Chapter 134: Crossing Paths
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134: Crossing Paths
In truth, the Arken Empire had no reason to be flustered.
Olivia had mentioned that they would have already identified and recorded the exact numbers and types of the monsters. They were well aware that the super-sized creature that had suddenly appeared was spawning even more monsters. Naturally, they also knew that increasing numbers would put them at a disadvantage.
They were currently racking their brains, calculating how they could use the recorded figure of twenty thousand monsters for political leverage.
However, neither the Empire nor the Allied Forces of the Archduchy of Valdrova had anticipated one thing.
Who would have thought the monsters would leave the Archduchy under siege and head for the Empire first?
- "Speak up! Why are those things coming toward us?!"
Ferda replied to the frantic demand with a simple answer.
“We don’t know either.”
- "What do you mean you don’t know?! Use some common sense! In this situation! It makes no sense for them not to attack you!!"
The way he yapped made him sound like a toddler throwing a tantrum because he didn't get a toy.
Setting the gravity of the situation aside, Ferda couldn't help but enjoy this moment where their fortunes had flipped. He calmly explained their current status.
“It might sound irresponsible, but we were strictly prepared for a siege. We have over twenty different siege scenarios ready, and Count Consilus was prepared to fight to the death.”
- "What does that have to do with us?!"
“Didn’t you ask why they are heading your way? I simply answered that we don’t know the reason.”
- "So you’re saying you have no responsibility in this?!"
Ferda couldn't understand what more the man wanted. Did he want Ferda to slam his head into the floor and grovel to suit his mood?
Ferda was much better at slamming other people’s heads than his own.
He considered letting out a string of curses, but Olivia, who had been eavesdropping, lightly tapped his shoulder. When he turned, he saw her smiling with her eyes as she reached out to touch the communication crystal.
She turned up the volume so the audio would fill the entire command room. Then, she mouthed a single word:
Go for it.
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry,” Ferda said. “You were going to send reinforcements here anyway, so you must have troops ready. You can just use those prepared forces for a siege or a subjugation campaign. Why take your anger out on me?”
- "If the Far East fails to block the monsters coming from the Land of Demons, isn't that a failure of border security?! How dare you act so high and mighty after failing your duty?!"
Startled by the sudden increase in volume, the staff members turned their heads to look toward them.
“How can we respond instantly to a super-sized monster that was suddenly summoned? That is why we requested reinforcements from the Empire, and didn't you say it would take two months?”
- "That’s our business! Right now, I’m talking about the duty of the Far East!"
The duty of the Far East was to eliminate monsters swarming from the Land of Demons. However, that applied to physical invasions; they were helpless against magical phenomena.
- "Dealing with such massive monsters is the Archduchess’s job! She had more than enough power to handle it! It wasn't us who neglected it, but the Archduchy!"
“Are you saying we should have moved even if it meant letting this entire place be destroyed?”
- "I cannot understand why you would abandon your duty just to protect some useless village!"
Useless village.
Ferda unconsciously bit his lower lip. He didn't know what kind of profanity would fly out the moment he opened his mouth.
Just then, he felt a soft, silk-like touch on his hand. It was Olivia. She had reached under the table to gently touch his hand, as if telling him to calm down.
Surprisingly, her touch allowed Ferda to let go of his anger. Everyone in the room was listening to this conversation anyway. He scanned their expressions. At the very least, none of them were on the side of the brat begging for a toy.
- "Tell the Archduchess to fulfill her duty immediately! Otherwise…"
“Otherwise, what?”
Alexander’s voice caught in his throat at Ferda’s question. He could feel the killing intent radiating through the telepathy.
- "You will be held responsible for this situation! And it won't just be responsibility! Even at this very moment, more than a few people suspect you of colluding with the demons!"
Colluding with demons.
His logic had truly hit rock bottom.
Just as Ferda was about to tell him to go ahead and try, Olivia cut in.
“Brother, please watch your language~.”
- "Wha—what? Who is this?!"
“Who else? Is there anyone else who would call the Crown Prince ‘brother’?”
- "Olivia? Why are you…?"
Alexander seemed to lose his mind at the sudden sound of Olivia’s voice. She gave a sly grin.
“Birds listen to the words of the day, and mice listen to the words of the night. Do you have any idea how many ‘birds’ are listening to the Crown Prince’s words right now?”
- "Wha—what?!"
Alexander was practically foaming at the mouth in his agitation. The staff members, who had heard every word of the conversation with the Crown Prince, looked on with expressions of utter disbelief. After hearing the accusation of colluding with demons, their hostility had flared up.
Alexander stammered as he questioned Ferda.
- "Re—Regent! Did you set a trap for me?!"
“I was merely having a conversation. You were the one who got excited and ran wild on your own, Your Highness.”
- "You… you…!"
“If you had requested that we speak privately, I would have gladly accepted. But since you started by losing your temper, I didn't have the chance to mention it. Who could have known you would act like this?”
The screaming child was gone, replaced by the sound of a choking pig on a gallows. Olivia began to rub salt in the wound.
“Everyone here is someone who follows us out of faith in their own honor. To treat such people as demon dregs… isn't that a bit much?”
- "No, I meant that Regent Ferda might do such a thing, I wasn't saying that to the others…"
“Oh, really? Because everyone just heard you. You insulted them all as honorless and delayed your response. I believe this is a matter we could officially protest, don't you?”
Olivia continued with a triumphant look on her face.
“That this happened because the Crown Prince of the Empire started a useless fight to try and tame the Far East.”
Though he couldn't see her face through the crystal, Alexander screamed as if he could envision her expression.
- "How dare a Princess of the Empire interfere in this! What if you get hurt! Go back to your room and protect yourself this instant! Regent, send that girl back immediately!!"
Declaring she should leave because he was losing—how typical.
“A Princess might do that, but things are different now.”
- "What could possibly be different?"
“She is currently the Chief of Staff for this Far East Provisional Union.”
- "Wha—what?! Why?!"
“Why? Because she stands here with everyone’s recognition.”
Silence fell from the crystal’s side. Alexander’s mind must have been in a state of chaos. If he said, ‘Why is she competent?’ it would be taken as him calling the other noble sons incompetent.
In that situation, Alexander did the best he could.
Click—.
He hung up.
The crystal lost its light, and seeing this, Olivia said calmly, “Their mage must have made a mistake.”
She laughed it off and let it go. However, the staff members could not hide their bewildered faces as they faced the uncomfortable truth.
“I’d heard many rumors that the Crown Prince was a failure who only cared about self-display, but I didn't know it was this bad.”
“He told us to wait two months when we were in a crisis, but now he wants us to send help immediately? Does that make any sense?”
The staff were busy cursing the Crown Prince. Olivia let it continue just long enough to boost morale and solidarity before cutting them off.
“My brother’s faults are his own, but regardless, we must find a new path. This Archduchy is currently, by necessity, part of the Empire’s territory. Therefore, we need to respond to threats within the Empire.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
On the continental map spread across the table, she turned all the monster pieces to face the opposite direction.
“As you can see, the monsters are heading toward the Empire. That means we, who were supposed to be on the defensive, are now in a position to strike first.”
“Must we attack?”
One person asked, feeling that even defending was overwhelming. However, the other staff members glared at him as if he were pathetic. Seeing their faces, Olivia smiled brightly.
“Actually, now is the perfect time. As you said, all their forces are moving toward the Empire. Correct?”
“That is correct.”
“That means the enemy’s main base is at its most vulnerable.”
The super-sized monsters they had identified had no ability to defend themselves. They only possessed reproductive capabilities, which they used to mass-produce monsters. If they mass-produced those monsters and sent them away, what would be left?
Nothing.
Furthermore, reproduction was an act of sharing the life force within one's own body. Even for a monster, it left them in an incredibly weakened state. Striking the enemy when they are most vulnerable is the most basic of basics.
The man who had raised the question withdrew his words with an embarrassed look. Olivia continued her explanation.
“Why did both the Empire and our side think the monsters would target us?”
“Because when the siege line was formed, we were closer.”
“Yes. Normally, that would be the standard move.”
It was clear just by looking at the positions on the map. The distance to the Empire was three times longer than the distance to Hestia Village.
“We judged it would take them two days to reach us, so we expect it to take between six to seven days for them to reach the Empire. Therefore, we will begin our march after waiting for two days.”
The march would also take two days. If the enemy continued their advance, they would have traveled for three days by then. In terms of time, they would be slightly past the halfway point. At that stage, it would be difficult for the enemy to turn back.
“Then we will reach the midpoint, right? While it's difficult for them to return, we will strike their empty base.”
“Then the Empire will already be under attack.”
“Don't worry about the Empire. If they can't block an offensive of that scale, they don't deserve to be called an Empire.”
The Arken Empire had concentrated everything in the capital. They possessed magic and armies dozens of times more powerful than Count Consilus’s castle, which was the final bastion of the Far East, so it wouldn't be an issue.
“Assuming we reach the monsters, how do we kill them? I’ve heard that small monsters and super-sized monsters have different body structures…”
“I’ve looked into it, and their skin is much denser and their muscles stronger. I doubt ordinary magic will work.”
“I will speak on that part,” Eri, the Platinum-rank adventurer, stepped forward.
“Just as we die if we lose our hearts, monsters die if they lose theirs. The ultimate counter to junk mana is pure mana. In other words, if we cause an explosion of pure mana inside them powerful enough to destroy the heart, we can kill them.”
“How much mana is required for such an explosion?”
“A 5th-tier spell, Supernova, should do it. I’ve done this before… no, I mean, I’ve read about it in some texts.”
If the 4th Circle had Magic Blast, the 5th Circle had Supernova. It possessed high destructive power and, most importantly, was pure mana without an attribute. For monsters to whom pure mana was practically poison, it was the perfect technique.
“I heard their skin is as hard as rock. Can a single Supernova take them down?”
“That is why we need the help of our elite knights. The elite knights must manifest their Aura to pierce the monster’s flesh and get inside. If they can drill deep enough to see the internal organs, the inside is as vulnerable as a human body. If you cast Supernova there, it will die instantly.”
“The method is one thing… but isn't it a problem whether our mages even know Supernova?”
“If they don't, I can teach them. If they don't want to learn, I can just draw a magic circle and have them inject mana into it.”
Naturally, the mages would want to learn. No one would be stupid enough to refuse a high-ranking mage and famous adventurer offering to teach a high-tier spell.
“How many 5th Circle mages do we have?”
“Based on our assessment including the Consilus territory, there are five in total.”
“Administrator Isabella should be 5th Circle as well. That makes six.”
Eri, the Platinum-rank adventurer, seemed to know other people’s business suspiciously well. There were twelve super-sized monsters, and they could destroy six at a time.
“Is it too optimistic to think we can destroy them all within two days?”
“Yes. Considering the marching speed and all other factors, it will take four days even with a tight schedule.”
Four days. It would be great if there were a way to reduce that drastically.
After hearing the situation, Ferda glanced at Ruri. Sensing his gaze, she looked back at him. Ruri’s cold eyes made a strong assertion:
I am not your shuttle.
“We can't guarantee victory, but we can't just sit idly by either.”
If there was an opportunity to eliminate them, they had to take it.
“If anyone objects, I will hear your opinions.”
As expected, no one spoke up. Just to be sure, Ferda contacted Consilus and explained the operation. Consilus’s answer was predictable and simple.
- "As the Regent wishes."
And so, the departure was decided.
As the staff moved to relay the meeting’s contents, Ferda made a request to Erica.
“Captain Eri.”
Erica turned her head.
“If it’s not an imposition, may I ask a favor?”
* * *
It was an open space within the castle. Ruri had already cast a barrier to turn it into an isolated space.
“This is impressive.”
After meticulously confirming they were completely cut off, Erica spoke.
“I never expected the Regent to request a duel.”
“You are known to the world as ‘Goldy Hand.’ How could I pass up the chance?”
“Rumors are always exaggerated.”
Despite her words, her shoulders and nose were held high with pride.
“Tell me. What is the purpose of this duel? I’ll adjust accordingly.”
“I have something to test. Just fight me as if it were a real battle.”
“Hmm, a real battle, you say…”
Erica gave a slight smirk.
“Then I suppose I should start with a provocation? Mr. Fiancé of the Stupid Dragon?”
“It’s much better than being a water lizard that does nothing but sleep as if it were dead.”
“…Ho-oh.”
She had thrown a jab only to be hit with a perfect counter.
“Let’s stop. If we keep this up, we might end up in a duel to the death over our honor.”
“Shouldn't it be at that level to count as a real battle?”
“Hehe… don't regret this!”
Erica unleashed a magic circle, taking the first strike. Unlike a classic battle where mages stood their ground, the two fought while constantly shifting positions. It was the combat style of a practical mage.
Magic circle generation, insight, neutralization, feints, lures…
In the short span of a single minute, over forty moves were exchanged. Erica was inwardly impressed.
He’s quite something.
Since Ferda was already at a disadvantage in terms of raw power, she had expected his defeat. Considering that, Erica gradually increased her output to gauge his true skill. She started by matching him and then slowly began to overwhelm him, testing the limits of his capabilities.
Just what kind of experiment is he trying to do?
Erica continued the duel while keeping her focus on uncovering his intent.
“I yield.”
Finally, after being pushed to his limit, Ferda raised the white flag. Though she had won, Erica praised him sincerely.
“That was amazing. I’m not exaggerating when I say you’re among the top five mages I’ve ever fought.”
“You flatter me.”
“Your movements are flawless, and your level isn't low enough to need feedback from me. You said you had something to test, but I honestly can't tell what it was. Did you get your answer?”
Looking at her, Ferda realized she truly hadn't noticed what he was doing or what he was hiding.
“Yes. Thanks to you, I got it.”
Yes, this might actually work.
* * *
The night before the departure.
Ferda lay down to sleep as usual. However, as it was a momentous day, it didn't feel like a normal night.
Ruri came to find him and said, “The Master has summoned you to the Lair.”
Ferda blinked.
They say that when a person receives a shock too great, they can't say a word.
That was exactly how he felt.