Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Contact
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An innocent town was swept up in the war. It wasn't a strategic location or anything of the sort—it was just because I happened to be there.
The town was shattered and destroyed, and its people fled, screaming.
If I fought any longer, the entire town would be wiped off the map, so I was in the middle of making my escape.
*Rumble—*
The ground caved in, sending them tumbling, and a torrent of spiritual power rained down, snuffing out their lives.
“After him! We can't lose him! Absolutely not! Get on the communicators! Block his path!”
I'd already killed hundreds of them. I took the life of anyone I saw.
“Damn, these bastards are persistent.”
The problem was that they were throwing their bodies on the line to keep up the chase, as if they'd never let me go.
Then again, it made sense. If they lost me for even a moment, I could change my face and disappear, so of course they were desperate not to lose sight of me.
It was a literal festival of endlessly swarming enemies.
No matter how many I killed, they never tired, replenishing their forces from somewhere and continuing the pursuit. Whichever way I went, they stayed right on my tail.
*Whoosh—*
My hammer spun, carving through their ranks. One would think they'd care about their comrades dying around them, but they didn't even blink, just kept chasing me.
Ah! Is this what a celebrity feels like when being chased by obsessive fans? The only difference, of course, is that they're trying to capture or kill me.
"Heh."
An old ad slogan comes to mind.
“Catch me if you can.”
Let's see who gets tired first.
***
“Master. The Imperial Palace has informed us that mages are forbidden from leaving the capital. They said only that we should exercise restraint, as an all-out war is imminent…”
*Slam—*
At his disciple's words, Shion, the Master of the Mage Tower, slammed his fist on the desk. The Empire's behavior was becoming more and more blatant.
“The teleportation gates… they've also notified us that they cannot be used without the Empire's permission due to the state of war.”
“Those bastards… they've finally done it!”
And to think, it's the Mage Tower that operates those gates. A notification, they call it. A notification.
“And the hunt for the black mages?”
“No response.”
“…Damn them all.”
Not a refusal, but silence. What could that be but an affirmation?
The Empire had clearly crossed the line. They had touched a nerve with the mages.
“We must find a way. We have to.”
They were not beings who deserved such treatment. Mages could never coexist with black mages, just as those who wielded divine power could not coexist in the same space as demonic energy.
The Empire couldn't be ignorant of that fact. To condone it was tantamount to abandoning them.
“Have you heard anything about the war?”
“The Northern Alliance is holding out better than expected, they say. Apparently, the Empire has been preoccupied with chasing someone named Van Helsing…”
“What a mess. A complete mess.”
To declare war and then chase some random person instead of attacking the Northern Alliance. It was a situation that starkly revealed the current state of the Empire.
“And… it seems they'll be issuing a full military mobilization order soon.”
“A full mobilization. Mages won't be an exception, I suppose.”
At least their turn would come a bit later. It would start with the soldiers. Of course, the mages here would eventually face the same fate.
Soldiers would be drafted from every fief, and knights and mages would be sent to the battlefield. And once the war began, the entire continent would be plunged into chaos.
What were the chances of the Empire winning this war?
And could they entrust the future of mages to the Northern Alliance?
After much thought, his conviction hardened: there was no future for them in the Empire.
“Uh… Master.”
Seeing Shion trembling with clenched fists, his disciple spoke cautiously.
“What about the Northern Alliance? Didn't they send an offer once before?”
“Ah…!”
He remembered. It had been a decent offer, but at the time, he hadn't known the situation would deteriorate this much, so he had refused.
Establishing a new home in the Demonic Realm would take considerable time. And it was obvious they would be mobilized for the war against the Empire if they went there.
“I judged it better to remain in the Empire, where they paid us no mind…”
That decision had backfired, disastrously so.
“The missing mages… they still haven't been found, have they?”
“No…”
“Because the Empire won't cooperate.”
“That's right, Master.”
At this rate, all the mages of the Mage Tower would be killed. This was no longer a matter of self-preservation, but of survival.
“How did it come to this…?”
A deep sense of regret washed over him, and he collapsed into his chair, drained of all strength.
“Master…”
“Contact the Northern Alliance. Tell them we wish to hear their proposal.”
They would need them, too.
He had resisted change, but an unavoidable change had found them.
And if they missed this chance for change, their future was all but sealed.
And it would be the worst possible future.
***
While the Mage Tower was agonizing over its survival, there was another group within the capital staking their lives on the same issue.
“Ugh…”
The meeting table was full, but the only sound that emerged was the pained groans of those racking their brains.
No answer was forthcoming.
“Don't all just sit there in silence. Say something.”
Molech, the head of the Merchant Guild, seated at the head of the table, rapped his knuckles on it, but it was clear no solution would appear.
“The fate of the Merchant Guild hangs in the balance.”
“Hah. There's no easy answer.”
“Nothing is certain.”
Merchants cannot exist separately from the state. If there were multiple nations on the continent, they wouldn't need to have this debate.
Merchants were beings who moved according to the tides of war, according to profit.
But not now.
“The Empire, or the Northern Alliance.”
“Hah…”
Of course, in terms of scale and such, the Northern Alliance was no match for the Empire.
And yet, the reason for their hesitation…
“The Empire's tyranny grows more severe by the day.”
“It's no longer even a purchase. They demand things as if it's their right.”
“We're at the point where we need to downsize our branches.”
Merchants pursue profit, to earn more money.
But with the outbreak of war, and for the sole reason of being in a wartime system…
The Empire had plundered their goods, seized expensive research materials, and pressured them to procure more supplies, all as if it were their due.
“Let's be honest. Even if we remain with the Empire, don't we all foresee our future?”
Black mages, gods, demons, demonic energy.
Merchants were more sensitive to information than anyone. And all sorts of information they couldn't simply ignore had been reaching their ears.
“Frankly, even if we side with the Northern Alliance, not much will change. They're short on supplies too, aren't they? They'll just nag us to get them what they need.”
“Still… at least there's no chance of being steeped in demonic energy and becoming a tool of demons. Besides, they've allied with the Holy Kingdom.”
The hearts of the merchants here had long since leaned in one direction. They were merely searching for something to support their decision, to justify it.
“Well… if I had to say, I'm leaning toward entrusting our fate to the Northern Alliance, but we can't just abandon the Empire either…”
Or perhaps they were just waiting for someone else to take the lead.
“…Everyone's just beating around the bush with the same opinion. I'll contact the Northern Alliance. Anyone who wants out, leave now.”
The moment a merchant lord declared they were out, they would be killed. To leave now meant siding with the Empire, which meant they could reveal this meeting.
That would not be tolerated.
“I'll take it that no one intends to leave. I expect you all to keep this secret. Our lives depend on it.”
Molech sighed. It was far too late to respond to the Northern Alliance's original offer, but they had to contact them now.
“We must secure as many guarantees as possible. The Northern Alliance needs us just as much, after all.”
“That's right. There must be give and take.”
As soon as Guild Master Molech said he would take the lead, the merchants finally began to speak, more enthusiastically than ever.
“I'll talk to them, but don't get your hopes up. You all know this. We've already rejected their helping hand once.”
It was clear. Having contacted them so late, they couldn't possibly hope for more than what was originally offered.
***
“What did you say?”
- *Both the Master of the Mage Tower and the head of the Merchant Guild have reached out. They want to meet.*
They ignored the offer before, and now they suddenly want to meet?
“Well, they're only reacting now that their own feet are to the fire.”
- *Seems so. The atmosphere in the capital is no joke. Ludwig has declared a full military mobilization. The pro-Emperor fiefs are actively complying.*
“Full mobilization, huh? Mages and merchants won't be able to escape it.”
This meant an all-out war was truly upon them. A full mobilization order was a declaration of the Empire's intent to crush its enemies with all its might.
- *Exactly. No, to be precise, they must be the most afraid. Because the Empire no longer wants anything from them.*
“Wants nothing from them. There's nothing more terrifying than that. The mages' positions will be replaced by black mages, and the merchants will just be squeezed dry by the Empire.”
The mages as test subjects, and the merchants as a means to literally wring out money.
Their roles would not extend beyond that.
“But they realized it too late. If they had any sense, they should have taken our hand when we first offered it.”
Nevertheless.
“I suppose we'll have to show the magnanimity of the strong.”
- *The magnanimity of the strong?*
“After all, while we are desperate, so are they. No, they're even more desperate. We already have power and are an organization. We're allied with the Holy Kingdom. But they are not. They are, for all intents and purposes, just individuals.”
They had nowhere to lean on. Which is why they sought to lean on the Northern Alliance.
- *But the problem is…*
“A problem?”
- *The mages can't leave the capital. The Empire has placed a travel restriction on them. And they want a firm guarantee. Of their benefits, from the decision-maker.*
“Hah… these guys still haven't come to their senses. I'll go to the capital.”
- *To the capital? Will you be okay?*
“Yes. Since the Empire has issued a full mobilization order, this is the last chance to escape the capital.”
Once the full mobilization order is given, even ordinary citizens might have to serve in the military.
There would be no place to hide. The intelligence agents would find everyone. Unless one was prepared to hide at the cost of their life.
“Just find me a safe house where secrecy is guaranteed and we're out of the Empire's sight. We'll meet there.”
*Thud—*
The body of an Imperial soldier, which had been in his grasp, fell to the floor.
- *Got it. I'll prepare it with that in mind. By the way, can you make it to the capital? I heard escaping isn't easy.*
“Ah… hmm. Just let me know when the date is set. And a secret passage into the capital.”
- *That's not difficult.*
“Then I'll be able to get there in time.”
The area around him was packed so tightly with corpses there was no room to step.
***
While Ludwig Brandt was grinding his teeth over Van Helsing's escape from his encirclement and gathering forces for the war.
One by one, people entered a shabby, unassuming location.
Their faces were covered, and they glanced around cautiously, wary of onlookers.
“I am the Master of the Mage Tower.”
“Molech of the Merchant Guild.”
After seeing the anxious expressions on their faces, he slowly introduced himself.
“I am Kratos, Captain of the 3rd Company of the White Mercenary Corps.”
In the heart of enemy territory, in the capital of the Empire, a meeting was being held that would determine the course of this war.