugate high-level monsters that had recently appeared in the area. Their numbers totaled around fifty—all battle-hardened veterans handpicked by Aslan herself.
Aslan surveyed the soldiers before her, then wrapped an arm around the shoulders of Roen, who stood beside her.
“My brother, Roen, will be joining this expedition. And…”
“I will be participating as well. I look forward to working with you all.”
Freya bowed politely to the soldiers. Aslan added with a troubled expression, “...Though it was unexpected, Freya, the daughter of House Gunhild, will also be joining us. Take note of that.”
Seeing Aslan’s face, I could guess exactly what she was thinking. While Freya’s desire to accompany them was admirable, if anything were to happen to her, it would instantly escalate into a diplomatic incident. Even putting politics aside, Aslan likely didn't want to bring someone she considered a precious daughter of a fellow house—and a dear younger sister figure—on such a dangerous mission.
Still, since Freya herself insisted on going, it was in Aslan’s character not to stand in her way.
“Let’s all applaud her courage.”
Clap, clap, clap—.
The soldiers gave Freya a hearty round of applause. When Aslan raised a sharp fist, the clapping ceased instantly.
“Good. However, from this point on, there is no need to give Freya special treatment. She is an Intermediate Sword Expert. Evaluate and treat her as a combatant of that level, and nothing more. The same goes for Roen. Don’t give him special treatment just because he’s my brother… not that any of you would anyway.”
All eyes turned to me. Just as Aslan said, they were more likely to be looking for a reason to pick a fight with me than to treat me like an heir of House Devalis. I’d better stick close to Aslan and Ciel to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
“This expedition is scheduled to be a short one, about two weeks. Is everyone packed?”
“Yes!” the soldiers roared, adjusting the heavy military rucksacks on their shoulders.
The packs contained sleeping bags, portable tents, various essentials, and emergency rations. Just by looking at them, they seemed to weigh well over thirty kilograms.
It was then that a knight voiced a question, noticing I wasn't carrying a pack. “Family Head, where is Lord Roen’s gear?”
He seemed to be wondering if I’d received special privileges and forced someone else to carry my luggage.
Aslan explained, “This brat carries his things in a Subspace Pouch. Says he can barely feel the weight and can store a ton of stuff. He’s living the easy life.”
“Booo!”
The soldiers jeered at the idea of me moving around in comfort while they lugged heavy gear. Amidst the noise, another knight posed a question to Aslan.
“But I don’t see your pack today either, Your Grace?”
Normally, Aslan carried her own rucksack, no different from any other soldier. But for some reason, her pack was nowhere to be seen today.
Aslan grinned and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Ah, this time, I put my pack in Roen’s Subspace Pouch too. If you’ve got a good tool, might as well use it, right? I’m thinking of getting one for myself after this. Heh heh.”
As Aslan laughed confidently with her hands on her hips, the soldiers erupted in protest.
“Issue us Subspace Pouches too!”
“Traitor! This is tyranny!”
“The Duchess is just trying to make things easy for herself…”
Aslan pointed a finger at them and retorted, “Hey, you punks, how long do you expect me, a Duchess, to carry a rucksack? If you want one, save up your salary and buy it!”
“Then give us a raise!”
“Hear, hear!”
“We’re not paid enough!”
Seizing the opportunity, the soldiers and knights playfully demanded a pay raise. Having shared life and death on the battlefield, they maintained a friendly atmosphere regardless of status or rank. The fact that they could even joke around with Aslan said it all.
“Raise it! Raise it!”
The soldiers chanted in unison. Aslan, watching the scene, pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply. “I’m not even going to argue with you.”
Though Aslan could be loud and assertive with the family elders, she was incredibly lenient with her soldiers.
“You seem to have a good relationship with your men,” Freya spoke with a hint of envy.
Aslan gave her a stern warning. “...Freya, if you ever become a family head, don’t be like me. I gave them an inch, and now they think they’re my equals. Make sure you maintain a proper distance.”
“No, I still wish to be like you.”
“You little brat, are my words going in one ear and out the other?”
Thwack—.
“Ugh.”
Aslan flicked Freya on the forehead before shouting at the soldiers. “Quiet! Enough chatter. We’re moving out!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At Aslan’s command, the soldiers ceased their demands and answered vigorously. Despite their casual rapport, the chain of command was absolute.
“Open the gate!”
Rumble—.
On Aslan’s order, the massive iron chains on the barrier began to grind, and the gate groaned open. With Aslan in the lead, the expedition marched out of the barrier in neat rows. Carts laden with supplies, food, and weapons followed close behind.
*
The moment we stepped outside the barrier, the atmosphere changed completely.
Despite it being broad daylight, the sky held an ominous reddish hue. Black clouds drifted beneath it, and the ground was dotted with withered, skeletal trees.
The Final Barrier isn’t just a tall structure. It’s a boundary that divides the world.
Outside the wall, everything was different—the climate, the soil, the vegetation, the concentration of mana, and the distribution of demonic energy. It was, quite literally, a disputed territory between the human and demon realms. It was a region where any danger could arise without warning, similar to the high-danger zones among the unexplored areas of the Meteor Archipelago.
I scanned the barren environment before turning my gaze to Aslan.
To think she’s been leading expeditions and subjugations in a place like this for years.
And she was still alive. It made me realize anew just how competent a commander Aslan truly was. As if feeling my gaze, Aslan turned back.
“What are you looking at?”
“...Just thinking it’s a miracle you’re still alive.”
“What? It’s all thanks to this big sister’s genius military tactics.”
“…”
Her smug little "Heheh" was annoying to watch, but she wasn't entirely wrong. Among Aslan’s various traits, she did in fact possess the [Military Tactics] trait.
Just then—
“Family Head, a report from the rangers. A pack of Dire Wolves has appeared up ahead.”
We had encountered a pack of monsters not long after leaving the barrier. It was the same type of Dire Wolf pack that Yuliana’s team had struggled with during the practical exam.
“Alright. Outram’s squad, intercept!”
“By your command!”
Fwoosh—.
At Aslan’s order, a team consisting of one knight and four soldiers moved out. They expertly formed a defensive line and efficiently slaughtered the Dire Wolves. They didn’t forget to collect the mana stones afterward. With each mana stone worth tens of thousands of Krone, it was a tidy side income to be earned on a life-threatening expedition.
…So you get to keep the mana stones from the monsters you kill?
It seemed the spoils of war were distributed based on performance. Now I understood what Aslan meant when she said I’d have to earn the Dark Mana Stones myself.
Aslan watched the team return and spoke to me, as if explaining the rules of the road. “Roen, as you know, operations outside the barrier are conducted in five-man cells. It’s the minimum measure to handle various crisis situations. You should form your own team instead of just sticking by my side.”
“Five people…”
Even with Ciel and Freya, we were still two people short. As if reading my mind, Aslan gestured with her chin.
“I’ll assign Crossen, the one you dueled yesterday, and his subordinate to you. Crossen is an excellent knight, and his subordinate, while a bit old, is a seasoned veteran. He’ll be a great help in getting you adjusted.”
At Aslan’s signal, Crossen and his subordinate approached. Crossen gave a slight nod, while his subordinate, who looked quite aged, greeted me politely.
“My name is Malt. It’s a pleasure to be working with you, Lord Roen.”
“The pleasure is all mine. I’m lacking in many ways, so I’ll be counting on your guidance.”
I took his hand and shook it. And just like that, a reliable team was formed.
*
Thud—.
“We’ll make camp here for the night.”
It was still early evening. Aslan issued the order after lopping off a monster’s head and sending it flying.
“Yes, ma’am!”
The soldiers moved with perfect coordination to prepare the camp. Our team also began to set up, guided by Crossen and Malt. I’d camped many times at the Union, so pitching a tent and starting a fire wasn't difficult. It was a little disappointing, though; I couldn't help but think how convenient it would be if I had something like the Cube I used on Full Moon Island.
Once the camp was mostly set up, Malt discreetly whispered to me. “Those two… what are they to do about the restroom?”
Malt gestured with his eyes toward Freya and Ciel in the distance. Only then did I realize the problem. When camping at the Union, the gender ratio was nearly even, so everyone managed on their own. But in a unit with an overwhelming majority of men, such things had to be prepared separately.
“What does Aslan usually do?”
“I heard she uses a water spirit.”
“Ah, right.”
Aslan had an aptitude for spirits, after all. That must be how she managed to endure for years in a place reeking of sweaty men.
…In the real world, too, sanitation and latrines were always a huge problem in war.
There were cases where more soldiers died from infectious diseases caused by improper waste disposal than from actual combat. For now, the soldiers were using a pit dug under a simple chair made of lashed-together wooden poles, but it wasn't exactly suitable for Freya and Ciel.
“I’ll make a latrine.”
“Make one, you say?”
“Just watch.”
Crackle—.
Using alchemy magic, I created a small building out of earth. I made five stalls with seated toilets for the soldiers’ convenience. I couldn't make a flushing system, but I compensated by digging the pit deep. It wasn't like we could drink the groundwater here anyway, so there was no need to worry about soil contamination.
Then, I built another, separate restroom a little farther away—a consideration for the women. Having created two restrooms in an instant, I dusted off my hands and smiled.
“This should do.”
Malt watched the scene, unable to hide his amazement. “...That’s incredible. Did you learn earth-attribute magic?”
“No, it’s a type of alchemy magic.”
Even with earth-attribute magic, one couldn't easily create the internal structure of a building or a proper toilet seat. This was one of the unique advantages of alchemy.
As I was shrugging my shoulders, Aslan approached, her eyes shining as she looked at the structures. “Wow~ Did you make this?”
“Mhm.”
“Is it the power of that golden dagger?”
“You could say that.”
To be precise, it was the power of my alchemy magic.
“Hoh, outstanding combat ability, and you can even change the form of matter like this…” Aslan seemed to be eyeing my Azoth Sword. I shut her down preemptively.
“You can’t have this.”
“Aw, why? I’ll give you an allowance.”
“This isn’t something you can buy with money.”
Besides, it was an item born of chance. I couldn't make another one even if I were asked to. And what was this about an allowance, when she’d cut me off long ago?
As I resisted firmly, Aslan soon gave up. “Stingy little brat. Fine, fine.”
Aslan smacked me on the head once, then clapped her hands to gather the other soldiers. “Alright, listen up, everyone. My stingy little brother here has made you all some toilets. So try not to hate him too much and cut him some slack.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The soldiers looked pleased, clearly happy to have a proper restroom instead of a shoddy wooden frame.
“Alright, let’s eat dinner and get some sleep. Night watch will be done by seniority. No complaints, right?”
“By seniority?”
The soldiers’ gazes all turned to me. Does that mean me?
*
Fortunately, our team was assigned the first hour after bedtime, not some ungodly hour like 4 a.m. It was the best time for watch duty, since you just had to go to sleep an hour later. For a system based on seniority, they were surprisingly considerate to the "new" guy.
Snore—.
Zzzz—.
As I sat on a chair I’d formed from earth, standing watch, I could hear snoring from the campsite. Seeing them sleep so soundly even in this environment, it was clear they were all seasoned soldiers. Maintaining one’s condition through proper sleep was, after all, a vital skill for survival.
“…”
I stared into the distant darkness, lost in quiet thought.
What in the world am I even doing here?
When you stand watch with nothing to do, you get so bored that all sorts of thoughts start to run through your head. From the reason for human existence to the beginning and end of the universe, all kinds of random thoughts pop up.
No, before all that, what kind of older sister takes her younger brother, who’s just visiting home for the holidays, on a monster-subjugation expedition?
I leaned back comfortably in the chair and corrected my line of thinking.
…Well, let’s try to think positively.
I needed a large quantity of Dark Mana Stones to hatch Kabeltar’s egg anyway. If I could obtain even a few on this expedition, it would significantly shorten that time.
As I was blankly staring into the darkness, lost in such thoughts, it happened.
Rustle—.
I sensed a presence behind me.
